If there is ever a period of a few weeks where there is no new update on StartedByAMouse.com, it might very well be because I'm off busily playing Kingdom Hearts, a video game for the PlayStation2 by Disney and Squaresoft. This game is so cool, it even has its own theme song and sets of action figures.

As I write this, my "official" time spent playing this game since Christmas stands around 30 hours but I know that it is actually many more. This is a game that you will definitely need a memory card for. Game play is fun, graphics are incredible and the story interaction with Disney characters is awesome.

The basic premise of the game is that you are a 14-year-old named Sora who inherits a special weapon called the Keyblade. Worlds are disappearing, swallowed by the Heartless, and it is your duty to rid each world of them and foil the plot of the Disney villians who are trying to capture the Disney princesses, who are pure of heart. Sora teams with Donald Duck, Goofy and other Disney characters in an action-adventure battle.

Quite frankly, this game is too massive to give a blow-by-blow account of what you'll encounter along the way. One level, you'll be swinging from vine to vine in the jungle with Tarzan. Another level will find you with fins, swimming through the currents with Ariel. You'll gain special powers, earn enhanced weapons and increase your health and magic points.

In addition to the major objective of closing all the keyholes and defeating the villians, there are a bunch of subplots and mini-games to keep your attention and give a break from the fighting. They may seem strange to the everyday gamer but are a welcome diversion to the Disney fan. For instance, you will be searching throughout each level looking for the 99 dalmatian puppies who have been kidnapped from their home. You will be adding pages to a special book, helping to restore the 100 Acre Woods and helping Winnie the Pooh get his smackeral of honey. It are these little touches that really add to the quality of this game.

The graphics are incredible, as are the interstitials between fighting levels. Game play is challenging but not impossible. And the Disney fan can't help but love the guest starring roles of Disney characters from Alice in Wonderland to Jack Skellington of The Nightmare Before Christmas.

There are a few negatives but none ruin the game in any real way. Like many video games today, this one is dark. Make sure to turn up the lightness on the screen to see some of the backgrounds on some of the levels. There is a part of the game where you need to fly between worlds. Lame. With all of the great graphics of the rest of the game, I'm not sure why flying these "Gummi Ships" is really necessary. Kathy says this part reminds her of 1980s Atari games. Make sure to use warps whenever possible, in my opinion. Additionally, these worlds are so big, it is difficult to know what you are supposed to do or where you should go. I couldn't have gotten through some of these levels without consulting online "walk-throughs" or after eventually getting the official strategy guide, which retails for around $15.

Kingdom Hearts truly is a game that you have to experience to believe. There's plenty of action for the hardcore gamer with plenty of Disney touches to satisfy the hardcore Disneyphile. Though it is rated "E" for everyone, I'd guess that this is a game that is going to appeal more to older children and teens rather than the little ones.

Though I haven't yet completed this game, I've really enjoyed playing it. In fact, it was this game's release that convinced me to get a PlayStation2 console. I'm not a hardcore gamer but I do enjoy playing video games. With a normal mode and an expert mode, this game challenges my abilities but is ultimately passable with some patience and skill. I'd recommend it for anyone looking for a fun game with many different styles of play and for someone with a lot of time on their hands.

- Story by Matthew Walker; Cover art ©Disney & SquareSoft
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