Tue 31 Jul '12
Keys to the Kingdom: A Kingdom Hearts 3D Primer
Before going the Dream Drop Distance, read this!
Disney and Final Fantasy - who would have thought that combining these two universes would be the peanut butter-meets-chocolate of action RPGs? It boggles the mind a little bit to think that a strange hybrid game like Kingdom Hearts has not only been around for ten years, but has also spawned seven games, the latest of which is today's Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance for the Nintendo 3DS.
What's Going On? - Considering that the franchise has seven games spread across nearly as many consoles, it can be a bit difficult to keep up with the endless body-switching, heart transplants and black-clad Keyblade-wielding characters. The new game finds Sora and Riku fighting new enemies known as "Dream Eaters" while undergoing a "Mark of Mastery" exam in order to become Keyblade Masters, which will let them prevent the nefarious Master Xenoheart's return. Sounds confusing? Fortunately, someone put together this handy visual aid to help you navigate Sora and Riku's sprawling backstory.
A Whole New World - Let's face it - one of the primary appeals of the Kingdom Hearts franchise is the various themed worlds that the game lets you explore. Kingdom Hearts 3D promises to take players to new worlds inspired by the likes of Fantasia, Tron: Legacy, The Three Musketeers and Hunchback of Notre Dame, as well as old favorites like Traverse Town. Honestly, we'll be happy as long as they never resort to an Epcot Center-themed level.
Why Should I Care? - It's a good question, especially since many fans are waiting for the games to make their triumphant return to a major console like PS3, but unlike other entries, KH3D seems to take its gameplay and design cues from Kingdom Hearts II rather than some of it's card-based predecessors. With the Pokemon-esque breeding aspect to the Dream Eaters, the impressive handheld graphics of the 3DS and tons of new worlds to explore, it's worth picking up for fans of the series both new and old. It may not be like riding Space Mountain with Sephiroth, but it's at least as good as riding Big Thunder Mountain with Edea Kramer, which in this Disney/Square Enix metaphor is pretty darn good.
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