A Guide to Understanding Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue's role in the Kingdom Hearts series

With the announcement of Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue coming in 2016, it's time to go make sense of all of the announcement details along with the 3 titles within the collection. For those of you who don't know, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue is a collection containing Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD, Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover (cinematics), and Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A Fragmentary Passage-. If you aren't familiar with the entire Kingdom Hearts series, here are the descriptions for the 3 main titles contained in the collection with it's history and stance in the Kingdom Hearts series.

Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD is an HD remaster of the original title, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance was originally released on the Nintendo 3DS in 2012 and was the only major game within the Kingdom Hearts series that was not included in either Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX or Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX for the PlayStation 3. However, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance is being remastered in HD on the PlayStation 4 as Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD within the Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue collection. The original story of Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance takes place after the events of Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded, where Sora and Riku are summoned to take the Mark of Mastery exam, which determines who becomes the next Keyblade master. Sora and Riku are both tasked to dive into sleeping worlds and wake them from slumber, however Master Xehanort has other plans for the two as they are taking their exams.

The next title in the Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue collection is Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover. Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover is a cinematic movie in which explains the story of the original title, Kingdom Hearts χ[chi] and Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ. The cinematic movie will go into detail about the foretellers and the book of prophecies. Kingdom Hearts χ[chi] was originally released in 2013 on PC as a browser game, exclusively available to Japan. However a port for Kingdom Hearts χ[chi], which is titled Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ will allow everyone to experience the story of the original Kingdom Hearts χ[chi] on mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones. The story follows 5 foretellers who are sanctioned under a union, forming 5 total unions. Among the foretellers is a traitor, which has not yet been revealed. However, many have theorized who the traitor is.

The third and final title in the Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue collection is Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A Fragmentary Passage-. In the original title, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep: Final Mix, there was a secret ending within the sercret episode of the game that stated a continuation of the story will be developed. Many interviews in 2011 discussed the title, which was named Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep -Volume Two-. It was apparent that the project was put off, however has returned as Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A Fragmentary Passage-. Reasons for why Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep -Volume Two- was put off and why the title was changed is currently unknown. Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A Fragmentary Passage- follows the events of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and continues the story on as Master Aqua. Also tied in is the events after Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance in which King Mickey reveals he has some secrets to confess to Sora. According to the screenshot contained in the Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue trailer, it seems apparent that the title is using the same engine as Kingdom Hearts III. Square Enix has also confirmed that Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A Fragmentary Passage- will contribute towards the story for Kingdom Hearts III, which is the end of the Xehanort saga.

For those that don't know, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue is the third HD collection in the Kingdom Hearts series, following Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX. Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX contains the original titles of Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories, and Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (HD Cinematics) all remastered in HD. Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX contains the original titles of Kingdom Hearts II, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, and Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded (HD Cinematics) all remastered in HD.

What are your thoughts on Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue? Do you think this will be the biggest HD collection yet? Let us know in the comments below or post on our Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue forums!