Editing Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance

{{Game|DDD|Real|FA}}

|title=Kingdom Hearts 3D<br>[Dream Drop Distance]

|developer={{w|Square Enix}}

|publisher={{w|Square Enix}}

|release=[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] March 29, 2012<ref>[http://www.4gamer.net/games/113/G011346/20120119033/ '''''4Gamer''':「KINGDOM HEARTS 3D<nowiki>[Dream Drop Distance]</nowiki>」の発売日が3月29日に決定。ゲームソフトと3DS本体のセットや，“10周年記念BOX”も同時発売]''</ref><br>[[File:Flag of the United States.png|20px]]/[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] July 31, 2012<ref>[https://twitter.com/#!/SQEX_Members_NA/status/187893631368183809 Square Enix Members - Twitter]</ref><br>[[File:Flag of European Union.png|20px|Europe]] July 20, 2012 <ref>http://www.facebook.com/KingdomHearts</ref><br>[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] July 26, 2012

|ratings={{w|CERO}}:[[File:CERO A.png|12px|A]]A<br>{{w|ESRB}}:[[File:Ratingsymbol e10.gif|12px|Everyone 10+]]Everyone 10+ <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150581099275841.372547.76090440840&type=1 '''''Facebook''': Updated on the official Kingdom Hearts Facebook page]''</ref><br> {{w|PEGI}}:[[File:PEGI 12.png|12px|12+]]12+<br>{{w|OFLC}}:[[File:OFLC small PG.png|12px|PG]] <ref>[http://www.classification.gov.au/Usingclassification/Findaclassification/Pages/Classification-search-result.aspx?sid=tJd5EmsTjf%252fBXVzQA8A7zw%253d%253d&ncdctx=eiYycqt7A0WAvD26LENVLOrO0VId0CAMCs%252fjnmgJMcGp63p2m962NnxQVA7EnBCO Australian Government Classification Website]</ref><br>

'''''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance''''' is the seventh game in the ''{{c|Kingdom Hearts|series}}'' series. It was originally developed for the Nintendo 3DS hand-held system. It is a direct sequel to ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'', ''[[Kingdom Hearts coded]]'', and the epilogue of ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]''.

The game is focused on [[Sora]] and [[Riku]], who are both playable characters, performing their [[Mark of Mastery exam]]. They visit new worlds in their sleep in order to improve their abilities as Keyblade Wielders. Many important story revelations also occur which help explain certain aspects of ''[[Kingdom Hearts III]]''.

 

 

==Development==

The game was first announced at E3 2010, simply known as '''''Kingdom Hearts 3D'''''. A demo version of the game was made available on the Nintendo eShop on June 22, 2012. ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance'' is the first game in the series to see a release in Europe and Australia before North America.

 

Pre-production began while ''Birth By Sleep'' was wrapping production, with most of the team returning to work on this new entry. Developers that worked on ''{{w|The World Ends with You}}'' were also brought on, which is why characters from that game appeared in place of ''Final Fantasy'' characters. During conceptualization, Tetsuya Nomura wanted to improve movement and combat to be flashier and more dynamic. This eventually led to the creation of [[Flowmotion]]. After deciding what system to make the game for, the team decided on the Nintendo 3DS due to the team liking the final hardware. The handheld systems's high-spec graphics processing made the game's graphics nearly on-par with those of the PS2 titles, and system's 3D technology was used to add immersion when falling from high places and flying far distances.<ref>[http://au.ds.ign.com/articles/109/1098342p1.html "E3 2010: Kingdom Hearts 3D First Look"]</ref><!--<ref>[http://www.kh2.co.uk/kingdom-hearts-3d/news/kingdom-hearts-3d-official-name-revealed.php Yasushi Yasue's reveal on the 3D-utilizing system] </ref> CITE TO PRIMARY SOURCES--> The 3D effect is used more for "going into the screen" rather than things popping out.<ref>Weekly Famitsu, January 26, 2011.</ref>

 

The development team was selecting worlds, planning to use all-new Disney worlds, along with Traverse Town and other original worlds,<ref name="andriasang.com"/> one of which was revealed to be based on ''{{w|The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996 film)|The Hunchback of Notre Dame}}''—although the world itself was featured earlier in the non-canonical ''[[The Sceptre and the Kingdom]]''.

 

 

In the July, 2011 issue of Weekly Famitsu, Nomura stated the game focuses on the "hidden data" inside Sora. A secret movie was confirmed, along with new characters in Traverse Town. Nomura stated that the Xehanort Saga ends with ''Kingdom Hearts III'' and there are answers about ''Kingdom Hearts III'' in ''Dream Drop Distance''.<ref>[http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2011/07/13/famitsu_squenix_feature/ "Kingdom Hearts 3D, Final Fantasy XI, Dissidia and More in Famitsu"]</ref>

 

A trailer and a playable demo were shown at the 2011 Tokyo Game Show. The demo included [[Neku Sakuraba]], the protagonist of another Square Enix title, ''The World Ends with You'',<ref>[http://www.siliconera.com/2011/09/14/kingdom-hearts-3d-features-characters-from-the-world-ends-with-you/ '''''Siliconera''': Kingdom Hearts 3D features characters from The World Ends with You'']</ref> and showed Sora and Riku's new outfits,<ref>[http://www.siliconera.com/2011/09/15/first-look-at-sora-riku-and-nekus-new-looks-in-kingdom-hearts-3d/ '''''Siliconera''': First look at Sora, Riku and Neku's new looks in Kingdom Hearts 3D'']</ref> and the first official confirmation of the game's new species, Dream Eaters, which serve as both party members and generic enemies. The game was confirmed for a Spring 2012 release in Japan, and Nomura claimed that it was 60-70% complete.

 

November 2011 issues of ''Famitsu'' and V Jump confirmed worlds based on ''{{w|Pinocchio (1940 film)|Pinocchio}}'' ([[Prankster's Paradise]]), and ''{{w|The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996 film)|The Hunchback of Notre Dame}}'' ([[La Cité des Cloches]]). The same issue also featured the return of the "Drop" gauge seen in the Square Enix Premier Party Trailer but absent in the TGS 2011 trailer. The December issue of V Jump announced the inclusion of "[[Country of the Musketeers]]", a world based on ''{{w|Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers}}'', making it the first world to originate from a direct-to-video feature. It also revealed the inclusion of [[Joshua]] and [[Beat]] from ''The World Ends with You''.

 

During Jump Festa 2012, a playable demo and a trailer were shown. The trailer shows the return of [[Lea]], the [[Young Xehanort|unknown figure]] from ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'', shown without his hood, and [[Ventus]]. [[Shiki]] and [[Rhyme]] also appeared alongside Neku. The game was announced to have a release date in March 2012.<ref>[http://www.siliconera.com/2011/12/16/axel-terranort-and-ventus-resurface-in-kingdom-hearts-3d-in-march-2012/ '''''Siliconera''': Axel, Terranort, And Ventus Resurface in ''Kingdom Hearts 3D'' In March 2012'']</ref> "[[The Grid]]", a world based on ''{{w|Tron: Legacy}}'', was revealed, and like [[Space Paranoids]] in ''Kingdom Hearts II'', Sora and Riku's outfits change to match the location.<ref>[http://www.siliconera.com/2011/12/16/kingdom-hearts-3d-dream-drop-distance-has-tron-legacy-world/ '''''Siliconera''': ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance'' Has Tron Legacy World'']</ref>

 

A January 2012 interview in ''Famitsu'' revealed more details about the game, including a world based on ''Fantasia'', [[Symphony of Sorcery]], and the return of the [[Young Xehanort|Enigmatic Man]] from ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep''. Regarding game's ending, Nomura commented that the original "shocking ending" he had had in mind had not been approved, and subsequently changed to a mere "surprising ending". Nomura added that the game's secret movie would again be a short one, and would relate to ''[[Signs of What's Next]]''.-->

 

"Mementos", a feature announced on the official ''Kingdom Hearts'' blog, provides a summary of previously released ''Kingdom Hearts'' games. It is also a facsimile to [[Theater Mode]], containing all cutscenes viewed up to the player's point in the game. Like ''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded'', the game has two save slots.

 

After a relatively short development time of roughly two years, the game finally released on March 29, 2012 in Japan. An updated version patch from v1.0 to v1.1 was released on May 25, 2012,<ref>[http://support.jp.square-enix.com/news.php?id=1385&la=0&n=2&drt=1337927100&tag=4d3ebab28ccb1b76ad9d62c2b78a57ddfb5effa9 '''''Square Enix JP Support''''']</ref> which fixes several minor bugs in the initial release. This was the version used for the international release later that year in July.

The game picks up after the events of ''[[Kingdom Hearts Re:coded]]'s'' secret ending, ''[[Signs of What's Next]]'', and also has connections to ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]'', ''[[Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days]]'', and ''[[Kingdom Hearts coded]]''. Like in the case of ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'', Tetsuya Nomura has stated that the story is on par with that of a numbered title.<ref>Nintendo Power, Holiday 2010 Edition (Vol. 262): '''Tetsuya Nomura:''' Kingdom Hearts III and Kingdom Hearts 3D are not the same. The story is on par with that of a numbered title, and I'm sure the ending will shock fans.</ref> The setting of ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance'' is again spread across several worlds; several original worlds return, such as [[Traverse Town]] and [[The World That Never Was]], but all of the Disney-based worlds are brand new to the series.<ref name="andriasang.com">[http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/11/17/kingdom_hearts_3d_update/ "Kingdom Hearts 3D Connects to Kingdom Hearts III"]</ref> Several other worlds appear only in cutscenes, such as [[Disney Castle]], [[Mysterious Tower|The Mysterious Tower]], [[Radiant Garden]], [[Twilight Town]], and [[Castle Oblivion]].

[[File:Night of the Storm 01 KH3D.png|thumb|left|Sora and Riku begin their Mark of Mastery exam.]]

In [[Radiant Garden]], [[Braig]] wanders into the computer room of [[Hollow Bastion]] and finds [[Even]] and [[Ienzo]] lying unconscious on the floor with specks of darkness emanating from them. The only other one present in the room is [[Terra-Xehanort]], whom Braig questions. Terra-Xehanort responds by summoning [[Master Xehanort's Keyblade]] and stabbing Braig through the chest with it, extracting his heart. As Braig loses consciousness, Terra-Xehanort declares that he is now "[[Terra-Xehanort|Ansem]]".

More than ten years later, [[Yen Sid]] puts [[Sora]] and [[Riku]] through a [[Mark of Mastery exam]] in order for them to become full-fledged [[Keyblade Master]]s and counter the coming return of [[Master Xehanort]]. As part of this trial, the two are sent to several worlds that have been restored from the Heartless' attack following the defeat of [[Ansem, Seeker of Darkness]], but have gone into [[Sleeping Worlds|a state of "deep sleep"]] that disconnects them from the other worlds. These worlds are plagued by [[Dream Eater]]s—creatures born from darkness that seek out the sleeping worlds' Keyholes. Sora and Riku's given task is to reawaken the sleeping worlds by unlocking the seven Keyholes they find there and then return to the [[Realm of Light]], after which they will be deemed Keyblade Masters and acquire the [[power of waking]], the ability to free hearts from sleep. The two travel through the sleeping worlds independently from each other after being separated at the beginning of the exam, and recruit benevolent "Spirit" Dream Eaters to aid them in finding the Keyholes and battling the malevolent "Nightmare" Dream Eaters that try to destroy the worlds.

[[File:Lea Awakens 02 KH3D.png|thumb|Lea, now human, awakens in Radiant Garden]]

Meanwhile, back in Radiant Garden, [[Lea]] awakens and realizes that he has been restored to his original form following the destruction of his [[Nobody]], [[Axel]]. He finds that his fellow members, [[Dilan]], Even, [[Aeleus]], and Ienzo have also been revived, but absence of Braig and Isa concerns him. Ienzo explains that when a [[Heartless]] and Nobody of a specific person are destroyed, they return to the world where they lost their heart in the first place, unless their world was destroyed and thus awaken in [[Traverse Town]]. Lea, however, remembers that Braig and [[Isa]] were in Radiant Garden with them when they became [[Xigbar]] and [[Saïx]], so they should be here, in Radiant Garden. After that Lea goes on a search for missing apprentices.

While overseeing the exam with Yen Sid, [[Mickey Mouse|Mickey]], [[Donald Duck|Donald]], and [[Goofy]] are delivered a note by [[Diablo]], [[Maleficent]]'s pet raven, along with the crown of [[Minnie Mouse|Queen Minnie]]. The three rush back to [[Disney Castle]] via the [[Gummi Ship]] and confront Maleficent and [[Pete]] in the castle library, where they are holding Minnie hostage. Maleficent tells them about her first encounter with Master Xehanort and demands access to the Data Worlds, but Mickey refuses, so Maleficent attacks, but a corridor of darkness appears and the [[Eternal Flames]] burst through, one blocking Maleficent's attack and the other distracting Pete long enough for Minnie to escape. Their leverage gone, Maleficent and Pete leave, while out of the corridor of darkness steps Lea himself, who accompanies them back to the Mysterious Tower and makes a shocking request to Yen Sid.

Back in the Sleeping Worlds, Sora and Riku cross paths with the resurrected Ansem and [[Xemnas]], as well as a mysterious young man in a Black Coat with ties to Master Xehanort, all of whom gloat them at every chance. Eventually, once all the seven keyholes are sealed, Sora finds himself in [[The World That Never Was]] instead of the [[Realm of Light]]. He encounters Xigbar and the young man once again. Trapped in an illusion of Dark City, Sora discovers that the young man is actually [[Xehanort|Master Xehanort]] in his youth, who was visited by the disembodied Ansem, Seeker of Darkness via time travel. [[Young Xehanort]] thus gained the ability to travel through time freely, as Xehanort's Heartless stayed on Destiny Islands for 75 years.<!-- source? --> Young Xehanort has been going to different periods of time to gather various incarnations of Xehanort and people, who he had high influence on. Sora desperately tries to reach the Castle, but is plagued with illusions of [[Naminé]], [[Roxas]], [[Xion]], [[Terra]], [[Aqua]], and [[Ventus]], leaving his heart more vulnerable.

Eventually, he encounters both Xemnas and Xigbar, who go on to explain that Young Xehanort has been gathering several different incarnations of Xehanort in order to create [[Real Organization XIII|a new Organization XIII]], the members so far being Master Xehanort, Young Xehanort, Ansem, Xemnas and Xigbar. This was the original plan for the first [[Organization XIII]], when Master Xehanort had planned to place a fragment of his own heart inside each of the Nobodies, who were deceived into thinking they lacked hearts in order to ensure their loyalty to Xemnas, but their unforeseen independence, which was demonstrated mostly by Axel, Xion, and Roxas, made his plan impossible to realize. Refusing to become one of Master Xehanort's vessels, Sora battles Xemnas. Though he manages to win, his heart is damaged and he falls into a comatose state, whereupon he is taken to the Castle by Young Xehanort. Sora falls into the darkness, but his broken heart is enveloped by Ventus's [[Keyblade Armor]].

[[File:Where It Started 02 KH3D.png|thumb|Young Xehanort explain to Sora who he is.]]

Riku eventually arrives in the Castle, where he finds Sora's comatose body floating within a force field. After fighting a [[Anti Black Coat|mysterious enemy]] born from Sora's nightmare, Ansem drags Riku into darkness. He then explains that Riku had been fighting in Sora's dreams all along, acting as a Spirit Dream Eater by destroying the Nightmares within. Ansem, seeing that Riku has accepted his darkness, asks that they join forces. Riku explains that he had initially been doubtful of whether he could rightfully wield the Keyblade after seeing Xehanort lose his own upon becoming a Heartless. Remembering the conversation he had with Terra as a child that spurred his desire to see other worlds, Riku accepts that he can hold darkness in his heart and still be worthy of becoming a Keyblade Master; however, he still refuses to join forces with Ansem. After the two fight, Riku is transported out of Sora's dreams into the true Sleeping Worlds, where he continues to look for Sora.

[[File:Seven Lights, Thirteen Darknesses 03 KH3D.png|thumb|left|Mickey and Riku confront Xehanort.]]

With the help of Spirits, Riku locates Sora in the Castle throne room, while Master Xehanort is still being formed on the highest throne. Mickey arrives just in time to halt Xehanort's resurrection by casting [[Stop|Stopza]]. However, Master Xehanort possesses his younger version and thus nullify Mickey's spell. Riku is forced to battle Young Xehanort and manages to defeat him, but Master Xehanort is already formed in his original old body. He then explains his past endeavors to Mickey and Riku, such as his failed attempt to create the [[χ-blade]] 11 years ago, and [[Kingdom Hearts I|both]] [[Kingdom Hearts II|attempts]] later to create Kingdom Hearts was rushed. But now his intention to create the new Organization XIII with fragments of his own hearts of pure darkness to clash against seven lights to start a new [[Keyblade War]] which will lead to recreation of the χ-blade. Riku and Mickey try to stop him here but are restrained by Ansem and Xemnas. Unable to do something, they both watch as Master Xehanort prepares to place a fragment of his heart inside Sora, but Lea arrives on the scene and protects the boy. Master Xehanort retaliates by setting one of the Organization's members on Lea, who turns out to be Saïx. Ansem summons his Guardian, but Donald and Goofy arrive via Mickey's old [[Star Shard]] and defeat it. With his plans temporarily derailed, Master Xehanort retreats with his Organization but swears to Mickey that day of clash between his 13 darknesses and King's 7 lights is near.

After Sora reawakens, only Riku is declared a Keyblade Master by Yen Sid. Undaunted by his failure, Sora embarks on a new journey by himself to train, after Lea shocks everybody present by summoning his Keyblade, [[Bond of the Blaze]], revealing that his request to Yen Sid was to become a Keyblade wielder, and he has only just mastered summoning it.

[[File:Keyblade Master Riku 01 KH3D.png|thumb|left|Riku awakens in Yen Sid's tower to find Sora having a party with their friends.]]

Sora later returns to Traverse Town in the Realm of Sleep, where he finds himself alone, but is immediately reunited with all of his Dream Eater Spirit friends. In the [[Chamber of Waking]] inside [[Castle Oblivion]], Ventus, while still asleep, moves slightly and smiles.

 

===''[[Another Guardian of Light]]''===

Not long after, Yen Sid plans to gather seven Keyblade wielders to combat the new Organization and thwart Master Xehanort's plans. To this end, Yen Sid has Riku bring [[Kairi]] to him so she can be trained to wield her own Keyblade.

 

 

Sora and Riku collect and raise Spirit [[Dream Eaters]], which act as party members. Each of these have unique abilities and attacks, which differ from Spirit to Spirit. Up to three can be in your party at one time, with two being in play at a time. Dream Eaters can be interacted with through various touchscreen mini-games to make them stronger and to unlock abilities and commands for Sora and Riku. Additionally, Sora and Riku can [[Link System|link]] with their Dream Eaters to execute powerful attacks when their Link Gauges are full. The player can also enter their Dream Eaters into the card-based [[Flick Rush]] mini-game. There are fifty-one species of creatable Dream Eaters, using [[Dream Piece]]s that are dropped by enemy Nightmares.

 

Unlocking abilities is done via a Dream Eater's [[Ability Link]] board; this means Dream Eaters must be in the party and leveled alongside the player. Unfortunately, some abilities are locked to the Dream Eaters instead of being permanent like in ''Birth by Sleep'', meaning the player must have the Dream Eater in the active party, or else the ability can not be used. Each Dream Eater has its own unique ability board.

 

 

The [[Gummi Ship]] sequences from ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'' are replaced with [[Dive Mode]] as the means of reaching new worlds. It is a free-falling stage during which the player must fulfill a given objective in order to enter the world, such as destroying a certain number of enemies, earning a certain number of points, or defeating a boss. Dive Mode showcases the 3D capabilities of the Nintendo 3DS.

When visiting a new world, Sora and Riku must perform a Dive Sequence, which is a free-falling stage where the player must achieve a certain accomplishment to open the gate and proceed. Missions vary between Dives as well as characters. Such missions include star collection, defeating Nightmares, or fighting a boss. At the end of a Dive, the results are shown, and the player is given a rank based on the time allotted and the present score before the grand total. When a certain rank is achieved, the player may be presented with some sort of new item, or in a certain case, a new Keyblade.-->

 

Another new feature is the [[Drop System]], which causes the action to switch between Sora and Riku during gameplay. The Drop Gauge at the lower-right of the screen decreases over time, and control switches to the other character after it empties. Drop Points earned before the switch can be used to obtain bonuses for the next character, such as temporary boosts in attack strength, new abilities, items, or a decrease in the speed at which the Drop Gauge empties. The gauge will deplete more quickly if the character is inflicted with a [[status effect]].

A major factor of the game is the Drop Gauge, a brightly colored meter that is displayed under the player's HP bar and gradually depletes. Under normal circumstances, the gauge takes about 23-25 minutes to empty fully. The purpose of the Drop Gauge is to automatically switch the player between playing as Sora and playing as Riku. As soon as the Gauge empties, 30 seconds of Bonus Time are tacked on to give the player extra Drop Points. After the player Drops, all Drop Points are calculated and used to purchase Drop Bonuses. These bonuses vary from Drop to Drop, and cost varying amounts of points. All bonuses bought are carried over to the next character, and unused points are converted into [[Munny]]. Though nothing changes when you drop back to a character, one notable exception is a boss battle. If Dropped during a boss fight, when the player Drops back, the boss will have respawned with full health. In the Japanese version of the game, the boss would respawn, but the player's HP would remain like it was. In the subsequent NA version, characters fighting bosses would be restored as well. Drops can be manually initiated by pressing DROP in the Pause Menu while out of battle, or they will sometimes occur after certain events, such as Riku's Light Cycle minigame.-->

 

*[[Mickey Mouse]]

*[[Donald Duck]]

*[[Minnie Mouse|Princess Minnie]]

*[[Pluto]]

;[[Destiny Islands]] {{note|World only seen in cutscenes}}

;[[Disney Castle]] {{note|World only seen in cutscenes}}

*[[Mickey Mouse|King Mickey]]

*[[Minnie Mouse|Queen Minnie]]

;[[Mysterious Tower]] {{note|World only seen in cutscenes}}

*[[Kairi]]

;[[Radiant Garden]] {{note|World only seen in cutscenes}}

*[[Terra-Xehanort]]

*[[Enchanted Brooms]]

*[[Daisukenojo Bito|Daisukenojo "Beat" Bito]]

*[[Julius]]

*[[Xehanort]]

;[[Twilight Town]]

*[[Roxas]]-->

;[[Castle Oblivion]] {{note|World only seen in cutscenes}}

;[[End of Sea]] {{note|World only seen in cutscenes}}

*[[Aqua]]

;Other

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