Racing Riku

Racing Riku is a mini-game in the original Kingdom Hearts involving racing Riku around the island. It takes place on Destiny Islands during the second day. After the islands are destroyed, you are unable to play this game.

Objective
The objective is to beat Riku in a race to Kairi. This adds on to the Sora and Riku scoreboard. Each time Sora wins he will receive a Pretty Stone which is worth 30 munny.

Course
The course runs through the cove of Destiny Islands where a zip-line can be taken or the long route towards a star-shaped tree and then back. The star will glow once the half marker has been reached. Players cannot cheat by hitting Riku as use of the Wooden Sword is disabled. Riku may take the zipline if Sora blocks his path, but at certain intervals of the race Riku will walk instead of run.

Strategy
First, make your way across the wooden platforms. Be careful, as one of them will fall if stepped on. Although this step can be useful, jump as soon as you step on the platform, if the timing's correct, Riku will fall instead, slowing him down. Next, climb up the ladder and zip-line down. This should put you in the lead, but don't get cocky. Hurry over to the star-shaped tree and touch it. Now turn around and jump on the tops of the trees. This is the hardest part and takes a lot of patience. Jump from treetop to treetop, making your way to the side of the tower. An finally, run across the platforms towards Kairi.

Trivia

 * This is technically the first non-battle Mini-Game in the entire Kingdom Hearts series.
 * This also determines what the Gummi Ship will be named in Kingdom Hearts. Highwind is the default name if Riku wins, but Sora can choose a name at the beginning and if he wins, the name he picks becomes the name of the first gummi ship.
 * Riku winning seems to be the canon outcome, as the ship is referred to as the Highwind by default in Kingdom Hearts II.
 * The name, "Highwind", is a reference to the airship of the same name from Final Fantasy VII.
 * When playing this game, the Wooden Sword is missing and so is the command menu. All Sora can do is walk, run and jump using the left analog stick and ( in the Japanese version and Kingdom Hearts Final Mix).