Nintendo Game Boy Advance - Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories is an action role-playing game (ARPG) developed by Square Enix in collaboration with Jupiter and published by Square Enix and Disney Interactive Studios. Released in 2004, it serves as a direct sequel to the original Kingdom Hearts and a bridge between Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II.
Gameplay Overview:
•Card-Based Combat System: Unlike the traditional action RPG mechanics of the main series, Chain of Memories introduces a unique card-based battle system. Players collect and use cards to perform attacks, cast spells, summon allies, or activate abilities.
•Deck Building: Players must strategically assemble a deck of cards. Each card has a value (1 to 9 or “0”), with higher values overriding lower ones during combat.
•Real-Time Action: Battles occur in real-time, requiring players to move around the battlefield, dodge attacks, and time their card usage effectively.
•Sleights (Special Moves): Players can combine three cards to unleash powerful abilities or combos. However, using a sleight can permanently remove the first card from the deck unless replenished.
Storyline:
The game follows Sora, Donald Duck, and Goofy as they venture into Castle Oblivion, where they gradually lose their memories while uncovering the castle’s secrets. The storyline introduces:
•Organization XIII: A mysterious group that plays a key role in the Kingdom Hearts series.
•Naminé: A young girl with the ability to manipulate memories, pivotal to the plot.
•Riku’s Journey: Players can unlock a secondary campaign, “Reverse/Rebirth,” which follows Riku’s struggle against the darkness in Castle Oblivion.
Notable Features:
1.Exploration: The game features rooms based on worlds from Kingdom Hearts, recreated using card-based mechanics. Players use “map cards” to generate room layouts and enemies.
2.Dual Campaigns: Sora’s story focuses on uncovering the mysteries of Castle Oblivion, while Riku’s campaign delves into his battle against Ansem’s lingering influence.
3.Customization: Players can tailor their decks to suit their preferred combat style, prioritizing offensive, defensive, or supportive strategies.
4.Rich Story: The game expands the Kingdom Hearts lore, introducing major characters and concepts integral to later games.
Reception:
Chain of Memories received praise for its innovative card-based mechanics and narrative depth but divided opinions due to the departure from traditional combat. The game is regarded as a critical piece of the Kingdom Hearts storyline, appealing to fans of the series and GBA players who enjoyed RPGs with experimental mechanics.
It was later remade in 3D as Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories for the PlayStation 2, retaining the core gameplay while incorporating graphics and voice acting similar to the main series.