Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Recently, Japan released a very exclusive addition to the Kingdom Hearts series, leaving fans absolutely flabergasted and extactic with unbelievable joy. Kingdom Hearts 2, thought to be popular enough as is, has topped itself once again with the release of the Kingdom Hearts 2: Final Mix bundle pack. What makes this game so special? Many things indeed.

After the smash hit Kingdom Hearts was released in America, many found it to be something of a joke at first. Many opinions later changed. After the game was complete, it left several, if not all, of the fans begging for answers. The teasing little trailer entilted Deep Dive was merely a glimps at a possible upcoming sequel to this unique title. Upon its release in 2006, many left satisfied, others did not. As rumors of a Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix spread around shortly after Kingdom Hearts has introduced itself into the world, fans could only cross thier fingers and hope that it would soon come thier way. To thier dismay, however, the Final Mix title, rumored to be released in America, was never released.

As the years dragged onwards, many fans left thier fantasies of seeing thier beloved Final Mix ever released in America, thier focus now drawn towards Kingdom Hearts 2's release drawing ever closer. What drove so many fans to the edge? Yet another secret ending leaving them with questions unanswered. As rumors were tossed around and accusation were made as to what the ending could've meant, fans could only speculate as to what it could possibly be. A third Kingdom Hearts? Perhaps. Only time would tell, and sure enough, it did.

On March 29, 2007, Kingdom Hearts 2: The Final Mix was released in Japan, leaving it's American fanbase utterly shocked and appauled at what they were missing. The previous Final Mix, which had included various alterations and additions such as new cutscenes, weapons, boss battles, etc, left American KH fans hanging by a thread, thier thirst not near satisfied and now stronger than ever upon this new release. Kingdom Hearts 2: Final Mix introduced much more then any fan could've ever speculated at, including the ability to fight not only the mandatory Organization XIII battles, but the ability to fight those that had been defeated in the GBA KH addition (Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories.). In addition to new cutscenes, boss battles, as well as a new theatre mode to view previous cutscenes, this bundle pack also included an unexpected second disc: A Final Mix version entitled Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories.

Why was this such a big deal? For fans accross the Western continent, the ability to go back to that old, 2-D based game and play it for the first time in 3-D on thier Playstation 2 was something of a marvel. And just as before, the release of the Final Mix has driven fans mad. Does that mean that all hope is lost for the western fanbase? Possibly. Would it be a smart descision for Square Enix to NOT release the Final Mix into America? Absolutely not.

Upon the release of KH2 in Japan 2006, sales racked up a massive 600,000 copies of the game sold. In America? A whopping 1,000,000+ copies sold nation-wide, leaving Square Enix with all the more reason to gain profit by releasing KH2 Final Mix here in the U.S. As far as it is seen, however, this may or may not be a possibility.

Recent rumors stirn up around the web have indicated that Kingdom Hearts 2: Final Mix, as well as the much anticipated and highly unexpected Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories will be released sometime this fall, with or without the possible upcoming Kingdom Hearts 3 (Although this is still just speculation as the Final Mix title may or may not be changed to KH3 for the American release.) Square Enix has yet to confirm any of these claims thusfar, leaving fans with even more questions unanswered. Will KH fans accross the nation finally be able to expierience what they've missed out on for so long? Or will they be confined to having to once again be denied that of which they crave? At this point, only time will tell.

~*Credit of this article goes to the IGN message boards as well as other various internet resources for helping me collect the info. As for the article itself, all credit goes to myself.*~

-Kyo