Editing Kingdom Hearts Re:coded

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|romaji=Kingudamu Hātsu Re: kōdeddo

|image=[[File:Kingdom Hearts Recoded Logo KHREC.png|center|300px]]

|developer={{w|Square Enix}}<br>h.a.n.d. Inc.

|publisher={{w|Square Enix}}

|release = [[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] October 7, 2010<ref>[http://www.siliconera.com/2010/07/19/kingdom-hearts-recoded-decoded-in-october/]</ref><br>[[File:Flag of the United States.png|20px|United States]]/[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] January 11, 2011<br>[[File:Flag of European Union.png|20px|Europe]]/[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] January 14, 2011

|ratings={{w|Computer Entertainment Rating Organization|CERO}}: A<br>{{w|ESRB}}: E10+<br>{{w|PEGI}}: 12+<br>{{w|Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle|USK}}: 6+<br>{{w|OFLC}}:[[File:OFLC small PG.png|12px|PG]]

|platforms={{w|Nintendo DS}}

'''''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded''''' is a full remake of ''[[Kingdom Hearts coded]]'' released on the Nintendo DS. Like ''[[Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories]]'', there are many additions to the game from the original, including adjustable difficulty settings, multiplayer elements, and the addition of a new secret movie.

 

 

 

==Development==

After all episodes of ''Kingdom Hearts coded'' released in 2009, Tetsuya Nomura wanted to re-release all episodes on a different platform in order to broaden the audience. Nomura considered releasing all episodes through WiiWare, but decided on Nintendo DS as it still was the best selling portable console and second best selling game console of all time. Development studio h.a.n.d. was contracted to develop the game due to their experience working with the series on the system with ''[[Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days]]''. While the initial plan was a bare bones re-release, development shifted into a remake. When there was a significant amount of space on the cartridge left, development restarted to be made fully 3D. This posed a challenge, as the lack of an analogue stick proved difficult to workaround. The gameplay ended up being greatly simplified, and elements from ''358/2 Days'' and ''[[Kingdom Hearts Mobile]]'' were introduced into the game, as they were the most mechanically similar to ''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded''. As development continued, h.a.n.d. realized that the game was ballooning out of control, and completing the game in its current state was nearly impossible. The scale of the game grew so much that that some team members that worked on ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]'' were temporarily brought in to assist development, which resulted in elements from that game being introduced to ''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded''. In the end, what was supposed to be a quick turnaround actually took more than a year to complete.

 

Phil Snyder, voice actor for [[Jiminy Cricket]], accidentally leaked the existence of the game on May, 2010 through a blog post about recording for a game called ''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded''. After several months of speculation on what this game could be, the game was officially revealed at E3 of that year. The game finally released on October 7, 2010 in Japan, January 11, 2011 in North America, and January 14, 2011 in Europe.

 

While organizing the records in [[Jiminy's Journal]] from his travels with Sora and his friends, Jiminy's curiosity about the line "Thank [[Naminé]]" results in him finding a message that he did not write: "Their hurting will be mended when you return to end it." To investigate this message, King Mickey digitizes the contents of the journal into a specialized computer and sends a virtual [[Data-Sora]] on the virtual Destiny Islands to carry out the contents of the journal to uncover the identity of those who are "hurting".

 

As Data-Sora awakens on Destiny Islands, he encounters numerous "bugs", which take the form of red and black blocks, covering the whole world. Upon eliminating the Heartless and destroying the bugs, Data-Sora traverses to other worlds infected with bugs to return them to normal, following the cloaked figure upon orders from King Mickey.

 

[[File:Beneath the Hood 01 KHREC.png|thumb|left|Data-Sora enters Disney Castle's library, surprising everyone.]]

Meanwhile, [[Heartless]] begin appearing within Disney Castle, and everyone finds themselves trapped in the castle's Library, where the computer is located. To their surprise, they are saved by Data-Sora. Suddenly, the cloaked figure reveals himself to be Jiminy's Journal taking the form of [[Riku]], and explains that they are no longer in the real world, but the Data World. Suddenly, they discovered that someone cut the link to the real world and the only way to repair it is to destroy the bugs. Sora is sent off by the Journal to discover the one responsible, and encounters [[Maleficent]] and [[Pete]] from the real world. Maleficent destroys Data-Sora's Keyblade and summons Heartless to attack him. Mickey and the Journal arrive to save Data-Sora, but the Journal is abducted by Maleficent, with Mickey giving chase. Data-Sora makes his way through Hollow Bastion, aided by Donald and Goofy. They encounter Pete, who summons the Journal and takes control of him with the bugs to fight them, but Data-Sora regains the Keyblade and managed to defeat the Journal, who falls unconscious.

 

Mickey arrives and informs Data-Sora that unless the bugs are destroyed, the Journal will never awaken. Data-Sora decides to find a way to awaken the Journal, and enters Data-Riku's Data World, losing his abilities in the process. The two visit various worlds from the Data-Riku's memory and find their way back to Hollow Bastion, where they fight and defeat Maleficent. Meanwhile, King Mickey discovers that he will be returning soon to the real world, but the Journal, once completed, will have to be erased, which will mean the end of Data-Sora's memories. When the time comes, Sora requests more time in order to save Pete and Maleficent, who are still in the Data World. Data-Sora finds them fighting Sora's Heartless, but Pete and Maleficent are seemingly erased before he can intervene. Data-Sora defeats Sora's Heartless, and finds that Pete and Maleficent were rescued by the Journal through a "rift in the data".

 

Following their defeat, Maleficent and Pete decide to pursue the ancient [[Book of Prophecies]], which they believe to be connected to [[Jiminy's Journal]] and the [[Datascape]]. They leave the Data World shortly before Mickey returns to the real world, erasing the Journal. A new message appears claiming that a new door to a new world has been opened, which is the data of the Data World added into the Journal. Mickey, realizing that this quest may be too dangerous for Data-Sora as he has no memory of it, requests to be taken into the Data World once again.

 

[[File:Ending 02 KHREC.png|thumb|Mickey tells Data-Naminé that he will tell the real Sora the situation.]]

Finding Data-Sora in Traverse Town, Mickey takes him to Castle Oblivion where Data-Sora is confronted by a young man wearing a black coat. He tells Data-Sora that if he wants to know the truth, he must move forward on his own through the previous worlds he visited destroying bugs. During this time, he realizes that even if he doesn't remember someone he's met, there's still the sadness of having forgotten them which the figure attempts to warn not to let it consume him. Data-Sora disregards this message and fights the figure, revealed to be [[Data-Roxas]]. After losing, Data-Roxas gives him a card as Mickey appears.

 

Data-Sora opens the next door to find [[Data-Naminé]], who reveals the bugs to have been an unintentional side effect of her attempt to restore Sora's memories. She then reveals Sora's nature as the "Key that connects everything" through his ties with herself, Roxas, [[Axel]], and [[Xion]]. Furthermore, Data-Naminé tells Data-Sora about three figures ([[Terra]], [[Ventus]], and [[Aqua]]) also tied to Sora's heart who are the ones referred to in the message and need his help. Mickey bids farewell to Data-Sora and promises Data-Naminé that he will inform the real Sora of this.

 

Mickey promptly sends Sora a [[Mickey's Letters#Third Letter|bottled letter]] (as seen in ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]''). Back at Destiny Islands, Sora takes the parchment out of the bottle, and reads Mickey's message with Riku and Kairi.

 

 

In [[Ansem the Wise]]'s computer room in [[Hollow Bastion]], [[Braig]], [[Dilan]], [[Even]], [[Aeleus]], [[Ienzo]], [[Isa]], and [[Lea]] return to their human forms as a result of the destruction of both their Heartless and Nobodies. Everyone except Braig is unconscious; Braig speaks to [[Young Xehanort]] and deduces that the absence of Master Xehanort despite [[Xemnas]]'s destruction means that the elderly Keyblade Master has already put his plans into action. Braig is unsure of Master Xehanort's intentions, and Young Xehanort, who is also unsure, tells his accomplice that Keyblades are passed down by their wielders to their apprentices from generation to generation. Young Xehanort emphasizes the importance of No Name, the Keyblade that he will wield one day, and knowing that the weapon is somehow connected to the [[Keyblade War]], Braig decides to accomplish his own goals. He contemplates who to take along with him, and Young Xehanort begins to speak [[Saïx]]'s name.{{storylink|Destiny}}

[[File:Kingdom Hearts Re-coded Gameplay 1.png|thumb|left|220px|Data-Sora battling [[Soldier]]s in [[Traverse Town]].]]

The gameplay in ''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded'' is largely the same as in ''Kingdom Hearts coded'', focusing on the manipulation of [[Bug Blox]] to solve puzzles and reach new areas, but also incorporates the [[Deck Command]] system used in ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]'', which allows players to design "decks" of various combat abilities to use against enemies. ''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded'' appears to use the same game engine employed in ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'', the previous DS game in the series.

 

 

 

Each World also contains special events that feature gameplay styles that differ from the main game, like [[Traverse Town]]'s side-scrolling platformer stages, [[Wonderland]]'s rail shooting obstacle course, or the [[Olympus Coliseum]]'s turn-based party combat, which is similar to the ''Final Fantasy'' combat system. Each of these events ends with a grading system based on the Sora's performance therein, which begets special bonus items for achieving outstanding grades.

===Stat Matrix===

[[File:Stat Matrix KHREC.png|thumb|The Stat Matrix as seen with various circuitry installed.]]

The [[Stat Matrix]] handles Sora's level growth and abilities. Similar to the ''Final Fantasy X'' Sphere Grid, Sora progresses on a line of circuitry within the matrix, whose paths are segmented into blocks. Throughout Sora's quest, he'll receive panels like Strength Up or Magic Up that can be placed in those blocks, amplifying the applicable stats, and progressing further through the matrix. At each level up, Sora will also gain a Level Up panel, similar to ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'', that will grant Sora a boost to all his stats. Scattered all throughout the matrix are ability panels, which when the line of active circuitry connects to one, Sora will gain abilities like Scan, Combo Plus, and Dodge Roll.

 

Extra slots for Sora's Command deck and more Accessory slots are also acquired through the Stat Matrix. As he progress, the matrix will expand, offering branching paths of circuitry to follow sometimes with beneficial abilities at their ends. If a panel is placed between two CPUs, it will activate "Dual Processing," doubling the power of those panels. It should be noted that any panels placed onto the matrix cannot be removed but can be replaced with another chip, as long as an empty circuit is lit up, a panel can be placed in it, even if it's not a part of the previously expanded circuitry path. The difficulty setting can also be adjusted between Beginner, Standard, Proud, and Critical at any time from the Stat Matrix, as well.

 

[[File:Command Conversion KHRCO.png|thumb|left|The Command Matrix, displaying the application of supplemental commands.]]

The [[Command Matrix]] is where Sora's combat skills are installed and items to be used in battle. While sharing many similarities with the ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'' {{c|Deck Command|KHBBS}} system, the Command Matrix allows for mixing and matching commands temporarily. By installing a command, it can then be supplemented with another skill, producing various effects, such as changing a command into its Fire-type version by combining it with a [[Fire]] command. When the commands have gained enough experience, they can be permanently fused, allowing the resulting command to increase to a higher level and subsequently be used in further conversions. The Command Matrix also has a "Memory" capacity, which restricts the creation of a deck comprised of high-powered Commands. At the beginning of the game, Sora begins with three Command Slots, but gains more as he progresses through certain circuitry in the Stat Matrix.

 

[[File:Gear Matrix KHREC.png|thumb|The Gear Matrix, where Keyblade, Clock tree, and Accessories are displayed.]]

The [[Gear Matrix]] handles Sora's equipment, split into "Keyblade" and "Accessory." Throughout the game, Sora will gain new Keyblades that change the passive abilities he gets through the Overclock programs Leveling system. By continuing to use the same Keyblade, its level will increase, unlocking more of the abilities to access from different branches. When the Clock Gauge is filled to the MAX Level of each branch, the "Attack" command will change into a Finish Command as set in the Keyblade section. Most Finish Commands can be obtained by exchanging SP in certain System Areas while others can be obtained by breaking Rare Prize Blocks or buying from the Moogle Shop. Accessories are equipped in a similar fashion like the rest of the series, with each granting special bonuses to HP percentage or resistance to certain elements, or other benefits. More Accessory Slots can be acquired through progression on the Stat Matrix.

==Gallery==

File:KHREC Preorder Decals.png|US {{w|GameStop}} and {{w|Amazon.com|Amazon}} pre-order bonus decals

==External links==

*[http://www.square-enix.co.jp/kingdom/recoded/ Official Japanese website]

*[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/software/bk9j/index.html Official Japanese website (Nintendo of Japan)]

*[https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-DS/KINGDOM-HEARTS-Re-coded-271243.html Official European website (Nintendo of UK)]

==Notes and references==

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[[de:Kingdom Hearts Re:coded]]

[[fr:Kingdom Hearts: Re:coded]]

[[Category:Kingdom Hearts Re:coded| ]]