Towards Insanity: Of Birthing by Sleep

If the title seems to ring a bell but ain't loud enough and a few things like:
1. Keyhole
2. Key
3. Square Enix
4. Light and Darkness
seem to cross your mind,
Yes, it is Kingdom Hearts, Birth by Sleep.

I've just recently finished this game (Yes, I know am pretty behind schedule. I'm just a little slow on catching up with the series, k? I don't have the funds and I got to wait for the emulator to play this AWSM game)

KINGDOM HEARTS HAS NEVER DISAPPOINTED ME. I've played KH1, KH2, KH:CoM and now this. (Am still under the process of starting 358/2 Days LOL) and so far, it's still awesome. I have no idea how Square Enix/Soft could think of such a creative game with such a creative storyline.

BBS (Birth by Sleep) generally is the prequel to the entire KH series (I guess). It tells the story before the other Kingdom Hearts. Who Xehanort was before he was well, Ansem the Wise's apprentice, who were the 'others' that Xigbar mentioned and how did Sora, Riku and Kairi came to inherit the ability to wield a keyblade.

OMG, everything seems to be perfectly placed. How Castle Oblivion was before it was what it's seen in CoM and who were some of the Organisation XIII's human lives.

Again, like any other reviews I did, there will be spoilers after this section and if you don't like spoilers... just don't read this xD

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******************KINGDOM HEARTS BIRTH BY SLEEP********************
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Okay, I'll just start off with the characters (Like always :D)

1. VENTUS

A young boy who is the youngest of the trio (Terra, Aqua, Ventus). He was brought to the Land of Departure by Master Xehanort for his fellow keyblade master, Master Eraqus to help take care.

Ventus bears very very close resemblance to Roxas and this could be because when Ventus's heart stayed with Sora, Roxas took traits from Ventus instead of Sora.

Ventus started out as a lifeless person, because part of his heart was damaged in the process of extracting his darkness out by Master Xehanort - thus leading to Vanitas's creation.
Ventus then gained 2 best friends, Terra and Aqua and began healing and becoming the Ventus that players will find themselves playing.
However, there is more to Ventus than meets the eye as it is revealed that he is the only one capable of creating the kye-blade (χ-blade, also pronounced key-blade)

Ventus is completely oblivious about his ability and does not know that Vanitas was part of him. Once he found out the truth, he sets out to destroy Vanitas and prevent the creation of the χ-blade.

2. TERRA

Terra is probably one of the oldest of the trio and acts as the big brother to Ventus, knowing that the latter had no one he trusted after he came to the Land of Departure.

Terra is probably one of the strongest among the trio (Ventus being the fastest and Aqua being the best in magic). Terra and Aqua ere the ones who were to take up the Mark of Mastery exam, the final exam before any of them can become a Keyblade Master. However, Terra was unable to contain the darkness inside him and failed the test while Aqua passed and became Master.

Terra kinda reminded me of Riku because both have the stronger darkness inside them but are also people who cherish their friends so much that they are willing to be consumed by the darkness.

However, Terra gets tricked by Master Xehanort without realising the older keyblade wielder's intentions and ends up being used and voila- possessed by Master Xehanort. Hence, he becomes the Xehanort that we see in the later Kingdom Hearts series.

3. AQUA

The only girl in the trio and probably the most stable (personality wise and light-darkness balance thingy) IMO? Oh well, she is the only one who made it through the Mark of Mastery exam afterall. :P

Anyway, Aqua makes use of magic more than physical strength, putting her magic higher than both the boys. Aqua sets out to help both Ventus and Terra, knowing that if anything were to happen to them, she is the one who has to help them both.

However, sometimes, things don't turn out as they should be...and Aqua finds herself in dilemma and the trio also found themselves breaking apart. Nonetheless, Aqua discovers that her friends are her everything and that she is ready to sacrifice herself

for their sakes.

She was the one who carried Ventus and placed him in the Chamber of Waking (which is the Land of Departure converted into Castle Oblivion, OwO) and because of her, Terra-Xehanort remained in the Realm of Light instead of falling into the Realm of Darkness. Aqua is strong because she has her friends and she believes that there's always light within darkness.

This is just too cute~~ <3

4. VANITAS & MASTER XEHANORT

Villains of the story, nuff said.

Vanitas (on the left) is the darkness within Ventus that has been extracted by Xehanort and became a being of its own. When he and Ventus clash, the χ-blade will be created. Vanitas bears resemblance to Sora (I still don't know why) and is the one controlling the 'Unversed' (something like the Heartlesses and the Nobodies).

Xehanort.....THIS GUY IS THE ROOT OF ALL THE FREAKING EVENTS IN KINGDOM HEARTS.

This old bastard who tricked Terra, damaged Ventus's heart and well, cause Aqua to be stuck in the Realm of Darkness =.=

I just hate him.

KINGDOM HEARTS AND KEYBLADE WAR OBSESSED FREAK.

I REALLY HOPE HE DISAPPEARS FOREVER IN KH3 =.=

Well, I really feel that this game is reallllyy good. It was a long time since I last played Kingdom Hearts and the last I played was KH2. So, playing this sort of game again really brought back lotsa nostalgic feelings.

And the secret ending was just...<3 <3 <3 <3 OMG

And oh yes, Riku and Sora when they were younger. I just lost all sense of control and made a sound that didn't sound...human...=///=

AND OMG IT'S AXEL AND ZEXION (Nah, it's Ienzo and Lea :P)

Them characters~~ <3 AND TERRA IS SO GENTLEMANLY~~ <3

When I saw Zack, I was like 'ZACK, YOU'RE ALIVE!??!?!"

The sad moments....of Terra...Q.Q When Master Eraqus just faded away and after Xehanort took over his body and when you fight as Terra-Armor and you can't hear Terra's voice anymore...Q.Q

And oh, when Aqua sacrificed herself and sent her armor up with Terra-Xehanort's body and took his place in the Realm of Darkness...OMG....SO MUCH FEELS....

ANYWAY, KINGDOM HEARTS BIRTH BY SLEEP IS AWESOME :)

REALLY RECOMMENDED (Especially hardcore KH fans)