Square Enix didn’t have a playable version of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix available at PAX East but in a hands-off session of the title they gave me some insight of what to expect in this remaster of the Kingdom Hearts series.  Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix is essentially an all inclusive first half of the Kingdom Hearts saga which is supported by Re: Chain of Memories and 358/2 Days. Kingdom Hearts diehard fans will be pleased to know that they’re getting the ultimate version of Kingdom Hearts (1) that is inclusive of Final Mix content, Chain of Memories, and although not playable, 358/2 Days cutscenes rendered in 720p HD. The character models have a significant amount of polygons more than their PS2 counterparts bringing Disney’s imaginative cast to life, and of course Sora.  As with evolving technology, Square Enix has made more changes to Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix to improve the game’s usability. Kingdom Hearts tedious camera controls of the past are gone with simpler dictation of the angles with PS3’s right analog stick; previously the trigger buttons were used for this. In addition, the ability to skip cutscenes is now possible. All three titles of 1.5 Remix are selected and playable identical to other collection titles on PS3; this allows you to jump between games at will.  Square Enix will have a playable build of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix at E3 2013. Currently there is no set date for the title in North America except for “Fall 2013” but we can expect to have a solid date announcement at E3.
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