Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+

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. Scans of magazine articles and preview videos have appeared on numerous websites. They include additional scenes involving the three mysterious armored entities at the end of the Kingdom Hearts II secret ending. More recent screenshots have shown one of these three in combat with Sora, Donald and Goofy. The being, dubbed the Enigmatic Soldier by many fans (referencing a secret boss of Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, the Enigmatic Man, is presumed to be a secret boss, since he has more life bars than any standard boss. Preview videos also indicate 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 will be in Englich, with Japanese subtitles.

Images released to websites indicate these changes/additions:


 * Members of Organization XIII can be battled in an arena-like setting in the style of Castle Oblivion. This includes battles with Lexaeus, Zexion and Marluxia, who were all eliminated in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories.  Square later confirmed that optional battles with highly powered-up members of the Organization would be available in Hollow Bastion.


 * 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 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, after Riku had taken the form of Xehanort's Heartless.


 * Scenes involving a caped man in the attire of Xehanort's Heartless and his "guardian" facing opposition from the three knights seen at the end of the original game's secret ending, including shots of one of the knights' helmets shattered, revealing the face of a boy who looks similar to Sora/Roxas, a girl with similarites to Riku, and the Mysterious Warrior. In some of these magazine scans, an enormous heart emitting pale light, can be seen, assumed by most to be Kingdom Hearts. The Mysterious Warrior is a opinonal boss in the game, with a grudge on Xehanort.

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.

Re: Chain of Memories
Final Mix,