Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories
| Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories | |
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| Developer(s) | Square Enix |
| Publisher(s) | Square Enix |
| Release date(s) |  March 29, 2007
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| Genre | Action role-playing game |
| Game modes | Single player |
| Ratings | CERO:A ESRB: TBA |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories is a remake of Kingdom Hearts sequel, Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. It is packaged with Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+ on a separate disc. A few changes has been done prior the remake's release. Fansubs of key cutscenes can be found at Youtube and KHVids.
A U.S. release was confirmed by Square Enix for December 2nd, 2008. It will be in PS2 format and will not be related to Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+ (which never was released outside Japan) in any way. It will be sold for $30. [1]
Plot
Story(Sora)
After being separated from his friends, Sora wandered down on a long, meandering path with Donald and Goofy searching for a way to find Riku and Mickey, encountering Pluto on the way. When they reached a crossroad and called it a night, a mysterious man in a long black hooded cloak appeared and informed Sora, "ahead lies something you need, but to claim it, you must lose something dear." The man disappears and only one path remains. The trio followed the path which lead them to a mysterious castle known as Castle Oblivion. They entered the castle hoping to pick up some clues as to the whereabouts of their friends only to discover, as they ascended the floors of the fortress, they were beginning to lose their memories and became more and more uncertain of themselves.
Little did they know, their memories were being manipulated by a mysterious organization that sought to capture and manipulate Sora. To do this, they used Naminé, a young witch who could rearrange the chains of memories and create new links. In order to make Sora forget Kairi, Naminé begins to replace his memories of her with herself. Meanwhile, a conflict between the Organization's members leads to several encounters between Sora and Riku, whose memories of Kairi had also been replaced with ones containing Naminé.
The trio's uncertainty builds to a point where they ended up in Twilight Town, a place that Sora is fairly certain that he has never been in, thus should not exist in his memory. Organization member IV, Vexen, revealed that it is a place that exists on the other side of Sora's heart, but is eliminated by Axel, another member of the Organization, before he can explain anything.
Axel ends up betraying Marluxia, the lord of Castle Oblivion, revealing that Marluxia and Larxene, the newest members of their group, intended to use Sora to overthrow the Organization. Axel manipulated Naminé into doing what she believed was right. She revealed to Sora that she never existed in his memory and that she had been replacing the person most important to him. Riku appeared to them again and was defeated by Sora. When Sora tried to help the injured Riku, he attacked Sora. Naminé used her power to break Riku's memories, and it caused him to collapse. Larxene came forth to eliminate Sora and Riku, who was revealed to actually be a Riku Replica, created by Vexen.
Sora defeated Larxene and forgave a regretful Naminé for her actions. She promised to restore the memories of the trio once they reached the 13th Floor of Castle Oblivion, where Marluxia was waiting for them. Axel attempted to destroy Marluxia himself, but then Marluxia used Naminé as a human shield. Sora stepped in and defeated Axel. Once Marluxia was defeated, Naminé asked that they step into machines that would rearrange their memories back to the way they were at the cost of breaking the links she created. She also informed him that the process will take some time, during which Sora, Donald, and Goofy would sleep as their memories were slowly restored. While they knew that they would forget Naminé, Sora promised her that while she was forgotten, she would remain in his heart, never lost.
Story(Riku)
Changes and Differences in the original and remake
As stated above there are some changes regarding on the game's remake. Notable changes include:
- 3D cutscenes, along with voice-acting.
- Updated music, including new ones.
- Theater Mode is unlockable, which allows you to view all cutscences in the game. (Replaced Link mode)
- Clearing Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+ first will allow Sora to use sleights and Keyblades from Kingdom Hearts II. It will also unlock enemy cards of the Organization XIII members that were in Kingdom Hearts II, with the exception of Axel, who already has an enemy card. It is currently unknown if these cards will be obtainable in the US release due to the lack of Final Mix 2.
- Riku is more powerful than in the original game.
Gameplay
Extras
- New Cards are available.
- Riku gains a new sleight which allows him to perform a combo with King Mickey.
- Reaction commands are implemented from Kingdom Hearts II.
- A special command, card duel (card breaking) that allows player to break stacks of opponents cards is a specific time and inflict massive damage. This is only available to Riku.
- Battles now take form in 3D, and object in rooms that fire projectiles, inflict damage or initiate battles when hit.
- In Reverse/Rebirth, when Riku finally accepts both his light and dark side during the fight with Zexion in Destiny Islands, he is constantly in Dark-mode.
- There is also a new version of Trinity Limit that can be accessed by stocking Goofy first; in this sleight, Sora and Donald, who use Goofy as a battering ram, run around bashing into enemies.
- Glide is now included in Sora's story.
- There are now map card premiums and wild map cards which could redeem any value.
- Lexaeus can go into a temporary state of power and invulnerability, similar to the battle in Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix.
- The Riku Replica sometimes enters a battle with an orb of dark energy in his left hand.
- Riku has a Drive Bar.
- Whenever Sora enters a world that changes his appearance, he changes into his form for that world.
- Pluto is a party character in Sora's Story.
Bosses and Enemies
- Zexion can be fought in Destiny Islands.
- There is a third form for Marluxia while fighting him as a final boss.
Death scenes and Storyline Changes
- Instead of dragging Riku in the dark depth using his final strength, Lexaeus is killed when Riku's body was taken by Xehanort's Heartless temporarily.
- In the original game, Zexion was killed by Riku Replica offscreen (though a sound of striking blades can be heard) and in the remake, Riku Replica simply forced his life force out of Zexion.
- In the original climax of Sora's storyline, when Axel attempts to execute Marluxia for his betrayal, Marluxia used Naminé as a shield after hearing Axel's threat. In the remake, they have a brief fight before Marluxia uses Naminé as a shield. Marluxia also never leaves the room.
- Axel finishes off Vexen by immolating him with a snap of his fingers. In the original, he just struck Vexen with his chakrams a second time, and Vexen died.
- In the original, the Riku Replica is seen lying on the ground on Floor 12, and moving to him will trigger a cutscene (followed by a boss fight). In the remake, he is standing up, and a Reaction Command triggers the cutscene and boss fight.
- In the original, Goofy knocks away Larxene when she tries to kill Sora. In the remake, he just throws his shield at Larxene, which temporarily distracts her.
- When Sora was hurt by Larxene in the original COM, Donald used Cure to heal him, but in RE-COM he uses Curaga to heal Sora.
