Traverse Town

Traverse Town is the next destination for Riku, so travel there from Castle Oblivion when you are ready. Upon entry into the town, look on the map. Notice that the right side of the map takes you directly to the door where the Key of Beginnings Card will be used. Proceed, selecting the best route you can, stopping to fight random Heartless to keep your level growing.

Pass through the crown door and prepare for our purple friend, Guard Armor.

Boss Battle: Guard Armor

Guard Armor this time around really packs a punch. He uses heavy stomp attacks whenever you get close, utilizing every limb to cause good chunks of damage. He will also spin his upper torso around in a windmill form to hit Riku repeatedly. Also, if you get too far away, Guard Armor’s body shifts and he launches himself at your direction, stomping on you in the process.

Destroy Guard Armor’s limbs as best as you can, but don’t hang out too long to be knocked around.

Once his arms and legs are gone, Guard Armor will slam his upper body on your location, pursuing you relentlessly for a short time. Simply dodge, break his moves, use D Mode, and finish him off with a few three-hit combos. After the fight, Guard Armor’s heart leaves his body, and Riku gains the Guard Armor Card for his efforts. Leave Traverse Town by looking on the map, scanning for the north-most room, and making your way to it on the opposite side of the map.

After you get back to the castle, Riku is greeted by... himself? Vexen’s creation, Riku Replica, is there and ready to taunt you. Good thing the real Riku has some retorts of his own. He lets the Riku Replica know that Riku Replica is only a replica—nowhere near the real thing. Riku Replica feeds into the taunt, which starts another boss battle.

Boss Battle: Riku Replica

Even though Riku Replica can embrace the darkness at all times, it doesn’t mean he is in any way superior. This fight is far less of a frantic one than it was when you faced the Riku Replica as Sora. Riku Replica uses the same moves you are familiar with, so avoiding them should be second nature by now.

Riku Replica has a gigantic deck, but it is filled with low-level cards, making it very easy to break.

Join Riku Replica in the darkness and use D Mode as often as possible. Even bring Mickey into the battle and use the Inverse Burst ability.

Slash Riku Replica up ferociously and end him with a Dark Firaga blast that is sure to send him reeling. After the fight, Riku levels up and the two will argue once more. It looks like Riku Replica is far from the real thing, as he was beaten quite easily. Riku Replica taunts you back and leaves you with some rather annoying words that anger Riku even more. Run up the steps to start another scene with the Organization.

It seems that Riku Replica is a bit of a trash talker even in the wake of defeat. Vexen explains that he needs the Riku Replica to take care of Sora as well as Riku. Riku Replica agrees and reassures the dark group that he will take care of them both. Fortunately for you, you know what the future really holds.

Back with the real Riku, he runs up and again meets Ansem. Ansem reminds Riku that even though the other Riku is a fake, at least he accepts the darkness and isn’t afraid of it like a little wimp. Riku becomes angry and resolves not to give in to the darkness. Ansem obliges and throws Riku his next set of World Cards. Time to proceed to Atlantica.