Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance - Collector's Edition

by Square Enix

• The Mark of Mastery Edition includes the KINGDOM HEARTS 3D [Dream Drop Distance] game package, five (5) AR cards, 12 art cards, and a special KINGDOM HEARTS 10th Anniversary 3DS protector case, all in a premium custom box
• Dual protagonists - Play as the two most popular characters of the franchise, Sora and Riku
• "Free-flow" action - Enjoy fast and effortless movements while interacting with the environment and performing acrobatic attacks
• Brand-new creatures - Dream Eaters inhabit the Sleeping Worlds, and are split into two categories: Spirits and Nightmares. Recruit over 50 different types of Spirits as allies to fight alongside Sora and Riku

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0083CJ2X8
• Item Weight: 8.3 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: July 31, 2012
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,526 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #13 in Video Games > Nintendo 3DS > Games > Role-Playing

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

GAME OVERVIEW

In preparation for an impending threat, Sora and Riku enter the Sleeping Worlds to take the Mark of Mastery exam. They will face new enemies and make new friends in worlds they've never set foot in. If they can successfully unlock seven Sleeping Keyholes and return to their world, they will retrieve a great power and be deemed true Keyblade Masters.

Product Description

KINGDOM HEARTS 3D [Dream Drop Distance] is the latest entry in the beloved collaboration between Disney Interactive Studios and Square Enix, which has shipped over 17 million units worldwide. In this much-awaited follow-up to KINGDOM HEARTS II, players take control of both Sora and Riku as they look to become Keyblade Masters. The adventure will take them through Disney worlds never before seen in the series, and new gameplay features will elevate the acclaimed KINGDOM HEARTS experience to new heights.

 

The Mark of Mastery Edition Includes:

• Kingdom of Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] game package, five (5) AR cards, 12 art cards, and a special KINGDOM HEARTS 10th Anniversary 3DS protector case, all in a premium custom box.

Key Features

• The Mark of Mastery Edition includes the Kingdom of Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] game package, five (5) AR cards, 12 art cards, and a special KINGDOM HEARTS 10th Anniversary 3DS protector case, all in a premium custom box.
• Players will alternate taking control of the two most popular characters of the series, Sora and Riku.
• Creatures called Dream Eaters inhabit the Sleeping Worlds, and are split into two categories: Spirits and Nightmares. There are over 50 types of Spirits that can become allies and fight alongside Sora and Riku.
• Spirits can be bred and nurtured, and will help Sora and Riku learn new commands and abilities.
• From La Cité des Cloches (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) to The Grid (TRON: Legacy), every Disney world that Sora and Riku will visit is new to the series.
• Players can use their environment to perform Flowmotion: fast and effortless movements that can be tied to powerful finishing moves.
• Players can activate Reality Shift under certain conditions and execute various attacks by responding to Touch Screen commands. Each world will have a unique Reality Shift.
• Players can challenge others to Flick Rush matches, or use StreetPass to trade Link Portals, in which special combat challenges can be set or Spirits can be temporarily lent to other players.

View larger

View larger

View larger

View larger

Product Description

King Mickey and Yen Sid prepare for an impending threat by putting Sora and Riku through the Mark of Mastery exam. Sora and Riku are sent into the Sleeping Worlds, where they will face enemies and allies that have never been seen before. If they can successfully complete the task they are given, they will be deemed true Keyblade Masters. The Mark of Mastery Edition includes the KINGDOM HEARTS 3D [Dream Drop Distance] game package, five (5) AR cards, 12 art cards, and a special KINGDOM HEARTS 10th Anniversary 3DS protector case, all in a premium custom box

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best Kingdom Hearts games yet July 31, 2012

By Samuel Havron

Amazon Verified Purchase

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] is an amazing game in nearly every way. There are a whole lot of things to do while on your adventure, and the worlds are large and full of places to explore.

The story is still as complicated as usual, but it's a great one that really sets the tone for Kingdom Hearts 3. If you've never played a Kingdom Hearts game before (or just need a refresh on the story), this game has cutscenes and readable reports that fill you in from the very beginning.

New gameplay elements to the series, such as flowmotion and the drop system, are intuitive and really make the game great. Flowmotion makes moving on the field, whether in battle or not, a much easier and more enjoyable experience. The drop system is a clever pacing tool that keeps you interested in both Sora and Riku's respective stories throughout the game. In addition, the command board and abilities make a welcome return here.

In battle, Sora and Riku have partners that are creatures called spirits, and they are one of the two types of Dream Eaters. There are over 50 different kinds of spirits, and as such they are quite varied in size, shape, and fluffiness. There are a lot of things you can do with a spirit that influences their stats and even their affection for Sora or Riku; for instance, you can pet, feed, and play with them in similar vein to the Nintendogs games.

The second type of Dream Eater is called a nightmare; the various types of nightmares are Sora and Riku's main enemy throughout the game. Depending on the difficulty level you choose at the beginning of the game, nightmares can be easy or more difficult to defeat....

The sound system in the game is noticeably more high spirited and festive than other entries in the series, but this is not a bad thing. Classic Kingdom Hearts tracks such as Hand in hand and Dearly Beloved make a return, while new songs still keep to the original feel of the games. My personal favorite track in the game is Traverse in Trance.

Overall, Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] is clearly one of the series' best, and one of my all time favorite video games. Read more ›

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars KH: DDD Collector's Edition : Small Package, Big Value July 31, 2012

By A.S.

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

!!! *Note* : This review will address only the contents/packaging of the Mark of Mastery collector's edition. It will discuss it in detail. Reviews strictly pertaining to gameplay experience can be found under the standard edition. !!!

In the days leading up to the launch of this title, there was a fervor over finding these collector's editions. At the time of this review, still not much is known of the "limited" distribution of these editions. Their retail value approximated around $54-60 dollars - but chances are, as /you're/ looking at this page, finding them in retail is possibly next to impossible and the cost to your pocket double, triple, or quadruple. The question is: Is it worth it?

The Mark of Master edition is 7" tall, 5 1/2" wide, and 3" deep. The outer cover is a plastic paper sleeve over a black, magnetic box. The interior of this box is beautifully decorated, both the front and back cover separate pieces of artwork. It definitely feels like something special as you open it up. To see it, though, you first have to remove the paper boxing holding the edition's contents.

The left box panel holds the Dream Drop Distance game, which is no different than any other standard edition of the game. Underneath it, in a clear plastic wrapper, are the 5 AR cards(+). The right box panel holds a decorated, black envelope (made of a thick, poster board material) that contains 12 single art prints. One thing I noted is that this envelope is "loose", a flaps-fold-and-hold-in-place type, which if not handled expectantly could send the prints spilling out of your hands. Underneath it, packaged in a clear plastic wrapper, is the 3DS case.

The 3DS case is clear acrylic, except for the Kingdom Hearts branding.... I was a bit skeptical just how well this would hold up, but I am very pleased with it! I had no problem snapping it onto my 3DS, and it looks and feels beautiful. The case does not cover buttons it shouldn't, or intrude in the function of the 3DS in any way. This case, fans can be proud of. The only thing I wondered was how well it shows up on the black 3DS - given that the artwork on it is inked black, also.

At $54, this bundle is an absolute steal, and I highly recommend it to fans and newcomers to the series alike. I've been a fan of this series since the first game, and grew up with its later installations. But even I was a bit speculative about how the reality would hold up to the anticipation - and can say, whole heartedly, it is worth its value.
HOWEVER - I would begin to disagree if the pricing is double, triple or quadruple its initial pricing. Collector's Editions are expected to inflate, however, I would urge the buyer to consider the contents of this bundle when looking at the posted prices. The art cards, while gorgeous and of good quality, are not packaged as an art book but as single prints and are, largely, well known and iconic images from the series. The AR cards can actually be searched online and scanned from a computer screen using your 3DS. The real value of this bundle, in my opinion, is the case... which, for all I love it, /is/ only a plastic case, if Kingdom Hearts branded.

I don't discourage anyone from purchasing this bundle, as for any fan of this series this edition can have /great/ personal value. But I would advise considering some points before deciding just how far you dip into your pocket.

(+)At the time of this review, some customers of this edition had reported their MoM editions being packaged with 3 AR cards instead of 5. Square Enix has apparently acknowledged this problem, and may be offering a solution for these missing AR cards, though nothing has been confirmed yet. Purchasers of this edition down the line may want to keep this in mind, given that the extra two AR cards /were/ an incentive over preordering the standard edition (which got you the 3 v. 5).
Solutions to this problem have also been presented by finding scans of these cards online - which may be something potential buyers wants to /also/ keep in mind, given that the AR cards are one of the main incentives of this bundle, and after launch possibly the only way to obtain them if you didn't preorder. I consider it something to think about, that one of the "features" of a collector's edition can be so easily replaced online... for free. Read more ›

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have for KH collectors and fans August 1, 2012

By CJ

Amazon Verified Purchase

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

I pre-ordered the Mark of Mastery in late June when I GameStop sold out of all the pre-orders for it. I actually had the pre-order on the original game and not the collector's edition at first when news broke out about the game itself. I got the package yesterday and started playing with the game. The game comes with the 5 AR cards, 12 art cards, a beautiful but simple clear case and an awesome box with beautiful details inside and out.

The Package:

The outside package and box are clean and well detailed. I always like the little detailing work because it shows great understanding to the details. The inside of the box is wonderful when you take the white frames that hold the game, AR cards, art cards and the case you can enjoy the art work inside of the box which is a nice touch.

The 5 AR cards:
1 card is like a platform for your dream eaters so they don't wonder off
1 card has the one out of three special dreameaters
1 card has the R & R seal
1 card has another rare dreameater Frootz Cat
1 card has another dreameater that can be chosen at random

The 12 Art cards span from the beginning of series artwork from both North America and Japan showing the different games Japan had that apparently didn't "always" transfer over to North America which are often the Final Mix editions of the game unless you imported the Japanese edition.

The clear case is actually pretty nice. I know some people or reviews saw the case and thought it looked cheap (I did too.) The clear case is pretty functional (I already dropped the system with the case on which I thought would shatter into tiny pieces making me extremely upset but did not) and stylish too. Not adding too much bulk to the system (unless you got the XL this case won't fit).... The clear case helps give your "normal size" 3DS a nice cover and dependable what color you picked pops out the details.

You're probably thinking why should I still shell out $54.99 (or more now that is sold out from many places)? It's the first collector's edition for the Kingdom Hearts series and for the 3DS system as well as if you are a hardcore fan this should NOT be a miss opportunity. Overall, I can understand it is expensive but it is worth it.

The Game:

Storyline
Not going to spoil the plot but to put it simple Sora and Riku are off to do the Mark of Mastery test to become true keyblade masters. The story gives a similar plot of light vs. dark, power in friendship and the simple belief in believing in oneself as well as trust. However, the storyline doesn't just drag its feet with the saturation of its symbolism and controlling two very different characters with two different POV (point of view). It's very refreshing two see the world and eyes through another character that isn't as similar to Sora besides Birth by Sleep (even though Ventus reminds me of Roxas hence Sora.) The plot is well written and gives interesting twists and turns to Sora and Riku making the player wanting more.

Gamplay
When you first start out you get to chose Beginner, Standard or Proud (Easy, Medium, or Hard). I picked Proud and it should really say "this level of combat they will kick your butt if you are not prepared." You could also use the pro-circle pad to help the gameplay (but I don't own one so I can say much about it.)

Flow motion is a great feature to the game and I enjoyed it very much when running away from Nightmares (evil dream eaters). Flow motion for combat is a tad harder to control making it a tad spotty at time especially when you are trying to switch lock-ons. It's still fun to interact with the environment even if some parts of it doesn't offer the flow motion control and can limit it. I found out the hard way when I wanted to leap to one wall to another and it didn't stick.

Command deck made its return from Birth by Sleep which I actually enjoyed and I am happy it's there. The command deck options however are based on your dream eater partners aka "Spirits." It's important to know to take good care of your Spirits by making them happy by either petting them or playing mini games with you. Why? Your Spirit's happiness can open different levels or passage ways for new commands and "Link Points" help unlock the different abilities. "Link Points" are earned by petting your Spirits or by the minigames. It sounds complicated but playing with your Spirits (it felt very similar to Nintendogs minus the walking, feeding and bathing part) quite enjoyable. The command deck itself depends on the X button and the A button to do a simple attack with the Y button being the jump kick for the flow motion controls and the B button as the simple jump.

Spirits are your main ally against the Nightmares and replace your previous amigos Donald Duck and Goofy. You can also personalize your dream eaters by giving them new names besides the default ones. You are allowed to have 2 Spirits as part of your main team and a 3rd on stand-by for you to switch them through the touch screen.(I am going to assume you got the Mastery edition.) You already have a pretty small but very powerful allies. However you can get recipes to create new Dream Eaters with the different "dream parts." The "dream parts" are similar to the material in previous games of combining two dream parts to make a Dream Eater and the more dream parts you put into your Spirit the more powerful rank and level it becomes. Two ways of getting the recipes are through contests or by treasure chests. The contests are fighting tournaments or Flick Rush earning trophies and medals which can exchanged for command deck actions, dream parts or recipes of dream eaters. Spirits also link with you to increase damage against the Nightmares. Spirit 'Link' is possible when you Spirit is able to make a successful blow to the enemy shown by a pink bar underneath the green bar which is the health. The Link can happen with one Spirit or with both Spirits making a nice combo attack.

Mini-games are a must in the Dream Drop Distance. It breaks ups the action part of game while still leaving you satisfied about accomplishing either Happiness for your Spirits or getting the special material item to make a powerful ally. Some of the mini games are in the form of 'toys' to help train your Spirits and give them Link Points to help expand your deck. Flick Rush is also equally fun mini game to see your Spirit in action against others either through Wifi or computers.

Reality Shifts is used to stop time and either sling shot or shoot an object or Nightmare at other Nightmares or surroundings. It uses the touch screen nicely and helps the player out by taking out multiple Nightmares.

Dropping between characters. When I mean drop, I mean the characters falling asleep and switching between Riku and Sora. Drop can be performed either by the time limit due to damage or drop by pushing the start button. Either way, it gives the game character and gives meaning to the title dream drop distance where the sleeping world are dreaming and you are dropping between each character.

Camera
The camera can be your friend or enemy. The controls to the camera is the left and right bumper or trigger whatever term you prefer or the top left or right buttons. During combat the camera often well doesn't help you too much with you controlling its every move or sometimes forget controlling it. Of course to recenter the camera by pressing the left button twice or the right button twice. It's not horrible like Epic Mickey (which made me extremely frustrated especially since it was a really good game) but it could be a little more refine.

Characters

Since there are not going to be any Final Fantasy characters besides the Moogles. The characters from The World Ends with You appear as well as classic and modern Disney characters.
The voice actors for the Disney characters are excellent and spot on as well as the Kingdom Heart characters as well. I am in the middle with certain voice actors for The World Ends with You as some are able to pull it off such as Beat and others leave me wondering. Still it is a very solid voice acting cast.

Graphics

The beginning movie (before you start the actual game) shows the systems amazing capabilities for the 3DS and afterwards giving a smooth look to the characters. The graphics are lovely and very detailed from the backgrounds to the characters themselves.
3D or 2D? 3D is a must while watching the cut scenes with the characters interactions and playing with your Spirits. 3D combat wise it might leave you with a headache (in my opinion it does.) I would suggest 2D or small 3D for the combat because it is very fast pace and camera situation can confuse you at where you are and your Spirits.

Overall, I would really give this game a 4 and a half stars because it does have a few flaws but if you are a collector to the KH series this is a must buy. The whole package I would give an A- because it's pretty good for some of the items but the price can leave a parent questioning whether or not getting this for their kid to mess it up. The game itself I would give an A from its wonderful storyline, characters, and graphics. Read more ›