HomeGenreActionKingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Review

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Review

The AI of spirits is also something that must be mentioned as well, as quite a few of my own were downright ignorant when it came to battles. At times, my good ol’ Mr. Meows would do wonders in battle and really surprise me with the damage he impounded to a few of the bosses in the game. Other moments…were not as blissful. Some of the most rivoting battles within this Kingdom Hearts were quickly tarnished for myself, as I had to go play doctor to a pet that got himself killed within minutes. I could have just let him die as I was doing fine on my own, but that seemed to be a sin in itself as a quick camera turn forced a cutscene of my pet losing it’s dear life, which lead to Sora accumulating a good amount of damage from surrounding foes. With all that said, I still feel like spirits are more beneficial than a nuisance, but there were definitely some elements of their inclusion that should have been left on the cutting room floor.

The Drop in Dream Drop Distance is used for the Drop mode, which lets the player switch between our two protagonists and the drop of a finger – so to speak. If you are having trouble with a section or just need a break from the current world, you can simply hit the drop command in the menu and watch Sora go into a slumber, with Riku popping in right where he left off on his own journey. During this swap, you can also pass off a few bonuses to the next character in line based on how well you have performed. The idea is clever, but there is indeed a timer on the drop option that will force the player to switch unless they have an item that can delay the effect. This causes a lot of frustration during boss battles, as almost every boss battle is an epic adventure in itself and can last for a good chunk of time. I think you know what comes next though, as right when you are about to deliver that pounding blow, the drop timer goes off and the dropping switches you instantly. You can drop at anytime, so yes, you could go back, but the boss or pack of enemies the player was fighting will all have their HP bars reset, leading to a bit of monotony.

On a more positive note, the rest of the game plays rather smoothly. All of your standard RPG upgrading is fully in tow, and the amount of variety given with the command decks and equipment will make sure that none of these Disney inspired bouts feel the same due to the constant changing of your own arsenal. Sora and Riku may travel the same path, but their own movesets and spirits keep the player from experiencing any deja-vu, along with all of the minor changes that each stage provides depending on who are playing as at that very moment. With around 30 to 40 hours alone in the main quest and countless more if you are a completionist, Kingdom Hearts 3D is sure to please all looking for a 3DS title with substance and veterans of the series will certainly find enough content to hold them over for quite some time.

Visuals and Audio
It’s been a long time since i beat the first Kingdom Hearts, but I feel as if this title wins over it in terms of presentation as the characters and worlds just look that good. Each character you come across is filled to the brim with their original charms, and the many Disney worlds are simply enchanting, providing a limitless amount of eye candy to those who are fans of the included franchises. When it was announced that Neku, Beat, and the rest of the TWEWY cast would be featured within Dream Drop Distance, I was a bit hesitant to cheer due to the very different art styles and quirks between the two titles, but Square did a superb job with the crossover and seeing these characters in a new light just made me want more. I also found a new respect for TRON and The Hunchback of Notre Dame while playing, as I never have seen either film adaptation and what was on display was certainly a sight to see. As far as the 3D goes, yes, it does look good, but this is yet another game where that slider really has no significance in the long run and most players will enjoy the visuals the same either way.

Voicework is the true winner in the audio department, as even with the Yoko Shimomura tunes on blast (which are melodic joy to hear), you have to give credit to the actors that reprised or stepped in to bring this cast to life yet again. Hearing Ursula’s evil laugh at the beginning sets a nice tone of what the game has to offer in terms of sound, and with the large amount of dialogue, it was pleasant to see that all of the talent seemed to truly care about their roles. Sound effects are also handled well, as the minor things such as collecting items from chests and smashing through foes keeps this package feeling tight and crisp as a whole.

Overall
After all of the spin-offs and twists and turns that Kingdom Hearts has taken as a series, it’s really hard to jump into Dream Drop Distance without prior experience due to all that has been “dropped” onto shelves in recent years. It’s like the franchise has been a lost little boy, trying to find his true place yet again – only to unlock doors that lead him in circles, or to put it more bluntly, a dog chasing it’s tail. Hardcore fans of the series won’t share that opinion, but bystanders looking in certainly do. Kingdom Hearts 3D has some great things going for it; solid combat, a beautiful presentation, and a lot of interesting additions that work well with the classic scheme. Yes, some gimmicks don’t blend all too well into the mix, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy my own time spent with the game, or if I said I wouldn’t be heading back to play it after finishing this review. After all of the side quests, Roxas plotlines, and confusion we have seen to date, Dream Drop Distance is the Kingdom Hearts title to get as it not only sets up a clear path for the franchises’ future, but also captures that magic that made everyone fall in love with this legendary crossover to start with.

8-5-capsules-out-of-10