Kingdom Hearts III/Olympus

The world based on the 1997 film Hercules makes a reappearance in Kingdom Hearts III, though in a form different from its predecessors; Sora, Donald, and Goofy do not begin their journey through the world at the Coliseum, but on Mount Olympus. Some nearby vases can be broken for a decent amount of munny before proceeding toward the world's first battle. Four types of Heartless appear before the party: Shadows, Soldiers, Air Soldiers, and a Large Body. If you have some experience with the franchise, these Heartless should look familiar. As instructed, use this opportunity to practice casting some magic, an ability that should prove useful in later battles (though only Fire and Water magic are available for now). Shadows and Soldiers will charge at Sora if they aren't kept at bay, and Air Soldiers will swipe from the sky. Deal with them before taking on the Large Body, whose attacks consist of stomping on the ground to create a shockwave and sliding around on its belly. Cast magic to deal considerable damage to it from the front or behind, though it can also be struck from both angles with hits from the Keyblade (in a departure from previous entries in the series, in which attacks from the front would simply rebound off of the Large Body's belly). Following the defeat of the Heartless, you are given access to the game's menu, where you can prepare your party for future battles. For now, equip Sora with any available items and set magic/items to shortcuts for easy access mid-battle. Now approach the painted brick wall to the left for some information on free running, a new ability available to Sora that allows him to scale walls or cross ledges that are faintly glowing with a simple movement of the analog stick. Run up this wall to find yourself on a cliff. To the left, overlooking the rest of the area, sits a treasure chest containing an AP Boost.

Drop back down and run up the wall to the right. Here, you should come face to face with a giant statue. Run up the stone wall to the right of it, and then another stone wall at the end of the path. Walk toward the trees to trigger a scene which sends Sora, Donald, and Goofy to a new location.

Thebes
Save at the save point and proceed forward for another scene. What follows is another battle against a new type of Heartless: the Flame Cores, fiery monsters that toss fireballs and, if driven to a corner, race through the air while engulfed in flames. Use flowmotion to dodge attacks and Water magic to douse the Flame Cores, weakening them even as they perform their desperation move. If in need of health, smash open some pots and vases near the walls. After the battle is another scene, and another new location.

Overlook
Open the chest ahead for Map: Thebes and proceed down the stairs. After defeating another group of Flame Cores (by the right wall of this area is an ingredient which you can make use of in the next world), a scene introduces you to team attacks. Use Trinity Sled to slide across the fire, making a slight left turn when a rock formation crumbles in your path. After crossing the fire, make your way to the back wall, straight ahead. Against this wall is a chest containing a Potion. Proceeding forward, slide across the rooftops to land on a platform, then slide across some more rooftops to land in an alcove. Here, open the chest for an AP Boost and defeat the Popcat Heartless posing as regular pots. Drop down to the ground below to be confronted with more Heartless: Soldiers and Air Soldiers. Defeat them and approach the couple cowering up on some rocks for a Potion. Before proceeding down the stairs, turn back the other way, up some stairs. By the wall at the end of the path is a chest containing an Ether. Return to the rescued couple and proceed down the stairs, toward another fire. Again, use Trinity Sled to cross the fire, though there's a split in the path this time; take the left path and follow the stairs upward to find a chest containing a Shield Belt, which you can equip to Sora, Donald, or Goofy for some extra defense. Free run across some obstacles to return to the start of the fire, and take the right path this time to find yourself in a different part of the city.

Gardens
After dropping down a ledge, make a sharp left into a building where a man is cowering before some Heartless. Defeat them and speak to him for a Hi-Potion. You can also hit some bowls here for some ingredients. Exit the building and proceed down the narrow path to find a save point, a chest containing a Potion beneath a gazebo, and some ingredients that can be picked behind it. Proceed past a fountain and down some stairs for a short scene, after which the party must do battle with some Flame Cores. Use Water and flowmotion to defeat them and rescue the civilian. Instead of continuing forward, take a path off to the right to find a statue. Attack its heel to reveal a chest containing a Magic Ring. Continue forward, sliding down the incline and picking some ingredients along the way.

The Big Olive
Run along a wall to cross the fiery gap, as well as find an alcove where some Popcat Heartless and a chest containing a Mega-Potion can be found. Back on the ground, defeat some Heartless harassing a woman and child and speak to them for a Potion. Ahead is another fire that you can use Trinity Sled to cross, but make a right turn to save some more citizens first (they will reward you with an Ether). Back at the fire, take the left path while sledding to find a grassy area where many ingredients as well as a chest containing an Ether can be found. Return to the start and sled down the other path to land in a new area with some new enemies.

The Bizarre Archer Heartless fire their arrows at the party upon their entrance. Block their fire and return the offense to continue past them.

Alleyway
After the scene, you are tasked with defeating all Heartless that spawn within the time limit. Start by using as many Water spells as you can to weaken the Flame Cores. This constant use of Water should unlock the Grand Magic spell Watera, which you should use as soon as it becomes available. Team attacks and Formchanges should also prove helpful (though only Second Form is available for now). Defeat them all to stop the clock and trigger a scene. Scale a glowing wall ahead and jump across to a grassy ledge to find a chest containing an AP Boost, hidden behind some tall grass near the edge. Head through a hole in the wall and open a chest inside for a Potion. Hit the door nearby for an exit, after which the party is faced with a mini-boss. The use of an attraction (in this case, the Pirate Ship) should greatly assist in the defeat of the Rock Troll. If the ship is too far from the Rock Troll to hit it with its swings, shoot water in its direction. Afterward, target its head, maintaining air combos in order to avoid the shockwaves it creates when it slams its weapon down. When you see it hop onto its weapon, dodge away, as it will rapidly spin to mimic a harmful whirlwind.

After the battle, look for a building with stairs on either side of it. Ascend either staircase to end up behind the building, where a chest containing Fluorite can be found. Then, look for the save point and proceed past it to exit the town.

Ravine
Walk along the river to encounter some Air Soldiers. Defeat them and free-run across the rocks to get to the other side of the river, then free-run up a wall and continue walking along the river to encounter Water Cores for the first time. Like Flame Cores, these Heartless can become the very element they use to attack when driven to a corner, giving them a window of invincibility. This can be combated with Fire magic, so make sure to have all magic saved up for this battle. On Critical, you may even require some Ethers, as the Water Cores can deal considerable damage once they have you surrounded. Once they're defeated, the river becomes far more manageable. Backtrack along it to find a chest containing a Water Cufflink. Right by this chest is a statue of a foot. Use the rocks nearby to climb up onto it, where a chest containing a Power Ring sits.

Cliff Ascent
Back up the river, cross to the left and take the rock ramp up the mountain. Run up the glowing wall and open the chest under the tree for Map: Mount Olympus. Turn to the other side of the area and you should see another glowing wall. Approaching it will cause numerous Soldiers to spawn. They should provide no trouble at this point, so simply climb up the walls after defeating them. At the top, jump across the gap and make a left turn and run up another couple of walls. At the top, make a right turn and drop off the cliff, where you will be confronted by many Shadows. Once they're defeated, enter the cave and exit through the other side to find a chest overlooking a cliff. Inside is a Potion. Drop off the cliff and walk up the grassy path to come upon a clearing where Water Cores attack. Defeat them to weaken the waterfall, allowing you to run up the wall behind it. Continue along the path, running up another wall atop which Air Soldiers spawn. Use magic to avoid being knocked off the ledge by them, then turn on the spot to see a ledge that you can jump to. Run up the wall right in front of you, then walk past the tall wall and run up the short one. You should find yourself in a cave with Shadows. Defeat them and open the three chests along the walls for a Potion, an Ability Ring, and Panacea. Drop down the short ledges you used to reach the cave, and run up the tall wall that you passed by earlier to find another cave. Hit a column to knock it into other columns, which will themselves knock out part of the cliff. This should make it easier to ascend on subsequent climbs.

Walk past the rockslide, through the sunny opening in the cave. Defeat the Soldiers in the clearing and drop down at the end of the path to be introduced to Earth Cores, including one in the form of a sand monster. This worm-like sand formation can be defeated instantly with Goofy Bombardier, as Goofy will enter through its mouth after Sora launches him and destroy it from the inside. As for the rest of the Earth Cores, avoid hitting their spiked backs, as this will do no damage to them; target their faces or use magic to attack it from any angle. Return to the cave by climbing up the walls and take the other path there for a scene. Continue along the path for another scene, this time leading into a boss fight.