Hey there, fellow keyblade fanatics! Today, in honor of the upcoming release of Kingdom Hearts
3D: Dream Drop Distance and all it’s new features, we will be exploring the history of combat
mechanics in the Kingdom Hearts series from the beginning to present day and beyond. While
you’re here, you might as well let us know in the comment section below what Kingdom Hearts
game has your personal favorite combat system and what new additions you’d like to see in
future games (that means you, Kingdom Hearts III).
The first and most successful in the series, Kingdom Hearts for the PS2 combined role-playing
actions with real-time combat. Borrowing heavily from the Final Fantasy series, Kingdom Hearts
crafted the basic standard for combat for most of the series to date, including the Command
system (Attack, Magic, Items), A.I. party members, summons, and a variety of keyblade
choices.. While the battle system was rather straightforward, utilizing the correct attacks and
magic on certain enemies mean the difference between victory and a swift end. Players who
prefer real-time strategy along with a bit more formidable difficulty will enjoy this game the
most.
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories / Re:CoM
For the sequel to Kingdom Hearts, Square decided to drop Sora onto a handheld for the first
time; a GameBoy Advance to be exact. Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories continued the story
of the first game and tied into the next main console game on the PS2. Although the story was as
deep and invigorating as the first game’s, the combat was completely fresh, and to some, this
was not an easily welcomed change. Instead of a basic hack & slash, CoM introduced a cardbased gameplay experience. Everything in the game revolved around cards, from unlocking
rooms to combat. A card used would deal damage to the opponent as long as it was stronger than
their own. Combining certain attack, magic, or item cards would unleash a “sleight”, a powerful
and unique combo that could leave your enemies in the dust. Players who prefer card game
strategy, deck editing, and customization will enjoy this game the most.