KH13 giveaway: Share your KH3D impressions & win the guide!

[hatok 6,413]

http://kh13.com/forum/topic/38968-hatoks-adventure-playing-kh3d/

Can I submit this?

[MateusinhoEX 52]

Is there a size limit? I started to write and it got a little... big. If it has to be short, I can remove some parts.

[mfampait 49]

I live in the UK and so we got it a few days before America, didn't really make much difference though seeing as my mother booked us to go on holiday during when it was released and so I had to spend four days after the release knowing that my pre-order was sitting on the doormat at home, calling out for me. It was a 12 hour drive home each way though including ferry and so during that time though I managed to get in some serious playtime and completed days and re:coded while I was there (to my horror the day before I left I realised that my copy of birth by sleep was missing and I basically spent that whole night crying. Anyway, I got back from my holiday and on the drive home I had been dying for a pee, but there it was in all it's glory, my brand new copy of Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance, with just about a centimetre of packaging paper between me and it. I decided to rip open the packaging paper, take out the game and watch the opening cinematic while I was sitting on the toilet, and may I say I do not regret that decision at all, the moment I saw all the Keyblade wielders standing at the Keyblade Graveyard I knew that this game was going to be freaking amazing.

 

So I got off the toilet (extremely relieved and excited to play the game with empty bowels) and began actually playing the game, and may I say what a game it is. It takes quite a while for the story to pick up, but when it does, bloody hell it does. Nomura seems to finally be interested in giving us a few answers rather than giving us unanswered questions. During the Disney worlds the story seems to have more content in Sora's side of the story, but at the end that just gets turned on it's head and Riku suddenly becomes the hero of the story. I loved how in the game you get to see how much of an idiot Sora really is because you never really get to realise it before this until you compare him to Riku ("What's your name?" "Dream eaters!!!" "That's a weird name").

 

I also love the new addition of the world ends with you characters, they seem to lighten up the mood a lot in the dark and dreary Traverse Town with the way Shiki is all flirty with Riku and he is just clueless, and just how much of an idiot Beat is. The only negative thing I can really say about them is that I think Neku's character developed a bit to quickly, he only really remains a hardass for the first few minutes of the world and then suddenly he's just like "YAY I'M SO HAPPY EVERYBODY'S MY FRIEND". The world that I was really looking forward to seeing the most though was The Grid and I feel a little let down, I loved Space Paranoids in Kingdom Hearts 2 and I loved the Tron: Legacy movie, but somehow I just thought it was really boring.

 

I like how there's a steady shift of power between the flowmotion attacks and Combat commands because it really keeps the game fresh rather than just having you bouncing off of walls for most of the game (to be honest I probably still wouldn't have gotten bored of it). At times I liked the idea of more wide open areas so that you could use more flowmotion attacks but at times I just found myself sprinting for the nearest wall because all of my combat commands were loading up and I had to quickly get rid of the enemies. There are loads of people saying that they don't like the drop system but personally, I love it, I'd usually drop just before a boss battle, kill a load of dream eaters and rack up a load of drop points until I drop back to the other one and become basically indestructible and destroy the boss.

 

I thought that having spirits as your new party members was a great idea, especially being able to pet them, although when I first started playing it I found myself making weird cutesy noises until I remembered that I have family members in the other room who would probably be able to hear me, so then out of embarrassment I just left them alone for a while. I thought it was cool how badass some of the last dream eaters you can make are and it was an epic feeling just beating down the final boss with two freaking huge ass dinosaurs at my side.

 

I decided that I was going to attempt, for the first time to go for 100% completion this time, but I came to a difficulty somewhere down the line, when I realised that I was going to have to collect all of the dream eaters, which would mean that I would need friends which, unfortunately, I don't have...naaaaaaah, I'm just kidding, but the only friend of mine who is a Kingdom Hearts fan can't afford a 3DS right now and so I'm kinda stumped. I did however manage to find all of the chests with a lot of help from decimo's guides (thanks A LOT by the way) and I beat all of the special and secret portals which took a hell of a long time seeing as you have to keep dropping between Sora and Riku if you want to get them all.

 

The secret ending, message, and the stuff in the credits however is now wishing that I could time travel SO THAT I COULD ALREADY HAVE GODDAMN Kingdom Hearts III (DAMN YOU NOMURAAAAAA)

 

Overall this game is definitely my second favourite Kingdom Hearts game however it doesn't even hold a candle to Kingdom Hearts II

[Heartless666 14]

Heartless666's KH3D Story/impression

 

Throughout my various adventures of all the kingdom hearts games, Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance has to be almost equal to the console versions in depths of game mechanics and graphics. The game play is smooth and easy to use and makes even the newest KH gamer feel at home. The story is in-depth and at points confusing but it is also very solid and exciting. Even if one has not played the Kingdom Hearts series before you can still catch up on everything from the Mementos of previous games as you come to unlock them in the story-line. What makes the game even more thrilling is the ability to play as not only Sora but also as his Best-friend and ally, Riku. Both have unique abilities and types of fighting. Even the Dream Eater pets give both very unique ways of dealing with enemies you encounter. As a whole this latest title and follow-up to Kingdom Hearts II is as good as the other hand-held games, or even maybe a bit better. This version gives a unique twist on game play while also keeping the player on their toes by having 2 protagonists to play as. With an intriguing story-line that keeps you hooked from the first minute to the last second and game-play that constantly changes this game is definitely a game to pick-up for the old and new.

 

 

My story of KH:3D is a long one. From the games first pictures I did not even plan to get the hand-held Nintendo 3DS system. I did not have the money at the time to even think of buying it. My friends kept pushing me and pushing me until I finally saved enough money to buy the system, a full week before the release of the game. Maybe I was internally wanting to buy it or I just saved up money for my friends to finally push me to buy it.

 

After purchasing the game me and 2 other friends went back to a house and started playing at the exact same time. For me, it was quite easy to get past the Tutorial boss as I played every other game to date. For my friends, not so easy as one got left behind a few minutes while my other friend was a mere 30 seconds behind me, the voices of the characters echoing each other and making a sort of comedy act to us.

 

 

After departing from my friends house I quickly surpassed the first 2 worlds with ease and then continued to play for a full 2 or 3 hours, barely making it to Tron's world as Riku and leaving Sora in the world behind. A good day of play, making each character almost the same in attacks and abilities. 'Twas my first day after all. The next day I played multiple times throughout the day, it was like an addiction and I just could not stop playing my DS. I ignored my xbox, my computer, my phone, and at times even my needs for nourishment. Being a faithful KH fan I could not pull myself away from the ending worlds and each time that I thought the game was over there was another plot twister and puller to keep me into the story-line and keep my eyes on the screen. I beat the game in a time of around 20 hours with characters from levels 33 to 35.

 

Even after playing the game there is so much more to do. I now aim to get most of the trophies and Dream Eater pets as well as level up my characters to defeat the perilous Link Portals. I am still playing! I just played not even an hour ago after making the T-rex Dream Eater. The game expands well beyond my predictions and now I see that each character cannot be the same. Each has their own unique abilities and attacks. Even the stats have a difference in them! I think I will not put this game down for a time to come. Having been on the Kingdom Hearts path for over 7 years now I feel as a fan I must dedicate my time as one would dedicate their time to school or work. In my opinion this is just as good as a console game. I didn't even use the 3D feature to enhance the graphics as they are good enough for me. I hope anyone who picks up this game has as good of a time as I am.

[DragonMaster 1,166]

Good contest idea, DC! I decided to do mine in more a review format, as I find it more professional, but is still completely opinion.

_____________

 

Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance (KH3D) is a game many of us have been waiting for, some calmly, others not so much. Since its announcement, this game has been surrounded by speculation and hype. Some were a bit weary of a new hand-held title, especially when previous games in the series on Nintendo hand-held systems met lukewarm reception at best. Others, like they did for all portable Kingdom Hearts titles, dismissed the game and continued the eternal wait for Kingdom Hearts III. Then, there were those of us ready and raring to dive into a new Kingdom Hearts adventure.

 

Dream Drop Distance proves to be one of the most risky, experimental, and unique entries into the series. While on a basic level, this is the Kingdom Hearts formula we are all use to, but there is so much more than we might have expected back when the game was first announced. Indeed, this game brings many new things to the Kingdom Hearts table. Nearly everything in this game works or feels different than in its predecessors. Flowmotion changes the very way we explore the world(s). Combat is fast and fluid, using a version of the command system present in previous Kingdom Hearts games, with the addition of new Flowmotion attacks. Nearly every world is new to the series, but even those returning from previous games have been expanded and changed. We have new enemies, and new party members, in the form of Dream Eaters. We even have a dual protagonist story, managed by the Drop System. All of these new factors add up to create the most unique Kingdom Hearts game yet.

 

So, do all the new additions work out, and create a game actually fun to play? The answer is, without a doubt, yes. At about twenty-seven hours in, I can definitely say that this is among the best entries in the series. Flowmotion makes everything more fun. I am actually eager to search for hidden treasures in each room, something I wasn't really into with other Kingdom Hearts games. Almost every room in each world is big and spacious, complementing the Flowmotion mechanic well. Even with the smaller number of worlds, there is still plenty to find and explore. Flo-mo also makes combat feel fresh, pulling off attacks by bouncing of walls and jumping high above your enemies makes you feel like a boss and never gets old. Reality Shifts are also a great addition to the fights. Each world has a unique Reality Shift, but they are always useful and serve to break up the standard flow of combat in a good way.

 

Dream Eaters are second only to Flowmotion as my favorite addition to the series. Cute and colorful, they serve as useful partners and challenging foes. Though many are off-put by the bright and varied colors, I find them quite refreshing from the simply colored heartless and grey nobodies. The variety among the different Dream Eaters keeps things interesting, and as you progress through the game, they become quite challenging adversaries. However, the reason I love Dream Eaters is more simple than their prowess as enemies, it is how freaking adorable and useful they are as partners. (For those of you who hate cuteness, you do get access to some beastly looking Dream Eaters later on.) To be quite honest, I don't miss having Donald and Goofy as partners at all.

 

You can change the Dream Eaters you have in your party at anytime, and have some influence over their aesthetics. Each has their own unique skill tree, giving you access to many different abilities, stat bonuses, and commands. They also aren't to bad at fighting, and linking with them makes Sora and Riku even more beastly in combat. Also, petting and playing games with Dream Eaters is freaking adorable, it's like Nintendogs with cuddly monsters. In addition, there are a few mini-games to be played with your Dream Eaters, the most notable of which is Flick Rush. Flick Rush is somewhat reminiscent of Chain of Memories battle system, though simplified and with some changes. It also has (local only) multi-player.

 

The Drop and Dive systems are the two other noteworthy additions. The Dive system, serving as Dream Drop Distance's version of Gumi Ships, is nice. I much prefer it to the Gumi Missions. They also get a plus for not being so annoying that I am unwilling to try and get gold medals on all of the missions. The Drop System is the way we switch between characters in the game, and it is both great and annoying. Getting dropped while in the middle of any fight (especially boss fights) sucks, period. However, the sense of urgency it invokes makes things more thrilling than normal, and trying to beat the clock can be fun. It also assures you don't neglect one character over the other, which I am thankful for. There is also the option to drop whenever you desire, and the Drop-Me-Not item refills your drop gauge, both of which give you more control over when and how you drop.

 

As for the story, though I haven't completed it, it is certainly interesting. I can't say much without spoiling anything, but the game definitely tries to keep you curious. The main story takes a while to heat up, and really only seems to progress at the end of each world (though there are some scenes littered throughout the worlds as well. The story lines of each world, though, are enjoyable. Once you reach the final world, the story really gets good, and you will definitely be on the edge of your seat until the end. The worlds are all nice and big, and I enjoyed all of them; except for Prankster's Paradise. Sora and Riku each have their own unique story in each world, though they are quite similar. The use of Flash Back scenes to tell the stories of each world feels kinda weird, but luckily most of the cutscenes are presented in the normal way.

 

Speaking of cutscenes, they look great. In fact, the entire game looks great. Not only is this one of the best looking games on the 3DS, it is also one of the best looking in the series. The only thing that detracts from these awesome visuals are the jagged edges on everything (though this is present in every 3DS game) and the blocky-ness of characters' hands.

 

So, at the point I am at, I can definitely say that Dream Drop Distance is an excellent addition to the series. Some minor things such as lack of NPCs outside of cutscenes, some annoying bosses and enemies, and dropping during fights, can mar the otherwise excellent game, but these are (again) pretty minor. The story is interesting, both the overarching story line and the stories of each world, and the characters are excellent. Everything about the game feels high quality. There is even multi-player (though local only) for the Flick Rush mini-game. Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] is definitely one of the must own titles for the 3DS owners and Kingdom Hearts fans.

Edited August 6, 2012 by DragonMaster

[DarkLightning14 4]

True fans know better than to call these non-numbered games "spinoffs" and the clever pronunciation of the game as Kingdom Hearts 3...D is pretty clever in my book, but KH3D does not disappoint. While I'm not done with the game yet, I am about to begin the final world so I think my impressions will be fairly accurate, just a bit lacking on plot. So, while the game's advertisements call this "the follow-up to Kingdom Hearts II", so was Re:Coded, but I understand this game has more significance. With that in mind, KH3D is exciting to many because it's the "Chain of Memories" to the inevitable Kingdom Hearts III, perhaps even more so.

 

Initial Impressions:

-Gameplay-

I thought this was one of the most polished games in terms of gameplay yet. The Command Deck system is genius and ever since its implementation in Birth by Sleep, I never want to see it go away, as I think it works better than having a magic bar. Anyways, for starters, Flowmotion is pretty fun, but not essential. While it's a neat little system that allows for more acrobatic means of getting treasure chests, I find it to be a bit too inaccurate when it comes to landing attacks. It's a nice addition to the overall combat system but I wouldn't be very disappointed to find it absent in the next game.

 

The new commands are also pretty cool. It's nice to see some callbacks to new commands introduced in Birth by Sleep and it's pretty cool to see how Sora and Riku play with this gameplay system. Riku is of course flashy with his darkness-based attacks but I find that Sora has a more conventional and simple style which isn't a bad thing by any means. Working with the Dream Eaters was also pretty fun as well and I found them to be much more functional and helpful than Donald and Goofy, but that may be due to their link attacks. Overall, it's a well-balanced combat system and it works well in this game with minimal problems so gameplay in this game continues the upward trend that Birth by Sleep began.

 

-Graphics-

Can I just say, this game is GORGEOUS. Seriously, apart from Resident Evil: Revelations, this game is the best looking game on the 3DS right now. The character models look detailed, the worlds are spacious and great to look at, and the attacks are flashy and colorful. Definitely had a lot of fun playing through all the worlds with Symphony of Sorcery being my personal favorite visually as I was amazed with how great it looked. The Grid was also a definite highlight of the game capturing the lights and mood of Tron: Legacy very well.

 

-Sound-

Of course, music play a major role in the Kingdom Hearts series and this game does not disappoint. This game's soundtrack is top notch with notable mixes of "Someday" and "Twister" from The World Ends With You. Also a welcome surprise was the inclusion of classical music specifically in Symphony of Sorcery which was a definite change of pace but felt very refreshing to hear. There's nothing like beating some Dream Eaters to Tchaikovsky's Waltz of the Flowers. This game has some great songs and while none have had that epic feel for me (remember though, I haven't started the final world yet), I'm sure the game will wow me before I'm through with the game.

 

-Story-

Now, I haven't finished the game, but I do know certain plot points that are coming up in the final world. No worries, as there will be no spoilers. But, this game's plot is definitely important, but it feels more on par with Chain of Memories in the sense that it links up the previous title (in this case KHII and BBS with KHIII). However, so far, I don't feel that the plot is enough that it warrants the status of being a numbered title. But hey, the final world can prove me wrong so maybe I'll update this section later on.

 

Overall, I've loved this game thoroughly and I think it's one of the series' best entries. Definitely up there with Birth by Sleep and KHII in my book of favorites. It's a deep game with engrossing worlds and a fun combat system that can be picked up with ease. Of course if you own a 3DS, you're most likely already playing this or will be soon or else you wouldn't be on this site. If you don't own a 3DS, find a friend who does because this is a game that cannot be missed!

[Remains of Old 117]

First of all, I'm not sure this will be a valid entry, since I haven't bought the game yet, but will soon order the Mark of Mastery edition. I live in Brazil, and i had to wait until it released on NA. Ever since it was launched on Japanese, I joined KH13, mostly so i didn't lose anything that was happening, like the Live streams, pictures, and everything else related. Result: I spoiled myself completely, and i don't regret it, because as a result i realised i could help some other people who spoiled themselves here, and were in doubt with something that happened, I really enjoyed being able to explain stuff. In the end, i also had a better understanding of what happened in the game, thanks to other fellow users on KH13.

 

DDD means to me what KH2 meant, it really changed the story that we used to know in KH1, and the gameplay style also changed a lot. The flowmotion, along with the 3D looks absolutely amazing. I've been looking to other games released on the 3DS, and it made me realize that the game even had uncommonly-good graphics for the console, the developers really did an extra effort in this game. Like every other game in the KH series, the music is simply amazing. I didn't really care for music in games until Kingdom Hearts, and they really did it again in DDD, it gives the black and pink feel Nomura said, a dramatic, but at the same time happy music, one that touches you.

 

I've watched every walktrough episode that was posted here or there, and i can't really tell at the moment if it's my favorite game, since at the moment, my favorite one is KH2. However, i really like to see TWEWY in DDD, for example. It gave me almost the same feeling when i saw Zack in BBS, how can i say it... I kind of missed it, seeing the characters. I loved the style TWEWY was, and seeing them in three dimensions in DDD was amazing.

The fact we had new worlds really made me happy. I was getting kind of... Tired? Yes, tired of seeing mostly the same worlds.

What i also loved, is that, all of sudden, everything connected (Or should i say, reconnected?) again in DDD, the storys, and everything people was calling ''Spin-Offs'' turned out to be amazingly important. Ah, the opening, at the very moment Xion appeared, everyone who played Days cried inside. I would love to talk about other amazing moments in DDD, but most would spoil people who are waiting for their game to arrive, just like i'm waiting for my Mark of Mastery to arrive.

 

I bought a DS just so i could understand more of Roxas story in Days, and i'm doing that again with a 3DS, just so i can have the nostalgic feeling while playing DDD.

[marinaAxel56 24]

Having pre-ordered the game and living in the UK, I received KH3D on the 21^st of July and had finished it by the 25^th. As a huge fan of the Kingdom Hearts series, I was uncontrollably excited and I wasn’t disappointed by the quality of the game.

 

-GAMEPLAY-

 

The gameplay is possibly the strongest aspect. The new flowmotion technique allows you to make the most of the large, open areas, use a powerful acrobatic fighting style, get places quicker and dodge attacks while still keeping the game challenging enough to be fun. There’s something immensely satisfying about how smooth the movement is. The game features command attacks from previous games such as Mega Flare and Zantetsuken as well as new ones like Balloonga and Triple Plasma.

The dream eaters are also very interesting, particularly the way you breed and look after your Spirits; reminiscent of the command melding in previous games, it’s very fun to investigate what dream pieces you require to make the best allies and go off in search of them. The ability link is genius, allowing you to unlock strong abilities and commands by caring for your Spirits. They are, in my opinion, the most aesthetically pleasing enemies in the Kingdom Hearts series so far; all based on animals, using bright colours and patterns. The bosses in particular are completely beautiful, such as the Wargoyle in Riku’s story, which has wings based on stained-glass windows of Notre Dame to suit its world of La Cite des Cloches. With there being nightmare equivalents for each spirit, the ‘bad’ versions use darker colours and glowing eyes to make them look suitably dangerous instead of cute. There are different ways to care for your spirits; with various foods that yield boosts to certain stats, toys such as balloons, water barrels and treasure goggles (these trigger mini-games which, by playing, award the spirits involved link points among other bonuses); by painting them different colours, and petting them with the stylus. In battle, they fight alongside your character and can link with them to grant them impressive powers.

The reality shift is a nice addition as well, letting you interact with your enemies and surrounding objects to deal damage in battle, the style changing in every world – for instance, in The Grid, upon prompt you can enter reality shift and ‘decode’ your enemies, allowing you to control them and then blow them up; in Prankster’s Paradise, you can encase a nightmare in a bubble, then ride the bubble to engulf more enemies before letting it pop and deal damage.

Dive Mode, while a lot of fun, is in my opinion not one of the stronger aspects of the game. I personally prefer the Gummi ship, though many will disagree. I liked being able to design your own ship, but I suppose with all the other extra features of KH3D this would be unnecessary. Besides, the angle and style means Dive Mode is a great opportunity to make the most of the 3D feature, and the challenges for each Dive (destroy a boss, collect a certain amount of points, defeat a certain amount of enemies, etc) are very interesting. Also, the space you're falling through changes depending on what world you're travelling to (for example, while diving to Symphony of Sorcery you pass trees and music notes while moving through a spiral of a stave).

Drop Mode is quite cool. It can be infuriating to drop halfway through a boss fight, but it does add a sense of urgency to battle - although you usually only notice you're running out of time once the gauge starts flashing, at which point you don't have much time to defeat the boss, even if you rush. Otherwise, it's not a problem, except maybe if you get really involved with one character's situation, only to drop, and forget what you were doing by the time you drop back. There are ways to slow down the time and you can always drop back immediately if this happens, however, and it's basically a great way of keeping the character levelling even and fitting in with the whole dream-world theme.

 

-VISUALS AND SOUND-

 

As well as being fun to play, the game looks amazing, too: great graphics and generally beautiful worlds make it one of the best visual KH games to date. Even without using the 3D effect, you feel as if you could step right in. The sound is also very high quality and the voice acting is well done, despite the fact that many of the actors are getting too old. The music, as always, is incredible, and old songs appear alongside new ones. The exception to this is Symphony of Sorcery, which is perhaps my favourite world of all, being completely stunning: the background music is classical music from the original Fantasia film. Even sound effects like the character’s yells and crashes from the keyblade are transformed into instrumental sounds like drums and harps.

 

-CHARACTERS-

 

Although Final Fantasy fans such as I may be disappointed that no FF characters (excluding the odd Moogle) are featured, the World Ends With You characters make a very good replacement. You don’t seem to get as close to them as you do FF characters in the previous games, but they still make the beginning of the game a lot more fun than it would be without them. They also offer a touch of comedy. In the rest of the game, I noticed that you don't seem to get as friendly with the Disney characters in the worlds as you do in other KH games (as shown in cutsences when you fall asleep in their presence and wake up to see they've left you behind). I can't imagine going back to them in sequels and being in the same relationship as Sora is to, say, Aladdin. Sora and Riku themselves stay true to their characters: Sora is upbeat, naive and trusting, while Riku is a lot more serious, though he has certainly lightened up since KH2 and seems determined to help his friends every step of the way.

 

-STORY-

 

The story of KH3D is mind-blowing. It’s difficult to explain just how cleverly done it is without spoilers, but I will say that it makes you rethink the whole series. Unlike most KH games, in which the story is pretty linear and predictable, DDD is more like a kind of playable novel: there are twists and turns in the plot that make you tense while you play, eager to say how it all ends. Pretty much all major characters appear, if some only briefly, so fans will not be disappointed – though they may finish extremely confused and questioning their existence. Axel/Lea fans in particular will be very happy with the amount of screen-time he has.

 

-FAULTS-

 

The main fault with this game is that it’s a fair bit shorter than the others in the series, with each world pretty much going: introduction, bit of story and walking around, boss, leave. However you will probably be so eager to arrive at the bulk of story near the end that this isn’t much of a problem. Also there are lots of things to do once you’ve completed it: collect all spirits and complete their ability links, get all chests, obtain all keyblades, the secret boss in Traverse Town, Flick Rush (a minigame in which you let your party of spirits fight another one. It is similar to CoM in that it's card based, with you swiping the cards upwards to attack or downwards to defend) Critical Mode (which, by the way, carries over all spirits and commands from your first game), etc. The other flaw is that the ending leaves you gasping for a sequel.

 

-CONCLUSION-

 

All in all, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance is a hugely important and entertaining addition to the series, despite being a handheld ‘side game’. It is, as was said in an interview with a member of Square Enix whose name I can't remember, like BBS on steroids: the style is similar, but completely amplified with much smoother movement. The sound, visuals, story and gameplay are as brilliant as they are in the numbered titles, if not better, earning the game a 9.5/10 from me (the reason it’s not 10/10 is that it’s just too short). You’ll be addicted from the very beginning, but try not to rush it like I did.

- Marina

Edited August 5, 2012 by marinaAxel56

[Uncle Dolan 963]

I feel like people are making accounts for these giveaways....

 

Daniel, you should have some sort of restriction based on join date. (unless you don't mind giving away free stuff to people that'll most likely never post on the forum again)

 

----

 

My review:

 

3D is a game that needs fixing. loljk, I'll be making my real review when I don't have a headache.

[Exodaze 491]

I haven't played the game yet lol but this is really cool giveaway. I have two copies of this myself. I wanted to join but unfortunately it will take awhile. I am still working on FF 13-2.

[blinxhero 91]

KH3D, easily the best game on the 3DS. Better than Kid Icarus you ask? ...Yes, yes it is. What? Have I played Kid Icarus? ....no. Then how would I know that KH3D is better? Well I'm about to tell you.Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance is the story on how two best friends embark on a journey in the Realm of Sleep to unlock the Seven Sleeping Keyholes in order to be named Keyblade Masters and defeat their enemy, Master Xehanort, who after his Heartless and his Nobody are defeated at the hands of Sora, is revived. Here are some of the mant reasons that you should buy this excellent game.

FLOWMOTION: A brilliant way for getting to point A to B quickly using Sora and Riku's newly found acrobatic skills. Flowmotion can also be used as a way of attacking enemies.

 

Getting sick of Donald and Goofy? Now there are DREAM EATERS: These faithful companions serve as your allies (The Spirits) and also your enemies (The Nightmares) and there are over 50 to choose from!

 

The DROP SYSTEM: I guess there's nothing special about it, just a way of switching between characters after a certain amount of time has passed. Well it is definetly better to play both characters stories at the same time instead of seperately. Oh and there are also Drop Bonuses or meh.

 

The COMMAND DECK: Introduced in Birth By Sleep, the Command Deck is... it's... err... You place commands in the Command Deck. There are many different commands which fall under 3 categories. Attack Commands, Magic Commands, and Item Commands.

 

A pretty darn good STORYLINE. (Well I don't want to spoil you so... JUST TAKE MY WORD FOR IT!)

 

I had a great experience with this game as should you. Dem grafficks, Dem gaemplaey, Dem storay and DEM FLOWMOTION!

 

If you don't have it yet then GET IT DAMN IT, IT IS AWESOME! ...Okay fine. I guess every game has its flaws. I did encounter a couple of bugs while playing, but neither was even remotely harmful to the game, only slightly annoying/funny.

 

But seriously, this game is the shiz... and i might as well give it a rating. 4.6 / 5. Happy now? Now if you'll excuse me, I have work experience, and then I'll have lunch break which I'll spend playing this awesomeness and obviously eating lunch. So cool now thanks for reading.

[NO_HEART_XIII 312]

I found out about this game not long after Re:Coded was released, and I knew I had to have it. I checked this website almost everyday, hoping for new information. When I found out about the Mark of Mastery Edition, I rushed to Gamestop and Pre-ordered my copy. I was so happy that I had Pre-ordered my copy, but waiting for the game to come out was agonizing. Finally July 31st came around, and I was overwhelmed with happiness. I got my Mark of Mastery Edition as soon as I could, and couldn't have been happier with it's contents. The 12 art cards were my favorite part of the Mark of Mastery Edition, other than the game itself of course. Everything, including the box itself was beautiful. Now to the game review. As a huge Kingdom Hearts fan, it doesn't take a lot to satisfy me, and this game did just that. Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] is a great edition to the series in many aspects. Three of the main things this series is known for are it's story, gameplay, and beautiful soundtracks. Every other Kingdom Hearts has executed all three of these things very well, and Kingdom Hearts 3D is no diffrent. One of the newest gameplay features called flowmotion, is where you use the environment to you're advantage, jumping from wall to wall, sliding on railings, and more. It's a great new feature that makes getting around and fighting enemies easier, and more fun. Reality Shift is another great feature that's new to the Kingdom Hearts series. Once you enter reality shift, you get to play a little mini-game that can open new paths, harm you're enemies, or progress the story. Each reality shift is diffrent for each world, so there are a variety of diffrent things you could do. You're companions in this game have never been seen before, the Dream Eaters. Dream Eaters are cute little creatures that will aid you in combat, and accompany you on you're journey. You can train, and play with the Dream Eaters you collect. There are two types of Dream Eaters, Spirits, you're companions, and the Nightmares, you're enemies throughout the game. The music in this game is calming, and beautiful, as it always has been. From classics to never before heard tracks, I'm sure you will fall in love with the music in Kingdom Hearts 3D, as I did. Now for the story. The story behind this game has left me breathless. I don't want to give anything away, but Kingdom Hearts has one of the most heart touching, well thought out stories I've ever experienced. It'll leave you speechless. I can however tell you what it's about. Kingdom Hearts 3D involves the two main protagonists, Sora and Riku, taking a test known as the Mark of Mastery. They must prepare themselves for the return of Xehanort, whose motives are currently unclear. Along the way, Sora and Riku will meet old friends, and new ones, same goes for the enemies. Kingdom Hearts 3D offers a vast variety of worlds and environments for you to explore. In this game you can play as both Sora and Riku, Dive from world to world, and Drop between which character you want to play as, at you're choosing. Diving to a new world is like the substitute for the Gummi Ship in this game, but with more freedom, and more exiting. The Drop system, is where you switch from character to character throughout the game. Sometimes you are forced to Drop, but ultimately it's up to, who you play as. These Kingdom Hearts games keep getting better and better. I can't wait to see what Square Enix has in store for us next. Until then I highly recomend Kingdom Hearts 3D for anyone and everyone! The graphics have never been better, it really takes advantage of the 3D aspect, and will give you hours upon hours of enjoyment. Even if this is you're first Kingdom Hearts game, you can unlock "Chronicles" as you progress through the story, and they will explain everything that has happended up to this point in the series. Definitely a great new feature for newcomers. With that being said, I really hope you pick up Kingdom Hearts 3D, you won't regret it, trust me. One of, if not the best Kingdom Hearts game in the series, 10/10. This has been my review for Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance], and I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you for you're time.

Edited August 6, 2012 by NO_HEART_XIII

[NekuJ_XXVI 11]

I started getting into Kingdom Hearts when my cousin was playing the game, when I was about 6. He told me all about it and let me played some it. It was really an amazing experience, he also introduced me to Final Fantasy VII, which was a really fantastic game, but somehow enjoyed Kingdom Hearts more because it had the all the Disney characters I would loved to watch and the awesome, intriguing gameplay. It even made me stop playing Pokemon and Digimom, which were two really addictive games that I couldn't get my hands off all the time.

 

After I had bought a PS2 just so I could play and experience Kingdom Hearts on my own. I was ready for more, lol. So when I heard about Chain Of Memories for Game Boy, I went straight to a gaming or an electronic store to get the game. That game was really great being played on Game Boy, but I didn't have that amazing experience with the game like I did with the first and original Kingdom Hearts. Then a few months later, I heard that a new Kingdom Hearts game (KH II) was going to be released next year. I was suddenly really excited for this game, and I couldn't wait any longer. When it was released, I found out that it came out in Japan, not Australia or even the UK, I was sad, lol. So I waited, and waited for a release date for the game and until it came out I was playing with my friends or replaying or playing some Pokemon and Kingdom Hearts games so time would pass quickly. I then found out on a website, when Kingdom Hearts II was going to be released at Australia. Found out it would come out 2 months and 2 or 3 days after I had turned 10. Two months and 2 or 3 days later, I got finally my hands on the game and was also a birthday present given to me by my parents since I didn't receive one 2 months and 2 or 3 days ago. This game took me about a week to finish since I started on proud, but did had some problems trying to beat Xaldin though. But I manged to beat it and I could say that Kingdom Hearts II had better gameplay and story than the first one. But I dunno something in me just says the first one is better, but otherwise it really is hard for me to choose, which one was better.

 

But I think, I should actually be talking about the Kingdom Hearts 3D. Well I finished the game a few days ago. I can tell that it is the best game that would ever be released on the 3DS (unless they remake days on this console...). The flowmotion, new music, reality shift, new story, especially the cute dream eaters, were an amazing and neccesary add to the game and would probably wouldn't be fun without them. It was also another great addition to the Kingdom Hearts franchise to play before Kingdom Hearts III or HD remakes would come out. There was some down sides to the game such as, at various points in the game it could be laggy but didn't bother me though, they could of added more stuff like, DLC, maybe 2 or 3 more worlds, more secret bosses like Sho Minamimoto from TWEWY and of course the annoying dream drops to switch to the next character, but you can lengthen your time as Riku or Sora using the 'drop me not' items. Although if I would rate it out of 10, it would be a 9/10. Although since it is an amazing game,unfortunately it made 3rd place out of all the Kingdom Hearts games that have been released. My true favorite would be the first Kingdom Hearts, but in tie with the second, since it is so hard to choose between both of them. My second favourite would be Birth By Sleep since it introduced some new chracters, filled in a lot of plot holes and gameplay, like the command system, for the series.

 

Since I knew it was going to take 1-2 years for a new Kingdom Hearts (hopefully it will be KH III) game to come out. I decided that I need to enjoy being outdoors rather being indoors and start some exercise, since I was looking pretty thin lately. Anyway since that it out of topic, ever since my cousin introduced me to Kingdom Hearts, I have been playing and buying every single Kingdom Hearts game that would be released in Australia. Although I don't have my Chain Of Memories anymore since my Mum threw it away, yes I was sad but eventually got over it. And now it has been 10 years of playing Kingdom Hearts, and somehow I don't want it to stop, lol. Probably when I'm 30 or when I get married I'll stop. But I would always be a loyal fan to the Kingdom Hearts Fanchise forever.

Edited August 6, 2012 by NekuJ_XXVI

[Daxam XXI 31]

KH3D...Best game on the 3DS by far.

 

Graphics: This game is great on the 3DS and is on par with that of the previous console and PSP installments and in 3D it's even better.

 

Story: For those of you who think this is "just another side game or spin off" really need to take another look at this title. This story follows on the heels of Recoded or BBS if you didn't play it and focuses on the impending return of Master Xehanort and while Mickey is strong it'll take more than him to stop Xehanort and thus Sora and Riku have been summoned to take The Mark Of Mastery where if they can unlock seven sleeping keyholes and return safely they will unlock a new power and be deemed Keyblade Masters.

 

With the conflict made clear and the impending twists and turns the story makes makes the game an excellent prologue to Kingdom Hearts 3.

 

Gameplay: Modeled after the command deck from Birth By Sleep, 3D takes it further by adding Flowmotion into the mix allowing you to both traverse the sleeping worlds easier and deal punishing area blasts to your enemies who are a new breed of darkness in the sleeping worlds which cannot be accessed by Heartless or Nobodies called Dream Eaters which are split into two groups, the ones you fight called Nightmares and your allies you will create through the game called Spirits which replace Donald and Goofy in this game and I found them personally alot more useful then Donald and Goofy. Outside of battle you can play and pet your spirits which will increase your bond with them and unlock new abilites for Sora and Riku. I have to say this is a great way to combine elements of Nintendo's Nintendogs and Kingdom Hearts to make it both fun to play with your Spirits and practical!

 

The Drop System: In this title instead of controlling one person throughout the game you will switch between Sora and Riku's stories which is represented by gauge beside your current character will decrease over time and when it runs out you will switch to the other one. I personally liked the drop gauge as it gave a sense of urgency and time limit but you can buy items called Drop-Me-Not or Drop-Me-Never to increase the time. The only annoying part is when your in the middle of a boss battle and you drop and when you came back the boss has full heath again making you start the battle over. It's not the best system but it's definitely fun and you have the option to drop to the other character by pausing and touching the DROP icon.

 

Mini-Games: Aside from the ones you can play with your Spirits like Treasure hunting for items, bouncing them underwater, and bouncing balloons you can play a game called Flick Rush in Traverse Town where a team of your Dream Eaters can go up agenst ether another person or the computer. The game is reminiscent of the battle system from Chain Of Memories where the highest amount of cards you pick deal damage to your opponent and once your out you have to touch their picture to reload their cards but if the opponent's is higher your Dream Eater will be stunned and open for attack so be careful also from Chain if your card amount is equal to your opponent's you will duel where you have to get a pair of sevens, bells, or cherries in your color to win. Overall it's fan game to play when you want to do something quick and fast-paced and you can exchange the medals you win for items or Dream Eater recipes and I found it to be very fun and addicting!

 

This game is packed with content with the main story taking me over 2 days to complete on Proud Mode and that was me playing non-stop and once you beat it there are still Special portals and Secret portals to do which are the boss fights from the story but their stats are buffed up and harder to beat like KH2FM's Data Battles. Plus there's the optional boss Julius from 1995's Runaway Brain and the secret ending to unlock!

 

One more thing, after the you clear the game the first time you unlock Critical Mode and can transfer all your Spirits over to you new save but they will revert to Level 1.

 

If you thought this was just a side game think again, this game sets up for the explosive finale to the Xehanort Saga that will take place in KH3 and just a great game overall! If your a KH fan you cannot miss this!

 

Great story, great gameplay, addicting mini-games, and packed with content as well as creating all the different Dream Eaters and unlocking their abilities for Sora and Riku plus their Link Styles just make this game a fun addition to the series and prove that KH still has that magic touch!

[hatok 6,413]

Um... is everyone supposed to be giving summaries, reviews and explanations?

That's not really an impression...

Edited August 6, 2012 by hatok

[Oniaku 280]

My Kingdom Hearts 3D Story

 

I discovered 3D about a year ago, or so, while looking up info on the final round in the mirage arens for BBS. Needless to say, I spoiled myself rotten for the game, going back everyday to find new information. Eventually, I stopped looking, due to the lack of new information.

 

One day, about a month ago, I looked it up again, and learned it was coming out on the 31st of july. I got excited, until I realized I didn't have a 3DS, so about a week before the game came out, I went to walmart to find myself a 3ds. They only had pink and purple ones left. I chose a purple one. Afterwards, in preparation for KH3D, I sat down and played Kingdom Hearts 2, beating it over the course of 3 days.

 

The day after I beat KH2, I preordered from amazon for release day delivery. Then, I started getting ready.

 

Release day, I dressed up in my luxord cosplay, and waited by the mailbox. No one showed up, so I went inside to eat lunch. During lunch the doorbell rang, so I went to check it. When I opened the door, no one was there...

 

But my package was!

 

I tore it open, and began playing immediately. The 3D factor beame slightly irritating, since i couldn't sit still while playing, so I wound up shutting that off. However, the rest of the games new quirks became both fun and addictive. Flowmotion added a faster way to move, and an added depth to attack. The spirit dream eaters made for brilliant allies, especially with their abilities that they granted me.

 

The Nightmares wound up being very intelligent enemies as compared to previous ones, being able to attack and follow me easily. So, I wound up piling in 3 cure type commands to my deck.

 

The bosses were epic, and fun to fight alot of the time. I especially remember Flying in Notre Dame as Riku to fight the wargoyle.

 

However, soon I arrived somewhere I didn't like.

 

The Grid.

 

IT just wasn't right for the dreameaters, the world was too dark, and they were too bright. There didn't seem to be any plot either. The characters just seemed to follow their own path.

 

Luckily, the grid was quickly over, and I began two worlds that the dreameaters fit in perfectly: The Country Of The Muskateers, and Symphony Of Sorcery. Both were easy worlds, in my opinion.

 

Finally, I arrived at the world that never was, and quickly breezed through Sora's story, defeating his final boss with no problem.

 

However, a problem arrived at Riku's mode, With Ansem's second form. I could fight him well enough, except my dream eaters kept dying, and when I went to revive them, Ansem would kill me.

 

So I decided to powerlevel for a little while, and there I still am. Levelling, collecting dream eaters, and searching for portals.

 

All in all, as of my current position, If I had to rate this game, it would get an 8/10. A good game, but nothing outstandingly innovative, a classic kingdom hearts adventure.

[KHUndertaleFan25 2,858]

I found Kingdom Hearts 3D when i was looking for something to watch on the computer.

 

I was wondering what it was,so i clicked it,and i spoiled myself by watching all the Kingdom Hearts 3D videos(well,only Cyberman65's Kingdom Hearts 3D Japanese videos).

 

I loved watching all of Cyberman65's Kingdom Hearts 3D videos,which had english subtitles(you have to click the CC button to see them).

 

I haven't played all the games,because i had to watch them on the computer which was okay,but now that i know about Kingdom Hearts 3D,i know what happens in it.

 

I'm also getting the english version for my birthday,which is in 3 1/2 weeks.

[deplanet08 74]

I love Kingdom Hearts because it has a really good combat system and story.

 

I got into the game when I heard kh3d is coming out and it looked interesting so I bought a ps2 and kh1 and 2. It was so fun so I watched walkthroughs for the other games. They were fun to watch also. So I decided to get more info on the game and my parents could'nt get me away from the computer but I don't care because it was fun to look at. Then, I found this website a few months ago and found a lot more info on all the games. So I signed up and everyday since I came on here to look up more info and was the best thing ever! 1 month before kh3d came out I could barely keep up with all the information and got even more excited for the game.

 

It was a week before kh3d came out then and was about to pee my pants I decided to pre- order my copy on amazon.com because all the buzz about it made me worry that they would sell out.

 

 

Finally, the day the game cam out I checked my mailbox every hour to see if it came yet and around 1:00 it came. I got my 3ds out right away (I only bought my 3ds for kh3d) and played on it non-stop that I did'nt eat for the rest of the day.

 

 

 

Some questions still weren't answered but I figured that most of them would be answered in kh3. I also had some questions on the dreaming worlds and logic but it didn't have that big of an effect on the game. So the story was perfect, combat system great, and the worlds couldn't have been better.

 

I can't wait for more information on the kingdom hearts series from you guys and keep up the great work.

[Destiny_of_a_Key_Bearer 82]

Ok so my Kh3D story...

Once upon a time in a land far far away...nah screw that.

Ok so the day the game come out right, I wake up at 8, well I never actually went to bed because I was to excited and everytime I tried to sleep I could feel my hearts beating like a drum and it was really annoying so I stayed up,, but any ways I wake my mom up at 8:30 and we eat ,have coffee , that kind of stuff then we're off to GameStop. We get There like at 8:55 and my mom was telling me there's no one here and I told her "ya I can see that mom" and then see asked me what time it opens and I said 9:00 but she wanted me to check the opening time on the store window so I did, and it said 10:00. I told my mom it opens at 10:00 and she said " I told you we came too early, but for me being kinda annoyed that I came way too early I asked my mom if we can go home, so we did. I had about 50 minutes until GameStop opened so I decided to play KH2 for about 40 minutes. After we left to GameStop...again. When we get There we see the manager pull up in the parking space next to us. He opens the store up and what not, he then gets out of the store, tells us he'll be back,and leave. About 4 staggeringly slow minutes pass and he's back. He opens the door for me and my mom 10 minutes before GameStop even opens because I would always go there with my friends so he knew me like anyone knows there regular customer. So anyway, he asked me what game I was planning on getting today, and I lookdown at my KH2 Tshirtand I asked him," Really? You can't tell?" and he says I'm guessing KH3D and then we talked about the game and he tells me to let me know what the game is like because we might want to try it out. After that I go home playthe game for 15 hours non stop with 3D, fell asleep for 10 hours, then beat the game after another 9 hours of playing after I woke up.

 

I got to say the KH3D is an amazing game, it has the best gameplay and story of any KH game so far and it's a game with an incredibly fast pace to it fue to the use of flow motion. The 3D on the game is a wonderful touch that won't irritate your eyes like any othe 3DS game would. The added drop gauge that will drop you between characters is a great way to keep you on par with the story so you won't get too confused. Then we have the dream eaters, your new partners that fight alongside Sora and Riku. Many are small and cute, many are big and tough-looking, but they ALL pack a ferocious punch to enemy characters who are also dream eaters but are better known as nightmares. I loved being able to customize my party with different dream eaters instead of staying with Donald and Goofy, and maybe some other Disney characters during certain worlds, the whole time. Overall my favorite addition to the new KH3D was flow motion and quickly the player was able to navigate quickly throught the map as well as use it for combat to deal heavy, and extremely flashy, attack. If I were an expert critic I would rate it a 9.5/10.

 

...so is that too long or am I good?

[Nathan Hatton 274]

I first heard about Kingdom Hearts 3D while I was watching the 3DS announcement at E3 over 2 years ago. I immediately knew the 3ds was something I was going to need to buy.

 

I ordered it the day the Mark Of Mastery Edition was announced and boy am I glad I didnt skip this game in the series. After about 3 hours of playing it, it moved up to my #1 game in the series so far. Im not even finished yet. No, it may not be as long as Kingdom Hearts 2 or Birth By Sleep, but they size of the worlds mixed with flowmotion is one of the greatest video game effects I have ever seen. Then you add the 3D on top of it and it is UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!! It has the best picture quality of any game in the series so far as well. The 3D effect also does not strain your eyes at all, I havent turned it off yet, even after a 5 hour session of playing!

 

The Drop System is awesome as it forces you to play both story lines (though it can be prolonged if the player chooses) and it keeps the story going where Birth By Sleep had holes with the multiple storylines. Flowmotion adds a whole new dimension to the game and really makes the game in my opinion. I almost hate that they added it in KH3D too, because it will probably be a dream world exclusive ability (it's pretty dreamish), and not be available in future KH games. Though, I feel like if Kingdom Hearts 3 doesn't have it, Square Enix will have to have some crazy amazing battle system in order to make up for a lack of flowmotion.

 

Dream Eaters are awesome too!!! When I first saw them I was somewhat skeptical at the resemblance to Pokemon (though MUCH MORE colorful) but after a few minutes in the spirit part of the menu, I was hooked! I have at least spent 2 hours minimum messing around with my spirits and growing them and I plan to spend even more time with them!

 

The Flick Rush mini game is one of the best mini games in the series so far. It is pretty easy to start but it quickly becomes quite challenging and requires quick thinking to beat your opponents.

 

The Controls work very well even with the L + R buttons controlling the camera (I'm holding out for the NYKO CPP that triples battery life as well). I will say changing deck commands can be tricky at first switiching between the circle pad and the d-pad, but it's not too bad once you get used to it.

 

Lastly, the story line. WOW. No, it's not as long as Kingdom Hearts 2. It's only 2 characters unlike 3 in Birth By Sleep. But man, is it deep. The Worlds are really perfect for the Dream World. Notre Dame is beautiful. Monstro finally makes sense seeing as it is a whale and should be way bigger than it was portrayed in the original KH. The Grid is also perfect as it is huge and like the movies, much better than its earlier counterpart in KH2. Some of the things introduced in this game are just

 

So I accidentally hit "add comment" before I was done. This is my full comment:

 

 

I first heard about Kingdom Hearts 3D while I was watching the 3DS announcement at E3 over 2 years ago. I immediately knew the 3ds was something I was going to need to buy.

 

I ordered it the day the Mark Of Mastery Edition was announced and boy am I glad I didnt skip this game in the series. After about 3 hours of playing it, it moved up to my #1 game in the series so far. Im not even finished yet. No, it may not be as long as Kingdom Hearts 2 or Birth By Sleep, but they size of the worlds mixed with flowmotion is one of the greatest video game effects I have ever seen. Then you add the 3D on top of it and it is UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!! It has the best picture quality of any game in the series so far as well. The 3D effect also does not strain your eyes at all, I havent turned it off yet, even after a 5 hour session of playing!

 

The Drop System is awesome as it forces you to play both story lines (though it can be prolonged if the player chooses) and it keeps the story going where Birth By Sleep had holes with the multiple storylines. Flowmotion adds a whole new dimension to the game and really makes the game in my opinion. I almost hate that they added it in KH3D too, because it will probably be a dream world exclusive ability (it's pretty dreamish), and not be available in future KH games. Though, I feel like if Kingdom Hearts 3 doesn't have it, Square Enix will have to have some crazy amazing battle system in order to make up for a lack of flowmotion.

 

Dream Eaters are awesome too!!! When I first saw them I was somewhat skeptical at the resemblance to Pokemon (though MUCH MORE colorful) but after a few minutes in the spirit part of the menu, I was hooked! I have at least spent 2 hours minimum messing around with my spirits and growing them and I plan to spend even more time with them!

 

The Flick Rush mini game is one of the best mini games in the series so far. It is pretty easy to start but it quickly becomes quite challenging and requires quick thinking to beat your opponents.

 

The Controls work very well even with the L + R buttons controlling the camera (I'm holding out for the NYKO CPP that triples battery life as well). I will say changing deck commands can be tricky at first switiching between the circle pad and the d-pad, but it's not too bad once you get used to it.

 

Lastly, the story line. WOW. No, it's not as long as Kingdom Hearts 2. It's only 2 characters unlike 3 in Birth By Sleep. But man, is it deep. The Worlds are really perfect for the Dream World. Notre Dame is beautiful. Monstro finally makes sense seeing as it is a whale and should be way bigger than it was portrayed in the original KH. The Grid is also perfect as it is huge and like the movies, much better than its earlier counterpart in KH2. Some of the themes introduced in this game are just so deep and really further the storyline. Kingdom Hearts has a lot to live up to after this installment for sure.

 

I rate it a 9.75/10 purely for the difficulty of changing the deck. Other than that, I think it's perfect and the best one yet.

[anime10121 28]

Finished KH3D on Proud mode with secret ending in check and all I can say is WOW!

 

No spoilers here at all:)

 

This game's story is much like that of the first, in that it places much more emphasis on the Disney stories than the overarching plot, that is until you get close to the end, then it throws more plot at you than Allen Iverson could handle in his prime (and trust me when I say, that's a good thing)! The last world in this game feels MORE epic than the last battle with Xemnas in KH2 and what happens in the Keyblade Graveyard at the end of Birth By Sleep. There is just SO much that happens and it kinda overwhelms you, but when you think about it, in terms of the rules the series has established over its 10 year run, it all makes sense. I swear people may talk about this series being "convoluted", but if you actually play the games and pay attention, its not that hard to understand (in fact it's really easy).

 

While I still think the combat was more fluid in Birth by Sleep, it's still fun as ever here. The Reality Shifts are a really nice addition to the battle system, and I find them much more fun and useful than the Shotlocks were in BBS. Flow motion while looking almost impossibly hard to handle, becomes easier and easier as you play the game and figure out how it works! What I will say though is payback raid/shot is a little unresponsive sometimes and that the Once More/Second Chance combo doesnt work quite as well in this game than it does in all the games prior (you can die if another combo is started at the right time even with once more equipped).

 

Its also funny that I found NUMEROUS instances where the game actually makes fun of the series for "taking so long to write the sequel" to the next main game You have to listen for them, but the way some of the characters said the things they said, it cant be anything but Square making fun of themselves, and its quite funny

 

I'm telling you though, BE prepared when you get to the final world, as it is just beyond amazing, not to say the others aren't, but even as a fan of both Square and Disney, the main story of KH is simply fantastic and a lot of times, touching. The final world has so much in it, it almost seems like the whole thing was planned to be this vast when they came out with the first game! Sadly I had been spoiled of a couple of the things that happened in game involving 2 characters, but its good to know that there was still a lot more to the game than those two (relatively big spoilers).

 

On the matter of the only 3 negative reviews it seems to have on Metacritic, they shouldn't even be listed IMO, because EACH one of them (when you read them) say the gameplay is fun, and works well, but that "the stories to hard to understand when some of them had admitted to not even playing all the main games (not the series fault, although blame can be placed on Square for making the games too spread out on too many consoles), or that its a good game, but since its not KH3 on a console, so its a crappy side game.

 

It all just seems incredibly whiny and un-professional, while I can understand the 70's because even if I find the series great, it may not be as awesome to me as it is to others, but the 60, 50 and 40 are complete bull, if this game is a 5-10 or below average, then I'd like to see what they call good game's because they must be godly. This game (according to each of them) plays well and has no glitches, so it seems weird to me that they seem to pan the game so much

 

While the game isn't quite as "new" an experience as Birth by Sleep was,as a prequel to Kingdom Hearts 3, this game does EVERYTHING it needs to do to establish itself as a main entry in the series and set's the series up for the inevitable big number 3. It actually introduces so many things that need to be taken care of, I have a hard time believing ALL of it can be done in the third and last entry in the Xehanort saga.

 

If you like KH at all, I guarantee you'll love this game! This game has really gotten me hyped for the conclusion to the Xehanort saga (KH3), and I cant wait to see how Sora amongst others save all those people who are "hurting"!

Edited August 6, 2012 by anime10121

[khluvr89 0]

I love KH 3D ithink anyone looking for a new 3DS game shoould play it! My fovorite part is of course the story! Not to for get the Dream Eaters they're SOO CUTE & ADORABLE and they do a great job of help you out!! Now I love how challenging the new gameplay is its not too easy but not too difficult although, there are sometimes where you wanna scream but thats what makes it fun right?

 

I kind of like the drop system at least better than BBS where they made you do each part seprately. It does get really annoying though if you're in the middle of a boss fight and you have to drop suddenly. Other than that I really enjoy the drop system, and how Sora & Riku's stories are intertwined but jet they're two completely different stories. All in all i love this game and can't wait for future KH Games!

[Pickle129 4]

I suppose I should start by saying that I used to despise Kingdom Hearts. Yes, it was the culmination of all things I hated: Mickey Mouse, rabid fangirls and terrible voiceacting.

 

I'll counteract that prior point by saying I am a massive The World Ends With You fan. My love for the game is still going strong and I listen to the soundtrack nearly everyday. So when I heard that my favorite characters and a few songs had worked their way into a Kingdom Hearts game, I was immensely worried. The great image of TWEWY going to be slandered with *ugh* Disney and melodramatic writing, I figured I'd just have to ignore it. Then the KH/TWEWY cross-universe fanart trickled in and I worried the precious fandom for a niche little game was going to shatter from "those putrid KH fans."

 

But when the KH3D demo hit the eShop, my good friend who saw past my ignorance encouraged me to try it, as a TWEWY fan. For the first time in my life(and hopefully the last), I fanguy squealed when Neku showed up. And while my mind said I had to hate it, my heart couldn't help but adore the gameplay which was exactly what I'd been looking for in a game. I secretly bought a PS2 and all the KH titles available just a day later, my new guilty pleasure. And within a week I'd fallen in love with something I had told myself I would never enjoy. The day KH3D was released, I came out of the closet to my friends as a recently converted Kingdom Hearts fan.

 

So what I'm looking for in Kingdom Hearts 3D may not be exactly what other KH fans are, as the entire experience is still relatively new to me. But I have to say, KH3D is worthy of bearing the 10th Anniversary logo despite not being a console KH title. Flowmotion is a truly excellent addition to the series, it breathes life into what could easily become repetitive and stale combat and well it's just plain fun to fly around. Reality Shifts are a gimmick, but nothing feels more satisfying than slashing a Grid Guard, than hacking him to fight against his own teammates. The soundtrack is a sheer delight and TWEWY remixes are more like re-imaginings, which makes them even better. And boy oh boy, is the TWEWY fan within me satisfied. I held deep concerns that the well crafted Reaper's Game plot would be crashed by some cheesy excuse for the cameos, but it makes perfect sense in both canons. Each character kept their personalities and dialogue perfectly, as if it was written back when TWEWY was still being developed. Neku is the lovable misanthrope with a secret desire to make friends, Beat is still the soft hearted gangser who can't do simple addition, and Joshua is still the snarky jerk you just have to love.

 

That said, not everything is perfect in Traverse Town. The worlds are still pretty lonely and don't have many objects to interact with despite flowmotion. The camera is still a bit finicky and some bosses simply seem unbalanced and cruel. The Disney franchises used this time aren't as well known/accessible (Hunchback of Notre Dame and Fantasia aren't real classics, Tron Legacy is too new, Three Musketeers was just a straight to DVD release) but the game still seems to expect you to have watched them yesterday. The plot is still not easily accessible for newcomers like me, but I forgive it because it gave an honest effort in the momento and journal systems. All these flaws are small potatoes when compared to the big picture. Although I've yet to finish KH3D, I can tell it will be an unforgettable experience, not just for being an excellent and well polished game, but also for teaching me a valuable lesson- never judge a series by it's Mickey Mouse, because he will turn out to be a totally awesome keyblade wielding master.

Edited August 6, 2012 by Pickle129

[keyblade master :D 1]

I just got to say that I LOVE the Kingdom Hearts series I mean it's the greatest games ever and the latest installment Kingdom Hearts 3D was one of my favorites next to Kingdom Hearts II. The flow motion was sooo awesome it really helped during battles that were hard, and I was kind of edgey on the switching to sora and Riku every time the drop timer thing got out but then I started to get used to it. This game makes a big jump in the Kingdom Hearts series because it shows tons of people that I know and love from the previous games and it was great to see them again. I don't care what critics say about this game being 9.5 but I give it 11.0 Kingdom Hearts ROCKS!!!!!!

[eraldaine 89]

Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance really surpassed a lot of the expectations given to it. The anticipation built the game up to almost drastic levels; yet nothing within the game itself let any of the hype or excitement down. From story, to gameplay, to soundtrack; each piece has been carefully crafted and intensely well received in a most innovative addition to the series that still manages to upkeep a lot of the favored aspects from past games.

 

Playing through, both the drop gauge and flowmotion could be a challenge to get used to. The drop gauge certainly could add to the strategy gamers used to complete each world, whilst flowmotion- to be quite honest- is not only the newest and most intelligent aspect added to kingdom hearts gameplay, but a ton of fun to boot! Looking back, it's a giant leap (haha) from leaping across waterfalls with Aqua; without even mentioning KH2 or the original of the series. Treasure chest collection became a whole new world of fun; each world built expansively enough to enjoy it.

 

Another great addition was the introduction of the Dream Eaters; not only in a combat sense, but as a key plot device and a whole new enemy for the gaming series as well. Using the level board style from re: Coded there were plenty of aspects to the Dream Eaters that could keep you busy for hours- from creation, to play; right down to food and some well deserved love. In combat, Dream Eaters are a force to be reckoned with; each having their own unique move to execute alongside Sora or with Riku that added just that little more 'oomph' and humor to the fights.

 

Combat overall had so many aspects to it, one parapraph hardly does justice. The command deck returns from Birth by Sleep, easily put to good use despite the additional heavy hand offered by flowmotion's signature movements. The traditional style of button mash gameplay doesn't fall completely by the wayside, either; all aspects of combat working in sync and leaving a most satisfying feeling after each battle well fought.

 

In standard mode, the bosses could still get to you; but with each having their own formulated attack styles, getting into the rhythm of each battle allowed for each boss to be remarkably enjoyable, with very little of the earlier frustrations that could sometimes be remarked as annoyingly difficult simply by the timing needed to defeat them.

 

Story wise, the game delivers as the promised prequel to Kingdom Hearts III. It provides all the well loved themes that the series is so well recognized for; the struggles between light and darkness, memories and dreams. Without heading into the realm of spoilers, it's still easy to say that the overarching story added tension for the climatic third main title, each scene leaving you in suspense as you delve deeper and deeper into the world of dreams with plenty of shocking revelations and old faces to keep you interested and invested in both Riku and Sora's stories. Both were executed in such a way that they continued to compliment each other right to the very end, no doubt leaving a thirst for the next installation that will be hard to quench in the wait time between.

 

Whilst there are plenty of aspects only briefly touched upon, the final aspect to the game that leaves a heavy mark is the fully orchestrated soundtrack, which is by far one of the best for the series to date. With renditions from earlier games and the unique additions from The World Ends With You soundtrack, there's something enjoyable for everyone, with none of the music holding a repetitive feel to it. In a masterfully directed move, fans can even find themselves falling in love with older song titles from the series that have been given so much more gravity by the series newest addition.

 

All in all, KH3D is a beautiful game that shows the care and thought provided by the developing team for both new gamers and the older generation of its fan base, giving us one of the most creative and well thought out installations in a gaming series that has captured so many hearts; with the promise to continue doing so in the future.

 

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Here's hoping my iPhone didn't change Sora to Dora at any stage, aha.