Welcome back to our ‘Let’s do all the Kingdom Hearts games and review them’ series! And yes, I know it has been almost a year since Kingdom Hearts; sorry about that. This review will answer why it took so long, though, so let’s continue the series!
Chain of Memories was next on my list and continues what makes the Kingdom Hearts franchise the particular franchise it is. A strange cocktail—part Disney magic, part Square Enix melodrama, shaken with a twist of incomprehensible plot threads. Chain of Memories, originally a Game Boy Advance title from 2004, was always a black sheep. With its updated 3D version on Steam as part of the Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix, it’s time to re-evaluate whether this transitional tale holds up when stripped of handheld novelty and viewed on the big screen.
Story: Memory as a Weapon
Narratively, Chain of Memories is a pivotal chapter. Set directly after the first Kingdom Hearts, it plunges Sora and company into Castle Oblivion, a liminal space where every floor brings a new world—and a deeper descent into amnesia. This isn’t your typical hero’s journey. Sora is manipulated, misled, and ultimately broken while chasing a memory that may not even be real. It’s bold storytelling, especially for a series often accused of overcomplication.
In many ways, the story is where this version shines. The full voice acting, cinematic cutscenes, and character models borrowed from later entries give emotional weight to a script that once lived in pixelated silence. Naminé’s sorrow, Axel’s duplicity, and Sora’s unraveling are more tangible here, thanks to the 3D upgrade. This tale was never meant to be confined to a handheld. If you’re new to the series, this game will not hold your hand. The narrative assumes you’re already familiar with the original Kingdom Hearts—and if you’re not, much of the emotional resonance will be lost in translation. But for longtime fans, it’s a bridge worth crossing.
From 2D to 3D: A Change That Cuts Both Ways
The original GBA version had a unique charm. It was limited but inventive, making the most of its hardware. The transition to 3D, however, is not without compromises. While the graphical upgrade and voice acting are welcome, the combat system—already divisive in 2D—feels clunkier in 3D. You’re not just dealing with enemies, you’re wrestling the camera, juggling card decks in real time, and trying to land combos that never quite flow. The card-based system, which mixes real-time movement with turn-based strategy, was innovative on the GBA. But in 3D? It feels like it’s at odds with itself—a system better suited to a different genre or era. Think of it as playing Yu-Gi-Oh on steroids, while running around Battle City, while the others are riding their 5D bikes (this reference made sense in my head, sorry if it’s not working in your brain).
It’s not all bad since this version succeeds in its world-building. Exploring familiar Disney locales in full 3D, even if they’re just hollow recreations of memories, still carries that nostalgic hit. But if you expect meaningful gameplay changes from the original 2008 PS2 Re: Chain of Memories port, you won’t find them here.
Gameplay: Tactical Frustration
Let’s talk mechanics. The card system—where every attack, item, and spell is tied to a limited deck—is a love-it-or-hate-it affair. It demands preparation, foresight, and quick reflexes. For some, that’s rewarding. For others, it’s maddening. Battles rarely feel natural. Instead, they feel like puzzles with frustrating solutions. Luckily, I played many card games growing up, so I made the most of building my decks and figuring out what makes specific systems tick.
Boss fights are where the system shines, requiring careful deck optimization and timing. But regular encounters quickly become repetitive, often devolving into the same loop of card breaks and reloading sequences. Add limited deck space and a steep difficulty curve, making you more likely to feel punished than empowered. Still, credit where it’s due: this game tries something radically different in a series that often sticks to its tried-and-true action formula. That experimentation, even when flawed, deserves respect. However, the 3D version of this game makes it almost feel like a Boss Rush mode of the original Kingdom Hearts game, and that’s a pity.
Conclusion
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories (Steam) is a game torn between ambition and execution. As a story, it’s essential—a dark, character-driven interlude that deepens the series’ lore and sets the stage for Kingdom Hearts II. As a game, however, its mechanics are divisive at best and outdated at worst. If you’re invested in the Kingdom Hearts saga, this is a must-play—not for its fun factor, but for its narrative significance. But if you’re looking for fluid combat or engaging gameplay, you might want to skip this memory and jump straight into the next chapter. Even though its strong narrative roots and atmospheric presentation are undercut by awkward mechanics that haven’t aged gracefully
6.5/10
Tested on the ASUS ROG Ally Z1 Extreme
