Twilight Town

Twilight Town is a world that appears in Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts II, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days and Kingdom Hearts III. It is the "birthplace" of Roxas, and one of the only two real worlds that appears in Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories. It has recently been infested with Nobodies; however, Heartless were known to have been in the city during Roxas's time in Organization XIII.

Despite its subtle atmosphere, Twilight Town is one of the largest worlds known. It is located in the Realm Between, similar to Castle Oblivion and The World That Never Was. As its name implies, Twilight Town is stuck in endless sunset, with its sun always in the same position in the sky, never rising nor setting. Much like Traverse Town in the previous game, it is divided into several distinct districts, Market Street, Sunset Terrace, and Yen Sid's Tower. The Tower is not truly part of the town; it is merely reached by a train from this world.

Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories
Twilight Town is first introduced in Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories, but unlike all the other worlds, it's not based on Sora's memories, but rather Roxas'. The world is explored through boxed-in areas heavily inspired by the real town. In cutscenes, areas such as ', the ', and  are visited. The last area also serving as boss arena for both Vexen, and Riku Replica.

During the game's credit Roxas is briefly seen on top of the Clock Tower at the .

Twilight Town
Twilight Town is among one of the largest worlds in Kingdom Hearts II, with many major set pieces. One of the town's bigger locations is the Shōten Machi (商店街), a long, winding, steeply-sloped road that leads from the lower areas of town to the top, stretching across multiple areas. The upper portion of the street is known as Ekimaedōri (駅前通り), where a few shops are located such as Wallace's weapon shop and an item shop run by Wantz, as well as a noticeboard for various jobs, which can be experience through mini-games. The lower portion of Market Street is the Toramu Hiroba (トラム広場), an open-market area with a free tram circling around. Many shops are found here, including Jessie's accessory shop, Biggs' armor shop, and a Moogle Shop. In the Simulated Twilight Town, the Moogle Shop is a candy shop instead. Another noticeboard mini-game jobs is found down here. Both parts of Market Street connect to the Akichi (空き地), an open area where the infamous Struggle battles take place. Both Station Heights and the Sandlot lead to the Rojiura (路地裏), where Hayner's gang's hideout, Itsumo no Basho (いつもの場所) is located. In the simulated Twilight Town, Rokusasu no Heya (ロワサスの部屋) can be briefly seen in various cutscenes. It's several stories above ground, and has a nice view of the town.

Traveling up through the Station Heights leads to the Ekimae Hiroba (駅前広場), a large and open terrace, with a great view of the entire town. The plaza is presided over by the town's distinctive and famous Clock Tower, which, though a twelve-hour clock, has "I" at the top instead of "XII". At Station Plaza is also where the Sentoraru Sutēshon (セントラルステーション) is found, which is a large train station, with trains that travel all over the world, including other districts of the town, as well as an unseen beach. There's also a magic train here that travels to the Mysterious Tower.

Another district of the town, Sansetto Jūtakugai (サンセット住宅街), can be reached by taking the train at Central Station to Sansetto Sutēshon (サンセットステーション). Sunset Terrace lies at the outskirts of Twilight Town and boarders to huge fields of grass, with a great view of the mountains in the distance. Another free train travels back and forth the area. Connecting to Sunset Terrace is Sansetto Hiru (サンセットヒル), a tranquil, tiny area, with a small sculpture mimicking the Clock Tower, which can also be seen from here. Underneath the town is a vast Chika Renraku Tsūro (地下連絡通路), which has several entrances across town, located at the Back Alley, the Station Plaza, and the Tram Commons. One exit leads to the Tonneru (トンネル), which in turn leads back to Sunset Terrace.

To the far right of town are Machihazure no Mori (町はずれの森), a large forest only accessible through a crack in the walls of Tram Common. Passing through The Woods leads to a gate and a courtyard belonging to Yashikimae (屋敷前). Upon entering the Robī (ロビー), the Mansion splits off in three different directions. On the left side of the Foyer is the Dainingu (ダイニング); up the left set of stairs and through the door is Shiroi Heya (白い部屋), where Naminé spends a lot of her time; while up the stairs to the right lies the Shoko (書庫). At the Library, there is a false floor that hides a staircase which goes down and leads to the Konpyūtā Rūmu (コンピュータールーム), where DiZ monitors the simulated Twilight Town. There's also a machine which allows transport into the simulation. The doorway to the left of the computer leads to the Chika Hōru (地下広間), where Roxas fights Axel in the simulated counterpart. The Basement Hall then leads to the Chika Rōka (地下廊下), which houses a few pods, and finally to the Poddo Rūmu (ポッドルーム), where Sora slept while Naminé fixed his memories. Towards the end of the game Sora and party can access the simulation via DiZ's machine, but are limited access to only the Computer Room, and the Basement Hall. A Corridor of Darkness can by found in the latter area, which allows travel across the emptiness of Hazama no Kūkan (狭間の空間) to enter the Dark City and begin their assault on the Organization's stronghold.

(虚無の世界) is an ominous white room where Naminé temporarily brings Roxas after his visit to Dive to the Heart. It's filled with oddly shaped boxes with varying lengths and sizes, most of them having their top portions resembling a crown. The room also seem to have no end and just goes on forever. Two other areas featured exclusively in cutscenes are (電車:車内) and  (不思議な電車:車内); featured as Roxas head to Sunset Staion and Sora traveling to Mysterious Tower respectively.

Mysterious Tower
As mentioned, Mysterious Tower is part of Twilight Town in Kingdom Hearts II, and is accessed by the magic train. (不思議な塔) itself is a surrealistic, crooked, golden-brown tower, loosely based on the setting of  The Sorcerer's Apprentice. The Tower is topped with blue cone-shaped turret roofs, decorated with moons and stars, similar to Yen Sid's hat. It rests on a floating island that contains a courtyard with plenty of trees. Inside the main door is the (塔:エントランス), surrounded by an upward-spiraling staircase that leads to a strange portal. Through the portal, Sora and party are transported to the (塔:階段の間), a transitioning room where stairways connect the various rooms of the tower via portals. Other than the entrance, stairs, and upper floor, there are two known rooms in the middle of the Tower. One is the (塔：月の部屋), and the other is the  (塔：星の部屋). Both are perfectly round rooms, each with two doors leading either up or down the Tower, and are decorated with moons and stars, respectively. The final stairway is steep and straight, and leads to Yen Sid's study, the (塔:魔法使いの部屋). The study is the largest room in the building, with several bookshelves, as well as three large star-shaped windows and a crescent one. A door to the right leads to the (塔:ドレスルーム), where the Three Good Fairies, Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, resides. Several covered mirrors are located there, each representing one of Sora's Drive Forms.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
In Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Twilight Town is smaller than it was in Kingdom Hearts II. The town's largest area is the (トラム広場), loaded with buildings and streets, and tram tacks around the area. Heading down south of the area leads to the (空き地), location to several boss encounter. The bottom west point of the area takes Roxas up to the (路地裏), where Hayner, Pence, and Olette's hangout is located, called  (高架下). Continuing up from Side Street leads to the (駅前通り), a long street on an incline, with paths leading back down to both the Tram Common and the Sandlot. At top of Station Heights is the (駅前広場), home to the town's famous Clock Tower, where Roxas, Axel, and Xion often eat Sea-salt ice cream after missions. One of the entrances the town's tunnels, called (地下連絡通路), is located here. The underground connects to several areas from town, such as the Tram Common and the Side Street. At bottom of the area is passage leading a smaller location simply called (トンネル).

To the east of the Tram Common is a massive wall with a hole in it, from which (町はずれの森) can be accessed. Traversing through the forest takes Roxas up to a courtyard belonging to (屋敷前), headquarters to DiZ, Naminé, and Riku.

In cutscenes, areas such as ', the ', and  are scene. Also, during the fight against Xion, she'll drag Roxas across locations from other worlds, such as the Bizarre Room, Manor Ruins, and Lamp Chamber, before they end back up in the air above Station Plaza.

Kingdom Hearts III
In Kingdom Hearts III the world is a lot smaller than it's previously been, and the areas available for traversal are collectively referred to as Machi no Ikkaku (街の一角). Sora arrives at the (トラム広場), which has undergone several changes. The place is heavily populated with people, filled with plants, and other signs of habitation. The Sandlot entryway is closed off by a large door, while the entrance to Station Heights serves as an exit from the world, making these parts of the world inaccessible. The armor shop has been replaced by Le Grand Bistrot, where Merlin can be found dining in the terrace out front, allowing access to the 100 Acre Wood, while the tram lot's been repurposed into an outdoor movie theater. The Synthesis Moogle Shop is still where it was in Kingdom Hearts II, with a tiny mailbox beside it where Sora can mail the Prize Postcards he finds.

The hole in the wall has been sealed, and to access (街外れの森), Sora has to traverse through a new passageway near the former Sandlot entrance, called the Chika Suidō (地下水道). The area is quite linear, with a lot of sewage across the floors. At the end of the waterway Sora can exit to The Woods through a cellar door. The Woods are noticeably different with a lot of fallen trees around the area. Passing by the woods and running up the path leads to the (屋敷前), which is briefly entered only in cutscenes where only the Computer Room is shown.

The top of the Clock Tower also appears in various cutscenes, though the Station Plaza below is inaccessible.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
Roxas is first "born" in Twilight Town in front of the Old Mansion and is given his name by Xemnas. Roxas at first turned down Xemnas's offer to join Organization XIII and wandered the city streets. After seeing a trio of friends (Hayner, Pence, and Olette), Axel sees Roxas's apparent sadness over not having friends here, appears, and gives him sea-salt ice cream, convincing him to join atop the Clock Tower.

Throughout Roxas's life as a Nobody, he, Axel, and Xion used the Clock Tower as a meeting place after their missions, where they would sit and talk about their missions, or discuss whatever came to mind. It is also here that Roxas and Xion have their final battle and where he absorbs her afterward.

Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories
During Sora's journey in Castle Oblivion, Vexen creates a memory-based version of Twilight Town using Roxas's recollections of the world. Sora explores it and winds up in front of the Old Mansion, where he battles and defeats Vexen. The Nobody tells Sora he is naught but a puppet with false memories; Vexen is assassinated by Axel to protect Roxas's identity and obtain proof of Marluxia's plan to overthrow the Organization as Sora looks on.

Sometime later, Riku accesses the memory-based Twilight Town with help from King Mickey. He battles and defeats the Riku Replica in front of the Old Mansion, and within the mansion itself, Riku meets Naminé, who offers to put him to sleep in order to seal away the darkness in his heart. Riku declines the offer, choosing to confront Ansem to dispel the darkness inside his heart by himself.

Kingdom Hearts II
DiZ chooses the Old Mansion as his base of operations after he successfully infiltrates Castle Oblivion in pursuit of revenge against the members of Organization XIII. He sets up a large computer system in the mansion's basement, and he also constructs the Pod Room to host the memory pods containing the sleeping Sora, Donald, and Goofy, as well as the White Room, where he allows Naminé to reside. It is from within the Old Mansion that DiZ, Naminé, and Riku work to restore Sora's memories; DiZ also creates a simulated version of Twilight Town from here in which he places Roxas after Riku captures him.

After Sora and Roxas become one in the simulated Twilight Town, Sora awakens in the real one along with Donald and Goofy. DiZ, Naminé, and Riku have left the Old Mansion at this point; Sora and his friends begin their second journey together from here alone. The trio have clue as to how long they were asleep, or how they got to Twilight Town, but Sora says that the surroundings are rather familiar, and the group ponders if they've been here before. They wander the streets, looking for answers, and ultimately meet Hayner, Pence, Olette, Seifer, and the other residents of Twilight Town. Eventually, they encounter King Mickey, when he saves them from a group of attacking Nobodies and tells them to board a magic train to the Mysterious Tower.

Sora and the party return to Twilight Town twice during their adventures. The first time, he learns that Kairi and Pluto fled Destiny Islands and was kidnapped by Axel. As he leaves town, he is stopped by Saïx, who taunts him into defeating more Heartless for Organization XIII.

The second time, seeking Organization XIII's world, Sora, Donald, and Goofy eventually return to Twilight Town and head to the Old Mansion. There, they find Hayner, Pence, and Olette, who have gone to the mansion because they believe it to be the gateway to an alternate Twilight Town, from which Sora's Munny Pouch and crystal must have come. The trio also assumes that Kairi, whom they have befriended, has ended up in this second Twilight Town following her capture at Axel's hands, for they have no knowledge of other worlds. In the Old Mansion's basement, Pence activates DiZ's computer, and is able to send Sora, Donald, Goofy, and King Mickey to the simulated Twilight Town, from which they are able to enter the Betwixt and Between and access The World That Never Was.

Kingdom Hearts III
While Riku and King Mickey search for Aqua, Sora decides to visit Twilight Town with Donald and Goofy to follow Roxas's heart. After arriving and being forced to fend off a group of Nobodies and a Demon Tide, Sora meets up with Hayner, Pence, and Olette. Sora shows the picture to explain who Roxas is, and though the gang doesn't recognize Roxas they agree to help Sora in reviving him.

After saving Little Chef from the Heartless, the group meets up at the Old Mansion. Though they fail to access the transporter to the simulated Twilight Town, Sora is contacted by Ienzo who decides to use the computer to speed up the process of deciphering Ansem's Code. Outside the mansion, Ansem and Xemnas appear to Sora, Donald, and Goofy to claim that the only way to bring Roxas back is for Sora to surrender to the darkness.

Sora and company return to town and are introduced to Little Chef and Le Grand Bistrot by Scrooge McDuck. When Sora leaves Twilight Town, Xigbar meets with Ansem and Xemnas and learns that they intend to destroy Sora if he strays from his path, as well as that the Organization has a backup plan if Sora does not become a vessel.

Later on, Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, returns to Twilight Town with Ansem the Wise, intending on questioning him about Subject X's whereabouts. Hayner, Pence, and Olette spy on the two and realize their link to Roxas. While Hayner distracts Xehanort's Heartless, Olette frees Ansem the Wise with the help of a group of Dusks. As the four retreat into the sewers, they meet Vexen, who had sent the Dusks and intends to atone.

The day before the Keyblade War, Lea sits at the clock tower with three sticks of ice cream. Saïx arrives and reminisces with Lea over why they joined the Organization, with Lea promising to bring Isa back.

Following Master Xehanort's defeat, Roxas, Lea, Xion, Isa, Hayner, Pence, and Olette meet up at the clock tower to eat ice cream, with Sora and Kairi watching from above. Riku arrives in the Gummi Ship to pick the group up. Later, Scrooge arrives at the kitchen of Le Grand Bistrot to see Little Chef cooking his next meal.

One year later, Riku explains that Hayner, Pence, and Olette are observing Roxas and Xion's memories to find a clue to Sora's whereabouts.

Blank Points
In one scene, Naminé is shown drawing in the White Room and saying Sora's name. In the next, Roxas, Axel and Xion are shown sitting atop the clock tower eating sea salt ice cream as they did during their Organization days. The trio looks out towards the setting sun and Roxas and Xion say Sora's name in unison.

A fragmentary passage
Twilight Town is seen at several points during the ending montage. First, Kairi, Hayner, Pence, and Olette are shown looking up at the Old Mansion, followed by a scene of DiZ watching over a sleeping Sora in the basement, and finally Roxas and Xion walking through Tram Common as a cloaked and blindfolded Riku watches from above atop of a nearby shop.

Characters

 *  is mentioned on a poster for Giantland as the creator of the cartoons that Scrooge is airing in town, but does not make a physical appearance.

Trivia

 * The Old Mansion is notable for having four different command menu icons (The White Room/Pod Room, Betwixt and Between, the Computer Room, and the remaining rooms).
 * If one goes into the White Room (or the Pod Room) in Kingdom Hearts II, the command menu icons will be styled after the cards from Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories, while the menu itself is based on Castle Oblivion.
 * In Kingdom Hearts II, the Basement Corridor leading towards the Pod Room has a track containing seven other pods. The third and fourth pods were previously occupied by Donald and Goofy, respectively. However, examining the one farthest from the Pod Room states, "There's evidence this was used before."
 * If the player equips either Kingdom Key, Oathkeeper, or Oblivion and enters Betwixt and Between, the animations for the summoning of those Keyblades will not be shown and the Keyblade will appear out of nowhere, just like they did in the first game.

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