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
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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.
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  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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