Kingdom Hearts (video game): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 03:26, 5 July 2007

Revision as of 03:29, 5 July 2007

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==Development==

The idea for ''Kingdom Hearts'' came about when producer Shinji Hashimoto met with a Disney executive in an elevator; Square and Disney had previously worked in the same building in Japan.<ref name="IGN-TGS04-NI">{{cite web| publisher = [[IGN]]| title = TGS 2004: Tetsuya Nomura Q&A| url = http://ps2.ign.com/articles/550/550462p1.html| author = Anoop Gantayat| date = 2004-09-23| accessmonthday = June 12| accessyear = 2007}}</ref> The game began development in February 2000<ref>{{cite web| url = http://ffx.sakura.ne.jp/kh.htm| title = KINGDOM HEARTS キングダム　ハーツ| publisher = Final Fantasy 2000| language = Japanese| accessmonthday = May 30| accessyear = 2007}}</ref> and was announced at E3 in May of 2001.<ref name="GS-CompanyLine"/> Initial details were that it would be a collaboration between Square and Disney Interactive and would feature worlds developed by both companies and Disney characters. New characters were designed by Tetsuya Nomura and include Sora, Riku, Kairi, and the heartless. The production team was comprised of over 100 members from both Square and Disney.<ref name="GS-CompanyLine"/><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/adventure/kingdomhearts/news.html?sid=6089696&om_act=convert&om_clk=gsupdates&tag=updates;title;6| publisher = [[GameSpot]]| title = Kingdom Hearts Company Line| accessmonthday = May 13| accessyear = 2007}}</ref> A playable demo featuring Riku was made available at the [[Tokyo Game Show]] in the autumn of 2001. The gameplay of the demo showcased many action-RPG elements that would be included in the final product.<ref>{{cite web| author = Jeff Gerstmann| url = http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/adventure/kingdomhearts/news.html?sid=2817757| publisher = GameSpot| title = TGS 2001 FallKingdom Hearts hands-on| accessmonthday = May 18| accessyear = 2007}}</ref> When choosing the Disney worlds to include in the game, Nomura and his team tried to pick worlds that had distinctively different looks.<ref name="KH-NI-PSE">{{cite web| url = http://www.kh2.co.uk/?page=NI/Playstation| title = Playstation.com Europe - E3 Interview| publisher = Kingdom Hearts Ultimania| accessmonthday = June 15| accessyear = 2007}}</ref> Though they had few restrictions on which worlds they could use from the Disney franchises, they tried to remain within each character's boundaries set by their respective Disney films.<ref name="G4TV-NI">{{cite web| url = http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/features/45555/Tetsuya_Nomura_on_the_Kingdom_Hearts_Sequels.html| publisher = [[G4 (TV channel)|G4TV]]| accessmonthday = June 15| title = Tetsuya Nomura on the Kingdom Hearts Sequels| accessyear = 2007}}</ref> Some content that did not make it into ''Kingdom Hearts'', was later added into ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]''. The "Pride Land" from ''[[The Lion King]]'', for instance, was infeasible because a different program was required for Sora turn into a lion and walk on four legs.<ref name="KH-NI-Dengeki3">{{cite web| title = Nomura Dengeki Interview #3| url = http://www.kh2.co.uk/?page=NI/Dengeki-3| publisher = Kingdom Hearts Ultimania| accessmonthday = June 15| accessyear = 2007}}</ref> [[Tifa Lockheart]] was considered to be included along with Sephiroth, but was left out due to time constraints.<ref name="KHII-TN-interview">{{cite web| url = http://www.videogamesblogger.com/2006/08/11/kingdom-hearts-ii-tetsuya-nomura-interview.htm| title = Kingdom Hearts II Tetsuya Nomura interview| publisher = Video Game Blogger| accessmonthday = June 19| accessyear = 2007}}</ref>

To help market the English release of the game, Square launched the official website in April 2002, which featured trailers, a "Name-In-Game" sweepstakes, and other Internet content.<ref>{{cite web| author = IGN Staff| url = http://ps2.ign.com/articles/356/356526p1.html| publisher = [[IGN]]| title = Square Opens Kingdom Hearts Page| accessmonthday = May 13| accessyear = 2007| date = 2002-05-14}}</ref> On [[May 14]], [[2002]], a press release announced a list of the English voice actors. The listed included Haley Joel Osment, David Gallagher, and Hayden Panettiere as the three new characters introduced in the game. It was also announced that many of the Disney characters would be voiced by their original voice actors from their respective Disney films.<ref name="GS-CompanyLine"/><ref>{{cite web| url = http://ps2.ign.com/articles/359/359415p1.html| author = IGN Staff| publisher = [[IGN]]| title = IGN: Kingdom Hearts Voice Cast| accessmonthday = May 13| accessyear = 2007}}</ref> Additional content was added to the North American release that was not included in the initial Japanese release.<ref name="Square-KHsite"/> The new content included new optional bosses, one of which was named after the winner of the official website's "Name-In-Game" sweepstakes,<ref name="Square-KHsite"/> an additional difficulty level,<ref>{{cite web| author = GamePro Staff| date = 2003-04-30| publisher = [[GamePro]]| url = http://www.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_id=25541| title = Square Confirms Kingdom Hearts Date| accessmonthday = May 15| accessyear = 2007}}</ref> and an unlockable teaser of ''Kingdom Hearts II''.<ref name="G4TV-NI"/> The new content was later added to the Japanese re-release titled ''Kingdom Hearts Final Mix''. ''Final Mix'' also included additional content such as new items, cut scenes, and enemies. The new content served as a [[Canon (fiction)|canonical]] update to the original release and further hinted at plotlines that would be explained in sequels.

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===Final Mix===

[[Image:Neo Shadow.jpg|200px|thumb|bottom|right|Neoshadows, one of the new enemies, in ''Final Mix'', along with the One-Winged Angel Keyblade.]]

''Kingdom Hearts Final Mix'' has several events and a number of gameplay tweaks that are not in previous releases. Spoken dialogue is in English,<ref name="IGN-FinalMix">{{cite web| url = http://ps2.ign.com/objects/665/665093.html| publisher = [[IGN]]| title = IGN: Kingdom Hearts Final Mix| accessmonthday = May 13| accessyear = 2007}}</ref> with Japanese subtitles. New scenes, clarifying certain plot points, such as [[Riku (Kingdom Hearts)|Riku]]'s journey and foreshadowing of ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'', were included. A gameplay tweak allows the player to skip cut scenes after seeing them once.<ref name="IGN-FinalMix"/> The optional bosses first included in the English version were introduced to Japanese players for the first time, along with "[[Organization XIII#I. Xemnas|Unknown]]", in an attempt to raise interest for the sequel. In another attempt at foreshadowing, a video titled "Another Side, Another Story [deep dive]" plays at the ending if the player accomplishes certain tasks.<ref name="KHInsider-FinalMix">{{cite web| url = http://www.khinsider.com/kingdom-hearts/final-mix.html| publisher = Kindgom Hearts Insider| title = Kingdom Hearts Insider - Final Mix| accessmonthday = May 29| accessyear = 2007}}</ref> New music tracks incorporated were "Disappeared" and "Another Side". The "Night on Bald Mountain" and "One-Winged Angel" tracks from the English version were included as well. Other changes include new abilities, new weapons, new items, additional and recolored enemies,<ref name="KHS-UltimaniaAlpha>{{cite book| year = 2005| title = Kingdom Hearts Series Ultimania α ~Introduction of Kingdom Hearts II~| publisher = [[Square Enix]]| language = Japanese| isbn= 4-7575-1597-9}}</ref> and gameplay tweaks to make the game easier for the player, along with two new difficulty levels.<ref name="KHInsider-FinalMix"/><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.neoseeker.com/Games/Products/PS2/kingdomhearts_final/| publisher = [[Neoseeker]]| title = Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix (Import)| accessmonthday = May 29| accessyear = 2007}}</ref>

On the first day of the re-release, the game also included either a deck of Kingdom Hearts cards or a special music CD. A limited "Platinum Edition" version of ''Kingdom Hearts Final Mix'' was also released. The platinum version included an action figure of Sora, a sticker set, sketches of some of the main characters, and the game itself.<ref name="IGN-FinalMix">{{cite web| url = http://ps2.ign.com/objects/665/665093.html| publisher = [[IGN]]| title = IGN: Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix| accessmonthday = May 13| accessyear = 2007}}</ref>