Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD ReMIX is in development at Square Enix's Osaka studio

by Erren Van Duine on 04 October, 2012

If you’ve played Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep or Kingdom Hearts 3D, you might be familiar with Square Enix’s Osaka-based studio.

In addition to our previous report, Famitsu reveals that the group responsible for those titles is also behind the creation of Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD ReMIX.

Joining Tetsuya Nomura, who will be back in the director’s seat – are Tai Yasue as co-director and Rie Nishi as producer. The game is slated for a 2013 with date and pricing (and localization) to be announced.

Included within the package will be: Kingdom Hearts Final Mix remastered into HD with Japanese voice overs, an HD remaster of Re: Chain of Memories – which was remade from the GBA version of the game, and Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days represented in video form via cutscenes fully remade in HD. The team is also experimenting with substituting some of the character models for the newer versions designed for the recent Kingdom Hearts 3D.

Before concluding the present story-line – known as the Seeker of Darkness Chronicles – Nomura wanted to bring the entire story up through Kingdom Hearts II together, thus HD ReMIX.

Both KH Final Mix and Re: Chain of Memories will contain PS3 trophy support, while the former will see more polished controls and gameplay to bring it closer in line with the style of Kingdom Hearts II. Nomura considered a full remake for Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, but due to time constrains with this new title, he decided to include it in the form of a Theater Mode. Approximately 70% of scenes from the main story will be converted into fully voiced 3D HD cutscenes. The Theater Mode will include over 100 event scenes.

Concerning the possibility of Kingdom Hearts II HD, Nomura said it’d be “unusual if it didn’t” happen. He thinks that because the series has been scattered across so many different platforms, it’s been difficult for fans to access the various sequels. Seeing as you will now be able to enjoy the story in HD quality right from the beginning, he would absolutely love for those who haven’t played yet to do so. Even those who have already played it all may make new discoveries hidden throughout the story’s events. He would be happy if this title turns out to be a “restart” for the series.

Via: KH English.