Kingdom Hearts Timeline Overview

Introduction

• Kingdom Hearts 1 released in 2002, followed by Kingdom Hearts 3 after 16 years.
• Aiming to simplify the convoluted story from 11 games to 6.

Birth by Sleep

• Original World: Initially one world under the blue light of Kingdom Hearts, a source of great power.
• Keyblade: Original weapon necessary to access Kingdom Hearts, created by the Keyblade Masters.
• Keyblade War: A great battle occurred, shattering the Keyblade into 20 pieces (7 light, 13 darkness).

Xehanort's Role

• Classic villain desiring to control balance of light and darkness.
• Introduced time travel and possession abilities.
• Takes Ventus as an apprentice, creating Venitas when Ventus refuses to embrace darkness.
  • Ventus's heart later mends due to Sora's heart.
  • Terra manipulated by Xehanort leading to internal conflict.
• Aqua sacrifices herself to save Terra Xehanort from darkness.

Before Kingdom Hearts 1

• Xehanort's Evolution: Spoilers from Birth by Sleep lead into Kingdom Hearts 1.
• Ansem the Wise: Takes in Xehanort, but Xehanort betrays him, creating Heartless and Nobodies:
  • Heartless: Beings born from the darkness of hearts.
  • Nobodies: Empty shells without hearts.

Confusion of Names

• Ansem: Refers to both the Heartless (Ansem, Seeker of Darkness) and the wise character (Ansem the Wise).
• Xemnas: Xehanort's Nobody.

Kingdom Hearts 1

• Main Characters: Sora, Riku, Kairi, and their adventures starting from Destiny Islands.
• Main Villain: Maleficent seeks the Seven Princesses of Heart to access Kingdom Hearts.
• Sora's Journey: Acquires Keyblade, meets Goofy and Donald, and battles Ansem.
  • Riku is corrupted by Ansem, leading to a final confrontation at the Door to Darkness.
• Ending: Sora, Riku, and Kairi’s fates remain unresolved.

Chain of Memories

• Memory Manipulation: Follows Sora after he splits his heart, creating Nobodies Roxas and Namine.
• Organization XIII: Roxas is recruited, leading to power struggles within the organization.
• Riku's Struggle: Battles his own darkness while seeking to protect Sora.

358 Days Over 2

• Xion's Role: Acts as a failsafe Keyblade wielder, absorbing Sora's memories.
• Roxas vs Xion: Roxas is forced to defeat Xion to preserve his own existence.

Kingdom Hearts 2

• Roxas's Awakening: He starts life anew in a digital Twilight Town, unaware of his past.
• Sora's Quest: Awakens with no memory, tasked to defend worlds against Heartless and Organization XIII.
• Factions: Includes Organization XIII and a revived Maleficent, leading to internal struggles.
• Final Confrontation: Sora and Riku defeat Xemnas, but complications arise with the return of Xehanort.

Dream Drop Distance

• Xehanort's Return: Master Xehanort is reformed from his previous forms.
• Sora and Riku's Trials: They undergo the Mark of Mastery test in dream worlds.
• Keyblade War Revisited: Xehanort's plan to gather 13 darkness vs. 7 light beings.

0.2 Birth by Sleep, A Fragmentary Passage

• Focus on Aqua: Trapped in the Realm of Darkness, fighting her inner demons.
• Mickey and Riku's Mission: To rescue Aqua before the events of Kingdom Hearts 3.

Conclusion

• Acknowledgement of the convoluted storyline and excitement for Kingdom Hearts 3.
• Anticipation for an updated timeline post-release of Kingdom Hearts 3.