Official Site
KH2.co.uk

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

quote IGN

Kingdom Hearts II Update For PS2
Japan gets Final Mix update with some surprise bonuses.

September 13, 2006 - Everyone was expecting Square Enix to at some point provide a "Director's Cut" or "International Version" for Kingdom Hearts II, and sure enough, such a title has been announced. The latest issue of Jump Magazine has first screens and details for Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix for the Japanese PS2.

The title appears to be just the US version of Kingdom Hearts II, complete with English voices, which is something that fans in Japan have, according to the Jump article, been hoping for. But in addition to all the bonus content that was added for the English version, Square Enix is also adding a card battle system of some form. The battle system looks like a 3D version of the battle system from the Game Boy Advance Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories, with the player selecting cards for moves.
Sadly, the Jump article does not reveal the specific nature of the card-based battles. It could be just a special move of some form, or perhaps we can look forward to something deeper.
We expect further updates shortly, though, so keep checking back over the coming weeks!

Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix

The last trailer from Square-Enix's was Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix, which is a remixed version of Kingdom Hearts II (a.k.a the US version) as well as a title called Kingdom Hearts: Re:chain of Memories. As the title suggests, this is a remake of the GBA game of a similar name, but it's been completely redone in 3D. Not only that, but the game will include areas that weren't found in Chain of Memories before. Using an engine based on Kingdom Hearts II, the same card-based combat still applies, but it also includes the button-based combat found in Kingdom Hearts II. Interestingly enough, all of the cutscenes shown during the trailer featured only short appearances from the Disney characters.

quote EGM via Gaming Target

Rounding out the PS2 portion of the article is a pair of RPGs from Japan that will be coming to America for the first time. EGM says that Wild Arms 5 will arrive in the Summer and Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix will take up the fight in the Fall.

But hold up just a minute, you say Kingdom Hearts II came out last year? Why yes it did, but Final Mix is a special edition of KH2 that includes the full U.S. version and a bunch of bonus features. These include extra cut scenes, new bosses (including Sora's evil twin Roxas) and a 3D version of the GBA's Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories (that's right, a full game is considered an extra).

quote

1. Namine's room appears first and then, Namine, herself appears.
   
   Namine: "Do you not want to know the truth?"
   
   
2. The scene of Roxas' name being formed by Xemnas in front of the Twilight Town mansion. Then, the scene shifts to the portal between TT and TWTNW (where Sora and Axel teamed up against the nobodies).
   Sora: "There is anger and hatred in the mind."
   Riku: "None of those things in the mind are ordered."
   
3. A scene where King Mickey takes out his keyblade.
   
4. Ansem holds the machine that was used to absorb data.
   
5. A scene where Namine jumps towards Sora.
   Namine: "Sleep, we made a promise that we'll meet each other again."
   
6. A scene where Saix says that Xemnas is in Kingdom Hearts.
   
7. Another scene that shows Sora helping Riku to walk.
   
8. A scene showing Sora in his new form and also him checking it out.
   
9. Ragnarok skill has "Shot, Impact, and Gigaimpact" (Whee)
   
10. A scene of the Mushroom heartless in Organization clothing.
    
11. A new area in Hollow Bastion, and another town.
    
12. Disney characters are all back in their original worlds.
    
13. A scene of Aladdin running away.
    
14. Jack and Nightmare Santa Sora in Santa's house.
    
15. There is a scene of Ariel swimming or floating about.
    
16. Tron in his world.
    
17. A scene showing Beast charging at an org. member.
    
18. A new map is seen. Beyond Hollow Bastion is the Netherworld!? Also, Castle Oblivion appears on the map as well?
    
19. A new skill called "Fly up" which is hard to use.
    
20. The Olympus Colisseum is where you'll be fighting against Vexen and every other org. member mentioned below this sentence.
    
21. Sora, Donald, and Goofy fighting against Lexaeus.
    
22. A huge pointy rock shoots out from the ground.
    
23. Sora, Donald, and Goofy fighting against Marluxia. There are a lot of counter moves in this battle. Especially against Marluxia's scythe/sickle.
    
24. Four members of the Organization are having a small meeting.
    Luxord: "He can bet against you to obtain something."
    Saix: "There's nothing to put out, when obtaining a friend."
    Xemnas: "Axel shook up Sora's mind." (?)
    
25. Xemnas wakes up.
    
26. Sora vs. Roxas battle in TNTNW. On the skyscraper, Sora suddenly have memories of Roxas. Roxas moves super fast.
    
27. The Organization appears through an opening on the ground. He sits on a chair in the Org./Nobody's room.
    
28. The words, "KH RE:COM+KH2FM = KH2 FM+" appear.
    
29. One of the knights from Sunset Horizons is on the ground.
    Xemnas? "After a long time, and friend"
    
30. The knight, that looks almost like Sora, appears having part of his helmet broken off. This is the knight seen near the end of the extended version of SH.

quote KHU

• Roxas' new scenes are supposed to help dip deeper into his character
  
• They're adding places when you can make us of all your abilities, and they're rework maps so that you get more of a sense of fun exploring that you did in KHII or even KH
  
• His 'favourite Heartless' is going to be included
  
• A battle against one of the Org. XIII, which was only a movie in the original ver. and he was sad to have cut, will be playable this time
  
• Looks like there's going to be some parts not related to the story, where you might have the chance to fight 'an Org. XIII member you didn't get to fight in COM'
  
• New Reaction Commands
  
• A new difficulty, and since some people said that even Sephiroth on Proud mode was a walkover, there might be an even stronger enemy added
  
• They're trying to include all the stuff in the game they couldn't before
  
• The secret movie has been completely remade, it's not just the original with new bits added
  
• He wouldn't say anything about who the secret movie character with the broken mask is (since it's a 'secret' movie) when asked if it was someone we know
  
• They haven't decided if they're going to change the requirements to get the secret ending, since they usually decide that later on in the development
  
  
• For Re:COM, which is being made by the Osaka team who made Musashi, at first they started off talking about a 2D port but then they decided to make it 3D
  
• After arguing about making it closer to KH or KHII, they decided on KHII and it's Reaction Commands
  
• The Tokyo team (who made KH and KHII) are handling the voiced cutscenes, and while they're using materials from KH they're also remaking the textures and such with KHII's improved technology
  
• They're adding some new game stuff unique to Re:COM
  
• There'll be quite a lot of new cards
  
• They're increasing the action element in Re:COM, and there'll be enemies with have some tricky attacks. With Marluxia and the like, it's kind of like "were they always this strong?"
  
• More stuff you can interact with and destroy in the field screens. Like in the coliseum, you can knock down a pillar and it'll smash into another one like a domino, and you can get onto the top of the pillars
  
• Some of the wording on the lines might be different since they're adding voices, but there's no additions to the story at the moment
  
• It's not fully voiced, only the original bits on floors in between worlds are. Disney worlds don't have voices
  
• They're working on something that's influenced by both of the games, so like if you have save data for both games... Something like that
  
• As for the price, they're thinking of the people who already bought KHII, and aren't going to make it the price of two games
  
• He is puzzling over what to do about North American fans, but mentions that he'd like it if they had the chance to be exposed to the Japanese voice casts as well

quote http://www.kh2.co.uk/

Famitsu Intervew with Nomura

Famitsu: Anyway, let's start with the news of this "new project" which appeared at the end of the latest trailer. Boy, were we surprised!
Nomura: Thanks to everyone Kingdom Hearts has gained phenomenal popularity worldwide. That is why next year the series will be taking a new step... although for the moment I can't be any more concrete.

Famitsu: If only you could do something about that (laugh). Is it something Disney specializes in? Or is a game?
Nomura: It's complicated. It is one thing but "project" doesn't quite encompass it. Right now we're in the midst of talks with Disney's side and while there is something they have contributed there is also something we [Square-Enix] have contributed. At the moment we're talking about how to realise it. Please be patient until we can be more precise.

Famitsu: Will there be a hint in KHII FM's secret movie?
Nomura: Well... there will be... a little. But also something else...

Famitsu: Something else?!
Square-Enix's PR Department: It's probably something you have never would have imagined. (laugh)
Nomura: So a lot's going on but please look forward to it.

Famitsu: We will! Now, regarding the new information that's been released, first there's that new costume for Sora. Is it for Halloween Town?
Nomura: Actually it's something for Christmas Town. It was suggested in an interview so I thought that since I had the chance...

Famitsu: So there's no difference in Halloween Town but when in Christmas Town it will change?
Nomura: Yes. There are basically two costumes for that world.

Famitsu: Will these new changes in costumes also mean changes in the story?
Nomura: No, the story won't change so there will only be a difference in the visuals. I thought that might be fun. The reason it isn't red is because it would then be the same colour as Jack's and so the story would get complicated. By the way, Donald and Goofy's appearances will also change.

Famitsu: What is the new Drive Form looking like?
Nomura: The colours are very similar to Sora's KH costume.

Famitsu: Speaking of the latest trailer, it seems there was a new stage... one where there were battles with Marluxia and Lexaeus. They disappear in CoM right? So...
Nomura: In KHII FM you will be able to fight all the members of Organization XIII. To do that we had to create a new place. Those members who aren't related to the story will be very difficult to defeat.

Famitsu: More than Sephiroth?
Nomura: Yes. This is a special edition so they'll be very hard indeed.

Famitsu: We also saw that the fight against Roxas that was a cut scene in KHII is now playable.
Nomura: Yes. We're doing our best to make it great.

Famitsu: In the latest releases it also seemed like he had a very small number of HP bars. (laugh)
Nomura: Well he is also a Keyblade Wielder so he packs quite a punch. However, unlike Sephiroth, his is a fight that is compulsory to the story so we couldn't make him too powerful either. It was all about finding the correct balance.

Famitsu: There were quite a few screens where he was in the air but will this be a mostly airborne battle?
Nomura: Not really, but it will definitely be a very lively battle.

Famitsu: There seems to be a Reaction Command called Duel Bout. Wasn't this one that could be used with the Samurai Nobodies?
Nomura: Yes. Samurai Nobodies are supposed to be under Roxas' command so it makes sense that Roxas can use the Command as well. Of course, Roxas' is a lot better.

Famitsu: As well as these new fights against Organization XIII and Roxas, fights against new mushroom Heartless were also shown.
Nomura: I actually don't like shiitake (Mors' Note; a popular edible mushroom in Japan) but came to like mushroom Heartless. (laugh) I had thought of great gimmicks to put them into KHII but it didn't make it. I had to insist a bit but they finally are included. This time they're quite strong.

Famitsu: There was a screen where mushroom Heartless were striking a pose. What was that about?!
Nomura: It means there are several of them. (laugh)

Famitsu: Several?!
Nomura: They each have their own specialities and are of different sizes as well.

Famitsu: Will we be able to tell them apart?
Nomura: They are all ranked and you can tell what their number is.

Famitsu: In recent screens there was a score counter as well as a timer. Are they going to be fought like minigames?
Nomura: Yes. They come up as challenges and, as before, each have their own way of being solved.

Famitsu: We're looking forward to it. Also, in the latest trailer there was a character who said "It's been a while, my friend.". Who was this being said to?
Nomura: At present I cannot say.

Famitsu: You said that none of the iron-clad characters of the secret movie were Roxas or Sora.
Nomura: That is correct. However they are related to one or more characters we have already introduced. Please speculate and look forward to it as well as the new project.


Kingdom Hearts - Re:Chain of Memories

Famitsu: With the addition of voice acted scenes, it is like seeing some members of the Organization anew.
Nomura: Individuals worlds will only have text but all the scenes within the Castle with the Organization will be voiced.

Famitsu: The quality of it is also amazing.
Nomura: The Organization of KHII was done so accurately and well that we were determined to do just as good with KH: Re:CoM. They stick perfectly with their image.

Famitsu: In a screen where we fight with Riku, we see Zexion holding a Soul Eater. Does that mean he has the ability to imitate others' weapons?
Nomura: Yes. However, each and every member of Organization XIII has both a special attribute and a specific weapon. Zexion also has his own weapon.

Famitsu: And what seems like the ability to clone himself?
Nomura: Zexion's element is that of illusion so he will make use of it in battle.

Famitsu: What are the changes to the battle system?
Nomura: There a lot more Stock techniques. There are many new combinations that produce techniques than previously. There also some techniques that are connected to the Reaction Command brought over from KHII. However, the input of the Reaction Commands is a bit more difficult than in KHII.

Famitsu: Button mashing won't do?
Nomura: Indeed. In Re:CoM you get to use them during Stock techniques so that would have been too easy. That's why we've tried to make the timing more severe.

Famitsu: There has been talks that you were thinking about giving a nice bonus if the saves of KHII: FM and KH Re:CoM were to be transferred around.
Nomura: Yes I'm making it so that they will affect one another, something if KHII: FM data can be found when playing Re:CoM and vice versa. Transferring that of Re: CoM to KHII: FM will have a great effect I included thinking of all the fans so please look forward to it.

Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix #1 1024x768


Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix #2 1024x768


Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix #3 1024x768