Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep
I haven't quite got the fine points down, like...when, or where... It just kinda kicks in whenever it wants to.
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This article is about a game or product that has yet to be released.
Some of the information might be inaccurate and is likely to change. Please refrain from putting rumors and speculation on this article. |
| This article is about the upcoming PSP game. You may be looking for the video. |
| Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep | |
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| File:BirthBySleepLogo.jpg | |
| {{{japan}}} | |
| Developer(s) | Square Co., Ltd. |
| Publisher(s) |  Square Co., Ltd. / Square EA, Disney InteractiveEurope/  Square EU, Disney Interactive and SCE
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| Release date(s) | TBA 2009
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| Genre | Action RPG |
| Game modes | Single player |
| Ratings | ESRB:N/A PEGI:N/A USK: N/A OFLC: N/A ELSPA: N/A |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation Portable |
''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+ It will be created by the same team that created the game Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories.
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, a charge gauge, known as Fatal Mode, will also be present, which apparently increases the overall potential of the characters should they be in a critical condition, allowing them to execute powerful attacks. Tetsuya Nomura has stated that the gameplay will be similar to Kingdom Hearts: re-Chain of Memories in that decks will be used.[1]
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 possibly stop mid-way through one scenario to begin another.[2] The developers also plan to add multiplayer components and a new character growth system.[1]
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 it is 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 who are known as Terra, Aqua and Ven searching for a missing Keyblade master, Master Xehanort, and his apprentice, whose disappearance foreshadows a great disaster.
In the more recent trailer, there is a elderly man known as Master Xehanort who commands mysterious powers. He is the man that Terra, Aqua and Ven are seen fighting. He apparently is very educated on the use of elemental attacks as he can be seen freezing Terra's arm with a type of Blizzard Attack. He is able to alter the terrain, make a tornado of the several Keyblades shown and, despite his appearance, actually has the strength to even shatter Ven's helmet with his hand. As a Keyblade master, Master Xehanort has the ability to summon his own keyblade which he can be seen using in the "Birth by Sleep" trailer.
Another adversary is present, Xehanort's apprentice as everyone calls him. Little is known about him except that he wears armor that bears a striking resemblance to Riku's Heartless uniform in Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. In the most recent trailer, he is seen fighting Ven and Terra who manage to knock off his helmet. His face however, is never shown despite the loss of his helmet. Some have speculated that he himself is the Xehanort that we know of today as the apprentice of Ansem the Wise who betrayed him and became the evil entity and main antagonist of the entire Kingdom Hearts series.
Nomura states that there will be three playable scenarios,[3] though there is not one singularly important character or scenario over the other. However, the main theme of the game will be that of discovering Ven's identity.
Characters
Birth by Sleep will feature Terra, Aqua, and Ven (aka the three armored 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, Goofy, Donald, Yen Sid, Cinderella, Maleficent, Master Xehanort, and his apprentice.
Another trailer shows a very young Sora playing with Riku on the beach of the Destiny Islands, it is unsure at this point whether they will play any real role in the game other than showing up in that particular cutscene.
Worlds
Several Disney worlds have been shown in scans, such as Olympus Coliseum, Agrabah, as well a previously unseen worlds in the series, such as Snow White's world.
Original worlds that have previously been seen in the series have also been shown, but it has been stated that none of them will be playable in. Hollow Bastion, Destiny Islands, and a new world currently known as "Sunset Horizons" will also be included.
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 reminiscent of scenes from Sleeping Beauty, and one based on Cinderella. A new scan, seen above, also shows that a Snow White world will be playable. The background in it is the Seven Dwarves' cottage. A scan shows Terra carrying Ven through The Great Maw in the Radiant Garden. Destiny Islands also seems to return as it shows Ven standing on the Island shore, with another person. The shadow appears to be Aqua because of the shadow's hair style. But, this has yet to be confirmed by Square Enix. There is speculation among fans that this shadow is somehow an elder version of Riku.
References
See Also
