Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix

North American box art
Developer(s) Square Enix 1st Production Department[1]
Publisher(s) Square Enix
Distributor(s) Disney Interactive Studios
Director(s) Tetsuya Nomura
Tai Yasue[2]
Producer(s) Rie Nishi
Designer(s) Tetsuya Nomura
Writer(s) Kazushige Nojima
Daisuke Watanabe
Masaru Oka
Composer(s) Yoko Shimomura
Series Kingdom Hearts
Platform(s) PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
Release date(s)
Genre(s) Action-role playing
Mode(s) Single-player

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix (キングダム ハーツ HD 2.5 リミックス Kingudamu Hātsu HD 2.5 Rimikkusu, stylized Kingdom Hearts HD II.5 ReMIX) is an HD remastered collection of the Kingdom Hearts series, developed by Square Enix exclusively for the PlayStation 3. A successor to Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix, it was announced in October 2013 and was released in Japan on October 2, 2014, in North America on December 2, 2014, in Australia on December 4, 2014, and in Europe on December 5, 2014.

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix includes Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix and Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix in high definition and with trophy support. Additionally, the collection features Kingdom Hearts Re:coded in a Theatre Mode, spanning over 3 hours of HD remastered cinematics from the original game as well as new content.

A third collection, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, will be released in 2017 and features Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD, Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover, and Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage. 2.5 Remix will be released along with 1.5 Remix on the PlayStation 4 in March 2017.

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. The collection was announced on October 14, 2013, exclusively for the PlayStation 3.[7] As with HD 1.5 Remix, the collection was developed mainly by the Square Enix 1st Production Department in Osaka, along with some help from Square Enix's Tokyo team.[1]

Games

Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix

The backgrounds and textures of the game had to be adjusted in order to change from the game's original 4:3 ratio to the HD 16:9. Additional imagery was added to the menu screens and Gummi Ship area to compensate for areas that were lacking from the ratio shift. According to co-director Tai Yasue, approximately 80% of the original audio was remixed, as well as additional orchestral elements added to the songs. Yasue said, "Yoko Shimomura's music is an undeniable trait of the Kingdom Hearts series, I feel like without the atmosphere she creates, it isn't Kingdom Hearts, so the mix of the final audio was carefully controlled but also provides a new depth to the familiar sound."[1] Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix was released outside Japan for the first time as part of the collection.[7]

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix

Moving from the PlayStation Portable to the PlayStation 3 allowed the development team to add more details to the character designs, additional atmospheric sounds, as well as slightly tweak the gameplay system, now allowing camera control with the right analog stick. In addition, the Mirage Arena (a multiplayer component from the original game) has been reworked to only be a single-player experience. Yasue said enemy strengths and AI in the arena were adjusted to account for this.[1] The inclusion of the Final Mix version in the collection marked the first time for this version to be released outside Japan.[7]

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded was also included, but features the Nintendo DS game adapted into a cinematic retelling, similar to how Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days was included in Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix.[7] For the Re:coded cinematics, additional events occur that were not seen in the original. Tetsuya Nomura added that new voice acting is being recorded, and hinting at the inclusion of a new battle scene and a scene that ties Re:coded and Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance together.[8] Yasue revealed that approximately 2 hours of the total 3 hour cinematic is newly created content and subsequently recorded with voice acting, as well as featuring additional scenes that flesh out the backstories of other Kingdom Hearts titles.[1]

Release

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix was released in Japan on October 2, 2014,[3] in North America on December 2,[4] in Australia on December 4,[5] and in Europe on December 5.[4] Preorders for the game in North America and Australia included an official Disney Collector's Pin for the game.[5][9] Square Enix also released the collection in two bundles in Japan, with both featuring Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix and a code to get an Anniversary Set for Kingdom Hearts χ [chi]. The first, titled Kingdom Hearts Starter Pack: HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix, features the previously mentioned material and limited edition casing, while the second, Kingdom Hearts Collector’s Pack: HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix features limited edition casing, a promo soundtrack, and a booklet with art from the series in addition to the previous material.[3] A collectors edition for North America and Europe was also released, featuring both HD collections, a steelbook case, art book, Disney Kingdom Hearts pin, and a Heartless plush doll.[10][11]

In October 2016, Square Enix announced a single-disc compilation release of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix for the PlayStation 4, scheduled for release on March 9, 2017, in Japan, March 28, 2017, in North America, and March 31, 2017, in Europe.[6]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic82/100[12]
Review scores
PublicationScore
EGM8.0/10[13]
Game Informer9/10[14]
GameTrailers8.7/10[15]
IGN8.4/10[16]
Hardcore Gamer4/5[17]

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix received "generally favorable" reviews, according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[12]

Game Informer gave the collection a 9 out of 10, stating "If you loved last year’s Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix, you’re in for even more of a treat this time around," praising the upgrades to Kingdom Hearts II, the transition of Birth By Sleep from the PlayStation Portable to the PlayStation 3, and criticizing the Re:coded movie as just being "there for completionists and easy to ignore for everyone else."[14] Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the collection an 8.0 out of 10, stating "Like the 1.5 Remix before it, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix is a great deal for franchise fans looking to consolidate the platform-spanning series under one roof—and on as few discs as possible. The narrative quality is questionable, at least when viewed through a modern lens, but the charm and novelty still ring true, as does the series’ pioneering action-RPG combat."[13] Giving the game an 8.7 out of 10, GameTrailers felt that, "The first HD collection suffered from a poor selection of games, but that’s not the case in Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix. You’re not only getting two of the best games in the franchise, but extra content including special boss battles that was previously unavailable outside Japan. While Re:coded is easily the weakest link in the chain, a cinematic retelling with new footage is the best way to experience its story. The HD treatment, sans the lack of 60fps support, is excellent, and the new musical arrangements are stellar. Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix is a superb effort that delivers some of the best games the series has to offer, and reminds us why we’re still excited for what lies in store in the next chapter of the franchise."[15] The collection received an 8.4 out of 10 from IGN, saying, "Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix is a great way to whet your appetite during the long wait for Kingdom Hearts 3... It contains the best versions of two of the best games in the series, with upgraded visuals, music, and some really entertaining high-level challenges."[16] Hardcore Gamer gave the collection a 4 out of 5, saying "More visual improvements would have be nice, especially in Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep Final Mix, but the package as a whole is good enough to make the visuals seem like an afterthought."[17]

The collection sold 84,935 units during its first week of release in Japan,[18] and since sales figures were last reported for the game on November 9, 2014, 129,660 units have been sold in Japan.[19]

HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue

In the credits of HD 2.5 Remix, clips of Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance were shown as well as the inclusion of a secret ending related to the game, hinting at a possible additional collection.[20] In September 2015, Square Enix announced Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue. The collection features an HD remaster of Dream Drop Distance as well as Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover, a cinematic retelling of Kingdom Hearts χ, and Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage, a new game taking place after the events of the original Birth by Sleep, told from the perspective of Aqua.[21] It will be released on January 12, 2017 in Japan and January 24, 2017 for other countries.[22]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 キングダム ハーツ HD 2.5 リミックス』安江泰氏インタビュー。HD化にまつわる開発秘話の他、最新作『KHIII』の話題も【E3 2014】 (in Japanese). Dengeki Online. June 11, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2014.(Translation)
  2. ↑ Kaori (June 6, 2014). "Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX Release Date". Square Enix. Archived from the original on 2015-01-02. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 Romano, Sal (June 17, 2014). "Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix Japanese box art and limited editions revealed". Gematsu. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Moriarty, Colin (June 5, 2014). "PS3's Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX Gets A Release Date". IGN. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 "Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX – Limited Edition Announced". Impulse Gamer. July 25, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Nunneley, Stephany (October 27, 2016). "Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix announced for March release on PlayStation 4". VG 24/7. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Karmali, Luke (October 14, 2013). "Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix coming to PS3 in 2014". IGN. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  8. ↑ Spencer (December 24, 2013). "Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix Will Have New Scenes For Re:coded". Siliconera. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  9. ↑ Karmali, Luke (July 24, 2014). "KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.5 REMIX LIMITED EDITION REVEALED". IGN. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  10. ↑ Futter, Mike (November 5, 2014). "Almost Every Kingdom Hearts Game Available In New HD Collector's Edition". Game Informer. GameStop. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  11. ↑ Blake, Vikki (November 5, 2014). "KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.5 REMIX COLLECTOR'S EDITION ANNOUNCED". IGN. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  12. 1 2 "Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  13. 1 2 Holzworth, Chris (December 1, 2014). "EGM Review: Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMix". EGM. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  14. 1 2 Vore, Bryan (December 1, 2014). "Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix - Lock Yourself Away For The Winter". Game Informer. GameStop. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  15. 1 2 Damiani, Michael (December 4, 2014). "Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMix - Review". GameTraliers. Archived from the original on 2015-06-25. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  16. 1 2 Silva, Marty (December 8, 2014). "Simple and Clean". IGN. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  17. 1 2 Dunsmore, Kevin (December 2, 2014). "Review: Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  18. ↑ "This Week In Sales: Kingdom Hearts Gets Remixed Again". Siliconera. October 8, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  19. ↑ "This Week In Sales: The LEGO Movie Videogame". Siliconera. November 12, 2014. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  20. ↑ Dunsmore, Kevin (January 14, 2015). "Get Ready to Play a New Kingdom Hearts Game in 2015". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  21. ↑ Wallace, Kimberly (September 15, 2015). "[Update] Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue Revealed For PS4". Game Informer. GameStop. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  22. ↑ Donaldson, Alex (September 13, 2016). "Kingdom Hearts 2.8 to miss December, now out January 24th". VG247. Retrieved September 13, 2016.

External links

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