Ashwin Lewis
Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep is a video game directed by Tetsuya Nomura and co-directed by Tai Yasue. It is the sixth instalment in the Kingdom Hearts series and serves as a prequel to the first game, set ten years prior to the events of the original Kingdom Hearts. The game features three main characters: Terra, Aqua, and Ventus, who are Keyblade apprentices training under Keyblade Master Eraqus. Ventus, also known as Ven, is a Keyblade wielder and Union Leader who is transported into the future with no memories of his previous life. He is physically identical to Roxas due to his heart residing in Sora at the time of Roxas' creation. Ventus is the most balanced fighter in the game and has an affinity for wind and light elements, which are incorporated into his techniques and magic attacks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of game | Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep |
| Developer | Square Enix |
| Publisher | Square Enix and Disney Interactive Studios |
| Release date | 9 January 2010 (Japan), 7 September 2010 (North America), 10 September 2010 (PAL regions) |
| Platform | PlayStation Portable |
| Genre | Action role-playing game with hack and slash elements |
| Average score | 82 out of 100 on Metacritic |
| Sales | 1.27 million copies worldwide as of November 2010 |
| Main protagonist | Ventus (also known as Ven) |
| Ventus' appearance | Short, round face, wide eyes, short-sleeve jacket with a red collar, black and white jacket, grey and white vest, black high-necked shirt, black straps with a silver emblem, steel blue, black and gold armour, greyish-blue cape, brown gloves, black helmet with an orange tint |
| Ventus' personality | Shy, friendly, cheerful, curious, excitable, similar to Sora |
| Ventus' fate | Ventus' body lies comatose in the Chamber of Waking while his heart sleeps with Sora, healing until it can be returned to Ventus |
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What You'll Learn
Ventus's character development
Ventus, also known as Ven, is one of the three main protagonists in the action role-playing video game Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. He is a Keyblade wielder and Union leader who was transported into the future with no memories of his original life. He becomes an apprentice to both Master Xehanort and Master Eraqus, and his best friends are Terra and Aqua, with whom he trains in the Land of Departure. Ventus is the youngest of the trio.
Throughout the game, Ventus's heart is damaged twice: first by the creation of Vanitas and again when the χ-blade is destroyed. Both times, Sora's heart reaches out to mend Ventus's heart. By the end of Birth by Sleep, Ventus's heart has gone to sleep within Sora's, allowing it to recover until it is fully healed and ready to rejoin Ventus's body, which lies comatose in the Chamber of Waking.
In the secret ending of Birth by Sleep, Ventus is shown to have awakened from his slumber and returned to training with Terra and Aqua in the Land of Departure. He is reunited with his Chirithy from the distant past. Ventus's heart has been healed, and he has overcome the damage caused by Master Xehanort and the destruction of the χ-blade.
Overall, Ventus's character development in Birth by Sleep focuses on his heart's journey towards healing and his emotional growth as he grapples with guilt, friendship, and the complexities of power.
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The Command System
Performing ordinary attacks and commands fills a gauge displayed above the Command Deck. As the gauge fills up, the player's basic attack is enhanced, leading to more powerful combos. The first enhancement is the "Surge" Command, which further powers up the basic attack. When the gauge is filled a second time, the "Surge" Command is replaced by the even more powerful "Storm" Command, resulting in devastating combos.
Unlike previous games in the Kingdom Hearts series, Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep does not use Magic Points (MP) for spellcasting or magic abilities. Instead, it introduces a new system called Focus, represented by an orange gauge on the game interface. This system adds a strategic element to magic usage, as players need to manage their Focus gauge along with their Command Deck to make the most effective use of their magical abilities.
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The Final Episode
"The Final Episode" is the last part of the story in the action role-playing video game Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. The game was developed and published by Square Enix in collaboration with Disney Interactive Studios for the PlayStation Portable. It is the sixth installment in the Kingdom Hearts series and serves as a prequel set ten years before the first Kingdom Hearts game.
In "The Final Episode", the player takes on the role of Aqua, the only remaining protagonist of the three main characters. Aqua carries Ventus out of the Mysterious Tower, but as she doesn't know where to go, Ventus uses his Keyblade to open a door to the Land of Departure. There, Aqua sees her home in ruins for the first time and is horrified. She finds her Master's Keyblade and enters the ruined building.
Upon completing "The Final Episode", players can unlock the Vanitas Remnant and Young Xehanort battles. This final episode is accessible after finding all the Xehanort Reports and finishing each of the three characters' storylines.
The game Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep has received positive reviews from critics, who have praised its gameplay, graphics, music, and storyline, and the wide variety of customization options available to players due to the three unique playable characters. The game has sold 1.27 million copies worldwide as of November 2010 and has received high scores from reviewers, including an average of 82 out of 100 on Metacritic.
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Game development
The development of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep began in June 2005, with parts of the game Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix meant to hint at Birth by Sleep. The game was directed by Tetsuya Nomura and co-directed by Tai Yasue. Birth by Sleep is an action role-playing game with hack-and-slash elements, introducing a new gameplay mechanic to the series called the Command System. This system allows players to customize a Command Deck with techniques and abilities that they can perform at will, known as Deck Commands. The Command System also features a gauge that fills up as players perform ordinary attacks and Commands, eventually unlocking more powerful attacks.
The game is a prequel set ten years before the first Kingdom Hearts game and features various worlds based on Disney animated features, such as Dwarf Woodlands (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), Enchanted Dominion (Sleeping Beauty), and Olympus Coliseum (Hercules). It also introduces new worlds created specifically for the series by Square Enix, such as the Land of Departure and Radiant Garden.
One of the main protagonists of the game is Ventus, also known as Ven. He is a Keyblade wielder and Union leader who was transported to the future with no memories of his previous life. Ventus's heart is severely damaged by the creation of his dark counterpart, Vanitas, and again when the χ-blade forged from their hearts is destroyed. Sora's heart heals Ventus's heart, and by the end of the game, Ventus's heart rests within Sora's, awaiting a full recovery before rejoining his body, which lies comatose in the Chamber of Waking.
The game received positive reviews, with critics praising its gameplay, graphics, music, and storyline. It has an average score of 82 out of 100 on Metacritic and sold 1.27 million copies worldwide as of November 2010. An international version, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix, was released in Japan in January 2011, and a high-definition version was later released on various platforms.
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Critical reception
The video game Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep received positive reviews from critics, who praised its gameplay, graphics, music, storyline, and English voice acting. The game has been listed as one of the best PlayStation Portable titles, with GamesRadar placing it sixth and IGN ranking it eighteenth. In an ASCII Media Works poll, it was voted the tenth best game of 2010. It won "Best Portable Console Videogame" at the 2011 Japan Expo in France.
The game's combat system was particularly well-received, with IGN calling it "unique" and the best in the series. PSM agreed, describing it as "one of the deepest, most rewarding" fighting systems from the PSP. 1UP praised the distinct fighting styles of the protagonists, comparing them to different classes of RPG characters. The game's storyline was also well-liked, with critics finding it accessible as a prequel that did not require knowledge of previous games in the series. The story's presentation from three different perspectives was also appreciated, as it helped to expand the game's duration.
However, some reviewers criticised the game's level design and characters. While the game introduced a new enemy species, the Unversed, some found similarities between the protagonists and previous characters in the series. Eurogamer, for example, argued that the three playable characters had little impact on the Disney worlds' storyline. The lack of Final Fantasy characters also received mixed opinions, with some feeling that it diminished the game's impact, while others believed it allowed for greater exploration of the Disney worlds.
The English voice acting in Birth by Sleep was generally well-received, with GameTrailers describing it as "one of the few good English dubs in recent memory". Leonard Nimoy's performance was particularly praised. GameSpot also commended Jesse McCartney and Willa Holland as Ventus and Aqua, respectively, but criticised Jason Dohring's portrayal of Terra.
The game's Western release included additional features such as a new boss, Keyblades, abilities, mini-game maps, songs, and the highly anticipated Critical Mode, which offers an even greater challenge than Proud Mode.
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Frequently asked questions
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep is an action role-playing video game developed by Square Enix in collaboration with Disney Interactive Studios. It is the sixth installment in the Kingdom Hearts series and serves as a prequel to the first game, set ten years prior.
Birth by Sleep introduces a new gameplay mechanic called the Command System, which allows players to customise a Command Deck with techniques and abilities. It also does not utilise Magic Points (MP) for spells or magic casting, instead relying on a system called Focus.
The player characters are Terra, Ventus, and Aqua. Ventus, also known as Ven, is the youngest of the trio and wields a Keyblade.
Birth by Sleep features various worlds based on Disney animated features, such as Dwarf Woodlands (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), Enchanted Dominion (Sleeping Beauty), Olympus Coliseum (Hercules), and Neverland (Peter Pan).
Birth by Sleep received positive reviews from critics, who praised its gameplay, graphics, music, and storyline. The game sold 1.27 million copies worldwide as of November 2010 and holds a Metacritic score of 82 out of 100.
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