Roxas (Kingdom Hearts)
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is a
fictional character In fiction, a character (or speaker, in poetry) is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, radio or television series, music, film, or video game). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life person, ...
from
Square Enix is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational holding company, production enterprise and entertainment conglomerate, best known for its ''Final Fantasy'', ''Dragon Quest'', ''Star Ocean'' and ''Kingdom Hearts'' role-playing video game ...
's
video game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...
franchise '' Kingdom Hearts''. First making a cameo during the final scenes of the 2004 title '' Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories'' and full appearance in ''Kingdom Hearts II'', Roxas is a "
Nobody Nobody may refer to: * Nobody, an indefinite pronoun Nobody may also refer to: Fictional characters * Nobody (''Kingdom Hearts''), a race of beings in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' video game series *Nobody, a character in the Jim Jarmusch films '' D ...
", who was created from the series' main character Sora who briefly loses his heart during the first game of the series. '' Kingdom Hearts II'' reveals that Roxas is a member of
Organization XIII is a fictional group of characters featured in Square Enix and Disney Interactive Studios' ''Kingdom Hearts'' video game series. The group comprises thirteen beings including Xemnas and his twelve followers. The concept of the Organization was o ...
, a group of Nobodies who need him as he can wield the Keyblade, a weapon that allows him to capture hearts. As a member of the organization, Roxas bears the title . He is also the
protagonist A protagonist () is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing the story and propelling it forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles. If a st ...
of the video game ''
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (subtitle read as "Three-Five-Eight Days over Two") is an Action role-playing game, action role-playing video game developed by h.a.n.d. and Square Enix (in collaboration with Disney Interactive Studios) for the Nintendo DS. It is the fifth ins ...
'', which revolves around his origins. In the Japanese games, Roxas is voiced by
Kōki Uchiyama is a Japanese actor and voice actor from Saitama Prefecture. affiliated with Himawari Theatre Group. He won Best Male Rookie at 5th Seiyu Awards. He also received one of Best Voice Actors at Tokyo Anime Award Festival in 2015. Filmography Tele ...
, while
Jesse McCartney Jesse McCartney (born April 9, 1987) is an American actor and singer. He achieved fame in the late 1990s on the daytime drama ''All My Children'' as JR Chandler. He later joined boy band Dream Street, and eventually branched out into a solo mus ...
takes the role in the English versions. Since his cameo appearance, director
Tetsuya Nomura is a Japanese video game artist, designer and director working for Square Enix (formerly Square). He designed characters for the ''Final Fantasy'' series, debuting with ''Final Fantasy VI'' and continuing with various later installments. Addi ...
has said that Roxas is an important character in the series, and in order to explain his back story in more detail than was done in ''Kingdom Hearts II'', ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'' was created. Since his introduction in ''Kingdom Hearts II'', Roxas has received positive critical response from video game publications with most of them focusing on his development in ''358/2 Days''. Various types of merchandise based on his character has been produced.


Creation and development

After Roxas first cameo at the end of '' Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories'', the series' director,
Tetsuya Nomura is a Japanese video game artist, designer and director working for Square Enix (formerly Square). He designed characters for the ''Final Fantasy'' series, debuting with ''Final Fantasy VI'' and continuing with various later installments. Addi ...
, was questioned about the character. However, he refrained from revealing too much detail about him and said he would become an important, playable character for the franchise. The developers wrote Roxas' story in ''Kingdom Hearts II'' to add mixed feelings to the game in a short time frame. After receiving a positive fan response to Roxas' sad scenario, Nomura concluded that it was well executed. He also stated that Roxas' merging with Sora in the game was one of the most memorable scenes from the series for him. Nomura later commented that Roxas was one of the first characters created for
Organization XIII is a fictional group of characters featured in Square Enix and Disney Interactive Studios' ''Kingdom Hearts'' video game series. The group comprises thirteen beings including Xemnas and his twelve followers. The concept of the Organization was o ...
, and was always intended to be the 13th member. The meaning of Roxas' name was meant to be revealed in a scene in ''Kingdom Hearts II'' that shows the letters in the word "Sora" rearranged with the "X" added to expand the connection between the characters. However, this scene was omitted as Nomura found it difficult to implement time-wise. Since his debut in ''Kingdom Hearts II'', Roxas has been voiced in Japanese by
Kōki Uchiyama is a Japanese actor and voice actor from Saitama Prefecture. affiliated with Himawari Theatre Group. He won Best Male Rookie at 5th Seiyu Awards. He also received one of Best Voice Actors at Tokyo Anime Award Festival in 2015. Filmography Tele ...
and by
Jesse McCartney Jesse McCartney (born April 9, 1987) is an American actor and singer. He achieved fame in the late 1990s on the daytime drama ''All My Children'' as JR Chandler. He later joined boy band Dream Street, and eventually branched out into a solo mus ...
in the English versions. After ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'' was released, Nomura wanted to expand Roxas' role in the series to explain the events between his birth and his disappearance from Organization XIII. For ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'', the staff thought that Roxas' role as a member of the group would be a suitable theme for the plot. Roxas was chosen as the game's protagonist as the staff thought that having a main character besides Sora would help to introduce gamers to the series' first
Nintendo DS The is a handheld game console produced by Nintendo, released globally across 2004 and 2005. The DS, an initialism for "Developers' System" or "Dual Screen", introduced distinctive new features to handheld games: two LCD screens working in tan ...
title. Co-director Tomohiro Hasegawa explained that Roxas' was originally shorter, and the staff decided he should grow taller as the game continued to develop. Nomura wanted to portray Roxas' activities differently from Sora's. In Sora's games, he is on a journey around the world, while Roxas always returns to Organization XIII after each mission. The staff constructed Roxas' interactions with the Disney characters differently from Sora's, as the Organization was meant to be secret in the game's story. Nomura told the writers that he wanted Roxas to learn something from each of his missions or just to have something to think about. Nomura later clarified that Roxas' personality was different from the one portrayed in ''Kingdom Hearts II'', as he does not actively attempt to come into contact with other characters. With ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'', Nomura wanted to reveal why Roxas left Organization XIII. Although Nomura found it a sad story, he considered
Zack Fair is a fictional character in the ''Final Fantasy'' role-playing video game series by Square Enix (originally Square), first introduced as a non-player character in ''Final Fantasy VII'' (1997). Zack later appears in the ''Compilation of Final Fan ...
's ending in '' Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII'' to be more tragic. Nomura felt Roxas' last words in the game were also the title's most significant, as he wanted them to connect to ''Kingdom Hearts II''s first scene, which is actually the same scene. Uchiyama expressed sadness when the game's development ended as he would not play the character for a long time. ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix''s secret ending features a character named Ventus who bears a strong striking resemblance to him. Nomura commented that, despite their similarities, Roxas and Ventus are not the same character. He also said that when playing '' Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'', players will be able to distinguish Roxas from Ventus. In another interview, Nomura implied both characters are related, specifically to Sora, but he wanted fans to imagine reasons for such a connection. For the game ''
Kingdom Hearts III is a 2019 action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows and Nintendo Switch. It is the twelfth installment in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series, and serves as a conclusion of the ...
'', there is a possibility of Roxas being revived despite Sora being alive at the same time. Nomura says this will be explained by the fact that the character
Xehanort is a fictional character and the central antagonist of the ''Kingdom Hearts'' game franchise by Square Enix. He is the main antagonist of the Dark Seeker Saga, the first phase in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series. He was introduced as the original fo ...
whose Heartless and Nobody, Ansem and Xemnas, exist at the same time as the original one. Originally, Roxas was not meant to return to the game but positive response to his character led to his inclusion.


Characteristics

Roxas is depicted as a spiky blond-haired boy with blue eyes. Due to his nature as a Nobody, he is an "empty shell" of series' protagonist Sora created when the latter sacrifices his heart and becomes a Heartless during the events of ''Kingdom Hearts''. As a result, despite his teenage appearance, Roxas is one day short of a year old when he rejoins Sora in ''Kingdom Hearts II''. As a civilian, he wears a white jacket over a black one and white trousers. As a member of Organization XIII, Roxas wears a hooded black coat that covers most of his body. His weapon is the Keyblade known as , resembling a classic
skeleton key A skeleton key (also known as a passkey) is a type of master Lock (security device), key in which the serrated edge has been removed in such a way that it can open numerous Lock and key, locks, most commonly the warded lock. The term derives fr ...
with a long silver keychain extending from the hilt, and a Mickey Mouse token on the end of it. However, the player can modify it during ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'' using the game's panel system. Roxas also becomes able to dual-wield Keyblades after leaving the Organization, and exclusively uses the weapon's and forms for each. Roxas' personality changes significantly across the series due to the fact that when first introduced, he appears with fake memories that make him believe he is a common teenager, and spends most of his time with his friends. After learning that he is Sora's Nobody, and remembering his past, Roxas gives up his existence so that Sora can continue to exist, but still expresses happiness for his fate. During his time in the Organization, Roxas develops a calm personality as a result of having no memories of a previous life, unlike other Nobodies.


Appearances

Roxas' first appearances were cameos in ''Another Side, Another Story'', a bonus trailer found in '' Kingdom Hearts'', and in the ending of '' Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories''. In '' Kingdom Hearts II'', Roxas is introduced as a boy living in a
computer simulation Computer simulation is the process of mathematical modelling, performed on a computer, which is designed to predict the behaviour of, or the outcome of, a real-world or physical system. The reliability of some mathematical models can be dete ...
of a city called Twilight Town. Unaware of the virtual nature of the city, Roxas begins to dream about the adventures of Sora, the series' protagonist. He later encounters Axel, a member of
Organization XIII is a fictional group of characters featured in Square Enix and Disney Interactive Studios' ''Kingdom Hearts'' video game series. The group comprises thirteen beings including Xemnas and his twelve followers. The concept of the Organization was o ...
who is under orders to extract him, and Naminé, a Nobody who tells him he is Sora's other half. Shortly after meeting DiZ, the creator of the virtual world, Roxas learns the true nature of Twilight Town, and that DiZ altered his memory and personality to mislead his pursuers from the Organization until he can merge with Sora. DiZ leads Roxas to an old mansion where he rejoins a sleeping Sora, allowing him to wake up. Sora later learns that Roxas is his Nobody, created during the events of the first game after briefly turning into a Heartless, and inducted into the Organization for his ability to capture hearts with the Keyblade; however, Roxas later betrayed the Organization and encountered one of Sora's friends,
Riku Riku is both a masculine Finnish given name and a unisex Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese footballer * Riku Hahl (born 1980), Finnish NHL hockey player *, Japanese footballer *Riku Heini (born 1990), Finnis ...
, who captured him to restore Sora. Roxas makes two appearances near the end of the game: the first is in a mental battle with Sora depicted as a cut-scene, and the second is with Naminé, who has merged with her other self, Kairi. In the re-released version of the title, ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'', Roxas' fight against Sora is expanded, making him a
boss character In video games, a boss is a significant computer-controlled opponent. A fight with a boss character is commonly referred to as a boss battle or boss fight. Bosses are generally far stronger than other opponents the player (game), player has fa ...
. The battle was meant to be interactive in ''Kingdom Hearts II'', but time constraints imposed from creating fights for the other Organization XIII members prevented its inclusion. With the opportunity to include the fight, Nomura's team worked hard to make it entertaining for players. Additional scenes about Roxas' past were included in the game to add to the mystery around him. ''
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (subtitle read as "Three-Five-Eight Days over Two") is an Action role-playing game, action role-playing video game developed by h.a.n.d. and Square Enix (in collaboration with Disney Interactive Studios) for the Nintendo DS. It is the fifth ins ...
'', a prequel to ''Kingdom Hearts II'', reveals Roxas' life with Organization XIII. Unlike the other Organization members, he lacks memories of his previous life. During Roxas' time in the Organization, he is placed under Axel's watch, and the two become friends. After Axel is sent to Castle Oblivion, Roxas is partnered with Xion, the Organization's 14th member and another Keyblade wielder, whom he befriends. Roxas reacts to Sora's memory restoration and starts questioning why he uses the Keyblade, doubting the Organization's motives. When he discovers that Xion is a replica created by Xemnas from Sora's memories, Roxas is compelled to defect from Organization XIII to find answers and meet Sora. After doing so, he encounters Xion, who has been repurposed by Xemnas to absorb him so that she can become a complete replica; however, the fight ends with Xion's defeat, and she entrusts Roxas with freeing the hearts captured by the Organization. On his way to face Xemnas, Roxas is confronted by Riku, who knocks him unconscious in order to help DiZ and Naminé wake Sora. A virtual representation of Roxas appears as a boss character in the mobile phone game ''
Kingdom Hearts Coded ''Kingdom Hearts Coded'' is an episodic action role-playing puzzle video game developed and published by Square Enix, in collaboration with Disney Interactive Studios, for mobile phones. ''Coded'' was a Japan-only release announced at the 2007 ...
'', in which he confronts a virtual representation of Sora; he later appears in the ending as one of the people connected to Sora's heart who may have a chance at returning one day. He makes a cameo appearance at the end of '' Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'', where he is shown with Xion and Axel eating sea-salt ice cream in Twilight Town, as well as in '' Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance'', where Roxas contacts both Axel and Sora through dreams. He also appears in
Shiro Amano is a Japanese Mangaka, manga artist who has worked on several projects, including his adaptation on the popular Kingdom Hearts (series), ''Kingdom Hearts'' series. Career Amano worked on the manga adaptation of the ''Legend of Mana'' video game ...
's
manga Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...
and Tomoko Kanemaki's novels, where he reprises his role from the video games. The book ''Kingdom Hearts: Another Report'' includes a novel called ''Roxas–Somewhere in Time'' that retells Roxas' days in the Organization with the exception of his befriending Xion. In ''
Kingdom Hearts III is a 2019 action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows and Nintendo Switch. It is the twelfth installment in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series, and serves as a conclusion of the ...
'', as Sora tries to stop the revived Xion from killing Lea, Roxas says her name through Sora, making Xion stop. Roxas is revived by Ienzo, Vexen, and Demyx through Vexen's Replica Program just in time to save Xion from being killed by Xemnas in the Keyblade Graveyard. He fights alongside Sora and Xion in Lea's place to defeat Saïx. Then he joins the other guardians of light in defeating Master Xehanort and closing Kingdom Hearts, after which he and Xion join Lea on the Twilight Town clock tower. They are joined by Isa (formerly Saïx), Hayner, Pence, and Olette, and they all eat ice cream together. Then they're brought to Destiny Islands to celebrate their victory with the others, where Roxas races with Riku and Terra on the beach. Roxas also makes an appearance in ''
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' is a 2018 crossover fighting video game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is the fifth installment in the '' Super Smash Bros.'' series, succeed ...
'' as a spirit. In a collaboration between Square Enix and Japanese fashion brand SuperGroupies, Roxas's image was used to create clothing.


Reception

Roxas has been featured in various types of merchandise produced by Square Enix. An action figure was released as part of the Play Arts action figures series; Other items include a plush, keychains and replicas of his necklace. Roxas' character has received a positive critical response from both fans and video game publications. During February 2010, Roxas was twenty-eighth in a ''
Famitsu formerly ''Famicom Tsūshin'', is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Kadokawa Game Linkage (previously known as Gzbrain), a subsidiary of Kadokawa. ''Famitsu'' is published in both weekly and monthly formats as well as in the f ...
'' poll featuring the most popular video game characters from Japan. In another poll, Roxas was voted the second most popular ''Kingdom Hearts'' character with his fight against Sora ranked as the best scene from the series. His fighting sequences from the first game's secret ending were called one of the best video game cinematic moments by ''
GameSpy GameSpy was an American provider of online multiplayer and matchmaking middleware for video games founded in 1996 by Mark Surfas. After the release of a multiplayer server browser for the game, QSpy, Surfas licensed the software under the GameS ...
''. While reviewing ''Kingdom Hearts II'' Jeff Haynes of ''
IGN ''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
'' said that Roxas was a "likable kid". Ron Fahey of ''
Eurogamer ''Eurogamer'' is a British video game journalism website launched in 1999 and owned by alongside formed company Gamer Network. Its editor-in-chief is Martin Robinson. Since 2008, it is known for the formerly eponymous games trade fair EGX ...
'' had a similar view, calling him a "likeable enough young chap who just happens to be troubled by memories and visions of people he doesn't even know". His playable position in the game was regarded as a transitional arc, being used to introduce the gameplay to players who are new to the franchise. Cavin Smith of PSX Extreme also called Roxas a likable character and stated that the revelation regarding his existence in ''Kingdom Hearts II'' is "a shocker of a revelation for any RPG!" ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' liked the fact that the player controls Roxas in ''Kingdom Hearts II''s introduction instead of the protagonist Sora, avoiding the continuation of Sora's search for his friends. Additionally, the reviewer found the switch from Roxas' story to Sora's after a few hours "a little jarring". Andrew Reiner from ''
Game Informer ''Game Informer'' (''GI'', most often stylized ''gameinformer'' from the 2010s onward) is an American monthly video game magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of video games and associated consoles. It debuted in August 1991 w ...
'' emphasizes his role as a "troubled boy," calling his story arc "an amazing chain of events," particularly noting that the revelation of his nature as a Nobody creates a "devilish yet remarkable plot twist" which may impact the player in a way that he "may not want Sora back". On the other hand, ''
UGO Networks UGO Entertainment, Inc. was a website that provided coverage of online media in entertainment, targeting males aged 18–34. The company was based in New York, New York, United States. History The company started in 1997 as Unified Gamers Onlin ...
'' commented that due to the game's initial focus on Roxas, gamers would have to wait until playing as Sora to experience the most exciting parts of the title. Alexa Ray Corriea commented that the first hours of the game were the most boring not only due to the common activities in Twilight Town but also because Roxas lacks the appeal that makes Sora an entertaining character. Before ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'' was released, '' 1UP.com'' featured Roxas at the top of their "Why You Should Care About Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days" feature, calling him "The darling of fanfiction and doujinshi writers everywhere," and commenting on what he does during his only year within Organization XIII. Roxas' role as protagonist was described by ''
G4TV G4 (also known as G4TV) was an American pay television and digital network owned by Comcast Spectacor that primarily focused on video games. The network was originally owned by G4 Media, a joint venture between the NBCUniversal Cable division ...
'' as an attempt to "satiate the ravenous fanboy" due to the explanation from his background. While reviewing ''358/2 Days'', ''PALGN''s Adam Ghiggino praised Roxas' development saying that even gamers who did not like his character in ''Kingdom Hearts II'' would care about him as "he evolves from a self-described 'zombie' to a strong-willed and interesting character". Ghiggino especially noted his relationship with Xion and Axel, which he found charming despite the fact that they repeatedly meet at the top of a clock tower in many scenes. A similar response appeared in ''Game Informer'', which commented that although such scenes were "dull", Roxas' relation with Xion and Axel was appealing and the game's ending would make up for such moments. '' GamesRadar'' also commented that Roxas "starts off like a zombie, but rapidly develops a personality" during the title and joked about the numerous times he eats ice cream. His growth during the game was also picked as one of the most enjoyable elements of the title. IGN agreed, calling Roxas' friendship "heart-aching". On the other hand, ''1UP.com'' mentioned that although Roxas' relationship with Xion and Axel is appealing, some of his first missions feel like "lonely, sad affairs". His maneuvers in the game were praised by ''
GameSpot ''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
'' for being easy to learn despite how complex they look, while IGN liked the variation between them. Due to his resemblance to Ventus, video game publications initially thought that Roxas would be one of the protagonists from ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep''. However, when it was revealed that the two were different, publications still discussed how similar they were and if there was a connection between them. Bob Muir from ''
Destructoid ''Destructoid'' is a website that was founded as a video game-focused blog in March 2006 by Yanier Gonzalez, a Cuban-American cartoonist and author. Enthusiast Gaming acquired the website in 2017, and sold it to Gamurs Group in 2022. History ' ...
'' noted that in ''Birth by Sleep'' Ventus was the most important character by fans due to his similarities with Roxas. Den of Geek enjoyed Roxas' return in ''Kingdom Hearts III''.


References

{{Kingdom Hearts series Characters designed by Tetsuya Nomura Fictional characters with amnesia Fictional characters who can manipulate light Fictional explorers in video games Fictional knights in video games Kingdom Hearts original characters Male characters in video games Square Enix protagonists Video game bosses Video game characters introduced in 2005 Video game characters who can move at superhuman speeds Video game characters who can teleport Video game characters who use magic Fictional members of secret societies ja:XIII機関#メンバー