Inspired by James Rolfe AKA AVGN's latest episode, as well as the nature of the game's overall plot being timely complex, let's write a bit about it. Although, as a disclaimer and stating the obvious; we are only talking about video games, and we are having fun discussing the timeline and events.
While preparing for Kingdom Hearts III, by now, I have also managed to beat Birth by Sleep and Dream Drop Distance, which are alongside Kingdom Hearts I and II, which I beat last year, key for understanding the overall saga.
Birth by Sleep is a prequel towards most of the franchise’s chronology, it lets you play as 3 different characters Terra, Ventus and Aqua, who are friends and go through similar adventures in here, although it is recommended to play and beat each campaign in that particular order.
The Disney worlds are a mix of old and new ones such as Olympus Colosseum and Deep Space. The story chronicles the three becoming worthy Keyblade wielders, while Master Xehanort’s origin is depicted, who seems to be the overall main antagonist.
Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep is more of the same gameplay and story if you liked KH 1 and KH 2, although as it originally was released onto the PSP, it feels like smaller segments.
Rating: 7.5
Dream Drop Distance sees you returning to play as both Sora and Riku, as they traverse familiar and new worlds to awaken 7 sleeping keyholes because of overall plot progression. The combat is intact, while a new interactive free flow mechanic lets you act upon environmental objects and solve puzzles or deal damage as results.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is new, while returning worlds include Monstro and Tron, although the stories and level designs are new. As it first was a 3DS game, it got a HD remaster on the Final Chapter Prologue collection, and now it looks and plays similar to I and II.
More of the overall plot's overall meaning is explained, what Xehanort and his numerous forms are really planning, more stuff about friendship and Kingdom Hearts, and many characters return in here. I must say that the campaigns are about the same level of enjoyment, although Square Enix really went too far with Riku's final bosses while Sora only seems to have gotten 1.
Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance is also a continuation of everything for the franchise, while it sets up the events for the next game. It's a fine addition and among the best available.
Rating: 7.9
Now to talk briefly about the overall plot and saga of the Darkseeker Xehanort. So basically he wants to get the special X blade in order to ignite a second Keyblade War so that Kingdom Hearts can happen again and thus have a balance between light and darkness.
Mickey and other Keyblade wielders or Masters are there to keep hearts, light and friendships intact, and to stop Xehanort's many forms, including Ansem, Xemnas, Terra Xehanort, Young Xehanort and most likely more, as Organization XIII is build with ambitions in mind.
Meanwhile, Sora happens to have numerous forms too, including Ventus, Roxas and Xion, which all exist for various reasons. And then you have the Disney worlds with their recognizable characters and the princesses which are also a key in the storyline.
And then there are guest cameos by Final Fantasy characters, as well as The World End With You if you played DDD. And then the normal enemies consist of Heartless, Nobodies, Unversed and Dream Eaters, which all exist also because of plot mechanics.
Can you still follow it? Yeah? Well, too be honest, I got tired by this point to write more about the grand plot, so I will leave it here at that and instead watch a fancy compilation video on YouTube by a hardcore fan who can explain things much better than me.
You can correct me about what I wrote, but I don't care, as it's fun to interpreted and guess stuff on my own.
As I said, despite Kingdom Hearts, a complex and confusing narrative, it's still fun to try to understand it, or make fun of it.
Anyhow, let's finally experience the sequel that is long overdue!
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