Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance - Mark of Mastery Edition

About

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance - Mark of Mastery Edition is an action RPG for the Nintendo 3DS. Players guide Sora and Riku through seven restored worlds trapped in deep sleep, battling Dream Eaters, dark creatures targeting Keyholes. The game blends real-time combat with menu-based strategy, using the 3DS’s touch screen for commands and stereoscopic 3D for environments. Progress hinges on recruiting Spirit Dream Eaters as allies while fending off Nightmares, unlocking new abilities and weapons as challenges escalate. The Mark of Mastery Edition includes a 3DS protector case, twelve art cards, and AR cards to unlock in-game content. While the English version lacks some Japan-only features, it offered Western players exclusive physical rewards. The game holds an 82 on Metacritic and a 4.2/5 user average, praised for its 3DS hardware integration and deep combat. Collectors value the edition for its tactile extras, despite its shorter regional release window.

Storyline

Following the destruction of Ansem and Xemnas at the hands of Sora and Riku, Xehanort is revived. In response, Yen Sid puts Sora and Riku through a Mark of Mastery exam in order for them to become full-fledged Keyblade Masters and counter the coming return of Master Xehanort. As part of this trial, the two are separated from each other and sent to worlds previously destroyed by the Heartless that have since been restored, though now in a state of "deep sleep" which disconnects them from the other worlds. These seven worlds are plagued by Dream Eaters — creatures born from darkness that seek out the sleeping worlds' Keyholes. Sora and Riku's given task is to reawaken the sleeping worlds by unlocking the seven Keyholes they find there and then return to the realm of light, recruiting benevolent "Spirit" Dream Eaters to guide them and battle the malevolent "Nightmare" Dream Eaters, after which they will be deemed Keyblade Masters.