Personality Changes?

I've read in a few places that people think Axel was more "dark" (note the substitution vs. b.a.) in KH: Re: CoM than KH II. What do you think? Why?

 

Because of the severe plot twists? ...I thought that it was pretty weird when Axel decided to go after Zexion with Riku Replica. Didn't see that coming...

 

Huh. I guess so. I actually don't really understand a lot about Axel's motives; he's mysterious. Not that it's a bad thing... but it depends on how you look at it. I think that he's a traitor of the Organization not because of his actions against Vexen (he was under orders for that) or Marluxia (not under orders, but Marluxia and Larxene were plotting to gain control over the Organization, so they were technically also traitors), but because 1.) He attacks Zexion with Riku Replica for no reason other than his seemingly nonchalant reply about watching Sora and Riku being more interesting/entertaining than saving Zexion; and 2.) because he has ulterior motives, such as protecting Roxas from Sora by keeping Roxas' identity a secret.
So I guess here's my real question: is it dark to do what he did to protect someone (or to comply with orders), if that actually was what he was doing?

 

I dunno. I think that Axel's characterization was pretty solid from the beginning. Yes, I think that Roxas perhaps softened his "heart"-or at the very least made him realize how much he really wanted one/missed his, but Axel was always friends with Roxas on a basic level. I actually don't think that Axel is a "bad guy"; he's odd, but he's not sadistic. I remember reading somewhere that "distasteful cruelty isn't [his] style" in one of the manga. He's hardened in a sense on the outside, but on the inside I really don't think he's actually "evil". In fact, I don't even think that Xemnas is evil. They are just lacking in understanding, nobodies seeking to be whole, to be somebodies.

And so it's come down to morality again...
based on Axel's actions and motivations of those actions, is he "evil"?

And is there truly a difference between his character in CoM and KH II as determined by this?

 

...Axel isn't a villain... (I'm in denial. I don't want to call him a villain )

Yeah, the whole game development by different people might explain a piece of it. Thanks for everyone's contributions! Any other ideas? (Not that these weren't good.)