| Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep | |
|---|---|
 North American cover art featuring the main characters, from the top: Terra, Aqua, Mickey Mouse, and Ventus. | |
| Developer(s) | Square Enix Product Development Division 5[4] |
| Publisher(s) | Square Enix |
| Director(s) | Tetsuya Nomura[5] Tai Yasue[5] |
| Producer(s) | Patrick Chen[5] Yoichi Yoshimoto[5] |
| Programmer(s) | Tamotsu Goto Masashi Nakamichi |
| Artist(s) | Tetsuya Nomura Takeshi Fujimoto |
| Writer(s) |
|
| Composer(s) | |
| Series | Kingdom Hearts |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation Portable |
| Release | Final Mix
|
| Genre(s) | Action role-playing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep[a] is an action role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix in collaboration with Disney Interactive Studios for the PlayStation Portable, serving as the sixth installment in the Kingdom Hearts series. The game was released on UMD in Japan on January 9, 2010, in North America on September 7, 2010, and in PAL regions on September 10, 2010. An international version of the game titled Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix was released in Japan in January 2011, featuring the changes made in the non-Japanese versions. A direct sequel, Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep - A Fragmentary Passage, was released in January 2017 as a part of a bundle of games called Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue.
The game utilizes an overhauled battle system different from previous games in the series which features new elements. It is a prequel to the original Kingdom Hearts, taking place ten years before its events. The game centers on the journeys of Terra, Aqua and Ventus, characters briefly featured in Kingdom Hearts II, in their quest to locate the missing Master Xehanort and protect the worlds from creatures known as the Unversed. The player has access to the three characters' different scenarios when playing.
Development of the game began in June 2005, with parts of the game Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix meant to hint at Birth by Sleep. The game was directed by Tetsuya Nomura and co-directed by Tai Yasue. Nomura has referred to the game as "Episode 0", as well as "Episode 0.1" following the release of Kingdom Hearts χ, stating that it is on the same scale and plays as large a role in the series as Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II. The game has been well-received, selling 1.27 million copies worldwide as of November 2010, and received positive comments from video game publications. Critics praised the game's gameplay, graphics, music, and storyline, but criticized the level design and characters. A high definition version of the Final Mix edition was released for the PlayStation 3 in 2014, PlayStation 4 in 2017, Xbox One in February 2020, Windows in 2021, and Nintendo Switch as a part of the Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix collection.
- ^ "Kingdom Hearts PSP hits September 7". GameSpot. May 17, 2010. Archived from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
- ^ a b "Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep Nets North American Date". PSX Extreme. May 17, 2009. Archived from the original on September 16, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
- ^ Famitsu (August 28, 2009). "マルチプレイの情報も飛び出した『キングダム ハーツ バース バイ スリープ』". Famitsu. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
- ^ Gantayat, Anoop (October 2, 2007). "Nomura Discusses Kingdom Hearts". IGN. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
- ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference
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