Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix

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Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix
キングダムハーツII FINAL MIX Kingudamu Hātsu II FINAL MIX
Developer(s)	Square Enix
Publisher(s)	Square Enix
Release date(s)	March 29, 2007
Genre	Action role-playing game
Game modes	Single player
Ratings	CERO:A
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2

Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix is a Japanese reissue of Kingdom Hearts II that uses primarily English voice acting with Japanese text, subtitles and controls, as well as bonus content. The PlayStation 2 version of it is exclusive to Japan and 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 on PlayStation 3. It was later released on PlayStation 4 as part of the Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX.

Announcement

Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix was rumored in middle-late 2006. Though 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 Kingdom Hearts-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, and Goofy. The being serves as a secret boss with incredible power and an enormous amount of HP, much like 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.
• New abilities:
  • Attacks: Aerial Dive, Flash Step, Vicinity Break, Magnet Burst, Combo Master
  • Support: Auto Limit, Drive Converter, Protect, EXP Zero, Damage Control, HP Gain, Light & Darkness

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'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 fully voiced in Japanese. If viewed with English audio in Theater Mode, all characters are voiceless and dialogue is conveyed through subtitles.
• Zexion's weapon is revealed, a large book called a "Lexicon", which he can use to trap his enemies in an alternate reality.
• Character models for Buzz Lightyear and Woody from Toy Story are present in the game data of Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, but are unused.

Battles

• All members of the Organization XIII can now be fought throughout the story. Roxas's battle with Sora at the Station of Awakening is now a playable, mandatory battle, while the remaining members can be fought through the optional Absent Silhouette sidequest, which also unlocks their journal entry. All thirteen members can be refought at any time at the Garden of Assemblage within the Cavern of Remembrance, where they are significantly stronger than before.
• The Lingering Will appears at Disney Castle after the game is completed as an optional superboss similar to the Unknown in Kingdom Hearts Final Mix.
• The Mushroom XIII appear across the worlds after certain episodes are completed as optional bosses similar to the various Mushroom Heartless in Kingdom Hearts.

Bonuses

• "Theater Mode" - a menu where previously viewed cutscenes can be watched again with either English or Japanese voices by pressing and .
• A new secret ending video titled "Birth by Sleep", 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.

1. Roxas's story is expanded in Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, including his fight with Riku.
2. A Crown, Bronze, Silver or Gold, can appear on Sora's head for defeating the following in any order:
   • All Mushroom XIII Heartless
   • All Replica Data
   • Lingering Will
3. Twilight Town Changes:
   • Conditions to end the battle in front of the station have changed (either connect 100 hits, go below 30% HP, or battle for ninety seconds).
   • Addition of Limit Form Mirror in the Mysterious Tower.
4. 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.
5. The Land of Dragons Changes:
   • The morale gauge depletes at quicker intervals requiring Sora 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.
6. Beast's Castle Changes:
   • Conditions to end the battle in the Living Room have changed (either connect 100 hits, go below 30% HP, or battle for ninety seconds).
   • Cogsworth's stamina depletes at a faster rate.
7. Olympus Coliseum Changes:
   • The time limit for which Sora must defeat Pete while protecting Megara, has changed from 2 minutes to ninety seconds.
8. Disney Castle changes:
   • Enemies do not drop prize boxes while protecting Minnie.
9. Timeless River changes:
   • Changes have been made to the four time window battles.
10. Agrabah changes:
    • Conditions to end the battle in the street have changed (either connect 100 hits, go below 30% HP, 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).
11. Halloween Town changes:
    • New costumes and music in Christmas Town.
12. 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.
13. The World That Never Was changes:
    • Xigbar changes his gun movement when attempting to snipe Sora from above.
14. Addition of Critical Mode:
    • Compared To Standard, enemies inflict twice the damage.
    • Except for the Mushroom XIII, damage dealt to enemies is 1.25× compared to Standard Mode.
    • 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 60 HP 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 winning the Gold Crown.
    • In the PS2 Browser screen, there is a symbol attached to the save data file on the memory card.
15. Filling the Drive Gauge is easier and the maximum level for the Drive Gauge has increased from seven to nine.
16. 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

• Official website