Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix

Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+

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Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+ is a 2007 re-release of Kingdom Hearts II, akin to Kingdom Hearts:Final Mix. It features new cutscenes, abilities, weapons, enemies, areas, and a new Drive Form. In addition, it is packaged with a second disc: Re:Chain of Memories, a remake of Chain of Memories.

Announcement
Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix had been rumored for some time in middle-late 2006. Though Nomura did not confirm its development, he has stated that were a Final Mix to be created, he would use a "trump card".

In September 2006, Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix was finally announced, along with Re:Chain of Memories, a Playstation 2 remake of Chain of Memories, with full 3-D rendering and voice acting. The two would be packed together, creating Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+.

The remake was released on March 29, 2007, hitting stores all across Japan. Currently no plans have been announced for release in the United States or other countries, despite the topic being popular across Kingdom Hearts related forums.

Final Mix
Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix expands on the original Kingdom Hearts II with several new features and plot elements.

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 entities at the end of the Kingdom Hearts II secret ending. More recent screenshots showed one of these three in combat with Sora, Donald and Goofy. The being, named Terra dubbed in the game as the Enigmatic Soldier or Enigmatic Warrior by many fans (referencing a secret boss of Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, the Enigmatic Man), is a secret boss with an enormous amount of HP. Preview videos also indicated that battling Roxas will be possible, though the context of the duel is unknown. Square has also revealed that each member of Organization XIII can be challenged in a secret area of Hollow Bastion and fought independently of the storyline.

Voice-acting on Final Mix was announced to be mostly in English, with Japanese subtitles, like Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix. Several new scenes, however, use Japanese voice-acting.

New features
Several new features were confirmed by the game's release:


 * Members of Organization XIII that were eliminated in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories can be found and fought in the various worlds of Final Mix. They each use different fighting tactics from the ones they employed in Chain of Memories.  They include Vexen, Larxene, Marluxia, Lexaeus, and Zexion.


 * Zexion's weapon is revealed - a large book called a "lexicon", which he can use to trap his enemies in an alternate reality.


 * An area of the Radiant Garden can be accessed that houses a simulation of battles with each member of Organization XIII. This is a separate feature from the secret battles with the 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.


 * New weapons and accessories, including a replica of Lexaeus' tomahawk for Donald, a copy of Vexen's shield for Goofy, and a crown for Sora.


 * A "theater mode" - menus where previously viewed cutscenes can be rewatched with Japanese voices.


 * Several new cutscenes based from the Kingdom Hearts II novels were added: Some involving Roxas, including scenes of him conversing with Axel in Twilight Town while wearing the Organization's signature black robes. There are also additional scenes of Roxas and Riku, including shots of their second battle, where Riku takes on the form of Xehanort's Heartless, Namine leaving with Axel, and the Organization discussing their plans and commenting on incidents like Axel's death.


 * A new secret ending video titled Birth By Sleep, featuring a number of new characters whose relation to the main series remains unexplained.

Secret features can be accessed in Final Mix by clearing Re:Chain of Memories first. Clearing Final Mix can also unlock secrets in Re:Chain of Memories.

Link
Scenario Mysteries Interview with Nomura