Jump to content

Kingdom Hearts II: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Apostrophe (talk | contribs)
25,331 edits
rv bullshit
Line 15: Line 15:
|input =
|input =
}}
}}
'''''Kingdom Hearts II''''' is the greatest video game of all time! Seriously, there is nothing better than it. Nothing! IT IS PERFECT! Also, it's a [[computer role-playing game|RPG]] [[video game]] [[sequel]] to the 2002 Disney/Square RPG ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'', though it is actually the third installment in the [[Kingdom Hearts series|series]]. Directed by [[Tetsuya Nomura]], the game continues [[Sora (Kingdom Hearts)|Sora]]'s adventures in finding [[Mickey Mouse|King Mickey]] and [[Riku (Kingdom Hearts)|Riku]] with the help of a large cast of [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] characters including [[Donald Duck|Donald]], [[Goofy]], [[Jack Sparrow]], [[Tron (film)|Tron]], [[Aladdin (1992 film)|Aladdin]], [[Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|the Beast]] and more. Developed by [[Square Enix]], ''Kingdom Hearts II'' was released in Japan on [[December 22]], [[2005]]. The English version was released on [[March 28]], [[2006]] in North America, and in [[October]] [[2006]] in Europe, followed by the Australian release. The in-game music is composed by [[Yoko Shimomura]], who composed the music for the first game, and the theme song ''[[Passion (song)|Passion]]'' (''Sanctuary'' for the international release) is written and performed by Japanese [[pop music]] star [[Utada Hikaru]].
'''''Kingdom Hearts II''''' is an [[computer role-playing game|RPG]] [[video game]] [[sequel]] to the 2002 Disney/Square RPG ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'', though it is actually the third installment in the [[Kingdom Hearts series|series]]. Directed by [[Tetsuya Nomura]], the game continues [[Sora (Kingdom Hearts)|Sora]]'s adventures in finding [[Mickey Mouse|King Mickey]] and [[Riku (Kingdom Hearts)|Riku]] with the help of a large cast of [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] characters including [[Donald Duck|Donald]], [[Goofy]], [[Jack Sparrow]], [[Tron (film)|Tron]], [[Aladdin (1992 film)|Aladdin]], [[Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|the Beast]] and more. Developed by [[Square Enix]], ''Kingdom Hearts II'' was released in Japan on [[December 22]], [[2005]]. The English version was released on [[March 28]], [[2006]] in North America, and in [[October]] [[2006]] in Europe, followed by the Australian release. The in-game music is composed by [[Yoko Shimomura]], who composed the music for the first game, and the theme song ''[[Passion (song)|Passion]]'' (''Sanctuary'' for the international release) is written and performed by Japanese [[pop music]] star [[Utada Hikaru]].


==Overview==
==Overview==

Revision as of 14:19, 27 March 2006

Kingdom Hearts II
File:Cover large.jpg
Developer(s)Square Enix
Publisher(s)Square Enix, Buena Vista Games
Designer(s)Tetsuya Nomura
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
ReleaseJapan December 22, 2005
United States of America March 28, 2006
Canada March 30, 2006
Australia Late 2006 [1]
European Union October 2006 [2]
Genre(s)Action-RPG
Mode(s)Single player

Kingdom Hearts II is an RPG video game sequel to the 2002 Disney/Square RPG Kingdom Hearts, though it is actually the third installment in the series. Directed by Tetsuya Nomura, the game continues Sora's adventures in finding King Mickey and Riku with the help of a large cast of Disney characters including Donald, Goofy, Jack Sparrow, Tron, Aladdin, the Beast and more. Developed by Square Enix, Kingdom Hearts II was released in Japan on December 22, 2005. The English version was released on March 28, 2006 in North America, and in October 2006 in Europe, followed by the Australian release. The in-game music is composed by Yoko Shimomura, who composed the music for the first game, and the theme song Passion (Sanctuary for the international release) is written and performed by Japanese pop music star Utada Hikaru.

Overview

Kingdom Hearts II begins where Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories left off. Sora and his companions have been asleep for about a year, regaining their memories. When Sora awakens, he eventually arrives in Twilight Town, the place where a mysterious boy, Roxas, who can use dual Keyblades, lived before he left suddenly. Gaining new clothes and powers, Sora began his journey anew, unaware of the events that have taken place in Chain of Memories. Sora continues his quest, sealing the keyholes of each world to protect them from the Heartless, as well as facing the remaining members of the mysterious Organization XIII. As the game progresses, Sora learns how much he and Roxas have in common.

Worlds

File:KH2PortRoyal.jpg
Sora, Donald Duck, Goofy and Jack Sparrow in the Port Royal world of Kingdom Hearts II.

As in the first Kingdom Hearts game, the player can access different worlds with themes based mostly on Disney films.

Disney-based worlds

Original worlds

New gameplay features

Gameplay is revamped from the last game; there are various new features offering the potential of more interesting and diverse play then the original.

Drive Forms

File:Sora's Brave Form.PNG
One of Sora's first drives, "Valor".

Sora can "fuse" with party members to become more powerful and acquire different attributes as well. Three out of the five forms allow Sora to use two Keyblades instead of one, and the second keyblade may be equipped in the items menu for this purpose. There are five drive forms in all.

The first two forms have Sora merge with one of his permanent party members, Donald or Goofy. One is Valor Form (known in the Japanese version as Brave Form), where Sora merges with Goofy, and dons red and black clothes. Although he cannot use magic in this form, Sora gains a boost to his physical ability. Sora wields two Keyblades which increases his combo potential and gives him additional attacks. Sora also runs twice as fast in this form and jumps much higher than normal. The other, Wisdom Form, is where Sora merges with Donald for this form, and he dons blue and black clothes. Sora gains a magic attack boost, and hovers across the floor instead of running, giving him superior movement control. Also, Sora is able to dash over the floor while in this form. Wisdom Form replaces the attack command with Shoot, which lets him shoot a blue magic bullet from the tip of the Keyblade in rapid fire if pressed continuously, making Wisdom Form specialized for long-distance attack.

The other two forms have Sora combine with both other party members to attain greater power than in the other two forms. Master Form combines the powers of the Valor and Wisdom forms. However, Master Form is weaker than Valor and Wisdom in raw physical and magical power. Sora's combo potential is increased beyond that of Valor Form, and his magic power is increased as well. Two Keyblades can be wielded, one psychokinetically and the other is held normally. His clothes turn yellow and black, and he is able to double jump. The drive meter will decrease quicker than the previous two drives. When in Final Form, Sora will merge with both other party members and don silver and black clothing. Wielding two Keyblades psychokinetically as well as the ability to fly incredibly fast, Sora wields incredible power in this form, dispatching enemies with ease and dealing increased physical and magical damage, and is able to glide in the air. Final Form is triggered randomly at first, and can be chosen afterwards.

Anti Form is a bizarre form that is a side-effect of driving too much in battle. The chance of going into this form increases when you use Valor, Wisdom, or Master Form, and in certain battles. When activated, Sora turns completely black like a shadow, walks on all fours, and has yellow eyes, similar to a basic Heartless. While in this form, both partners disappear and Sora uses his "claws" for wide-range attacks that may be weak with individual attacks, but has a very high maximum combo count. His movement speed and jumping height are also increased, but Sora's defense is lowered, and is unable to use items, magic, or heal himself in any other way while in this form. The Pause menu is also disabled. Unlike the other forms, when this form occurs it will cancel out Drive when entering a new area as opposed to staying in effect, and it cannot be cancelled at will. Both of the computer controlled partners will disappear regardless of who Sora drives with.

Reaction command

The reaction command, similar to the Resident Evil 4 and God of War real time reaction commands, is used during fights and can allow you to perform certain actions when timed correctly. For example, against "Dusk" nobodies, your character will slide behind the normally evasive opponents and set you up for a combo. Reaction commands can also trigger counter moves as well. For example, an enemy might shoot a red bullet at you, but with a well timed reaction command, Sora will kick the bullet back at it. Reaction commands are often pivotal in defeating bosses and certain enemies.

Combination Attack

File:KH2TeamAttackSimba.jpg
Simba and Sora's team attack knock rocks up from the ground and have Sora and Simba roar intensely to do damage.

A gameplay addition gives Sora a special linked attack with any of the guest characters, and the effect varies depending on the character teaming up with Sora. In the Olympus Coliseum world, for example, Sora has the option to perform a linked attack with Auron when battling enemies. Later in the game Sora will also be able to perform team attacks with Donald and Goofy individually in similar fashion and later, with both.

Magic abilities

Sora's magic spells from Kingdom Hearts has been modified. Some spells have been replaced, other have differing effects. Casting spells in different drive forms also offers another variety to the spell effects, mostly increasing their strength. Two new abilities introduced to the game are Magnet and Reflect. Magnet creates a sphere that slowly sucks in enemies. Reflect causes a large shield to form around Sora for a very short amount of time, then crack and send out sharp shards a limited distance.

Summons

File:KH2Stitch.jpg
The Stitch summon involves music.

Like the previous game, Sora can summon a particular character to aid him in battle when attaining each of their respective items. Summoning however, uses the drive meter, so Sora can't drive and summon at the same time. The character will replace the two computer-controlled characters and fight alongside Sora for as long as the drive meter holds out. Instead of the summoned character being limited to only one action, the summoned character now has a menu of his own to perform multiple actions, some solo actions and some cooperative actions with Sora. There are four summons.

  • Chicken Little is the titular character of Chicken Little. Chicken when summoned, chucks baseballs at enemies when on his own. His attack with Sora, "FPS", is, as suggested, a First Person Shooter-like mode where Chicken can throw baseballs in rapid fire from a first person view. He also has other abilities, such as healing Sora when damage is dealt to enemies.
  • Genie is the blue genie in a lamp who helps the titular character of Aladdin. Genie attacks with a humorous recreation of Sora's keyblade, and has a command to mimick any one of Sora's drive forms. The drive form to mimick must be unlocked first.
  • Stitch is the cute but destructive anti hero of Lilo & Stitch. He will climb around the menu screens as well as the screen itself (as if he were on the surface of your screen), and do various things while shooting the enemies with his plasma guns somewhat nonchalantly. His team attack with Sora is a ukulele jam session where different buttons can be pressed to prompt different musical attacks to cause damage. He also constantly heals Sora's MP and HP bars throughout the battle.
  • Peter Pan is the boy who never grows up and the titular character of Peter Pan. Peter comes with Tinker Bell, and flies around attacking as he did in the first Kingdom Hearts when he was a temporary party member. Tinker Bell constantly heals Sora at the same time. His team attack with Sora is cinematic, as Sora will be reminded of his adventures in Neverland in the first game (with pictures floating across the screen) while Peter and Sora fly around hitting anything in their path.

Mickey's help

In certain boss battles, if Sora is knocked out, a second option may be available, called "I won't give up!" It allows you to play as Mickey Mouse. Mickey is fast and has a high amount of manuverability, much to his size. He also can jump twice as high as Sora and has brutal attacks and combo ability. He even has the ability to shoot blasts of magic from the tip of his keyblade, both on ground and in air. These shots can pass through multiple enemies and even hit a single enemy more then once. Mickey's MP bar also recharges very quickly if ever reduced to "zero." However, you must revive Sora to finish off the boss; this is done by pressing the triangle button repeatedly near Sora to fill up his Drive bar. This can also be done by constantly attacking the opponent. After the Drive bar is full, which has a level of three, pressing the triangle button will bring Sora back to life. If Mickey has his HP bar reduced to "zero", Sora will be automatically revived.

Different command menus

A new feature is that each world has their own command menu, which are sometimes animated. For instance, Olympus Coliseum's design shows the image of the top of the Coliseum, and Port Royal's design is to show a ship's steering wheel and the Pirates of the Caribbean logo. If the player desires, the command menu's design can be changed to the original Kingdom Hearts design in the options menu. There are two different Command Menus; a normal one, used to access magic, items, attack, and drive. Then the secondary menu, which is used to attack, summon, use items, and perform combination attacks.

Maps

It is optional to have a map in the top-right corner of the screen. In addition, mini-maps can be found in each world. On these maps, a small Kingdom Keyblade indicates Sora's or Roxas' location.

Disney cameos

In addition to the Disney characters that will be returning from Kingdom Hearts, there will also be additional characters from their movies including Megara, Pegasus, Pain, Panic and the Hydra from Hercules, Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, Chip, and Wardrobe from Beauty and the Beast, Eric from The Little Mermaid, and Santa Claus as depicted in The Nightmare Before Christmas. Stitch from Lilo & Stitch and the titular characters of Chicken Little and Peter Pan act as new summons. Characters from the previously unexplored worlds of Mulan, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tron and The Lion King also play parts in the game.

Yen Sid the sorcerer, Mickey's master in the movie Fantasia, makes an appearance, inhabiting a mysterious tower. Merlin returns and will be in Disney Castle and Hollow Bastion, revealing the existence of Timeless River to the heroes. Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty give Sora his new outfit. Scrooge McDuck also makes an appearance.

Pete is also in the game as an ever-persistent enemy to Sora, Donald and Goofy, appearing in many worlds. He works with the resurrected Maleficent, who refuses to relent in her desire for power.

Final Fantasy cameos

File:KH2SquallCloud.jpg
Squall and Cloud in the Hollow Bastion world of Kingdom Hearts II.

Seventeen characters from the Final Fantasy series appear. Auron of Final Fantasy X will be Sora's partner in battle in Hercules' world. Yuna, Rikku and Paine from Final Fantasy X-2 appear as fairies at Hollow Bastion. Younger versions of Seifer Almasy, Fujin (called "Fuu"), and Raijin (called "Rai") from Final Fantasy VIII appear in Twilight Town, as a "disciplinary committee".

Squall Leonhart (Leon) and Selphie Tilmitt of Final Fantasy VIII, and Cloud Strife and Yuffie Kisaragi as depicted in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children return as cameos in Hollow Bastion. Aerith Gainsborough also appears, albeit wearing a modified version of her Before Crisis clothing. Tifa Lockhart of Final Fantasy VII also makes her first cameo in the series, wearing her Advent Children attire. Cid Highwind also returns, but he is still wearing the same attire as in the previous game; he has a speaking role this time around as opposed to caption bubbles in Kingdom Hearts. Sephiroth, Cloud's ever-present enemy, comes along as well, battling Cloud. Cloud Strife has his own side story, involving conflict with Sephiroth.

The Moogles, featured in many different Final Fantasy titles, serve as shopkeepers in the world of Hollow Bastion.

It had been stated by Nomura that, although the first game strictly stuck to characters Nomura designed, this time around they were going to "take some risks", which implied that characters from the Final Fantasy games without involvement from Nomura could make an appearance. One of these was Vivi Ornitier of Final Fantasy IX, who appears in Twilight Town as a member in Seifer's group. Another non-Nomura character included is Setzer Gabbiani of Final Fantasy VI, as a challenger in Twilight Town.

Voice cast

Template:Spoiler

English language version (tentative)

Japanese language version


Template:Endspoiler

Music

Main article: Kingdom Hearts II Original Soundtrack
  • An original soundtrack CD for Kingdom Hearts II, composed by Yoko Shimomura was released on January 25, 2006 and its catalogue number is TOCT-25871~2.
File:KH2OST(Cover).jpg
The cover of the soundtrack.
  • The theme songs to Kingdom Hearts II, Passion and Sanctuary (the English version of Passion) are performed by Utada Hikaru, and according to Tetsuya Nomura it ties in even more closely with the game's story than Hikari (Simple and Clean) did with Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories.
  • The CD single for Passion was released on December 14 2005, with a price of ¥1,050 (roughly 8.78 USD).

The tracklist for the single is as follows:

  1. Passion ~single version~ (4:36)
  2. Passion ~after the battle~ (5:57)
  • Click here to listen to a 46 second sample of Passion.
  • Certain aspects of gameplay are based on music and button coordination, such as the Atlantica world and the Stitch summon.

Trivia

File:Censorship2-US.JPG
The Xigbar battle has been altered from the Japanese version to the English version.
  • A teaser for what appears to be Kingdom Hearts III can be seen if the player accomplishes certain tasks.
  • Allusions to deceased Organization members in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, such as Marluxia, are made in the game.
  • The notoriously harsh magazine Famitsu has given the game a score of 39/40; close to perfect. It is notable because only six games have been given perfect '40/40' scores. [5] [6]
  • During its first week of availability in Japan, Kingdom Hearts II sold 727,591 copies. [7]
  • The name of the world "Space Paranoids" is a reference to one of the games that Kevin Flynn created in Tron.
  • The plot of Agrabah is loosely based on a direct-to-video movie, The Return of Jafar.
  • The release year of Mulan is erroneously written as 1992 in Jiminy's Journal in the Japanese version.
  • The battle with the Hydra has its green blood from the Japanese version changed into black and purple liquid in the English version. It is interesting to note that this change contradicts the mythological Hydra, which was said to have poisonous blood -- hence the green blood.
  • Xigbar's telescopic sight view has been edited from the Japanese version to replace its crosshair with three circles and remove the black shading around the sides that implied a telescopic sight.
  • The gunlike arms of creatures found in the Pirates of the Carribean world in the Japanese version have been altered to less resemble guns in the English version.

Template:Kingdom Hearts Series

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kingdom_Hearts_II&oldid=45706702"