Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX, stylized as Kingdom Hearts HD II.5 ReMIX, is a compilation of various games from the Kingdom Hearts series that have been fully remastered in HD. It is a follow-up to Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX and includes remastered versions of Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix and Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix. It also features a collection of HD cutscenes from Kingdom Hearts Re:coded. The release of Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX marks the first time Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix and Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix have been available outside of Japan.

The ending credits feature scenes from Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance and the E3 2013 announcement trailer for Kingdom Hearts III, teasing Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue.

Changes
Changes to all three games in Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX include support for various video outputs (480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p), as well as audio output supported by Dolby Digital 5.1 sound and DTS Digital Surround 5.1. There is now PlayStation 3 trophy support and an unlockable PlayStation 3 theme for each title. In addition, English voice acting is available for all cutscenes in Theater Mode in the Japanese release. Textures have been updated.

Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix
Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix features improved graphics and a completely re-orchestrated soundtrack. All cutscenes, including those that were created for the original Japanese version of the game, are voiced in English. The Absent Silhouettes and their respective Replica Data now use English grunts, laughs, and battle cries, while Roxas's have received more drastic changes to incorporate those of his Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days incarnation, and even some of Ventus's from Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. In Jiminy's Journal, the "Combo Attacks" section is renamed to "Limits". While the English localization of the game retained most of the censorship from Kingdom Hearts II, an attack animation remained uncensored. In Kingdom Hearts II version, Xigbar twirled his arrowguns around, and shot at Sora with a single gun, while he held the other at his side. In the Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX version, Xigbar combines his two hand-held guns to create a sniper rifle, which is used to shoot the player's party during the telescoping sight sequence.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix features improved graphics, and its controls have been adjusted for the game's transition from the PlayStation Portable to the PlayStation 3. For instance, the camera can now be controlled using the right analog stick, rather than and. The various environments the player visits over the course of the game are more detailed in appearance, and new sound effects have been added to these areas, as well.

In the final cutscene in Terra's scenario, the Lingering Will sprouts a cape to maintain continuity between Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix and its later appearance in Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix. The Mirage Arena no longer has multiplayer capabilities, meaning that Mirage Arena D-Links cannot be used. The events and battles in the Arena have been tweaked, and additional challenges are present. Due to the lack of multiplayer, the Taunt command has been replaced with Victory Pose in all appearances, and Group Esuna has been completely removed. While the entire soundtrack of Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix has been re-orchestrated, only the pieces "Keyblade Graveyard Horizon," "Dismiss," and "It's a Small World" have been re-orchestrated in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix.

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded
Kingdom Hearts Re:coded is featured in the form of over three hours of fully voiced, high definition cutscenes. In addition, it includes character reports. Unlike Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days in Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX, Kingdom Hearts Re:coded features cutscenes from the Disney worlds, as well as battle scenes, and narration by Mickey. Cutscenes have been added so players can better understand the Kingdom Hearts series, including one that connects to Kingdom Hearts χ. An additional secret ending, titled "Destiny," has been added to connect to the events of Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. While the entire soundtrack of Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix and a few pieces from Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix were re-orchestrated for Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX, Kingdom Hearts Re:coded does not feature the remade soundtracks from either game. However, "Roxas" and "The Other Promise" have been replaced with the tracks from the Piano Collections Kingdom Hearts album.

Development
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX was first hinted at during the ending credits of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX, as they contain footage from Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, and Kingdom Hearts Re:coded. In October of 2013, Tetsuya Nomura said that Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX will contain more graphical improvements than Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX. In December of 2013, Nomura also said that due to Kingdom Hearts Re:coded being shorter than Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, new scenes featuring events that took place in Disney worlds and during battles were added. In addition, new scenes connecting Kingdom Hearts Re:coded and Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance have been included. Nomura lastly stated that development of Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX was faster than that of its predecessor because the team that developed Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX had established a system for making games in HD. As of March, 2014, all lines in Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX had been recorded. In an interview with Famitsu Weekly in April of 2014, Shinji Hashimoto stated that the additional cutscenes had also been completed and the game was nearing its final stage of development.

On June 5, 2014, Square Enix announced the release dates for the Japanese, European, and North American versions of Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX. Along with this announcement came a new trailer for the game compilation that was featured at E3 2014. Announcement of an Ultimania dealing with the entire Kingdom Hearts series would be sold with the game, and an official soundtrack was to be released, as well. On June 6, 2014, Square Enix France released a ten-minute video featuring gameplay from both Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix and Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix from the HD compilation. In an interview during E3 2014 on June 10, 2014, Tai Yasue said that the development of the compilation was far easier than the development of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX, that the Kingdom Hearts Re:coded cutscenes extended to three hours (two of which were completely new), and that the Mirage Arena in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix would not have multiplayer capabilities. Following this bit of news, Yasue said the Mirage Arena had been tweaked to be more enjoyable as a single-player arena. On June 12, 2014, Tai Yasue confirmed in an interview with IGN that there would be new secret cutscenes in Kingdom Hearts Re:coded that would relate to the previous games in the Kingdom Hearts series, as well as to Kingdom Hearts III. Yasue also mentioned during E3 2014 that over ninety instrumental tracks in Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX had been reorchestrated in Boston. The Video Game Orchestra and its recording division, SoundtRec Boston, confirmed this on June 13, 2014 via Facebook.

Reported Bugs
Several new bugs are present in this collection, such as:
 * Random Crashes, however, a consistent crash point is the battle against Xemnas at the Memory Skyscraper.
 * Slow load times
 * Most sound effects that are played consecutively (i.e. Xigbar's lasers, Sephiroth's Reaction Command) are not played properly.
 * The Reversal Reaction Command failing to execute during the battle with Xemnas (Final Form)..
 * Multiple instances of cutscenes not loading properly, showing a white texture as a placeholder.
 * Vexen's snowflakes suddenly disappear, and sudden deaths may occur during his data battle.

Special Editions
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX has special edition releases that differ from the retail edition of the game.

Japanese releases of Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX have two different Collector's Edition versions of the game that are only available through the Square Enix eshop. The first is "KINGDOM HEARTS Starter Pack HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX", which contains both Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX. The second is the "KINGDOM HEARTS Collectors Pack HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX", which contains both Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX, a Blu-ray Music Disc containing tracks from the Kingdom Hearts series, and an artwork booklet. Both have the option to include a Play Arts Kai figurine of Sora in his Limit Form. Purchasing the game from Amazon.co.jp grants a downloadable PlayStation 3 theme.

On July 24, Square Enix announced a pre-order bonus for the international release of Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX via the Kingdom Hearts Facebook page. By pre-ordering, one receives a free, automatic upgrade to the Limited Edition that includes a Disney Parks Pin Trading collectible pin featuring Sora and Mickey.

On November 5, 2014, Square Enix announced a Collector's Edition of Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX for the United States, United Kingdom, and France. The collector's edition includes a 9.4-inch Shadow plush toy, 30-page hardcover artbook with dust jacket, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX and Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX, along with a special steelbook to house the two game discs, and the Disney collectors pin. The Collector's Edition is only available through Square Enix's online store.

Notes and references
Kingdom Hearts -HD 2.5 ReMIX-