Kingdom Hearts 2.5 Continues to Update Sora's Adventures

@popmasterruler:

Sure, the story of this series is hit-or-miss, but I found genuine empathy for the characters and thought the themes remained pretty consistent (also, it gets surprisingly somber in parts). That said, the VA for the Final Fantasy characters in KH2 was downright embarrassing and turned some maudlin Nomura moments into a weird kind of deadpan absurdity.

I'll pick both re-releases up at the same to finally see the Final Mix stuff and find out what the hell's up with BBS, since obviously I'll end up getting KH3 in 2016 or whenever. In that respect, it's a shame they didn't include DDD with this package so I could catch up all the way.

i mean, its not like they had control over what was put into KH1FM 10 years ago. and the US (and i guess EU) version already had a lot of extra content that the original japan release didnt, so the main point of the Final Mix was to give japan all the extra content they didnt get, and they threw in like 1 extra secret boss. Im not sure if it was the same way with 2 or not.

@darkjester74: Just start with the 1.5 HD collection since it contains the original Kingdom Hearts along with the game that came right after it that was on the GBA originally.

Hey guys, I've never played a KH game before but these HD remasters have me interested. Should I start with 1.5 HD? Or some other entry in the series? Thoughts?

I agree with Patrick on this...although I liked KH2, I hated everything after that

The best parts of those first two games were always visiting the Disney worlds and basically playing through the movies, but with Sora, Goofy and Donald added to them. It had a fun gameplay system and a very nostalgic feel to it if you grew up with those Disney movies as a kid

After 2 they just got so far away from anything Disney and the story just went so up it's own ass that it had to be strung about many different handhelds just to experience the whole fucking story

I just hope KHIII gets back to some Disney stuff...and some Pixar stuff as well if they can get those liscences

@jacksukeru: Oops...... Mixed the two up. They are superb pieces of music, indeed.

The music in the trailer is not 'Simple & Clean' tho, it's the orchestral version of 'Sanctuary', or a similar version of it.

They are both pretty great.

It makes no sense not to include Dream Drop Distance in this collection,even the creator of the series said that DDD leads directly into KH III which means if you don't own a 3DS then you have no clue what's happening when you pick up KH III.

I love the music from KH games, but I would be way more interested in the story if it was about anime artists declaring war on western animation, and there was a giant robotic Micky stomping on Naruto look-a-likes.

I bought 1.5 and haven't played it yet, but the release of this might push me to it.

I get all fuzzy inside whenever I hear 'Simple & Clean,' and I've never played a KH game.

Word. I didn't get 1.5HD but I'll totally get this one, if just for BBS alone.

Wow, didn't realize people were so polarized on two, especially the writing. I don't really understand either position. Sure, it got lost up it's on asshole a bit, and I deny anyone who says otherwise, but it still has a good helping of charm and its characters are generally likable.Also, it has a lot of good art. I could see be kinda into it, or not really digging it, but I really don't understand where either the hate or the adoration comes from.

@dan_citi said:

They probably thought that packing all 4 games, along with the two parts that are just cutscenes, would be a "poor value proposition" for what they cost them to make.

Honestly, I'd respect the decision more if they had gone out of their way to include the game part of 358/2 Days in the first collection and Dream Drop Distance in this one, but again, with the dual screen and touch screen stuff it might've been too costly for them to want to work around. I dunno.

Why wasn't there just one HD collection...also why are these PS3 exclusives?

That's what pulled me in is it got so fricking crazy stupid I couldn't help but want to see where it would go next. Since then its gone even more off the wall but I think my love for Disney has whats kept me coming back.

@ninkendo: Yeah, the story payoff in that game is incredible. It also cements Braig/Xigbar as one of the coolest and most important KH characters

Already a much better package than 1.5HD. KH2 Final Mix has so much extra content compared to the original KH2 and then BBS is just straight up the best Kingdom Hearts game.

Holy Shit! As a kid there was nothing I wanted more than KH2 Final Mix, there is so much cool stuff added!

And to those weighing in on the series' story . . . it's really not that confusing, if you play all the games. Which, given how many consoles they're spread across, is kinda a tall order. I know I had to borrow a PSP and 3DS from friends. But GOD DAMN if I don't get excited for Kingdom Hearts stuff more than anything else!

That's probably fair. I like the series and everything around it because I was one of those people trying to figure out the "secret ending" videos over a decade ago that hinted at a Kingdom Hearts game that was much darker in tone and story. That vision didn't fully materialize until the PSP game Birth By Sleep and it's ending.

It's not that I couldn't follow KH2, it's that it was needlessly convoluted and lost its punch, as a result.

The "confusing story" accusation that is thrown around a lot is done by people that might have only played the first game and nothing else. It's like a bad version of the telephone game where the person who starts didn't even have the correct information.

If little kids could follow the story as the games were released I don't see why grown adults have issues. The games are pretty direct with the story and information they present. I think KH2 made it pretty clear how characters could be split into pieces (body and heart separation) and form new individuals with their own personalities. If you didn't play KH2 then I could understand how the Sora/Roxas/Ventus/Vanitas situation could prove confusing.

KH1 was GREAT, very charming and perfectly pitched... KH2 had the same solid gameplay but man did the story get fucking stupid. You'd have to have serious Stockholm Syndrome to defend the storytelling/cutscenes in that game.

I liked the first game a lot, the second one less so, but I still liked it. I haven't played any of the PSP games or game boy games or whatever the hell else there is. I didn't think the story was that confusing in KH1 or 2, but everything I see about KH these days just seems like the absolute worst anime-Japanese bullshit with every single goddamn character running around with a keyblade and not a Disney character to be seen.

Lol, I didn't say it was good. I said it wasn't that complicated. I really did like KH1, though--the most straight-forward of the bunch, for sure.

Sadly by the time this comes out I won't have a PS3=/.

@patrickklepek: Wow... :/

Wait, they're releasing them separately? I assumed the Kingdom Hearts HD that was released recently was an HD collection featuring both, like what is commonly made with HD re-releases of PS2 games?

Kingdom Hearts fans be touchy!

heard stuff like that too.

yea when the complete timeline is available ill buy both hd remixes and play them through. cause im too curious to see to try and understand what the excitement behind this franchise is about.

Seriously? Patrick....

Keep your opinions to yourself if your going to be so fucking Bias.

Ive been waiting and waiting for a way to play KH2 without going out to get an old crappy PS2 and a copy to play it with.

I'm sorry you can't understand this "Confusing Story" but you dont need to make it the caption and the headline for this HD remix

Maybe having a ps3 copy will finally motivate me to play through Birth By Sleep.

well, spoilers, at the end of 3D there are already 12 xeanorts (ansems) so, youre not too far off. And i think Nomura is fine at this. Besides anyone part of the Eidos part of Square, he is the only one left who seems to be able to make a worth playing game, and at least mechanically are really good. Hes pretty much the only reason i cared about FFv13 (now FF15) to begin with, especially after FF13.

@dallas_raines: Even if I think that's a bit harsh, I agree that the story from KH 2 gets absolutely crazy. "Confusing" is a good way of describing it. Still, I like the game for its combat, but yeah, that story...

the biggest problem in 2 is that the opening tutorial part is such a slog. it takes like 2 hours (or more) to get through for really no good reason. if you can get through it move on to BBS, which is the best story and the most mechanically sound one so far.

Most people can finally experience how fucking good KH2 Final Mix is. Played it last year and all the new stuff is awesome.

If anyone cares, a fan made an English version of the trailer:

hope you didnt take that comment to mean i was mocking you sir, its just if there is one thing im on the same wavelength with you on, is that its good to go beyond ones worldview, it helps us as people stay open minded.

and yea i heard kingdom hearts 2 was super convoluted.

No, it's complete and utter shit from KH2 on, Nomura has no business running a franchise. What went from being a somewhat simple Disney story is now so convoluted and obnoxious that it'd make Kojima blush. I'm willing to bet KH3 will add another five Ansems to the 'mythology'.

@mrmazz: Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Re:Mix contains the Re:Chain of Memories, in case you didn't know :)

How does it compare to AOL version 2.5?

KINGDOM HEARTS ISN'T CONFUSING IT'S SO DEEP AND RICH AND GARGLELWAIWIGHAWENIAWEFJKFJ

Kidding. I was the perfect age for this series when the first game came out but I lost all interest before they even got to 2. I think I rented it and played it and had no idea what was going on. No interest whatsoever in revisiting this series.

F this noise where is my FFX HD ?

@patrickklepek said:

Yeah, the first game was pretty easy to get into but after that they went in a different direction story wise that you were either into or not. I have remained into these games because the gameplay is still fun and they continue to find to ways to improve upon that.

Cool, an excuse to finally play BBS. And replay 2. Again.

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