Many fans of theKingdom Heartsseries were devastated to learn theDark Roadmobile game was shutting down. Only a small portion of Xehanort’s origin story had been divulged, leaving fans to wonder if they would ever get the chance to fully experience it since the Dark Seeker Saga had reached its conclusion.
Thankfully, theKingdom Hearts20th-anniversary eventrevealed that an offline version ofDark Roadwas scheduled to release in August 2022. The entire story was released in one update, allowing fans to finally discover why Xehanort became what he did. ThoughDark Roadisn’t as visually impressive as other entries, it contains some of the most important events in the entire series.
8Xehanort Finds Ventus
It was never made clear how Xehanort came across Ventus before the events ofBirth By Sleep, butDark Roadchose to finally reveal how they crossed paths. As a boy,Xehanort stumbled upon a magic mirrorcapable of answering any questions asked of it and chose to seek guidance from it again many years later.
Before leaving Destiny Island to explore the outside worlds, Xehanort would dream about the characters fromUnion X [Cross]. Unsure if they were real or not, he sought to ask the magic mirror for assistance in finding them. The mirror informed him that Ventus could be found “Amongst an ocean of keys on a vast barren land,” prompting Xehanort to investigate the Keyblade Graveyard.
7The Fear Of True Darkness
Before becoming Keyblade Masters, Xehanort and Eraqus were mentored by a mysterious man named Odin. Though series director Tetsuya Nomura usually adds more questions than answers to most ofKingdom Hearts, Odin revealed a great deal aboutthe new threat Sora will likely face in the future.
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Fans of the series will already know that some Heartless originated from the Realm of Darkness, while others were created as a result ofAnsem the Wise’s research. Odin, however, disclosed the true source of the Heartless. They came to be due to the presence of thirteen ancient darknesses referred to by Odin as “true darkness.” They are formless entities and are thus nearly impossible to destroy, making them the greatest threat to currently exist inKingdom Hearts.
6The Visit To The Underworld
In an attempt to uncover more information on how the Upperclassmen met their end, Xehanort and his fellow Lowerclassmen venture to the Underworld in Olympus Coliseum. While there, they approach Hades and ask him if it is possible to communicate with those no longer among the living.
This plot point is surprisingly dark for aKingdom Heartsgame, but it seems likeDonald and Goofy will be attempting the same thinginKingdom Hearts 4while searching for Sora. Though many ofDark Road’s main characters meet their end by the climax of the game, Xehanort’s trip to the Underworld revealed they can return.
5Multiple Deaths
The lack of death inKingdom Heartshas become something of a meme in recent years. The main antagonists ofKingdom Hearts 3had been defeated before in previous entries, but their return made the concept of death feel somewhat hollow.
Kingdom Hearts: Dark Road, however, pulled no punches when depicting the deaths of its characters. By the end of the story, eleven of Xehanort’s comrades meet their end. Though the player doesn’t get much time to get to know these new characters, it is hard not to sympathize with Xehanort over the loss he feels.
4Master Odin’s Keyblades
Not many keyblade wielders can dual-wield their weapons, but Master Odin is an exception. He spends the majority ofDark Roadwielding Brain’s Master Keeper before eventually calling upon the Master of Master’s Gazing Eye and utilizing both blades in combat.
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Dual-wielding is far from unheard of in theKingdom Heartsseries, butOdin’s choice of weaponryis fascinating all the same. The Gazing Eye and the Master Keeper are two of the most powerful keyblades present in the entire series and, though little was revealed about Master Odin, his ability to wield both of these blades suggests he is one of the most powerful keyblade wielders to ever exist.
3The Player’s Second Life
The finale ofUnion X [Cross]implied that the player’s heart was absorbed into Xehanort’s after their death. This was further hinted at through Xehanort’s dreams where he would witness fragments of the player’s life while he slept. It was only during the finale ofDark Roadthat this assumption was disproved.
The player’s heart was actually absorbed into the hooded figure who raised Xehanort on Destiny Island. Xehanort can sense what lies in the hearts of others, a trait that allowed him to visualize his guardian’s experiences and connect to them.
2Bragi’s True Identity
When Bragi’s name was revealed prior to the initial release ofDark Road, many fans assumed he would eventually reveal himself to be Luxu. As time passed, however, fans developed multiple theories regarding Luxu’s next body and largely agreed that Bragi’s would be too obvious.
The ending ofDark Roadfinally exposed the body Luxu was hiding in and, much to everyone’s surprise, it was Bragi’s. Given the age of Xehanort during the game, it is likelyLuxu held onto this body for a few more yearsbefore taking control of the one he is more commonly known for.
1Xehanort’s True Purpose
Xehanort was brought to Destiny Island as a baby by a mysterious man in a blue cloak. The two spent many years living on the island before the robed figure passed away. During their time together, the faceless being informed Xehanort that he wasa “child of destiny"that would one day prevent darkness from conquering the light.
Though Xehanort’s mind became somewhat twisted on his many journeys across the universe, he dedicated his whole life to fulfilling this prophecy in any way he could. By creating thirteen vessels to house what he believed to be “true darkness,” he thought he could restore peace to the world by sacrificing himself. His methods were questionable, but he never swayed from what he believed was his destiny.
Kingdom Hearts: Dark Roadis available to play on Android and iOS.
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