Editing Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX

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{{Game|FM2|FMB|RCO|Real|FA}}

|publisher={{w|Square Enix}}

|release=[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] October 2, 2014<br>[[File:Flag of the United States.png|20px]]/[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px]] December 2, 2014<br>[[File:Flag of European Union.png|20px|Europe]] December 5, 2014<br>[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px]] December 4, 2014

|ratings= {{w|Computer Entertainment Rating Organization|CERO}}: A<br>{{w|ESRB}}: E10+<br> {{w|PEGI}}: 12+

'''''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX''''', stylized as '''''Kingdom Hearts HD II.5 ReMIX''''', is a compilation of various games from the [[Kingdom Hearts (series)|''Kingdom Hearts'' series]] that have been fully remastered in HD. It is a follow-up to ''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX]]'' and includes remastered versions of ''[[Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix]]'' and ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix]]''. It also features ''[[Kingdom Hearts Re:coded]]'' remade as a movie of HD cutscenes. The release of ''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX'' marks the first time ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'' and ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix'' have been available outside of Japan.

The ending credits feature scenes from ''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]'' and the [[Kingdom Hearts III#E3 2013 Sony Conference Teaser|E3 2013 announcement trailer]] for ''[[Kingdom Hearts III]]'', teasing ''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue]]''.

 

The collection itself was remastered and released with ''Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX'' as ''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX]]'' for the PlayStation 4 in March 2017.

''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX'' was first hinted at during the ending credits of ''Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX'', as they contain footage from ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'', ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'', and ''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded''. In October 2013, Tetsuya Nomura said that ''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX'' will contain more graphical improvements than ''Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX''.<ref>[http://sqex.info/nomura-discusses-new-kh3-trailer/ SQEX Info]</ref> In December 2013, Nomura also said that due to ''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded'' being shorter than ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'', new scenes featuring events that took place in Disney worlds and during battles were added. In addition, new scenes connecting ''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded'' and ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance'' have been included. Nomura lastly stated that development of ''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX'' was faster than that of its predecessor because the team that developed ''Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX'' had established a system for making games in HD.<ref>[http://sqex.info/nomura-discusses-kh2-5-kh3-khx SQEX Info]</ref> As of March, 2014, all lines in ''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX'' had been recorded.<ref>[http://blog.hokanko-alt.com/archives/37613547.html 速報＠保管庫]</ref> In an interview with ''Famitsu Weekly'' in April 2014, Shinji Hashimoto stated that the additional cutscenes had also been completed and the game was nearing its final stage of development.<ref>[http://www.siliconera.com/2014/04/08/square-enix-final-fantasy-x-3-state-final-fantasy-xv-dissidia/ '''''Siliconera:''''' ''Square Enix On Final Fantasy X-3, The State Of Final Fantasy XV, And Dissidia'']</ref>  

On June 5, 2014, Square Enix announced the release dates for the Japanese, European, and North American versions of ''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX''. Along with this announcement came a new trailer for the game compilation that was featured at E3 2014. Announcement of an Ultimania dealing with the entire ''Kingdom Hearts'' series would be sold with the game<ref>[http://store.jp.square-enix.com/detail/9784757543843 Kingdom Hearts Series Ultimania Memorial - Square Enix eStore]</ref>, and an official soundtrack was to be released, as well<ref>[http://store.jp.square-enix.com/special/khhd2 Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX - Square Enix eStore]</ref>. On June 6, 2014, Square Enix France released a ten-minute video featuring gameplay from both ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'' and ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix'' from the HD compilation. In an interview during E3 2014 on June 10, 2014, Tai Yasue said that the development of the compilation was far easier than the development of ''Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX'', that the ''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded'' cutscenes extended to three hours (two of which were completely new), and that the Mirage Arena in ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix'' would not have multiplayer capabilities. Following this bit of news, Yasue said the Mirage Arena had been tweaked to be more enjoyable as a single-player arena.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMayL01TQWY Square Enix Presents: E3 2014 Live Day 1]</ref> On June 12, 2014, Tai Yasue confirmed in an interview with IGN that there would be new secret cutscenes in ''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded'' that would relate to the previous games in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series, as well as to ''Kingdom Hearts III''.<ref>[http://www.ign.com/videos/2014/06/12/kingdom-hearts-25-hd-remix-gameplay-demo-ign-live-e3-2014 ''KINGDOM HEARTS 2.5 HD REMIX'' GAMEPLAY DEMO - IGN LIVE: E3 2014]</ref> Yasue also mentioned during E3 2014 that over ninety instrumental tracks in ''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX'' had been reorchestrated in Boston. The Video Game Orchestra and its recording division, SoundtRec Boston, confirmed this on June 13, 2014 via Facebook.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/VGOOnline/posts/10152505255645761 Video Game Orchestra - Facebook]</ref>

 

==Changes==

===General===

*Textures have been updated to remain consistent with ''Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX''.

 

===''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix''===

*''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'' features improved graphics and a completely re-orchestrated soundtrack by Yōko Shimomura's original score team and performed by the Boston Video Game Orchestra.

*In the English version, the [[Absent Silhouette]]s and their respective [[Organization XIII's Replica Data]]'s grunts and laughs are now provided by archived recordings from their English voice actors from ''Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories'' and ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'', while Roxas's battle grunts incorporate those of his ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'' incarnation and some of Ventus's voice clips from ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep''.

*In [[Jiminy's Journal]], the "Combo Attacks" section is renamed to "Limits".

 

===''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix''===

*The Mirage Arena no longer has multiplayer capabilities, meaning that Mirage Arena [[Dimension Link|D-Links]] cannot be used. Events and battles in the Arena have been tweaked, and additional challenges are present. Due to the lack of multiplayer, the [[Taunt]] command has been replaced with [[Victory Pose]] in all appearances, and [[Group Esuna]] has been completely removed. The ability to pause the game during Mirage Arena events has also been added.

*While the entire soundtrack of ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'' has been re-orchestrated, only the pieces "Keyblade Graveyard Horizon" and "Dismiss" have been re-orchestrated in ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix''.

 

===''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded''===

* ''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded'' is featured in the form of over three hours of fully voiced, high definition cutscenes. In addition, it includes character reports.

** Unlike ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'' in ''Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX'', ''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded'' features cutscenes from the Disney worlds, as well as battle scenes, and narration by [[Mickey Mouse|Mickey]].

** Most of the characters who were silent in the original game now have new audio dialogue. A few exceptions to this include Tidus, Aladdin, Jasmine, and Phil, who only appeared in the text-based cutscenes.

** An additional secret ending, titled "[[Destiny]]," which connects to the events of ''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]''.

* While the entire soundtrack of ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'' and a few pieces from ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix'' were re-orchestrated for ''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX'', ''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded'' does not feature the remade soundtracks from either game. However, the music selection was still given a major overhaul, with around a quarter of the cutscenes having a different music from the original.

** Several tracks that did not appear in the original ''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded'' were added to this version, most notably the ''[[Piano Collections Kingdom Hearts]]'' versions of "{{c|Roxas|track}}" and "[[The Other Promise]]", the hitherto unused ''Kingdom Hearts'' recording of "[[Destati]]", and "[[Link to All]]" (which was not composed until after the release of ''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded'').

 

*Random crashes. A consistent crash point is the battle against [[Xemnas]] at the [[Memory Skyscraper]].<ref>[https://youtu.be/1zC_HMTRWFU?t=1m5s Xemans I Crash - Youtube]</ref>

*Slow load times, which sometimes also affect the length of Drive Form transformations and D-Link transformations, and thus may require pause buffering.<ref>[http://youtu.be/1zC_HMTRWFU?t=2m27s Slow Load Times - Youtube]</ref>

*Most sound effects that are played consecutively (i.e. Xigbar's lasers, Sephiroth's Reaction Command) are not played properly. This glitch is also present on the PC version of the game.<ref>[http://youtu.be/1zC_HMTRWFU?t=7m22s Missing Sound Effects - Youtube]</ref>

*The Reversal Reaction Command failing to execute during the battle with [[Xemnas]] [[Game:Xemnas|(Final Form)]].<ref>[https://youtu.be/1zC_HMTRWFU?t=5m45s Final Xemnas Glitch - Youtube]</ref>

*[[Game:Vexen|Vexen]]'s snowflakes from his Saucer attack suddenly disappear, and sudden deaths may occur during his data battle.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN7g589S58o Bugs and Glitches Compilation]</ref><!--haven't had this during the A.S. fight, but if someone could try that out too-->

 

==Special editions==

[[File:Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX Pre-Order Bonus.png|thumb|left|The announcement poster for the ''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX'' Limited Edition pack]]

''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX'' has special edition releases that differ from the retail edition of the game.

 

Japanese releases of ''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX'' have two different Collector's Edition versions of the game that are only available through the Square Enix eshop. The first is "KINGDOM HEARTS Starter Pack HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX", which contains both ''Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX'' and ''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX''. The second is the "KINGDOM HEARTS Collectors Pack HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX", which contains both ''Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX'' and ''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX'', a Blu-ray Music Disc containing tracks from the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series, and an artwork booklet. Both have the option to include a [[Play Arts Kai]] figurine of Sora in his Limit Form.<ref>[http://www.square-enix.co.jp/kingdom/khhd2/#product_game_06 ''Kingdom Hearts Collectors Pack HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX'' store page]</ref>. Purchasing the game from Amazon.co.jp grants a downloadable PlayStation 3 theme.

 

On July 24, Square Enix announced a pre-order bonus for the international release of ''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX'' via the ''Kingdom Hearts'' Facebook page. By pre-ordering, one receives a free, automatic upgrade to the Limited Edition that includes a Disney Parks Pin Trading collectible pin featuring Sora and Mickey.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/KingdomHearts/photos/a.425862255840.195562.76090440840/10152175570965841/?type=1 Facebook post announcing the Pre-order Bonus]</ref>

 

On November 5, 2014, Square Enix announced a Collector's Edition of ''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX'' for the United States, United Kingdom, and France. The collector's edition includes a 9.4-inch [[Shadow]] plush toy, 30-page hardcover artbook with dust jacket, ''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX'' and ''Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX'', along with a special steelbook to house the two game discs, and the Disney collectors pin. The Collector's Edition is only available through Square Enix's online store.<ref>[http://www.kingdomhearts.com/preorder/us Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX Pre-order site]</ref>

==External links==

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