KHBbS After completing 2.5 HD ReMIX...

[7 and 13 Ingredients 27]

I have to say, I am baffled at the sheer amount of detail in these games. Especially Birth by Sleep.

 

I want you guys' opinions; did you prefer Birth by Sleep or Kingdom Hearts II?

 

I preferred Birth by Sleep because of the battle system and how difficult the game was. KH2 has a fairer combat system, but I look more for difficulty rather than fairness in my games. And holy shit, that mysterious figure was beast. I loved it, despite the rages.

 

And also, the story. It again, had me in tears because honestly the game just had a great little story to tell. The downfall of three friends, it almost reminds me of one of Shakespeare's old tragedies. I love how events were planned for, and though there are many retcons, there are also many planned reveals that people confuse for retcons.

 

I'm also not downplaying KH2 because it was great, it's just after transcending my childhood bias, I still love it.

 

For example, KH2 had many little subtle allusions to BBS and its characters, yet there are still people who say the entirety of BBS was random bullshit. ;-;

 

I honestly prefer BBS, because of the varied gameplay, interesting story, insane difficulty, and Goddamn that moment when you kill an insanely difficult boss, and you let out a whoop of joy because you can breathe easy for the time being. I love it. c:

[hatok 6,413]

KH2FM Critical Mode beats every other KH game

BBS is a decent game, but not terribly well designed, and one of the worst executed KH plots to date

[HeyMouseSayCheese 1,133]

I'm not about to go on another BBS tirade, but one thing I strongly disagree with is the difficulty- I found BBS to be waaaaay easier than KH2. You may get Reflect, Limits and Drive Forms in KH2, but in BBS you get D-Links, Shotlocks, and ungodly powerful screen nukes. Outside of a few boss battles, you're incredibly overpowered, so I'm not sure where you're coming from with the "insane difficulty".

 

I do think that KH2 in general had better mechanics and better level design (not to mention a better control scheme); I despise the Command Deck, and BBS had the worst out of all the games that feature it (mostly by virtue of being the first to try it). I like having a Command Menu full of options and an MP bar that determines what I can do and when as opposed to a much more limited list of specific actions I'm allowed to take in battle.

Edited March 16, 2015 by HeyMouseSayCheese

[hatok 6,413]

I'm not about to go on another BBS tirade, but one thing I strongly disagree with is the difficulty- I found BBS to be waaaaay easier than KH2. You may get Reflect, Limits and Drive Forms in KH2, but in BBS you get D-Links, Shotlocks, and ungodly powerful screen nukes. Outside of a few boss battles, you're incredibly overpowered, so I'm not sure where you're coming from with the "insane difficulty".

 

I do think that KH2 in general had better mechanics and better level design (not to mention a better control scheme); I despise the Command Deck, and BBS had the worst out of all the games that feature it (mostly by virtue of being the first to try it). I like having a Command Menu full of options and an MP bar that determines what I can do and when as opposed to a much more limited list of specific actions I'm allowed to take in battle.

I'd say as a whole the bosses are more difficult in BBS, especially the early bosses when you have basically no abilities

BBS makes makes proper use of guarding more regularly and has *somewhat* more difficult reaction commands

With KH2 the bosses were more about spectacle, for the most part they're not all that challenging

[HeyMouseSayCheese 1,133]

I'd say as a whole the bosses are more difficult in BBS, especially the early bosses when you have basically no abilities

BBS makes makes proper use of guarding more regularly and has *somewhat* more difficult reaction commands

With KH2 the bosses were more about spectacle, for the most part they're not all that challenging

 

The only time bosses gave me any trouble in BBS were really early on (like, first bosses only) and really late game, either final boss fights or optional secret fights. Everything in the middle was ridiculously easy. Plus, "proper use of guarding" in this case means guarding, then using a super powerful counter move that wrecks enemies. (I literally never had a reason to guard before I got a counter for any character.) Plus, in KH2, you don't start out with the OP moves right away- it takes time and you have to work through the story to get the good stuff. BBS starts you off immediately with Shotlocks and two D-Links. You immediately begin with the two most broken mechanics in the game.

 

I'm not saying KH2 isn't easy- it totally is. Thing is, BBS is too. And maybe I'm the only one who thinks this way, but I like spectacle. I like my character doing ridiculously cool things just for the fun of it. BBS was almost just as easy as KH2, but without most of the flashy stuff that made KH2 interesting to look at.

Edited March 16, 2015 by HeyMouseSayCheese

[hatok 6,413]

The only time bosses gave me any trouble in BBS were really early on (like, first bosses only) and really late game, either final boss fights or optional secret fights. Everything in the middle was ridiculously easy. Plus, "proper use of guarding" in this case means guarding, then using a super powerful counter move that wrecks enemies. (I literally never had a reason to guard before I got a counter for any character.)

 

I'm not saying KH2 isn't easy- it totally is. Thing is, BBS is too. And maybe I'm the only one who thinks this way, but I like spectacle. I like my character doing ridiculously cool things just for the fun of it. BBS was almost just as easy as KH2, but without most of the flashy stuff that made KH2 interesting to look at.

Well KH is basically a spectacle fighter, so spectacle is hardly a bad thing

Honestly something that annoyed me about BBS was that only Terra got a good counter. Ventus and Aqua both have terrible range and pitiful damage. At least Aqua compensates by having the best guard, but Ven gets NOTHING.

KH2's guarding can be pretty OP too, it's just that it involves a lot more reacting to really fast actions, like cars zooming in from off screen

[Hero of Light XIV 2,381]

They were both pretty good, I just wish that I hadn't had noticed so many graphical issues...or that there weren't so many in the first place. But that's a different rant altogether.

[TwoBecameOne 33]

Hope for a BbS remake with KH2 gameplay system... this would be the KH game killer.

[decisivesora123 39]

I'm not about to go on another BBS tirade, but one thing I strongly disagree with is the difficulty- I found BBS to be waaaaay easier than KH2. You may get Reflect, Limits and Drive Forms in KH2, but in BBS you get D-Links, Shotlocks, and ungodly powerful screen nukes. Outside of a few boss battles, you're incredibly overpowered, so I'm not sure where you're coming from with the "insane difficulty".

 

I do think that KH2 in general had better mechanics and better level design (not to mention a better control scheme); I despise the Command Deck, and BBS had the worst out of all the games that feature it (mostly by virtue of being the first to try it). I like having a Command Menu full of options and an MP bar that determines what I can do and when as opposed to a much more limited list of specific actions I'm allowed to take in battle.

After playing KH2 enough and BBS, i would say that reflect and limit form make the game like ten times easier. Reflect you can not be hit while using it and it reflects the opponents attacks. I hate that spell because of how easy it makes the game, i have seen people play through this game at level one only using reflect, I only use it when fighting data xemnas. limit form, like really, why f*ck does a form that heals you with every limit exist. the sephiroth fight was so much better in the original game, no limit form, it was all skill, and you actually had something to be proud of once you beat him. This game i beat him and i was like..."nope, that was a really bad fight" it was like fighting saix, actually saix is too strong, lets say Roxas.

 

BBS the only time i used D-links was when i was training, or when my health was almost gone, shotlocks i over used because it is "almost" impossible for terra to beat anyone with out it, unless you count mysterious figure i which case shotlocks were useless. shot locks are not to bad compared to the existence of reflect, and limit form. shot locks were pointless if the boss could kill you in 4 hits. no heart, armor of erequs, and lingering spirit. the only KH2 fight that con compare to these is lingering will. also in BBS after level 50 leveling up is hell, you stop wanting to do it for all the characters.

 

although BBS is way harder, I do agree with you one the Mechanics, KH2 is definitely better. 

[outbackjim21 83]

I'm not about to go on another BBS tirade, but one thing I strongly disagree with is the difficulty- I found BBS to be waaaaay easier than KH2. You may get Reflect, Limits and Drive Forms in KH2, but in BBS you get D-Links, Shotlocks, and ungodly powerful screen nukes. Outside of a few boss battles, you're incredibly overpowered, so I'm not sure where you're coming from with the "insane difficulty". I do think that KH2 in general had better mechanics and better level design (not to mention a better control scheme); I despise the Command Deck, and BBS had the worst out of all the games that feature it (mostly by virtue of being the first to try it). I like having a Command Menu full of options and an MP bar that determines what I can do and when as opposed to a much more limited list of specific actions I'm allowed to take in battle.

D-links are the equivalentof drive form, both are OP, require orbs to fill up gauge, and can instantly replenish health, while giving you access to abilities you wouldn't normally have.. And moves such as salvation and the like are essentially limits except not drawn out with cutscenes and button mashing, the only gripe I can relate with is the shotlock mechanic, but other than that the rest of the mechanics are essentially KH2 mechanics without the flash, so to state that they make the game too easy during exploration compared to 2 is to say the exact same thing for KH2 making your argument redundant.I'm not going to try and convince you that the deck command is better, because that is purely subjective to the player and their play style, but the benefits of the deck system out weigh the benefits of an MP bar. With the command menu, yes you have access to all of your abilities, but you only have quick access to four of them, and that's if you're not using items in your quick select, with the deck command, all of the abilities that suit you as a player for you're preferred style of play, be it magic only, combination of physical and Magic, whatever is there for you to decide. And it also allows for a quick select for that one moment where you need that ability instantly without a second to wait. the time it would take to scroll through from attack to magic to the magic you want to use, I would have already have used three of my abilities depending on the frames used.Also, when it comes to healing, separating the act of healing yourself and preventing you from using any other ability was a step in the right direction in my opinion, the MP bar being instantly drained forcing you to wait to even use other abilities, though a good way to add tension to fights in say KH1, we have kind of moved past that system with recent games.Though to be honest I'm just hoping for a combination of KH2 and BBS gameplay, deck commands with KH2 combos, and hopefully some drive form specific deck commands

[7 and 13 Ingredients 27]

Oh yeah I would see why you guys think that its easier, but I thought it was harder because i never use shotlocks.

 

KH2 was fun but a lot of it was "press triangle to win" and that bored me.

 

And why the fire truck would you believe that kh2's story is better than bbs's? Did you pay any attention at all? Lol

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

While I love Kingdom Hearts II, I have to agree that Birth By Sleep is frickin amazing, and the story is indeed very well told, and the thing I love most about it is that no one gets a happy ending, because Terra, Ventus and Aqua all have grim ends to their stories!  The game really sets the stage for the series so well, and probably one of my most favorite scenes in the game is when Terra bequeaths the Keyblade to Riku!  That was the ultimate fanboy moment for me!  And you know, I just beat the Mysterious Figure with Aqua about two days ago, and God, it was great fighting him again!  I also enjoyed fighting against Vanitas' Lingering Spirit, No Heart and the Armor Of Eraqus!  All those battles were frickin amazing!  And I have to agree that the command deck battle system was a great one, and I loved melding random commands to see which new ones I'd make!

 

So yeah, Birth By Sleep, alongside Kingdom Hearts II and Dream Drop Distance, is a very close favorite of mine!

Edited March 17, 2015 by Shigehiko

[Scott Keeler 1]

I seriously don't understand how you guys find KH2FM so easy especially on Critical. I can't tell you how many times I got my ass beat during my playthrough and I've played that game several times on normal and proud (only played the NA KH2 not FInal Mix). I couldn't even beat Lingering Will without doing the cheap hit-jump method. I'm just starting my BBS Critical playthrough now and this is the first time I've played it since it was released on PSP (again not Final Mix). But if the game is as good as I remember I'm pretty sure I would vote for BBS over KH2. I just prefer the story, gameplay, and extras slightly more than KH2 though I really love KH2 as well.

[7 and 13 Ingredients 27]

I seriously don't understand how you guys find KH2FM so easy especially on Critical. I can't tell you how many times I got my ass beat during my playthrough and I've played that game several times on normal and proud (only played the NA KH2 not FInal Mix). I couldn't even beat Lingering Will without doing the cheap hit-jump method. I'm just starting my BBS Critical playthrough now and this is the first time I've played it since it was released on PSP (again not Final Mix). But if the game is as good as I remember I'm pretty sure I would vote for BBS over KH2. I just prefer the story, gameplay, and extras slightly more than KH2 though I really love KH2 as well.

Well I'm not gonna lie, Lingering Will and the Data Battles are super difficult, but idk I just like BBS way more. Maybe I'm weird idk.

[Kaweebo 3,617]

I prefer KHII because it was made for consoles and it feels like it. BBS ended up being put on PSP which hurt it. Still a great game, but definitely not at KHII's level. 

[HeyMouseSayCheese 1,133]

I prefer KHII because it was made for consoles and it feels like it. BBS ended up being put on PSP which hurt it. Still a great game, but definitely not at KHII's level. 

 

That was maybe my biggest issue with BBS. It had to be limited so much to fit onto the PSP; if it had been developed for the PS2 like they originally planned, I think the game would have been a lot better.

[Raphael Millon 87]

KH2 (in my opinion) is way superior than BBS.

BBS is broken in infinite ways, but I'm still loving it.

KH2 has a better plot, worlds, mechanic and gameplay in general.

 

EDIT: Just complementing something: BBS plot is great, but is really bad executed. So that's it.

Edited March 24, 2015 by Raphael Millon

[7 and 13 Ingredients 27]

Plot? No.

 

Worlds? Yes.

 

Gameplay? That depends on your opinion really. Some people like me prefer BBS to KH2's gameplay, so...