For ten years now the Kingdom Heart franchise has been developing cross-over titles for fans of both Square Enix and Disney. The games have been released on almost every platform. From the original PS2 console version, to mobile phones and a constant flow of new handhelds. Now 10 years later, it makes it debut with 3D technology on the Nintendo 3DS.
During the 10yr anniversary of the franchise, Square Enix has released ‘Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance’, a sizable and lengthy title, that stands as one of the best additions to the series.
Kingdom Hearts: DDD is a follow up to Kingdom Hearts: Re coded, the new game returns Sora and Riku as the duo attempts to become Keyblade Masters. Square Enix and Disney Interactive breathe new life into the series, introducing an impressive list of new worlds, new characters and a revives a star-studded cast from previous games.
Ultimately your goal is to defeat Xehanort, who returns to the series as the main antagonist. To do this the two main characters must survive the ‘Mark of Mastery’ which will enable them to become true Keyblade Masters and have the power to take on Xehanort.
One of the main features to be added into this game, and a constant selling point in Square Enix’s teaser trailers, is the Flowmotion game mechanic. Flowmotion turns Kingdom Hearts 3D: DDD into a fast-paced action RPG, by adding speed and quick-hitting combos into the already established real-time battle structure. We can take a look at Flowmotion in the video below:
Flowmotion is a perfect addition to the game and works extremely well, although mastering may take some time. Dodging enemy attacks, sprinting and hopping off nearby walls and devastating unsuspecting enemies is just as fun halfway through the game as it was in the beginning.
‘Drop’ isn’t just part of the tile, it’s the other half of the new gameplay mechanics featured in the game. The Drop system works almost like a dramatic cut would in a movie. There are two protagonist in this game and they are not always together but share a common story-arch and have overlapping moments in the storyline. The drop system causes you to switch between these characters as you play. This change in story-telling may seem a bit unsettling at first but as you adapt to the pacing of the game, the system really entwines the two stories together.
The drop system can be forced or be done by player’s choice. It was my favorite feature by far in the game and allowed me to really focus on one character’s story at a time, watching them develop and interact but never losing site of the main plot. It kept the objective of the game in the forefront and allowed me to play the title without getting tired of the worlds I was in.
The game was completely designed for the Nintendo 3DS, with built in functions that really harnessed all of the handhelds capabilities. The use of the Command Deck made the fighting faster and more fluid and the ability to customize it made my game more personal and intuitive.
The AR mechanic in the game could be seen as marketing shove-in but it doesn’t interfere with the game at all and is a great feature for a younger audience. It’s just plain-fun and adds another level of immersion that allows players to interact with their collected Dream Eaters. It brings a small part of the game to life, I know if I had a pet Gold Chocobo when playing FF:7 back in the day, my head probably would have exploded with excitement the first time I heard him wark as I virtually pet him. I’m not going to steal that away from anyone.
This game serves as a prequel to Kingdom Hearts: III, and if you have been waiting for that title and have a Nintendo 3DS then I suggest you pick this one up. This is one of the best looking Kingdom Hearts games that Disney Interactive has ever accomplished, the character design and craftsmanship of each world is remarkable. Although gameplay isn’t as precise as it could be on a console or a PC, it’s hardly a flaw and not something I walked away remembering.
Overall the game is one that any Kingdom Hearts fan should thoroughly enjoy, the ability to catch up on key plot-points from previous titles makes this a great time to jump into the series. The characters, story and overlapping protagonist arcs keeps the game actively interesting and a joy to finish.
