Kingdom Hearts 3 originally debuted in 2019 for consoles. At the time, it was the highly anticipated next step in the Kingdom Hearts franchise, which has captivated its fan base since the release of the original game in 2002. The overarching plot of the Kingdom Hearts series can be incredibly confusing to follow, especially because a large portion of the games have been released out of chronological order. Despite the confusing nature, the Kingdom Hearts games are still a fun experience for seasoned or new players all the same.
PC players who have always wanted to play Kingdom Hearts but never had the chance are now able to thanks to the Epic Games Store. An exclusive deal between Kingdom Hearts and Epic Games brought all the previously released Kingdom Hearts games to PC for the very first time. There are three bundles of games available; Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8, and Kingdom Hearts 3 + Re Mind.
It’s unsurprising to note that Kingdom Hearts 3 is incredibly stunning, especially because it’s one of the latest games in the franchise and has some of the most advanced graphics to date. However, seeing the settings and characters come to life on a PC is still an almost breathtaking experience, especially when players get to watch the cutscenes of characters interacting. While Kingdom Hearts 3 has incredibly detailed and beautiful cutscenes, they’re still entirely too numerous throughout the game. This isn’t the fault of the PC port, but players should prepare for lots of cutscenes regardless of the platform.
The controls are fairly straightforward to learn, even for those who aren’t PC gamers regularly. However, there are a lot of different combinations to remember when it comes to memorizing what combinations of keys do what. Luckily, there’s a manual to refer to for refreshers on the different key combinations, which players may familiarize themselves with quickly. While it may take a bit of a learning curve when it comes to the advanced controls, the introductory mechanics are simple to understand and utilize.
It’s entirely possible that after enough hours playing the game, the controls will become second nature to players thanks to memorization and muscle memory. However, it might also be advisable to plug in a computer-compatible controller. Again, the PC controls aren’t that hard to learn, but if players value familiarity over learning something new, a ,controller might be the way to go.
It’s a bit difficult to switch between Keyblades during battle, but that’s not a downfall so much as an annoyance. Odds are players will already have a preferred Keyblade equipped at all times, but those who like to mix it up should pay close attention to the switching controls. Swapping Keyblades outside of battle isn’t a big deal, but in the heat of the moment in an encounter with the Heartless, it could be the difference between victory or defeat.
Otherwise, combat is very fluid in-game and altogether an enjoyable hack-and-slash experience. The newer attack, called “Attraction Flow,” is visually dazzling and sure to bring a smile to any player’s face. These specialty attacks are inspired by the Disney Parks’ Main Street Electrical Parade which is full of neon colors and fun floats. The attacks themselves are actually based on different attractions in the Disney Parks, like the Mad Tea Party or Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. Each attack is not only visually pleasing, but it can deal a lot of damage when properly executed.
Much like the original console debut of Kingdom Hearts 3, players will need to be mindful of how many save points there are. It can take quite a while to find the next point, so it’s important to make sure there are enough healing potions to go around in the event of a particularly challenging fight sequence. The lack of save points coupled with the numerous cutscenes can make Kingdom Hearts 3 a challenging experience to get through. However, it’s still Kingdom Hearts and is sure to bring a smile to player’s faces, especially with the crossover into previously unexplored Disney worlds like Tangled’s Corona or Frozen’s Arendelle.
There seems to be a lot to be explored in every world as well. The first world players encounter, Olympus, is very beautifully rendered and fun to explore. Despite the fact that players can find a map of the world in a treasure chest, it doesn’t seem to make the world much easier to navigate. A lot of the time, it felt like details were being missed as players progressed further into the map. Exploring every nook and cranny of a world isn’t mandatory to enjoy Kingdom Hearts 3, but it is a little frustrating to take a wrong turn and then be launched into a cutscene and subsequent battle.
All in all, the Kingdom Hearts franchise coming to PC is something that fans have been looking forward to for a long time. Kingdom Hearts 3 is a great port that will delight both new and dedicated fans of the series. Whether it’s a worthy conclusion to the “Dark Seeker” arc will be in the eyes of the beholder, but playthrough-wise, Kingdom Hearts 3 is a great addition to any PC collection.
Kingdom Hearts 3 is available for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Game ZXC was provided a PC code for this review.
Kingdom Hearts 3
Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts 3 finds Sora, Donald, and Goofy going on another action-packed adventure that takes them to an array of Disney and Pixar worlds.
