As part of the 1.5+2.5 ReMIX on PS4.
I love Kingdom Hearts. I always have and probably always will. My first experience with Kingdom Hearts was actually Chain of Memories, which was a fucking ride, especially since I never played the original. Kingdom Hearts 1 was what inspired me to get a PS2, way back in 2004 (the game came out in 2002, but being pretty poor, the thought of getting a PS2 didn't really cross my mind until a few years later). I remember returning that first game for a different copy because of the way the case smelled, because I wanted my experience to be perfect. The PS2 my mother bought on eBay never worked and I had to wait a few agonizing months until Christmas so we could buy a Slim PS2 from WalMart.
I tell you that to tell you that Kingdom Hearts as a whole is a very powerful memory for me. When playing through the ReMIX, I remembered so much of the dialogue. Memories of holding a PS2 controller, staying up late at night fighting Sephiroth, talking about the game with my first girlfriend came flooding back to me. Replaying through the game was a fantastic nostalgia trip.
So with a heavy heart, I have to talk about how poorly Kingdom Hearts 1 has aged. Y'all, it's rough. The combat isn't substandard, but it's damn close. Sora just doesn't move or attack as fluidly as he should. Kingdom Hearts 1 almost never tells the player where to go or what to do. In one visit to Traverse Town, the player has to explore the entire area, then talk to a random shopkeeper, with nothing to hint towards this. Deep Jungle, for instance, has you backtracking through the entire world no less than three times. Monstro is almost unnavigable. Neverland is tiny and confined, but also you can fly, which just further exacerbates the situation. The less said about Atlantica, the better.
The story is cutesy and trite throughout many of the cutscenes, with characters earnestly talking about their hearts and the power of friendship. It's hokey, but still endearing to me. KH1 isn't a perfect game, but it's a fun, nostalgic romp.