Let's Talk Positives and Negatives: Birth by Sleep

[hatok 6,413]

BBS is a very divisive game for a lot of KH fans, so let's talk about it

Some say the plot is garbage, some say it's the best in the series, some love the gameplay, other feel it didn't really work

So let's get a discussion and maybe figure out why. Maybe we'll learn something

and remember

no opinion is sacred

 

[Joker 1,560]

I loved bbs. the command system was new and I was a bit disaponited cuse I thought we were going to have Ven, Terra,and Aqua in a party full time and u play one of them each playthro.other wise I loved it and then I got a eng patch for bbsfm and loved it even more. Red Eyes took forever to kill ><

[Queen Tery 4,591]

BBS is pretty much tied with KH 2 for my favorite game of the series. I really enjoyed the plot and gameplay, as well as being able to play as 3 separate characters. I'm not a fan of portable games though, so bringing it to the PS3 really makes me happy. It's really a tough decision to say if I like BBS or 2 more. Probably 2, but now that they've brought BBS to PS3, I may have to change that answer lol

[Aru Akise 2,540]

Let's try it with what I remember, then.

 

The gameplay was new and I liked it, although you weren't able to use all your skills freely. Which would be very hard to manage anyway, since it introduced lots of  new moves.

 

Story: It isn't really that impressive until the very end when everything connects to KH. Xehanort takes Terra's body, Ventus' damaged heart goes to Sora seeking shelter, Aqua is locked in the Realm of Darkness all alone after saving Terra (poor Aqua, hers is my favorite story).

 

They were captivating characters. I didn't like Terra's story that much though.

 

I think I like it mostly because it isn't a "happly ever after" type of story.

[HikariYami 354]

I loved the gameplay of BBS because I always thought it was ludicrous that I had to scroll through a command list to do something. The shortcut menu was inept. I did not use magic really in KH2. In BBS, I could just use the commands that I wanted and forget the useless stuff.

[Joker 1,560]

we all knew it wasn't going to end happyily. since Ven Terra and Aqua are no where to be seen during the rest of the games

[Isaix 924]

I really like BBS,the battle system is great,the story is great,the soundtrack is my second favorite in the serie,its amazing(KH2 has a superior soundtrack in my opinion),the boss battles are fun.Its a very solid game.

 

The only negative point I have with the game is the multiple playable characters.Its not a terrible idea,its just a personal preference,but I don't think it works well for adventure games like this.When I'm playing an adventure game,I'd rather focus on leveling up a single character or a party in a single playthough of the game. Being forced to go though a story mode 3 times,unlocking ultima weapon 3 times,refight the same super-bosses 3 times watch the same cutscenes,but in a slightly different prospective,etc its all weird for an adventure game and I just don't like the idea.

Edited October 27, 2014 by Isaix

[hatok 6,413]

The happy ending thing kinda confuses me, how many KH games have ended with a happy ending? KH2?

[Aru Akise 2,540]

The happy ending thing kinda confuses me, how many KH games have ended with a happy ending? KH2?

KH also did, didn't it?

 

DDD was kinda... nothing happened.

Edited October 27, 2014 by SkyKeybladeHero

[Kaweebo 3,617]

I think it's the fourth-best in the series, below KHI, DDD and KHII and that's mostly just because I really don't like the Deck Command system all that much. The story is interesting and cool and I like the characters, the gameplay just gets on my nerves a little bit. 

[hatok 6,413]

KH also did, didn't it?

 

DDD was kinda... nothing happened.

KH ended with Sora trapped in another world with Riku and the King missing and possibly dead while Kairi was trapped on Destiny Islands, separated from Sora after he worked so hard to save her

it ended on a optimistic note, but certainly not a happy one. Bittersweet at best

DDD... uh... yeah it just kinda happened

[MarkXIIII 106]

I loved BbS because it felt so mysterious and old-fashioned.

What KHII offered in sparkling effects that felt new and refreshing, BbS felt like it brought back some old-times of Keyblade masters.

 

The battle style fit the title well because the keyblade wielders in this game were more advanced or masters and it fit the more advanced attack styles better.

 

KHII was more straight-forward and it worked perfectly with Sora's fighting style.

 

 

The Worlds in BbS were also more ancient in the beginning of the game and based on the really old classics. I guess I liked those because these are some of my favorite Disney movies.

 

DDD did not work so well because it didn't have that old-timey feeling nor the mastery or command styles.

 

I think a dual system would work great for KHIII if Sora used the classic battle system exclusively and Riku, as a master, got the command battle system.

 

As for my favorites, I Love KHII above all followed by BbS and KH1 tied on place two. Then followed by CoM and Days and ReCoded tied and least favorite DDD because of the battle system dilemma and the story that was more of an excuse for bad planning and rushed game development than anything interesting or thought-through.

[Shana09 5,769]

I love Birth By Sleep because I love back stories. The story did more good than harm, and it helped solve questions some questions. It added good characters and it showed who Xehanort really was. It has a beautiful plot out the series because then again, I love back stories. The battle system was extremely fun, and I love command melding and the board game minigame.

[Dracozombie 4,554]

Wrecking shit with Aqua is a highlight of BBS for me. Say what you will about her effectiveness in the actual story, but I've never felt so assured walking around an area full of dangerous monsters in a KH game until I controlled Aqua and her high-tier area-of-effect spells. Amazing how gameplay can affect your perception of a character (must be why so many people hate Roxas).

[Dave 5,715]

Wrecking shit with Aqua is a highlight of BBS for me. Say what you will about her effectiveness in the actual story, but I've never felt so assured walking around an area full of dangerous monsters in a KH game until I controlled Aqua and her high-tier area-of-effect spells. Amazing how gameplay can affect your perception of a character (must be why so many people hate Roxas).

 

In spite of everything that I disliked about Birth By Sleep, I will agree whole heartedly that leveling up Aqua and making her into a wrecking crew was incredibly satisfying.

[Jermaine 79]

My opinion on BBS changes A LOT. While I do like the in depth story, and backround, I dislike the lack of exploration, lack of continuity, and character devolopment was strange. I do enjoy the fact that the worlds were mostly new, and the story of the worlds while it didn't tie into the game, was pretty good.  I still have it as my 4th favorite game, it just didn't have the lasting appeal to me, but introduced plenty of good things.

[BlankShell 638]

The ending is kind of heavy, but it's easily my second favorite KH game, constantly jockying for first. The tone of the various worlds you visit are somewhat at odds with the plot direction, but the music is always great, and the challenge is just right for a handheld (I'm most worried about that transition in 2.5, but I think they can pull it off).

 

The new systems certainly took some getting used to; I barely touched the Command Board or synthesis during my first playthrough as Terra, but ultimately they enhance the game once you start adjusting. I love me some KH-themed Monopoly.

[FerroAxel7 237]

Despite popular belief, I like BBS more than KH2. Not by much, but I loved the new characters they introduced. Though the worlds were kinda bland, the ending had a great pay-off. BBS had the best mini-games by far and the command deck was a solid departure. 

[Connected 978]

Its overhyped by the 2 final mix trailer...