Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep

Review

Common Sense Media says

Fantasy game shows same story from different viewpoints.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

AGE
10
QUALITY
 

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep is a prequel to the Kingdom Hearts series of games. It takes place before the original Kingdom Hearts game and relies heavily on story elements introduced in other entries in the game franchise. There are several Disney characters that appear in the game, although some of these characters handle combat situations with more aggression than when they are portrayed in Disney films and TV shows. They use swords and magic in melee type combat. The game supports multiplayer for up to six players on different PSP systems, however there is no online play. The story is very intricate, and encourages reading and puzzle solving.

  • Positive messages1
    The underlying story involves three hero characters. The player must follow the individual stories of each of these characters and learn that teamwork is essential, everyone has his own perspective on things, and working together can help overcome any obstacle. These positive messages must be set against the negative message that it is OK to use violence to solve your problems.
  • Positive role models1
    The hero character is looked up to by his many friends and allies throughout the game.
  • Ease of play3
    The game has involved battle systems and exploration that involves a good understanding of the role-playing genre. However, there are helpful hints to guide the player along the way. Even so, the mechanics of gameplay are somewhat deep and complex.
  • Violence3
    The player is required to defeat enemies in order to progress through the game. There is no blood, gore, scarring, or any other visible sign of damage to characters or enemies. The player uses melee attacks and magic spells, resulting in fantastical light effects and sound effects. There are also occasional grunts and shouts during combat. In some cutscenes enemies cry out in pain, and one scene shows a character shoving a large key into his chest.
  • Sex2
    There is one female character with a tight-fitting outfit. The character's breasts occasionally move excessively during cutscenes.
  • Language0
    Not applicable.
  • Consumerism1
    The game is filled with Disney characters and attractions.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking0
    Not applicable.
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What's it about?

In KINGDOM HEARTS: BIRTH BY SLEEP, three heroes must work together to explore fantastical worlds and seek out a mysterious evil in order to restore peace. Each of the three protagonists has something special and unique to bring to the table. They must learn how to use the power of teamwork to find the character at the source of the world's troubles, Master Xehanort. As a prequel to the original Kingdom Hearts game, Birth by Sleep follows a story set in the universe that Kingdom Hearts players have become familiar with. It introduces characters and provides back stories that previously went unexplored. As such, many story components are laid out with the notion that the player knows about the previous Kingdom Hearts lore, though playing through older games in the franchise is not a prerequisite for this game. The general storyline of characters working together to provide support for each other while embarking on a quest to save the world is a universal story that anyone can enjoy.

Is it any good?

 

The Kingdom Hearts franchise has garnered wild interest because of its compelling storytelling as well as its interaction with likable Disney characters. Birth by Sleep is no exception. There is a lot of exploration around very whimsical environments, keeping the game fresh and unique through its numerous hours of play. The battle system is more about having a sharp mind and incorporating the right strategy than it is about attacking enemies with mindless rampancy. This provides the game with an overall captivating experience. The story is very well crafted and should keep the player intrigued and instilled with wonder throughout the entire game. In short, with a great story and lots of interaction with familiar Disney characters, Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep is a worthy addition to the successful Kingdom Hearts franchise.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about how the three main characters work together in the game. Why is it helpful to work together with friends?

  • What are other alternatives to solving problems that don't involve fighting? Why do you think so many games involve violence?

This review was written by Mark Raby
Teen, 17 years old
December 27, 2010
AGE
10
 
Very good KH game
This game is like all the KH games they made, fight monster like enemys, see outher worlds from disney movies, and more. But im not saying its a bad game aturaly its the best game I have for my PSP but some parents reported this game becouse of Aqua, becouse she has sexy like clothes on that show her back and some parts of her legs but i mean shes not taking them off or anything but it is a very good game and I think kids above 10 can play this.
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Kid, 10 years old
September 28, 2011
AGE
10
 
AWSOME
AWSOME
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Helped me decide (5) | Had useful details (6) | Read my mind (3)
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Teen, 18 years old
March 8, 2011
AGE
10
 
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (7) | Had useful details (4) | Read my mind (3)
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Teen, 18 years old
July 16, 2011
AGE
10
 
Good but can be confusing!
Put it this way. You have to play these games in a certain order to get it. Birth By Sleep, Kingdom Hearts, Chain Of Memories, 358/2 Days, Kingdom Hearts II, Re:Coded.
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Kid, 12 years old
December 1, 2010
AGE
10
 
asome
love the siries
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Teen, 17 years old
September 6, 2011
AGE
10
 
Prequel Game About as Good as Main Installments
I finally beat this game after playing the other Kingdom Hearts video games. I thought this was pretty cool. I usually don't like prequels, but this one was actually really fun, and had a good plot too. The animation beats all the Kingdom Hearts games for the DS, and the gameplay is better too. For parents, not much to worry about, just some fantasy violence. Any Kingdom Hearts fan should buy this.
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This review was written by Mark Raby
Platforms:PSP
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Role Playing
Developer:Square Enix
Release date:September 7, 2010
Price:$39.99
ESRB rating:E10+ for Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
This review was written by Mark Raby

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
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