Strategy Guide: Kingdom Hearts
Square's biggest (and only) game of 2002 is also one of the deepest action/RPGs for the PS2. This guide takes you step-by-step across the game's eight Disney-themed worlds, right up to the confrontation at the Hollow Bastion. Have a nice trip!
Square's biggest (and only) game of 2002 is also one of the deepest action/RPGs for the PS2. This guide takes you step-by-step across the game's eight Disney-themed worlds, right up to the confrontation at the Hollow Bastion. Have a nice trip!
Note: This ProStrategy Guide was based on the game's Normal setting. The Expert mode follows the same story but with tougher enemies.
The Introduction
At the very beginning, you're asked to select an item for Sora to excel at and an item for him to give up. Your choices here are a sword (offense), a shield (defense), and a wand (magic power). If you choose a trait you'd like Sora to be best at, his abilities in that area will grow faster. The opposite is true with the weapon he gives up.
After a quick battle tutorial, you're asked three questions by Tidus, Wakka, and Selphie on your home island. Your responses to these questions determine how quickly you level up throughout the game. If you pick the top choice each time ("Getting old," "To see rare sights," and "Being number one") you"ll level up more quickly than usual.
Before you're allowed to start the game proper,you must defeat the first boss,Darkside. Dodge or defeat the Shadows he creates and slash away at his hands; he shouldn't be much of a problem to beat at this point.
Destiny Islands
Your first task on the island is to pick up two logs, a rope, and some cloth to make a boat.
The rope is behind Tidus, the cloth is hanging in the treehouse, and you can find logs by Riku and along the shoreline. If you give everything on the list to Kairi, you'll see a cut-scene that introduces Donald and Goofy.
The next day, you can race Riku around the island for an item. You don't have to win the race, but if you'd like to, ignore his tree-hopping route and run along the beach instead. If you follow his exact path, you'll never beat him.
Now Kairi has a shopping list of 10 items for you to find: Fill the water bottle at the waterfall, find an egg on top of one of the trees by the bridge, get the coconuts by hitting the trees around Kairi, and go swimming near Selphie and Wakka to catch the three fish you need.
Finally, the three mushrooms can be found behind a rock in the cave by Kairi, near the tower in the Cove, and-lastly-in the Secret Place by the waterfall.
After all this is taken care of, the scene eventually shifts to later that night, when the Heartless invade the island. Don't bother attacking the Shadows-you can't hurt them quite yet. Just get to Riku (he's on the island in the center) to receive your Keyblade weapon.
Go back to the Secret Place and defeat Darkside again to finish the level. He's a tad more powerful this time around, but as long as you steer clear of his fireballs he still won't pose much of a threat.
Traverse Town
After another cut-scene, you find yourself alone in a city for homeless Disney (and Square) characters.
Exploring Traverse Town can be dangerous once you leave the First District-good thing you can actually hurt the Shadows with the Keyblade now. Talk to Cid in his Accessory Shop, head off to the Second District, and defeat the first group of enemies you encounter.
Once you're done, backtrack to the First District. Enter Cid's shop and leave immediately, and you run right into Squall-er, Leon. This is one of those battles you have to lose for the sake of the plot, so feel free to wildly flail away to your death.
No sooner do you and Leon kiss and make up than the Heartless break into the hotel you're all holing up in. Head for the Third District and meet Donald and Goofy. The only way into the area is via an alley off the main courtyard in the Second District.
Once there, you must fight a new boss, the Guard Armor, who is made up of five distinct body parts. Concentrate on one body part at a time to save yourself from expending too much energy. It's best to tackle the arms first, since they hurt you the most; once they're gone, you won't have much of a problem with the rest.
Once you've finished off the Armor, Donald and Goofy join your party for good. We're going to Disney World...well, the first Disney world, anyway.
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