The embargo has lifted on reviews for Kingdom Hearts III -- a game over a decade in the making. We imagine that most fans of the series will be grabbing a copy regardless of critical reception, but we've gone ahead and listed some review scores anyway.
It's looking pretty great for Sora and the gang so far, with most scores edging into 8 and 9 territory. The general consensus seems to be that this is a thoroughly enjoyable game with some fantastic moments, but numerous critics have singled out the story and pacing as low points.
IGN - 8.7/10
Even as I watched the dust settle on the story I wanted to jump right back in to collect everything. But to see all of the events of the Kingdom Hearts games so far culminate is, frankly, weird. Having been given so much time to ruminate, its specific resolutions aren’t all that surprising, but only a marginal impact is lost as a result. I still loved seeing so many characters from throughout this series interact in new ways and rekindle old bonds. It’s nice to see that, even so long after the very first game, is so full of heart.
GameSpot - 8/10
With the finish line in sight, the game disrupts the pace with one arduous boss fight after another--not challenging in any way, just more of slog. The payoff, meanwhile, isn't entirely worth it, as Kingdom Hearts 3 wraps up its story in an incredibly unfulfilling way. But the story of Keyblade wars, time-travelling villains, body-hopping also-rans, and world-ending darkness isn't what I'll remember about Kingdom Hearts 3 or the series as a whole.
GamesRadar - 4/5
Whatever the flaws, there is nothing quite like Kingdom Hearts 3, and it's a wild, wonderful ride as a result. Name one other game where you can watch Elsa belt out Let It Go before hammering some monsters to death with a giant key. I'll wait.
USgamer - 4.5/5
For all the new in Kingdom Hearts 3, there is plenty of the old too. The action combat is more satisfying than it's ever been, even if it's a tad easy to skate through the main storyline. For longtime fans of the series, all those emotional payoffs that have been building for 17 years await. For newcomers, buckle up: because you're in for a wild ride of bonkers Disney interactions and some exciting boss battles.
Polygon - N/A
Kingdom Hearts isn’t simple anymore; it isn’t just joy and bright colors and Disney heroes. Instead, the conclusion of this story is tangled up in so many conflicting threads, each one a heavy burden on its hero, whose smile now feels unnerving. Kingdom Hearts 3 is an example of what can go wrong when a series that once stood in contrast to its peers as a lighthearted alternative loses its way.
What do you make of these review scores? Are you excited for Kingdom Hearts III? Show off your craziest keyblade in the comments section below.
Comments 47
Tuesday hurry up !
Well that definitely sounds like Kingdom Hearts to me.
Right, so we know what the paid for reviews are like. Let's wait and see what the genuine ones are like.
To be honest, I have no history with this game and, from an outsiders point of view, don't quite understand why anyone would be interested in a game that seemingly randomly chucks together JRPG's with Disney characters for no reason, but heh ho.
@tomassi ign I found out about resident evil 2 review by ign.they change the resident evil 2 review score. ign.😱😒😳.word up son
@tomassi “paid for reviews” lol
Polygon has a positive outlook as always 😅 My card just got charged today by Shopto. Ready and waiting 17 years have been far too long but im still so so excited, just as i was when the first game released
Very disparate opinions.
great reviews.kingdoms ❤ 3 is a special game.word up son
Can't wait for this game
Solid scores, right now the game is 88 on aggregate. It will probably be a GOTY contender.
@tomassi Check out Kotaku's recent video on KH3. The last third is for you.
I'm sure it's a great game, it's just too kiddie for me. I don't like the Disney stuff
Wonder if IGN is gonna change their score again?
@kyleforrester87 @turntSNACO
Why would Square Enix only let a 'select' few sites review their game pre-launch if there wasn't money changing hands?
@tomassi I dunno, but I'll dig out my tin foil hat this evening and have a think
@tomassi clearly a conspiracy. It's such a shame they didn't pay them more to get better scores.
/s
I just want to go to sleep, and when I wake up it's suddenly the 29th.
@tomassi I haven't played any KH, and to be honest, I have no idea how you manage to judge a game without knowing anything about it.
What is the saying again? "Only judge a book by its cover"?
@tomassi Bigger sites getting favorable treatment is nothing new.
Besides, the paranoia is pretty funny considering how lukewarm some of these reviews seem to be. Wouldn't the whole point of buying reviews be for them to say "10/10 best game eva?"
After ace combat7 and res 2 this is the third game to get in 2019.wont matter the review. Every gamer should have a copy of Kingdom hearts three in his collection because we'll it kh3
@tomassi Why do the NY Times and Washington Post get more breaking news stories from insider sources than, say, Vox? Bigger staff, bigger readership, more industry connections, better chance of making a splash. No shade to Push Square, but obviously a site like IGN is going to be a higher priority for publishers. More clicks, more hype, less likely to take a risk for the sake of a hot take.
P.S.: The Kotaku video gives a good metaphor for understanding KH as an outsider. Nothing to do with this other conversation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqnAx3gx99w
Never played any of the previous entries and don’t have the time to play them to play this, so pass.
I have so many games to play but I might have to break down and buy it
It'll be my GOTY easily.
None of the reviews mention how much post game content there is or whether Union X features in the plot which is the 2 things I want to know about
@DualWielding Union X is very important.
@IBeAGamer I really would like it if the master of masters or Marluxia looking for his sister it's at least mentioned
I'm honestly so excited. I absolutely adore this series, and especially the story. I know that a lot of it is very weird and just talking about darkness and light, but the emotional connection I have to all the characters and everything that's happening is amazing
I swear Gamespot gives almost every game an 8. It's like they say, "Look, we know no game is perfect. We also know this game is good. So, let's just give it an 8, because it seems like a good score to give." Lol. I know they don't do that and I'm only exaggerating, obviously, but yeah. Hah.
Just a few more days for one of the best games of the year
That Gamespot review sounds awfully pissy for an 8/10.
This is what confuses me about some reviews. A lot of these have given the game great scores yet the description makes the game sound terrible
Well better scores than I was expecting but with with resident evil out and the negative comments on hear from people I expecting poor sales and as usual polygon so just what a useless bunch of tools they are.
Does tomassi ever have anything positive to say?
@Oh_fiddlesticks
It's is bizarre! Reading the reviews a huge difference between the the score and reading the review.
Look at gamespot it sounds more like a 6 from the review
89 Metacritic.
Start of last year was Monster Hunter World - This year it is Kingdom Hearts 3. Good times.
Who pooped in Polygons cornflakes?
@Rhaoulos I can easily judge it by saying that I can't stand JRPG's and the apparent 'recycling' of the characters in every single game. If I have to look at another spiky haired, big eyed, weird clothed individual again it will be too soon.
If it had just been Disney characters I may have been interested.
@turntSNACO That doesn't really make sense though. Surely to make the biggest splash you would put it out to ALL review sites? Newspapers pay people for exclusive stories, don't they?
What possible benefit does Square Enix get for not giving everyone a chance to review it? Other than potentially IGN saying, hey here's x amount of $ if we can be one of the 5 sites to review it first (for hits etc).
@Ralizah Nah because then it would have gotten suspicious if they had all given it 10/10!
well game collection dispatched mine this morning, so with any luck it will arrive tomorrow and that will be my weekend sorted.
@Spectra I loved the second one but didn't like the first one... (anyways i'm willing to play it later anyways) i think for me, the thing that brought me to this franchise was Disney and FF, yeah, i love Disney movies and the FF franchise, seeing Cloud and Squall together (at that time, when Dissidia didn't even existed) was so epic...
@tomassi Clearly that gambit failed. They didn't account for the possibility of someone like you seeing past the obvious nature of things and calling them out on their scheme.
@tomassi It's lucky you're around or they might have gotten away with it.
@tomassi So... you disagree with the critics purely because of the main character's haircut? You're a funny one
I personally don't mind if 2 characters in different games have similar haircut as long as the game is good. I am more bothered by copy pasted games like FIFA and CoD. They probably have different haircut so you won't see the similarities (I am so sorry, I couldn't resist )
Edit: 19 critics listed on Metacritic and none of them give the game 0/100. They were definitely paid by SE.
@Rhaoulos Didn't say I think the game is bad because of the haircuts. I said I wouldn't play it because jrpg's aren't aesthetically pleasing to me personally.
I don't play FIFA or COD, so no idea about copy and paste within those games.
@suikoden Major Armstrong!!!
Most people won't understand the story unless they've played all the spinoffs. Yes the story is complicated but also awesome. Getting mines delivered on monday xd
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