Kingdom Hearts Final Mix

Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix
File:Kingdom Hearts Final Mix logo.jpg
キングダムハーツ FINAL MIX Kingudamu Hātsu: FINAL MIX
Developer(s)	Square Co., Ltd.
Publisher(s)	Square Co., Ltd.
Release date(s)	December 26, 2002
Genre	Action RPG
Game modes	Single player
Ratings	ESRB:Everyone PEGI:7+ USK: 6+ OFLC: G8+ ELSPA: 11+
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2

Kingdom Hearts Final Mix is a Japan-exclusive remake of Kingdom Hearts that uses English voice acting.

Limited releases

Pre-order goods

Depending on what store the game was pre-ordered, customers could get a CD containing tracks from the game or a playing card set adorned with Kingdom Hearts characters and symbols. Also at some stores in Japan they were giving away a dual Keyblade embroidered necklace with a reserved copy.

Kingdom Hearts Final Mix Platinum Limited

Kingdom Hearts Final Mix Platinum Limited came in a box containing the game case, a sheet of eight Kingdom Hearts stickers; a postcard calendar featuring Tetsuya Nomura artwork and contained in a CD case; a block figure of Sora, part of Square's Minimum Collection; and three can badges. The set cost 8,800 yen.

Changes

Kingdom Hearts Final Mix features changes from the original version, including bosses present in the English version, but not in the original Japanese version. Other changes include recoloring Heartless and introducing new Heartless, new weapons, new enemies, new abilities, new cutscenes, Gummi Ship missions, new Ansem Reports, and a new secret movie.

The start screen was replaced with another drawing of Sora, hooded and holding a flag. On the start screen, a trailer for Final Fantasy X-2 is accessible, labelled as a "Special Movie" as a third option after "New Game" and "Load Game". The game has three difficultly levels, the first being Final Mix: Beginner. Final Mix: Beginner gives the player a Ribbon, an EXP Necklace, 8 Power Ups, 8 Guard Ups and 4 AP Ups at the start, and neither of the secret movies can be seen. The Drill Gummi's Attack Power is 9,999, instead of 35. The second difficulty is simply "Final Mix", analogous to Standard from the previous game, but not the exact same. The Gummi Ship takes double the damage from the original version and damage inflicted by the player is cut by a third. The last option is Final Mix: Proud, a greater challenge than Expert from the original game. The Gummi Ship's attack is reduced further to a half, and damage is four times. A "Battle Report" is shown at the end.

Another new features include an Event Skip option, allowing the player to skip cutscenes already seen. Sora is modified to become transparent when camera situations force.

Bosses

File:KH-FM+ unknown.jpg

Sora battling Xemnas in Final Mix

The new bosses included "Unknown", who was introduced with no context and later revealed to be Xemnas, leader of Organization XIII in Kingdom Hearts II. Also added were "palette swap" bosses for the Olympus Coliseum: Destroyed Behemoth, Arch Behemoth, Red Armor, and Sneak Army. New to the Japanese were bosses included in the English version: Sephiroth, Ice Titan, and Kurt Zisa.

Enemies

Most Heartless are recoloured and several new ones are added:

• Chimera
• Gigant Shadow
• Grand Ghost
• Stealth Soldier
• Pot Scorpion
• Pink Agaricus
• Jet Balloon
• Missilediver
• Sniper Wild
• Black Ballade
• Neoshadow

Weapons

Two new weapons were added for each main character. These serve as 'secondary ultimates', with one having more power than the regular ultimate weapon (Ultima Weapon, Save the King, and Save the Queen) usually with an MP reduction, while the other has more Magic potential with low phyical capabilities.

• Sora's Keyblades: One Winged Angel and Diamond Dust.
• Donald's Staves: Meteor Strike and Fantasia.
• Goofy's Shields: Massive Bumper and Seven Elements.

Abilities

Ten new abilities were added:

• Slap Shot
• Slide Dash
• Stun Impact
• Gravity Break
• Ripple Drive
• Hurricane Period
• Zantetsuken
• Leaf Veil
• Tech Plus
• Encounter Up

Accessories

Along with some minor changes to three existing accessories, the following new accessories were added:

• Black Ring
• Blizzaga Wrist
• Cosmic Arts
• EXP Bracelet
• EXP Earring
• EXP Necklace
• EXP Ring
• Firaga Wrist
• Ifrit Belt
• Moogle Badge
• Premium Cap
• Ramuh Belt
• Royal Crown
• Shiva Belt
• Thundaga Wrist

Cutscenes

Several new cutscenes were added. The first, shown after Sora ends up in Traverse Town, has Riku lost in Hollow Bastion, calling out for his friends and Maleficent looking on. Another, played after Sora speaks to Kairi in the underground waterway in Traverse Town, showed Riku lost in the realm of darkness after Xehanort's Heartless took his body. There, he is assisted by King Mickey who reveals that he has the realm's Keyblade. An optional cutscene was a confrontation between Cloud and Sephiroth, seen after the player defeats Sephiroth. Cutscenes were provided for Unknown, using spliced voice acting for Sora and Goofy, but shaking text on a black screen for Unknown.

A minor cutscene was also added near the start of the game on the second day on Destiny Islands, where it is revealed that the lucky charm Kairi makes out of thalassa shells is the Oathkeeper charm she later gives to Sora.

These new cutscenes adhere to the story in the Kingdom Hearts Novels more accurately.

• Another Side, Another Story [deep dive]
• Gummi Ship Missions
• 3 more Ansem Reports

Packaging Artwork

• KH FM LE Box Cover.jpg

  Limited Edition Japanese Box Cover

• Kh-final-mix.jpg

  Japanese Box Cover