Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance

 3DS
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 549 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 421 out of 549
  2. Mixed: 81 out of 549
  3. Negative: 47 out of 549
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  1. SuperkenGaming
    Jan 28, 2017
    4
    Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance
    Gimicky Garbage
    Dream Drop Distance takes place after the events of kingdom hearts coded and is by far the most frustrating and worse game in the entire kingdom hearts series. Here you play as both riku and sora who are in separate dream worlds while at the same time vitisitng the same people and places... This game follows the formula of Birth By    Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance
    Gimicky Garbage
    Dream Drop Distance takes place after the events of kingdom hearts coded and is by far the most frustrating and worse game in the entire kingdom hearts series.
    Here you play as both riku and sora who are in separate dream worlds while at the same time vitisitng the same people and places...
    This game follows the formula of Birth By Sleep which I feel is the best game in the series.. but it ads tons of gimmicks, wastes your time… and is the least inspired title in the series to date.
    Here like in birth by sleep all of your special attacks are in decks that increase in size as you level up.. you fill the slots with moves and magic you get from shops and off of enemies…
    You visit 7 boring locations, most of which you’ve seen before in past games…
    And by most I mean practically all but 1
    Void of the Disney charm almost completely…
    just generic feeling worlds kill generic feeling dream eaters.. and getting through this over complicated and unnecessary story that doesn’t get interesting until the very end of this 20 hour game.
    Again you play as riku and sora, you go back and forth and you go through the same places like in birth by sleep.. but unlike birth by sleep nothing but the story and bosses are different for the 2…
    so youre practically just playing the levels twice…
    but that isn’t the worst part…
    The worst part of this game is its gimmicks…
    Theres a drop mechanic here where once the times is up youre forced to go back and play as sora or riku,,,
    Youre literally timed at every single moment of the game..
    And we all know timers are the most fun thing in video game history to deal with
    ps sarcasm.
    That was sarcasm.. theyre not fun.. they were never fun.. they never wil be fun…
    And for how much this game loves to annoyingly not want interrupt combat with something actually useful like checking menu options, tutorials, or looking at the map.. it has no problem when it comes to plucking you out to force you to play as the other character..
    And the worst part is it doesn’t save your battle progress… weather its regular enemies or bosses… you have to start all over again when its your turn again…
    its aweful…
    I understand you wanted me to go through the story evenly.. but at the very least don’t allow drops to happen until I die or until a battle is over…
    One gimmick I don’t mind but again feel is unnecessary is the ability to link with a spirit..
    These are essentially pokemon sidekicks that join your party and allow you to do their attacks or team up with them mid battle…
    you can play with them.. pet them… name them… but again… completely unnecessary….
    The only improvement here over the past games is you dive with a challenge instead of do the gummy ship mini games….
    but it isn’t a large improvement.. its also not fun…
    and the icing on the cake here is that the final boss sequences are just as cheap as they’ve always been if not more..… one in particular can posin you as well as drain your health without warning and refill theirs fully with this drained health like you did no damage at all… take a wild guess what happenes when they do that move and youre poisned..
    And these final bosses aren’t the only cheap bosses here…
    Since developers thought it would be great to add a timer to the game.. they also thought it would be a great idea to make some boss battles in giant open areas with bosses that do ranged attacks that you have to chase… while they run away from you, go up to the ceiling and teleport around…
    Its not fun… none of it…
    watch the movie on youtube to get the story…
    don’t play this game.
    I Give Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance
    a 4.5/10    … Expand
  2. charlesking
    Aug 1, 2012
    8
    Have you been waiting for a good action RPG for the 3ds? if so this "may" be your game. The graphics are what you would expect from square nice and clean with fantastic cut scenes. Voice acting is for the most part solid but there are times where it can be hit or miss. The combat system is very responsive and mostly did what i wanted it to do sometimes i would attack nothing and getHave you been waiting for a good action RPG for the 3ds? if so this "may" be your game. The graphics are what you would expect from square nice and clean with fantastic cut scenes. Voice acting is for the most part solid but there are times where it can be hit or miss. The combat system is very responsive and mostly did what i wanted it to do sometimes i would attack nothing and get frustrated. The biggest flaw I would say would be the camera. I played without the Circle pad pro i don't know if this improves the camera at all i would say probably so. In summary it is not without its flaws but it is for sure a game you need to own if you are KH fan or if you did a little research on the story thus far you would be fine allbeit just as confused as KH vets because the story will become confusing. And a one last note about the "drop" system was annoying at first but you could always drop back to the Sora or Riku if it were something crucial you needed to do. In the end not perfect but 3ds owners should not overlook this game.… Expand
  3. ExprS
    Sep 18, 2012
    8
    This is fa from being the best game in the serie but is great nonetheless. It has the same characters that we learned to love, an beautiful soundtrack and incredible 3D effect. Despite this I can't help complain that it is about time of kingdom hearts 3.
  4. mrgamesandstuff
    Dec 17, 2012
    8
    Kingdom Hearts is a rare gem in video games. The series has largely spread to every gamer's Playstation 2, PSP, DS, and now 3DS. Not only has it spread through video games its has also become common in pop culture. It is difficult to not see a Kingdom Hearts shirt in Hot Topic these days. Many popular games eventually stumble and somewhere along their series where one game may not be asKingdom Hearts is a rare gem in video games. The series has largely spread to every gamer's Playstation 2, PSP, DS, and now 3DS. Not only has it spread through video games its has also become common in pop culture. It is difficult to not see a Kingdom Hearts shirt in Hot Topic these days. Many popular games eventually stumble and somewhere along their series where one game may not be as good as the rest. However, I am happy to say Dream Drop Distance is not one of those games. In fact, it improves many things. It is nice to finally see the move system from Birth By Sleep finally make its way to the Nintendo handhelds as well. Not only did the controls improve, the story has as well. Dream Drop Distance finally continues the story leading up to Kingdom Hearts 3, which from the ending, I am sure will be one of the best in the series. Dream Eaters are a different pace from the usual heartless and your dream eater companions are just as effective as Goofy or Donald were in the past Kingdom Hearts. Flow Motion is a step up as well which allows you to interact with the environment and attack enemies. The only complaints about this game is the constant dropping system. Dropping will force you to switch in between Sora and Riku and it will abruptly stop you in the middle of any fight including boss battles. If you happen to drop during a boss battle then you will be forced to retry the battle from the beginning. Another thing about Dream Drop Distance is the fact that the game is just a bit too short. With only several worlds that take about an hour total with both Riku and Sora you are only looking at about an 8 to 9 hour experience.
    Overall, Dream Drop Distance is an amazing game that even the newest members of the Kingdom Hearts franchise will enjoy. Although the game may have some annoying issues like dropping or how short it is, it easily makes up for everything it does right.    … Expand
  5. ZeRo_Bahamut
    Sep 11, 2013
    9
    Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance is an action rpg that directly continues the story where it left after the DS game Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded, which followed Kingdom Hearts 2.

    Story: The story builds on previous entries in the series, if you have not played any of them (or some) every previous game will have it's plot explained in short as will most terms used in the game    Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance is an action rpg that directly continues the story where it left after the DS game Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded, which followed Kingdom Hearts 2.

    Story:
    The story builds on previous entries in the series, if you have not played any of them (or some) every previous game will have it's plot explained in short as will most terms used in the game (Keyblade, Heartless, Nobodies, etc...), still this falls a bit short and will surely have newcomers scratch their heads, for people who have played them all and know what the story behind the franchise is this is a treat.

    The premise of this game's story is that Sora and his best friend Riku are now preparing to face the return of the evil keyblade wielder that is Xehanort, they do this by taking part in the Mark of Mastery exam so they can become full fledged Keyblade wielders. In doing so they need to "dive" into the sleeping Disney worlds so they can unlock these and halt Xehanort's return, however as the story develops you will see twists and turns, ultimately leading to the climax...

    Gameplay:
    If you've played any other Kingdom Hearts it will feel very familiar.

    You battle your way in real-time trough Disney worlds infested by nightmare monsters, trying to unravel the story behind each unique world, you'll quickly be introduced to the Dream Spirit system, in which you'll create monsters from materials gained in battle and minigames, in turn these spirits help you in battle.
    Battling will earn you XP and LP, XP is used to level up yourself and your Spirits, LP is used to unlock various stat boosting power-ups, abilities and skills. Every Spirit has their own unique talent tree in which you can spend their earned LP on. Personally I'm not a big fan of this LP system as it could've been worked out better.

    There are special portals in which in fight various groups of enemies, trying to beat all the portals is the message here as you'll gain various items and recipes to create monsters, after beating the game you can re-fight bosses as well as one super boss, this keeps you going even after finishing the game.

    Controls:
    If you've played any other Kingdom Hearts (except Chain of Memories) you'll be right at home with the usual controls, the controls respond very wel, the camera is responsive and you'll always have your Curaga at hand with the press of a button!

    Graphics:
    Arguably the best graphics on the system, it is close if not surpass the visual detail of it's PS2 brother, some worlds are amazingly detailed, if you have seen the movies these worlds are based on, it will be an even bigger treat.

    Music:
    Composed by the famed Yoko Shimomura, the music fits every situation in the game, dramatic, passionate, close to their Disney movies, the music is superb. There's also some fanservice at the end with arranged versions of Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2 songs.

    Positives:
    + Arguably some of the best graphics on the system
    + For fans who follow the story this is a fully realised Kingdom Hearts game
    + Fun combat that never gets old
    + Amazing music that fits the mood of the game
    + Some extras after the story is beaten
    + Story ties up some loose ends left from previous installments

    Negatives:
    - Hard to follow story for newcomers
    - Spirit system could've been better

    Conclusion:
    Having a fully realised Kingdom Hearts on the go is any fan's dream, well, dream no longer!
    This is what you're waiting for, as for people not familiar with the franchise, I recommend playing previous entries, with the HD release out now this shouldn't be a problem!    … Expand
  6. miisher
    Jul 31, 2012
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Even though the story is probobly one of the most dificult to follow in all of video game history, its a solid game that runs smoothly. I have also read that this is the last game for portables and the next one will be KH3, not to spoil but there is a little "confirmermation" in the gamer… Expand
  7. Stitch
    Aug 4, 2012
    10
    Best 3DS game to date...
    Storyline a little bit predicted but doesn't fall behind the KH PS games.
    A must for KH fans who havn't played the DS / PSP games.
  8. Fix
    Feb 18, 2013
    5
    For a portable game, there is quite a large gap between save points. It's not really a game you can play for just a couple minutes; you have to wait until you find the next save point. And if you want to watch the cinematics, you could be waiting 20-30 minutes. In my opinion, portable games should always let the user save at any time they want. I understand the 3DS has a standby option,For a portable game, there is quite a large gap between save points. It's not really a game you can play for just a couple minutes; you have to wait until you find the next save point. And if you want to watch the cinematics, you could be waiting 20-30 minutes. In my opinion, portable games should always let the user save at any time they want. I understand the 3DS has a standby option, but I would rather not have to worry about the next time I'll be able to charge my system, specifically because I'll lose my saved game when I don't. The controls are very complex for a portable game. So much that they suggest buying the right thumb-stick attachment. Again, complex controls do not belong in a game like this. For many of us, this system only gets played for short periods at a time. It's hard to remember the key combinations unless you take the time to learn. I wonder what the target audience is for this. It seems to be for people that play for long periods of time and those who use the 3DS as their main source of video gaming.… Expand
  9. Serin
    Sep 23, 2012
    7
    Before beginning this review, I think it's important to mention that I've never played a Kingdom Hearts game before. I saw a review for this one, looked like fun, so I picked it up. And it IS fun! The battles are fluid and pretty, the spirits you create add an entertaining element to the mix, and the music is wonderful. But after 20 hours of play, the fact that this is my only KH game everBefore beginning this review, I think it's important to mention that I've never played a Kingdom Hearts game before. I saw a review for this one, looked like fun, so I picked it up. And it IS fun! The battles are fluid and pretty, the spirits you create add an entertaining element to the mix, and the music is wonderful. But after 20 hours of play, the fact that this is my only KH game ever seems to be seriously affecting my enjoyment. The plot is...messy...for a beginner. Cryptic characters appear, deliver a line or two, and vanish. I'm given a 1000-word help document that I can read to sum up an entire game I missed so I can appreciate this character's appearance. And the dialogue goes on and on and on...I can't tell what's actually important and what's just fan-service. Speaking of plot, I can't help but notice how much of it is dialogue recycled almost 100% from other games/movies with a few discussions about hearts and friendship sprinkled in for good measure. I guess what I'm saying is as a GAME it's quite fun; as a STORY it's boring and frustrating. But since I bought this game instead of a book, I can rate it higher than average.… Expand
  10. KillaRiku
    May 18, 2013
    7
    Kingdom Hearts 3D is for me as a Kingdom Hearts Fan absolutely crap. The Fighting-System was great and the gameplay, too. But the story is the worst of all Kingdom Hearts' and there are much mistakes in the story. It might be one of the best 3DS-Games but it's the worst of all Kingdom Hearts games.
  11. Bradissorad
    Jul 31, 2012
    10
    This is the best 3DS game and the only reason i bought one. buy this game and stop complaining that its not KH3, cause it will come in the future and this is a great entry in my favorite series of all time!!
  12. Chrillbill
    Aug 1, 2012
    10
    Super awesome game! A MUST for Kingdom Hearts fans! The story, the music, the gameplay, the graphics, everything is just awesome! If you don't have a 3DS, buy it! This game alone will be worth it! That's what I think at least.
  13. AwesomeMunchies
    Jul 31, 2012
    9
    First of all, this was a very good game! The game play was very good and it probably had some of the best graphics and sound on a 3DS game. This IS the best game I have on my 3DS. I highly recommend that you get it.
  14. vetrex
    Jul 31, 2012
    10
    still playing through the game but I am loving it! the only thing i really don't like it the dream eater system it's a cool idea but it has be going though things i really could care less for
  15. Graminthesalmon
    Aug 1, 2012
    9
    The combat system alone is the best in the series. The music is an definite improvement and the story is great too. Although the switch between sora and riku can be a little annoying at time it keeps the game from getting boring. The dream eaters are a lot of fun at time but it can feel kind of out of place being like a nintendogs sort of thing in a kingdom hearts game, although squareThe combat system alone is the best in the series. The music is an definite improvement and the story is great too. Although the switch between sora and riku can be a little annoying at time it keeps the game from getting boring. The dream eaters are a lot of fun at time but it can feel kind of out of place being like a nintendogs sort of thing in a kingdom hearts game, although square enix has done stranger. It is a must have for any 3ds user or kingdom hearts fan. There is a lot to do in it and I haven't even scratched the surface yet. All around it's a great game.… Expand
  16. MrWhiggy
    Jul 31, 2012
    10
    This game feels like the perfect Kingdom Hearts game. It mixes part of the Birth by Sleep gameplay (namely, the command deck) with the new flowmotion, which feels amazing to play. The story, without spoiling anything, is perfect if you understand what's going on. I can only see this getting marked down if this is your first or second Kingdom Hearts game, but to long-term fans it feels nextThis game feels like the perfect Kingdom Hearts game. It mixes part of the Birth by Sleep gameplay (namely, the command deck) with the new flowmotion, which feels amazing to play. The story, without spoiling anything, is perfect if you understand what's going on. I can only see this getting marked down if this is your first or second Kingdom Hearts game, but to long-term fans it feels next to perfect.… Expand
  17. TomTheGreat
    Jul 31, 2012
    10
    This game is without a doubt, the best game on the 3DS at this present time. The gameplay is smooth and easy to learn, yet difficult to master. The story, whilst confusing at first, is easy to understand after reading or watching the unlockable mementos, like summaries of the previous games in the series. The music in this game is breathtaking, including special versions of the musicThis game is without a doubt, the best game on the 3DS at this present time. The gameplay is smooth and easy to learn, yet difficult to master. The story, whilst confusing at first, is easy to understand after reading or watching the unlockable mementos, like summaries of the previous games in the series. The music in this game is breathtaking, including special versions of the music featured in Disney's Fantasia. From the moment i picked the game up and started playing, til the moment when i finished the games story, i was immensely satisfied.
    The game also looks incredibly beautiful, especially in 3D. The worlds are all perfectly detailed and look almost perfectly similar to the Disney movies they are based on (albeit for a few new areas in order to smoothly transition from one area of a Disney Movie to the next.)
    The voice acting in this game is also really well cast, with Haley Joel Osment and David Gallagher reprising their roles as the series main protagonists, Sora and Riku.
    The best acting however was by Leonard Nimoy, who reprises his role as the main antagonist of the series, Xehanort. The way Nimoy say's the lines makes the villain sound more threatening and villainous and altogether more enjoyable.
    The new gameplay elements added to this game, like Flowmotion and the Pokemon-esque Dream Eaters are great additions to the already superb combat system.
    All in all, i give Kingdom Hearts 3D a 10/10 for superb gameplay, a interesting story, brilliant music and some of the best visuals ever to grace a handheld console.    … Expand
  18. c0mmander
    Jul 31, 2012
    9
    I know a game is good when I can't put it down, then when it's completed I just what more. That's exactly how it unfolded with KH:DDD. Gameplay: 8.5 - This game has improved on so much in my opinion from previous KH games and the addition of flowmotion while hit and miss is certainly an interesting addition and one which I personally enjoyed, if you liked previous titles in the KH seriesI know a game is good when I can't put it down, then when it's completed I just what more. That's exactly how it unfolded with KH:DDD. Gameplay: 8.5 - This game has improved on so much in my opinion from previous KH games and the addition of flowmotion while hit and miss is certainly an interesting addition and one which I personally enjoyed, if you liked previous titles in the KH series particularly BBS you'll like what you get here! Also worth a mention is the new 'dreameater' monster collection to round off your team which is again hit and miss and sadly whilst it was enjoyable at many points still didn't leave me saying 'please include this in KHIII'. Graphics:8 - Whilst it may not jump leaps and bounds over BBS in every graphical aspect it fares well on Nintendo's handheld as one of the better looking releases which can be said of almost every KH release as the artstyle can adapt to many platforms. Also worth mentioning is the 3d effect as being not too overpowering but nice to have. Lasting Appeal: 9.5- There is a lot to get here if you really dig deep including playing through a new mini-game called 'flick rush' which is a mini-game that is very similar to Pokemon in approach. Story: 8 - Yeah, the KH story is extremely convoluted and a lot will probably go over your head there's no denying it's told well enough (Minus some cringe moments at bits of the script) the world of Disney and Square Enix does well here and the All-Star voice cast really holds together making you engaged enough in the story.
    In summary, this is an altogether great experience and in the ways of m new rating system as of now I dare say: MUST BUY! (Especially for KH fans and Action- RPG fans!)    … Expand
  19. firstevil87
    Sep 5, 2012
    7
    Kh:3d is another spin off in the Kingdom Hearts franchise, this time for the nintendo 3ds. Why square enix keeps changing consoles is beyond me, if you want to play every game you need to buy at least one home console and three handled, 4 consoles in the course of 10 years, with only TWO main entry. This particular game has been marketed as a kingdom hearts 3 in all but the name with anKh:3d is another spin off in the Kingdom Hearts franchise, this time for the nintendo 3ds. Why square enix keeps changing consoles is beyond me, if you want to play every game you need to buy at least one home console and three handled, 4 consoles in the course of 10 years, with only TWO main entry. This particular game has been marketed as a kingdom hearts 3 in all but the name with an emphasis on completely new disney worlds and completely new enemies. Main problem is that this game feels unnecessary, seriosly, I thought that the plot started only in the very last world, the 7 worlds before that felt like a padding where nothing happens. In other installments I thought that the disney world were somehow linked to the main plot, or helped develop character arcs. Here instead it goes like this:"hi I am a stranger, now we're instantly friends! I believe in you! The power of friendship will save the day!". This is overused to the point of not being taken seriously at all. When the plot really starts (again in the very last world) we're bombarded with details that you won't be able to track all at once, you'll go to wikipedia to try to understand what happened. If you pretend that this game has no plot (and it won't be hard to do it), you will be amazed by how well designed are the environments, I personally hate linearity so complicated levels=win. Battle system sees the addition of two elements:flow motion and dream eaters. The former is a way to move faster from point A to B, using contestual commands to inflict damage, the latter is a pokemon-like way of having companions, replacing Donald and Goofy. Managing and developing the dream eater is a game within a game and usually it will require making interactions using the touch screen. Each monster has its own abilities, and can grant the player new upgrades, boosts or skills. Did I say THE player? I should have said the the TWO players: in this game you control both Sora and Riku, not at the same time but skipping from one to the other.
    How the "skip" works can and most of the time will be frustrating, each session with Sora or Riku has a timer, once it reaches zero you suddendly fall asleep and pass the control to the other character. It can be annoying if it happens during the looooong boss fights. Speaking of boss fights, some how enix forgot they were developing for an handeld, so sometimes it will be frustrating die battling the third form of a boss, then starting from the beginning of the battle. The very last part of the game, it has lots of cutscenes, a multi part boss fight, but no "save function" in between, and no "restart when you died" feature, so you would restart from scratch, swearing a lot during the process. In the end should I reccomend this game? Of course I will, you bought it the minute it hit shelves and got a 3ds just to play it. Does it feel necessary? Yes. Does it feel like a good game? Yes, the dream eater managing is so deep and complex that you will find the need to catch'em all ( no pun intended). forget about the story, it stopped making sense halfway through kingdom hearts 2 so play it for the gameplay alone :)    … Expand
  20. deathsquishy
    Aug 6, 2012
    7
    Kingdom Hearts 3d: Dream Drop Distance is one of the most beautiful games I've seen on a handheld, but is by no means perfect. Though I enjoyed this game, there are some flaws that hinder the enjoyment.

    Firstly, as a kingdom hearts fan, I wish they would stop making these games handheld, as they are not games to play for 5-15 minuets, thanks to save points sometimes being some    Kingdom Hearts 3d: Dream Drop Distance is one of the most beautiful games I've seen on a handheld, but is by no means perfect. Though I enjoyed this game, there are some flaws that hinder the enjoyment.

    Firstly, as a kingdom hearts fan, I wish they would stop making these games handheld, as they are not games to play for 5-15 minuets, thanks to save points sometimes being some distance apart, and frequent, sometimes lengthy cinamatics. A game like this would be more comfortable played on the tv over in your hand.

    Flow motion, this games biggest change to gameplay, can be a fun, if a bit overpowered addition to gameplay, that makes the normal kingdom hearts fighting nearly irrelevant. why bother with normal attacks and magic combos, when you can just run over to a wall and spam flomotion attacks until everyone's dead.

    Thirdly, the game is set between two alternate worlds, one where you play as Sora, and the other as Riku. This would be a cool idea, were it not for the drop in/drop out mechanic, where after 20 minuets or so it forces you to play in the other character's world. This will happen regardless of your situation, whether you are fighting monsters, managing inventory, fighting a boss, etc.

    Finally, as interesting as the story will be to kingdom hearts fans who have managed to follow along through the past six games, to anyone new to the Kingdom Hearts series, it may come off as a convoluted mess.

    Despite these complaints however, this is in no way a completely terrible game. The art style is unique and strange, the combat is fast-pased and enjoyable, and the voice acting is superb, and this is easily the best looking handheld game I've seen so far.    … Expand
  21. Tjackson31692
    Mar 11, 2013
    10
    Chrillbill
    Aug 1, 2012
    10
    Super awesome game! A MUST for Kingdom Hearts fans! The story, the music, the gameplay, the graphics, everything is just awesome! If you don't have a 3DS, buy it! This game alone will be worth it! That's what I think at least.
  22. darkziosj
    May 29, 2013
    10
    Great game every fan of the kingdom hearths games should have. i brings new answers to the story and tho making it more complicated it brings new life to it, the combat changes little but is still good, and the music is still awesome.
  23. ElSophie9000
    Nov 5, 2012
    7
    This entry to the Kingdom Hearts series introduces th new features - the Drop system and the Spirit raising. The drop system is flawed. Basically Sora and Riku each have a time limit. When the time ends, you are forced to switch. There are items that prolong the time you have, but it gets pretty frustrating when you're in the middle of a boss battle and are forced to switch. Spirit raisingThis entry to the Kingdom Hearts series introduces th new features - the Drop system and the Spirit raising. The drop system is flawed. Basically Sora and Riku each have a time limit. When the time ends, you are forced to switch. There are items that prolong the time you have, but it gets pretty frustrating when you're in the middle of a boss battle and are forced to switch. Spirit raising is a nice little side quest that added a few more hours to my time spent on this game and had more depth then I initially thought. The creatures are varied and it works a little like Pokémon crossed with Nintendogs. Depending on how your spirits are raised, they can use different attacks to aid you in battle. There's also a mini game where three of your spirits battle with three other spirits using a system where you flick out cards to give them orders.

    In terms of the story and the main game-play, this game is definitely not for newcomers to the series. I had previously only played Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2 and the storyline really confused me at first. However, there's an explanation of the story for each other game in the series that you can unlock. Another thing is that I felt that the game at the start did a bad job of explaining the command system, and I think it should have broken it down a bit. Controls though are pretty solid. Presentation, graphics and sound is outstanding as usual for Square. A good choice for Disney franchises represented in each world (except for Tron Legacy).

    To sum it up, if you are a fan of the series, you'll love this. However newbies should play other games in the series first, and the drop system really needs work.    … Expand
  24. Oceanicus
    Nov 20, 2012
    8
    An amazing RPG and way better than Re:Coded, however it's not in the tier of a KHII, so it can be a little disappointing and the changing character mechanic can get a little bothersome during boss fights...
  25. erosfortones
    Aug 30, 2013
    7
    Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance is a good game with a sound idea but flawed on its execution. They had some great ideas going on here, but ultimately didn't work out very well. The whole switching between characters by giving you a time limit was great in the sense it forces you to live both Sora's and Riku's stories but can become a huge hassle especially during boss battles! The storyKingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance is a good game with a sound idea but flawed on its execution. They had some great ideas going on here, but ultimately didn't work out very well. The whole switching between characters by giving you a time limit was great in the sense it forces you to live both Sora's and Riku's stories but can become a huge hassle especially during boss battles! The story is probably the best aspect of the game, it can be confusing at times if you're like me and think too much into it but it's enjoyable if you've played previous KH games. Plus, it's great to be back in Sora's shoes. Dream Drop Distance sets up the game series for Kingdom Hearts 3, and I can't wait to play a real Kingdom Hearts game. An overall fun game with flawed gameplay, but an intriguing story to set you up for Kingdom Hearts 3.… Expand
  26. RyanA
    Jan 11, 2013
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I like as well as dislike this game, for a variety of reasons. Like-Graphics, unique locations, music, items to prevent drop, difficulty of boss battles Dislike- no exp from hidden boss?, cliff hanger ending, dropping without realization, limited number of key blades, concept of forming a keyblade (at end). For the amount of time you can play this game for, Overall, 8/10… Expand
  27. maddymarie
    Dec 28, 2012
    9
    As a fan of the Kingdom Hearts franchise, I am glad to say that this, alongside Kingdom Hearts II, is one of my favourites within the series. While playing this I did not use a circle pad pro, however if you've played a handheld installment of the series, the camera really isn't that hard to use or get used to. Online, I have seen many people complain that this is not Kingdom Hearts III,As a fan of the Kingdom Hearts franchise, I am glad to say that this, alongside Kingdom Hearts II, is one of my favourites within the series. While playing this I did not use a circle pad pro, however if you've played a handheld installment of the series, the camera really isn't that hard to use or get used to. Online, I have seen many people complain that this is not Kingdom Hearts III, however it does take place after the events of Kingdom Hearts II, therefore it may as well be basically a 'main game'. For people who are new to the Kingdom Hearts franchise, this game would be very hard to understand, therefore I suggest going back and playing Kingdom Hearts & Kingdom Hearts II, or if you do not own them, I suggest at the very least watching the walkthroughs, it would be worth your time. The combat in this game is what should be expected if you've previously played a Kingdom Hearts game, the only thing that I would complain about is the lock-on system, it is extremely difficult to lock on to enemies and takes a little getting used to. There are many new features in this game, such as the ability to have Dream Eaters as companions, the ability to play as Riku, and mainly, the 'drop system'. The drop system gives you a limited time playing as Sora and then will switch you to Riku's side of the story, vice versa. In the beginning, this was quite tedious, however it shows you both sides of the story, of what is happening at the same time and is a really good addition to the game. If you own a 3DS and are a fan of the series, this is worth the buy. If not, and you're a newcomer to the series, as I previously stated, I suggest playing Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II - as well as Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep, or at the very least do yourself a favour and watch the walkthroughs, they're worth the time doing so.… Expand
  28. Chammy
    Feb 2, 2013
    8
    Great! Amazing graphic, the 3ds at its best! Good gameplay, similar to birth by sleep and not to coded or 358/2 days, and that's a relief. Changing dream eaters and trying out their fusion attacks and the abilities they can unlock adds fun to the battles. Cuddling them, instead, is just for the name of cuteness and after a while becomes a little boring. However I love this game also forGreat! Amazing graphic, the 3ds at its best! Good gameplay, similar to birth by sleep and not to coded or 358/2 days, and that's a relief. Changing dream eaters and trying out their fusion attacks and the abilities they can unlock adds fun to the battles. Cuddling them, instead, is just for the name of cuteness and after a while becomes a little boring. However I love this game also for the fact that more worlds were added, and that's great, because the same worlds were used in 2 or 3 games and a little innovation was needed.… Expand
  29. ricklongo
    Mar 14, 2013
    5
    The prospect of playing a Final Fantasy vs. Disney game is a strange one. Over the years, I though it was weird, then promising, then unexciting, then weird again, then possibly compelling without even playing a single game. Dream Drop Distance was my chance to form an opinion by actually trying the series, and in the end the experience was a mixed one. As a newcomer to the series, I gotThe prospect of playing a Final Fantasy vs. Disney game is a strange one. Over the years, I though it was weird, then promising, then unexciting, then weird again, then possibly compelling without even playing a single game. Dream Drop Distance was my chance to form an opinion by actually trying the series, and in the end the experience was a mixed one. As a newcomer to the series, I got completely overwhelmed in the start not only by the story, which doesn't seem to really make much sense, but also by the plethora of gameplay mechanics (some of which seem very dispensable, while others are flat out grating).

    On the plus side, the visuals are very good, the action can be thrilling at times, and the Disney nostalgia is powerful. But this RPG/adventure hybrid lack the "starting an epic journey" feel inherent to most good Square Enix games. The presence of The World Ends With You characters seems telling here, since I hold pretty much the same opinion regarding that game a promising premise that gets tedious, repetitive and at times submerged by not-so-useful mechanics.    … Expand
  30. pocky
    Jul 13, 2013
    9
    Fantastic graphics, music and story. Great opportunity for replayability with harder difficulties too. I really enjoyed the new pet aspect of it where you create little minions to help you fight and level them up. I spent quite a long time grinding dream pieces to make greater and more awesome pets, not because I needed to but it was very fun to do. I don't think you need to have played aFantastic graphics, music and story. Great opportunity for replayability with harder difficulties too. I really enjoyed the new pet aspect of it where you create little minions to help you fight and level them up. I spent quite a long time grinding dream pieces to make greater and more awesome pets, not because I needed to but it was very fun to do. I don't think you need to have played a kingdom hearts game before to enjoy the story either.… Expand
  31. squall
    Mar 11, 2014
    9
    Kingdom hearts 3D is the only reason i bought a 3DS at all and it was worth every penny. The combat is the fastest it has ever been in the KH series, Dash to and from buildings to pull off amazing combos is extremely fun. Collecting Dream eaters is also pretty fun trying to find the right combo of Dream eaters for yourself i found to be an enjoyable experience. The OST and aesthetics areKingdom hearts 3D is the only reason i bought a 3DS at all and it was worth every penny. The combat is the fastest it has ever been in the KH series, Dash to and from buildings to pull off amazing combos is extremely fun. Collecting Dream eaters is also pretty fun trying to find the right combo of Dream eaters for yourself i found to be an enjoyable experience. The OST and aesthetics are beautiful as i've come to expect from the KH series.The story is very enjoyable but it can be a bit confusing to those who haven't played all the games but it does give a nice little explanation of every game. Now for some of the problems i had with it only 2. The game was just a bit too easy and getting the secret ending was just way too easy. The worlds felt way too empty the size was nice but they just felt dead. Overall i really enjoyed it and i'm glad i bought it.… Expand
  32. canadianidiot
    Mar 22, 2014
    8
    One of the best 3ds games I have ever played, I never played a kingdom hearts game and I'm glad that I did it had a fun combat and I found it interesting how it incorporated some of my favorite disney movies into the worlds. However some of the bosses were really hard to beat and I died a good amount of times trying to complete them. Also is that the story was confusing, maybe that'sOne of the best 3ds games I have ever played, I never played a kingdom hearts game and I'm glad that I did it had a fun combat and I found it interesting how it incorporated some of my favorite disney movies into the worlds. However some of the bosses were really hard to beat and I died a good amount of times trying to complete them. Also is that the story was confusing, maybe that's because I never played any of the other games. Overall it was a good game and I had a lot of fun with it.… Expand
  33. Ernste
    Jun 3, 2014
    6
    The trailer is epic , but the game is not epic as shown in the trailer....I really wonder why they put a same series games over several consoles......I am not the kingdom heart fan who played all the series before , I never play ps2 kh , psp kh , and kh ds before....Actually I don't know what is the earth is going on with the story...This lead me to play psp, gba and ds kingdomThe trailer is epic , but the game is not epic as shown in the trailer....I really wonder why they put a same series games over several consoles......I am not the kingdom heart fan who played all the series before , I never play ps2 kh , psp kh , and kh ds before....Actually I don't know what is the earth is going on with the story...This lead me to play psp, gba and ds kingdom hearts.....Still, I don't get it very well....The cut scene is good , the music is epic without any doubt , the game look a little bit pixelated on 3ds xl but nothing bother the gameplay. My conclusion is......GBA kingdom heart is the best? KINGDOM HEART 3D graphic improvement is impressive ,the story is weird as always , the flowmotion is amazing too! DONT BELIEVE REVIEW, BELIEVE YOURSELF , if you never play this series , you can try it..... If you found out the game is boring , don't blame me hahahahaha… Expand
  34. ElectroNick
    Apr 21, 2016
    8
    Dream Drop Distance is definitely a worthy continuation of the Kingdom Hearts Saga. The story follows Sora and Riku taking their Key-Blade master exams. They travel across different worlds through different time periods. Yes this plot involves time travel and it can get convoluted if you do not pay close attention to it. The plot also drags at a few places with Xehanort up to his latestDream Drop Distance is definitely a worthy continuation of the Kingdom Hearts Saga. The story follows Sora and Riku taking their Key-Blade master exams. They travel across different worlds through different time periods. Yes this plot involves time travel and it can get convoluted if you do not pay close attention to it. The plot also drags at a few places with Xehanort up to his latest scheme involving time travel and the true intentions of Organization Xiii. The story does keep you invested but it is definitely not friendly to newcomers. Granted there are text boxes to help new players catch up to speed. The story-line actually does expand on the lore and it is clever follow up to the upcoming Kingdom Hearts III. Where this title really shines through though is in the game-play. Donald and Goofy do not accompany Sora in this adventure (sparing us from introducing themselves for the umpteenth time). Instead Sora and Riku are accompanied by creatures you can train called Dream Eaters who serve as your allies and as the main enemies in the game. After you acquire certain bits of dream fragments you can create and even train your own dream eater. You can even give them a nickname like in Pokemon. These creatures are really useful in helping you in battle and will even assist you by fusing your self with these creatures. For Sora these fusion attacks involve him riding or doing a team attack and for Riku he has the soul of the monster go inside him to perform more deadly attacks. The combat has also marginally improved with more flow and the interface via birth by sleep has been made more accessible with new spells and attacks such as the balloon spell. Some of these spells can only be done with Sora and some are exclusive to Riku. The flow-motion system has been included to add extra combos which feel very rewarding to execute. The flow-motion also makes the biggest improvement to the platform jumping segments which was a problem that plagued the series since game one. The camera is also more flexible instead of being locked at a certain perspective. The most annoying mechanic that was introduced though was the drop system. It has Sora and Riku drop out of the combat after the end of the time limit so that the game can alternate between each respective character's campaign. The intention was to give players a chance to experience both stories at their own pace but it is a nuisance during the middle of a fight or a boss battle since it halts all progress and when you drop back into the fight, the enemies and the boss regain all of their health. Despite its shortcomings, this is one of the best games on the Nintendo 3DS with its excellent mechanics (aside from the drop system) and its gorgeous graphical fidelity. This is more than enough to fill your Kingdom Hearts mania until Kingdom Hearts III finally comes out.… Expand
  35. RepentantSky
    Feb 12, 2018
    2
    My least favorite KH game to date, and I mean by far. The story is so basic that only the last few hours matter, the worlds are mostly annoying, the 3DS' controls do not work well with Kingdom Hearts, unlike they did with the PSP, and probably would have with the Vita where this game should have been. But even with the control problems, the fact that the game can be so difficult just inMy least favorite KH game to date, and I mean by far. The story is so basic that only the last few hours matter, the worlds are mostly annoying, the 3DS' controls do not work well with Kingdom Hearts, unlike they did with the PSP, and probably would have with the Vita where this game should have been. But even with the control problems, the fact that the game can be so difficult just in general, especially during the parts that matter, is frustrating, and the drop system is the worst idea Square ever came up with. I'm glad they fixed it with the PS4 version, but that doesn't excuse this game at all. It should have either never been made, or made for a Sony system where the controls actually work.… Expand
  36. aksu113
    Jul 31, 2012
    10
    I finished this game on yesterday and it was amazing game must play
  37. mongoman
    Sep 23, 2012
    5
    I must admit that after four hours of playing this game, I can safely say that it is not for newbies to the Kingdom Heart universe. The story is very confusing, the controls are tight but they are extreme, what I mean is that there are many, many, many, commands to memorize in order to effectively play the game and honestly, its just too much. I just simply lost interest. The dream dropI must admit that after four hours of playing this game, I can safely say that it is not for newbies to the Kingdom Heart universe. The story is very confusing, the controls are tight but they are extreme, what I mean is that there are many, many, many, commands to memorize in order to effectively play the game and honestly, its just too much. I just simply lost interest. The dream drop (which basically swaps the characters in a level to complete certain tasks) feels awkward and forced. Its just not a good game. The graphics and music are top-notch but thats all I can say positive about Kingdom Hearts 3D. I strongly suggest renting or borrowing from someone before purchasing this title.… Expand
  38. Xicon
    Aug 4, 2012
    9
    This is easily one of the best 3DS games to hit the market, and one of my favorite handheld titles of all time. It's got everything that you want in a Kingdom Hearts title - an engaging story (if somewhat convoluted, but veterans of the series should have no trouble following it), thrilling combat, and plenty of collectibles. The addition of Flowmotion, Reality Shifts, Spirit companions,This is easily one of the best 3DS games to hit the market, and one of my favorite handheld titles of all time. It's got everything that you want in a Kingdom Hearts title - an engaging story (if somewhat convoluted, but veterans of the series should have no trouble following it), thrilling combat, and plenty of collectibles. The addition of Flowmotion, Reality Shifts, Spirit companions, and the return of the Command system from Birth by Sleep result in some of the series' best combat to date. While it's not quite as deep as the system in Birth by Sleep, it's still one of the better combat systems you'll find in an action RPG title. It looks great, it plays great, it will make you happy and sad - it's an experience I'm thrilled to have had, and one you should have as well.

    The one caveat I have is that at times, the game can be frustrating due to some control quirks, particular related to Flowmotion's direction and the camera motion. Nevertheless, they are minor flaws on an otherwise stellar package.    … Expand
  39. dharma
    Aug 25, 2012
    6
    Kingdom Hearts 3D signify what is wrong (and right) with Square these days. Great production values but wonky, out dated game mechanics. The drop mechanics is probably one of the most 'annoying innovation', which happens in the middle of boss fights for crying out loud. Sure, you can buy some potions for it, but crap, it's still annoying. Or how about the fact that there is a lot ofKingdom Hearts 3D signify what is wrong (and right) with Square these days. Great production values but wonky, out dated game mechanics. The drop mechanics is probably one of the most 'annoying innovation', which happens in the middle of boss fights for crying out loud. Sure, you can buy some potions for it, but crap, it's still annoying. Or how about the fact that there is a lot of grinding involved, which feels more like padding than anything else. In higher difficulties, the amount of grinding is doubled to get the levels that you need, so much so that I restarted the game to an easier setting just to get off the amount of grinding involved. For a more action based title, KH also feels too loose. The whole fights still jitter all over the place during a fight, just like in KH 1, albeit a bit better. The combat is too simplistic, with a lot of repetitive button mashing. Healing mid fight is still also a pain, and can cause a lot of unnecessary deaths. I know I have a lot of nit pick but that's because Square really needs to upgrade their game mechanics. They spend too much time on its presentation which is becoming more stellar: great use of 3D, orchestra soundtrack and great voice acting. But again, its game mechanics really needs an update. Square can do it, I know for sure, with 'The World Ends with You', one of the best JRPG in the last 5 years or so, but somehow they seems too overwhelmed by this generation of technology. (EHm..cough..Versus XIII...cough) Western RPG developers are leaving them behind: BIOWARE and Bethesda, for example. SQUARE games are nice too look at, but frustrating to play. I hope they can return to an innovative, ground breaking developer they used to be :(… Expand
  40. Magejutsu
    Jan 25, 2013
    9
    Just when I thought combat could never be done any better then KH2, Dream Drop comes around. Was I surprised to see that not only was the combat on par with 2 on a handheld, but actually added more with flow motion and things just ran so fluidly. While the story REALLY starts to hit the weird point here I still loved every second of the ride. Really pumped to hopefully see KH3 soon.
  41. NIntendoFan94
    Aug 5, 2012
    9
    This game was great. But Tron Legacy world looks fantastic. Graphics is just great just like Kingdom Hearts II. Its a must have 3DS game i just own!
  42. deadpredator
    Aug 14, 2012
    9
    Awesome game and lots of fun. A must buy for any Kingdom hearts fan.
  43. duncanaus
    Dec 8, 2012
    8
    This is the best hand-held Kingdom Hearts game so far, featuring a variety of new worlds, new fighting techniques, and graphics that are among the best I've seen on the 3DS. It's far from the longest game in the series, but has the same adventurous spirit as Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2.
  44. Kenmei
    Aug 21, 2012
    3
    This was a disappointing entry into one of my favorite gaming series right now. Frankly, the series desperately needs to get back onto consoles as these handheld filler games have done nothing but detract from what the original KH and KH 2 did way back in the day. While Birth by Sleep was a good game, this game really let me down in both the story and the mechanics of the game. First ofThis was a disappointing entry into one of my favorite gaming series right now. Frankly, the series desperately needs to get back onto consoles as these handheld filler games have done nothing but detract from what the original KH and KH 2 did way back in the day. While Birth by Sleep was a good game, this game really let me down in both the story and the mechanics of the game. First of all, the Drop system that was implemented here was a huge annoyance. This game probably would have been twice as good as it was, for me, without that one little part of the game. Being forced to switch characters mid-boss fight is beyond stupid and there are other ways you can go about wanting players to play as both Sora and Riku equally than to force them to switch when they don't want too. Lastly, the story has not aged very well. In today's age with games like Bastion where the story really carried the game, this story has lost alot of it's luster. The constant jabbering about Darkness and Light and Friendship makes this seem like a cutesy anime aimed at 10 year olds. It's not longer one of the better stories out there and the fact that they won't release KH 3, which should end the series, really hurts because your just teasing the real fans of the series with crap like this. I'm extremely disappointed with this game because this was one of the 3 games I originally bought my 3DS for and it hurt when I realized it was beyond boring. While some of the classic KH gameplay is still there, real fans of the series will be bothered by how utterly lackluster this game is and the fact that they keep forcing these filler games down our throats to appease us every 2-3 years is insulting. I for one will not play another KH filler game. The next KH game I'll play will be KH 3 because that will be the last hope for the series for me.… Expand
  45. Bondino
    Aug 2, 2012
    10
    Dream Drop Distance combines many old features from its predecessors with another complicated yet intriguing story. Those who are already familiar with the series will anxiously wait for the next installment, while others will definitely want to take a peek into the previous games before advancing to the next level. Essentially, it draws fans and newcomers alike.
  46. Editman3
    Dec 5, 2016
    1
    Worst game in the series Plot Holes, Broken Gameplay, Dumb Story, Framerate Issue,Fans Overrating this game what the heck Square you're Ruining your franchise.
  47. dz9
    Nov 30, 2012
    4
    Coming into this game as a true KH fan, I was deeply disappointed in this performance. Let's start with the good, KH 3D brings the stunning presentation the series is known for onto the 3DS. The gameplay, although a double-sided sword, is the same from Birth By Sleep. That's where the good ends however, the new touch screen integration feel either tacked on, annoying, or brokenComing into this game as a true KH fan, I was deeply disappointed in this performance. Let's start with the good, KH 3D brings the stunning presentation the series is known for onto the 3DS. The gameplay, although a double-sided sword, is the same from Birth By Sleep. That's where the good ends however, the new touch screen integration feel either tacked on, annoying, or broken completely. The new pet system feels forced and becomes tedious quickly. However the worst aspect of this game is the story, KH1 kicked the series off in a simplistic touching nostalgic manner while only getting more confusing and con deluded as the series has progressed. KH 3D seems to have taken a story which has already seemed to have lingered on past its due date, and kicks it off a cliff. Another detriment to the story is the way it's told, being halfway through the game, I still didn't know why the game existed and the payoff at the end could've just been explained in a short cutscene in KH3. Birth By Sleep's successful gameplay returns in KH 3D but due to the layout of the 3DS's controls as compared to the PSP's, you have to completely stop moving in order to control the D-Pad to scroll to your healing/attack powers which will result in game over more than once. (May be better on 3DS XL). The Good: Presentation, voice acting, and gameplay. The bad: Confusingly told uninspired story, gameplay, touch screen controls, and the new pet system. In the End: Only hardcore fans should pick up this game, they will be the only ones that can bare the first half of the story. Casual fans and newcomers should stay away completely.… Expand
  48. KuRiCobbY
    Aug 10, 2012
    10
    Whether or not you're a fan of Kingdom Hearts - if you own a 3DS you owe it to yourself to play this game. It's arguably the best game on the 3DS and certainly the most fun I've had with a 3DS game.
  49. VidsRule
    Sep 2, 2012
    2
    Buying this was my fault. I simply forgot how much I hate the gameplay of Kingdom Hearts. I actually bought the strategy guide for kh 2 and was determined to get deep into the game, only to regret it forever 10 hours later. The ambiguous nature of the game play and goels and literally constant enemies make this game a total waste of $40. And the 'drop' system will go down as one of theBuying this was my fault. I simply forgot how much I hate the gameplay of Kingdom Hearts. I actually bought the strategy guide for kh 2 and was determined to get deep into the game, only to regret it forever 10 hours later. The ambiguous nature of the game play and goels and literally constant enemies make this game a total waste of $40. And the 'drop' system will go down as one of the stupidest ideas I've ever seen in a videogame. The music, however, is amazing. I like it's dedication to old style rpg music. I'll never buy another kingdom hearts.… Expand
  50. Zemeckis
    Aug 4, 2013
    9
    The gameplay is great. I recommend using the Circle Pad Pro to have a better experience.

    Skills and magic are used with a recharge system instead of MP. Your partners in battle are monsters that you create with recipe, which I found strange at first but later on I enjoyed. It's easier to fight than the previous titles. You have to clear every world twice because you have to play with    The gameplay is great. I recommend using the Circle Pad Pro to have a better experience.

    Skills and magic are used with a recharge system instead of MP. Your partners in battle are monsters that you create with recipe, which I found strange at first but later on I enjoyed. It's easier to fight than the previous titles. You have to clear every world twice because you have to play with two different characters using the Drop system.
    Choosing a specific command it's complicated because you don't have the full command list on the screen, just a single line. You need to press up or down to go to next item on the list. So you can't choose the command that you want fast. You don't need to grind to beat the game, and I recommend that so you can have a good challenge.

    The story is a little confusing but it's not something critical. And just like the previous titles, the soundtrack is awesome. Unfortunately, they repeated some worlds but not the monsters. When I get a new KH to play I always expect to see new areas and characters.

    If you're fan of the series don't hesitate: you will enjoy this game.    … Expand
  51. Greenicey
    Sep 27, 2014
    9
    For a series that has had it's high highs, to it's low lows, this title is step in the right direction. I'll admit right now, I didn't really enjoy KH2. It was way too easy (critical mode only makes it cheaper not harder) and I preferred the more tactical-action of KH1. DDD lands smack dab in the middle ground for me. Customizing your abilities and changing your loadout is a lot of fun, asFor a series that has had it's high highs, to it's low lows, this title is step in the right direction. I'll admit right now, I didn't really enjoy KH2. It was way too easy (critical mode only makes it cheaper not harder) and I preferred the more tactical-action of KH1. DDD lands smack dab in the middle ground for me. Customizing your abilities and changing your loadout is a lot of fun, as well as making combat a lot of fun. It's action never lets up, and the addition of flowmotion makes exploring the much larger and more alive environments a blast. This is what I've always wanted out of Kingdom Hearts. Speaking of flowmotion, it's a little finicky at first but you'll easily master it. The "drop" system forces you to switch between Sora and Riku at different points. Occasionally it can be frustrating, but it the end it enhances how the story is told. However that's the only real positive thing about the story, to be blunt it's unnecessarily confusing and at point weird. Graphically this game is gorgeous, on-par with the PSP game, Birth By Sleep (another fantastic title mind you). If you can only play one of the side-titles in this series, pick this game up.… Expand
  52. FreedomFighters
    Apr 2, 2019
    7
    This one really takes me back. Sure, I didn't get into the "Kingdom Hearts" franchise until 2017, but I still remember this because 2010 was the year my 12-year old, 3D-loving self was hyping up the Nintendo 3DS and everything that came with it (yeah, even that "DJ Hero 3D" game that never happened because Activision likes running franchises into the ground). So, knowing how much my familyThis one really takes me back. Sure, I didn't get into the "Kingdom Hearts" franchise until 2017, but I still remember this because 2010 was the year my 12-year old, 3D-loving self was hyping up the Nintendo 3DS and everything that came with it (yeah, even that "DJ Hero 3D" game that never happened because Activision likes running franchises into the ground). So, knowing how much my family and friends enjoyed the game, it was pretty damn cool to hear that a "Kingdom Hearts" title was coming to the 3DS. And sure, I didn't get to really play it on its original system (I played the HD remaster on the PlayStation 4), but getting to finally play and beat the game after several years was certainly gratifying.
    "Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance" (or as the PS4 calls it, "Kingdom Hearts HD: Dream Drop Distance) retains many of the key features we've come to know and love from the "Kingdom Hearts" franchise: the graphics are gorgeous, the worlds are beautifully-designed and filled with fun fanservice, and the soundtrack is absolutely lovely. From a presentation standpoint, the game ticks all the boxes, and while the story can be confusing (as always, this is "Kingdom Hearts"), it's nice that it's so detailed and actually tries in some meaningful way to lead into "Kingdom Hearts III." The gameplay, one of the things that's kept me consistently coming back to this series, is also top-notch: the controls are fluid, the combat is incredibly fast-paced, and the addition of Flowmotion and Dream Eaters only helps to make the combat more fun and varied.
    That said, this "Kingdom Hearts" title does have it's share of flaws: as I had said earlier about "Birth by Sleep," the fact that you play through this game twice with very few differences between the characters you play as can be rather frustrating, and the drop meter that forces you to switch between characters can be immensely frustrating, especially when it kicks in on a boss fight. Speaking of boss fights, those things are pretty uninspired. Most of them are lackluster and just more annoying than challenging, and they bring the excitement of the game down a notch.
    Still, while "Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance" (or, "Kingdom Hearts HD: Dream Drop Distance," whichever you prefer) may not be the pinnacle of the "Kingdom Hearts" series, it's still a more than enjoyable adventure that's definitely worth giving a shot. It's plenty fun and frantic, and while it may not stick with you in the way that the first two numbered entries will, it's still worthy of a recommendation if you've enjoyed the series up to this point.
    Final rating: 7 out of 10 "Good"    … Expand
  53. PristineOrochi
    Aug 2, 2014
    9
    Kingdom Hearts is a breathtaking series as it has one of the deepest stories of any game ever made. Every game in the series is a great game and Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance is not an exception. KH DDD is easily the best handheld KH game because of all of the different ways to battle. The Flowmotion battle system was introduced, making it so that you can use the walls and gameKingdom Hearts is a breathtaking series as it has one of the deepest stories of any game ever made. Every game in the series is a great game and Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance is not an exception. KH DDD is easily the best handheld KH game because of all of the different ways to battle. The Flowmotion battle system was introduced, making it so that you can use the walls and game environment to your advantage to pull off awesome attacks on your enemy. The game plays great, the controls are A+, and the story is easy to catch up on despite it being the latest game in the series. Even if you have never played a game in the Kingdom Hearts series, due to mementos and chronicles you can easily catch yourself up on the story although it is recommended you play the first and second games first.… Expand
  54. coral2dj
    Sep 16, 2014
    9
    This game is quite interesting. I love this game's story. Perhaps, if you're looking for a fun game, this game is for you. I totally enjoyed this game. Yet, I am playing this game repeatedly until Kingdom Hearts 3 comes out. The walkthrough of this game, is yet, the best. People offend this game, because, they haven't even played it. That's **** This game is creative. Try it out, you may love it.
  55. LordDoran
    May 23, 2015
    9
    I have actually really enjoyed this game, and I haven't even completed it yet. Getting to play as 2 different main characters is a fresh new feel to the game. Yes the mechanic of swapping and timing out is annoying, but you can buy power ups called "Drop-Me-Nots" that extend your time as another character.

    The worlds you visit are also very imaginative, some new and some old. Visiting    I have actually really enjoyed this game, and I haven't even completed it yet. Getting to play as 2 different main characters is a fresh new feel to the game. Yes the mechanic of swapping and timing out is annoying, but you can buy power ups called "Drop-Me-Nots" that extend your time as another character.

    The worlds you visit are also very imaginative, some new and some old. Visiting Traverse Town again, it puts a fresh spin on the story with the characters you meet, though I won't spoil it for you. Getting to visit the Tron Legacy world, as well as Fantasia were 2 of my favourites, not to mention the countless other awesome new worlds added into the game.

    It was quite exciting to be playing a story that also continues on from Kingdom Hearts 2, instead of the filler they have given us up until now (also bearing in mind this game was out, before the massive hype and surprise of Kingdom Hearts 3 being announced).

    All in all, the continuation of the story, and the new characters that are introduced (as well as some favourites that are brought back, make this a fun game that any fan should pick up. I feel like I should also say, the combat system is as good as ever.    … Expand
  56. geo333
    May 23, 2016
    8
    What a beautiful game, first of all the graphics are great especially in 3D add to that the wonderful art design and the beautiful soundtrack throughout the game, making this a great gaming experience. However, the game is short and worlds are few, In the end, as a first time player in the series, i enjoy so much that i recommend it to anyone who loves Disney and action games.
  57. 22446688Bb
    Dec 3, 2018
    10
    One of the most beautiful games in terms of the story and the way to play and even drawings to Jaya Disney, but I congratulate Square and Disney on this project
  58. Sressiv
    Mar 5, 2018
    9
    Many new, refreshing worlds, bigger than before! The dream eater companions are awesome and I loved creating new ones and unlocking abilities. Combat works great and flexible, flowmotion is absolutely epic, and controls are comfortable. Visually this game is stunning and one of the best 3D games on the system, with console-level graphics. The soundtrack has many new themes as well as thoseMany new, refreshing worlds, bigger than before! The dream eater companions are awesome and I loved creating new ones and unlocking abilities. Combat works great and flexible, flowmotion is absolutely epic, and controls are comfortable. Visually this game is stunning and one of the best 3D games on the system, with console-level graphics. The soundtrack has many new themes as well as those from past games. The story remains confusing but that's to be expected. Tons of content, amazing game!… Expand
  59. hyun8801
    Sep 5, 2020
    0
    the worst game in the whole franchise. Seriously, all the Kingdom hearts games suck but DDD is exceptionally **** up.
  60. BasilZero
    Mar 9, 2016
    9
    Game: Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance
    Genre: Action RPG
    Developer: Squareenix/Disney System: Nintendo 3DS (3DS) Total Score: 90/100 Value Score: 9.0/10 • Story: 9/10 • Characters: 10/10 • GamePlay: 8/10 • Graphics: 10/10 • Sound: 10/10 • Music: 10/10 • Length: 7/10 • Replay Value: 7/10 • Player Value: 9/10 Pros +Dream Eater Ally Mechanic and Reality Shift    Game: Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance
    Genre: Action RPG
    Developer: Squareenix/Disney
    System: Nintendo 3DS (3DS)
    Total Score: 90/100
    Value Score: 9.0/10

    • Story: 9/10
    • Characters: 10/10
    • GamePlay: 8/10
    • Graphics: 10/10
    • Sound: 10/10
    • Music: 10/10
    • Length: 7/10
    • Replay Value: 7/10
    • Player Value: 9/10

    Pros
    +Dream Eater Ally Mechanic and Reality Shift mechanics are a breath of fresh air to the series adding to the overall gameplay experience
    +New worlds never seen in the series are introduced
    +Chronicles section which is heavy text form explains previous events of games incase the player never played any of the games or want to review over the story
    +Detailed bestiary, treasure list, character profile, etc
    +Touchscreen controls are used a lot for different types of gameplay reasons
    +Visuals are nicely done and looks as great as the other console KH games

    Cons
    -Camera control and Point of view is limited due to the buttons and screen size
    -Control layout of the 3DS makes the experience a bit difficult especially when navigating through skills/abilities in battle, etc
    -Some of the touchscreen events are annoying especially during certain boss battles or key events
    -Dive system can be frustrating especially if you are trying to get to a world to enjoy classic KH gameplay
    -Drop system can be annoying especially if you are in a boss battle, if you drop and then come back to that character later - the boss battle resets    … Expand
  61. AJCk19
    Apr 30, 2023
    10
    Once you enter the flow state, it is basically a roided up Drive Form. Adding the pet system was a nice touch. Was the sole reason why I had to buy a 3ds.
  62. Guitarsonic
    Dec 21, 2019
    1
    Dream Drop Distance is a horrible video game, probably one of the worst in the series.
    The game is just **** **** I cannot believe they made a game where you have such an amount of stagger and cheap mechanics to play through.
    Everytime you do a command and the enemy hits you, the command is not used. This makes boss fights infuriating because the boss would just spam moves all the time    Dream Drop Distance is a horrible video game, probably one of the worst in the series.
    The game is just **** **** I cannot believe they made a game where you have such an amount of stagger and cheap mechanics to play through.
    Everytime you do a command and the enemy hits you, the command is not used. This makes boss fights infuriating because the boss would just spam moves all the time while also teleporting to your location.
    The cutscenes are boring, they blindly follow the same story from their respecting movies and there are so many cutscenes that just have no overall point in the overarching plot.
    The way you get abilities is by playing a **** pokemon amie like minigame where you pet your monster friends and play games with them. It is boring, it takes forever and it just not right for the Kingdom Hearts franchise.

    I honest to god think this game was made by sadistic people, that wanted to **** with the fans.    … Expand
  63. erhanz
    Jun 30, 2014
    7
    Finished this game just a moment ago. The story takes place immediately after the ending of Kingdom Hearts 2. Sora and Riku was called by Master Yen Sid to take the Mark of Mastery exam. By taking that exam, i can prove that they are a true Keyblade Master.

    Plus point: - Finally we get to play as Riku! As we know Riku was being possessed by Xehanort since the 1st game, and by the end    Finished this game just a moment ago. The story takes place immediately after the ending of Kingdom Hearts 2. Sora and Riku was called by Master Yen Sid to take the Mark of Mastery exam. By taking that exam, i can prove that they are a true Keyblade Master.

    Plus point:
    - Finally we get to play as Riku! As we know Riku was being possessed by Xehanort since the 1st game, and by the end of the 2nd game. Sora was able to save Riku from the darkness. So, Riku's story feels really fresh, since it's his first time to fight as "The Good Guys".
    - New flow system and reality shift. This makes the battle more interesting, although at first you'll find it difficult to control your characters with the flowmotion, but you'll get used to it. While the reality shift system utilized the 3DS function, making the battle more interesting.
    - Quick recap to ALL of the Kingdom Hearts series. There are quick recap for every story previous Kingdom Hearts series, including the Birth by Sleep. Although it won't help you to understand the story completely, at least you will understand the referance.

    Minus point:
    - This game is totally a side story kind of things. Well, 18 hours of gameplay is really short. So basically this is just a game to connect the dot between KH 2 & 3.
    - The new drop system is really annoying. In this game, you'll play as BOTH Sora & Riku, and you will change when the drop gauge ran out. Basically it's super annoying when you drop while fighting a boss, because when you return as that character, you'll have to fight the boss from the beginning again, back on Full Health. Sucks.
    - The plot twist is just crazy. I can't even follow it anymore. Since when did the game became this confusing? Although i must admit, i already forgot the story of KH 1 & 2. So yeah, this game leaves me with a lot of questions mark. Either it's too deep, or just annoying plot twist.

    The verdict:
    KH 3D is a fun game to play. Although it's just some kinda side story, we got to see Riku's in action. Actually this game is more Riku than Sora. Also the world is still as beautiful as ever, especially the world of the sorcery, Totally brings back my childhood memories. The game is fun but don't expect too much from it.    … Expand
  64. Kai82
    Apr 24, 2021
    8
    In hindsight I say this is the game were they drove themselves into a corner for the overall story of Kingdom Hearts. However this is a really good entry in the franchise and I do not hold this against the game. There is also one negative which drag the rating down a bit which I will address later. Story-wise it is set before Kingdom Hearts 3 and can be seen as set up. Because Xehanort’sIn hindsight I say this is the game were they drove themselves into a corner for the overall story of Kingdom Hearts. However this is a really good entry in the franchise and I do not hold this against the game. There is also one negative which drag the rating down a bit which I will address later. Story-wise it is set before Kingdom Hearts 3 and can be seen as set up. Because Xehanort’s return is imminent and will cause the final confrontation of light and dark our heroes Sora and Riku are put on the Mark of Mastery exam to increase their abilities and power level. As expected this is the start of a new adventure with some twist, reveals and a combination of old and new worlds. The story works well and kept me going. It is enjoyable and immersive. However I already said the story is also a bit overburdened (Cant get a satisfying ending in Kingdom Hearts 3 or close all the story arcs). They added a lot of new stuff and even as die hard fan of the franchise I must admit that it ends up a bit to confusing. For clarification: Every Kingdom Hearts player who tries to explain the overall story to friends who have not played the games ends up confusing them. With the additions here this is increased by a magnitude if not more. Back to the game: It is really good but not awesome enough compared to the best games in the franchise (Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts 2 for me). The worlds are a combination of old and new. I like these and say they are well done and fitting (Avoiding spoilers here). Gameplay-wise it is a solid action RPG and you will feel familiar (Attacking, blocking and dodging). The command deck mechanics from Birth by Sleep returns. You have a deck of abilities you can equip (limited number of slots!) and can acquire new ones by various means. This means some tactical or play-style based decisions. I like playing with and testing new abilities to created various set ups. It was a rewarding element in Birth by Sleep and this is a plus for me. Of cause you should always have a healing command available and this should be a no brainer. Not all commands are available to both characters. Some are just for Sora or just for Riku. Also not all commands are equally useful but that is for you to decided (Except healing if you are not an expert gamer). New are the Dream Eaters you can recruit. It is easiest described as Pokemon in Kingdom Hearts. These can be recruited and used in battle. You can develop these, find and create new ones. You can pet, feed them and play games with them. Maybe there are some rewards for this;-). Another addition is the Flowmotion system. This makes moving around easier. Basically you can use poles and walls to move around really quick. When used in battles you can get some devastating attacks. Some say it is gamebreakingly good and I do to an extent agree. If you master this it helps a lot. What I hate was the drop system (switching characters). There is a drop bar which is a timer that when depleted automatically switches the characters (Sora to Riku or vice versa). It can have an annoying timing. You can slow down the timer or even get bonuses from it but It could not win me over. Just let me manually switch at the time of my choosing. The presentation was awesome especially for the medium. Overall this was pretty good and worth playing. It reaches not the realm of the best games in the franchise. I dislike the drop mechanic but liked to play as Sora and Riku. The story is overcomplicating the overall story arc of the franchise.… Expand
  65. Broseph14
    Jul 16, 2015
    6
    After the fun I had with Birth by sleep I was expecting a stellar experience which was not fulfilled. To start with the good things, great graphics, love the battle and drop systems and the level design and the flow motion. The game story finally moves the series forward which is a nice change. However i find this game very forgettable and the story is average, I also think this game triesAfter the fun I had with Birth by sleep I was expecting a stellar experience which was not fulfilled. To start with the good things, great graphics, love the battle and drop systems and the level design and the flow motion. The game story finally moves the series forward which is a nice change. However i find this game very forgettable and the story is average, I also think this game tries to cater to much to the Nintendo crowd with the stupid and useless dream eater enemy/ party member system rather then the hard core fanbase who most likely shelled out on a 3ds just to play the game. But the script is horrible and the ability system sucks ass which really is a shame meaning its harder to do the fairly lacking post game content which the series is famous for. This game overall just doesn't stack up to birth by sleep which is a real shame.… Expand
  66. AriseAndBe
    Aug 5, 2015
    7
    Dream Drop Distance relies too heavily on nostalgia to be considered an excellent standalone game in my opinion. However the improved battle system helps to make the game less of a repeat of the previous games.
  67. Zurce
    Jun 29, 2018
    7
    Un juego pequeño y vació que añade mas complicado guion a la ya inexpugnable trama de Kingdom Hearts, los fans disfrutaran del juego (como yo lo he disfrutado)
  68. Moriquendi
    Feb 21, 2022
    0
    Un juego que prometía mucho termino siendo relleno al mas puro estilo naruto con un deselnace horrible por no hablar de que vino sin traducción un trato al que nos tiene bastante acostumbrado square enix siendo el segundo idioma mas hablado del mundo el hispano.
  69. AlvaroK95
    Jan 2, 2020
    5
    Un juego que no se puede considerar prescindible por su importancia en la historia, pero que carece del nivel esperable para esta saga.
  70. Vanta77
    Jun 13, 2020
    0
    The first game in the series to suck, but the more you play you start to enjoy it.

    The Osaka team was one of the biggest mistakes Square could've done. Something happened in this game that transfered over to KH3 and that is world design and story changes, i really dont like time travel, everyone dead or seemed dead are to be brought to life. Nobody can die and you feel stupid for being    The first game in the series to suck, but the more you play you start to enjoy it.

    The Osaka team was one of the biggest mistakes Square could've done.
    Something happened in this game that transfered over to KH3 and that is world design and story changes, i really dont like time travel, everyone dead or seemed dead are to be brought to life. Nobody can die and you feel stupid for being emotional in past games and up until 2011 (which is quite a few years since KH1) you actually thought these scenes were meaningful.

    This game is a good reason why sequels suck. They're just messing to much with the story and adding nonsensical stuff that even confuses Nomura, why is my question. KH was always a little complex to understand but they had to bump it up from 3 to 100 for some reason

    Pros:
    -The battle system is great once you ignore flowmotion.
    -The gameplay can be fun and grinding for better Pokemons
    -Challenging gameplay and bosses on critical.
    -Just overall enjoyable game with bunch of stuff to do, tons of grinding. I definetly like that
    -1 good map: Musketeer World.

    Cons:
    -Pokemon concept from FFXIII-2 and Time Travel added from the same development team. Basically KH got same treatment and it sucks but somehow people like it, thats why they use the same ideabox. Both games are very identical in many ways.
    -Petting pokemons and that sucky song that i have to turn off everytime i go into the pet menu.
    -Abilities are stuck on your pets, its interesting but also very tedious. I dont hate it but its definetly a con.
    -Super large empty maps, that was also used for KH3.
    -KH story had great buildup until this game, and then we get time travel and nobody cant die, everyone will be rescued and blablabla.

    Basically KH3 ignores the games before BbS, the ideas are lacking so time travel is the answer and the terrible storyplot are hidden in Dream Drop Distance and phone games, it sucks because its only a shadow of what KH can be. The quality isnt there anymore but these games are still enjoyable.    … Expand
  71. maturene
    Dec 22, 2018
    8
    Luego escribo una review desas que ahora mismo me da pereza y tal. me cagoento
  72. Luia_94
    Dec 15, 2018
    7
    Un buen rpg pero para mi gusto es el peor kingdom hearts de la saga.
    Al principio te pintan una historia con la que es fácil pensar que jugarán con los miedos de los personajes, el espacio y el tiempo... esto dista mucho con respecto a la idea de pesadilla que tienen en este juego, un espectáculo circense kawai lleno de color.
    Un juego importante para con la saga por un par de escenas    Un buen rpg pero para mi gusto es el peor kingdom hearts de la saga.
    Al principio te pintan una historia con la que es fácil pensar que jugarán con los miedos de los personajes, el espacio y el tiempo... esto dista mucho con respecto a la idea de pesadilla que tienen en este juego, un espectáculo circense kawai lleno de color.
    Un juego importante para con la saga por un par de escenas relevantes, pero una decepción en cuanto a la presentación.
    Pese a todo es un juego divertido que merece la pena.    … Expand
  73. Kingdomhear
    Dec 5, 2020
    10
    Trama personaggi gameplay grafica....tutto da dieci. .ben fatto in ogni suo punto...un gioco che sa catturare dall inizio alla fine
  74. Tatazim
    Dec 13, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Melhor khkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkjkkkkjkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk… Expand
  75. ShinishiKudo
    Nov 22, 2020
    8
    A fun and good Kingdom Hearts
    It has some great worlds like the one from Fantasia. Story is a bit confusing and the new gameplay didn't fully catch me.
  76. SWFan523
    Jun 21, 2020
    7
    Honestly a pretty fun game. Over long with unnecessary story elements but fun nonetheless.
  77. Raado-san
    Jul 26, 2020
    5
    I really didn't enjoy the game that much and with the broken balloon command it made everything in the game as pointless as the story going on.
  78. ZeroBacon
    Sep 3, 2020
    8
    Good game and all, but the story is just a mess. I know Kingdom Hearts’ story has always been a mess, but Dream Drop Distance just makes things a whole lot more complicated than it needs to be. It’s fun to play on PS4, but on the 3DS it’s awful. And yeah, why are they taking exams? Is saving the world twice not enough? And besides, remember in BBS when it was just hitting a couple of lightGood game and all, but the story is just a mess. I know Kingdom Hearts’ story has always been a mess, but Dream Drop Distance just makes things a whole lot more complicated than it needs to be. It’s fun to play on PS4, but on the 3DS it’s awful. And yeah, why are they taking exams? Is saving the world twice not enough? And besides, remember in BBS when it was just hitting a couple of light balls and then dueling? I wish it was that simple now. Not to mention that the world choices aren’t very good at all, and it doesn’t even have Olympus Colosseum. Also, the dumb pet dream thingie is dumb in more ways than one.… Expand
  79. Endory
    Oct 10, 2020
    10
    Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance is a well crafted game on the Nintendo 3DS and also uses the mechanics of the System really good.

    The gameplay is a mix between the traditional Kingdom Hearts games like 1 and 2 and the deck system from Birth By Sleep. It also introduces the new "Flowmotion" feature, which u can use to travel real fast. Storywise it is a bridge game between    Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance is a well crafted game on the Nintendo 3DS and also uses the mechanics of the System really good.

    The gameplay is a mix between the traditional Kingdom Hearts games like 1 and 2 and the deck system from Birth By Sleep. It also introduces the new "Flowmotion" feature, which u can use to travel real fast.

    Storywise it is a bridge game between Kingdom Hearts 2 and 3 and gives more insight on the overarching plot.

    What I also like is that the game uses new Disney franchises.

    All in all, I really enjoyed Dream Drop Distance :-)    … Expand
  80. BEEGBOS
    Nov 15, 2020
    7
    Dream drop distance easily has the worst kingdom hearts story. It brings so much unnecssary crap to the story that it makes kingdom hearts 3s story worse because it had to deal with the aftermath of this games disaster of a plot. (even though kh3s story isnt bad in other areas) Otherwise the gameplay is really fun if a bit unbalanced, the dropping mechanic is fine and the disney worlds areDream drop distance easily has the worst kingdom hearts story. It brings so much unnecssary crap to the story that it makes kingdom hearts 3s story worse because it had to deal with the aftermath of this games disaster of a plot. (even though kh3s story isnt bad in other areas) Otherwise the gameplay is really fun if a bit unbalanced, the dropping mechanic is fine and the disney worlds are fun to explore… Expand
  81. Elanif
    Sep 25, 2021
    2
    Worst gameplay, music, story of all the Kingdom Hearts games. The drops and dream eaters are boring and useless. The command menu is its worse version of the series. The story is probably the most redeeming part, but only because the Xehanort lore is somewhat important.
  82. Devicra
    Feb 13, 2022
    0
    En este juego empezaron todas las criticas hacia la compañía no salió al español en 3ds pero si al frances, ley del mínimo esfuerzo y encima vendiéndolo al mismo precio elevado europeo.
    Durante días la gente heiteo el foro square enix y prometió no volver a comprar nunca ningún juego de esta compañia.
  83. Frosstype
    Oct 28, 2021
    5
    A Command System KH game with extra gimmick but its better than Days but not as good as BBS. Story became super crazy cause of this game, it could have been told much better in so many ways but maybe its cause of localization (Copium). It's an okaaay-ish game but it doesnt feel like a KH game to me atleast.
  84. ZangBang
    Oct 24, 2022
    3
    36/100
    Dream Drop Distance's Level Design is the best of the series up to this point, echoing the original KH1 with huge open areas, developing in interesting ways both vertically and orizontally, with a solid platforming component and pleasantly rich of secrets. Sadly, all of this is undermined by Flowmotion, a mechanic that makes traversal more dynamic and fun but gives the player    36/100
    Dream Drop Distance's Level Design is the best of the series up to this point, echoing the original KH1 with huge open areas, developing in interesting ways both vertically and orizontally, with a solid platforming component and pleasantly rich of secrets. Sadly, all of this is undermined by Flowmotion, a mechanic that makes traversal more dynamic and fun but gives the player excessive movement power, rendering all platform challenges trivial. Flowmotion is somewhat problematic even in combat, being a high damage low cost attack with easy spamming. Speaking of combat, the Deck from BBS makes a return bringing the much welcome variety and customizability options with it, but the balancing problems return as well with tremendous severity, and Abilities being tied to party companions makes Ability acquisition a quite tedious and annoying process. The story is possibly the worst in the series thus far, with great character interactions and a captivating mood, but extremely shallow writing and sluggish pacing, distasteful retcons and graceless, convoluted plot twists.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

24
#24 Best 3DS Game of 2012
5
#5 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2012
2
#2 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 54 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 54
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 54
  3. Negative: 1 out of 54
  1. Games.cz
    Nov 12, 2012
    60
    A solid action RPG with tons of great mechanics. However, the mechanics have been over-combined, the game is very difficult and the controls should have been tuned up.
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  2. Gamer.no
    Oct 27, 2012
    90
    With it's seventh main game, the Kingdom Hearts-franchise switches things up quite a bit, making room for some exciting new elements, like the flow motion and the including of characters from The World Ends With You. At the same time it manages to keep things like they have been for the past six games, with plenty of beautiful Disney-worlds, great characters and a good mix of action and roleplaying.
    Read full review
  3. Pelit (Finland)
    Oct 14, 2012
    80
    Although the game is more an action-adventure than an RPG, this iteration of the Kingdom Hearts franchise is by far the best pocket adaptation yet. It ties all the loose ends, so that the Kingdom Hearts 3 can have a fresh start. [Sept 2012]
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