Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories [GBA]

Card-based battle games tend to be slow-paced, plodding affairs whose only intrigue comes in the questing for pretty virtual cards. For that reason, some Kingdom Hearts fans may be disappointed to know that the game's semi-sequel, Chain of Memories, is very card-heavy. But don't fret! Despite being slightly more complicated than its PlayStation 2 predecessor, the card-based gameplay does nothing to diminish the fun and Disney fan service of the original.

Chain of Memories picks up Sora, Goofy, and Donald where the first game left them. Together, they enter a mysterious castle where memories come and go on a whim, and what you remember is what you see. The story tries to be mysterious, but winds up feeling disjointed most of the time. It does manage to tie into the previous game without really affecting the overall storyline, and also gives opportunities for countless cameos from Disney and Final Fantasy celebrities.

As you play through the game you'll explore many Disney-themed worlds, ranging from the innards of Monstro, the ravenous whale from Pinocchio, to the 100 Acre Wood, the home of a much cuter, though no-less-hungry Pooh Bear. For the most part, you're free to tackle the worlds in whatever order you wish, and you also get to choose your destiny within those worlds. Certain locked doors require certain types of cards to open; the cards are all over the place, and depending on which is used, players can create a room teeming with enemies, one where all foes are asleep, or one with nothing but treasure inside.

The world cards shape the land you explore, but more important are the cards you use in combat. Bumping into any enemy will bring you into battle, which takes place in real-time like the first Kingdom Hearts. But, interestingly, all your actions, other than running and jumping, are dictated by cards. If you want to attack, use a potion, or even call on the help of Donald or Goofy, then you have to select and use the appropriate card from your deck.

The card-based gameplay is surprisingly fast-paced, but can be a handful. Running away from enemies and lining up attacks while frantically sorting through a virtual deck of cards is no small task. And while the early foes are easily dispatched, the game's difficulty ramps up rather quickly just past the mid-way point. If your decks and skills aren't in good shape, then you could be in trouble. Thankfully, there's a never-ending supply of baddies to face, so leveling up is not difficult. Overall, the game isn't terribly long or difficult, but it's a fun journey and completion unlocks a new gameplay and versus mode that will keep fans busy.

Whether it's your first or second trip through, the game looks fantastic, with the vibrant and colorful look to the Disney characters you'd expect, and excellent animation on all. The worlds have a tendency to look repetitive, with themed sprites recurring everywhere, but otherwise they look fine. Audio is similarly well made, with appropriate theme music in every world, and some nice sound effects.

Though the complexities of the card battle mechanics in Chain of Memories make fights a handful at times, many players will enjoy learning about and exploiting the system. Likewise, a disjointed storyline that seems more driven by gratuitous cameos than compelling gameplay won't please everyone, but die-hard Disney fans won't mind. And any GBA-owning Kingdom Hearts devotee should not miss this one.