Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix: Cloud Version

There is nothing quite like Kingdom Hearts. A wish fulfillment universe populated by a roster of endearing characters both new and established. This collection pulls together smooth running and visually impressive transfers of both the main games, as well as the fantastic Birth by Sleep and three other titles that will appeal to fans and completionists. There is more than enough here to tide you over until the fabled release of Kingdom Hearts III.

What we have here remains a fine collection of games and an interesting demonstration of the first decade of the Kingdom Hearts series. If you have a reliable enough internet connection, this is almost as good a way to play Kingdom Hearts as any other. If you don't, absolutely leave it on the digital shelf. We'd like to score Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5 HD ReMix on the assumption that you can run it, but that's not necessarily an accurate representation of what many people's experience is going to be, and our experience - with robust and rapid internet - was patchy. If you have any other way at all of playing these games, we recommend you do so. Ultimately, this is a great package delivered in the worst possible way.

An outstanding, must-play action role-playing game which, while imperfect around the edges, is a classic at its core.

Kingdom Hearts is fractured no more.

As the classic Kingdom Hearts games finally jump to PC, the Windows ports of the remastered collection are mostly solid, despite some issues.

The Nintendo Switch version of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix suffers from its reliance on cloud streaming, which introduces input lag, connectivity dependence, and performance issues that undermine the series’ fast-paced combat and the Switch’s portable appeal. The high price, risk of server shutdowns, and failure to deliver native ports for games that could feasibly run on Switch hardware further sour the experience. While the cloud tech can be effective in ideal conditions, these conditions are rare, and this version pales in comparison to native ports on other platforms. Some of the entries in this compilation are classics on PlayStation 2. It was understandable that the demanding Kingdom Hearts III made in Unreal Engine 4 might not be feasible on Nintendo Switch, but there was no excuse for the much older titles.

Kingdom Hearts is one of the most formidable multiverse stories in gaming history, and this extensive remaster package presents one of the best deals around. Not all of the games have aged gracefully, but the best ones have stood the test of time. They're classics for a reason.

While the story is still its strongest selling point, The game doesn't quite feel at home on the Switch five years after it's original release. With framedrops, technical limitations and game breaking bugs, this is the least polished version available.

In the end, Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMix is very good. From a value perspective, having four large RPGs ensures that it'll take newcomers a very long time before they exhaust everything. The gameplay and presentation remain as solid as ever, even though some may not appreciate the constant combat shifts between titles, and the story is more palatable now that you aren't waiting several years between releases. For those willing to jump into Square Enix's action RPG series, this is an excellent starting point.

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX is the best way to introduce the series to newcomers. The collection offers a nice selection of action RPGs with many hours of guaranteed fun, if the player reveals its problems. Some options help to ensure a good PC experience, but they do not fix the problems of the games and the package in general.