Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days Retrospective

[Blackdrazon]

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My look back at the Kingdom Hearts series continues into Days, with a detailed look at both the game and film!

The Kingdom Hearts Retrospective updates Tuesdays and Saturdays. If you want to get started with the original KH1 retrospective, check out the Introduction or its first post!

Get Started with Days

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Posts by World
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Note that we're once again starting off with a double post, so make sure to read both the first entry and the second!

You may also be interested in my first-impressions Final Fantasy journal series!

 

[Muke]

Wohooo, even though I hate Days, I'm gonna read through this!
Edit: This was a really good start. Can't say much as of now, keep doing these!

 

[GrovyleTheThief]

NEW RETROSPECTIVE HYPE.

I might give my general thoughts on Days later, but it will be a long post.

----

 

[Caxinuld]

The biggest offence with the text boxes in the HD movie is that fact that they glossed over the Xion and Roxas fight in Halloween Town like it was a tiny mistake. I find that absolutely ridiculous considering the impact it left on the two characters and how they would meet their fate at the end of the game.

I also agree that the camera sucked, especially if you locked onto a target and got forced into a corner and the tutorial was way too long, why couldn't everything be forced into fewer missions so players could get it over and done with quicker?

 

[Rexy]

Once kh3 comes out I'll play all the game chronologically.

KhDays I'll play them in the DS and Re:Coded will watch the movie... I really didn't like the Days HD movie...

 

[ShardofTruth]

This retrospective is off to a great start, I really like how you (will) incorporate the multiplayer and movie version.

Days is the only KH game I only played once and also the only game I took a long break between finishing it, the missions were simply too boring for me for longer playing sessions, so I'm super exited to read through all the stuff I've forgotten and missed.

I agree that the everlasting fishfaces was definitely not the best choice for such a emotion-focused story, I always wondered why they didn't go completely visual novel for these scenes. Re:coded learned from this mistake and has more expressive character cutouts instead of small mugshots.

 

[rokudamia2]

Just reading this recap makes me think I know what your biggest complaint with the game will be. The pacing.

 

[LightUpTheSky452]

Yay! The Days retrospective! Been really looking forward to this

...Although, I'd always thought the title was pronounced "Three-Five-Eight-Over-Two-Days", as that was what a GameStop article about the game said, when it was first announced (and they made it sound like they'd officially gotten that pronunciation from someone at Square); and I'm pretty sure some Square Enix folks have said it that way before... Though they've also said the "Three-Five-Eight-Days-Over-Two" version, too.

Meh. Lame title is lame. "Days" really is the best all around way to refer to this game. LOL.

And oh my gosh, Blackdrazon you're so funny! That part about liver-pepper ice cream being Axel's favorite cracked me up, as well as when you said you'd be just as confused as Roxas is if you were in his shoes!

Also, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who likes the questions that the beginning of Days presents us with. I actually like the story (and Xion) and mystery surrounding this game, but I'm pretty much the only one.

Anyway, I'm really enjoying your take on everything thus far (as always), and I'll be interested to see how you feel about other things when you get to them... Like us suddenly not being able to open up treasure chests in battle anymore (that was an improvement that II made over the original KH, and Days removing that really is a regression, imo).

...Wait. You can mess with your party members' AI?!?!?!?! o_0 That's news to me!=)

And about the opening scene? Perhaps it was supposed to represent how this game's supposed to be a more laidback, slice of life kind of story, like Nomura said? But that's a lame excuse for the intro being less than interesting (if that is the answer for why they did that), for sure.

"The Mopes". I like your name for those! LOL. I think that the reason they're probably cut from the rest of the game is because they were supposed to be our insight into Roxas' head, before he got his diary and before he spoke enough to tell us so.

Also, you really have to feel bad about the people who got into the KH series with this game, huh? Because it explains pretty much absolutely nothing. I know that my best friend actually did, though--as did a lot of the Tumblr KH fanbase, it looks like--and I sympathize for them everyday, in trying to play the hard came that is "KH catch up" after that.

You bring up a really good point about the character sprites, btw! They really do hamper what this game was going for, huh? I never really noticed it before, myself--because I did pay attention to the characters' face pictures, mostly (and because my boyfriend was blown away by the 3D models in this compared to those in Pokémon, which in turn made me see them in a more positive light), but you're absolutely right about everything you said. Oh my gosh.

Oh! And I did play quite a bit of multiplayer with people for this game (but I'll talk more about that when you do). I had quite a bit of fun with it (especially since this game was made for multiplayer, and so some of the stuff in it is really hard to accomplish without other people's help), but I know that I'm probably the odd one out when it comes to that, tbh

Edit: Another thing that made me laugh about your post. "You thought the tutorial for II was bad? Well, we can make the one in this even longer. We have the technology." And then Chi/UX just takes that sentiment and skyrockets with it. LOL.

Edit 2: Oh, by the way, are you going to mention in this (or the Coded retrospective) that parts of Coded actually came out before Days? For people in Japan, anyway?

Edit 3: Though I didn't mention this in the KHII thread, I did finish reading your KHII retrospective (your take on Lingering Will, and your ideas about KHII's original draft, that is), and I enjoyed them SO very much. And I just want to take the time to thank you for them (and for all of your work, really). They were great reads^^

 

[BlackOsprey]

Haha, "Three-hundred fifty-eight slash two days," the second KH game I played after Re:Coded and the real start of my fall down this chasm of a rabbit hole.
I think your guess that SE hadn't intended this to be a game for introducing newcomers was right, because I was so completely lost during the whole duration of the game, and yet I loved the whole thing.

... Well, MOST of it anyways.

It's funny though. The game assumes that the player already knows the basics of the KH universe and lore, so it doesn't bother to explain much of anything. Which meant that I was nearly as clueless as the character I was controlling. What exactly was a Heartless, why could Roxas wield the Keyblade, and what exactly went down in KH1, CoM, and II? Who was this "Org 13" and what was I doing for them? I could sympathize with Roxas so easily because neither of us had any idea what was going on.

Hell, I think it's a matter of luck that this complete lack of explanation about anything and everything actually encouraged me to dive further into this franchise, rather than just give up on it out of frustration and confusion.

 

[DarkosOverlord]

It's funny though. The game assumes that the player already knows the basics of the KH universe and lore, so it doesn't bother to explain much of anything. Which meant that I was nearly as clueless as the character I was controlling. What exactly was a Heartless, why could Roxas wield the Keyblade, and what exactly went down in KH1, CoM, and II? Who was this "Org 13" and what was I doing for them? I could sympathize with Roxas so easily because neither of us had any idea what was going on.

Funny indeed. They managed to make "tutorials" that utterly annoyed the veterans and yet did not help the newcomers much.

 

[Caxinuld]

Hearing all the complaints about the tutorial makes me wonder if 2.8 will make the Dream Drop Distance tutorial take at least an hour to complete.

Anyway, I really like this game, but I really cannot defend the tutorial after reading the retrospective. The complete lack of explanation doesnt draw players, but drives them away, because if the designers can't be bothered to invest any effort in building the world and immersing the player, why should they care about what's being presented to them?

 

[Blackdrazon]

Edit 2: Oh, by the way, are you going to mention in this (or the Coded retrospective) that parts of Coded actually came out before Days? For people in Japan, anyway?

You know what? I absolutely should have mentioned that in the first post. I think I'll go back and fix that, thanks!

 

[alexis.anagram]

I really love Days. I lurked for a lot of your KH2 retrospective and I'll probably do the same here, but I oughta say you have a good eye for things and I'm interested to see your take on the game and the development of the sea salt ice cream trio. Best of luck!

 

[Blackdrazon]

Thanks alexis, enjoy the lurking!

 

[Hirokey123]

I want to say I actually love that they open up with day 255. I can think of few scenes that set the entire tone of the game better. The main core focus is Roxas's growth, him gaining a new bit of knowledge each day. Knowledge that seems so base and general at times but to Roxas is new and exciting. So opening with Roxas learning something was a great way to set the expectations for the format. But then it goes a deeper more subtle level where Axel sort of explained this unprovoked and Roxas calls him a know-it-all. It sends the message this is a regular thing, that this happens enough that Roxas isn't surprised and to Axek this is all perfectly normal behavior. It tells the player Axel and Roxas are friends but more importantly it establishes Axel's role as a mentor.

Then there is the layer about their third friend, it establishes this is not a duo but a trio and that meeting at this place is something regular for them. But while Roxas seems genuinely surprised and worried at this person being missing, Axel is silent and somber. It tells a story that Axel knows things about this person and why they aren't there AND that he is keeping it from Roxas. In this short scene we go from the picture of a happy healthy friendship to all kinds of red flags that it's not all well as it first appeared. AND of course the sunset is a majorly important piece of imagery in this game so it made sense that THAT is why the logo for the game is red, and the line basically is explaining to the player how the red color of the logo ties into the game. Finally there is an even more somber meaning to it all for those that played KH2 first, Axel is unknowingly talking about himself. He is the red light that travels the farthest, he is the member of the trio that last the longest. Xion stops existing at Days end, Roxas stops existing at KH2's prologue, but Axel he makes it all the way to the tail end of the big upcoming adventure that began here.

This one scene tells you everything. Axel's mentor role to Roxas, Axel hiding things from Roxas, there being a third member who something ominous happened to, their daily routine of meeting at the clock tower, their friendship being happy on the surface but having problems bubbling just below, the symbology behind the game logo, and which member of this trio will last the longest.

Also I just want to add no way does the default really serve that well for partners especially people like Xaldin. It's infinitely better to simply turn off their ability to use their weapons. This way they will use their infinite magic which generally doesn't hinder you anywhere near as much as their physical combos AND magic is so potent in this game it allows them to deal fantastic damage. I love this game but I absolutely can't stand playing with partners that use their weapons...except for that one mission where Roxas had a stick.

 

[GrovyleTheThief]

The thread hasn't been active for a while. No sir, this will not do.

"Demyx tries to get Xion’s approval by talking about all the “bossy co-wokers” sent off to Castle Oblivion (“loudmouths,” in the film). Roxas has trouble understanding what he means, because, as I mentioned on Day 1, Roxas has trouble drawing rudimentary conclusions. The change to “loudmouths” in the film was probably made made for lip sync reasons (two syllables versus five for “bossy co-workers”), but I think it’s an improvement either way, since there was basically no way for Roxas to misinterpret “bossy co-workers.” Demyx is talking about co-workers, who are bossy, and are at Castle Oblivion right now. It’s about as clear-cut as you get."

Nah, he was referring to the swarm of Crescendo Heartless that infested the castle that one time. (you, uh, know the one)

---

 

[Muke]

While I never post here (mostly because I never know what to say), I do read through every entry. Just to let ya know

 

[BlackOsprey]

I'm gonna throw in my two cents: it kinda does make sense that Roxas acts like a child around the beginning of the game. He might have the body and soul of a teenager, but with no memories, he was basically born yesterday.
I dunno, it made perfect sense in context to me, so his behavior didn't really bother me that much.

 

[dlppictures]

Roxas asks Xigbar what’s up, and Xigbar tells him the bad news: CoM has just come to an end, and the Organization is getting news that “at least one of the folks we sent to Castle Oblivion has been terminated.”

I don't know, I always saw this as just the moment when Vexen was terminated, and Roxas wakes up after Sora is going to sleep in the pod. (We are litteraly shown that scene just prior to Roxas' awakening.)
I guess there has passed a lot of time between Vexen being killed on day 25 to Sora sleeping in the pod day 49, but it's the best I got. Sure we get a snippet scene of Naminé sitting in the white room of the Twilight Town mansion, yet later on in the game, we see exactly the moment that her and Diz reach the mansion to make it their base? I guess the snippet of Naminé drawing was supposed to be at the crystal ball room in Castle Oblivion? Or a dark space as in the movie.

It just always felt more natural, if Axel goes to Castle Oblivion on day 23, and has obviously been there before Sora shows up, which would then be day 24. But if Vexen is dead on day 25, then Sora has been rushing through 10 castle floors, in less than 24 hours, and since it took him, like 6 floors before he realized who Naminé was, and she was held at the castle, he really had no reason to rush beforehand. Maybe if Sora did reach the castle before Axel, and Axel makes his first entrance in the castle with that 1. Floor boss battle, then Sora and co. have had two days before fighting Vexen in Twilight Town. Aaarghh... I just cannot make sense of the timeflow here.

Maybe if one of those timeskips had happened after day 25, where Xion got the Keyblade, even if only for like 5-7 days, it wouldn't feel so unnaturally fast, how the events of CoM were skimmed over? But I really do not know what the best solution here would have been.


After writing the above, I found this link:
KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days Ultimania - Timeline - 358/2 Days - Kingdom Hearts Insider

So, according to the Days Ultimania, Axel did arrive at Castle Oblivion on day 23, a day before Sora on day 24. On day 25, Roxas sees Xion's face, and Riku arrives at the Castle basement.
Roxas faints on day 26, as "The changing of Sora's memories continues". Huh, no mention of any terminated allies?
On day 49, Sora fights Marluxia, and goes to sleep in the pod, which Roxas has a dream of, as Xion brings him seashells.
Roxas wakes up on day 50, on day 51 news arrive that all members were obliterated.
And on day 52 "Riku and the King, and Diz and Naminé disappear before Axel's eyes, who remained at Castle Oblivion."

Day 26 is called "Terminated", yet it is somewhat contradicted by the Ultimania. I know the game should always be placed first in canon, but here I just cannot see it working, and think that the Ultimania is the more correct one. (That's my headcanon, and I'm going to stick with it for now.)

We know Riku reaches the basement floor where enters Destiny Islands (B3) at the same time as Marluxia is struck down. That is on day 49. So it took Riku three/four days to lose hope (Zexion's illusions), find his true strength in combining Light and Dark, beat up Zexion, meet Mickey, meet Diz, fight Repliku, meet Naminé and hear Sora's story, get the final info from Diz, make a promise with Mickey, seek out Ansem SoD and battle him, being rescued by Mickey and together they decide to follow the path between Light and Dark.

At first I thought it would be fast to mention the things that happened, but when you think about it, it really is a lot of things that takes place inside that one castle.
It actually makes sense that it takes Riku 3-4 days to ascend the last three floors before leaving the castle.


But I think to get a better idea of the timeline of CoM, (which we now know from the Days Ultimania to last from day 24 to 52, or 28 days,) we need to look at the timeline presented in the CoM Ultimania.
Sadly I couldn't find these scans on KHI, and had to find them from my ancient USB storage, good thing I saved them back then.

Spoiler Show

F1
Red 1: Sora comes to Castle Oblivion and a man in a black coat explains the rules of cards and the worlds of his memories.
Grey 1: As Sora goes out, Riku heads towards the castle.
White 1: Sora and crew are guided from the opening. The one who is explaining things here is the one at the centre of the plans, the leader Marluxia.
Red 2: Axel appears before Sora. He advises Sora that he is losing sight of the light within in the darkness and leaves.
White 2: At this point, Axel is opposed to Marluxia's plans and is taking his own action.

Between the Light and the Darkness:
(Riku enters Castle Oblivion.)

F2
Red 3: Sora's memories continue to be altered due to Namine

B12
Lexaeus and Zexion sense Riku's presence. They don't know his identity yet, but they analyze that he has the same scent as their leader.

F3
Red 4: Axel and Larxene discuss the secret of how even though Sora was turned into a heartless his heart didn't lose its will and determination.

B11
Zexion and the rest guess that the identity of the scent belongs to Riku. Intrigued by Riku, Vexen talks about Marluxia's suspicious movements and suggests that they oppose Marluxia by obtaining Riku.

F4
Red 5: Sora's memories continue to be altered due to Namine

B10
Vexen fights Riku, but in actuality the fight is to gain data.

F5
Red 6: According to the plan, Axel and Larxene keep an eye on Sora as his memories begin to grow. Next Larxene heads to where Sora is.
White 3: "Sora is the key for us to take control of the organization." Larxene is easily deceived by Axel's guidance. He answer's back "I've kept the true goal to myself." That is, Axel is getting sure proof of Larxene and the rest's betrayal.

B9
Vexen is able to continue the creation of Riku Replica. Sora's memories continue to be altered by Marluxia and feeling a sense of crisis, Zexion opposes Vexen.
White: In Sora's side, the reason Vexen appears in the upper floors when he should be in charge of the basement is made clear here.

F6
Red 7: Larxene appears before Sora. The outer appearance of his charm (oath keeper) changes and she makes Sora remember the name "Namine" and encourages them to pursue it themselves.
Red 8: "Mutual events from F6 and B7" Larxene returns to her companions in the basement where Vexen should be in charge. Using the results of her research she proposes they test Sora's abilities. Having heard this, Axel hands of a certain card to Vexen.
Grey from B8->F6/B7: Vexen brings Riku Replica to the upper levels.

B8
Having returned from his fight with Riku, Vexen gives orders to Riku Replica to fight Sora.

F7
Red 9: Riku Replica fights Sora
Grey: Riku Replica goes to intercept Sora

B7
"B7 only events" Axel suggests that according to the results of the research, Riku Replica's memories should be adapted to be the same as the real Riku's. Riku Replica refuses, but his memories end up being changed anyway.
White: The identity of the card Axel hands over, the results of Vexen's research regarding Riku Replica, and on Sora's side, the reason Riku Replica believes himself to be the real Riku and so forth, become clear here.

F8
Red 9: Riku Replica fights Sora again. Axel is able to continue to further investigate the betrayal with Namine

B6
Riku Replica is made to believe he's the real Riku due to false memories being altered.
White: On Sora's side, the reason the appearance of his charm changed and the reason Riku Replica's charm is the same shape is proved by Namine and Larxene's conversation. Namine bundles the charm with a card using false memories and this way hides the true appearance.

F9
In order for Riku Replica to take arbitrary action, he sees to it that Vexen’s strategy fails. As a condition for Marluxia to overlook Vexen's blunder, he orders him to kill Sora.

F10
After fighting Sora, Vexen hints at the existence of "other memories". Having exceeded the expectations of his abilities, Marluxia labels Axel a "traitor that needs to be disposed of".
White: Marluxia calls Axel a "traitor". Afterwards Marluxia returns as a "traitor to the Organization" himself" (see floor 13 events).

B5
Vexen is defeated by Sora and then disposed of by Axel and Zexion and Lexaeus learn of this. In order to compete against Marluxia, who almost has Sora in his grasp, they resolve to claim Riku again.

F11
A: Having fought Sora once again in Twilight Town, Vexen starts to tell him the truth, but Axel disposes of him.
B: Marluxia and Larxene notice the disappearance of Vexen and Sora's abilities and acknowledge Axel as a companion. Riku Replica fights Sora for a 3rd time. He drops his charm and escapes. Meanwhile, Axel tempts Namine and the betrayal continues.
Grey: News of Vexen's disappearance is spread to the basement.

B4
After Lexaeus disappears; Zexion and Axel see to it that Marluxia and the others' plans of rebellion will also fail. Zexion uses memories of Riku's hometown to dispose of him, as he has now become unnecessary.
White: Axel informs Zexion of Namine's betrayal and Larxene's disappearance. This is all for Axel's own means but Zexion doesn't know this.

F12
A: On Destiny Island, believing his false memories, Namine makes Sora remember Kairi.
B: Riku Replica fights Sora for a 4th time and is dealt a finishing blow in an instant and his heart collapses. Impatient with the betrayal, Larxene reveals the truth to Sora and tries to dispose of him but on the contrary ends up being disposed of herself. Namine confesses everything to Sora and the others.
White: Afterwards on the 13th floor, Marluxia learns of this and Riku Replica's memories are forcibly removed and his heart breaks. In this scene, Namine was saved by Sora and Riku Replica's memories were promptly erased by her.

F13
A: It becomes clear that Axel is actually a spy and to get rid of "the traitor to the Organization", Marluxia makes Sora Axel's opponent and escapes. Axel fights Sora, and content, leaves.
Grey: Having fought Sora, Axel heads to the basement.
White: At this time, Axel leaves Sora with the words "you've saved me" as he disappears. "You've saved me" is pointing to the betrayal of Namine, but not knowing these circumstances, Sora just tilts his head.
B: Sora faces against Marluxia and Riku Replica, whose heart should be broken, also backs him up.
C: Turning out to be a dummy, Sora defeats the real Marluxia and locks the 13th floor keyhole. Sora tries to hold back Riku Replica but he leaves the place.
Grey: News of Marluxia's disappearance spreads to the basement/Axel brings Riku Replica to the basement
D: Sora promises to meet Namine again and goes to sleep.

B3
Zexion informs Riku that Sora is in the castle. He informs him of Sora and Riku's antagonizing fate, and making good use of the illusion, he hunts down Riku. But with Kairi's advice (whose form is being borrowed by Namine), he breaks the illusion using the power of darkness.
White: Here, as Zexion couldn't help but betray the "Organization", Axel has no choice but to force him to disappear, and the remaining Black Coats in the castle is narrowed down to him alone.

B2
Even though he is filled with Zexion's power, Riku Replica challenges Riku to a fight so he can take the place of the real Riku, but disappears. In front of the eyes of a sleeping Sora, Riku meets Namine and chooses a path to fight darkness.
White: Having left Sora, Riku Replica's fate becomes clear here.

B1
Riku defeats Ansem, who has been nesting in the darkness in his heart.
ENDING.

So here it seems as if Riku is having a similar pace to Sora per floor, up until B6, where Sora manages to ascend both Floor 8 and 9.
But I don't think anything relevant happens in Riku's side of the story at B6, whereas Sora on F8 has his second fight with Repliku, and on F9 Marluxia orders Vexen to take matters into his own hands. So I would have thought it the other way around?

At least the timeskip on B4 makes sense with F11-13, as that is when Lexaeus lets his Darkness billow forth and devour Riku, (or was it just Ansem's shadow that took hold for a minute?). There is no sense of time, for how long Riku was in that dark space. I guess he was there the time it took for Sora to abandon Donald and Goofy up untill he confronted Marluxia, with that whole "even if I forget, my friends will remember for me" speech.



Warning! I am now heading into pure speculation! You have been warned.
It also seems that with a 25 day long plot (for Sora) each floor could potentially take up 2 days. I would say obviously the last three days would take the longest due to plot importance. If F11 and F12 both take 2 days, and F13 takes 3, that would give 18 days to the first 10 floors. Floors where a boss appear would pass the criteria for a two day plot, so F1, F6, F7, F8 and F10, so that leaves 8 days for five floors. Which seems fair.

For Riku's story we have 27 days. The same rules apply. B13, B10, B8, B4, B3, B2 and B1 all apply for the 2 days of plot, giving us 14 used days, and thirteen to go. However, as we noted, B6 is slowed down to fill F8 and F9, so B6 takes 3 days. And after the fight with Lexaeus, on B4, Riku is trapped in that dark space, that lasts the end of F11 to most of F13. So 4 days? I think that sounds reasonable. So what does that make now? 19 days, giving 8 days for five floors.

And that fits with the CoM Ultimania showing most of the floors taking an equal amount of time between the two.

So let me try to make a timeline of the events:
Day 22: Marluxia and co. head to Castle Oblivion
Day 23: Axel and Vexen head to Castle Oblivion. That same night Sora finds himself at the crossroads, where Marluxia leads him towards the path to Castle Oblivion
Day 24: Sora and co. arrives at the castle, and visits Traverse Town.
Day 25: Riku is lead to the castle by Diz, and walks around Hollow Bastion. Sora fights Axel.
Day 26: "Ansem" awakens the darkness in Riku - Dark Mode
Day 27: Sora and co. realises that the journal pages are gone. (F2)
Day 29: Sora has his first vision of Naminé (F4)
Day 30: Vexen confronts Riku. (B10)
Day 32: Larxene "helps" Sora to remember Naminé's name. They fight. (F6)
Day 33: Riku meets Repliku. After their fight, Vexen takes Repliku to the topsiders. (B8)
Day 34: Sora's first encounter with Repliku. (F7)
Day 36: Sora's second encounter with Repliku. (F8) Riku on B6.
Day 37: Repliku fails to show up, and Vexen is ordered by Marluxia to kill Sora. (F9)
Day 39: Vexen gives Sora the card to Twilight Town. (F10)
Day 42: Axel kills Vexen, on Marluxia's order. (F11)
Day 43: Sora, has his third encounter with Repliku, and leaves Donald and Goofy behind. (F11) Axel lets Naminé go to save Sora.
Day 44: Lexaeus fights Riku. Riku is trapped in the dark space. (B4)
Day 46: Sora on Destiny Islands. Naminé tries to tell him she's not supposed to be here. (F12)
Day 47: Sora's fourth and final encounter with Repliku, Donald and Goofy come to his rescue fighting against Larxene. Naminé tells the whole truth. (F12)
Day 48: Sora and co. defeat Axel. Riku is freed from the dark space.
Day 49: Sora kills Marluxia. Goes to sleep in the pod. Riku is led to Destiny Islands by Zexion. (B3)
Day 50: Riku accepts the Darkness. Mickey finally arrives at Riku's side. Riku enters Twilight Town and meets Diz. (B2)
Day 51: Riku face-off with Repliku, and later meets Naminé. News reach TWTNW, that no Organization members have survived.
Day 52: Riku fights Ansem. (B1) Riku and Mickey leave Castle Oblivion to walk the "Road to Dawn".


That is how I think the CoM timeline goes, but that is of course, only if you don't believe that the entirety of CoM took only 3 days.

 

[Blackdrazon]

Those are some great insights, dlppictures! I'm not sure I can really imagine CoM stretching over more than three days, myself, but your points are pretty solid. It's impressive work!