SQEX.INFO have completely translated these impressions, which you can check out below.
Abruptly Climatic! The opening movie flowed well, but it became suddenly climatic! Least that’s how I felt, the opener is a high end movie made up of memorable scenes from the past series. There was a digest of scenes so far, but from here the condensed content begins. Just seeing Roxas, Axel, and Xion from 358/2 Days appear one after another in a high end rendered scene, I didn’t want to cry, but… Moreover, that’s not where it ends. On the bottom screen, the silhouette of King Mickey is moving about. The movements of the King on the bottom screen are linked to the top screen! …If I write anymore about it, I’ll end up spoiling you, so be excited when you see it for yourself. It’s really cool!
Now, about the action. From the start, the character you operate is Sora. One of the new elements introduced in this title is the “Free Flow Action” ability that lets you swirl around poles. This sort of high speed action is really fun! Thanks to the inhuman action, you can get to the rooftops with ease where there are treasure boxes. The Free Flow Action is not only refreshing, but the fun of being able to search the field is very reminiscent of the series from the first Kingdom Hearts to Birth by Sleep. And when you are playing, you can switch your operating character to Riku. Sora’s attacks provide big action, in comparison Riku’s smart moves make defeating enemies a breeze!
Continuing, there is a strange element called Link Portal that appears. It seems with Street Pass communication, the information of the people you pass by will be displayed on your bottom screen. This time when I played, I passed “Jiminy”, “Tidas”, and “Cecil”. Like with The World Ends With You, it seems that you can have fake encounters with computer characters. Incidentally, the names of the characters you encounter appear on the bottom screen. If you touch their names, you can fight together with your friend’s Dream Eaters and initiate a battle where you defeat enemies within a time limit. Other than that, it seems there are various hidden elements within this title.
Sorry for not mentioning the climax of the opening movie! Of course, there is much, much more to look forward to in this chapter of the series!
The Opener Made Me Cry!
In this title, you’ll be able to switch off playing between the main characters Sora and Riku while adventuring to Disney worlds. When the game begins, you are immediately tossed into battle while you can become accustomed to the game play little by little. The tutorial seems more courteous than the prior titles. I was relieved that even though this game operates on the Nintendo 3DS and has a new system, it was easy to get into.
Since a large number of enemies appear during battle Sora and Riku struggle against them more so than in the previous titles, it feels great to take pleasure in defeating the enemies! By the way, I noticed that since Tokyo Game Show last Fall, the difficulties of the “Free Flow Action” ability had been taken out. Still, a little experience is required. Invoking commands during battle comes naturally, like the Reality Shift ability and the other systems unique to this title. The mood of the title is like, “You can have a lot of fun just by invoking all the action.” It’s refreshing like the series usually is, but the result is something that can be relished over and over again.
From there, let’s talk about the friendly creatures that will be participating together with you in battle. To be honest, when I’m in battle I’m too busy worrying about myself, so I didn’t really know what my partners were doing, but during their leveling up part I involuntarily let out a giggle at their cuteness. You can pet them with the touch pad, give them a training toy to play with, give them a snack… Whenever you do that, they either react happily or grumpily, their own individual personalities shine through, tightening my heart like they were my own babies. Like explained on page 47 of this issue, you can make your own Dream Eaters and name them, so they become very dear to you.
Lastly, right after you turn the game on, the opening movie begins to play if you leave it on the title screen. I had mistakenly thought, “Isn’t the series going to end with this title?” and that the result was astonishing. Honestly, just watching it, I cried remembering all the things from the travels up until now! For the fans, above all please watch this opener closely! It’ll really get to you.
Update 3: We now have extremely large, high quality scans of the Kingdom Hearts 3D article from Famitsu Weekly. These were scanned and uploaded by KH13.com. Enjoy. *Keep in mind that once you are on the gallery page, you can click again to make them even bigger. These are VERY large scans.*
Update 2: A more extensive translation/impressions have appeared online thanks to SQEX.INFO. You can read this below.
It appears that along with Axel (Lea), Xaldin (Dilan), Lexaeus (Aeleus), Even (Vexen), and Ienzo (Zexion) return to their human form at Radiant Garden. Axel is shown wondering about the others who haven’t reappeared like Xigbar(Braig) and Saix (Isa). Other screenshots show Sora and Riku as Yen Sid informs them about the journey they about to set out on for their Mark of Mastery exam. Restoring “those who are asleep within their sadness” is the key to passing. On the same page, Young Master Xehanort is shown taunting Riku about the darkness in his heart and in one screenshot saying, “You were the one I chose from the beginning.”
Sora and Riku meet Sam Flynn, Quorra, and Kevin Flynn on The Grid, where they connive against Clu who has taken an interest in the Keyblade. Sora searches for the whereabouts of Tron and faces Rinzler in a battle. Riku is also shown fighting a boss resembling a mantis which uses a quick spinning attack as well as an attack that depletes the Drop Gauge. Meanwhile, Young Xehanort and Ansem appear, apparently taunting Sora. Riku also mentions that anyone has the capability of bringing Ansem into being.
Two new Reality Shift commands are introduced. The “Code Breaker” command takes place in The Grid. To invoke this attack, you must touch on the correct red words in the right order on the bottom screen to break the code that releases an attack. The other is called “Fantasmic” that takes place in the Fantasia world of Symphony of Sorcery. This attack is invoked by touching music notes on the bottom screen similar to the mini games in the previous Little Mermaid worlds.
Evil Eye Owl (ガンミ・ワクロウ)
It’s weak point is it’s wings.
Snail Cargot (デンデン・カルゴ)
It’s protective shell is very defensive; when it is utilized it is impenetrable no matter how many times you hit it.
Swift Giraffe (イダテン・キリン)
This Spirit Dream Eater grants Riku lightning fast attacks with it’s Link Action ability Thunder Storm.
Opake Pierrot (オパケ・ピエロ)
This Spirit Dream Eater resembles a clownish figure reminiscent of Quina from Final Fantasy IX. It’s Link Attack is called Ghost Vacuum which helps in prize/drop collection.
Scissor Beetle (ハサミ・クワガタ)
This Spirit Dream Eater resembles a stag beetle. The Link Action attack that it utilizes with Sora is called Drop Shot. With it, you can aim and trap your enemies to deal log range damage.
Bat Bat (コウモリ・バット)
This familiar Spirit Dream Eater’s Link Action attack is called Dark Fierce and when it combines it’s powers with Riku, it has a confusing and HP draining effect.
The article goes on to explain the breeding of Dream Eaters. By collecting ingredients and recipes, you’ll be able to create and name your Spirit Dream Eaters. Also depending on the ingredients you use, the special abilities associated with the Dream Eater can be customized. In the article example, they create a Wondernyan with the Slide Dash command. Other details related in the article explain how to edit your command deck as well as the different abilities associated with the Dream Eaters. For instance, the Dream Eaters gain status abilities like HP Up as they level up which can be equipped to instantly effect the character you play as.
Update 1: Pavlovic Sarah from KH13 has translated parts of the article. You can read this below.
Yen Sid: You have chosen the journey that will lead you on a mission to become Keyblade Masters.
Yen Sid: I will have you go back to Destiny Islands, as it was when it was swallowed by darkness and sleeping. The two are given an explanation about the Mark of Mastery. Someone who is sleeping in sorrow will become the key.
The face that is reflected in the mirror is...
Lea: Ah... I am back to my human form...
Beings who are without a Heart, “Nobodies”, and the Org. XIII. Their members are back as humans... Are their names and figure also as before!?
Unknown: Dilan, Aeleus, Even, Ienzo...
Lea (Axel) is searching for Braig (Xigbar), Isa (Saïx) and the others, who are not to be found yet, but...
Lea: Maybe they are still not back in the castle...
When he says “Happy-go-lucky boy”, he is talking about Sora, isn't he? It seems he was told about Sora by someone.
Unknown: Just as I heard it... you are a happy-go-lucky boy.
A scene where he seems to talk to Riku. He is talking like he is well aware of the darkness in Riku's heart.
Unknown: You are still afraid of the darkness.
Riku: So you're saying that anyone is able to give birth to Ansem...
The Silver-Haired-Boy and Xemnas!?
Silver-Haired-Boy: You do not even know where you are...
In this world, the mysterious boy appeared. Xemnas appears also!? Is this the real one or...
Xemnas: You are the choosen one.
Tron guy: You just have to touch the source a little bit to overwrite the whole character.
Top and bottom are upside down, even the operations/control are disordered.
In the battle with Rinzler, the gravity operation is disordered and top and bottom are upside down as well! At this time, the control becomes upside down as well.
The Reality Shift, Sora to Riku's unique technique, differs from world to world. The Reality Shift of The Grid, “Code Break”, is taking place in the lower screen where specific characters (the code) are shown and when touched, you can hack enemies and fixed forts in the upper screen.
Depending on the code combination, you can let the enemies change sides/put back them to sleep, force them to release prizes, etc. The Symphony of Sorcery: Fantasia is introduced too. Touching and sliding the ♪ as indicated, a firework is launched and the enemies are attacked.
You have to touch the “MOVING” and “SPARK”. In this case the “SWITCH” above is a miss-code.
The [MOVING SPARK] enables you to manipulate enemies to one's benefit, optionally, you can induce a big explosion.
The beautiful co-acting of sound and firework
“Drop Prizes” obtained by killing enemies on this occasion can be chanced for points. Using these points you can temporary manipulate the character as you want after they changed places, rising their ability or obtaining comands, items etc.
A forecast event for the present worlds' future.
After the event of changing places, items are easier to obtain and rare enemies are more likely to appear. Under this circumstances the state of the world and tendency alternate every time. The world displayed in the lower screen is the forecast for the worlds future, check it out.
You gan give them names!
You have to raise them from the very beginning, love and care for them. The Dream Eaters affinity with their friends and their learned ability can be shared with Sora & Riku.
The slots for the equipment increase as you advance through the game.
As expected, this week's issue of Famitsu Weekly magazine contained an article on Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. The article, which releases on February 23, 2012, mostly focuses on Radiant Garden and The Grid, the characters within those worlds, and also some information about Dream Eaters. ArikaMiz has scanned parts of this article, and you can see these scans below, in our gallery.
[removed due to HQ scans above]
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