User:EternalNothingnessXIII/Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Walkthrough/Game Basics
You have successfully reached the Game Basics section of this Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep walkthrough. Read the information below to learn basic facts necessary to successfully play through the game.
Getting Started
Choosing a Difficulty Level
As soon as you select "New Game" on the start menu, you will be asked to choose a difficulty level on which to play. It is important to note that regardless of your decision, you will NOT be able to change difficulty settings later. Depending on which difficulty you select, more or less will be required from you before you can unlock the game's secret movie. A list of difficulty levels, combat differences for each level, and obtainment methods for the secret movie in each level can be found below:
| Difficulty Level | Combat Differences | How to Unlock the Secret Movie |
| Beginner | You deal 50% more damage. All damage received is halved. | Not unlockable. |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | You deal and receive normal damage. | Clear the Final Episode and complete each character's Reports section. |
| Proud | You deal normal damage, but all damage dealt to you is doubled. | Clear Terra, Ventus, and Aqua's scenarios, as well as the Final Episode. |
| Critical | You deal half the usual damage and all damage you receive is doubled. The game begins with extra slots in your Command Deck. | Clear Terra, Ventus, and Aqua's scenarios, as well as the Final Episode. |
Choosing a Character
Before Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep truly begins, you must first select a character whose scenario you would like to play through. Note that you can always start another character's scenario mid-way through another character's by returning to the start menu. Your choices in terms of playable characters (as well as brief overviews of their stats) are as follows:
| Character | Pros | Cons |
| Terra | High physical attack power High HP High Defense stat |
Slow movement and attack speed Low blocking ability Low magical power Commands obtained lack variety (mainly physical techniques) |
|---|---|---|
| Ventus | Even stats Fast movement and attack speed Obtains wide range of Commands |
Low HP Low blocking ability |
| Aqua | Average stats Average movement and attack speed Strong blocking ability High Magic stat |
Low physical attack power Commands obtained lack variety (mainly magic-based) |
Storyline Basics
Regardless of who you play as in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and what worlds you visit in these characters' scenarios, the pattern each character's story follows in each world is the same:
1) Travel to a world via the Lanes Between and select "Visit World"
2) Explore the world in search of treasure and Crown Stickers and defeat Unversed
3) Defeat a boss
4) Proceed to the next world
Each character begins with three worlds accessible to him or her at the beginning of his or her scenario. By clearing these three worlds' storylines, three more are unlocked, and so on. Some worlds may become temporarily inaccessible until later in the game to match what transpires during the game's custscenes. Regardless of this fact, any world can be revisited after its story is cleared, and all worlds are 100% accessible at the end of the game.
Cutscenes
One of the most enjoyable things about Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep is its amazingly designed cutscenes and the epic story told through them. Since the game is over 90% voiced, you'll be seeing a lot of these beautiful pieces of CG animation as you play through each character's scenario.
There are times when cutscenes are simply an annoyance, however, particularly when you find yourself losing to the same boss over and over again and do not wish to have to rewatch the cutscenes preceding the battle every time you reattempt it. It is for this reason that all voiced cutscenes can be skipped by pressing 
and then selecting "Skip Scene". For cutscenes that are not voiced and simply involve characters speaking via speech bubbles, rapidly tap 
to breeze through the sometimes lengthy dialogue. Like in past games, all voiced cutscenes in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep also come with subtitles.
Side-Quests and the Final Episode
The adventure continues after all three characters' scenarios have been completed for the first time thanks to the Final Episode, which includes a boss fight specific only to this mode. You will assume the role of Aqua, picking up the story where her scenario concluded, as well as maintaining her Command Deck, Keyblade, and stats. All worlds save for the Land of Departure and the Keyblade Graveyard will be accessible to you. For Proud and Critical Mode players, clearing the Final Episode is the only way to unlock the secret movie.
Like past games, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep also has several side-quests, two of the most notable being facing the challenges of two nearly impossible-to-defeat bosses. The rewards for beating these enemies are unobtainable through other means, so if your characters are at a high level, it is recommended that you make an attempt to beat these foes. Another side-quest which offers less valuable rewards is Crown Sticker collection, something that is best done in each character's scenario as you play through his or her story. Regardless of the side-quest you take, each has no outcome on the story whatsoever.
Gameplay Basics
Controls
| Button | Function in Battle | Function Outside of Battle | Function in Menus | Miscellaneous Functions |
|
|
Perform normal attacks Execute Shotlock Attack foes during Keyblade Glider battles May be involved in some on-screen prompts |
Swing the Keyblade Open treasure chests Interact with objects Speak with NPC's |
Select an option | Increase movement speed in the Lanes Between Select options on the Command Board Increase movement speed during Rumble Racing Shoot during Fruit Ball |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Use a Command in your Command Deck Summon a Dimension Link Attack foes during Keyblade Glider battles May be involved in some on-screen prompts |
Use a Command in your Command Deck Summon a Dimension Link |
Equip/Unequip abilities in the Abilities menu Rename Finish Commands View a larger image of a character or enemy in the Reports section |
Opens the "Visit/Leave World" menu in the Lanes Between View spaces of the Command Board Put up a barrier in Rumble Racing Bump during Fruit Ball |
|
Perform a dodging technique in combination with the analog stick Use Guard or Barrier Use Barrier during Keyblade Glider battles May be involved in some on-screen prompts |
Perform a dodging technique in combination with the analog stick Use Guard or Barrier |
Reset Finish Command names | Zoom out on the Command Board Use brakes during Rumble Racing Curve during Fruit Ball |
|
Jump (hold to glide as Ventus or press again to double-jump as Aqua) Jump during Keyblade Glider battles May be involved in some on-screen prompts |
Jump (hold to glide as Ventus or press again to double-jump as Aqua) | Exit menus | Exit Command Board Skid Charge during Rumble Racing |
 
|
Adjust camera positioning Press both to Lock-On/disengage Lock-On/Shift opponent you are Locked-On to Hold both to target foes for Shotlock |
Adjust camera position Hold down both to target foes for Shotlock |
Shift between menus and options | Adjust camera angle during Mini-Games |
 
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Cycle through the Command Deck and list of available Dimension Links | Cycle through the Command Deck and list of available Dimension Links | Cycle through menu options | Navigate the Command Board |
 
|
Press to enter the Dimension Link menu and to exit it
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Press to enter the Dimension Link menu and to exit it
|
Cycle through menu options | Navigate the Command Board Shift between Command Board options |
| Analog Stick | Controls character movement (can be combined with to execute dodging techniques or to jump in a particular direction)
|
Controls character movement (can be combined with to execute dodging techniques or to jump in a particular direction)
|
Cycle through menu options | Controls character movement in the Lanes Between and during Mini-Games |
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Pause the game (press again to unpause) | Enter the main menu Pause cutscenes (press again to unpause) |
N/A | Pause the game during Mini-Games or while in the Lanes Between (press again to unpause) |
|
N/A | Enter first-person view (press again to exit) | N/A | N/A |