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 reissue of Kingdom Hearts II for the PlayStation 2. Most plot and gameplay elements are the same, and the game also includes the features added to the international version of the game. The game combines English voice-overs with Japanese text and controls.

The PlayStation 2 version 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 as part of Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX for the PlayStation 3. As opposed to the original Final Mix, the remake features Japanese voice acting in the Japanese release. It was later released as part of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX.

Development

Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix was rumored in middle-late 2006. Due to the first game receiving the Final Mix treatment, it was speculated that the same would happen to its sequel. During an interview with Weekly Shōnen Jump, Nomura did not confirm its development, but he did state that if a Final Mix version were to be created, he would use a "trump card". He was also considering an international release, but no definite plans were in place.

Much like the previous installment, the default language is English with Japanese subtitles. However, the new scenes were also dubbed in Japanese due to most of the new scenes featuring Organization members that have previously never been voiced. The song Sanctuary also replaced Passion as the official theme of the game.

In September 2006, Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix was finally announced, and released on March 29, 2007, hitting stores all across Japan. No release in the United States or other countries was announced, 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 the final games Tetsuya Nomura made for the PlayStation 2. They were initially bundled together as part of Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+.

• 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.

Changes

New Features

Features

• A new Difficulty Level named 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 No Experience).
  • 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" secret ending 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.
• A new Drive Form called Limit Form, which has abilities from Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, and also bears resemblance to Sora's outfit from Kingdom Hearts.
• A new collectable mini-game called Puzzle, which unlocks special items.
• New abilities:
  • Action abilities: Flash Step, Vicinity Break, Aerial Dive, Magnet Burst, Auto Limit, Sonic Rave, Last Arcanum, Strike Raid, Infinity, Zantetsuken, Ripple Drive, Hurricane Period, Zantetsu Counter, Reflect Combo
  • Growth abilities: Dodge Roll
  • Support abilities: HP Gain, Light & Darkness, Combo Master, Drive Converter, Damage Control, Protect, Protectra, Protectga, No Experience
• New weapons:
  • Keyblades: Winner's Proof, Two Become One
  • Staves: Spell's Relic+, Centurion and Centurion+, Plain Mushroom and Plain Mushroom+, Precious Mushroom and Precious Mushroom+, Premium Mushroom
  • Shields: Akashic Record+, Frozen Pride and Frozen Pride+, Joyous Mushroom and Joyous Mushroom+, Majestic Mushroom and Majestic Mushroom+, Ultimate Mushroom
• New armor:
  • Grand Ribbon, Shock Charm and Shock Charm+
• New accessories:
  • Executive's Ring, Shadow Archive and Shadow Archive+, Full Bloom and Full Bloom+
• An option to return to the title menu was added to save points.
• Theater Mode added to the title menu.
• Title screen now depicts Late Summer instead of Sea, and the menu's color accent was changed from blue to orange to match the artwork.
• The end screen now displays different artwork depending on difficulty and Journal completion compared to the original game
  • Standard: Heart
  • Proud: Duality
  • Proud with Journal 100%: Sunset
  • Critical: Kingdom Hearts Original Soundtrack Complete cover artwork.
  • Critical with Journal 100%: Exhilarating

Gameplay

• Roxas now starts the game with a Ribbon if playing on Beginner Mode.
• The Drive Gauge now fills at a faster rate, and the maximum number of Drive Gauges has increased from seven to nine.
• Sweet Memories now has Drive Converter as an ability instead of Lucky Lucky, and has altered stats.
• Lucky Rings can be now be synthesized.
• Scan is now obtained by defeating Axel in the Sandlot, instead of being a level up ability.
• Several of the rewards obtained through Bonus Levels have been rearranged. For example, Finishing Leap is now received instead of Explosion for defeating Blizzard Lord and Volcanic Lord, and Explosion is instead obtained after the Solar Sailer fight.
• The order in which the Secret Ansem Reports are obtained matches the order in the international release rather than the Japanese release.
• Wisdom Form's sleeves now correctly bear the Wisdom Form emblem instead of Master Form's emblem.

Storyline

• Around 30 minutes of new cutscenes were added to the game, based on the Kingdom Hearts II light novels. These cutscenes were dubbed into English for the first time upon the release of Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX.
  • At the end of Day 4, Axel pleads with the Organization to not have to defeat Roxas, but is threatened to comply.
  • After Sora departs on the train at Twilight Town, Riku allows Axel and Naminé to leave the world at Sunset Hill.
  • After Sora encounters Organization XIII in Radiant Garden, the Organization is shown discussing Sora at Where Nothing Gathers.
  • After Sora seals the Keyhole in Twilight Town, Saïx speaks with Xemnas at Where Nothing Gathers about manipulating Sora.
  • During the Heartless invasion in Radiant Garden, Xemnas accesses a hidden room in the Heartless Manufactory. While he enters, a flashback plays of a conversation between Terra-Xehanort and Ansem the Wise. Xemnas sits in a chair in the room, and looks at Aqua's discarded armor, which he refers to as "friend".
  • Immediately after the cutscene above, a flashback is shown in which Xigbar and Zexion discuss Xemnas at The Castle That Never Was.
  • After the Battle of the 1000 Heartless, the Organization discusses Sora's progress at Where Nothing Gathers.
  • After Axel dies, the Organization discusses his death at Where Nothing Gathers.
  • After the Roxas boss battle, a flashback of Roxas being named by Xemnas is shown.
  • After the cutscene above, there is a spiritual encounter between Roxas and Axel, in which they question whether they have hearts before saying goodbye to each other.
  • After Saïx is defeated, when Riku mentions Roxas, a flashback is shown of Riku taking on the form of Ansem, Seeker of Darkness while battling Roxas.
  • Immediately before the second Armored Xemnas battle, Sora and Riku briefly discuss thanking Naminé.
• A new textbox scene was added after Sora gets his new clothes at Mysterious Tower, introducing the Puzzle minigame.
• After the cutscene introducing Sephiroth during the second visit to Radiant Garden, a brief textbox scene of Yuna, Rikku and Paine flying out of a hole in the castle wall is shown, to introduce the player to the Cavern of Remembrance.
• A new textbox scene was added to Olympus Coliseum, in which Demyx explains Absent Silhouettes to Sora.

Battles

• A total of 19 new optional boss battles were added to the game.
  • Absent Silhouettes appear in various worlds, allowing Sora to battle phantom versions of the five members of Organization XIII previously defeated in Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories (Larxene, Lexaeus, Marluxia, Vexen, and Zexion).
  • All 13 members of Organization XIII can be fought as Replica Data at the Garden of Assemblage, after each member has been defeated in the story or as an Absent Silhouette. These battles are more challenging than the original encounters, featuring enhanced stats and new attacks.
  • Roxas's battle with Sora in The World That Never Was is now a playable, mandatory battle instead of a cutscene.
  • A new post-game boss, the Lingering Will, becomes accessible via a portal in the Hall of the Cornerstone at Disney Castle after completing all worlds and beating the game.
• The Mushroom XIII appear throughout worlds as optional enemies, each featuring a unique mini-game
• A Crown appears on Sora's head after obtaining Proofs. The Crown is bronze after obtaining one Proof, silver after obtaining two, and gold after obtaining all three.
  • Proof of Peace: Appeasing all Mushroom XIII Heartless
  • Proof of Nonexistence: Defeating all Organization XIII Replica Data
  • Proof of Connection: Defeating the Lingering Will

Bonuses

• A new secret ending, "Birth by Sleep" was added to the game. Once unlocked, it plays in place of "The Gathering".
  • Unlocking the secret ending requires the following, depending on difficulty level:
    • Beginner Mode - Not possible to view
    • Standard Mode - Beat the game, complete Jiminy's Journal, complete all Gummi Missions, obtain every Gummi treasure and get the Gold Crown.
    • Proud Mode - Beat the game, complete Jiminy's Journal and get the Gold Crown.
    • Critical Mode - Beat the game and get the Gold Crown.
• "The Gathering" can be viewed on all difficulties by completing all worlds and beating the game.

Changes in worlds

• A new post-game area, the Cavern of Remembrance, is accessible in Radiant Garden after Sora is introduced to Sephiroth during the second visit.
• Many chests throughout the worlds which contained restorative items in the original game now hold synthesis materials.
• Twilight Town changes:
  • The intro to Roxas's fight with Twilight Thorn now lacks music; "Tension Rising" now only plays when the battle starts proper.
  • 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).
  • An additional mirror was added in the Wardrobe in Mysterious Tower to represent Limit Form.
• The Land of Dragons changes:
  • The morale gauge depletes at quicker intervals, requiring Sora to finish the missions faster.
  • The 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 Parlor have changed (either connect 100 hits, go below 30% HP, or battle for ninety seconds).
  • Cogsworth's stamina depletes at a faster rate during the lantern event in the Secret Passage.
• Olympus Coliseum changes:
  • The time limit for which Sora must defeat Pete while protecting Megara has changed from 2 minutes to 1 minute and 30 seconds.
• Disney Castle changes:
  • Enemies no longer drop prize boxes while protecting Minnie.
• Timeless River changes:
  • More enemies were added to the four window battles.
• Agrabah changes:
  • Conditions to end the when first arriving in Agrabah 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).
• Halloween Town changes:
  • Unique party costumes and background music were added for Christmas Town.
• The World That Never Was changes:
  • The second Armored Xemnas battle was shortened by reducing the number of knockbacks by Xemnas from three to two.
• 100 Acre Wood changes:
  • The time limit for The Expotition was changed from three to five minutes.
  • Rules for The Hunny Pot have been changed to make it more difficult.
  • Drive Forms can now be accessed during minigames.

External links

• Official website