Even this Masterpiece's name goes so deep. Vector in both Physics and Aeronautics means something along the lines of direction or goal. Heavens can mean Sky, which would reference Sora but it can also mean death or afterlife in this case. 'Vector to the Heavens' can be interpreted as Xion and Roxas having no choice but to join Sora through their deaths. This melody captures the heartbreak, helplessness and hopelessness of both characters and their situation. And worst part is, they still believed themselves to having no hearts, no feelings while showing the most human emotions that exist😭.
Don't forget that in mathematics, introducing imaginary numbers on a number line it becomes a plane in which vectors can be expressed, assuming that the direction of the heavens is up, a vector to the heavens is a vector that's direction only increases in the imaginary. Which references Xions code name of No. i, and the references to her being an imaginary number.
To the people who played 358/2 Days on your DS back in 2009, it was probably hard to beat this boss with a limited control scheme and tears in your eyes. :(
(a bit late of me, but no matter, time for me to get sappy. Also, spoilers ahead! ^^) And it's even better that Roxas was the one who ended up being the one to remembered her and thus bring her back, after all the little hints we had that he still kept hanging on to her existence in one way or another, the only one who was both able and willing to, and it was totally in part Xion's own merit that it was possible due to the massive effect she had on him. She practically burned herself into his heart and mind during the time they spent together and with her final decision to get herself killed by Roxas, to save him from herself. She has made herself unforgettable to her two best friends, truly living up to the meaning of the flower that she shares her name with. To quote the last two lines of Roxas's little story snippet from the character files book: "Now I remember everything. I remember you, Xion" It's simple, but it get's me everytime...
It's also a combination of X and No. i, the imaginary number. She is not a member of Organization 13. She is not even a Nobody. She's a Replica, a fake body given life through memory, and despite all the formalities, despite being branded with the Recusant's Sigil, she will never be anything more than a puppet, a tool, a faded memory.
358/2 is the most under appreciated KH games there was. I was super pissed that KH 1.5 simply had the cutscenes and not the actual game itself. I mean I get why they did it, but it was a 'man, you'd be a lot cooler if you didn't.' situation
none of the KH games are spinoff's not even the handheld ones people can hate on them all they want but its fact that day's and dream drop distance are cannon to the KH series and honestly I think day's get too much hate yea its not KH2 levels of good but it's charming in its own way
I’ve always said that the KH game most deserving of a remake isn’t 1 and it isn’t 2. It’s Days. Fix up the gameplay, but keep the panel system, because that was very interesting. I would also add a second scenario after you complete where you play the whole game as Xion. Go on missions when Roxas is asleep or when Xion is alone. Have a Riku boss fight
People should really stop clowning on the ice cream line. Yeah, it's absolutely funny out of context, but it really is a line that needs its context; It's not about the ice cream, it's what it stands for, Roxas, Axel, and Xion eating ice cream on the clock tower after their slog of a job, and Roxas associating that with being what friendship is. I love to laugh at the line out of context too, but it's also the same line that exemplifies what I love about 358/2 Days' story and my three most favourite characters of the whole series
The weakest part about Kingdom Hearts as a whole is the story imo, but that simply isn't true in 358/2. It's such a brilliantly heartbreaking story that makes you grow so attached to Roxas, Xion and Axel... and it tears you apart when you see how it ends for them by the story's conclusion. 358 is my favourite Kingdom Hearts game mostly for the story.
@@spengler2258 The story is literally the thing that most people love about the series, it's the whole reason the franchise is popular in the first place
@@stuntmanorigins9nah the gameplay is the best part of the series and it’s been that way for a long time (that’s why KH2 is so highly regarded and is considered the best of the series) the story fell off after KH1 and became gradually worse over time
358 was my introduction to the Kingdom Hearts series. I knew of the first 2 games but had no knowledge of the story or who Sora was. As i played this game i felt such a deep connection to Roxas as i was moving forward in this journey not knowing what my true endgoal or motivation was. And having grown so attached to Xion, having to fight her was hard. May not be the best gameplay wise but this will always be my favorite game in the KH series
358 was my first game too! I had no clue what was happening, but I knew I cared about Roxas and Xion and Axel deeply. When I hit the end of the game I was devastated, it was the first time a video game actually made me cry.
I don't know how you got it to sound so clear but thank you, probably the best emotional boss track to ever be made. With hints of dearly beloved and kairis theme, I wish more games would take hints when designing a tragic climax like this
It literally plays like KH1 but with mission objectives. Leechgrave isn’t that bad as long as you read his description which is entirely in game. Just use limit after every stun and you’ll be fine.
Seeing Xion go away after this fight was one of my first times crying because of a game. I love it so much. "Your next Roxas, I have to make you a part of me too. Don't you see? This is why I was created." Xion was a puppet, and it was time for her to play her part.😔😢😭
But at the same time, the only way she could strike back against it was to fight her hardest. In order to protect Roxas, she needed to hurt him. She needed to make him _kill her._ Even though that's not want either of them wanted.
A beautiful, tragic song that actually sounds like it's falling apart while it's being performed. Mixing a distorted version of Kairi's theme into it, like Xion herself is losing her mind so much that she's forgetting who she actually is, and becoming the girl she's a reflection of. My favorite track by Yoko Shimomura
If you compare this Xion's theme with the last agni Kai, they are composed for a similar purpose. They are sad in a way, for each plays for two people who know each other but fight to their death for their life. In the last Agni Kai it's two siblings with different beliefs, while Vector to the Heavens is for the two Nobodies who care about each other, but it was inevitable for one of them to sacrifice oneself to save the other...
I haven't even played the series past the second game, but this is phenomenal! EDIT: This is currently one of my favorite pieces of music, since hearing it for the first time, approximately 24 hours ago. I've had it almost on repeat all day! I'm not a music scholar, so I can't swear for certain, but I believe there seems to be two, conflicting time signatures, bringing as much discordance to the song as there is harmony; adding chaos to the beauty and sadness to the tempo. I know the context of the fight, and the monotony of the game, by reputation, so I can only imagine what this was like for those who went into this without spoilers. I'd probably be a crying wreck, by then. Kingdom Hearts seems to be a series that has its faults, but what it gets right, it hits home HARD.
As a fan who has been playing the games for years im so glad to see a newcomer, welcome to the endless rabbit hole of the kh franchise where we play throught heart breaking tales that got happy endings in kh3 while we wait to see if our own tale told in the mobile game will ever get a happy ending and wait to see sora in an ubber drived by luxord in kh4
Kingdom hearts stories might be a little dumb and full of plotholes and yet, Xion's character development is just... tragic. Born to be a tool. Used to the very end. Truly wished to end her existence even while her friends showed kindness. The music is phenomenally intense.
Fun fact! Axel told Roxas that "friends are people who eat ice cream together." And after his falling out with Axel, and now Xion dying, Roxas is actually saying that he has no friends left.
@@eternalwintress that's what makes the line so sad. Image the people who never got to play the game. I love the movie, but it really hits harder when your in Roxas's shoes, doing icky jobs for Xemnas and just completing your mission. Then the best part comes right before you RTC, sitting on that Clock Tower, watch the sun set red, while you eat that salty but sweet ice cream. Y'know it's even sadder from Axels perspective, he's the one who has to keep seeing his friends go away. He truly is the red that travels the farthest.
This song is one of the very very few pieces of music that makes me break down and cry every time I hear it the flashbacks of one of my favorite and absolutely heart shattering fights in the series and the thought of having tk fight my best friend intimately losing them in the process is almost too much to bare
Roxas: The clock tower... I wonder if anybody's up there. I guess I could go take a look... (He climbs, making his way to the top and sits alone, thinking) Roxas (chuckling weakly): Where did I think I could go? What a joke. (He buries his head in his arms. A hooded Xion enters and sits next to him) Roxas: Xion! (She hands him an ice cream bar and he smiles softly) Roxas: Thank you. (They sit quietly and watch the sunset) Xion: Roxas...I'm out of time. (She stands up and takes her hood off. Roxas's eyes widen and his jaw drops) Xion: Even if I'm not ready...I have to make this choice. You have poured so many memories into me...given me so much...that I feel like I'm about to overflow. Look at me, Roxas. Who do you see? If you see somebody else's face...a boy's face...then that means I'm almost ready. This puppet will have to play her part. Roxas... This is him. It's Sora. (Roxas is speechless. Xion walks off into the air, remaining suspended. She puts her hood back on and faces him. He stands) Xion: You're next, Roxas. I have to make you a part of me, too. (She holds out her hand and dark tendrils move around her) Xion: Don't you see? This is why I was created.
Remember, remember, please remember who I used to be Who am I? Who am I? Who was I supposed to be? You’ve given so many things to me, I feel my chest will burst apart. How can I feel so happy and full If I don’t have a heart? It’s time, this puppet has to play her part This is why I was made When you learn the truth about me, will you stay by my side Or will you look on as I look up and walk away and leave everything around me in flames? I’m nothing but a pawn in their game, A soldier for their final goal. How can I cherish the bond we shared When I don’t have a soul? You called me your friend, but I know we were something more Use your light and win your fight, Don’t mind my pain as you strike me down. Please, sweet Roxas, keep this promise, Please… set me free.
@@LucreciaCrescentIsBestGirl Even greater moment when they all re-unite and Roxas's theme - The Other Promise plays - not only did he meet Xion's first wish in stopping Xemnas but he managed to keep his other promise in setting Xion free.
@@LucreciaCrescentIsBestGirl absolutely! On and another thing - the remastered version of this song in KH3 has a cool change - the dearly beloved part at the end actually finishes instead of being cut short which may show that Xion is now complete and her own being. Some very cool thematic implementation with the music!
This game came out when I was in 3rd grade and I got it for Christmas the same year and I didn't start fully playing the game and didn't beat it until 4th grade the following year. Fast forward to this year and I just started college I can relate
"You were never meant to exist" "How could you say that?!" "Enough, nobodies do not have the right exist nor be, you do not have the right to know" "WHY DID THE KEYBLADE CHOSE YOU?!? WHY YOU?" "Of course I remember you Axel, we're best friends" "Who will eat ice cream with me?" "It seems, my summer vacation, is over"
its an emotional song but i remember it mostly by it being the first fight where i HAD to use the glide ability while in battle, before i typically used it to reposition at most and just used it for traversal Out of combat but in this battle its pretty much canon that you have to glide around as shown in the REmix battle scene.
This to me is the saddest boss fight. I remember the first time I completed the game and this fight happened I was not expecting it. It made me cry the music gave me goose bumps it was painful when we landed the final blow.
Still my personal favorite game even though mechanically and visually it wasn’t that impressive the characters and story were so compelling and heartbreaking i still think about them to this day I’m so glad they finally got their happy ending
I'm glad there was a remix in the remind DLC, but this song gives the energy of a tragedy coming to a head that the new battle theme can't really capture
I feel both versions of the song are great in their own right: the original is sad and emotional to fit the tragedy of two friends being forced to fight to the death, while the remix is more energetic and upbeat to compliment the tough-as-nails data battle.
I remember beating this game when I was a kid. My mom told me I had 10 minutes to catch the bus. I had started with Xion’s first form. Guess who caught that fucking bus.
When Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days adapted into anime Disney movie series: Yes, Let show the kids how Roxas kill her girlfriend in theaters! Let them say Kingdom Hearts is darkest Disney story ever!
I recently started playing through the Kingdom Hearts franchise, after a friend finally got me to buy 1.5 + 2.5 HD, and I HATE this game, I felt so bad for Xion, Roxas and Axel...Their Organisation Trio, man.
I must ask your forgiveness Roxas, Xion. I don't think your trio will ever be complete again in my fic. It has to be done. You're out of touch with reality. Must wake you up somehow.
Although it introduced me to it (never played 358), man that part at 1:21ish on Proud just sucks to All Excellent, man. I got it once but screwed up on the part after, so now all I have is a Full Chain w/ Crown UPDATE: Got the All Excellent; stupidly tough
@@XenobladeXSupremacy I could finally do it all excellent full chain but I spent like an hour doing it- and that is too much for me since I am a Project Diva player…but I listen to this song and get PTSD
