Sora is an energetic boy and a resident of the Destiny Islands. With his friends, Riku and Kairi, Sora has been constructing a raft that, he hopes, will take him and his friends to other worlds. But his peaceful world is thrown out of whack when the Heartless invaid the Destiny Islands, swallowing both Riku and Kairi into the Darkness. Strangely, Sora has been chosen to be the wielder of a powerful force, and the only weapon capable of truly fighting against the Heartless -- the Keyblade. When the Darkness absorbs the shatter remains of the Destiny Islands, Sora is dumped off in another world, known as Traverse Town. There, he meets many new friends, including Donald Duck and Goofy, who have been sent by their King to find the "key" and follow it. Thus, Sora, Donald, and Goofy travel from world to world, making new friends, defeating powerful enemies, battling the Heartless, and slowly unravelling the mystery that binds them all together.
Kairi is a mysterious young girl who came to the Destiny Islands when she was very young. Sora and Riku found her on the shore, and since then, she has lived on the Destiny Islands, helping Sora and Riku build a raft to travel to other worlds. On the night the Destiny Islands are invaded by the Heartless, Kairi's heart gets trapped in Sora's and her body is left behind in the form of a mere shell. Unable to wake up from her deep sleep, she is a rather unimportant character throughout the first game, but her sleeping heart often comes out of Sora in the form of full-blown halucinations, and the light in her heart acts as Sora's guardian angel, keeping his own heart from falling into the Darkness. Kairi is also one of the seven Princesses of Heart, whose power can unlock the final keyhole and change the world!
Riku is a young, self-confident boy from the Destiny Islands. He, along with his friends, Sora and Kairi, has been trying to build a raft that would take them to other worlds. His desire to leave the islands was so great, that Riku gave his heart in to Darkness to make his dream a reality. And so, the Heartless came and devoured the Destiny Islands, scattering Sora, Riku, and Kairi across the various worlds. Riku later found Sora, and had noticed he had merely "replaced" his old friends, rather than continue his quest to find Riku and Kairi. Jealous and envyous of Sora, Riku opened his heart more and more into Darkness, vowing that he would do anything to save Kairi, and retrieve her captive heart from Sora. Riku used the darkness to fight Sora and his friends, and in the end, Riku's body became nothing more than a puppet, controlled by Ansem. But Riku's strong heart fought the Darkness, and in the end, Riku was sealed inside Kingdom Hearts, battling the Darkness that lingered in his heart.
Donald Duck is a fiesty, short-fused magician who resides at Disney Castle. When he discovers that his beloved King Mickey has left the castle to find answers, Donald and his friend Goofy are sent by Queen Minnie to find a mysterious "key" mentioned in a letter left by the King. Donald and Goofy meet up with Sora in Traverse Town and set out on a journey to find the King and Sora's lost friends, Riku and Kairi, battling Heartless all along the way. Slowly, Donald and the others piece together the mystery that binds them all together.
Goofy is a clumsy, easy-going knight who despises all weapons. He lives at Disney Castle with his friend Donald, and when King Mickey leaves to find answers, Goofy and Donald are sent on a mission, by Queen Minnie, to locate a mysterious "key" mentioned in a letter left by the King. Goofy and Donald meet up with Sora in Traverse Town and travel through the many worlds in search of the King and Sora's missing friends, Riku and Kairi, all the while, battling Heartless and slowly uncovering the mystery that binds them all together.
King Mickey is the cheerful ruler of Disney Castle. When stars in the night sky start mysteriously vanishing, King Mickey sets out to find answers, and leaves a letter, instructing Donald and Goofy to find a mysterious "key" and follow it. At the end of Sora's adventure, the King helps him seal Kingdom Hearts from the inside to prevent the Heartless from taking control of the worlds.
Dark Riku is essentially Riku, but his heart is so steeped in Darkness, that he no longer acts as Riku. He is Ansem's puppet, being used to ensure that Ansem can gain access to the heart of all worlds, Kingdom Hearts, and swallow them all in Darkness. Sora fought Dark Riku in Hollow Bastion, and when Sora won, he used Dark Riku's Keyblade to unlock his own heart and free Kairi's sleeping heart, but in doing so, Sora became a Heartless himself. In the end, Ansem's control over Dark Riku faded when Riku's heart fought back and resisted the Darkness inside him. When Ansem was defeated by Sora, Donald, and Goofy, his hold over Riku was lost, and Riku's heart was free to fight off the Darkness that remained in his heart.
Ansem was a wise man who lived in Hollow Bastion. When he discovered a door and opened it, Darkness spread out and consumed his world, and him. Ansem's heart was so steeped in Darkness, that the Heartless began to obey him without fail, and he commanded them to go forth and infect every world with Darkness. When Riku opened his heart to Darkness, Ansem began to take hold of his heart, twisting it with Darkness until there was little left of Riku. Ansem used Riku to assure his victory in seizing the heart of all worlds, Kingdom Hearts, and infecting it with Darkness. When Sora and his friends defeated Ansem and sealed Kingdom Hearts, Ansem's hold on Riku's heart was broken, and Riku was left to fight the Darkness that still lingered in his heart.
The Heartless are a race of creatures that are born from the Darkness in people's hearts. Heartless come in many different shapes and sizes, and they are all made for one purpose and one purpose only: consume everything in Darkness. These creatures serve their master, Ansem, and are bent on infecting the heart of all worlds, Kingdom Hearts, with Darkness. Sora and his friends fight many different kinds of Heartless on their journey.
Sora is a young, energetic boy with a heavy burden. For reasons unknown, Sora has been chosen to be the wielder of the powerful weapon known as the Keyblade. With his friends, Donald and Goofy, Sora sealed Kingdom Hearts, safely returned Kairi to the Destiny Islands, and continued on his journey in search fro Riku and the King, who were both sealed inside Kingdom Hearts. Confronted by the separation-anxiety that dwells inside him, Sora dreams about his friend, and because of it, he often cannot sleep. The restless Sora wanders aimlessly until he is greeted by a man in a black coat who tells him "ahead lies something you need, but to claim it, you must lose something very dear." Thus, Sora, Donald, and Goofy are brought to Castle Oblivion, where they slowly lose their memories as they journey in search of their friends. There, he encounters the Organization, a group of people who wish to control Sora and his Keyblade in the hopes of achieving power, and gives them a run for their money. In the end, Sora meets a girl named Namine, who has the strange ability to play around with Sora's memories and the memories of those who are close to Sora. Namine puts Sora and company into pods and begins the tedious work of rearranging the shattered memories that have fallen into the Darkness, before they are lost to Sora forever.
Kairi is Sora's close friend, and she is also one of the seven Princesses of Heart whose power holds the key to opening the Door to Darkness. Her role in this game is minor, though she is still an important character. The ultimate goal that Sora attempts to reach in the game is remembering Kairi, and in doing so, remembering everything else.
Riku is a young, cocky boy, and Sora's close friend. When Sora sealed Kingdom Hearts after defeating Ansem, Riku was left alone to battle the Darkness that remained in his heart. His struggle led him to Castle Oblivion, where he searched the passages of his heart for any last traces of Darkness to snuff out. Riku makes his way through the floors of Castle Oblivion, battling both the villians he had allied himself with before, and the Organization, who has their own plans for Riku, all the while, receiving help from none other than King Mickey. Along his travels, he meets a mysterious character named Diz, who gives the choice to walk the path of light, or the path of darkness. Riku, unsure about which he will choose, decides to simply eraticate the last bit of Darkness that remains in his heart -- namely, Ansem. Riku finds and defeats Ansem once and for all, and encounters Diz upon exiting Castle Oblivion. When given the same choice as before, Riku, rather than taking one of the two forks in the road, makes his own path in the middle of light and darkness, continuing onward in search of Sora.
Donald is the court magician at Disney Castle, and one of Sora's close friends. Together with Sora and Goofy, Donald fought Ansem and helped seal Kingdom Hearts. When a mysterious man in a black coat leads Donald and the others to Castle Oblivion, Donald immediately thinks that they should leave. Sora, determined to find Riku and the King, convinces Donald and Goofy to journey with him through the castle. Donald slowly forgets everything that has happened to them, until Sora encounters Namine, who puts Donald and the others in pods while she pieces together the forgotten memories.
Goofy is the somewhat clumsy captain of the royal knights at Disney Castle, and he despises the use of weapons. Goofy is led by Sora to Castle Oblivion when a mysterious man in a black coat tells them that "ahead lies something you need, but to claim it, you must lose something very dear." Goofy battles through the floors of Castle Oblivion along with Sora and Donald, slowly losing memories of past adventures with them, until Sora meets Namine. Namine puts the three of them into pods while she begins to restore the forgotten memories.
King Mickey is the ruler of Disney Castle, who left in search of answers when stars in the night sky mysteriously began to vanish. Sora and his friends met up with him when they sealed Kingdom Hearts, locking King Mickey and Riku inside. When Riku traveled to Castle Oblivion, King Mickey promised Riku that he would help him in any way to vanquish the Darkness inside him.
Namine is a mysterious girl with the unexplainable ability to alter the memories of Sora and those who are close to him. The Organization tried to use Namine to get control of Sora, but as Sora defeated more and more of the Organization's members, Namine began to help Sora remember the things she had been forced to make him forget.
A mysterious man who approached Sora with a message. That message was that "ahead lies something you need, but to claim it, you must lose something very dear." The man vanishes and leads Sora, Donald, and Goofy to Castle Oblivion, where they proceed to lose precious memories as they search for their friends. It is later revealed that the Unknown is merely Marluxia with his hood up.
Axel is a member of the Organization with his own hidden agenda. At first glance, Axel is nothing more than another Organization member bent on controling the Keyblade and Sora, but after more of the story unfolds, it is revealed that Axel was, in fact, sent by the Superior to eradicate Marluxia and his followers.
Larxene is a member of the Organization, and a devout follower of Marluxia's traitorous intentions. She is a master of the element of lightning, making her quick and devastating in battle.
Vexen is a member of Organization XIII, and a brooding genius, and a chilling wizard of ice. Vexen's interests are more concerned with acquiring data on Riku, as he, Zexion, and Lexaeus were sent to the basement floors of Castle Oblivion by Marluxia. Enraged that his intellect is being wasted on these lower floors, Vexen challenges Marluxia and loses his life because of it.
Lexaeus is the silent hulking deathdealer whose size is only matched by his strength. His weapon of choice is a large tomahawk, capable of dealing a devastating blow. Lexaeus, along with Zexion and Vexen, was stationed on the basement floors of Castle Oblivion, and so he helps Vexen retrieve data on Riku, all the while, trying to gain the respect he rightfully deserves. Lexaeus challenges Riku and loses his life when he underestimates the overwhelming power of Riku's darker side.
Zexion is not much of a fighter, but instead, uses his mind to play tricks on his enemies and swallow them in their own illusions. Zexion, like Lexaeus and Vexen, is trapped on the lower floors of Castle Oblivion, gathering data on Riku. Zexion coaxes Riku's inner darkness and loses his life due to his lack of proper planning.
Marluxia is the leader of a rogue division of Organization XIII and ruler of Castle Oblivion. Marluxia tries to use Sora and the Keyblade he posesses to overthrow the Superior and claim Organization XIII as his own. Marluxia threatens Namine's life, and provokes Sora's anger, resulting in his own defeat.
Riku encounters DiZ along his journey, where he is offered a choice. Riku can either let the darkness inside devour his heart, or he can fight the darkness and walk the path to light. After Riku destroys Ansem once and for all, DiZ offers him the same choice again. Riku chooses to walk neither the light or the dark path, taking both sides of him along as he journeys onward. Not much is known about DiZ at this point in time.
The Riku Replica is a creation of Vexen's, designed to bring out the true power of the Keyblade Master. But slowly, the Replica begins to take on it's own personality, realizing that it's just a fake, and decides to help Sora take Marluxia down.
The real Ansem was defeated during Sora's first adventure, but parts of the darkness that lingers in Riku's heart have manifested themselves into the form of Riku's former master. Ansem is determined to show Riku that the darkness is where he truly belongs. At the end of his adventure, Riku finally vanquishes Ansem, releasing the hold he once had on Riku's heart.
The Heartless are a race of creatures that are born from the Darkness in people's hearts. Heartless come in many different shapes and sizes, and they are all made for one purpose and one purpose only: consume everything in Darkness. These creatures serve their master, Ansem, and are bent on infecting the heart of all worlds, Kingdom Hearts, with Darkness. Sora and his friends fight many different kinds of Heartless on their journey.
Sora is the chosen wielder of the Keyblade, journeying frome world to world in search of Riku, the King, and way to return home to Kairi. Sora has recently been sealed inside a pod for the past year as Namine slowly pieces together the memories she was forced to take apart during the incident at Castle Oblivion. Fully revived, Sora must now find his friends, and stop Organization XIII from collecting hearts for their own selfish gain, putting an end to the Heartless incursion once and for all, and saving the worlds from certain destruction - just your average "hero stuff".
Roxas was once a member of the Organization, but confused by the reasons as to why the Keyblade chose him, he left them in search of answers. Eventually, Roxas met Riku and fought him and lost. Riku brought Roxas before DiZ, who hid him in a virtual world known as Twilight Town, so that the Organization would not find him until Sora's memories had been restored. Roxas' dreams were filled with memories and flashes of Sora's past, and slowly, Roxas began to wonder what was happening. It is later revealed that Roxas is Sora's Nobody, and in the end, Roxas faded back into Sora, making him whole again.
Kairi returned safely to the Destiny Islands at the end of Sora's first adventure and since then, she has been eagerly awaiting the return of her friends. The only problem is that she can't seem to remember anything about Sora; his face, his voice, and everything about him are shrouded. Determined to remember who he is, Kairi sends out a message in a bottle, hoping that it reaches him. Later, Axel travels to the islands, determined to take Kairi as randsom so that Axel might get to see Roxas again. When his plan backfires and Namine helps Kairi escape, Kairi eventually meets up with Sora and Riku, just before they venture through the final door.
After the incident at Castle Oblivion, Namine has been working with DiZ to restore Sora's memories. Namine encounters Roxas and lets him know the truth: that he is a Nobody, and that he was never even supposed to exsist! When DiZ prevents her from interfering any more, Namine leaves and, later, helps Kairi escape when she is captured by Organization XIII. It is later revealed that Namine is Kairi's Nobody, created when Kairi had lost her heart during Sora's first adventure. In the end, Namine fades back into Kairi, making her whole again.
Riku was sealed inside the door to darkness at the end of Sora's first adventure, and since then, he has been working with DiZ to help Sora wake up. DiZ sends Riku to retrieve a young man named Roxas and bring him back to him. Riku faces Roxas and loses the first time around, and so he dove so deep into darkness that he became the spitting image of Ansem. Riku faced Roxas again and was victorious. After Sora awakens, Riku continues to help DiZ take down the Organization. In the end, Riku is returned to his normal self and he reunites with Sora and Kairi, just in time for the final battle. Sora and Riku are stranded alone to face their foe, and when all is set and done, Riku and Sora find themselves on a dark beach. A message in a bottle addressed to Sora washes up on shore, and Riku and Sora are brought back home to the Destiny Islands.
Donald has been traveling along with Sora and Goofy in search of the King. Recently, Donald has been resting in a pod as his memories slowly came back to him. Now that he's awake, Donald continues fighting the Heartless, The Organization, and the Nobodies, in search of his missing King.
Goofy has been traveling along with Sora and Donald in search of the King. Recently, Goofy has been resting in a pod as his memories slowly came back to him. Now that he's awake, Goofy continues fighting the Heartless, The Organization, and the Nobodies, in search of his missing King.
King Mickey was last seen inside Kingdom Hearts with Riku at the end of Sora's first adventure. Since then, he has been searching for Ansem the Wise to find out what has been going on with the worlds. Eventually, Mickey meets up with Ansem the Wise and witnesses his death. Determined to avenge his lost friend, Mickey teams up with Sora, Donald, Goofy, Riku, and Kairi to stop the Organization.
