Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX

The two best games in the series with substantial added content packaged with one of the stupidest things the series has ever done.

Even better, both Kingdom Hearts II and Birth By Sleep bring their Final Mix counterparts to the US for the first time, with a slew of new content in each that will interest even those that beat 100% of the originals.

With Kingdom Hearts III finally announced – and only nine years after the second game! – there can be no better way to celebrate and ready yourself for it than by picking up a copy of this masterful Remix.

For those new to the Kingdom Hearts universe or fans just brushing up before the release of Kingdom Hearts III, this is one of the most faithful remasters of any game I’ve ever played. With the PlayStation 3 nearing obsolescence, it’s great to see such an amazing system have this collection as one of its swan songs.

Boasting stellar gameplay and looking better than ever, the games in this second Kingdom Hearts collection are essential and great fun, even if the remaster itself is less polished than HD 1.5 ReMIX.

Kingdom Hearts II and Birth By Sleep offer an incredible amount of quality gameplay. If you’re feeling nostalgic or running through for the first time, there’s a ton of meat to sink your teeth into that can easily last well into the new year.

Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix and Birth by Sleep improved with new combats and extra content: an unmissable collection for every fan to keep up with the saga.

This ReMIX ha undoubtedly great value packed in, and it is a must-buy for any Kingdom Hearts fan as well for newcomers. Sure, Square-Enix could have put some more efforts in the Birth by Sleep port.

A reduced price point for two of the best games from their respective platforms is a no-brainer. Square has done a fantastic job bringing these games up to modern standards. [Issue#252, p.72]

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix is a superb effort that delivers some of the best games the series has to offer, and reminds us why we’re still excited for what lies in store in the next chapter of the franchise.

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMix is, without a doubt, one of the best remastered games to date for PS3. In particular, the chance to play Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep with a second stick, and HD graphics, is something that you can't afford to miss.

Kingdom Hearts II is another faithful port, but its impact definitely falls short of what BBS accomplishes.

Even though it has a few flaws, the first two titles in the Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX are entertaining from start to finish. The third part in this collection is a bit less fun and leaves this beautiful collection with a somewhat bitter aftertaste.

A great collection, though the lack of any real gameplay in Kingdom Hearts Re: Coded is a weak point.

Like last year's bundle, Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD ReMix is a pretty neat game that brings two new episodes on the PS3. With a huge content and a clean technical aspect, this is another hit for Square Enix that could even make players forget about their endless wait for Kingdom Hearts 3.

Kingdom Hearts 2 is a classic but it is also the game that made the series a lot more complicated. We would've liked to get a recapitulation of the past parts, especially since Birth by Sleep and Re:Coded make things complex. But, besides that we have really enjoyed Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix with it's excellent quality and loads of content to enjoy.

Fans shouldn’t think twice about picking this up, and players looking for some deep RPGs to dig into this holiday can find them right here all for a very low price.

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix is one of the most fully featured and worthwhile HD collections on the market.

With a huge amount of contents, full of extraordinary worlds to explore and properly repolished, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix is a great collection. A masterpiece for fans.

Another gem to add to your collection. The movie is just a throwaway piece of content that doesn’t do anyone any favors, and the updated PSP title can still feel old. That being said, the rest is pure Kingdom Hearts gold, and that’s precisely what the ardent fans desire.

If you already tried the 1.5 HD Remix and couldn’t get into the series, I doubt this will change your mind. But for Kingdom Hearts fans, this is a great package.

Another excellent Kingdom Hearts collection remade exclusively for PS3. One of the most interesting games available this year for the console.

Despite Re:coded’s failure to make the series’ overarching story comprehensible, this package is a great celebration of what can happen when two completely unrelated, but equally beloved things merge together.

Even though it has aged well, there are some aspects that don't feel that good today. Still, it's an experience worth enjoying, with 50+ hours of fun ahead.

More nostalgic than your nanna’s box of baby photos.

Despite the clunkiness, this is still a package that's vibrant and filled with magic. [Feb 2015, p.78]

Quotation forthcoming.

Considering its budget price, Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix is a steal. Clocking in at well over sixty hours, the collection oozes with quality and that classic Disney charm, all bundled up in a gorgeous high definition package.

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX offers up a plethora of new content, along with beautiful audio and visual upgrades, making it a shining example of what HD collections should be like.

Even for those new to the franchise, this is an excellent place to start. The characters, worlds and story (although confusing) are really great once you figure it all out.

The updated visuals, re-orchestrated soundtrack, added content, and ease of access make this compilation a must-have for any Kingdom Hearts fan.

Packing in tons of entertainment and two of the best entries in the series, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX is a must-own for fans and newcomers alike.

Kingdom Hearts HD II.5 ReMix reminded us why the public is eagerly awaiting the third installment of the saga: the magic of this series is still vivid and exciting.

What cannot be understated here is how enchanting these titles remain. We don’t care if you’re a newbie or a returning fan, Yoko Shimomura’s lovingly reproduced score, combined with the absorbing in-game universe it envelops, will hook in many an RPGist. The old magic persists here, folks. Reclaim this kingdom. [January 2015, p68]

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX is currently available for the Playstation 3 for a suggested retail price of $39.99. Without its predecessor, Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX, it doesn't make much sense, but it may be worth the purchase price for the truly excellent Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep alone.

Playing through Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD ReMix, it’s hard not to hope that making this collection has shown Nomura how best to approach the final, still upcoming chapter in his unlikely opus.

Even though these are painfully dull games, at the start, that may not engage you quite the way the best games in the genre do it is definitely worth sticking with.

A well crafted remastered game that's perfect for fans and newcomers alike.

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX is an excellent HD remake. If you want to discover or rediscover this universe this is undoubtedly the best opportunity to jump in.

Whether you like this or not depends on whether you like Kingdom Hearts. There is nothing here to change any minds, whichever way you look at it.

Square Enix does a superb job with bringing Kingdom Hearts fans the best of the series in a beautifully remixed HD upgrade.

Putting aside my harsh feelings for the inclusion of scenes from Re:coded while leaving Dream Drop Distance completely out of the picture, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX is money well spent to fans of the series.

Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD ReMIX is ideal for veteran and new players alike as it keeps the magic that made previous games great, intact, while taking the franchise to the next level with its new features. The bundle also serves as warm up while we wait for the arrival of Kingdom Hearts III on Xbox One and PS4.

Like the 1.5 Remix before it, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix is a great deal for franchise fans looking to consolidate the platform-spanning series under one roof—and on as few discs as possible. The narrative quality is questionable, at least when viewed through a modern lens, but the charm and novelty still ring true, as does the series’ pioneering action-RPG combat.

Fans of the series will be impressed with the sharp visuals and small changes made to both Birth By Sleep and Kingdom Hearts 2, while simultaneously disappointed that Re:coded is given short shrift. If anything, this will whet your appetite for the upcoming next-generation sequel.

More visual improvements would have be nice, especially in Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep Final Mix, but the package as a whole is good enough to make the visuals seem like an afterthought.

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX is an amazing collection, perfectly combining new content with upgraded visuals. The soppiness of the series and Disney background won’t be for everyone, but newcomers and old fans alike will appreciate the effort that’s gone into bringing these characters back to life.

Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD ReMIX is the perfect way to wait for Kingdom Hearts 3. Square Enix has done a great job on both the graphics and the gameplay, adding the compatibility with the second analogue stick for Birth By Sleep, the 16:9 aspect ratio and, above all, letting the European fans to enjoy the Final Mix version of both the games.

It’s definitely an upgrade on the originals, but it’s also a rehash rather then a remaster.

Fails to offer enough content that's new. [Feb 2015, p.92]

While neither game will win awards for its narrative, playing both and adjusting your play style to whichever task you have at hand is always a blast.

An odd package. It has got the finest game of all in the series in it, but that's backed up with reminders for why I'm fallen out of love with the franchise with the way it has progressed.

This collection shows us the best and worst moments of the series, reminding fans what they both love and hate about Kingdom Hearts.

On the whole, the game, in addition to being a mouthful, is a dutiful reworking of perhaps the finest crossover of the last console generation.

These HD collections are simply getting us all prepared for 2017, and the wait will all be worth it. I just know it. (Please don’t let me down.)

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 is a compilation for fans who are ready to ignore the outdated, not very interesting gameplay model and overly complicated storyline.