Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance

Last updated

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
KH3D Euro Cover.jpg
Developer(s) Square Enix 1st Production Department
Publisher(s) Square Enix
Director(s) Tetsuya Nomura
Tai Yasue
Producer(s) Rie Nishi
Programmer(s)
  • Tamotsu Goto
  • Masashi Nakamichi
Artist(s)
  • Tetsuya Nomura
  • Gen Kobayashi
  • Takeshi Fujimoto
Writer(s) Masaru Oka
Tetsuya Nomura
Composer(s)
Series Kingdom Hearts
Platform(s) Nintendo 3DS
Release
  • JP: March 29, 2012
  • EU: July 20, 2012
  • AU: July 26, 2012
  • NA: July 31, 2012
Genre(s) Action role-playing
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance [lower-alpha 1] is an action role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the Nintendo 3DS, revealed at E3 2010. The game is the seventh installment in the Kingdom Hearts series and was released in Japan on March 29, 2012. It was released in Europe on July 20, 2012, in Australasia on July 26, 2012, and in North America on July 31, 2012.

Contents

The game takes place after the events of Kingdom Hearts Re:coded , and focuses on Sora and Riku's Mark of Mastery exam, in which they have to protect parallel worlds in preparation for the return of Master Xehanort. Besides controlling the two playable characters across a single scenario, the player is able to recruit creatures known as Dream Eaters to assist them in fights.

The Square Enix staff decided to develop Dream Drop Distance after being impressed by the quality of the Nintendo 3DS. Taking advantage of the console's functions, they increased the action elements from the series based on the system previously seen in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep . Additionally, both the gameplay and the plot are meant to give a glimpse of what the following title in the series, Kingdom Hearts III , would be like. The game has been well received in Japan and in the US, selling over 250,000 and 180,000 units on its debuts respectively. Critics generally praised the gameplay and graphics, while criticizing aspects of the plot.

A high-definition remaster of the game entitled Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD was released as part of the Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue compilation for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, and Nintendo Switch.

Gameplay

The game, which largely follows the action RPG and hack and slash gameplay of previous games in the series, sees players alternate between the roles of Sora and Riku, which is done via the 'Drop' system. During gameplay, a Drop Gauge gradually depletes over time, though it can be replenished with items. When the gauge completely empties, control will switch to the other character, though players may also opt to drop manually at any time. Drop Points, which are earned by defeating enemies and completing optional objectives, can be spent on bonuses that can be used until the next time the character drops, such as a slower Drop Gauge or increased attack or defense. [1] The game reuses the Command Deck system from Birth by Sleep , in which players can customize a deck filled with various actions, spells, and items that can be quickly selected. There are also several new elements added to the gameplay. Flowmotion allows players to move quickly about by performing actions such as bouncing off walls, grinding on rails and spinning around poles. [2] Reality Shift is a system the player can use on certain objects or weakened opponents. It involves a touch-screen activated minigame unique to each world, which includes dragging the screen to fling a target like a catapult, touching hidden words to take control of enemies, and playing a rhythm-based minigame to cause fireworks to appear. [3] [4]

A battle in the game, featuring the Command Deck commands on the left side of the screen, and the two selected Spirits and the Drop meter on the right side. Sora is the character in use, with his health meter and character portrait at the bottom right. Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance gameplay.jpg
A battle in the game, featuring the Command Deck commands on the left side of the screen, and the two selected Spirits and the Drop meter on the right side. Sora is the character in use, with his health meter and character portrait at the bottom right.

One of the key elements of Dream Drop Distance is the inclusion of the Dream Eaters. Whilst they generally serve as the main enemies of the game, up to three good Dream Eaters, known as Spirits, can be recruited per character to assist them in battle. Spirits can be created by combining Dream Fragments with an item or spell, either via experimenting with combinations or using recipes found throughout the game. Characters can also link with Spirits to perform unique attacks. Along the way, the player can care for Spirits by petting them, feeding them items, or playing mini-games with them, which can unlock new abilities. [5]

The game takes place across multiple worlds based on Pinocchio , The Hunchback of Notre Dame , Tron: Legacy , Fantasia and Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers , with each one having two different plots told from the perspectives of Sora and Riku. These worlds need to be completed by both Sora and Riku in order to unlock new worlds and progress through the game. Upon visiting each world for the first time, each character must go through a Dive section, in which characters freefall down a tube and must clear a certain objective, such as obtaining a certain number of points, defeating a certain number of enemies in a time limit, or defeating a boss character. In this mode, Sora and Riku can attack opponents, slow down their descent, or dodge attacks. They can also pick up magic spells which give them a limited supply of magical attacks to use against enemies. [6]

Outside of the main game, players can play an additional mode called Flick Rush, which can be played alone or with another player via wireless multiplayer. In this mode, players battle with a team of three Spirits and pit them against each other. Players fight against their opponent by flicking up cards from the touchscreen. Each card has a number value determining its attack strength, with multiple cards combining to increase the overall value. The player whose attack value is greater than their opponent's gets to attack with their Spirit. A slowly replenishing meter determines how many cards the player can send out at a time, and each Spirit has a limited number of cards that can be replenished by swapping them out with another Spirit. The first player to eliminate all of their opponent's Spirits wins the game.

Plot

Setting

Dream Drop Distance follows the events of Kingdom Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts Coded , though much of its plot is set concurrently to the original game via time travel. There are a total of seven playable worlds, most of which are based on various Disney properties, albeit in a "world submerged in sleep" due to being destroyed by the Heartless. [7] Most of the Disney worlds introduced are entirely new, including: La Cité des Cloches ( The Hunchback of Notre Dame ); the Grid ( Tron: Legacy ); Prankster's Paradise ( Pinocchio ), which also includes the inside of Monstro's belly from previous games; the Country of the Musketeers ( Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers ); and the Symphony of Sorcery ( Fantasia ). The other two worlds, Traverse Town and the World That Never Was, are original to the series and have been featured in previous games. In addition, the game's opening tutorial is set on the Destiny Islands, another original world.

Characters

The game features Sora and Riku as the two main characters, taking part in a test to improve their skills with their weapon, the Keyblade. For most of the game, the two are depicted as they appear in the original game, while also being given new clothes. Their older selves from Kingdom Hearts II appear during cutscenes, while Sora is briefly playable in this incarnation during the end credits. A younger incarnation of Xehanort, first introduced as the optional "Mysterious Figure" boss from the North American and European releases of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep , serves as the game's primary antagonist with his two revived alter egos: his Heartless, Ansem, and his Nobody, Xemnas. Several former members of Xemnas' Organization XIII, including Lea and Ansem the Wise's apprentices, return after being restored to their human forms.

Like previous games, Dream Drop Distance features various Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse, who is seen in the game in three different incarnations: his original characterization in the Kingdom Hearts series as the king of Disney Castle; a musketeer as featured in Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers ; and the young apprentice of Yen Sid shown in Fantasia . Donald Duck and Goofy make similar appearances as well. Characters hailing from their respective worlds play a small role in the main story, while Maleficent and Pete reprise their roles as antagonists, and Yen Sid as a supporting character. Unlike other major installments, which feature an extensive cast of Final Fantasy characters, only a Moogle appears. Dream Drop Distance features appearances of Neku Sakuraba and other characters from The World Ends with You , another game owned by Square Enix with characters designed by Tetsuya Nomura, marking the first time that characters other than those from Disney and Final Fantasy have appeared in the series. [8]

The game introduces a new type of creature called Dream Eaters, which come in two varieties—"Nightmares", which eat good dreams and create nightmares, and serve as enemies similar to the Heartless, Nobodies, and Unversed from previous games; and "Spirits", which eat nightmares and create good dreams, and also act as Sora and Riku's party members. [9]

Story

Anticipating Master Xehanort's return, Yen Sid puts Sora and Riku through a Mark of Mastery exam to bestow them with the power necessary to rescue their missing allies and counter Xehanort. For the exam, they are sent to worlds that remain trapped in a "sleeping" state after being destroyed by the Heartless. There, they must unlock seven keyholes to fully restore them, and are advised to create benevolent "Spirit" Dream Eaters to guide them and battle the malevolent "Nightmare" Dream Eaters that infest the sleeping worlds. Yen Sid sends Sora and Riku back in time to their homeworld's destruction, allowing them to enter the sleeping worlds. The two are separated at the start of the test, each arriving in alternate versions of the worlds. Throughout the exam, Sora and Riku encounter a gray-haired youth who is accompanied by Xemnas and Ansem, respectively, despite them having been previously destroyed.

Upon completing the exam, Sora and Riku arrive in the World That Never Was instead of the realm of light. The youth reveals he and his associates have lured Sora into a trap and places him into a deep sleep, where his heart is consumed by darkness, but is encased within Ventus's armor for protection. Meanwhile, Riku learns he has spent the exam traveling through Sora's dreams as a Dream Eater. He escapes the dream and is confronted by the youth, who reveals himself to be Xehanort's past self, tasked by his present self with assembling thirteen incarnations of Xehanort from across time – including vessels of his fragmented heart – to form a new Organization XIII. Young Xehanort battles Riku to stall out time until his future self's revival. Despite Young Xehanort's defeat, a revived Master Xehanort appears and attempts to turn Sora into his final vessel, intending to pit his thirteen "seekers of darkness" against seven "guardians of light" to achieve his ultimate goal of recreating the χ-blade. He is foiled when Sora is rescued by his allies, including Lea, the revived human form of Axel. Xehanort and his incarnations return to their original time periods, but assure that both factions will inevitably clash.

Upon returning to Yen Sid's tower, Riku re-enters Sora's dreams and releases his heart from Ventus's Nightmare-possessed armor, saving him. Riku then arrives in a simulation of the Destiny Islands and meets a virtual copy of Ansem the Wise, who gives him research data he had left in Sora's heart to help Sora save those connected to it. After Riku returns to the realm of light and reunites with Sora, Yen Sid commends him for braving the realm of sleep a second time to reawaken Sora and declares him a Keyblade Master; Lea also reveals himself to have become a Keyblade wielder, and intends to become a Master as well. Sora is undaunted by his failure and returns to the sleeping worlds, where he thanks his Dream Eater companions.

In the game's secret ending, Yen Sid and Mickey discuss Xehanort's plan. Yen Sid reveals his intent to gather seven Keyblade wielders to prevent Xehanort from using the Princesses of Heart to forge the χ-blade, and to this end, he has Riku summon Kairi to be trained as a Keyblade wielder.

Development

The game was created by the same development team that worked on Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep , [10] then part of Square Enix's 1st Production Department. [11] Since it contained members who worked for The World Ends with You , the group decided to use characters from said game in replacement of Final Fantasy characters. The decision to make a Kingdom Hearts game for the Nintendo 3DS was due to the positive impression the Square Enix staff had when viewing the console's quality. [12] The console inspired Nomura to make the Dive Mode function where the character moves to different worlds without the use of a vehicle, while the Flowmotion was thought of prior to deciding which console use. [13] The game's title was used to reference its various themes, with "Dream" referencing the storyline, "Drop" for the gameplay style, and "Distance" referring to the main characters' interaction, and, while unintentionally, the system's autostereoscopic 3D effect. Although Tetsuya Nomura admitted the English used was not grammatically correct, the team still decided to use it based on the way it sounded. [1] Development was notably shorter than the ones from previous Kingdom Hearts games. [14] However, co-director Tai Yasue emphasized how the finished product resembled Kingdom Hearts II and Birth by Sleep but improved. [15]

The team wished for the game to have more action than the previous games. Nomura noted the similarities with Final Fantasy Versus XIII as a result of their similar styles. The new maneuvers employed in Dream Drop Distance are also meant to give a glimpse about how the next game in the series, Kingdom Hearts III , would look like. New worlds were included in the game as a result of multiple requests by fans. [1] The switches between player characters Sora and Riku across the game are meant to contrast the style from Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep, which allowed the player to use three characters in their own campaigns, as well as explain the word "Distance" in the title because the two characters never interact across their stories. [16] The Free Flow system was made using data from Birth by Sleep, which took nearly two weeks to obtain a form similar to the one from the game. [17] The game originally intended to use returning Heartless and Nobodies as generic enemies. However, the setting gave the staff the idea of introducing new creatures, Dream Eaters, who would also join the player in fights. [12] They were also inspired in part by Nintendogs + Cats —Nomura wished that his virtual dog could battle with other pets met through Streetpass and created the Dream Eaters based on this concept. [18] They are used in the mini-game Flick Rush which originally intended to allow players to use a picture. Nomura did not approve of this idea. [17]

With Kingdom Hearts Re:coded, the staff revealed that Dream Drop Distance would revolve around Sora's and Riku's "Mark of Mastery" exam, but were worried about how to set it. The idea of Sora going through a dream was inspired by the subtitle of Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep and served as a basis for the game. [19] Sora and Riku were chosen as the playable characters in anticipation for the franchise's ending of the "Xehanort arc" as well as to represent the theme of "the light and the dark sides of hearts" which the two characters represent. [12] The former's inclusion was also done due to the character's popularity in Japan. [13] Nomura has stated that the themes of the game are trust and friendship, and that like Birth by Sleep, the story is on par with that of a numbered title. As a result of the game's plot, both Sora and Riku appear in their younger forms from the first Kingdom Hearts game. However, to avoid misconceptions that Dream Drop Distance was a remake of the original game, Nomura decided to change Sora's and Riku's outfits for most of the game. [20] Despite using two protagonists, the game primarily focuses on Riku's growth across the series. When starting production, the staff had decided to make the story as complex as possible, leading to the inclusion of several cutscenes which can be viewed by the player anytime they want. In order to make it more accessible, scenario writer Masaru Oka was in charge of the Chronicles feature, which explains events from previous games. [13] The game's story is also meant to connect directly with Kingdom Hearts III, [21] although its original ending was not approved by the staff and was scrapped. Like previous titles, Dream Drop Distance has a secret ending that connects to Kingdom Hearts III although the staff found it unconventional in comparison to previous ones. [22]

Promotion and release

The game was announced at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2010 as "Kingdom Hearts 3D Demo" for the Nintendo 3DS. [23] It was formally unveiled though at the Square Enix 1st Production Department Premier event at the Toho Cinemas in Tokyo, Japan on January 18, 2011, with its first trailer along with its official name. [24] During the game's development, Nomura explained that the games theme is trust, specifically how to trust others. [25] In July 2011, a Famitsu article included an interview with Nomura in which he revealed that the game would have an unlockable secret movie. A playable demo released the same month also first featured the Dream Eaters as the player characters' partners and the game's generic enemy. [26] A Dengeki issue featured another interview with Nomura, where he confirmed that he would be considering what he called an "HD Technical Test" in order to commemorate the series' tenth anniversary and to entice new players to the series. [27] This occurred on March 3, 2012, in the form of a premiere event where footage from the game, including its full CGI introduction sequence, was showcased to celebrate the game's release. [28]

The game was first released in Japan on March 29, 2012, and in North America and Europe on July 31, 2012, and July 20, 2012, respectively. [29] [30] In Australasia, it was released on July 26, 2012. [31] A limited edition titled "Mark of Mastery" was also released in North America featuring twelve art cards, AR cards able to unlock new Dream Eaters, and a protector case for the 3DS console. [32] While this has been noted to be the shortest gaps between the Japanese and English releases in the Kingdom Hearts, the latter version does not include new features not seen in the former. However, the Mark of Mastery limited edition was made so that English gamers would be able to obtain bonus material that can only be obtained in Japan. [7] The game was also included within the "Kingdom Hearts 10th Anniversary Box" package made in commemoration of the franchise's 10th anniversary. The box also included the Nintendo DS games Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days and Kingdom Hearts Re:coded. [33] Unlike Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts II and Birth by Sleep, there would not be an updated version of the game according to Tetsuya Nomura. [34]

A guidebook, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Ultimania (キングダム ハーツ 3D [ドリーム ドロップ ディスタンス] アルティマニア), was published in Japan on May 1, 2012. [35] Square Enix also published a light novel by Tomoko Kanemaki based on the game on June 28, 2012, under the title of "Side Sora". [36] The second volume, titled "Side Riku", was released in Japan on September 27, 2012. [37]

A HD remaster of the game for the PlayStation 4, titled Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD, was announced in September 2015 at Tokyo Game Show to be part of the Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue collection, which was released in January 2017. During the X019 event in London, Square Enix announced all Kingdom Hearts HD collections would release on the Xbox One in 2020.

Music

Like in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep , the music for Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance was a collaboration by Yoko Shimomura, Takeharu Ishimoto, and Tsuyoshi Sekito, containing musical compositions from all three. Among the songs included are tracks from The World Ends with You , originally composed by Ishimoto, who remixed them for Dream Drop Distance. [38] Orchestral arrangements were provided by Kaoru Wada. The Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance Original Soundtrack was released in Japan on April 18, 2012. [39]

Reception

The Tokyo Game Show featured a playable demo which earned the game top honors as "Best 3DS RPG" in RPG Land's Tokyo Game Show Awards, [52] following a hands-on report that praised the boss fights. [53] RPG Site also praised the game upon its first impression, calling the demo "refreshing". [54] Reception to the game's released trailers, demos and general information was generally positive, and the game ranked among Famitsu's 25 "most wanted" list in October 2011. [55] The Official Nintendo Magazine listed it eighth in their "Games of 2012" feature. [56] In an IGN poll, it ranked as the most expected Nintendo 3DS game for 2012's summer. [57] It also won the "Most Valuable Game Award" from the Nintendo Power magazine. [58]

In its first review, Famitsu gave Dream Drop Distance a rating of 10/9/10/9, or a total of 38/40, in their March 22, 2012 issue, which made Dream Drop Distance the second highest rated game in the series for them, after Kingdom Hearts II. [42] The game debuted at the top of Media Create's sales charts, selling 213,579 copies during its first week. The release was also noted to have helped boost the sales of the Nintendo 3DS console. [59] Although the number of pre-orders surpassed that of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days for the Nintendo DS, the first week's sales were lower. Nevertheless, Media Create noted that this was due to the comparison between the number of units sold between the Nintendo DS and the Nintendo 3DS during the time the games were released, with the former having sold more copies than the latter. [60] The game continued to appear in Media Create's polls for the next several weeks, selling a total of 311,688 units as of May 2012. [61] [62] In North America, the game sold 200,000 units during August 2012, with 180,000 regular editions and 20,000 Mark of Mastery editions. [63]

English publications have given Kingdom Hearts 3D moderately positive reviews, with lower scores than Japanese review outlets, generally praising the gameplay while criticizing the plot. It received an aggregated score of 75/100 on Metacritic. [40] Game Informer writer Bryan Vore praised the new gameplay elements and, unlike other reviewers, how well the story handles the franchise's plot, especially as it was set after that of Kingdom Hearts II, unlike many of the other newer titles in the series. [44] Audrey Drake from IGN echoed similar comments about the gameplay, but felt that the story was sometimes not very interesting. [48] Mark Walton from GameSpot praised the combat systems and environment design, though he wished that the game did not force the player through the levels linearly and dismissed the plot as "labyrinth-like" with poor dialogue and confusing motivations. [45] Bob Mackey of 1UP.com was harsher on the game than other reviewers; while he too found the plot incomprehensible, he also felt that the numerous game mechanics combined to form a confusing and frustrating system. [41] The reviewer for GameTrailers had a different take, finding the combination of mechanics to form "the best battle system in the series to date" and was not as dismissive of the plot, though they did note that it required a lot of knowledge of previous games in the series to follow. [47] Leah Jackson of G4 had one of the highest reviews for the game out of the major English review outlets; though she had similar praises and criticisms as other reviewers, she felt that the gameplay and graphics more than made up for the sometimes confusing plot. [43]

HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue

In the credits of Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix , clips of Dream Drop Distance were shown as well as the inclusion of a secret ending related to the game, hinting at a possible additional collection. [64] In September 2015, Square Enix announced Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue . The collection features an HD remaster of Dream Drop Distance as well as Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover , a cinematic retelling of Kingdom Hearts χ that reveals new parts of the series' history, and Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage, a new game taking place after the events of the original Birth by Sleep, told from the perspective of Aqua. [65] It was released on January 12, 2017, in Japan and January 24, 2017, for other countries. [66]

Notes

  1. ↑ Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (キングダム ハーツ ドリーム ドロップ ディスタンス, Kingudamu Hātsu Dorīmu Doroppu Disutansu)

Related Research Articles

<i>Kingdom Hearts</i> (video game) 2002 video game

Kingdom Hearts is a 2002 action role-playing video game developed by Square for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It is the first game in the Kingdom Hearts series and is the result of a collaboration between Square and The Walt Disney Company. An expanded re-release of the game featuring new and additional content, Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, was released exclusively in Japan in December 2002. The Final Mix version of the game was later remastered in high definition and released globally as part of the Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix collection for the PlayStation 3. The game was later ported and released as part of the bundled Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix collection for PlayStation 4 in March 2017, Xbox One in February 2020, Windows in March 2021, and Nintendo Switch in February 2022.

Sora (<i>Kingdom Hearts</i>) Protagonist of the Kingdom Hearts video games

Sora is a character and the main protagonist of Disney and Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts video game series. Introduced in the first Kingdom Hearts game in 2002, Sora is portrayed as a cheerful teenager who lives on the Destiny Islands and has been best friends with Riku and Kairi since childhood. When they plan to go on a journey to see other worlds, they are separated by creatures known as the Heartless, with Sora obtaining a weapon called the Keyblade. Donald Duck and Goofy then recruit him in their journey across various worlds to aid their king, Mickey Mouse, while Sora searches for his friends. Along the way, the trio protects the worlds they visit from the Heartless and other villains.

Riku (<i>Kingdom Hearts</i>) Fictional character

Riku is a fictional character from Square Enix's franchise Kingdom Hearts, debuting in the original 2002 Kingdom Hearts game. Riku is introduced as a teenager who wishes to visit other worlds with his friends Sora and Kairi. After a way to other worlds is opened, Riku meets the evil fairy Maleficent who pits him against Sora, leading to Riku falling to darkness and ultimately being possessed by Ansem, Seeker of Darkness. Riku is freed thanks to Sora and returns as a protagonist in following games.

<i>Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories</i> 2004 video game

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories is an action role-playing video game co-developed by Square Enix and Jupiter, and published by Square Enix in collaboration with Disney Interactive in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance. The game serves as an intermediary between the two larger-scale PlayStation 2 games in the Kingdom Hearts series. It was one of the first GBA games to incorporate full motion video (FMV).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xehanort</span> Fictional character in Kingdom Hearts

Xehanort is a fictional character who is the main antagonist of the Dark Seeker Saga, the first phase in the Kingdom Hearts series by Square Enix. He was introduced as the original form of the sentient Heartless "Ansem, Seeker of Darkness" in the first game and the Nobody Xemnas in Kingdom Hearts II. Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep reveals the human elder Xehanort who, like his alter-egos, wishes to recreate the mythical Kingdom Hearts to gain the power to recreate the universe in his image. While Kingdom Hearts III is the last major installment focusing on Xehanort, the 2020 mobile game Dark Road explores his childhood and descent into villainy.

<i>Kingdom Hearts II</i> 2005 video game

Kingdom Hearts II is a 2005 action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix in collaboration with Buena Vista Games for the PlayStation 2 video game console. The game is a sequel to Kingdom Hearts, and like the original game, combines characters and settings from Disney films with those of Square Enix's Final Fantasy series. An expanded re-release of the game featuring new and additional content, Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, was released exclusively in Japan in March 2007. The Final Mix version of the game was later remastered in high definition and released globally as part of the Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix collection for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, and Nintendo Switch.

Characters of <i>Kingdom Hearts</i>

Kingdom Hearts is a series of action role-playing games developed and published by Square Enix. It is the result of a collaboration between Square Enix and Disney Interactive Studios, and is a crossover of various Disney settings based in a universe made specifically for the series. The series features Disney, Final Fantasy, The World Ends with You, and Pixar characters, as well as several original characters designed by Tetsuya Nomura. In addition, it has an all-star voice cast which includes many Disney characters' official voice actors.

<i>Kingdom Hearts</i> Video game franchise

Kingdom Hearts is a series of action role-playing games created by Japanese game designers Tetsuya Nomura and Shinji Hashimoto, being developed and published by Square Enix. It is a collaboration between Square Enix and The Walt Disney Company, and is under the leadership of Nomura, a longtime Square Enix employee.

Roxas (<i>Kingdom Hearts</i>) Fictional character in Kingdom Hearts

Roxas is a character from Square Enix's video game franchise Kingdom Hearts, who first appears as a cameo during the final scenes of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories and makes his first full appearance in Kingdom Hearts II. He is a "Nobody" who was born from the series' main character Sora after he briefly lost his heart during the events of the first game. Kingdom Hearts II reveals that he is a member of Organization XIII, a group of Nobodies who need him for his ability to wield the Keyblade, a weapon that allows him to capture hearts. As a member of the organization, Roxas bears the title "Key of Destiny". He is also the protagonist of the video game Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, which revolves around his origins. He is voiced by Kōki Uchiyama in Japanese and Jesse McCartney in English.

The Kingdom Hearts video game series, developed by Square Enix in collaboration with Disney, is set in a universe consisting of numerous self-contained worlds based on intellectual properties from both companies. Most worlds are based on different Disney films, although several original worlds also appear.

<i>Kingdom Hearts III</i> 2019 video game

Kingdom Hearts III is a 2019 action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, and Nintendo Switch. It is the twelfth installment in the Kingdom Hearts series, and serves as a conclusion of the "Dark Seeker Saga" story arc that began with the original game. Set after the events of Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, returning protagonist Sora is joined by Donald Duck, Goofy, King Mickey, and Riku in their search for seven guardians of light as they attempt to thwart Xehanort's plan to bring about a second Keyblade War. Their journey has them cross paths with characters and visit worlds based on different Disney and Pixar intellectual properties.

Aqua (<i>Kingdom Hearts</i>) Kingdom Hearts character

Aqua is a character from Square Enix's video game franchise Kingdom Hearts. First making cameo appearances in Kingdom Hearts II and its updated version Final Mix, she is introduced in the prequel Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep alongside her friends Terra and Ventus. The three are Keyblade apprentices training under Master Eraqus, and are the playable protagonists. As the only one among her friends to obtain the rank of Keyblade Master, Aqua is assigned to monitor Terra and Ventus as she combats dark creatures known as the Unversed.

<i>Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep</i> 2010 video game

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep is an action role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix in collaboration with Disney Interactive Studios for the PlayStation Portable, serving as the sixth installment in the Kingdom Hearts series. The game was released on UMD in Japan on January 9, 2010, in North America on September 7, 2010, and in PAL regions on September 10, 2010. An international version of the game titled Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix was released in Japan in January 2011, featuring the changes made in the non-Japanese versions. A direct sequel, Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep - A Fragmentary Passage, was released in January 2017 as a part of a bundle of games called Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue.

<i>Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days</i> 2009 video game

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days is an action role-playing video game developed by h.a.n.d. and Square Enix in collaboration with Disney Interactive Studios for the Nintendo DS. It is the fifth installment in the Kingdom Hearts series, and takes place near the end of the first game in parallel to Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, leading directly into the events of Kingdom Hearts II. The game was released worldwide in 2009. The story is told from the perspective of Roxas, and follows his daily life within Organization XIII and his relationship with fellow Organization member Axel; it also introduces a fourteenth member, Xion, who befriends them.

<i>Kingdom Hearts Coded</i> 2008 video game

Kingdom Hearts Coded is an episodic action role-playing puzzle video game developed and published by Square Enix, in collaboration with Disney Interactive Studios, for mobile phones. Coded was a Japan-only release announced at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show. Its Nintendo DS remake titled Kingdom Hearts Re:coded was released in Japan, North America, Europe, and Australia. A cinematic remake of the game was included in the Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix video game compilation for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, and Nintendo Switch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E3 2010</span> 16th annual Electronic Entertainment Expo

The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2010 was the 16th E3 held. The event took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. It began on June 14, 2010, and ended on June 17, 2010, with 45,600 total attendees. There was also an E3 event held in Sony's PlayStation Home.

<i>Theatrhythm Final Fantasy</i> 2012 video game

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy is a rhythm video game, developed by indieszero and published by Square Enix for Nintendo 3DS and iOS. Based on the Final Fantasy video game franchise, the game involves using the touch screen in time to various pieces of music from the series. The game was released in Japan in February 2012, and in North America, Australia and Europe in July. An iOS version was released in December. A sequel, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call, was released in 2014. A third game based on the Dragon Quest series, Theatrhythm Dragon Quest, was released in 2015. An arcade game, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: All-Star Carnival, was released in 2016. A second sequel, Theatrhythm Final Bar Line, was released on February 16, 2023, for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.

<i>Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue</i> 2017 video game compilation

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue is a compilation of games from the Kingdom Hearts series, developed and published by Square Enix. A successor to the Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix game compilation, the new title was announced in September 2015 and released in January 2017 on PlayStation 4, on February 18, 2020, on Xbox One, and on March 30, 2021, and June 13, 2024, on Windows via Epic Games Store and Steam respectively. A cloud version of the collection was released for the Nintendo Switch on February 10, 2022.

Tetsuya Nomura is a Japanese video game artist, designer, producer, and director working for Square Enix. He was hired by Square initially as a monster designer for Final Fantasy V (1992), before being shifted towards secondary character designer alongside Yoshitaka Amano for Final Fantasy VI (1994). Final Fantasy VII (1997) had him working in the original story alongside Hironobu Sakaguchi, and marked his debut as the lead character designer, a capacity he would retain for several future installments of the series, as well as other Square Enix titles such as The Bouncer and The World Ends with You.

<i>Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory</i> 2020 rhythm-action video game

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a 2020 rhythm action game developed by Square Enix and indieszero, and published by Square Enix for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows. It is the fourteenth installment in the Kingdom Hearts series, retelling the events of the series so far, while also being set after Kingdom Hearts III's Re Mind downloadable content scenario.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gantayat, Anoop (January 26, 2011). "Tetsuya Nomura Discusses Kingdom Hearts 3DS". Andriasang. Archived from the original on January 30, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  2. ↑ Yip, Spencer (September 19, 2011). "The Biggest Game Changer In Kingdom Hearts 3D Is The Y Button". Siliconera. Archived from the original on August 30, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
  3. ↑ Sahdev, Ishaan (July 31, 2011). "Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance To Have Controllable Event Scenes, Too". Siliconera. Archived from the original on August 30, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
  4. ↑ Ashcraft, Brian (September 13, 2011). "Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil and Kingdom Hearts for 3DS Also Use Nintendo's New Slide Pad Expansion". Kotaku. Archived from the original on October 31, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  5. ↑ Ashcraft, Brian (September 20, 2011). "Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Sure Looks Dreamy". Kotaku. Archived from the original on January 24, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  6. ↑ Sahdev, Ishaan (April 4, 2012). "Kingdom Hearts 3D Starts In Traverse Town". Siliconera. Archived from the original on August 29, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  7. 1 2 "Behind the Game Interview". Game Trailers. May 22, 2012. Archived from the original on June 11, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Kingdom Hearts 3D Features Characters From The World Ends With You". Siliconera. September 14, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  9. ↑ Parish, Jeremy (September 14, 2011). "TGS: Kingdom Hearts 3D Brings The World Ends With You Into the Family". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  10. ↑ Alice Liang (June 16, 2010). "E3 2010: Kingdom Hearts 3 is Not in Development...Yet". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
  11. ↑ "「Final Fantasy XIII-2」が2011年発売予定，「Agito」は「Final Fantasy 零式」と名称変更して2011年夏発売。「Square Enix 1st Production Department Premiere」をTwitterで実況". 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Aetas, Inc. January 18, 2011. Archived from the original on January 20, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  12. 1 2 3 "Kingdom Builder". Nintendo Power. No. 276. Nintendo of America. March 2012. pp. 40–41. ISSN   1041-9551.
  13. 1 2 3 Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Ultimania. Square Enix. May 2012. pp. 426–430. ISBN   978-4757536159.
  14. ↑ "Iwata asks". Nintendo. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  15. ↑ Drake, Audrey (July 3, 2012). "The Making of Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance". IGN. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  16. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (January 19, 2011). "Kingdom Hearts 3DS Named, Trailered and Discussed". Andriasang. Archived from the original on December 25, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
  17. 1 2 Gantayat, Anoop (May 14, 2011). "Who Came Up With Kingdom Hearts 3D's Drop System?". Andriasang. Archived from the original on May 17, 2012. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Iwata Asks". iwataasks.nintendo.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Nomura Explains Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance's Title". Siliconera. March 23, 2012. Archived from the original on October 1, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
  20. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (January 30, 2011). "Kingdom Hearts 3D: Sora and Riku to See Clothing Changes". Andriasang. Archived from the original on December 25, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
  21. ↑ Anoop Gantayat (November 17, 2010). "Tetsuya Nomura Talks Kingdom Hearts 3DS". IGN. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2010.
  22. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (January 18, 2012). "Tetsuya Nomura on Versus XIII, Final Fantasy X HD and Kingdom Hearts 3D's Secret Ending". Andriasang. Archived from the original on January 19, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
  23. ↑ Newton, James (June 15, 2010). "E3 2010: Kingdom Hearts 3DS". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on September 27, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  24. ↑ Anoop Gantayat (January 18, 2011). "Square Enix Opens Teaser Sites for New Games". Andriasang. Archived from the original on January 21, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  25. ↑ Siliconera Staff (August 3, 2010). "The Theme Of Kingdom Hearts 3DS Is Trust". Siliconera. Archived from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  26. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (July 13, 2011). "Kingdom Hearts 3D, Final Fantasy XI, Dissidia and More in Famitsu". Andriasang. Archived from the original on December 25, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  27. ↑ McElroy, Griffin (August 9, 2011). "Nomura considering 'HD technical test' for Kingdom Hearts anniversary".
  28. ↑ "Kingdom Hearts 3D Game's Premiere Light Show Streamed". Anime News Network. March 23, 2012. Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  29. ↑ Long, Neil (April 21, 2012). "Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance release date set". Official Nintendo Magazine. Archived from the original on April 27, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  30. ↑ "Kingdom Hearts 3D, Theatrhythm Slated for July in N. America". Anime News Network. April 5, 2012. Archived from the original on April 9, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  31. ↑ "Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Related Games". GameSpot. Archived from the original on June 24, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  32. ↑ "Kingdom Hearts 3D Limited Edition Gives Fans A "Mark Of Mastery"". Siliconera. May 16, 2012. Archived from the original on August 30, 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  33. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (June 18, 2010). "Kingdom Hearts Anniversary Box Includes Three Kingdom Hearts Games". Andriasang. Archived from the original on April 1, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
  34. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (April 30, 2012). "Tetsuya Nomura Expects New Kingdom Hearts Announcement Soon". Andriasang. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  35. ↑ "キングダム ハーツ 3D [ドリーム ドロップ ディスタンス] アルティマニア" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
  36. ↑ "キングダム ハーツ 3D [ドリーム ドロップ ディスタンス] Side Sora" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on July 6, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  37. ↑ "キングダム ハーツ 3D [ドリーム ドロップ ディスタンス] Side Riku" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on June 18, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  38. ↑ Eisenbeis, Richard (April 10, 2012). "Jamming to The World Ends With You Remixes in Kingdom Hearts 3D". Kotaku. Archived from the original on August 8, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
  39. ↑ "KINGDOM HEARTS Dream Drop Distance オリジナル・サウンドトラック" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 4, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  40. 1 2 "Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance for 3DS Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on August 20, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
  41. 1 2 Mackey, Bob (August 1, 2012). "Kingdom Hearts 3D Review for Nintendo 3DS from 1UP.com". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  42. 1 2 "Kingdom Hearts, Baseball with Normal Sized Heads Get 10s in Famitsu". Adriasang. March 21, 2012. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
  43. 1 2 Jackson, Leah (July 23, 2012). "Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Review for 3DS". G4. Archived from the original on March 11, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  44. 1 2 Bryan Vore (July 18, 2012). "Kingdom Hearts III is Coming: The Game". Game Informer . Archived from the original on August 20, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  45. 1 2 Mark Walton (July 27, 2012). "Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Review". GameSpot . Archived from the original on April 29, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
  46. ↑ "Kingdom Hearts 3D review". GamesRadar+. July 31, 2012. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  47. 1 2 "Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Review". GameTrailers. July 25, 2012. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  48. 1 2 Drake, Audrey (July 17, 2012). "Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Review". IGN. Archived from the original on July 22, 2013. Retrieved July 19, 2012.
  49. ↑ "Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance for Nintendo 3DS review". Nintendo Life. July 18, 2012. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  50. ↑ "Reviews". Nintendo Power . Vol. 281. August 2012. p. 78.
  51. ↑ "Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
  52. ↑ "Best RPGs of the Tokyo Game Show". RPG Land. October 3, 2011. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  53. ↑ "Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance hands-on (TGS)". RPG Land. September 16, 2012. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  54. ↑ Van Duine, Erren (September 18, 2011). "Kingdom Hearts 3D: Tokyo Game Show Hands-On". RPG Site. Archived from the original on September 23, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  55. ↑ "Famitsu's Most Wanted (Oct 16)". RPG Land. October 16, 2011. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  56. ↑ Scullion, Chris (December 31, 2011). "Games of 2012: 8. Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance". Official Nintendo Magazine. Archived from the original on June 2, 2013. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
  57. ↑ Drake, Audrey (April 13, 2012). "IGN Readers Vote: The Hottest 3DS Game of Summer". IGN. Archived from the original on August 16, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  58. ↑ "SQUARE ENIX E3 LINE-UP RECOGNIZED WITH TOP GAME INDUSTRY MEDIA AWARDS" (Press release). Square Enix. Archived from the original on July 5, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  59. ↑ "Kingdom Hearts 3D Tops the Charts". Adriasang. April 4, 2012. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
  60. ↑ "Kingdom Hearts 3D Sells 64% of Stock". Adriasang. April 6, 2012. Archived from the original on December 25, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
  61. ↑ "PSP Super Robot Wars Tops the Charts; Vita Drops to Four Digits". Adriasang. April 12, 2012. Archived from the original on December 25, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
  62. ↑ "Mario Party Leads Slow Post Golden Week Sales Period". Andrisang. May 16, 2012. Archived from the original on December 25, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  63. ↑ "Actually, Kingdom Hearts 3D Sold Over 200,000 Copies In The U.S." Siliconera. September 7, 2012. Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  64. ↑ Dunsmore, Kevin (January 14, 2015). "Get Ready to Play a New Kingdom Hearts Game in 2015". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  65. ↑ Wallace, Kimberly (September 15, 2015). "[Update] Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue Revealed For PS4". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on September 17, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  66. ↑ Donaldson, Alex (September 13, 2016). "Kingdom Hearts 2.8 to miss December, now out January 24th". VG247 . Archived from the original on September 14, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.