Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix

Given that this is an HD collection, it's expected that the titles of 'Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD ReMix' are vamped up and looking good on the PlayStation 3, and for the most part they are. 'Kingdom Hearts II' actually doesn't look that different in itself, but honestly the graphics from the PlayStation 2 version aged relatively well. Even so, the HD upgrade makes the visuals both brighter and clearer, working to enhance the game's many colorful, Disney-themed worlds.

'Birth By Sleep', on the other hand, received a much larger graphical upgrade, since the title was originally released on the PSP. Character models and worlds are upgraded to take advantage of the better hardware. As such, the game looks better than ever before, which is particularly nice since the game already looked pretty good on the PSP.

Of course, while 'Re: Coded' also got a nice upgrade in graphics, the actual effects are a bit diminished since there's no ability to actually play the game. On the plus side, though, there appear to be added battle scenes to the movie, which help to keep the scenes flowing, a problem that 'Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days' from the last compilation had.

The 'Kingdom Hearts' series has always had excellent soundtracks, and as a compilation 'Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD ReMix' does not disappoint. The mix of original and Disney-themed songs is a wonderful treat. The majority of the tracks are top-notch.

Overall, the voice acting is also of a superior quality. Many of the iconic Disney voices are done by either the original actors themselves or very good sound-alikes. The original characters also have strong voice performances, as well, though I'm still not overly fond of Aqua and Terra's voice actors. Finally, 'Re: Coded' has Mickey narrating in between scenes, making the still lines of text far more lively.

'Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD ReMix' may not have that much new to it, with it being a compilation of past games in the series, but that does not stop it from being a worthwhile purchase. With the first English release of the Final Mixes of 'Kingdom Hearts II' and 'Birth By Sleep', and the fact that all of the games (barring 'Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance') are easily available on the PlayStation 3, there is plenty of reason to be excited for this HD collection. If you have any interest in the 'Kingdom Hearts' series, or are a long-time fan, make sure to pick this and '1.5 HD ReMix' up; it'll help bide the time for 'Kingdom Hearts III' and keep your knowledge of the series' now extensive lore sharp.