Which has the saddest ending, Kingdom hearts 358/2 days, or Kingdom hearts Birth by sleep. in my opinion 358/2 since it ends where his friend pretty much dies and he is hauled away to a digital twilight town, or in my opinion the nut house where everyone is incapable of understanding what just happened. And in birth by sleep they are all pretty much alive, just are incapable to do anything, and the secret ending makes it clear everythings gonna turn out fine. sorry if this has already been a thread.

Although they will regain what they lost, it doesn't make it not tragic. It's not like they were saved a day later. They haven't been able to see or talk to the most important people to them in over 10 years. Aqua has been stuck in the realm of darkness left to fight for her life, Ven lost his heart and Terra's body was taken control of. He was even forced to fight one of his best friends. Although, we all know, they will be saved. They don't. If you put yourself in the shoes of the characters, it becomes more of a tragic story.

 

In the end, it all comes down to how the games made you feel, yourself. So, you can't really say one fails while the other doesn't.

 

Birth By Sleep still hedges its bets: it wants to give the impression that the characters are losing something without actually having them lose something. The heart of all tragedy is that something is lost beyond repair or reclaiming, and having to deal with the consequences of that. This finality of loss is absent in all of the BBS characters situations:

 

-Ven loses his body and his heart is cast into limbo... but his body is tucked away safely and his heart finds a haven inside Sora, with the intent that both can be reunited later.

-Terra loses his body... but the ending makes it clear that his mind is still running around in there, so he's not a lost cause (also, the whole idea that he "loses his morals and falls into darkness" is baloney(.

-Aqua falls into the Dark Realm... but doesn't appear to have lost any of her resolve or strength of will in that time (assuming that when she meets with Ansem, she's been down there a while).

 

Everything that they've been set up to lose can be given back to them. It's inconveniencing that they find themselves where they are, not tragic.

Birth  by Sleep was nearly as sad as Days for me, but because of the hope it also managed to include I have to pick Days. Days just about finished off with Xion explaining how they will forget each other but they will always live on in Sora. That is not hope, that is a tragic acceptance of fate.

BBS .Besides, Ansem the Wise's data saved in Sora was alluded to being able to save even Roxas and Xion too especially since they both grew hearts and aren't truly dead, just inside Sora. BBS was just very sad bc it's been way over a decade and none of these characters are saved and pretty much have been firetrucked .Yes Roxas and Xion are also 'stuck' per se but at least they experience things through Sora while Terra is forced to become a villain hellbent on causing darkness to flood the worlds to gain access to KH , Aqua is trapped in the RoD fighting off whatever comes in her path to attack her, and Ven is in a coma. I just feel more empathy for the characters of BBS.

 

Flaming Lea is right again. He seems to be good at that. In DDD and Re: coded it is alluded that Xion is not a lost cause. And time is screwy in the Realm of Darkness. For all we know, Aqua could have been down there 20 or 30 years comparatively and because of being in the Realm of Darkness, not have 'aged' a day.

Although they will regain what they lost, it doesn't make it not tragic. It's not like they were saved a day later. They haven't been able to see or talk to the most important people to them in over 10 years. Aqua has been stuck in the realm of darkness left to fight for her life, Ven lost his heart and Terra's body was taken control of. He was even forced to fight one of his best friends. Although, we all know, they will be saved. They don't. If you put yourself in the shoes of the characters, it becomes more of a tragic story.

 

In the end, it all comes down to how the games made you feel, yourself. So, you can't really say one fails while the other doesn't.

Yeah, it pretty much comes down to how much you feel for the character.

 

For me, Days would have been the more tragic EXCEPT Roxas screwed the whole thing up.

 

'Who will I have Ice Cream with?'

 

REAL SMOOTH ROXAS! I'M SURE SHE'S WORRIED ABOUT YOUR &%$# ICE CREAM WHEN SHE'S FADING FROM EXISTANCE!!!

 

The BBS cast was used, abused, and then sent packing by Xehanort and I feel more sympathy for them and their plight because of it. I mean, for example, if Terra's mind still is functioning, then it's even worse because he's WATCHING as Xehanort uses his body to commit heinous crimes!

I felt way more feels in days. 

Birth By Sleep still hedges its bets: it wants to give the impression that the characters are losing something without actually having them lose something. The heart of all tragedy is that something is lost beyond repair or reclaiming, and having to deal with the consequences of that. This finality of loss is absent in all of the BBS characters situations:

 

-Ven loses his body and his heart is cast into limbo... but his body is tucked away safely and his heart finds a haven inside Sora, with the intent that both can be reunited later.

-Terra loses his body... but the ending makes it clear that his mind is still running around in there, so he's not a lost cause (also, the whole idea that he "loses his morals and falls into darkness" is baloney(.

-Aqua falls into the Dark Realm... but doesn't appear to have lost any of her resolve or strength of will in that time (assuming that when she meets with Ansem, she's been down there a while).

 

Everything that they've been set up to lose can be given back to them. It's inconveniencing that they find themselves where they are, not tragic.

Tragedy: An event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, such as a serious accident, crime, or natural catastrophe.

 

- Ven has a lot of suffering. He's been in a coma for almost as long as he existed, he was torn in half ( the reason Vanitas was born) almost died twice, left to die on Destiny Islands and once Master Xehanort realized he could be saved, he was used more.

 

- Terra's body has been taken over by an evil villain. Since his "mind is still running around in there" he knows what Xehanort has been using his body for. Also, he has no knowledge of what is going on with Aqua and if she is even alive. Seems like that would cause some suffering. (Also, you're right, he didn't lose his morals. He was tricked into raging to protect his friends so much, that he totally lost it. He was tricked and tricked and then realized it. Then after being forced to kill his 'father' and see Master Xehanort make the final hit, It was all too much and he raged to protect his friends.)

 

- Aqua doesn't know what is really going on outside the Realm of Darkness. She doesn't know the fate of her friends, whom she cares the most for. Also, she basically has to fight to live constantly. Seems like some suffering to me.

 

The only tragic thing about Days is how Roxas thought Xion could do no wrong. So much that he let it mess with his and Axel's friendship. Xion did nothing but cause problems. So her death is just a "whoopty do" feeling.

Edited February 5, 201312 yr by Xaon

I thought BbS was more sad than Days, because I actually cared about what happened to *almost* everyone.

I'm under the impression since Xion was just a 'puppet' or a 'last minute character' or MOST PROBABLY, 'a Mary Sue' almost everyone hates her I mean come on, she still had a personality even if it wasnt the best, it was still sad

I'm under the impression since Xion was just a 'puppet' or a 'last minute character' or MOST PROBABLY, 'a Mary Sue' almost everyone hates her I mean come on, she still had a personality even if it wasnt the best, it was still sad

I don't hate her. She's just annoying and meh.

idc what anyone says Days wins at everything except gameplay

BBS ends with everyone calling out for Sora, and being hopefull.

Days ends with Riku turned into Ansem, Xion lost with no memories of her, the Organization still up to shenanigans, and Roxas going to be broken and stuffed in Sora.

Days is sadder.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days was the first video game that made me cry.  While playing the game, it's like you can connect with Axel, Roxas, and Xion.  It's like you're there with them on the clock tower.  I know that may sound kind of strange, but that's how I feel.  And, to see Xion struggle to make a decision between two best friends and someone who she only has memories of...it's heartbreaking.  And to make it all worse, Roxas has to be the one to finish her off.  Whereas in BBS, three friends are separated for many years.  They are bound to be reunited eventually.  I know Xion will come back...but for how long?  Won't she have to go back to Sora in order for him to keep his memories???  So, 358/2 Days is definitely the saddest...

Days since i think it has more of that tragic feeling to it.

I'm under the impression since Xion was just a 'puppet' or a 'last minute character' or MOST PROBABLY, 'a Mary Sue' almost everyone hates her >.> I mean come on, she still had a personality even if it wasnt the best, it was still sad

 

 

Just bc some don't find her fate as sad as other's doesn't mean they hate her .I definitely don't hate her ( if anything i feel neither love or hate ), it's just that she failed to illicit  the same empathy i had for others who also suffered .. Also for anyone to say that the characters in BBS were merely 'inconvenienced ' when their fates have been in limbo and suffering for over a decade plus is really not helping their argument bc their fates were far from minor inconveniences.( not neccessarily pointing out you btw ).. Anyways, there really is no right or wrong answer to this question bc it depends on one's connection to the characters and their stories .

Tough call, but I'd have to go with 358/2 Days here.  Because

 

Xion's death was just too much to bear.  Poor, poor people.

 

Birth By Sleep still hedges its bets: it wants to give the impression that the characters are losing something without actually having them lose something. The heart of all tragedy is that something is lost beyond repair or reclaiming, and having to deal with the consequences of that. This finality of loss is absent in all of the BBS characters situations: -Ven loses his body and his heart is cast into limbo... but his body is tucked away safely and his heart finds a haven inside Sora, with the intent that both can be reunited later.-Terra loses his body... but the ending makes it clear that his mind is still running around in there, so he's not a lost cause (also, the whole idea that he "loses his morals and falls into darkness" is baloney.-Aqua falls into the Dark Realm... but doesn't appear to have lost any of her resolve or strength of will in that time (assuming that when she meets with Ansem, she's been down there a while). Everything that they've been set up to lose can be given back to them. It's inconveniencing that they find themselves where they are, not tragic.

I don't feel that a loss has to be permanent in order to be tragic. Especially in Kingdom Hearts where we know hardly any loss is permanent. The thing about KH is that you can't look it from one angle. What makes the BBS stories so tragic is how the characters had to deal with consequences deriving from circumstance beyond their control. As tragic as Xion's death was she was in control of her own actions and the decisions that led to her downfall. TAV were being manipulated from the very beginning. Yes they made descisions that contributed to how smoothly MX's plans went. However according to MX's overall plan it was a matter of if it would happen but when. The only person's whose loss was not as grave as the other's is Ven's. At the end of the day Ventus is unaware of most of the events that have happened after BBS. However Terra and Aqua have had ten years to think about what they did not only that they are unable to do anything about it. The fact that Terra has had to watch everything Xehanort has done while under Xehanort's control speaks for itself.

I guess 358/2 days since xion died in roxas' arms and memories of her are gone. But I didn't even get very emotional during that scene

Probably BBS since each character had their own sad ending combined made it really sad

days xions death was so sad. and when roxas said who will i eat ice cream with. it was one of the saddest lines i have ever heard in a video game. birth by sleep was just full of dumb characters so why would i care what happened to them?

I'm sorry bbs, but at the end of 358/2 days, Roxas kills his last friend, and is then put into a digital world with FAKE memories. None of it is real, and his life just gets worse as he learns he will then become a part of Sora and cease to exist. In bbs, Aqua is left in the realm of darkness, but there is a way out (as seen with Riku and Mickey). Ven is left sleeping, but he will be able to awaken (unlike Roxas who will forever be lost as one with Sora). Terra ends up becoming Xehanort, but he kinda deserved it because he was dumb the entire game (his fate is almost the same as Roxas, but Roxas was the main character). And not to mention, Xion is probably the only character in Kingdom Hearts to not be revived or brought back to life after being killed, and no one remembers her. Also as we learn in ddd, Aqua, Ven, and Terra will be brought back, while Roxas will forever be stuck in Sora and Xion being out of the picture entirely. (Gosh that was long but I made my point. 358/2 days was much sadder that Birth By Sleep)

Edited March 18, 20169 yr by Nathalie Koes

I really can't choose between the two!  Both have such tragic endings!  In Birth By Sleep, Terra ends up possessed by a madman, Aqua ends up in what is essentially the Kingdom Hearts version of hell, and Ventus is induced into an eternal coma!  How's that for tragic!? D:

 

But then there's also Days, where Roxas's life crumbles before him, as everything he thought he knew was a lie!  Trusts were broken, friendships were put on the line, and unfortunately, everyone lost!  Roxas ended up leaving the Organization, but lost Axel and Xion in the process!  Axel was helpless to rectify the situation, and Xion's death was cruel, for she never even remained in the hearts or minds of anyone who knew her!  She was completely forgotten!  Being forgotten is a fate worse than death itself! D:

 

But yeah, both games have tragic as hell endings!  I just can't choose which one is more tragic! X_X

I voted for Days. I'm not one to get sad over a video game, but Xion's death had me near tears. The last words and the music really got me. I don't know why I felt that way, especially since we'll likely see her become her own person in KH3.

However Terra and Aqua have had ten years to think about what they did not only that they are unable to do anything about it. The fact that Terra has had to watch everything Xehanort has done while under Xehanort's control speaks for itself.

 

Time goes differently in the ROD -- to put it into perspective, Aqua even says she's been "wandering through the endless hours."

 

Also, Blank Points reveals Terra has some kind of ace up his sleeve and isn't truly as helpless as one would think.

 

So yeah, tragic, but at least mitigated to an extent.

Edited March 19, 20169 yr by Alan Smithee

I'm gonna go with 358's ending because BBS was a happy ending.

 

Why was it a happy ending? Because it ended.