Kingdom Hearts II (PlayStation/Nintendo 64)

Kingdom Hearts II (キングダムハーツII, Kingudamu Hātsu Tsū) is a 1995 role-playing video game co-developed by Square and Enix and published by Square for the PlayStation and the Nintendo 64. The game is a sequel to Kingdom Hearts, and like the original game, combines characters and settings from Disney films with those of Square and Enix's various video game series. Additional content for the Nintendo 64 version could be accessed via inserting the cartridge of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories into the N64 Transfer Pak.
Kingdom Hearts II is the third game in the Kingdom Hearts series, and the second in the mainline Chronicle line of games. It picks up two years after the original game and one year after the events of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Sora, the protagonist of the first two games, returns to search for his lost friends while battling the sinister Organization XIII, a group of antagonists previously introduced in Chain of Memories. Like the previous games, Kingdom Hearts II features a large cast of characters from Disney, Square, and Enix properties.
The game received critical acclaim, as it earned several awards upon release, receiving critical praise for its story, gameplay, characters, graphical improvements, and has since been cited as one of the greatest video games of all time. In both Japan and North America, it shipped more than one million copies within weeks of its release, with over four million worldwide by April 1997
== Gameplay ==
Kingdom Hearts II features standard role-playing video game gameplay similar to it's predecessor with some differences. Players advance the game by controlling the protagonist Sora though the game's different worlds based on Disney, Square, or Enix properties, primarily by foot and Gummi Ship. Navigation between areas is conducted via an overworld map, much like Kingdom Hearts', depicting the landscape from a scaled-down overhead view. Like Kingdom Hearts, the game features no random encounters; enemies are openly visible on field maps or lie in wait to ambush the party. Touching the monster switches perspectives to a battle screen, in which players can physically attack, use magical attacks or unique attacks Limit, defend, or run away from the enemy. Battles are turn-based, allowing the player unlimited time to select an action from the available menu. Like Kingdom Hearts, characters can combine certain Techs to make more powerful Duo or Trinity Limit.
=== Drive Gauge ===
One of the new features is a meter known as the "Drive Gauge". The Drive Gauge has dual functions: to transform Sora into a "Drive Form" or to summon a special character. While in a Drive Form, Sora bonds with party members to become more powerful and acquire different attributes; all but two Forms also allow the use of two Keyblades. When a Drive is executed, Sora's combat statistics are heightened. Drive Forms also give Sora new abilities that can be used in normal form, called "Growth Abilities." Sora's first two Drive Forms only combine power with one party member; later-obtained Drive Forms require him to bond with both party members. When allies are used in a Drive, they are temporarily removed from battle for its duration. Unlike the HP and MP gauges, the Drive Gauge is not refilled at save points.
Like in the first game, Sora can summon a Disney, Square, or Enix character to aid him in battle. Unlike the previous game, where Summons were more for large attacks, Summons will replace the other party members and fight alongside Sora for only a couple of turns, or until Sora's HP runs out. In lieu of this expansion, Summons now have a menu of their own and are capable of performing solo Limits or Double Limits with Sora. These actions are performed by pressing the action button. The Summon ability and each Drive Form are leveled up separately and by different criteria; obtaining higher levels allows for extended use and in the case of Drive Forms, access to new abilities
== Worlds and Characters ==
=== Dive to the Heart ===
=== Twilight Town / Simulated Twilight Town / Mysterious Tower ===
* Roxas
* Hayner
* Pence
* Olette
* Locke (Final Fantasy VI)
* Cyan
* Sabin (Final Fantasy VI)
* Setzer (Final Fantasy VI)
* Yuan (Live a Live)
* Yen Sid (Fantasia)
* Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather (Sleeping Beauty)
* Naminé
* Ansem the Wise
=== Destiny Islands ===
* Sora
* Riku
* Kairi
* Aisha (Romancing SaGa)
=== Hollow Bastion / Radiant Garden ===
* Firion (Final Fantasy II)
* Cid (Final Fantasy IV)
* Bartz (Final Fantasy V)
* Cloud (Final Fantasy VII)
* Rosa (Final Fantasy II)
* Tifa (Final Fantasy VII)
* Bianca (Dragon Quest V)
* Merlin (The Sword and the Stone)
* Scrooge McDuck
* Huey, Dewey, and Louie
* Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII)
* Randi, Primm, and Popoi (Secret of Mana)
* Boko (Final Fantasy V)
* Terra-Xehanort
=== Saint Canard (Darkwing Duck) ===
* Darkwing Duck
* Gosyalyn Mallard
* Launchpad McQuack
* Guella Ha (Romancing SaGa)
* Negaduck
* Dr. Bushroot
* Spike
* The Liquidator
* Professor Megavolt
* Quackerjack
=== Dragon World (Dragon Quest III) ===
* Erdrick
* The Queen of Fairies
* Rubiss
* Baramos
* Robbin' 'Oood
=== Olympus Coliseum / Underworld (Hercules) ===
* Hercules
* Philoctetes
* Megara
* Pegasus
* Auron
* Pain and Panic
* Hades
* Cerberus
* Hydra
* Rock Titan
=== Disney Castle ===
* Donald Duck
* Goofy
* King Mickey
* Queen Minnie
* Daisy Duck
* Chip and Dale
* Brooms
* Jiminy Cricket (Pinocchio)
* Pluto
=== Timeless River ===
* Captain Pete
* Horace Horsecollar
* Clarabelle Cow
* Clara Cluck
* Mickey Mouse
=== Huffman Island (Front Mission) ===
* Lloyd Clive
* Kevin Greenfield
* Maria Parades
* B.O.B (The Black Hole)
* Karen Meure
* Koichi Sakata
* Driscoll
=== Agrabah (Aladdin) ===
* Aladdin
* The Magic Carpet
* Iago
* Abu
* Jasmine
* Genie
* Jafar
* The Peddler
=== Halloween Town / Christmas Town (Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas) ===
* Jack Skellington
* Sally
* Dr. Finkelstein
* Zero
* The Mayor
* Lock, Shock, and Barrel
* Santa Claus
* Bathtub
* Reindeer
* Oogie Boogie
* The Experiment
* Christmas Elves
=== Pride Lands (Atlantica) ===
* Simba
* Timon and Pumbaa
* Nala
* Mufasa
* Rafiki
* Scar
* Nanaki (Final Fantasy VII)
* Saber (Dragon Quest V)
* The Ghost of Scar
* Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed
=== Atlantica (The Little Mermaid) ===
* Ariel
* Ariel's Sisters
* King Triton
* Sebastian
* Flounder
* Prince Eric
* Ursula/Vanessa
* Flotsam and Jetsam
* Dolphin
=== 100 Acre Wood (Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin) ===
* Winnie the Pooh
* Tigger
* Piglet
* Rabbit
* Eeyore
* Owl
* Kanga
* Roo
* Gopher
=== Space Paranoids (Tron) ===
* Tron
* Sark
* MCP
* Hostile Program
=== The World that Never Was ===
* Xemnas
* Xigbar
* Xaldin
* Vexen
* Lexaeus
* Zexion
* Saïx
* Axel
* Demyx
* Luxord
* Marluxia
* Larxene
* Riku-Ansem
* Dark Figure
=== Realm of Darkness ===
=== End of Sea ===
=== Keyblade Graveyard ===
* Lingering Will 
* Terra 
* Aqua 
* Ventus 
* Master Xehanort 
* Vanitas
=== Other ===
* Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty)
* Pete
* Arthur (The Sword and the Stone)
* Peter Pan (Peter Pan)
* Tinker Bell (Peter Pan)
* Kefka (Final Fantasy VI)
* Gilgamesh (Final Fantasy V)
* Moogles
== Trivia ==
* There are some version differences between the two games
** The Sony PlayStation version featured FMV cutscenes of key scenes in the series, alongside some higher fidelity graphics, with Gilgamesh serving as the superboss of the version
** The Nintendo 64 version, while requiring an Expansion Pak, has connectivity with Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, allowing for additional Keyblades and a boss rush mode featuring the fallen Organization XIII members from that game
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Category:Kingdom Hearts
Category:PlayStation Games
Category:Nintendo 64 Games
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