Editing Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix

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{{Infobox CVG
|title=Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix
|image=[[File:Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix Logo KHIIFM.png|300px]]
|japan=キングダムハーツII FINAL MIX
|romaji=Kingudamu Hātsu II FINAL MIX
|developer={{w|Square Enix}}
|publisher=Square Enix
|release=[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] March 29, 2007
|genre=Action role-playing game
|modes=Single player
|ratings={{w|CERO}}:A
|platforms={{w|PlayStation 2}}
|}}
'''''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix''''' is a Japan-exclusive reissue of ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'' that uses primarily English voice acting with Japanese text, subtitles and controls, as well as bonus content. It was released as a part of ''[[Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+]]'' compilation, along with ''[[Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories]]''.

The game was remastered in HD and released outside of Japan for the first time as part of ''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX]]''.

==Announcement==
''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'' was rumored in middle-late 2006. Though {{w|Tetsuya Nomura|Nomura}} did not confirm its development, he stated that if a ''Final Mix'' version were to be created for other countries, he would use a "trump card".

In September 2006, ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'' was finally announced, and released on March 29, 2007, hitting stores all across Japan. No official plans were announced for release in the United States or other countries, despite the topic being popular across ''{{c|Kingdom Hearts|series}}''-related forums. There were rumors of a fall 2008 release in EGM magazine and 1up.com, although this did not pan out. The director of the Kingdom Hearts series, Tetsuya Nomura, has quoted, ''"The Final Mix games are only Japanese exclusives. In due time I may release a Final Mix into other countries, but Kingdom Hearts Final Mix and Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix are not my choice."''

''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'' and ''Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories'' are also notable for being the final games Tetsuya Nomura made for the PlayStation 2.

''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'' was announced to be part of ''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX]]'', which also includes ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix]]'' and a cutscene-oriented ''[[Kingdom Hearts Re:coded]]'', all remastered in HD. It was released October 2 of 2014 in Japan and December 2 in North America.

==Changes==
===Initial previews and announcements===
Scans of magazine articles and preview videos appeared on numerous websites in the weeks leading up to the game's release. They included additional scenes involving the three mysterious armored knights at the end of the ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'' secret ending. Later screenshots showed one of these three knights in combat with [[Sora]], [[Donald Duck|Donald]], and [[Goofy]]. [[Lingering Will|The being]] serves as a secret boss with incredible power and an enormous amount of HP, much like [[Xemnas|Unknown]] from ''[[Kingdom Hearts Final Mix]]''. The preview videos also showed that battling [[Roxas]] would be possible as opposed to the cutscene in the original game. Square also revealed that data replicas of each member of [[Organization XIII]] could be challenged in a secret area at [[Hollow Bastion]] and fought independently of the storyline.

Voice-acting on ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'' was announced to be mostly in English, with Japanese subtitles, like ''Kingdom Hearts Final Mix'', but the new scenes used Japanese voice-acting when viewed in Theater Mode and were voiceless in-game with Japanese subtitles. This is most likely due to the new scenes featuring Organization XIII members from ''[[Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories]]'', who did not yet have English voice actors.

===New features===
====Features====
*A new difficulty mode called Critical Mode.
*A new [[Drive Form]] called "[[Limit Form]]" has abilities from ''Kingdom Hearts'' and ''Kingdom Hearts Final Mix'', and also bears resemblance to Sora's outfit from the original game.
*A new mini-game called [[Puzzle]], which unlocks special items.

====Storyline====
*New cutscenes based on the ''Kingdom Hearts II'' novels were added; some involve [[Roxas]], including scenes of him conversing with [[Axel]] in [[Twilight Town]] while wearing the [[Organization XIII|Organization's]] signature black coat. There are also additional scenes of Roxas and [[Riku]], including shots of their second battle, where Riku takes on the form of [[Ansem, Seeker of Darkness]], [[Naminé]] leaving with Axel, Riku and Sora talking before they battle 2nd Armored Xemnas, Xigbar and Zexion talking about Xemnas, and the Organization discussing their plans and commenting on incidents like Axel's death.
*All of the new cutscenes are silenced and only the Japanese subtitles can allow one make out what the conversation is about. However, this is only for the initial playthrough and English audio track. All scenes have full voicing for the Japanese audio track.
*[[Zexion]]'s weapon is revealed, a large book called a "[[Book of Retribution|Lexicon]]", which he can use to trap his enemies in an alternate reality.
*Character models for [[Removed content#Buzz Lightyear and Woody summons|Buzz Lightyear and Woody]] from ''{{w|Toy Story}}'' are present in the game data of ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'', but were unused.

====Battles====
*Members of [[Organization XIII]] that were eliminated in ''Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories'' can be found and [[Absent Silhouette|fought]] in the various worlds of ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix''. They each use different fighting tactics from the ones they employed in ''Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories''. They include [[Vexen]], [[Larxene]], [[Marluxia]], [[Lexaeus]], and [[Zexion]]. In addition, their journal entries are now collected by defeating them in their Absent Silhouette battles instead of accessing Ansem's computer during your third visit to Twilight Town.
*An area of [[Radiant Garden]], called the [[Cavern of Remembrance]], can be accessed. It houses a series of battle simulations with each member of Organization XIII. This is a separate feature from the secret battles with the ''Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories'' Organization members in that the simulation allows the player to repeat any battle with an Organization member as often as they like. The simulation features highly powered-up Organization members, similar to the level bonuses offered to enemies in the [[Hades Paradox Cup]].
*A battle against the mysterious [[Lingering Will]] can be unlocked at [[Disney Castle]].
*Battles with the [[Mushroom XIII]] can be fought.
*The battle between [[Sora]] and Roxas at the [[Dive to the Heart|Station of Awakening]] is made playable.

====Bonuses====
*"[[Theater Mode]]" - a menu where previously viewed cutscenes can be watched again with either English or Japanese voices by pressing L2 and R2.
*A new secret ending video titled "{{c|Birth by sleep|video}}", a teaser for ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]''.
*Secret features can be accessed in ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'' by clearing ''[[Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories]]'', and vice versa.
#Roxas's story is expanded in ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'', including his fight with Riku.
#A [[Crown]], Bronze, Silver or Gold, can appear on Sora's head for defeating the following in any order:
#*All [[Mushroom XIII]] Heartless
#*[[Organization XIII Data Rematch|All Data Rematches]]
#*[[Lingering Will]]
#[[Twilight Town]] Changes:
#*Conditions to end the battle in front of the station have changed (either connect 100 hits, go below 30% health, or battle for ninety seconds).
#*Addition of Limit Form Mirror in the [[Mysterious Tower]].
#[[Hollow Bastion]] Changes:
#*After the event scene with Sephiroth, a scene with Yuna, Rikku and Paine flying out of a hole in the castle wall is shown. This hole leads to a new area called the [[Cavern of Remembrance]].
#[[The Land of Dragons]] Changes:
#*The morale gauge depletes at quicker intervals requiring the player to finish the missions faster.
#*Value of "surprise attack" spirit gauge has been reduced.
#*Carts and rockets no longer reappear immediately after leaving the screen and returning.
#[[Beast's Castle]] Changes:
#*Conditions to end the battle in the Living Room have changed (either connect 100 hits, go below 30% health, or battle for ninety seconds).
#*Cogsworth's stamina depletes at a faster rate.
#[[Olympus Coliseum]] Changes:
#*The time limit for which the player must defeat Pete while protecting Megara, has changed from 2 minutes to ninety seconds.
#[[Disney Castle]] changes:
#*Enemies do not drop prize boxes while protecting Minnie.
#[[Timeless River]] changes:
#*Changes have been made to the four time window battles.
#[[Agrabah]] changes:
#*Conditions to end the battle in the street have changed (either connect 100 hits, go below 30%, or battle for ninety seconds).
#*The battle at the Sandswept Ruins has changed (enemies do not drop prize boxes and the time to activate the switches after examining the monument has increased from thirty to forty-five seconds).
#[[Halloween Town]] changes:
#*New costumes and music in Christmas Town.
#[[100 Acre Wood]] changes:
#*Time for Episode 4 changed from three to five minutes.
#*Episode 5 rules have been changed.
#*Drive Forms are available in minigames.
#[[The World That Never Was]] changes:
#*[[Xigbar]] changes his gun movement when attempting to snipe Sora from above.
#Addition of Critical Mode:
#*Compared To Standard and Proud, enemies inflict twice the damage, except for the Mushroom XIII who inflict 1.25x the damage.
#*Several abilities are granted on the third day (Reaction Boost, Finishing Plus, Draw, 2x Lucky Lucky, MP Hastera and EXP Zero).
#*Roxas's initial {{AP}} is 50.
#*AP increases by increments of 3 instead of 2.
#*Compared to Standard and Proud, HP and [[MP]] quantities from Bonus Levels are halved (Sora only gets sixty instead of 120 HP).
#*Compared to Standard and Proud, EXP gained is three-quarters of the normal amount.
#*Save file displays "Critical Mode".
#*Unlocking the "Birth by sleep" video just requires one to win the Gold Crown.
#*In the PS2 Browser screen, there is a symbol attached to the save data file on the memory card.
#Filling the [[Drive Gauge]] is easier and the maximum level for the Drive Gauge has increased from seven to nine.
#New weapons and accessories:
#*[[Winner's Proof]]
#*[[Executive's Ring]]
#*[[Grand Ribbon]]
#*[[Spell's Relic+]]
#*[[Akashic Record+]]
#*[[Frozen Pride]] and [[Frozen Pride+]]
#*[[Centurion]] and [[Centurion+]]
#*[[Shadow Archive]] and [[Shadow Archive+]]
#*[[Full Bloom]] and [[Full Bloom+]]
#*[[Shock Charm]] and [[Shock Charm+]]
#*[[Two Become One]]
#*[[Plain Mushroom]], [[Plain Mushroom+]], [[Precious Mushroom]] , [[Precious Mushroom+]], [[Premium Mushroom]]
#*[[Joyous Mushroom]], [[Joyous Mushroom+]], [[Majestic Mushroom]], [[Majestic Mushroom+]], [[Ultimate Mushroom]]

==External links==
*[http://www.square-enix.co.jp/kingdom2fm/ Official website]
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{{KH series}}
[[fr:Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+]]
[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix| ]]