Kingdom Hearts II Axel Bad or Good?

Good and bad are merely perspectives. We view the story as Sora, from Sora's perspective, so to us he is the 'good guy'. As such, Axel is a good guy from his own perspective, as is everyone. If we look from Sora's, then he starts out bad in Castle Oblivion, as he holds Namine captive. He stays bad throughout the majority of Kingdom Hearts 2, as he kidnaps Kairi. He becomes good in a redeption equals death sacrifice 2/3rds of the way through the game. So he's a villain who had a change of heart near the end if we look at it from Sora's perspective. Really it's not that confusing. It's just because we get games that are more sympathetic towards him such as Days that our view is clouded. If we had a game from Xemnas' view, we'd also think him justified.

 

Axel obviously was in it for himself from the very begining. He helped Saïx try to take over the Organization because ergo, he would also rule the Nobodies in turn. After Saïx and him parted in the ways, following the joined friendships of Roxas and Xion, Axel still acted the same old Organization I way, albeit, an almost less dark version of himself.

Theres a difference between CoM Axel and KH II Axel and you can very much see it. The change is shown in 358/2 Days, and Axel isn't the same as he was before when he was in a conspirancy with Saïx. He's less murderous in his actions later in KH II, but he very possibly is a bit of a shade of Gray because of his selfish actions mixed with his attempts to help and assist Sora shortly before he died. He obviously knew he was going to die after he gave his all in the his last battle, so it's justifiable to say his mind was far less malicous towards the very end. Axel died mostly a good person.

So in short:
Real Badass- Traitor- Friend of Roxas and Xion- Partially Badass- Angry and confused- Masterminding- Sacrificial- Good

 

I believe Axel switches sides when it benefits him most.

 

Believe that Axel is evil and a sadist until the middle start of 385 days..

Axel does some pretty terrible things within Chain of Memories and he takes joy in doing those crimes, almost like a bloodlust, but the innocence and Roxas changes him and it makes Axel remind him of his past when he was a somebody and the memories of what it's like to have a friendship, Roxas warms him up a little bit and he changes into a better person or rather a good guy :]

In KH2 he is a rather strange good guy, because he wants to help and find Roxas again but also kidnaps Kairi for selfish reasons because he puts other's people's life's into worry and danger just because he wants Roxas back, but his heart in is in the right place meaning that he doesn't mean to be a villain type figure in KH2, he just wants his best- friendie back..

 

As people have said: I don't think he is either a good or bad guy, as he fights for himself and for Roxas. He tends to be quick tempered and fights for what he believes in putting him at odds with the organisation, I think they would have killed him off anyway if he hadn't done what he did :(