The first thing that is quite noticeable in Halloween Town are the new outfits Sora and the gang are decked out in. The outfits certainly fit in well here, allowing Sora and company to travel incognito in the land of the dead. The first person you run into is the Pumpkin King himself. It appears Jack Skellington has his bony hands full with Heartless. Help the lanky skeleton out to receive a new ability called Terror.
The Terror ability causes the enemy to run in fear of you, which can be kind of handy if you are sick of the constant Heartless attacks. Again you get the Key of Beginnings Card to start off this new world.
When Sora becomes playable, the first objective is to make your way to the glowing room on your map, which can be accessed with the newly acquired Key of Beginnings Card.
Proceed to the crown door any way that you wish, using whatever Map Cards you feel necessary to carry out the route, as there are a couple ways to proceed to your destination. Once you enter the crown door, Dr. Finkelstein, a rather eccentric and deranged scientist, is introduced. It seems the good doctor was attempting to create a way to recover lost memories, which triggered the invasion of Heartless in the area. However the potion that would set things right has been stolen. Looks like this is where Sora volunteers everyone to help. Sora gets the Key of Guidance Card and the ability to access the next special door.
Make your way to the next crown door to activate the next plot sequence. Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to Jack and Sally’s love connection. A conversation ensues with Jack and Sally, which ends with Oogie Boogie stealing the aforementioned potion. Time to beat on a certain overweight burlap sack.
Boss Battle: Oogie Boogie
This dirty-dealing gambling man is all about dodging and Card breaking, making actually laying a hit on him rather frustrating. Not to mention he is a huge coward, using a gate to block your way to him. The goal is to break his dice attacks he throws at you to lower the gate enough to attack him.
You won’t be able to enjoy the glow of the smackdown you deliver when the gate is lowered, because he closes the gate on you within a few seconds. However it is just enough to make a good dent in his life stock. Repeat the same method of Card breaking, obtaining the Gimmick Card from one of the three dice, and lowering the gate to knock him around some more. Additionally, Oogie uses Cure spells on himself, which can make this fight a rather lengthy one. His moves are as follows:
- Oogie Boogie uses a rotating saw blade that goes around the area. Dodge Roll to slip past this one.
- Oogie Boogie again brings out the blades. This time he throws two blades that bounce all over the arena. Roll out of the way as best you can, however you might take a few blows from this one before getting the hang of its pattern.
- Lastly, Oogie Boogie will summon random Heartless into the arena to distract you. Take them out like you normally would.
Once the fight is over, you gain the Oogie Bogie Card. With all well in Halloween Town, you are free to leave Halloween Town and return back to Castle Oblivion.
Larxene of the Organization confronts you once you return to the castle. She speaks a bit about Sora’s childhood friend, and then beats on him a bit. Her tactic is to literally beat his memories back into his head. Is that treatment scientifically based? Regardless, it is time for another boss battle, this time with Larxene.
Boss Battle: Larxene
This battle is a frantic one, full of dodging, attacking, and healing. Larxene is one tough woman, and proves she is a brutal force to be reckoned with. She uses her claws in successive slashes and follows you all around the arena, even when you Dodge Roll constantly, not giving you time to wipe the sweat form your brow. Her strongest attacks are her lightning abilities, which are incredibly difficult to dodge. You basically need to roll just before the lightning strikes, which is incredibly hard, especially when regrouping to heal or recharge your Cards. She will also send a wave of lighting that blasts most of the floor. If you thought it couldn’t get any worse, as soon as her life gets below half she performs a disappearing and reappearing slash attack that seems to go on forever.
Get used to rolling as much as you can without getting hit, then get close and attack with your strongest combos. After that, retreat and go on the defensive again by rolling and dodging her frantic moves.
Once you manage to deal with Larxene, you get the Thunder Card.
Larxene does not leave after the battle without enraging Sora even more, acting like an older sibling tormenting a younger one. She mentions that he is quite the hero, aside from being “a heartless hero”. Before she leaves, Larxene gives Sora a few parting words and tosses him the next round of World Cards. Thus begins the second half of Sora’s Story.