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Riku (Kingdom Hearts)

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Riku
Kingdom Hearts character
Riku as he appears in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, wielding the Soul Eater
First appearanceKingdom Hearts (2002)
Created byTetsuya Nomura
Designed byTetsuya Nomura
Voiced byJapanese
Mamoru Miyano
Eiji Shima (young)
English
David Gallagher
Ty Panitz (young)
In-universe information
WeaponKeyblade
HomeDestiny Islands

Riku (Japanese: リク) is a fictional character in the Square Enix video game series Kingdom Hearts. Debuting in the original Kingdom Hearts, Riku is introduced as a teenager who wishes to visit other worlds with his friends Sora and Kairi. After their home world of Destiny Islands is destroyed, Riku meets Maleficent, whose manipulation causes him to oppose Sora and fall into darkness, being possessed by Ansem, Seeker of Darkness. However, he is freed thanks to Sora and returns as a protagonist in subsequent games.

Riku was created and designed by Tetsuya Nomura, who wanted him to be a foil for Sora's character and his character arc to represent the series' main theme of being able to choose between light or darkness, with his design and story paralleling Terra. He is voiced by Mamoru Miyano and Eiji Shima in Japanese and David Gallagher and Ty Panitz in English.[1]

Critical response to Riku has been widely acclaimed, particularly for his redemption arc and David Gallagher's performance.

Creation and design

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Mamoru Miyano
David Gallagher
Mamoru Miyano (left) and David Gallagher (right) voiced Riku.

Kingdom Hearts creator Tetsuya Nomura has stated that Riku's name can be interpreted as "land", since the on'yomi pronunciation of the Japanese word for "land" is riku (陸),[2][3] similar to how Sora's name is identical to the Japanese word for "sky", sora (空).[4] Along with Sora, Riku's character represents one of the series' main themes, "the light and the dark sides of hearts".[5]

In Kingdom Hearts II, Riku's Keyblade is Way to the Dawn, which Nomura designed to resemble his previous weapon, the Soul Eater. Its name is derived from a scene at the end of Chain of Memories, where Riku said that he would walk "the road to dawn."[3] Though Riku has a minor role in Birth by Sleep, Nomura wanted to expand on his connection with Terra, who gave him the ability to wield the Keyblade and would later reunite with him.[6]

On the character's role in Dream Drop Distance, Nomura emphasized Riku as the game's main focus, as, despite it featuring Sora and Riku as dual protagonists, it showcases his growth across the series.[7] As a result of the game's plot, Sora and Riku appear in their younger forms from the first Kingdom Hearts game. To avoid misconceptions that Dream Drop Distance was a remake of the original game, Nomura decided to change their outfits for most of the game.[8] For Riku's new design, Nomura altered his hair based on fan response following Kingdom Hearts II.[9]

For Kingdom Hearts III, Riku and Kairi's new designs were made to fit with Sora's; while Kairi's main colour remains pink, Riku's main colour is blue in contrast to Sora's red, with their outfits sharing a gingham pattern due to being given to them by Yen Sid.[10] Riku's new Keyblade, Braveheart, was meant to contrast with the Way to Dawn Keyblade.[11]

Appearances

[edit]

Riku is a childhood friend and rival of Sora, who lives with him and Kairi on Destiny Islands.[12][13] In the original game, where he is fifteen years old, when the Heartless invade Destiny Islands, Riku immerses himself in darkness to discover new worlds beyond his home. Upon arriving at Hollow Bastion, Riku is manipulated by Maleficent into aiding in her plans for world conquest in exchange for knowledge to restore Kairi's missing heart. He comes to wield the Soul Eater, a manifestation of the darkness in his heart, and is later revealed to be the rightful owner of Sora's Keyblade, which Terra bequeathed to him during the events of Birth by Sleep, when he was five years old; however, his reliance on the power of darkness caused the Keyblade to reject him in favor of Sora.[14] He is later tricked into allowing Xehanort's Heartless, Ansem, to possess his body. Following Ansem's defeat, Riku sacrifices himself to help Mickey close the door to Kingdom Hearts, stranding them on the other side.[15][16]

In Chain of Memories, DiZ helps Riku escape from the dark realm. Initially rejecting his darkness out of guilt, Riku resolves to wield both powers of light and darkness to battle Ansem, whose essence lingers in his heart.[17] A replica of Riku, known as Riku Replica, appears in Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts III, having been created by Vexen as a pawn.[18][19]

In Kingdom Hearts II, Riku acquires a new Keyblade, the Way to the Dawn. He is forced to harness Ansem's power to defeat Roxas and restore Sora's missing memories.[20] As a result, he assumes Ansem's appearance, returning to normal after DiZ's heart encoder explodes. He and Sora return to Destiny Islands together following Xemnas's defeat.[21]

Riku appears in the multiplayer mode of 358/2 Days and in its story mode, where he contacts Xion and is the final boss, facing Roxas as seen in Kingdom Hearts II.[22] In Dream Drop Distance, he and Sora undertake the Mark of Mastery exam in preparation for Xehanort's return.[23] Riku is promoted to Keyblade Master after venturing into Sora's dreams as a Dream Eater to protect Sora from Xehanort, who attempts to use him as a vessel.[24][25]

In Kingdom Hearts III, he and Mickey venture into the realm of darkness to rescue Aqua, with him being playable in several moments throughout the realm. He is also playable in the Re Mind expansion, where he obtains a new Keyblade, Braveheart.[26] While visiting Radiant Garden, Riku analyzes digital copies of Sora and the Organization's members in hopes of uncovering clues to Sora's whereabouts. After the analysis proves inconclusive, Riku is approached by the Fairy Godmother and taken to meet Yen Sid, who suspects that they may find Sora through the dreams of him and two others. In Melody of Memory, Riku explains his dream of a modern metropolis to a girl known as the Nameless Star. She recognizes it as the city of Quadratum in her world and opens a portal for Riku to enter Quadratum and begin his search for Sora.

Riku also makes an appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a spirit.[27] In a collaboration between Square Enix and Japanese fashion brand SuperGroupies, Riku's image was used to create clothing based on his design from Kingdom Hearts III.[28] A perfume based on the character was also released.[29]

Reception

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USGamer praised Riku's role for giving the narrative a major impact as he takes over the role of the Disney villains in Hollow Bastion, defeating the Beast and taking the Keyblade from Sora. Though he is defeated, the reveal that he was being used by Ansem was noted as giving the narrative a darker tone.[30] Paste Magazine stated that a vital part in Riku's characterization in Kingdom Hearts is that he embraces darkness, similar to Terra during Birth by Sleep.[31] The inclusion of Riku in Chain of Memories as a playable character was praised by GamesRadar due to his enjoyable gameplay.[32] Comic Book Resources listed Sora and Riku's fight against Xemnas as one of Riku's best action sequences in the series.[33] Although Riku and Sora are friends, GamesRadar stated that the several cutscenes they share in the first three games of the series often resulted in fans shipping them while ignoring Sora and Kairi's relationship. Additionally, Riku has LGBT fans who interpret him through a queer lens due to parallels seen in his journey with self acceptance and real life experiences of accepting one's sexual identity.[34][35]

Riku's quest to be free and the sacrifices he makes in the first game to save Sora were commented on by William Humberto Huber from UC San Diego as symbolizing he and Sora's loss of innocence. The arrival of Heartless in Destiny Islands being caused by Riku's darkness was seen as an "allusion to the arrival" of Matthew C. Perry's ships in Tokyo Bay in 1853, which had a major impact on Japan.[36] In The Kingdom's Shōnen Heart Transcultural Character Design and the JRPG, Rachael Hutchinson noted that the early characterization of Riku and Sora seems to be influenced by that of Sephiroth and Cloud Strife, respectively, in order to portray their rivalry, with Ansem taking elements from Sephiroth's appearance. Riku and Sora being forced to oppose each being caused by Kairi's weakness was compared to the sense of loss that Cloud suffers in Final Fantasy VII following Aerith's death. Riku's tragic fate was noted to be similar to Tidus' disappearance in the ending of Final Fantasy X, with his return in latter games being compared to that of characters in shōnen manga as he becomes heroic due to friendship and perseverance, common themes in such manga.[37] In Kingdom Hearts: A Search For Identity, writer Michelle Pina describes Riku as a "bratty" youth who tries to act superior to Sora in early appearances in the first game. However, in later installments, he is described as a teenager who suffers from an identity crisis due to the inner conflict between him and Ansem after he gives up himself to the darkness within him.[38]

In the book Kingdom Hearts II (Boss Fight Books Book 16), Alexa Ray Corriea argues that Terra saw Riku's full potential when giving him the power to wield the Keyblade, claiming that, while Riku was a child when they first met, Terra saw through Riku's original intention of wanting to protect others, which may come across as a retcon when contrasting with previous installments.[39] Riku's new Keyblade, Braveheart, was commented on by Syfy as being one of the most interesting Keyblade designs in the game, citing parallels with the Keyblade Fenrir in Kingdom Hearts II.[40]

Hardcore Gamer liked the inclusion of Riku as a playable character in the Kingdom Hearts III DLC, but lamented his few possible fights.[41] The character's inclusion in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building during the Kingdom Hearts III secret ending was the subject of analysis as to whether he could interact with the cast from The World Ends With You as well as Yozora.[42][43] With the end of Re Mind, GameInformer said that Riku came across as a more developed character than Sora, despite Sora being the protagonist.[44]

The performance of David Gallagher as Riku, along with Haley Joel Osment as Sora and Willa Holland as Aqua, was praised by GamesRadar and Hardcore Gamer as one of the best performances in Dream Drop Distance and Kingdom Hearts III. His inclusion as a playable character in 3D was also praised due to his dynamic with Sora.[45][46] Koinya lamented the fact that Mamoru Miyano's work was never made available for a Western audience, considering him talented alongside Miyu Irino as Sora.[47] In a poll from Famitsu, Riku was voted as the series' fourth best male character.[48]

References

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  1. ^ Kingdom Hearts III Ultimania. Square Enix. 2019.
  2. ^ "Riku Biography". IGN. Archived from the original on March 14, 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2008.
  3. ^ a b キングダムハーツII FINAL MIX+ アルティマニア (in Japanese). Square-Enix. 2007. ISBN 978-4-7575-2013-4.
  4. ^ "Sora Biography". IGN. Archived from the original on 2007-11-13. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  5. ^ "Kingdom Builder". Nintendo Power. No. 276. Nintendo of America. March 2012. pp. 40–41. ISSN 1041-9551.
  6. ^ キングダム ハーツ バース バイ スリープ アルティマニア [Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania] (in Japanese). Square Enix. 2010. p. 616. ISBN 978-4-7575-2788-1.
  7. ^ Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Ultimania. Square Enix. May 2012. pp. 426–430. ISBN 978-4757536159.
  8. ^ Gantayat, Anoop (January 30, 2011). "Kingdom Hearts 3D: Sora and Riku to See Clothing Changes". Andriasang. Archived from the original on December 25, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
  9. ^ "Xion and Roxas Reappeared in Kingdom Hearts 3 Because of the Fans". Siliconera. 11 April 2022. Archived from the original on 11 April 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  10. ^ "『キングダム ハーツIII』最新情報＆野村哲也氏インタビュー！ E3 2018の速報も!!（2018年6月21日発売号）【今週の週刊ファミ通】". Famitsu. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  11. ^ "野村哲也氏を直撃！『キングダム ハーツIII』E3 2018発表内容を中心に訊くインタビュー完全版(1/3)". Famitsu. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  12. ^ Square Co., Ltd. (2002). Kingdom Hearts Instruction Booklet. Square Co., Ltd.
  13. ^ "Kingdom Hearts Company Line". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2007-05-18. Retrieved May 13, 2007.
  14. ^ Square Enix PDD 5 (2010-09-07). Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (PlayStation Portable). Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Riku: Your mind's made up / Sora: Yeah. /.../ Sora: Kairi, I... it's just they really need me. I have to go. I am who I am because of them. / Kairi: See you soon.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Square (2002-11-15). Kingdom Hearts (PlayStation 2). Square Electronic Arts. Sora: What? You... You're not Riku. / ... / Sora: Tell me. Who are you? / Ansem: It is I, Ansem, the seeker of darkness.
  16. ^ Square (2002-11-15). Kingdom Hearts (PlayStation 2). Square Electronic Arts. Mickey: Now, Sora! Let's close this door for good! / Donald: Close it, quick! / Sora: But... / Mickey: Don't worry. There will always be a door to the light. / Goofy: Sora, you can trust King Mickey. / Riku: Now! They're coming!
  17. ^ Square Enix (2008-12-02). Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories (PlayStation 2). Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Mickey: Listen, Riku. Just because darkness holds you, don't let go of who you are. You've got to fight the darkness inside you! It won't be easy to do, I know. But please don't forget. Even in the darkest darkness, there's always a little bit of light. / Riku: Light within darkness... / Mickey: You and I have seen it. The far welcoming light inside the door to darkness... The light of Kingdom Hearts---it will show you the way. Please don't give up. Believe in the light. That's a request from my heart.
  18. ^ Square Enix (December 7, 2004). Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories (Game Boy Advance). Square Enix U.S.A. Axel: Marluxia plotted to use Sora against the Organization...so it's fitting Sora should be his downfall. / Zexion: Then...we won't be needing Riku anymore.
  19. ^ Square Enix (2008-12-02). Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories (PlayStation 2). Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Riku Replica: Surprised? I guess you should be. After all, I look just like you. I'll tell you what I am. I'm an exact replica of you that Vexen made from your data..
  20. ^ Square Enix (2006-03-28). Kingdom Hearts II (PlayStation 2). Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Riku: Will it work? / DiZ: If we can maintain the simulated town until Naminé finishes chaining together Sora's memories. / Riku: What will happen to Roxas? / DiZ: He holds half of Sora's power within him. In the end, he'll have to give it back.
  21. ^ Square Enix (2006-03-28). Kingdom Hearts II (PlayStation 2). Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Xemnas: Heroes from the realm of light... I will not allow it to end this way---not yet. If light and darkness are eternal, then surely we nothings must be the same... Eternal! / Riku: You're right, light and darkness are eternal. Nothing probably goes on forever, too. But guess what, Xemnas? / Sora: That doesn't mean YOU'RE eternal!
  22. ^ Square Enix, h.a.n.d. (2009-09-29). Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (Nintendo DS). Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Riku: Xion...your memories...they really belong to Sora. / Xion: So you mean...I'm like a part of him? / Riku: When his memories were scattered, some of them...found their way inside you. Now, Sora has been put to sleep so that we can piece together his memory. Except... / Xion: You can't, because part of it is inside of me. That means...he can't wake up. / Riku: Yeah. You got it.
  23. ^ Square Enix, h.a.n.d. (July 31, 2012). Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (Nintendo 3DS). Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Yen Sid: Only a true master can teach you the proper way. Both of you are self-taught Keyblade wielders--an impressive feat. However, the time has come for you to let go of preconceived notions, forget what you know about the Keyblade, and begin your training again with a clean slate. Very well, then. Sora and Riku, let your examination begin.
  24. ^ Square Enix, h.a.n.d. (July 31, 2012). Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (Nintendo 3DS). Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Ansem: At the start of your test, when you struck out from that tiny island, you saw me there dressed in a robe. Immediately you knew something was wrong, so without even knowing it, you dove into Sora's dream. And you exactly what that sigil on your back represents--a Dream Eater to protect Sora from nightmares. / Riku: Me? I'm a Dream Eater?
  25. ^ Square Enix, h.a.n.d. (July 31, 2012). Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (Nintendo 3DS). Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Yen Sid: Sora and Riku, you both deserve the honor. However, one of you braved the realm of sleep again to unlock the final Keyhole and save a friend. Riku, I name you our new true Keyblade Master.
  26. ^ "Kingdom Hearts 3: Riku o Aqua serán jugables en el DLC Re Mind". Vandal. 27 December 2019. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  27. ^ "Smash Bros.: Every Kingdom Hearts Spirit Being Added with Sora". Screen Rant. 6 October 2021. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  28. ^ "新進気鋭の４名のアーティストが集結". Super Groupies. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  29. ^ "Kingdom Hearts Perfumes Inspired by Sora and Riku Are Available to Pre-Order". Siliconera. 19 January 2022. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  30. ^ "Hollow Bastion is Where Shit Gets Real in Kingdom Hearts". USGamer. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  31. ^ "Everything You Need to Know Before Playing Kingdom Hearts III (Part One)". PasteMagazine. 17 January 2019. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  32. ^ "KINGDOM HEARTS RE: CHAIN OF MEMORIES REVIEW". GamesRadar. 10 December 2008. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  33. ^ "Kingdom Hearts: Riku's 10 Best Fights". ComicBookResources. 29 October 2021. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  34. ^ "Top 10 Square Enix Couples". GamesRadar. 14 February 2008. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  35. ^ "Riku Being Gay Is Key To Kingdom Hearts". TheGamer. 15 June 2023. Archived from the original on 15 June 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  36. ^ "Kingdom Hearts, Territoriality and Flow" (PDF). Digra. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  37. ^ Hutchinson, Rachael (2022). "The Kingdom's Shōnen Heart". Loading. 15 (25): 76–93. doi:10.7202/1092427ar. S2CID 252485370.
  38. ^ "Kingdom Hearts: A Search For Identity". Game Developer. 22 November 2016. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  39. ^ Corriea, Alexa Ray (2017). "Riku and Redemption, Or What Doesn't kill you". Kingdom Hearts II: Boss Fight Books #16. Edición Kindle. ISBN 9781940535166.
  40. ^ "CHOSEN ONE OF THE DAY: RIKU'S KEYBLADE IN KINGDOM HEARTS 3". Syfy.com. 4 March 2019. Archived from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  41. ^ "Review: Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind". HardcoreGamer. 28 January 2020. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  42. ^ "Kingdom Hearts 3's 'secret movie' is full of surprises". Polygon. 31 January 2019. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  43. ^ "Analyzing Kingdom Hearts 3's Wild Secret Ending and What it Could Mean for a Sequel". USGamer. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  44. ^ Stewart, Marcus (May 30, 2022). "I Wish Kingdom Hearts' Sora Was More Like Yakuza's Ichiban Kasuga". Game Informer. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  45. ^ "KINGDOM HEARTS 3D: DREAM DROP DISTANCE REVIEW". GamesRadar. 31 July 2012. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  46. ^ "Review: Kingdom Hearts III". HardcoreGamer. 28 January 2019. Archived from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  47. ^ "Review: Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix". Koi Nya. 3 January 2015. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  48. ^ "Kingdom Hearts 15th Anniversary". Famitsu. No. April. 2017.
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