At the Tokyo Game Show 2008 we learned that Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days will be released in February of 2009. Square Enix North America recently released a list of games that will be released during Q1, or “First Quarter”, and Days did not make the cut. (Pardon my pun)
This is not shocking news, nor is it groundbreaking, due to the fact that since Days’ release date in Japan is during the first quarter and because time is required to make the translations, advertise, and localize the game before it is released.
Q1 lasts from January to the end of March so it seems logical that Days may not get a NA release date until the end of Q2 (April through June) or even into Q3.

Stay tuned and once an official release date is revealed, you will be notified.
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Source: Square-Enix

Thanks to bittermeats at Kingdom Hearts Insider we now have translations for the screen shots that Square Enix released.
Click on them to view the whole file.

Gamekyo has updated their site with some screen shots released by Square-Enix. Screens from 358/2 Days were released in the Nintendo DS secton of Shonen Jump and the screens for Birth By Sleep were shown in the Chinese edition of Famitsu. Here’s a few below, but if you want to see them all click the links at the bottom.

358/2 Days

Birth By Sleep

All we need now is the correct pronunciation for 358/2 Days.

Source: GameKyo: 358/2 Days and Birth By Sleep

It has been an exciting Show for the Kingdom Hearts franchise. Let’s recap and go over what was revealed this year!

First up,

Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days

We know that Square-Enix announced that Days will be released in Japan next year in February. In the new trailer, Xion’s face is shown completely; her hair is black and similar to Kairi’s, except for she parts it on the opposite site. Also in the trailer, Roxas, Axel, and Xion are seen on Destiny Islands that -according to reportors- resemble scenes between Sora, Kair, and Riku; Xion is revealed to be a Nobody with a “special birth”.
In the demo, according to a blogger, each Organization member is shown, but only six were available for game play. Does that mean that one needs to unlock the other members?

Here’s a trailer description by FF&KH Online and The Light In Chaos

358/2 Days Trailer Report From The Light in Chaos and FF&KH Online

Background Music: The Other Promise, drammatica version.

Twilight Town, the white room.
Xion has come to see Namine.
Namine: “I wanted to meet you, Xion.”

Xion removes her hood, completely revealing her face.

Destiny Islands, along the shore.
Roxas picks up a seashell.

Twilight Town, on the clock tower.
Roxas: “It is the 255th day since I entered the Organization.
Axel: “You’ve memorized the number of days?”
Roxas: “I want to remember that I was born.”

Twilight Town, in the forest on the edge of town.
Riku in the form of Ansem meets with the King.
For a moment he raises his keyblade in defense, he recognizes Riku.
When a blindfold is tied around his eyes, Riku’s figure returns.
His expression appears surprised.

Twilight Town, in the pod room.
Diz: “If he is lacking a few memories, will he have a problem waking?”
Namine: “In his case, it is an important key if he’s going to wake up.”
Diz: “Namine, what do you foresee?”
Namine: “If it’s connected to another memory, surely she can’t endure it.”
Diz: “She…?”

Destiny Islands, along the shore, near the paopu tree.
Roxas, Axel, and Xion talk while watching the sunset.

Xion: “Do I not exist?”
Axel: “What do you want to do, Xion?”
Xion: “I… I want to be together with two people.”
Roxas: “Well, then you should come back.”
Xion: “But I can’t return as it is now.”
Xion: “… How is it possible for two people to be the same?”

The World That Never Was, in the castle.
Saix orders something to Axel.

Saix: “Your worthless friendship or the extinction of Roxas.”
Saix: “Which is more important to you?”

Axel looks ticked off.

Destiny Islands, at the shore?
Blindfolded Riku and Xion are talking.
Xion: “Will you tell me about it? About Sora and the girl he’s always together with.”
Riku: “You mean Kairi?”
Xion: “Kairi… The girl looks like me.”
Riku: “She’s the girl Sora cares a lot for.”

Xion’s face looks flustered.

Xion: “I’m sorry… But… I can’t disappear now.”
Xion: “It’s because I have an important friend.”
Riku: “Is that so…?”

Riku places a hand upon her shoulder.

Riku: “In that case, think about it. You should really return to your original self.”

Footage of gameplay is shown.
With Xigbar in Halloween Town.
With Xaldin in Twilight Town.
With Saix in Olympus Coliseum.
Multiplayer footage was shown as well.

Twilight Town, tram plaza.
Roxas and Xion are shown engaged in a fight.

Roxas: “I’ve been searching this whole time with Axel――”

Xion, in silence and with a severe face, points the Kingdom Key toward Roxas.

Twilight Town, in front of the mansion.
Xion is in an argument with Axel, Roxas is to the side.

Xion: “Don’t go easy on me, Axel.”
Axel: “You’ve gotta be kidding! Don’t screw with me.”

Appearing in his hands are his chakrams covered in fire.

Axel: “I’ve decided. No matter how many times you escape, I will bring you back.”
Xion: “…”

Twilight Town, the pod room.
DiZ, Namine, and Riku stare at the pod Sora sleeps in.
Have the reproduction of Sora’s memories stopped…?

DiZ: “Has it stopped completely?”
Namine: “Yes.”
DiZ: “We have no time to lose.”

Destiny Islands, the shore.
Xion is lying down, worrying.

Xion: “Who am I?”

Releasing February 2009.

358/2 Days Demo Impressions From The Light in Chaos

Multiplayer mode
Playing as Marluxia.

He had the greatest HP and offensive abilities, a high critical attack percentage, but his movement is slower, especially in large areas. The stats can be read on the upper screen, while the selection is made on the lower one. I wonder if his fault is that his attack range is too wide and he hits the other players?

Because the levels were the same as last time, the contents of the demo felt slightly more polished. I attacked too aggressively and they were slightly sluggish, so I wasn’t able to use potions quick enough and suffered damage as a result. But as the offensive strength indicated, his attacks caused a large amount of damage.

358/2 Days Demo Impressions From The Light in Chaos

Singleplayer mode
Place: Halloween Town
Boss: Dual Blade

At first you start as Roxas and you must find Xigbar. You encounter him in the main plaza area of the level. There is an indication of where to approach on the map. If you go from the bottom of the stairs, toward the area around the coffin, you’ll find Xigbar. After that, Xigbar joins Roxas in the single player mode.

The next encounter is in front of the bridge leading to Oogie Boogie’s home. There is are big snow crystals inside ice cubes scattered about. You have to watch out because they are powerful and have a large attack range. After defeating them, the Dual Blade boss appears. It has powerful attacks, causing you to freeze if you’re hit, so avoid them and attack when it’s guard is down. The demo ended after defeating it.

Seems this time instead of being supported by Axel or Xaldin, the role is reversed and Roxas is supporting Xigbar. Well, at least Roxas wasn’t a “drag” again.

Next up,

Kingdom Hearts: Coded

KH: Coded had a playable demo, which was not expected, and according to reports, it possesses a nostalgic feeling similar to the first Kingdom Hearts. The demo had two playable puzzles.

Coded Trailer Impression from FF&KH Online and The Light in Chaos

Background Music: Destati, drammatica version.

“A forbidden secret――”

Traverse Town
The King holds out a hand to Sora coming out of the back alley.
King Mickey: “Sora, your journey began here.”
King Mickey: “What you don’t know is, that I was here on that day too.”
King Mickey: “I’m going to tell you the truth.”

Destiny Islands, the secret place.
A person wearing the coat of a Organization XIII member appears before Sora’s eyes.

Organization member: “This world is damaged.”
Organization member: “You’ll have to go if you want to heal it’s wounds.”

Battle screens are shown.

Traverse Town.
Sora receives something glittery (probably data) from the person in the Organization coat.

Traverse Town, first district.
The person in the coat stands in front of some stairs.
Bugs spread from under their feet, appearing as black and red blocks.
Sora confronts the person in the coat

Sora: “It’s you causing this catastrophe!?”

Disney Castle, the study/libary room.
The person in the Organization XIII coat appears in front of the King, Jiminy Cricket, Goofy, and Donald.
Again, the bugs spread from underneath their feet.

Kingdom Hearts: Mobile

Famitsu Interview with Nomura (KH Mobile)

──Seems like the start of the Mobile site service is quickly approaching.

Nomura: Indeed. It’s being gone over daily to make sure there are no bugs in it. The avatars are even more interesting than you could imagine. In the promotional video, if Sora is Sora, and Riku is Riku, they could rearrange their appearances so one avatar has the head of Sora and the body of Riku, and vice versa. Actually, every part will be able to be customized freely. The impression in the trailer we wanted to display is that te feature is packed with a wide variety of contents.

──Do you have your own avatar?

Nomura: Would you like to see it?

──Of course!

──It’s cute with a devilish nature. (Laughs) So can you play with it?

Nomura: I made a new type of heartless. (Laughs) There is a demo with playable mini games in the mobile corner, please stop by there if you get the chance.

Someone graciously recorded part of the Coded trailer

And last, but definitely not least,

Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep

The release for BBS is still planed for 2009 in Japan. The trailer shown at the TGS did not change much from the one shown at DΣS3713, as well as the playable demo. However, these scenes were added to the trailer:

Background Music: Fate of the Unknown

Castle of Dreams.
Aqua glances Cinderella running to her carriage, and runs after her.
Cinderella drops one of her glass slippers.

In the world of Snow White.
Aqua looks into a mirror and the figure of the evil witch is projected.
Aqua jumps for a moment and steps back, then plunges into the mirror.

Aqua’s battle scene.
Her fighting style seems like floating.
She does not hold the keyblade, the keyblade attacks as if it knows her intentions.
Sort of like Final Form from Kingdom Hearts II.
Her mode changed to something pink, but the name of it is unknown.

Trailers of game play can be found here and here.

Famitsu Interview with Nomura

──If 358/2 Days was emphasizing Xion, then was Birth by Sleep emphasizing Aqua?

Nomura: Aqua’s battle scenes were exhibited for the first time to the public, her movement is fast and easy to overlook. So that you don’t lose sight of her, concentrate and try to keep your eyes on her. Frankly speaking, since its hard to see clearly, she is teleporting in the battle scenes. Because the teleportation occurs instantaneously, it’s hard to catch sight of. (Laughs)

It was an exciting Tokyo Game Show this year. But before you go, here’s an artist’s rendition of what Xion will look like:

Make sure you join our Forums to discuss everything that happened with other members.

The IGN website for the United Kingdom features a 3 minutes, 23 seconds long. It shows some of the new games that will be released during 2008 and 2009

At 2:55, there is a 3 second clip that shows a battle scene from Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. If you want to see the video in its entirety, click here.

While 358/2 Days does appear after 2009 is displayed on the video, it is only a speculation. The text that appears around the footage of the game says:

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days / Square Enix
2008-2009 Winter Release

So keep your fingers crossed and continue to check back as we continue to bring you information.

Thanks to forum user, Twilight_Riku for the tip.