"Wow" was the only word that would come to mind in the first hour or so of playing this game. While I am a Disney fan, even I was a bit skeptical of the combination between the almost kid-oriented movie company and the ever-popular "Final Fantasy People", as they tend to be called here where I live. Passing it up because of Disney in the name is indeed a mistake.

First off, let's start out with the gameplay. As I stated before, the game seems to use a modified version of the engine that became popular in the first Zelda game for the Nintendo 64, The Ocarina of Time, complete with lock-on function. Battles take place in real-time, and you switch through menus on the fly. There are a multitude of spells that can be learned throughout the game, as well as a myriad of new attack moves. As anyone who owns it knows, eventually you run into Donald and Goofy, who aid you in battle from there on in. Some may have complaints about the AI, but not to worry, as they can be set to do things at a different pace, though it won't save them from dying from time to time. You travel between various Disney worlds, from Tarzan's Deep Jungle to The Little Mermaid's Atlantis, in very unique vehicles called Gummi Ships. Depending on your preferences on shooters, you'll either love it or you'll hate it, as it's very reminiscent of the first Starfox game on the SNES. What's more is that you can create your own ship using parts you obtain throughout the game. You even gain summons throughout the game, such as Simba, Mushu and Tinkerbell. The only thing I can see that is truly lacking on the gameplay is the lack of other playable characters.

Simply put, the graphics are good. Things are clean and very well-detailed, not to mention very colorful and vivid, but movement seems stiff and disjointed at times. The Disney-ness of it is very apparent, even in most of the Final Fantasy characters that make an apperance. I mean come on....Cid has a toothpick instead of a cigarette...that ought to be enough explanation.

The sound department is extremely solid. Lip-synching is excellent, and the voices the littered by an all-star cast, from Haley Joel Osment as Sora, to Lance Bass as Sephiroth (I kid you not). The attacks are of your typical Disney sillyness, with all kinds of 'bonks' and 'doinks' accompanying some attacks, and some are your more practical sword strike sounds.

As a whole, Kingdom Hearts is a very enjoyable experience. If I weren't so concentrated on Star Ocean: Till the End of Time right now, I would definitely play through it again, as there's definitely enough to warrant multiple playthroughs. Get this one as soon as you can.

-Kei