Kingdom Hearts HD II.5 ReMIX

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX, stylized Kingdom Hearts HD II.5 ReMIX, is an HD remaster compilation of the Kingdom Hearts series and follow-up to Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX. It includes full HD remasters of Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix and Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Final Mix, and a collection of remastered cutscenes from Kingdom Hearts Re:coded
PSN Blog. It marks the first time Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix and Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix will be made available outside of Japan.
This game is later followed by the third and final HD game compilation Kingdom Hearts HD II.8 Final Chapter Prologue. The involvement for Dream Drop Distance in the third remix set was first hinted through accessing the credits from the title screen on this game to see different cutscenes from Dream Drop Distance during the credits.
The game was later re-adapted for the Playstation 4 alongside Kingdom Hearts HD I.5 ReMIX and was released as a single game Kingdom Hearts HD I.5 + II.5 ReMix.
==History==
In the credits of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix, clips of the games featured in the collection were shown, hinting at the collection. Additionally, when IGN interviewed Shinji Hashimoto about Kingdom Hearts III, he stated that the studio would consider another HD collection if the reaction to the first one was positive enough.
==Content==
*Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix
*Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Final Mix
*Kingdom Hearts Re:coded (HD Cinematic Story Videos)
==Overall Changes==
*Video output supported in 480p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p.
*Audio output supported in Dolby Digital 5.1 sound and DTS Digital Surround 5.1.
*PlayStation 3 trophy support.
*Unlockable PlayStation 3 theme for each title.
*Remastered background music, namely Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix.
===Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix===
*Remastered in high definition.
*Dubbing the Final Mix exclusive cutscenes into English with the minor exception of the scenes that were later adapted to Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days in 2009 which instead used archived audio.
**While Meaghan Jette Martin voiced Naminé for the only Final Mix-exclusive cutscene Naminé appeared in, Brittany Snow's previous recordings from the cutscenes of the original game are still used.
*Using sound effects from Re:Chain of Memories, 358/2 Days and Birth by Sleep for Roxas and the five Organization members that were killed off in Chain of Memories for their new boss battles in the English version.
*While the English release would retain most of the censorship from the original Kingdom Hearts II release, the scene where Xigbar merged his two Arrowguns into a sniper rifle (which was replaced with him sniping with only one arrowgun in the original english release) is now the only exception.
===Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix===
*Remastered in high definition.
*Overhaul of the control system to fit with the Playstation 3's control system.
*Removal of multi-player features, and the changes to Mirage Arena into a single player challenge.
*Lessening the difficulty level of the Mirage Arena to account for the changes.
*Dubbing the Secret Episode-exclusive cutscenes with Aqua's English voice actress Willa Holland.
*Modifying the final cutscene of Terra's scenario for the HD version to have his armor grow a cape to maintain continuity with Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix.
===Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded===
*Remastered in high definition.
*3 hours of fully-voiced, high definition cutscenes instead of a full version as like 358/2 Days it would have required a full remake due to both graphics and that Re:Coded also used the Nintendo DS's touchscreen.
**Unlike with the cinematic version of 358/2 Days there is now voice acting in the Disney based worlds instead of just scenes with texts in most of the worlds. In addition most of the Disney characters (along with the Square Enix character Cloud) that were silent in the original game now have new audio dialogue. There are a few exceptions to this such as Aladdin, Jasmine, and Phil who remain silent.
**Due to the retirement of Phil Snyder, Joe Ochman had to redub all of Snyder's lines in addition to the new dialogue he provided for Jiminy Cricket.
*There is also the addition of action scenes in the new cutscenes to portray different fights that Data-Sora gets into, something that the cinematic version of 358/2 Days lacked (excluding the DLC cutscene from the later HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX release).
*Addition of new material that did not exist in the original, both to extend the storyline, and better connect it as a prequel to Dream Drop Distance.
==Development==
In October 2013, Tetsuya Nomura said that Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX will contain more graphical improvements than Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX.http://www.khinsider.com/news/Nomura-Interview-in-Famitsu-Kingdom-Hearts-3-and-2-5-Detailed-3455
==Pre-order Bonus==
On July 24, Square Enix announced a pre-order bonus for Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX via the Kingdom Hearts Facebook page. By pre-ordering, one would receive a free, automatic upgrade to the Limited Edition, which would include a collectible pin featuring Sora and Mickey.Facebook post announcing the Pre-order Bonus The pin was revealed to be a Disney Parks Pin Trading Collectible.
==Gallery==
===Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix===
KHII.5 - KH2FM - Screen Shot 01.jpg
KHII.5 - KH2FM - Screen Shot 02.jpg
KHII.5 - KH2FM - Screen Shot 03.jpg
KHII.5 - KH2FM - Screen Shot 04.jpg
KHII.5 - KH2FM - Screen Shot 05.jpg
Kingdom Hearts' Door 01 (KHIIFM) KHIIHD.png|Xemnas pleads for his artificial Kingdom Hearts to help him.
Mickey and Friends at the Great Maw (KHIIFM) KHIIHD.png|The heroes arrive in the middle of the army of Heartless
Seeing the Hero Hercules Again (KHIIFM) KHIIHD.png
Always Together 01 (KHIIFM) KHIIHD.png
Signing the Contract 01 (KHIIFM) KHIIHD.png
Genie Works Hard 01 (KHIIFM) KHIIHD.png
Axel's Decision 01 (KHIIFM) KHIIHD.png|A hurt Axel attacks Roxas for tricking him.
Nice to Meet You Queen Minnie 01 (KHIIFM) KHIIHD.png
The Words I Wanted to Say 01 (KHIIFM) KHIIHD.png|"Feeling a little... regret?"
Their Treasure 01 (KHIIFM) KHIIHD.png|Roxas and his friends examine the crysals
My Summer Vacation... 01 (KHIIFM) KHIIHD.png|Roxas accepts his fate to merge back with Sora
The Gambler of Fate Luxord 01 (KHIIFM) KHIIHD.png|Luxord prepares to "gamble" his fate in a fight with Sora
Kingdom Hearts' Door 01 (KHIIFM) KHHDII.png|Xemnas merges with his artificial Kingdom Hearts
The Luna Diviner Saïx 02 (KHIIFM) KHHDII.png|Saïx prepares to face the heroes
A Connecting Dream 01 (KHIIFM) KHHDII.png
To End Everything 01 (KHIIFM) KHIIHD.png|Riku and Sora face off against Xemnas
===Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix===
KHII.5 - KHBBS - Screen Shot 01.jpg|
KHII.5 - KHBBS - Screen Shot 02.jpg
KHII.5 - KHBBS - Screen Shot 03.jpg|Master Xehanort advises Terra about darkness
Legacy 01 (KHBBS) KHIIHD.png|Terra chooses Riku as a Keyblade wielder of the next generation
Command Board Main Menu (KHBBS) KHIIHD.png|Command Board mini-game
Opening (BBSFM) KHHDII.png|Terra and Aqua face off in their Mark of Mastery Exam
Return my friend's heart! 01 (BBSFM) KHHDII.png|Terra-Xehanort attacks Aqua
===Kingdom Hearts Re:coded===
KHII.5 - KHReC - Screen Shot 01.jpg|Data-Sora breaks into data Disney Castle
KHII.5 - KHReC - Screen Shot 02.jpg|The King and Jiminy ponder the hidden message.
KHII.5 - KHReC - Screen Shot 03.jpg|The message created by the "hurt" Namine added to the journal
Destiny KHREC KHIIHD.png|"Which poor soul will it be?"
===Promotional===
Kingdom Hearts HD II.5 ReMIX Logo.png
KHHD2.5CoverJapan.png
KHHD2.5Boxarttextless.jpg
KHHD2.5Pin.png
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX Collection Edition.png
KH 2.5 HD Remix OST.jpg
==Videos==
===Trailers===
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX Debut Trailer|Debut Trailer. Japanese Audio, but with English Text.
KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.5 ReMix - Jump Festa 2014 Trailer|Jump Festa Trailer. English Audio.
KINGDOM_HEARTS_HD_2.5_ReMIX_-_E3_Trailer|KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.5 ReMIX - E3 Trailer
KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.5 ReMIX - Gameplay (Direct Feed)
KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.5 ReMIX - New Features Trailer
KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.5 ReMIX - Introducing the Magic Trailer
===Gameplay===
KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.5 ReMIX - Gameplay (Direct Feed)
==Other Releases==
===Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX===
In March 2017, Square Enix released Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX on the Playstation 4 which combines this and game Kingdom Hearts HD I.5 ReMIX into a single game. Aside from the fact the games now run at 60fps(frames per second), one significant difference in PS4 release is aside from patch updates to fix game glitches, one initial fix is the glitch which II.5 had regarding both Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix and Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix where the activating of KHII Final Mix's Drive Forms and BbS Final Mix's D-Link which had a slow load time where the player had to pause for a few seconds to help correct it have been removed, allowing both to be activated easily.
In addition like with Kingdom Hearts Final Mix and Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, the difficulty level PSN trophies of Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix can be stacked in the PS4 release. This allows the Proud Mode and Critical Mode trophies to be collected together in a single game by completing it in Critical Mode only.
It was later released again four times. The first re-release was in a combo pack for North America only as part of Kingdom Hearts: The Story So Far alongside Kingdom Hearts HD II.8 Final Chapter Prologue. Kingdom Hearts: The Story So Far collects the entire saga on PS4. Then the game was released for the Xbox One on February 18, 2020.Kingdom Hearts All-In-One Package Game Collection Gets Physical Release on March 17 in N. America worldwide. Was later put in another physical boxset alongside 2.8 and Kingdom Hearts III as part of Kingdom Hearts All-In-One Package for North America on the PS4 which was released on March 17, 2020Kingdom Hearts All-In-One Package Game Collection Gets Physical Release on March 17 in N. America which previously was a digital-exclusive PlayStation Store product. Lastly it was released on the PC alongside 2.8, III, and Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory worldwide on March 30, 2021 via Epic Games.Kingdom Hearts Games Get PC Releases on March 30 A Nintendo Switch digital-exclusive port was released on February 10, 2022 which is also part of the KINGDOM HEARTS INTEGRUM MASTERPIECE bundle pack for Cloud.Kingdom Hearts Games Head to Switch as Cloud-Streaming Releases
==Trivia==
*Though their characters were silent in the original Re:Coded, both Alice and Genie, would be voiced in this version for the first and only known time in the series by their new voice actors Hynden Walch and Jim Meskimen. This is due to Meskimen becoming the new official actor for Genie in 2008 and Alice's original voice actress Kathryn Beaumont retired in 2005 after becoming too old for the role.
*None of the new voice actors in Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix that weren't part of the original game were credited in the games' end credits.
*In one of the Final Mix-exclusive cutscenes for Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, DIZ is voiced by Christopher Lee. Though Lee did not provide any new dialogue due to being in poor health, as this is one of the cutscenes later adapted to Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, it allowed the archived recording from the English release of the original Nintendo DS release to be used here for this cutscene.
*The new cutscenes added in Re:Coded would be the final time that Gilbert Gottfried would reprise his role as the voice of Iago prior to his death in 2022. This is partly due to Alan Tudyk replacing him in the 2019 live-action Aladdin film
==External links==
*Official JP Site
*Official NA Site
==Notes and references==
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