HD Screenshots and Nomura Interview

Krowley · Oct 4, 2012

In the October edition of Famitsu, New Screenshots and more details have been revealed for the upcoming titles; Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD ReMix and Kingdom Hearts for PC Browsers. An Interview has also been translated involving Nomura and his take on the series.

KINGDOM HEARTS FINAL MIX

KINGDOM HEARTS Re:Chain of Memories

KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days

KINGDOM HEARTS for PC Browsers

We Ask Director Mr. Tetsuya Nomura about KH -HD 1.5 ReMIX-

This year marks 10 years since the first Kingdom Hearts title was born, and now with the time ripe it is being remastered in HD. Let's peruse the content from these screencaps and an interview with director Mr. Tetsuya Nomura!

―Please tell us the details of how the release of KH -HD 1.5 ReMIX- came to be.

Mr. Tetsuya Nomura (hereon Nomura): All the titles in the series so far are a collection, first establishing the internal set-up, called the 'Seeker of Darkness Chronicles' (※), and I wanted to bring together the whole story arriving at KH2 before we turn to its conclusion.

―There's strong meaning behind going over it again, isn't there. Will there be changes or additions to the content of the games?

Nomura: The two titles that are included as games will have trophy support. We intend to include an extensive range of trophies, from the more orthodox to ones that won't go down easily. Also, the controls in KH1 have been modified to be a little closer to the ones in KH2. We've also replaced some of the models of the main characters with the most recent ones.

―Why are you remaking KH 358/2 Days as a video volume rather than a game?

Nomura: Actually, I had also been thinking about doing a full remake like KH Re:Chain of Memories (hereon KH Re:CoM). However, if we had started that it would have considerably delayed starting work on the new title, so it ended up being included in the form of something like the 'theatre mode' that we already have in the series. We are changing 70% of the main story into cutscenes, with freshly-recorded voicing too, and we are currently working on around 100 scenes. If you watch from start to finish, you will know and understand the story of KH 358/2 Days. Though it's in a different form than the game I think people will enjoy it.

―Can you please tell us a little more about the series-first KH game for PC browser?

Nomura: This is not a title with an emphasis on story, but we are working premises in. That said, for the first time in the series you can enjoy the content completely separately from the main series, so even beginners to the series might be able to be at ease playing it. The battling is different again from KH Re:CoM, and we are aiming for something with simple controls and flashy movements. I think customising is important to this type of game, so we are filling it with new elements in that area.

―By the way, what of a HD version of KH2 and up?

Nomura: It would be unnatural not to (laughs).

―Here's hoping! And now, lastly, a message for the gamers please.

Nomura: Because the series so far has been scattered over different consoles, I think there have been people who found it difficult to access, with sequels such as KH2 that might already have come out by the time they came to know about the series. With KH -HD 1.5 ReMIX- you can enjoy the story from the beginning, and in HD quality on top of that, so if you haven't played yet please by all means use this opportunity to do so. I think even those who have already played through the series may make new discoveries regarding foreshadowing of sequels and lines that reference previous lines and such by taking another look at everything aligned in chronological order. I would be happy if this title turns out to be a 'restart' for the series.

※Seeker of Darkness Chronicles... mentioned as the phrase 'Xehanort Chronicles' in a previous interview with Weekly Famitsu, this refers to Xehanort the Seeker of Darkness being the pivot of the whole series. 'Seeker of Darkness Chronicles' is the formal name first used in the project proposal.

A new door opens in HD

Kingdom Hearts (hereon KH) is an action RPG series loved throughout the world. Of the seven stories that have been revealed so far, KH Final Mix and KH Re:Chain of Memories have been remastered in HD inKH -HD 1.5 ReMIX-, releasing in 2013 for PS3. On top of this, KH 358/2 Days is also included as a volume converted to video! Without further ado, let's check out the new images of each title, born again and more gorgeous than ever.

Kingdom Hearts Final Mix

Kingdom Hearts, in which Sora, the protagonist of the series, and Donald and Goofy travel through various Disney worlds. This title, which released in March 2002, returned triumphantly as KH Final Mix, which used the North American version that released the same year in December as a base with added components and the English voicing. This Final Mix version has been remastered in HD in KH -HD 1.5 ReMIX-. The voicing that was in English will be in Japanese.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days

The protagonist of KH 356/2 Days is Roxas, a young man who played an important role in KH2. The story of Roxas and Axel, who takes care of him, and Xion, a girl who has newly joined 'Organisation XIII', unfolds. In KH -HD 1.5 ReMIX-, you can appreciate the main story of KH 358/2 Days put to video and bestowed new voicing as a video volume.

Kingdom Hearts for PC Browser (tentative title)

Kingdom Hearts for PC Browser (tentative title), announced at Tokyo Game Show 2012 with KH -HD 1.5 ReMIX-, will be a free to play online game for PC browsers. As a player you will customise an avatar that will represent you and adventure through Disney worlds. It seems that undertaking quests and cooperating with friends to defeat enemies will be elements?
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Translation credit goes to Goldplanner from KHInsider
Source credit to Famitsu
Credit to Chevalier and Libregkd for informing me

libregkd · Oct 5, 2012

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windblade · Oct 6, 2012

Not too thrilled about 358/2 being a movie of sorts. I really want to play a full 3D game where the main character has cool-looking, long, flowing, physics-based clothing (the closest we've got to a game that does that is Chaos Legion -and to an extent, Assassins Creed). Why is it that the ONE game in this series that would allow for that was made for the DS. Then, the one chance for it to be rectified, and it's instead turned into a movie. I understand the time-management they have to account for with making new games, but then give us the ability to have different costumes you can unlock (like the Order XIII coat) in the next game.

Gelatinous Ghost · Oct 6, 2012

Enlightening. I hope to hear more on this title in the near future.

Meilin Lee · Oct 6, 2012

windblade said: ↑

Not too thrilled about 358/2 being a movie of sorts. I really want to play a full 3D game where the main character has cool-looking, long, flowing, physics-based clothing (the closest we've got to a game that does that is Chaos Legion -and to an extent, Assassins Creed). Why is it that the ONE game in this series that would allow for that was made for the DS. Then, the one chance for it to be rectified, and it's instead turned into a movie. I understand the time-management they have to account for with making new games, but then give us the ability to have different costumes you can unlock (like the Order XIII coat) in the next game.
Click to expand...

I really would've loved for a Days remake. But Nomura said that a remake would've delayed KH3 even longer, and I really don't want it to be delayed anymore than it already has

Shinichi Izumi · Oct 7, 2012

Misty said: ↑

The biggest change in Sora is hair color, it's more of a sandy brown now, rather than the original dark brown. Riku I notice very few changes, just that his shoulders seem a little better proportioned. But someone may have a better eye for this than me.
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Ohh, okay I noticed that, cool, I Might Have to kill someone if it's not avalible in NA/EU.

libregkd · Oct 7, 2012

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Saxima · Oct 7, 2012

I am a little . . . late on this, but I guess that's alright . . .

This is all great, and since PS3 games aren't region locked, even if there isn't an international release (which I am so hoping for), getting the games should be a piece of cake. I can definitely see the clarity in the HD and some of the subtle model differences, such as Riku's eyes and maybe the color of his hair.

As for the 'theatrical' 358/2 Days, I'm looking forward to that; it'll be interesting to see how smoothly they transition the scenes.

I think that they're doing a bit of a good thing with the browser game, not making it so integrated into the story, maybe it can gain more fans of the series that way. Clever guys.

. . . We're never getting Kingdom Hearts III.

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HD Screenshots and Nomura Interview

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