Game:

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010)

Category:

Let's Play

Duration: 24:51

2,926 views

24

This is video #003 in my playthrough of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix, part of the Kingdom Hearts HD II.5 ReMIX. This is Critical Mode. This video does not contain commentary. To view the commentary version, click here: https://youtu.be/b-VAsIRa2Rc

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix No-Commentary Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIZ8kn0xML25HvkwhAe4FGitsjRkRRWBa

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix Commentary Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIZ8kn0xML26stgCfPitoBbX1JV9Mgla3

Previously, we started the game and saw Ventus recover from a comatose state, thanks to a newborn heart on Destiny Islands. We now continue the introduction.

We join Ventus in his room in the Land of Departure. Falling stars prompt him to rush out to watch the meteor shower.

Ventus gains control in the Courtyard outside the castle (time 1:22). Interesting place. It almost reminds me of another castle on a precipice somewhere... Anyway, as Ventus, we get a little tutorial on basic controls.

Ven heads on to the Mountain Path (time 2:26). He gets a little distracted by the hanging rings here, and we get tutorials on performing basic attacks with X and Command Deck skills with Triangle. Unlike the magic and attack abilities of Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II, which use a single MP pool, each individual Command Deck skill in this game has its own cooldown timer. The skills in the Command Deck can be chosen and reordered outside of battle.

After the tutorial, a chest appears on a platform above a nearby pond (time 4:00). This chest contains a Sliding Dash skill. Just after picking this up, Ven remembers what he came outside to do in the first place.

Afterwards, we have the opportunity to check out the main menu (time 4:36). An important option is Command Decks, which allow you to edit characters' decks of available Commands. Ventus comes with three Battle Commands: Quick Blitz, Aero, and Strike Raid. He also starts with an Action Command: Jump. Each Command gains experience in the form of CP as your character defeats enemies. Some Commands, such as Quick Blitz and Aero, have associated Abilities that your character can use. Quick Blitz has the Scan Ability, and Aero has the Zero EXP Ability. When the Command reaches its maximum level, its Ability becomes an Auto-Ability. At that point, the character can use the Ability even without the associated Command equipped in a deck. Really nice. Quick Blitz and Aero come maxed out, so Ventus will automatically learn Scan and Zero EXP. If enabled, Scan will provide an HP bar for the enemy your character is fighting, and Zero EXP will prevent the gaining of experience.

Also under Command Decks is the Meld Commands option. This allows you to combine two Commands to create a new one. Whenever you do this, you can and should use an Item because this will add an Ability to the command. This will be your characters' main source of Abilities, rather than automatically receiving them at certain plot points in other Kingdom Hearts games. Some Abilities are especially valuable, like Leaf Bracer, Second Chance, and Once More.

When he is ready, Ventus heads on to the Summit (time 10:16). As he watches the meteor shower, he falls asleep. Then, his friends Aqua and Terra show up. Since Aqua and Terra have an important test the next day, Aqua made a set of good luck charms called Wayfinders for the three of them. They look a lot like a certain item Kairi gave Sora... Anyway, Aqua's magic will prove helpful to all three of them. The Wayfinder allows your character to perform D-Links and borrow the powers of friends. Initially, Ventus will be able to D-Link with Terra or Aqua, Terra will be able to D-Link with Ventus or Aqua, and Aqua will be able to D-Link with Ventus or Terra. D-Links are sort of like Sora's Forms in Kingdom Hearts II, but they are not as powerful.

Afterwards, Terra will suggest they spar (time 15:03). Wouldn't be a Kingdom Hearts without a little friendly sparring, right? We briefly take control of Terra and get a tutorial on HP and blocking. The objective is to block Ventus's attack.

Then, we get a tutorial on the Command Gauge above the Command Deck (time 15:46). This gauge fills as you land blows. When it is full, Terra can use the Finish command, a powerful finishing blow. The system is further complicated by Command Styles, which can be changed if you use certain Commands against enemies. New Command Styles will become available to each character as they progress.

Description continued in the comments.

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