Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece
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Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece Media
KINGDOM HEARTS Series for Nintendo Switch Cloud Version Trailer
Critic Reviews for Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece
The Switch version of Kingdom Hearts only manages to bring an inferior experience to a new console, without giving players access to the portable and casual benefits of that console. So, there's really nothing that makes the Switch version a preferable option over the others that are currently available. For players where the Switch is the only option available, it will work to get through to the end credits, but it won't allow those players to experience this incredible series at its best.
Kingdom Hearts on Switch could have been excellent, but instead of actually giving at the very least 1.5 + 2.5 the love and care they deserve they've all been shoved into the cloud. On top of dealing with input lag, dips in visual quality, and the occasional stutter many of these games look and run a lot worse compared to their PS4 or even PS3 counterparts. But hey…it's portable. Kinda.
Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece for cloud probably isn’t the best way to experience these classic titles, and with its hefty price tag, I would opt for the other versions which aren’t plagued with these needless issues.
"Though the worlds may seem far apart and out of reach, they nonetheless remain connected by invisible ties. As do our hearts."
Ultimately, there are a ton of potential issues you may or may not run into, and seemingly no real advantages to running Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece on Switch - unless you simply have no other choice but to play these games on this console. As a fan, and as a player who just wants a consistent gameplay experience, it's incredibly disappointing. If you can buy this package for another system we'd earnestly implore you to do so - it may not be handheld, but at least it would be yours to keep and it would run reliably and consistently. As it stands, Kingdom Hearts on Nintendo Switch is defined by compromise.
The Kingdom Hearts series is one of the gems of the games industry, and absolutely worth playing through by any means necessary – even cloud streaming. However, if you have a platform that allows you to play these classics off a local install, then I’d recommend playing through the series on said platform over the Switch version without hesitation.
Unfortunately, even with all the virtues of the Kingdom Hearts saga, this version of Cloud makes it impossible to enjoy it as it should be.
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Many players will undoubtedly grab these versions to replay some classics from their childhood, and I already feel for them when that wave of disappointment hits. But truth be told, I feel worse for people hoping to finally give the series a try now that the entire collection is on a mobile, family-first platform. If that describes you, and you’ve been waiting for this moment to finally dive into Kingdom Hearts: Keep waiting.
