Traverse Town Pt 1

First District:

After a short cut-scene you end up in a dark alleyway. After Pluto runs off you’ll have control of Sora again. Take note of the red heart symbol behind you but don’t worry about it - you can’t do anything with it right now. Then head around the corner and out of the alleyway.

Traverse Town has three districts - right now you’re in the first district. There’s a courtyard down the steps with people you can talk to. This will help you learn a bit more about where you are. Traverse Town also has some shops to visit. The item shop is to your immediate right after coming out of the alley. You can’t buy anything here yet but you can get a helpful item. Stand at the top of the stairs and hit the lock on button. Use the L2 button to cycle through targets until you’re locked onto the ceiling fan. Then jump and attack the fan - you should get a Postcard and the fan should start moving.

Next head to the accessories shop. Here you’ll meet Cid who recommends you look around town for your friends. He also lets you know you should come to him if you need anything. You can get an item here by jumping onto the counter, then up to the cupboard where you can open the chest for a Mythril Shard. There’s also a save point so save if you like.

Now head back into the first district. There’s another Postcard here but it takes a bit of work to get. You’ll want to go around the accessory shop and up the stairs. There will be two barrels and a large man to the right of the closed item workshop. You want to jump onto one of the barrels. Then use select to move your view so you’re looking at the roof ledge of the shop to your left. Jump up onto the roof. Now comes the tricky part. You’ll want to position yourself as high up on the roof as you can walk and just at the edge facing the lamp in front of the workshop. You’ll need to jump and use the analog stick to change direction and grab the other corner of the roof. This might take a bit of practice. Once you’re here stay close to the edge and cross the roof to get the chest right by the chimney. Here is the other Postcard.

Now if you’d like you can mail your cards. There are ten postcards altogether and you can’t get them all in this first trip to Traverse Town. The mailbox is down the stairs in front of the accessory shop and to the left. Here’s what you get for each postcard:

For more information on Postcards and their locations check out the Postcards section.

Second District:

Now you’ll need to go through the double doors at the top of this area (across from the item workshop). You’ll immediately be attacked by some shadows. Be sure to pick up items they drop - of particular interest are the yellow spheres. These are munny you can use at shops in Traverse Town.

The Second District has several treasure chests you can pick up. The first one is to your right upon entering the district. You’ll need to jump onto the corner street lamp. Then use first person view to aim for the ledge holding the treasure chest. Jump up, grab the ledge, and swing up to get another Postcard.

To get the next item run to the end of the area to the left of where you got the postcard. Jump across to the low balcony. Go to the other side of the balcony and jump across to the ledge under the stained glass window. Now you’re going to perform a mid-air turn, like with the Item Workshop, to grab the ledge under the thin stained glass windows. You’ll get a Megalixer for your efforts.

Now, you need to explore the whole district and clear it of shadows. As you exit each area you’ll get clips of Donald and Goofy, who are looking for a guy named Leon. Places to explore include the Hotel and the Gizmo Shop.

Alleyway:

Once you’re done in the second district find the doors to the Alleyway - they’re to the right of the fountain on the bottom level of the district. Around the corner to your left you’ll find a treasure chest with a Potion. Two other chests are up on the balconies in the Alleyway. To get up there you’ll want to grab the low roof edge in the middle of the area and then jump up to the balcony. To the left is another Potion. To the far right walk off the edge of the balcony to get a chest with a Pretty Stone. You can sell the pretty stone for 30 munny in the Traverse Town shops, but that’s about all they’re good for.

The door at the end of the Alleyway will take you to the Dalmatian’s House. Continue through the house until you find Pongo & Perdita. They will ask you to find their 99 lost puppies. You’ll find them scattered throughout the worlds you visit. Finding the puppies will get you rewards and if you find all 99 it will help you get the game’s secret ending. Every so often you’ll want to check back at this house and pick up your rewards. To find the locations and rewards for all the dalmatian’s go to the 101 Dalmatian’s section.

Now, at this point you can go explore the third district and level up some or go check back with Cid. You do have a boss coming up so some leveling up can’t hurt. The choice is yours.

After checking in with Cid in the Accessory Shop be sure to save your game then step outside.

This is another battle that you don’t have to win to progress in the game. However, if you do win you’ll get an extra item later on and plenty of EXP. Squall (Leon) uses fire based attacks and his gunblade is deadly in close quarters. When he attacks you’ll want to run into the attack and jump out of the way, then attack him from behind. You’ll want to get out of the way as soon as he turns around. It’ll take awhile but repeat this process and eventually you’ll get him.

After the battle Sora collapses. When he wakes up you get a long cut-scene that’s very informative. When Yuffie and Leon are done talking you’ll regain control of Sora. It’s good to save your game at the temp save point here.

Talk to Yuffie and you’ll learn that the Keyblade can open locks. Now you can open the chest on the table for an Elixer.

When you’re done exploring the Green Room talk to Leon. This will trigger a battle with a Soldier Heartless. The battle moves to the Alleyway. Leon suggests you ignore the heartless and search for the leader - you can do this or take another opportunity to level up. Also, if you go back to the first district and talk to Aerith she’ll give you a Mega-Potion (which might come in handy during the upcoming boss battle). You can also get a Postcard from the safe under the yellow smiley sphere. You might want to save your game too. When you’re ready head to the third district.

Guard Armor is composed of two legs, two arms, and a torso/head piece. You’ll want to lock on to the torso and attack. You should be hitting the limbs when you swing your blade to hit the torso. Make sure to pick up HP balls and munny as you destroy each limb. When you win the battle you’ll get the Brave Warrior, an accessory. You’ll also get a short cut-scene.

Finishing Up

First District:

Leon, Yuffie, & Aeris should give you 100 munny and if you beat Leon earlier you’ll get an Elixer. Donald will give you the magic ability Fire and Goofy will teach you the ability Dodge Roll. Make sure you equip abilities for all your party members if they’re available.

Now, there are a few more Postcards and some Blue Trinity marks to check out in the first district. The trinity mark by the café will take you to an overhead balcony with a chest that has another Postcard. The other trinity by the world exit gives you a lot of munny

Second District:

Now that the hotel rooms are open you can check the rooms for items. In the red room you should find a chest with a pretty stone. In the green room hit the right side of the clock above the door until it says 7:00. (The clue is in the picture on the wall to the right of the clock). Open the chest that appears on the other side of the room for a Mythril.

You can also go through the Gizmo Shop and up the ladder. At the top of the ladder turn left and go across the walkway. Jump across the rooftops to an exit. This will take you to a hidden balcony in the Third District. Press the lock on button to find a Postcard hidden in the corner.

Third District:

Hop down into the 3rd district. First of all examine the keyhole by the exit to the First District to unlock that exit. Next turn around and run towards the door with the fire on it. To your right just as you enter the passageway towards the fire door, there should be a ramp. Go up the ramp and keep going until you find another Blue Trinity. This trinity gives you a Camping Set and some munny.

Now head back down the ramp and go to the door with the fire mark. Cast fire on it and it should unlock. Enter, cross the lake, and run around to the hole on the left side of the building. Enter and you’ll get a very short cut-scene and you’ll meet Merlin. If you’d like you can talk to Merlin and the Fairy Godmother. When you’re done here you might want to make some stops to the item shop and the accessory shop and then you’re ready to go. Find the nearest save point or world exit and board your gummi ship.