Melody of Memory is a loving homage to the legacy of Kingdom Hearts, aiming to honour almost two decades of absurd excellence whilst also forging a new path forward. If any franchise is going to make a rhythm game an integral part of its overall plot, it's Kingdom Hearts, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

A very good rhythm game, for who love the soundtrack of the KH saga.

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is exactly what it needs to be: A quality rhythm game experience that lets fans of the series look back on it fondly. Its flaws are minor, and its strengths lay the groundwork for a promising future of bigger and better spin-off titles in the genre. It’s a great first step into the genre and will keep fans of Kingdom Hearts and rhythm games alike engrossed in its different modes for hours on end.

To the delight of those who do not love rhythm games, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory does not pretend to be a mandatory stop, but a delightful detour that, between one note and another, will help fans of the Tetsuya Nomura series to reconstruct eighteen years of often confused and fragmented memories.

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is exactly what you would like a musical game in the Square Enix saga to be. A simple, direct, accessible and very funny title. It's so simple, the repeatability could take its toll soon, but if you commune with its extraordinary soundtrack, you won't mind too much. Still, it does not innovate anything within the genre and not all melodies offer the same rhythm with each beat.

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a nostalgia-heavy reflection of a triumphant but persistently jumbled-up franchise about spell-slinging ducks and Final Fantasy characters living in Disney castles, but it lovingly memorializes its legacy and honors the fans who have grown to love it. While it doesn’t do anything remarkable or exciting with its rhythm gameplay, and it may not be the most alluring for those who don’t have the same understanding and love of Kingdom Hearts, it’s certainly a delightful experience that’s well worth the time spent.

I knew Melody of Memory was a rhythm spin-off before I started it, so I kept my expectations fairly low, but it didn’t even clear that bar. The music isn’t awful and the visuals are beautiful, but it gives players almost nothing substantial in the main story. In light of this, I can only recommend it to those who really love rhythm games or the music from Kingdom Hearts.