Disclaimer: My experience with this Steam release has been strictly on Steam Deck. I own all of these games on Epic Games, and the Steam releases are far superior in my lengthy experience. Due to the Steam Review Character limit, I posted the full review on Reddit for anyone interested: https://www.reddit.com/r/KingdomHearts/comments/1ewz9l3/my_review_of_the_steam_release_of_kh_1525_remix/

Onto the review!

/ 1. Quick Introduction & Summary:

KINGDOM HEARTS -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX- is an exceptionally unique entry in the space of video games by JRPG gargantuan Square Enix, partnered with Disney. Somehow by sheer tremendous happenstance, we are met with a franchise that currently extends its lively arms into its 2nd decade - complemented by the fierceness of some of the most competent and well rounded, exciting, and interesting game design choices and innovations built on the hack and slash & JRPG genres - especially when considered in light of the fact that these are all PS2/PSP generation titles. The level of polish, ingenuity, flare, and creativity present in these releases despite their age, the cascade of release windows, all existing on extremely dated and limited hardware - is something I'm not sure I will ever fully comprehend or fully appreciate - especially as someone that had the privilege to own some of these on the original console as a child. This series deserves its place in gaming history as one of the best franchises to ever grace the PlayStation 2/PSP - its production value, tie-ins, variety, charm, and mystique - this is one of the most 'bang-for-your-buck' collections that exists in gaming, provided you appreciate the genre and what it offers as a franchise.

// 2. What's Included - & What to Look Out For

In this collection, you receive 4 games, and two cut-scene movies (which, arguably, are deserving of their own game releases, alas, we don't have any indication of these happening aside from fan-made projects/recreations).

1. Kingdom Hearts I: Final Mix

The very first entry, and a monumentous, genre-defining, although at times clunky and frustrating experience, at that. A version of the title originally only available in Japanese, for the PS2. A more in-depth and flavoursome endeavour, essentially an incremental DLC-esque variant, built upon the original Kingdom Hearts I experience. Enemies receive cosmetic reskins, item crafting receives an overhaul and many unique mini-game-esque encounters are introduced (necessary to complete the game 100%). A (new for the time) superboss, as well as some QoL and bug fixes not present in the originals, and more.

/ Unique Features: The first of many. The most 'simple' and accessible of the series, particularly in relation to its story. Man, does this series get complicated, and confusing. My personal favourite for its innocence, and how it stands in its own right as a very capable and well-defined, easy to pick up, hard to master combat system. The skill ceiling is tremendous in this game, as well as the others. Essentially every boss in this game can be beaten on hardest difficulty (Proud, Level 1/Zero Experience gain) with no damage. A mark of exceptional combat & boss design in my eyes. This also applies to Kingdom Hearts II: FM.

2. Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories

A title adapted originally from the GameBoy Advance, into the style a la Kingdom Hearts 1 (also a re-release available originally on PS2). Re:COM is the conversion of a fairly limited 2D/isometric game, utilising an (admittedly difficult, intimidating, and at times very cumbersome) card/deck-building system. The first of several entries in the franchise to explore the idea of such a system (or variants of) in the real-time combat space. This never received a 'Final Mix', as you could argue the release itself is the 'definitive' mix of this game.

// Unique Features: Unique to-this-day card & deck building gameplay, it stands in its own right in comparison to the other card-based entries of the series (at least of those I've played - Birth By Sleep, Dream Drop Distance). Functions very heavily based on numerical value of cards, and 'sleights', which are sets of 3 cards queued up and deployed at either the right (or wrong) times, for tremendous combat advantage, or failure. A unique take on what would traditionally be (maybe loosely) defined as procedural generation of the open game world, as you delve into the 'chain' of rooms forming a World floor, you get to choose the scale, intensity, and unique traits of each room based on a collection of cards you slowly accrue and learn to benefit from in your journey. To note: no 'zero experience' ability or feasible challenge mode is in this game.

3. Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (cut-scene movie)

There's not much for me to say here personally, as I haven't played the original very much, nor do I have the concentration to fully appreciate the ways in which the content is delivered here. Better than nothing - but I do yearn for the full, updated experience, if that can ever happen. FWIW, bonus content is unlocked in Chain of Memories for 'completing' this title's entries to 100%. A delivery of HD remastered cutscenes, as well as tie-in text entries to summarise what would have otherwise been the player's actions in the original game levels.

/// Unique Features: Bonus content in the vein of 'Final Mix' additions, for Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories. New cards, particularly of Organisation XIII members, all with unique effects - that require you to traverse the game world in order to acquire.

4. Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix

The heavy-hitter of the collection for many. Where the original is an entry that dazzles for its charm, world building, intrigue and novelty, this game is the maturation of the series into a hack-and-slash & franchise tie-in monolith. Every world has its own unique expansions of existing Disney franchises (and in one case, an adaptation of the classic cartoon era). Personally, where rarely much is at fault beyond preferential quibble, aside from the rather common criticism of ordinary hallway-style level design (I don't personally feel the game struggles much here, the gameplay, encounters/bosses, and story much make up for this issue in my eyes). Though its creativity in this department is definitely lesser in comparison to the original.

//// Unique Features: Probably the most beloved, established, and well-rounded game out of all the games in the entire franchise. A metric ton of story and side content, optional bosses, optional encounters, challenges, and mini-games. Unique to this game, you double dip almost every single world, adapting the otherwise traditional Disney worlds into unique encounters and scenarios not seen anywhere else. A very generous sampling of original boss design, between the Heartless and Nobodies, Disney villains, original JRPG villains (of the Organisation XIII in particular - all with unique character traits, in personality, as well as elemental.) In my eyes, extremely creative weapon, ability, and setpiece design. Some of the most enthralling, exciting, unique and original music in the series.

KH II Final Mix introduces Critical Mode, the Zero EXP gain challenge mode run, new abilities, items, and a plethora of optional boss content - as well as new keyblades, rebalances, and some changes to various systems in the game.

Continued. via Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/KingdomHearts/comments/1ewz9l3/my_review_of_the_steam_release_of_kh_1525_remix/

Honestly, I have no idea where to begin.

Red Dead Redemption will always have a special place in my heart.

It is the spiritual successor to Red Dead Revolver, another game I have a very intimate and close connection to - as I played it very early in my childhood, and even beat almost 100%, to the point of getting the Red Wood Revolver mode unlocked (requiring you beat the game on the hardest difficulty/s before). No small feat for a child, let's be real. That game can be ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ brutal.

But somehow, Red Dead Redemption straddles the line between realism; and arcadey, cowboy mayhem, pretty much perfectly. Never do I feel like it overstays its welcome, or deprives me of vital quality of life for the purpose of its gameplay, story, or of the experience it executes so well. It manages to meander about its way through a complex narrative that touches on so many characters, both past (and in some ways, future), with a lot of presentation, depth, and precision - to the point of being clinical in execution. This game may as well have the skill and delivery of 10 games stacked upon its head.

The atmosphere of Red Dead Redemption 1 is so tightly woven, and expertly crafted. It's one of the few story games I own that actively captures my entire attention. It feels like an affront on the experience to do anything else, or even listen to anything else, while playing. Even as I write this I felt like I could only appropriately channel its energy and write a review by listening to the ambience of the main menu.

Despite the world in its gameplay essences being fairly hollow, it never really feels like it. I have and continue to spend hours just meandering about in this world, hunting various animals and just having a good time, all the while running into the game's random events. Sure, after enough repetition they could be seen as just that - repetitive. But it bulks out the exploration aspect of the game very nicely, and the mechanics this game delivers both in its gunplay, exploration, horseriding and especially storytelling rarely leaves me with much to be desired. It scratches an itch you might not even expect or understand was there in the first place, all the while not overencumbering you with tedium, tardiness or excessive means towards realism.

The peak of this game, is no more or less a product of the sum of its parts. You could take any aspect of this game and it will stand on its own two legs very well - and that I'm sure of. But it really shines as a package serving a simulacra of 20th Century America, with an exemplifying bit of goof and charm subtlely packaged in. This game manages to perfect and even channel parts of its predecessor, but without being an all-out novelty fest, like Red Dead Revolver very much was. In ways it's perfectly believable - in its own little slice of fictional reality.

A criticism might be the length of travel, but you can fast travel very easily, both with stage coaches or with the campsite kit. If you're in town, spend a couple dollars on a stage coach. Or just ride out of town, with a waypoint in tow, and off you go to pretty much exactly where you'd like to be - at least as far as roads can carry you.

The game can be brutal, in a lot of ways, but most of all if you die unexpectedly, choose to close it or just not save properly, as you may not have a recent autosave. But there are weird ways around that, such as using horse deeds or any major consumable provision (area maps, deeds, clothing pieces) to force an autosave. This is an unnecessary workaround, but this is a problem that was present in the original, and no efforts seem to have been made as far as making this game more modern. It is a representation of its final form on consoles, with some graphical and PC port changes.

So what do you get with this package? It isn't quite made entirely obvious, but by buying this, you are buying the GOTY edition of the game and all that comes with it (yes, it does say that in the description). But what bonus content? It comes with the normal story mode, Hardcore mode, and Undead Nightmare - which was previously Standalone DLC on the PS3 & 360. It also comes with the golden guns cosmetic DLC, and the War Horse (a deed to a mount that makes basically every other mount in the game worthless). Hardcore I've never really put too much attention towards in playing. But Undead Nightmare is a marvelous tangent from the base game, expertly driving a wedge from the standard universe of RDR and giving you a number of ways to experience the same map in new and inventive ways. With a perfectly delivered bit of Rockstar mystique and flare to boot.

This game speaks to me in ways I will never forget, and I'm so grateful for - and now likely will always come back to. I really don't even know how to accurately sum it in words, despite Take Two's greediness, in preventing this game its release on PC for so long.

This game is entirely deserved in its price tag, even though it is arguably a statement of greed by Take Two as a publisher.

Give it a chance, soak in its atmosphere, and ride along the pathways of an oddly intelligent yet pragmatic cowboy that is just doing what he can to save his family.

It really is a masterclass, an utter example and peak, of Rockstar's design language and craft in the 2010's.

// For Steam Deck owners - check ProtonDB if you have any issues, but this game runs flawlessly on medium settings.