Exclusive: KINGDOM HEARTS 3D Review

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Published on July 28, 2012 @ 02:15 am

Written by Josh

We've come a long way since E3 2010. The Nintendo 3DS had just been unveiled, Sony and Microsoft joined into the motion controller market, and Kingdom Hearts 3D was nothing but a small and vague demo shown at the convention. The game has grown a lot since then, and I'm not just referring to it's subtitle. Not only is it one of the most hyped 3DS releases of the year, it is quite possibly the best portable entry in the series to date, rivaling the fan-favorite Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep.

As this is our first official review here at Kingdom Hearts Insider, feedback of any sort is appreciated. So if you have any comments, questions or concerns, you can post them on our forums!

This review is also completely spoiler-free, so don't be afraid that reading will compromise your enjoyment of the game. So without wasting another second, just click "Read More" to begin reading our review!

Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] is already a step in the right direction for many fans because it is a direct continuation to the series from Kingdom Hearts II. The story starts right where Kingdom Hearts Re:coded's secret ending left off; Yen Sid learns of the inevitable return of Master Xehanort and summons both Sora and Riku in order for them to take the Mark of Mastery exam. Their test is simple. They must enter the Realm of Sleep, a place where worlds not fully recovered from darkness reside, and unlock the seven sleeping keyholes in order to return them to their original state. Only once they complete that task will they be deemed true keyblade masters.

The worlds that our protagonists must trek through hold many friends both new and old. You start the game in Traverse Town, a world known for it's many cameos from Final Fantasy characters, only to instead characters from The World Ends with You, a Nintendo DS game published by Square Enix in 2007. The intertwining plots of both games work surprisingly well together and serves as a great introduction into the Realm of Sleep. The Disney based worlds, (which include The Grid, based off of 2010's Tron: Legacy and La Cité des Cloches, based off of The Hunchback of Notre Dame) retell the stories of their respective movies while bringing Sora and Riku into the mix almost flawlessly. Nostalgia levels for this game are very high.

Travel between worlds is done through Diving. Like the name states you fly down into your destination from above, while trying to collect points or destroy a large enemy before the gate to the world opens up. It is similar to Gummi Ship travel from earlier titles, just not as complex, but just as enjoyable.

Kingdom Heartsis known for its complex plot and many characters, this game is very welcoming for both devoted fans and newcomers. This is because of the new Memento system, which serves as a primer for players. It holds everything from Flashbacks which explain crucial details to understanding the plot of the game to Chronicles which retell the stories of past games.

The game is also paced very well, leaving you just enough time to wonder what happens next before you actually learn what that is. This is also thanks to the Drop system, which forces you to switch between Sora and Riku after a set period of time. While this is a great solution to playing multiple stories at once, it isn't perfect. Drops can occur at any time, even in boss battles, and if you do you will see yourself starting the fight you may have been about to win over again.

The 30 hour story will keep you guessing like this until the very end, and every moment in between is filled with the Disney magic that goes hand in hand with the game.

Kingdom Hearts 3Dis a visually stunning game. The environments are large and lush with little to no blocky or incomplete areas. There is a lot of treasure to be found, as well as secret passages and decent platforming. The 3D effect is also very clean and enhances the visuals of the game greatly.

Sadly, these massive worlds are empty and devoid of life except for the main characters. It's very awkward to visit places like La Cité des Cloches and see nobody at the Festival of Fools except for Quasimodo. It's been an ongoing problem thoughout the series though, so this game is not specifically at fault.

The game's soundtrack is top notch, something that fans have come to expect from series-long composer Yoko Shimomura. Joining her are Tsuyoshi Sekito and Takeharu Ishimoto, the latter of which created new ‘KINGDOM' mixes of iconic The World Ends with Youtracks like "Twister". The field themes fit each world perfectly, while the battle themes add a more playful touch.

Like every prior entry in the series has done, Kingdom Hearts 3Dadds many new elements to gameplay in order to create a fresh experience. While many old and welcome features like the Command Deck still exist, the most notable of them all is the new feature, Flowmotion, which allows you to use normally unhelpful objects like walls and poles to your advantage. Triggering Flo-mo is as simple as running up to an object and pressing Y, then you can swing, jump or slide to either travel through the game's expansive areas at high speeds or to deal massive damage to groups of enemies while staying untouched. While it takes some getting used to, it is both fun and useful.

Reality Shift is a feature that uses the 3DS touch screen in order to perform special attacks by using objects or weakened enemies. Each world has it's own unique Reality Shift, whether it's slingshotting enemies into others or a short rhythm mini game. It's a short deterrence from normal combat that unlike past games makes good use of the touch screen.

Akin to Heartless, Nobodies and Unversed, Dream Eaters are the enemies that Sora and Riku must face on their journey... and they are their allies as well. There are two types of Dream Eaters; Nightmares consume the dreams of people and plant bad ones while Spirits consume the Nightmares. Conventional party members are replaced by three Spirits of your choice, with two in battle and one in reserve.

You can create new Spirits though the collection of Dream Pieces, either by defeating enemies or treasure chests. The amount of customization is astounding. Whether you give them cute nicknames, change their colors or their behaviors in battle, each Spirit is almost completely different from the next. Even their stats and resistances vary!

Every Spirit has it's own Ability Link board which serves as the source of development for Sora or Riku. The boards contain a handful of abilities and commands that each character can earn after compiling Link Points. These can be earned though battling, petting your Spirits, or playing short mini games with them. Taking care of your Dream Eaters can become addicting, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing; the more time you spend with them, the stronger they become.

New Dream Eater recipes, Dream Pieces and even temporary party members can be obtained through Link Portals. These portals are only viewable on the touch screen map and when you walk over one you can enter it in order to spar with a group of Dream Eaters. If you meet the goals given you can even earn extra items! You can also create your own personal Link Portals based on your party and exchange them with others via StreetPass. If you're feeling a little bit behind on materials or you just want a new Dream Eater, a Link Portal will almost always be near you.

Dream Eaters are also the game's source of multiplayer. Flick Rush, a card game that is strangely similar to the Chain of Memories battle system, can be played through any Save Point. You can either participate in offline tournaments or through local multiplayer you can play with your friends. Playing Flick Rush can potentially net you many prizes, such as recipes and commands and can become strangely addicting, so try not to get too distracted!

Fans could not have asked for a better 10th anniversary gift than Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance]. With a deep and engrossing story plus a greatly enhanced combat system, it is easily one of the best experiences on the Nintendo 3DS to date. If you are a seasoned Kingdom Hearts veteran or just a beginner, this game should not be missed.