The Caribbean

The Caribbean is a world in Kingdom Hearts III. It is based on the Disney film series Pirates of the Caribbean. It is an expansion to the Kingdom Hearts II world of Port Royal, appending the sea and isles surrounding the port, as well as the purgatory realm of Davy Jones' Locker.

Development
The Caribbean was included in the game because Port Royal was a well-received and popular world in Kingdom Hearts II, and the developers wanted at least one live-action world in Kingdom Hearts III. It is based on the third film, At World's End, rather than the second film, Dead Man's Chest, which ended on a cliffhanger.

Settings and Areas
The world contains two areas that can be freely explored: the High Seas and Port Royal. Underwater exploration is made fully available to Sora, Donald and Goofy by diving in any of the ocean segments within the world.

Other areas unexplorable outside the story are Deivu Jōnzu Rokkā (デイヴィ・ジョーンズ・ロッカー), where souls of the dead are sentenced to eternal damnation; Sekai no Hate (世界の果て), the waters that separate the locker from the land of the living; and Nanpasen Irie (難破船入り江), where the final battle against Davy Jones and the Flying Dutchman takes place.

The High Seas
Karibe-kai (カリブ海) are a vast ocean area consisting of 10 explorable islands. The map is separated into the Hokkaiiki (北海域), the Nankaiiki (南海域), and the Port Royal Waters (ポートロイヤル近海) around Port Royal's entry point. The islands are visualized on the Leviathan or Black Pearl's map, but must first be traveled to on ship to be checked off. Following this, they can then be accessed by utilizing the fast-travel feature.

The island that must be explored during the story is the Guntō (群島). The island's entry point features a small resting area which leads to a maze-like undersea cavern called the Kaitei Dōkutsu (海底洞窟). Deep within the cavern is a large cave structure where the Lightning Angler is fought. Directly following this area is a current which leads a large above the surface cave where the world's only battlegate is located.

The other islands which make up the High Seas are:


 * Suna no Shima (砂の島): A ring-shaped island with an explorable underwater region in the center. An additional elevated explorable level and diving section are located on the island's north point. Located in the Southern Waters.
 * Fune no Hakaba (船の墓場): An island with a small entry point and a large underwater section comprised of several shipwrecks. Located in the Southern Waters.
 * Runin no Kotō (流人の孤島): A small, circular island in the Southern Waters.
 * Bateijima (馬蹄島): A large island composed of a wide white sand beach and a large stone arch behind it. Located in the Southern Waters.
 * Kōun no Kojima (幸運の小島): A small, circular island with a large inaccessible rock structure behind it. Located in the Northern Waters.
 * Midori no Shima (緑の島): A large, verdant island infested with Powerwilds. Heading to the island's central region leads to several cliff ascents leading to an area overlooking the island's entry point. Located in the Northern Waters.
 * Hokutan no Shima (北端の島): A very small circular island which serves as a resting area. Located in the Northern Waters.
 * Togegan no Shima (棘岩の島): A large island with exploration on the upper level's of the island's east region. A small cave is located on the west side. Located in the Northern Waters.
 * Kangokujima (監獄島): A small island in which the explorable crab infested-area is entirely surrounded by a circular rock structure. Located in the Northern Waters.
 * Kōkai no Mon (後悔の門): A small rock structure used to hang pirates. Sora's battle against the Raging Vulture occurs above this area. Located in the Port Royal Waters.

Port Royal
Pōto Roiyaru (ポートロイヤル) is greatly expanded upon from its appearance in Kingdom Hearts II. On the east side of the port are the Minato (港) where the Leviathan is docked. The Minato e Tsudzuku Michi (港へ続く道) north of the docks leads to the Kōdai (高台). This area consists of housing structures, with the Hatoba (波止場) on the south end. Continuing west of this area is the town bridge and waterfall, which leads to the Toride (砦). Within this area are the prison cells where various pirates are contained, as well as featuring members of Cutler Beckett's navy. At the outside-center of the fort is where the Watermelon Flan is located. Directly north of this area is where the fort's cannons are located in addition to the Port's symbolic bell.

Kingdom Hearts III
Sora, Donald, and Goofy sail a raft for fun, but fall off a waterfall into an abyss below. To their surprise, their fall dropped them into a vast desert. Trudging on, they see the Pearl in the distance and are soon joined by Jack Sparrow, who asks for help in catching his beloved ship, which is being carried off by magic crabs.

Riding the Pearl to the shore, they meet Will, Elizabeth, Gibbs, Tia Dalma and a revived Barbossa; Cutler Beckett is taking over the sea, blackmailing Davy Jones to kill pirates for him. Sailing to escape the Locker, Tia Dalma reveals Jack is after a box that can protect him from Jones, for not honoring their deal; it contains Jones' heart, which gives whoever has the chest leverage over him.

Vexen and Luxord are there as well. Vexen is puzzled by how Davy Jones can live without a heart, believing it holds the secret to perfecting his replicas. Luxord tells him to reign in his curiosity, and allow him to collect the chest as per their orders.

After a green flash at sunrise, the Pearl returns to the living world. Suddenly, the ship is attacked by the Raging Vulture. Once Sora takes out the Heartless, he falls into the sea. Donald and Goofy wake him later, revealing their friends left them and Jack on an island. Finding a new ship, the Leviathan, hidden in the island, they set sail and are surprised by a ship sailed by Luxord. Luxord asks for a race, to win information about the chest. Despite losing, Luxord manages to trick Jack into revealing the chest is on the Flying Dutchman and disappears.

The Leviathan docks at Port Royal for repairs; oddly, white crabs are needed for it. Once the ship is fixed, Jack reveals he's a copy sent by the sea goddess to help; the real him and their friends are facing Beckett's armada at Shipwreck Cove.

By this time, Jack was taken hostage by Jones and Tia Dalma, the sea goddess in mortal form, was released by the pirates in the hope she would help. Sora encourages his friends to keep fighting. The Pearl and the Dutchman enter a whirlpool, followed by the Leviathan. Luxord appears on Sora's ship, wishing to take the chest despite Sora telling him it's useless to the Organization. Regardless, Luxord summons the Kraken to restrain the Pearl. Freeing the Pearl, Sora, Donald and Goofy board the Dutchman, where they help Jack fight Jones.

Will and Elizabeth join the fight, but Will is fatally stabbed by Jones. Sora, Donald and Goofy distract Jones, allowing Jack to help Will stab Jones' heart in the chest. Leaving Will behind, everyone returns to the Pearl; moments later, the Dutchman resurfaces with Will in command. Both ships fire on the Endeavour, killing Beckett and ending his reign of terror. Gibbs reveals Will was saved by taking on Jones' curse, but at the cost of having to ferry souls to the afterlife in exchange for one day ashore every ten years. Jack assures Sora that one day is enough for hearts to connect.

Later, after Xehanort's defeat, Elizabeth watches as Will leaves to carry out his duty. In Port Royal, Jack and Gibbs watch as the Black Pearl sails away.

Characters

 * The Brethren Court is mentioned.

Character Design
Unlike when Sora, Donald and Goofy previously visited the portion of the world near Port Royal, while visiting The Caribbean, they appear in proper pirate attire. As Sora is the de facto "leader", he appears in captain's garb, while Donald and Goofy wear crewman clothes.