Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+

Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+ is a 2007 compilation of Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix and Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, "Final Mix" versions of Kingdom Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix features new cutscenes, abilities, weapons, enemies, areas, and a new form, whilst Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories features new cards, cutscenes and mini-games.

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 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, along with Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, a PlayStation 2 remake of Kingdom Hearts: 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 official plans have been 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."

Final Mix
Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix expands on the original Kingdom Hearts II with 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, (The Lingering Sentiment), is a secret boss with an enormous amount of HP. The 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 Kingdom Hearts II 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 when viewed in Theatre Mode with Japanese voice. These extra scenes in-game are voiceless with Japanese subtitles.

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, Puzzle, that unlocks special items.

Storyline

 * 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, Naminé leaving with Axel, and the Organization discussing their plans and commenting on incidents like Axel's death.


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


 * The battle between Sora and Roxas in the Station of Awakening is made playable.

Battles

 * Members of Organization XIII that were eliminated in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories can be found and fought in the various worlds of Kingdom Hearts II 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.


 * An area of Radiant Garden, called the Cavern of Remembrance, can be accessed, it houses a series of battle simulations 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.


 * A battle against the mysterious Lingering Sentiment can be unlocked at Disney Castle.

Bonuses

 * A "theater mode" - menu where previously viewed cutscenes can be watched again with either English or Japanese voices by pressing L2 and R2.


 * A new secret ending video titled "Birth by sleep", a teaser for the upcoming PSP game by the name of Birth by Sleep, featuring a number of new characters whose relation to the main series remains unexplained.


 * Secret features can be accessed in Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix by clearing Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories first or clearing Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix first will also unlock secrets in Kingdom Hearts II Re:Chain of Memories.


 * 1) Roxas's story is expanded in Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, including the fight with Riku.
 * 2) A crown can appear on Sora's Head for defeating the following:
 * 3) * All Organization XIII Mushrooms Heartless (Bronze)
 * 4) * All Data Battles (Silver)
 * 5) * Lingering Sentiment (Gold)
 * 6) Land of Dragons Changes:
 * 7) * The morale gauge depletes at quicker intervals requiring faster missions.
 * 8) Beast's Castle Changes:
 * 9) * Conditions to end battle in the Living Room have changed (Either connect 100 hits, go below 30% health or battle for ninety seconds)
 * 10) * Cogsworth gets tired more
 * 11) Olympus Coliseum Changes:
 * 12) * The time limit for which the player must defeat Pete, while protecting Megera, has changed from 2 minutes to ninety seconds.
 * 13) Disney Castle changes:
 * 14) * Enemies do not drop prize boxes while protecting Minnie
 * 15) Timeless River changes:
 * 16) * Changes have been made to the four time windows battles
 * 17) Agrabah changes:
 * 18) * Conditions to end battle in street have changed (Either connect 100 hits, go below 30%, or battle for ninety seconds)
 * 19) * A 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)
 * 20) Halloween Town changes:
 * 21) * New costumes and music in Christmas Town
 * 22) 100 Acre Wood changes:
 * 23) * Time for Episode 4 changed from three to five minutes
 * 24) * Episode 5 rules have been changed
 * 25) * Drive Forms are available in minigames
 * 26) The World That Never Was changes:
 * 27) * Xigbar changes his gun movement when attempting to snipe you from above.
 * 28) Addition of Critical Mode:
 * 29) * Compared To Standard and Proud, enemies inflict as twice the damage, except for the Organization Mushrooms who inflict 1.25× the damage
 * 30) * Several abilities are granted on the third day (Reaction Boost, Finishing Plus, Draw, 2x Lucky Lucky, MP Hastera and EXP Zero)
 * 31) * Roxas's initial AP is 50
 * 32) * AP increases by increments of 3 instead of 2
 * 33) * Compared to Standard and Proud, HP and MP quantities from Bonus Levels are halved (You only get sixty instead of 120 HP)
 * 34) * Compared to Standard and Proud, EXP gained is three-quarters of the normal
 * 35) * Save file displays "Critical Mode"
 * 36) * Unlocking the "Birth by sleep" video is easier: just win the Gold Crown
 * 37) * In the PS2 Browser screen, there is a symbol attached to the save data file on the memory card
 * 38) Filling the Drive Gauge is easier and its upper "level" limit has increased to nine.
 * 39) New weapons and accessories:
 * 40) * Winner's Proof
 * 41) * Executive Ring
 * 42) * Highest Ribbon
 * 43) * Spell's Relic+
 * 44) * Akashic Record+
 * 45) * Freeze Pride and Freeze Pride+
 * 46) * Centurion and Centurion+
 * 47) * Shade Archive and Shade Archive+
 * 48) * Full Bloom and Full Bloom+
 * 49) * Shock Charm and Shock Charm+
 * 50) * Two Become One
 * 51) * Pleasure Mushroom, Pleasure Mushroom+, Precious Mushroom, Precious Mushroom+, Premium Mushroom
 * 52) * Happy Mushroom, Happy Mushroom+, Palatial Mushroom, Palatial Mushroom+, Limited Mushroom

Trivia

 * Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+ was released exactly five years after the release of the first Kingdom Hearts.
 * Sadly, most of the new cutscenes are silenced and only the japanese subtitles can help one make out what the conversation is about.