Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece Collection (Nintendo Switch)

Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece Collection
"Fragments of a broken port like a far-off memory. A far-off memory that looks like a broken port. I want to play a better version of these games — these otherwise great games."
Genre(s): Action RPG Rating(s): E10+ Platform(s): Nintendo Switch Release Date: February 10, 2022 Developer(s): Square Enix Publisher(s): Square Enix Country: Japan Series: Kingdom Hearts

Kingdom Hearts is an action role-playing video game developed by Square Enix that was originally released for the PlayStation 2 in 2002. For the game's 20th anniversary, all of the Kingdom Hearts games were released as cloud versions for the Nintendo Switch.

The releases include cloud-based versions of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 and 2.5 ReMIX, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue and Kingdom Hearts 3 with the Re Mind DLC storyline included. The announcement itself was quite controversial among fans, owing to the game being exclusive to the Nintendo Switch Online service's cloud streaming system, which would cause all sorts of problems due to it being reliant on the user's internet connection.

Why It's Not Simple and Clean, IT'S Difficult and Dirty

NOTE: This article will only focus on the cloud-based Switch version as opposed to the PC/PlayStation/Xbox version.

1. The idea of the games being available only through a cloud streaming service is questionable in the first place, as such services leave the user's ability to play at the mercy of their internet connection (as proven by previous iterations of cloud gaming).
   • A slowdown in the connection can result in significant lag, which, for an action game as reliant on fast-paced action and precise timing and dodging as Kingdom Hearts, is a serious issue.
   • Being unable to play without a strong connection calls the very idea of this port into question, as one of the Switch's biggest selling points is its ability to play anywhere. It's unlikely that the player will have a strong connection when away from their home, leaving them unable to play this game outside, directly contradicting the premise of these ports.
   • Additionally, not only is the Nintendo Switch perfectly capable of running most Kingdom Hearts games up to Kingdom Hearts III, but Square Enix and its subsidiaries already released not one, not two, but four games on previous Nintendo platforms (Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Kingdom Hearts Re: Coded, and Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance), all of which run and play much more smoothly than these ports despite their age.
     • Furthermore, a Kingdom Hearts game (Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory) had already been released physically on the Switch just a year before these ports.
     • While it can be understandable for 0.2: Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage and Kingdom Hearts III be cloud-based only which otherwise causes significant downgrades to match with the native hardware, the rest of the previous games that were released on previous consoles that are more than a decade old, so it doesn't make sense.
   • All other versions of the games, including the PC ports that were released on both Steam and Epic Games Store, and the PS4 and Xbox One releases can run offline, leaving Switch users with the short end of the stick.
   • Even those that have a very strong internet connection to play the game normally on the Switch, there are much higher odds that they already have not only other consoles like the PS4 but also a very strong PC to play the much better ports instead.
2. The games are filled to the brim with bugs and glitches, running from harmless, to game-breaking.
   • One such bug, involving the game checking flags in the wrong order, can allow the player to spam the Trinity Limit ability almost infinitely. It was proven that when this glitch is performed correctly, it is possible to defeat Terra's Lingering Will (one of the hardest bosses in gaming otherwise) in a few seconds.
     • This happens because the Limit system relies on a Limit Gauge, which determines how much time the player has to execute the commands for the Limit attack before wearing off. The Trinity Limit move has three separate button inputs, which override the command bar inputs. One of these buttons automatically ends the Limit, instantly dropping the Limit Gauge to zero, while using the basic attack only causes part of the Gauge to wear off. Because the flag for the button press takes priority over the flag for the Limit wearing off, this means that the player can keep using the attack until the enemy is on the brink of death. At this point, the Limit can be ended manually to trigger its finishing blow, ending the battle.
   • The graphics for these ports are of a much lower quality than their PS4, Xbox One, and PC counterparts. While this is normal considering the Switch's weaker hardware, it is also worth noting that the games were originally released on the PS2 (1 through Re:Chain of Memories and II Final Mix), PSP (Birth by Sleep) and 3DS (Dream Drop Distance), which is well within the Switch's capabilities to emulate.
     • It's also worth noting that several games with very detailed and advanced graphics, such as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim run on the Switch without an issue.
   • The frame rate is so inconsistent that it can sometimes make the game unplayable, dipping below the target 30fps half the time.
   • Citing the above, it could mean that this version of the compilation is heavily rushed.
3. The game was released at the worst possible time, as the 20th anniversary of the series was right around the corner, smearing the series' (and Square Enix's) reputation just in time for that.
4. Overpriced: The Integrum Masterpiece collection, which contains all the ports, is vastly overpriced for the crappy quality of this compilation (sound familiar?), totaling $90 and requires the Nintendo account (at least the membership isn't required).
   • Granted, you can purchase the games individually with 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX being $40 and the other two games, 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue and Kingdom Hearts III are $50 each, which just makes the $90 price point a $140 value. But still, the games are cloud-based.
5. The game came out in 2022, and other games by Square Enix are coming to the Nintendo Switch such as The DioField Chronicle, Nier: Automata - The End of YoRHa Edition, Triangle Strategy, Chocobo GP, Romancing Saga: Minstrel Song Remastered, Dragon Quest Treasures, Harvestella, Live A Live, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII - Reunion, etc. There was no reason to buy this game in one of Square Enix's strongest years for the platform, and the $90 price point doesn't help either.
   • It also doesn't help that this game came out on one of the most vital years for Nintendo Switch, with games such as Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Bayonetta 3 (despite the controversies), JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Pac-Man World: Re-Pac, Splatoon 3, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, Nintendo Switch Sports (despite being mediocre), Mario Strikers: Battle League (despite still being a mediocre game), Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (despite being a broken mess), and Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga being released on the platform.
6. The most recent patch as of May 2022 for Kingdom Hearts III shows that you can choose either graphics priority or performance mode, which is completely unnecessary for a cloud-based game, let alone a Switch game of all things.
7. Similar to Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis being pointless and the original Sonic the Hedgehog being released on Wii Virtual Console in North America and Super Mario 3D All-Stars with Super Mario 64 now being available in Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Switch Online, now that the non-cloud versions of the Kingdom Hearts games (including this collection) are finally available on Steam on June 13, 2024, and are fully compatible with the Steam Deck, there's no reason to pick up the highly inferior Switch version of this collection if you're interested in playing it on a handheld platform, making this version completely pointless.
   • • Ironically enough, Sora was announced to be coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in 2021.

Redeeming Qualities

1. This port of Kingdom Hearts 3 has an exclusive Keyblade known as Advent Red to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the series.
2. The game can still be playable at times, despite the issues.
3. Additionally, none of the characters are flanderized, and Kaira remains her sweet lovable self.
4. The fact that it is possible to purchase 1.5 + 2.5 Remix and 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue and Kingdom Hearts III are $50 each, w might be excused.
5. At least this game provides new players (especially for teenagers) to play the original Kingdom Hearts games, it can even make adults who played the Kingdom Hearts games as a kid feel nostalgic, and even cry and wish to be kid again.

Reception

The cloud versions of the game have received mixed to negative reviews from critics and very negative from fans of Kingdom Hearts. On Metacritic, it has a critic score of 57/100 and a user rating of 1.0/10. Fans have protested against Square Enix and Disney releasing the games as cloud versions on the Switch, and yet the two companies wouldn't listen to any form of criticism and just released them as such anyway. Fans of Kingdom Hearts and Disney film franchises considered this Switch port as the worst port in the entire series.

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