Kingdom Hearts II/Pride Lands

First visit
This world is unique in that Sora's fighting style changes completely to suit his new four-legged state. He also loses the ability to use drives and summons, but he makes up for it with his quickness, dashing long distances mid-combo to avoid enemy attacks. The chests in this world also have a different shape, taking on the appearance of fruits. Open the large pear-shaped one for a Savannah Map, then the smaller one to the left of it for a Dark Gem. On the other side of the area is a Mythril Stone. Exit the Gorge to the Elephant Graveyard, where Sora will step into battle against some Heartless. This world introduces the exclusive Living Bone Heartless, which may have Shaman Heartless that cast magic riding them. The Living Bone is powerful on its own, being fully capable of killing Sora in one combo. If you'd prefer to be cautious, guard the Living Bone's attacks before obtaining the opportunity to perform the Rodeo/Grand Cross reaction command combo, doing significant damage and stunning the Heartless so that Sora can finish it off. After the scene, return to the exit of the Gorge which you entered the area from. Head down this path to the right for an AP Boost. Keep continuing down this path and open the chest to the left for a Mythril Shard, and the chest in the distance for a Bright Stone. Head up the ramp and grab the Mythril Stone across from the elephant skull. Continue down this path and take a right turn at the fork for a Frost Gem. Exit the area to the Savannah. Cross the long expanse of flat land, battling Heartless along the way, to Pride Rock.

Head left and open the chest under Pride Rock for a Pride Rock Map. Take a right and open another chest under Pride Rock for a Serenity Crystal. Turn back for a Mythril Stone hiding directly under Pride Rock, then head to the Stone Hollow for a save point if you wish.

Taking back Pride Rock
Go to Wildebeest Valley straight ahead from Pride Rock and Sora will learn the Dash ability in his lion form. Hold psx: S and Sora's running speed will quicken, taking him further distances with his jumps. Open a chest by a rock in the center for an Energy Stone. A Mythril Stone is by the right wall and a Mythril Gem is further ahead. Behind a rock to the left is an AP Boost. A Lucid Gem is by the exit. Enter the Wastelands and open chests along the winding path for a Mythril Shard, a Serenity Gem, and a Mythril Stone. Enter the Jungle at the end of the path and pick up the Serenity Crystal straight ahead. Head around to the top of the raised ledge for a Serenity Gem, and to the northeast corner of the area for a Mythril Stone. Take the northwest path to the Oasis.

The Oasis contains a save point and the world's moogle, as well as Simba. After the scene, open the large chest to the left for an Oasis Map, then take another left across the log to the moogle. Open another large chest here for Torn Pages. Head up to the highest ledge in the corner for an AP Boost, then return to the Jungle with Simba in tow. After the scenes, speak to Simba. After another scene, you'll receive the Circle of Life Keyblade and Simba will finally join the party, bringing his useful limit, Wildcat, with him. Return to Pride Rock for a scene in which Simba temporarily leaves the party, then enter the King's Den for a battle.

Bosses: Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed
While the hyenas have a good amount of health, their attacks are relatively weak, so they shouldn't pose any threat to the party. They do, however, deal a good amount of damage to Timon and Pumbaa with every hit, indicated by the damage bar in the corner of the screen. Like the rest of these protection tasks, filling the gauge will result in a mandatory restart. To make matters more difficult, the hyenas are incredibly quick and evasive while Timon and Pumbaa stay in one place unless they are called over by Sora with psx: T. To start, lock on to whichever hyena is closest and combo them, then call Timon and Pumbaa over. Pursue the hyena after it runs off and attack it, using Dash if necessary to catch up to it, then call Timon and Pumbaa over again. Repeat this pattern with all three hyenas to defeat them while maintaining Timon and Pumbaa's health. If you do not call the duo over to keep them constantly moving, whichever hyenas Sora isn't keeping distracted will target them, making the strategy of calling them over before pursuing the targeted hyena the safest. Clearing the battle will earn Sora and Donald an increase in maximum HP while Goofy obtains the Lucky Lucky ability, which should come in handy for synthesis farming. Head through the upward passage to the Peak for another boss fight.

Boss: Scar
While the lack of drive forms and summons may make this battle difficult, Simba rejoins the party for the fight, tipping the scales in your favor. Use Simba's limit whenever your MP permits it, and Potions if necessary. You can perform some combos on Scar in between attacks (particularly immediately after the limit, as the final attack will stun him if he's in range) but be warned that he's difficult to stun. He can easily cancel combos by striking with lightning bolts, occasionally performing a charge that leaves lightning in its wake. About halfway into the battle, Scar will also add fire to his arsenal, which has an even greater range than his lightning. Fortunately, the battlefield is large, so escaping Scar to heal is always doable.

When you knock off enough of Scar's health, he will begin to get desperate, floating into the air with the power of darkness and charging around the battlefield with hyper speed. Dash around the field to avoid him, as he cannot be attacked in this state. There is a benefit to seeing him begin this attack, as he will be tired out once he finishes. Get in close when he drops back to the ground and perform combos, as well as Simba's limit if available. Drain his health to earn an increase in maximum MP for Sora, Fire Boost for Donald, and an increase in maximum HP for Goofy and Simba, as well as clear the world for an upgrade in Sora's fire magic. You can now continue the main story by returning to Twilight Town.

Second visit
Head to the top of Pride Rock and after the scene, into the King's Den. After another scene, Simba will join as a mandatory party member. Head into the Stone Hollow to speak with Rafiki, then exit to the Savannah. You'll come across a fight with Scar's ghost every now and then, but it's very easily defeated. Enter the Elephant Graveyard for a simple but long boss fight. The hyenas aren't so different from the last time you've fought them, but they do have more space to run around this time. Chase them with Sora's Dash ability and attack mid-run to catch them in a combo. Simba will also come to your aid here, as his main attack is a moving one. The hyenas cannot be stunned, but they will stop to catch a break when they don't see the party around. Come close enough, and they will begin to run off again. Try to attack before they notice you, and they can easily be trapped in an aerial combo. Mark off all three hyenas for an extra accessory slot for Sora, increases in maximum HP for Donald and Simba, and MP Rage for Goofy.

After the scenes, Simba will leave the party and you will have to once again head to the Oasis to bring him back. For your trouble, Simba rejoins the party, this time optional, though not for long. Leave Pride Rock to begin a boss fight.

Boss: Groundshaker
This battle will be done only with Sora and Simba. It will begin with a reaction command combo. Perform it successfully to start off the battle with a stunned boss. Lock on to one of the Groundshaker's eyes (one on the underside of its head or one higher up, which you must jump to reach with aerial combos) and attack while you can. The battle will then go into phase two, in which case the Heartless will begin jumping to create massive shockwaves by its feet and its head will turn upside down. Because continuing to attack it from the ground will open you up to devastating attacks, use a couple of reaction commands in front of it to jump up its head and onto its back. This shaman-like Heartless on the Groundshaker's back is the core of its power, and regardless of how much damage you do on the ground, it can only defeated by landing a finisher on its back. Use Simba's limit to deal some serious damage to it, though you may end up on the ground afterward. In this case, you will get the chance to perform another reaction command combo; finish it off by jumping on its back to clear the battle. Doing so will earn Sora an upgrade in his Thunder magic as well as maximum HP, and Simba an upgrade in his maximum HP.

You now have three options: move the main story along by returning to Twilight Town, head to Atlantica as you've just received the last of the magic you need to unlock all songs in the world, or return to Space Paranoids to deal with the MCP.