| Kingdom Hearts II | |
| Developer: | Square-Enix |
| Publisher: | Square-Enix |
| Release date: | 2005 |
| Genre: | RPG |
| Game modes: | Single player |
| ESRB rating: | Rated Pending (RP) |
| Platform: | PlayStation 2 |
| Media: | DVD |
Kingdom Hearts II is an RPG video game sequel to 2002 Kingdom Hearts. Currently in development by video game conglomerate Square Enix, Kingdom Hearts II is tentatively scheduled for a worldwide release sometime in Q3 2005.
Plot summary
Sora's adventures continue as he, Donald Duck and Goofy have to not only stop the Heartless, but the mysterious Organization as well.
Very little is known about this game to date, save for the trailers that have been released at the Tokyo Game Show, E³ 2004, and on TechTV. Interviews have revealed that Sora will be able to alter his clothes in this game, and the main setting is a new world called "Twilight Town". There will be old characters returning, as well as new ones, as the identities of members of the Organization (referred to as Unknowns by fans) are further revealed.
Also, a new gameplay mechanic (known to fans as Drive Mode) regarding the dual-wielding of Keyblades has been revealed recently: by combining his powers with one of his teammates, Sora alters his costume and can use a second Keyblade in his off-hand. Few further details about this mechanic are known at this time.
Worlds
It has been confirmed, mostly indirectly (through the images of the game's trailers and screenshots), that the "worlds" in this game will be a combination of the original Kingdom Hearts's worlds, plus new ones made especially for this game.
The Disney-based worlds (shown so far):
- Fabled Countryside from Beauty and the Beast
- Ancient China, from Mulan
- Agrabah (and Cave of Wonders), from Return of Jafar
- Olympus Coliseum (and Underworld), from Hercules
- Halloween Town (and/or Christmas Town), from The Nightmare Before Christmas
- Disney Castle (now playable; it was used during a few cutscenes in the original Kingdom Hearts and was visible on the world map, but it wasn't a playable world)
Original worlds (shown so far):
- Hollow Bastion
- Twilight Town
- Destiny Islands
- Deep Dive (from the secret ending in Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix, the area where the two Unknowns meet and discuss how "he looks just like you"; there has been one screenshot showing Sora with the environment of Deep Dive in the background)
Voice cast (English, tentative)
Note that these are subject to change at a moment's notice, depending on any returning characters and such.
- Haley Joel Osment ... as Sora
- Tony Anselmo ... as Donald Duck
- Bill Farmer ... as Goofy
- David Gallagher ... as Riku
- Eddie Carroll ... as Jiminy Cricket
- Wayne Allwine ... as Mickey Mouse
- Jim Cummings ... as Pete
- Hayden Panettiere ... as Kairi
- David Boreanaz ... as Leon (Squall Leonhart)
- Molly Keck ... as Selphie
- Sean Astin ... as Hercules
- Susan Egan ... as Megara (Meg)
- Bobby Castanzo ... as Philoctetes (Phil)
- James Woods ... as Hades
- Matt Mckenzie ... as Auron
- Robby Benson ... as Beast
- Paige O'Hara ... as Belle
- Scott Weinger ... as Aladdin
- Jonathan Freeman ... as Jafar
- Linda Larkin ... as Jasmine
- Dan Castellaneta ... as Genie
- Ming-Na ... as Fa Mulan
- Mark Mosely ... as Mushu
- Miguel Ferrer ... as Shan Yu
- Chris Sarandon ... as Jack Skellington
Voice cast (Japanese, tentative)
- Miyu Irino ... as Sora
- Koichi Yamadera ... as Donald Duck, Genie, Mushu, Beast
- Kaneta Kimotsuki ... as Jiminy Cricket
- Keiji Fujiwara ... as Axel
- Hideo Ishikawa ... as Leon, Auron
- Mayuko Aoki ... as Selphie
- Yasunori Matsumoto ... as Hercules
- Ichiro Nagai ... as Philocretes
- Shinichiro Miki ... as Aladdin
- Akira Takarada ... as Jafar
Characters
Sora
Where Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories left off, he continues to search for Riku and King Mickey with the help of Donald Duck and Goofy. However, they also have to deal with the Organization and Pete. Sora has a new wardrobe in Kingdom Hearts II which has been said to have a significant meaning. He is older and has therefore grown taller, now appearing to be even taller than Goofy (with his hat).
Riku
Where Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories left off, he travels in a black robe on the same path as the Organization (and possibly becoming a member of the Organization), only with the agenda of helping Sora with Mickey Mouse at his side.
Kairi
Where Kingdom Hearts left off, she's still waiting for Sora and Riku to return to Destiny Islands.
BHK (Blonde Haired Kid)
A boy who lives in Twilight Town. He may be a target of the Organization due to some mysterious connection he has to Sora. He can wield two Keyblades and is comparable to the dual wielding figure seen in the secret endings Another Side, Another Story and Deep Dive, as well as numerous screenshots. He most certainly is - or was in the past - an Organization member because of the Organization cloak that he wears in the secret endings. The only other information known at this point is that he knows something that Sora does not and wishes to tell him it (Famitsu, December 2004).
Naminé
The mysterious witch from Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories who can manipulate other people's memories. It is unknown what role she will play this time...
Mickey
The king is traveling with Riku, and we can conclude that he is still trying to stop the stars from going out because the Heartless are back. He is also helping Riku rid himself of Ansem's darkness, which still lingers in his heart.
DiZ
Truly an enigma. It is said that he and the king have met before. It is assumed that he is not only the leader of the Organization, but Ansem's discarded body and soul, as well.
Axel
The only surviving member of the Organization, Axel was the only member of his group to view the status of Riku and Sora, whom Axel ia most interested in. He seemed to disappear after Marluxia was killed, but appeared again soon after, and seems to have some plan for Sora in the near future. The only clue we have that Axel is still involved in the plot line of Kingdom Hearts II is that we see him fighting BHK in the Kingdom Hearts II trailer. Other than that, little is known about his involvement in Kingdom Hearts II.
Pete
A villain from the same world Donald and Goofy came from, Pete intends to stop Sora and cause trouble. To that end he's rounding out some of Sora's old enemies, as he offers his help to Hades, and has obtained Jafar's lamp. He recuits new villians like Shan Yu. Some fans think he will play a role similar to Malificent, making it seem as if he is the main villan but actualy being just another pawn.
The Organization
The villains from Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories who wish to unlock the heart's secrets. Axel and DiZ (who were the Organization's only survivors of Chain of Memories) are the only members who have been identified, as the others are yet to be revealed. Riku and Mickey have yet to be identified as Organization members as they do not share the same values as the others.
The Heartless
The mysterious beings that hunt Sora in Kingdom Hearts. There are more types of Heartless, some that appeared in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories.
The Dusk
These white creatures have been shown in Kingdom Hearts II trailers and screenshots. It has been speculated that they are actually the bodies and souls of those attacked by Heartless, as mentioned in Ansem Report 13 (available only in Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix, the Japanese re-release of Kingdom Hearts).
Disney cameos
Besides Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and Pete, some of the Disney Characters that were in Kingdom Hearts are returning, including new characters like Meg and Pegasus from Hercules, the inanimate objects from Beauty and the Beast, Santa Claus from The Nightmare Before Christmas, and the characters from Mulan.
Final Fantasy cameos
At least five characters from the Final Fantasy series will appear. Auron of Final Fantasy X has been confirmed to appear, and will be a party member as he helps Sora fight Cerberus and Hades in the Underworld. Selphie and Leon (Squall) of Final Fantasy VIII are reported to return as cameos. It can be implied that Selphie and Leon will appear alongside their partners from the previous game (Tidus and Wakka, & Aerith, Cloud, Cid and Yuffie, respectively), but these are merely speculation. Yuna of Final Fantasy X/Final Fantasy X-2, and Vincent Valentine of Final Fantasy VII are also rumored to make cameos.