Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep

Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep is an upcoming game in the Kingdom Hearts series. It will be released on Sony's PSP. The game is named after the unlockable trailer which appears at the end of Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix.

Gameplay

Birth by Sleep is a single player action role-playing game which features melee combat. The gameplay is believed to have gameplay similar to the action-RPG style of the previous games in the series. Tetsuya Nomura has stated that the gameplay will be similar to Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories in that decks will be used.

The game will be divided into three scenarios, with each scenario having different styles of gameplay based on the personalities and abilities of the three main characters. Nomura has also stated that players can play from of the three scenarios and possibly stop mid-way through one scenario to begin another. The developers also plan to add multiplayer components and a new character growth system.

Plot

Birth by Sleep is a prequel to the original Kingdom Hearts, taking place ten years before the first Kingdom Hearts game. The story focuses on Keyblade masters before Sora and is it believed that it will be connected to the unlockable trailers at the end of Kingdom Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix.

The story revolves around three Keyblade apprentices searching for a missing Keyblade master, Master Xehanort, and Xehanort's apprentice. Their disappearence foreshadows a great disaster.

Nomura states that there will be three playable scenarios, though there is not one singularly important character or scenario. However, the main theme of the game will be that of Ven's identity.

Characters

Birth by Sleep will feature Terra, Aqua, and Ven, the three armoured knights who appear in the Sunset Horizons and Birth by Sleep videos at the end of Kingdom Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix respectively. Other featured characters include King Mickey, Master Xehanort, and Xehanort's apprentice.

Setting

The game will take place entirely in Disney-themed worlds, both new and old, and will reflect the time difference between this game and the previous Kingdom Hearts games.

In the information released on Birth by Sleep, several worlds have been shown. Of existing worlds in the Kingdom Hearts series, Olympus Coliseum apparently will appear. Another world appears to be new and remiscient of scenes from Sleeping Beauty.

Development

Birth by Sleep will use the same graphical engine as Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. The development of the game began before the release of Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+. Though the plot was completed, development was halted due to development of Re:Chain of Memories. Of the three new games announced, Birth by Sleep was the first one to begin development, though Tetsuya Nomura speculates it will be the last one released.