Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory Reviews
Kingdom Hearts: Memory of Melody is an incredibly charming game that finally brings the stellar array of music from the series into the spotlight. Its various options and modes allow any Kingdom Hearts fan to enjoy, but it doesn't completely make up for some of the missing tracks. Still, the memories that these songs hold are represented brilliantly by a competent and addictive rhythm system that you'd be hard-pressed not to love.
There’s a sense that Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a game that wants to repay longtime fans for their commitment. The music and cutscenes draw from a deep well of nostalgia without relying on it. That said, fans looking for a game that advances the story might be disappointed.
If there’s ever a Curtain Call (or Final Mix) for this one that rectifies its omissions and lack of play style variety, it would be the makings of a must have. For now though, this one stands as an enjoyable dive into the heart of the series that keeps things simple and clean.
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a definitive look back on the series & newcomers get a great idea of what makes the series so beloved. If you're a veteran and want to brush up on all the lore, Melody of Memory offers that and a bit more.
We could summarize Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory as a game that reviews the entire saga through its soundtrack. With a simple, but effective gameplay, it's a game that will delight fans of the series. Completing the story mode will take us about 6 hours, although we will have other extras such as duels or cooperative to get more fun.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
With that said, Melody of Memories is still somewhat enjoyable and the IP it represents is doing the game a lot of favors. Fans will be able to sink several hours into it and I think it is better played in short bursts anyway. I’ll definitely fire the game up again for that couch co-op — even though both parties have to be at the same difficulty level — or to play against my wife or AI to see more of the mechanic that lets the player throw extra hurdles and tricks at their opponent. It isn’t the best game in the rhythm genre (that’s Gitaroo Man), but Melody of Memories is going to entertain a lot of people, make a ton of money, and get fans playing through the whole series again.
Considering I wasn’t a fan of KINGDOM HEARTS before I tackled Melody of Memory, I’m shocked by how much fun I had playing it. Not only did it bring back fond memories of Theatrhythm, but it made me more than a bit eager to dive into some other KINGDOM HEARTS games. This mixture of Square Enix and Disney is a novel idea in a world full of pale imitations, if nothing else. While the game isn’t quite perfect, it came pretty darn close. If you’re a fan of music games or just love KINGDOM HEARTS, you really can’t go wrong here.
For Kingdom Hearts fans, Melody of Memory is a nice dose of nostalgia for your own memories of the series’ score.
Music has always been a very important part of Kingdom Hearts and a rhythm game is a very understandable step for this series and it kind of works. The problem is that the story which has always been the core of this franchise is totally forgotten here because about two third of it is the recap of story so far and the new material doesn’t really move the story as much as a 10-hour full priced title should.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a fun but flawed rhythm game that focuses more on gameplay than plot.
An addictive and fun rhythm game celebrating the music and story of the Kingdom Hearts series - don't expect much in terms of story, but do expect a lot of fun, particularly in the vs and co-op mode.
Fans of Kingdom Hearts or rhythm games will both find something to love here, but most will be left wanting more.
Melody of Memory attest to these facets with every symphony that adorns each world. While it may not demonstrate a traditional exposition, nor does it present Kingdom Hearts in the best of ways, it’s an additional chapter and one that hardcore fans of Kingdom Hearts will appreciate, while awaiting its impending grand finale.
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a musical and rhythm game that serves as a reminder of the saga, and as a tribute to the great Yōko Shimomura, composer of most of the songs. With an easy gameplay to assimilate, the title comes loaded with content, although this can be a bit irregular due to the nature of some themes, which lend themselves little to a rhythm game. Regardless, any fan of the franchise should enjoy this musical tribute to the saga of Sora and his friends.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Despite the great responsibility to maintain the quality of the franchise, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory managed to deliver a great experience. Its rhythmic proposal unites the rich and stylish universe of KH with fun musical mechanics with praise. Even though not all songs are amazing, the game is a must for fans of the series and for rhythm games enthusiasts.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Even without trying to innovate, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory offers a solid experience for those who like rhythm games. It has the potential to act as a gateway to the genre, attracting the attention of an audience more accustomed to RPGs from the main series or fans of Disney characters. For those who have been with the franchise for a long time, this is an interesting way to revisit everything that has happened so far. The experience is enriched with a great playlist, the reunion with several remarkable characters, scenarios full of references and details, and a respectable amount of illustrations and cards to collect. All this content makes Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory a beautiful gift for all fans.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
After sinking in dozens of hours, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory became one of my favorites in the series. It is a perfect bookend to the Dark Seeker Saga storyline while teasing its next big step forward. While it is not the best stepping on point for newcomers, it makes a solid landing spot for veteran fans.
Melody of Memory is a wonderful addition to the still-growing franchise, and if you’ve played the previous games before, this game will take you on a trip down memory lane, and if there ever is a follow up to the series’ main story, this game is a good and fun way of knowing most of what you need to know about Kingdom Heart’s infamously complicated story. Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memories has the makings of a fan-service title, one that is done correctly.
Again, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a pretty great rhythm game, providing solid and challenging gameplay as well as a stellar tracklist. It may be missing a lot of fan favorite elements, but if you overlook it, it’s still an impressive recap of the series. If you’re a casual fan and you want to experience the music, it’s a fun enough time. For those that are the die-hard fans, you’ll mostly be playing this for the new clues at the end.
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a homage to the entire series. The background music has always been an essential part of the franchise. That's why I was all the more pleased when this game was announced. The story sections are told in their most essential features, which is good for newcomers, but simply too little for veterans. Also the scope is exhausted relatively quickly and the other modes are nice, but it doesn't have a real added value. The enemy types are also exhausted after a while. The real highlight is and remains the music, because every single track reminded me of the wonderful events around Kingdom Hearts. If you want to remember such moments, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a must buy. If you don't have any nostalgic memories of it, you will have to think twice about buying it.
Review in German | Read full review