KH:BbS Cleared Before I Could Even Announce I Bought The Game
It's kinda a bit sad that I finished playing Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep in just 2 days but uh I was playing in Beginner Mode just to breeze through Terra/Ven/Aqua's stories. So of course, I haven't unlocked the Secret Scenario yet. Currently slowly replaying the game in Proud Mode, I'm halfway through Terra's scenario so far.
Anyway, quick spoiler-less review of the game so far:
STORY:
Pacing is a bit better compared to KH2, in the sense it's a lot faster but sometimes it goes... too fast, but I think this is only in Terra's route because the pacing was okay for Ven and Aqua's routes, personally. The game does feel a bit short because you don't go through too much in each world, but then thinking how you have to go through the same set of worlds 3 times at least in total, I'm thinking their lengths are okay. They still did a good job of pulling something new in terms of exploration or story set-up for each character routes, despite still sharing the same world. Some endings are a bit too open-ended and may cause confusion if you're new to KH or don't know about the secret scenario so I'm hoping this won't backfire itself later.
GRAPHICS:
LOL it's KH, we already know it'll have good graphics from the start. Unfortunately the game's still for a portable console therefore it can't manage some information overload, like in Maleficient's Castle which has too much texture and ends up dropping the framerate drastically due to lag! HAHAHAHAH!! I was more amused than annoyed at this, really. At least we don't have trouble controlling the characters despite the drop of framerates. Apparently loading times are shorten if you install your game, which I did, but sometimes it still gets long waits. The loading time sticks out like a sore thumb in between cutscenes but gameplay-wise, I didn't notice it being that bad anyway.
GAMEPLAY:
FUN. There are LOADS of options you can play around with without the system being too complicated. It's not pure button-mashing anymore like in KH2 but it's not too hard as long as you can strategize your moves. Like I said before in STORY column, even though all characters share the same set of worlds, one character would always get to do something the other couldn't, like how there are different things you can play around with on the field (Ven's route is definitely the most playful of all) or certain areas' accessibility. Either way, you definitely don't get bored with battles. Unless you can't wait to see the next cutscene, that is. Also, I definitely get too much fun out of Command Charge (synthesizing commands) lol.
MUSIC:
Why does Shimomura Yoko keep getting better and better in every KH game? I remember how KH1's OST didn't really stick out to me much because it was mostly Disney remixes, but as the series expands itself and more important characters are introduced, this gives Shimomura more field to play around with and create original tunes for KH, like the themes for the Organization, Namine, Roxas and so on. And she definitely got better and damn, Sunset Horizons was pretty much a mix of a certain dungeon BGM and character themes into one and it's always a surprise to hear the original tunes in this game.
I also like how she's been trying a different style for this OST too, like how the famous "Wheel Master Battle Theme" (which turns out to not be for the Wheel Master only btw) have this techno/cyber feel to it, and you definitely will hear more of this kind in other songs but she makes good use of strings to make sure they don't sound too cyber too. Vanitas' themes are a super surprise, both in style and melody (think of 358/2 Days' chaotic last boss BGM) so all I can say is... HOW DO YOU CREATE THESE SONGS DAMMIT?? People, we have a second Yoko Kanno here.
Conclusion: The first portable KH game I actually have fun playing. Story may be confusing but KH will always be like that, anyway. For some reason, since the game has 3 main characters, it's 3 times more moe than ever. Terra is such an uke, dangit, I THINK AQUA IS MANLIER THAN HIM LAWL
Mai Waifu: Maleficient
Mai Fave World: Enchanted Dominion (I can keep on listening to its field BGM forever)
Okay, fine, this is pretty much my temporary conclusion until I unlock the secret scenario. NO SPOILERS IN COMMENTS, PLEASE.
Also, go die, 4ch. :) Please, only idiots use the excuse "don't put it online in the first place." I wanna know how you feel when someone hacks into your friends-locked LJ and copy-paste your entries into a public website.
EDITTED: Guys, the above statement is meant as an expression. I would be more angry if someone really did hack my LJ, lol. ;; Also, added in MUSIC column for the above review.
Anyway, quick spoiler-less review of the game so far:
STORY:
Pacing is a bit better compared to KH2, in the sense it's a lot faster but sometimes it goes... too fast, but I think this is only in Terra's route because the pacing was okay for Ven and Aqua's routes, personally. The game does feel a bit short because you don't go through too much in each world, but then thinking how you have to go through the same set of worlds 3 times at least in total, I'm thinking their lengths are okay. They still did a good job of pulling something new in terms of exploration or story set-up for each character routes, despite still sharing the same world. Some endings are a bit too open-ended and may cause confusion if you're new to KH or don't know about the secret scenario so I'm hoping this won't backfire itself later.
GRAPHICS:
LOL it's KH, we already know it'll have good graphics from the start. Unfortunately the game's still for a portable console therefore it can't manage some information overload, like in Maleficient's Castle which has too much texture and ends up dropping the framerate drastically due to lag! HAHAHAHAH!! I was more amused than annoyed at this, really. At least we don't have trouble controlling the characters despite the drop of framerates. Apparently loading times are shorten if you install your game, which I did, but sometimes it still gets long waits. The loading time sticks out like a sore thumb in between cutscenes but gameplay-wise, I didn't notice it being that bad anyway.
GAMEPLAY:
FUN. There are LOADS of options you can play around with without the system being too complicated. It's not pure button-mashing anymore like in KH2 but it's not too hard as long as you can strategize your moves. Like I said before in STORY column, even though all characters share the same set of worlds, one character would always get to do something the other couldn't, like how there are different things you can play around with on the field (Ven's route is definitely the most playful of all) or certain areas' accessibility. Either way, you definitely don't get bored with battles. Unless you can't wait to see the next cutscene, that is. Also, I definitely get too much fun out of Command Charge (synthesizing commands) lol.
MUSIC:
Why does Shimomura Yoko keep getting better and better in every KH game? I remember how KH1's OST didn't really stick out to me much because it was mostly Disney remixes, but as the series expands itself and more important characters are introduced, this gives Shimomura more field to play around with and create original tunes for KH, like the themes for the Organization, Namine, Roxas and so on. And she definitely got better and damn, Sunset Horizons was pretty much a mix of a certain dungeon BGM and character themes into one and it's always a surprise to hear the original tunes in this game.
I also like how she's been trying a different style for this OST too, like how the famous "Wheel Master Battle Theme" (which turns out to not be for the Wheel Master only btw) have this techno/cyber feel to it, and you definitely will hear more of this kind in other songs but she makes good use of strings to make sure they don't sound too cyber too. Vanitas' themes are a super surprise, both in style and melody (think of 358/2 Days' chaotic last boss BGM) so all I can say is... HOW DO YOU CREATE THESE SONGS DAMMIT?? People, we have a second Yoko Kanno here.
Conclusion: The first portable KH game I actually have fun playing. Story may be confusing but KH will always be like that, anyway. For some reason, since the game has 3 main characters, it's 3 times more moe than ever. Terra is such an uke, dangit, I THINK AQUA IS MANLIER THAN HIM LAWL
Mai Waifu: Maleficient
Mai Fave World: Enchanted Dominion (I can keep on listening to its field BGM forever)
Okay, fine, this is pretty much my temporary conclusion until I unlock the secret scenario. NO SPOILERS IN COMMENTS, PLEASE.
Also, go die, 4ch. :) Please, only idiots use the excuse "don't put it online in the first place." I wanna know how you feel when someone hacks into your friends-locked LJ and copy-paste your entries into a public website.
EDITTED: Guys, the above statement is meant as an expression. I would be more angry if someone really did hack my LJ, lol. ;; Also, added in MUSIC column for the above review.