Gameplay in Kingdom Hearts

A list of techniques, mechanics, and special attacks that appear within the Kingdom Hearts franchise.

Summon
A Summon is a special character that can be magically called on to aid Sora in the series. They have been present in Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, and Kingdom Hearts II. In the first game, most of these summons were Disney characters whose worlds were swallowed by darkness while they had escaped said destruction. The characters could be accessed through special gems called "Summon gems" found in various worlds, and can be restored in battle. Summons who joined by free will (such as Genie and Tinker Bell) did did not require gems nor enchantment to be released. In Chain of Memories, memories of the summons come in card form and can be collected. In Kingdom Hearts II, summons come in charms which can be used immediately once they are found. Unlike the gems which temporarily revived the character for battle, charms actually teleport the summonable character directly from their world.

Dimension Link
In Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, a new form of summon featured, the Dimension Link (ディメンションリンク), also known as D-Link. Players can draw power from both non-playable characters or summon one of the three main characters wirelessly from other players to aid them in action. Through the power of the Wayfinders, the game's protagonists enable them to create D-Links with the bonds they make with those they meet from world to world.

Limit
Limits are special attacks introduced in Kingdom Hearts II. Available only when a certain character is in the party and the appropriate ability is equipped, Limits enable the player and that party member to initiate devastating combo attacks.

List of Limits

 * Sora - Trinity
 * Donald - Duck Flare, Comet
 * Goofy - Whirli-Goof, Knocksmash
 * Mulan - Red Rocket
 * Beast - Twin Howl
 * Aladdin - Speedster
 * Auron - Bushido
 * Jack Sparrow - Bluff
 * Jack Skellington - Dance Call
 * Simba - Wildcat
 * Tron - Setup
 * Riku - Eternal Session
 * Stitck - Ohana
 * Genie - Sonic Rave (Valor), Strike Judgement (Wisdom), Final Arcana (Master), Infinity (Final)
 * Chicken Little - FPS (First Person Shooter)
 * Peter Pan - Neverland

Drive Form
Drive Forms (ドライヴフォーム Doraivu Fōmu) are special forms that appear in Kingdom Hearts II. Through the magic of the clothes that Flora, Fauna and Merryweather gave him at the Mysterious Tower, Sora is able to temporarily take on a new appearance that grants him a separate set of abilities, often through merging with his allies.

Forms
Valor Form: Allows Sora to wield two Keyblades of the player's choosing at the same time and specializes in physical combat, but can't cast spells, contrasting to Wisdom Form.

Wisdom Form: Allows Sora to float across the ground and uses a single Keyblade to shoot enemies with magical bullets, but not physically strike. It is a Magic-based form, in contrast to Valor Form's physical combat.

Limit Form: Allows abilities from Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts Final Mix that didn't appear in Kingdom Hearts II, and is based on Sora's old clothes.

Master Form: Utilizes both Valor and Wisdom forms by specializing in both Magical and Physical Combat. It uses two Keyblades, one controlled through telekinesis and the other with the hand

Final Form: Is equally strong in both strength and magic, and is considered the strongest amongst all the other Drive Forms. Sora again wields two Keyblades in this form, this time both through telekinesis.

Anti Form: Allows fast attacks and many combos, but lacks the ability to cast spells, shield, recover HP, or use Reaction Commands.

Dark Mode
Dark Mode''' is a special Form Riku Dark Mode is a form exclusive to Riku in Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Riku initially receives the ability to enter Dark Mode from Maleficent, but loses it after his body is taken by Ansem. After entering Castle Oblivion, Riku gains the ability to use Dark Mode freely. In this Form, Riku can use his darkness without the worry of being taken over by Ansem. Since Riku is so darkness-oriented, this form gives him a substantial advantage in battle, such as increased speed and feeding the Soul Eater's unique power-up ability with the power of Darkness.

Gummi Missions
Gummi Missions are missions that have you controlling the Gummi Ship and traveling to either a World or in a World Gate. Gummi Missions are only found in Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, Kingdom Hearts II, and Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix. Using the Gummi Ship, Sora and his party must unlock the pathways between the Worlds by safely traversing through courses filled with scores of enemies. Upon completion of a Gummi Route, the World is unlocked. Players can subsequently go back and try the missions again with different goals and difficulties; prizes are Gummi Blocks that can be used to modify existing Gummi Ship models or build their own.

Mission Mode
Mission Mode is a gameplay mode featured in in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, where the player's goal is to collect Mission Points. Through Mission Mode, two to four players can compete in missions across the worlds or in solo using the Nintendo DS's wireless capabilities to compete with other players. Items collected and character growth in Mission Mode carry back to the save file the player selects at the start.

While playing in Mission Mode, the player has the option to choose which character to control, each with their own fighting style. Mission Mode gives the player access to all thirteen members of Organization XIII, and six secret characters as the player progresses:
 * Xion
 * Riku
 * Sora
 * Mickey
 * Donald
 * Goofy

Keyhole
A Keyhole is a gateway in each world that leads to the heart of that world. The Heartless invade worlds and search for their Keyholes. Upon discovering the Keyhole, the Heartless will enter it and eventually devour the world's heart. After a world's heart is consumed, the world crumbles, and fades from existence. It is said that, if the Keyblade locks a world's Keyhole, it can never be opened again. Thus, Sora, along with Donald and Goofy, travel from world to world to seal the Keyholes using the Keyblade.

Gate
Gates (ゲート Gēto?) are special pathways into worlds in Kingdom Hearts II which are opened when a specific item or object, different for each world, is surrounded in light and is accompanied by a gust of wind. The item in question reveals the Keyhole to a route to another world, allowing Sora to open it.

Lock-On
Lock-On is a targeting mechanism in the series that allows the player to permanently target a single enemy or attackable object, typically signified by the tan targeting reticule turning blue. In a number of games, there are abilities that assist or enhance the targeting and Lock-On features. These include Scan, Range Extender, and Auto-Lock.

Trinity
Trinity is a special ability present in Kingdom Hearts, and to some extent in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts II. While traveling between Worlds, Sora will occasionally come across a colored mark composed of three hearts connected by a circle, which causes the bottom command box to change to "Trinity". Activating this command will allow Sora, Donald, and Goofy to perform an action matching the mark's color. By using Trinity Marks, the party can open new paths or obtain rare treasures. There are a total of five different Trinity colors Sora, Donald, and Goofy can learn throughout the game.

As they are the main party and closest friends, the Trinity command will only appear if Sora, Donald, and Goofy are the party members; if another character, such as Aladdin or Ariel is in the party instead, the command will not activate.

Trinity Abilities

 * Trinity Jump


 * Trinity Charge


 * Trinity Ladder


 * Trinity Push


 * Trinity Detect


 * Trinity Limit