Kingdom Hearts 3DS: Dream Drop Distance
Simple Game Design Document
Version 1.0
Vicki Vega
victoria.vega@montserrat.edu
Section I - Game Overview
Game Concept
Feature Set
Genre
JRPG (Japanese Role Playing Game)
Target Audience
Everyone ages 10 and up
Game Flow Summary
Sora and Riku run around the maps of every world and move forward through the story by completing tasks given by the game
Look and Feel
Because this game takes elements of Final Fantasy and Disney, The worlds based on Disney films are a mix of cartoony designs and bright colors while still having an atmosphere of adventure and action. The worlds original to the story are more intense and sometimes even full of dread.
Project Scope
Number of locations: 12
Number of levels: 7
Number of NPC’s (Non-Player Character): about 60
Number of weapons: 15
Number of Dream Eater Types: 51
Number of treasure chests: 225 (Sora) 212 (Riku) 437 (Total)
Number of trophies: 18
Section II - Gameplay and Mechanics
Gameplay
Game Progression
Based on given Objectives
Mission/challenge Structure
Based on given Objectives
Puzzle Structure
Based on given Objectives
Objectives
What are the objectives of the game? To progress through the story by defeating Nightmare Dream Eaters and discovering Master Xehanort’s true intentions.
Play Flow
How does the game flow for the game player? With Flowmotion movement (an element new to the franchise), players can move around worlds at high speed and perform new attacks on top of the usual physical attacks and magic. The game’s story cutscenes guide the player through different areas of worlds and give context to the player’s next objective.
Mechanics
What are the rules to the game, both implicit and explicit. This is the model of the universe that the game works under. Think of it as a simulation of a world, how do all the pieces interact? This actually can be a very large section.
The rules are to use your given attacks to progress through the story. Interact with familiar characters from animated Disney films and for the first time, characters from The World Ends With You. Go through Dives to enter the worlds while fighting Nightmares and avoiding obstacles. When the game tells you an objective, the player must complete it in order to progress. Collect stronger Keyblades from each world to enhance your strength and be able to take down stronger foes. Level up in order to gain more abilities to evolve your attacks to make yourself stronger. With Drops, the player plays between Sora and Riku’s timeline in order to experience the story at a steady rate, unlike Birth By Sleep where the player had to play one storyline at the time. With your Spirit Dream Eaters as your partners, they can gain power to perform special attacks to aid you in battle. As you defeat enemies, you can collect Munny, HP (Health Point) orbs and Drop-Me-Not fragments to increase your drop drive (how long Sora or Riku stay awake until you have to switch), and Dream Pieces (used with recipes to create Spirit Dream Eaters).
Physics
How does the physical universe work? You can jump, climb, slide, and fly around each physical world’s environment based on the world’s elements that enable you to perform specific tasks that push you further through the game (for example, in Symphony of Sorcery Riku can jump on plants to fly into the air and walk along giant leaves to find an entrance to the next area.)
Movement
(please refer to video below)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3Sp8gEkIsU
Talking
(Cutscenes with voice acting)
Reading
Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance introduces Mementos and Chronicles. Mementos are cutscenes that explain small aspects of the story that are not entirely explained to the player in the beginning (i.e. Dream Eaters, The Mark of Mastery Exam, etc.) Chronicles are helpful for players who are not familiar with other games of the series; as you play through the game, you unlock Chronicles that tell players a summary of previous games so that they are not entirely lost of what’s going on in the story.
Combat
If there is combat or even conflict, how is this specifically modeled? When either Nightmare Dream Eaters or a boss appear in a world, Sora or Riku summon their keyblades. The battle is not turn based, so both the player and the enemy can used physical attacks or magic to inflict damage onto one another. Sora and Riku’s attacks that use MP (Magic Points) are limited, however, where when they use an MP based attack, the player must wait a short amount of time until the attack is usable again.
Economy
What is the economy of the game? How does it work? Whether you defeat enemies or sell items, Sora and Riku collect currency called Munny. Sora and Riku can use Munny to buy items.
Screen Flow
Screen Descriptions
Main Menu Screen
This is the first screen that appears when you start the game. You choose either New Game to begin the game from the beginning, or choose Continue to go back to a previous save file.
Options Screen
Within the game, when the player presses START on the 3DS they go to this menu, where they can upgrade or change Spirit Dream Eaters, change the attacks in their Command Deck, use items, enable or disable abilities, check game stats (like experience), read Reports (text that give some backstory to this game’s plot), configure game settings or watch Mementos/read Chronicles of previous games.
Game Options
What are the options and how do they affect game play and mechanics? You can choose what difficulty you want to play at. You can choose Beginner(easiest), Standard, Proud or Critical(hardest). With the 3DS’ new circle pad, you can decide whether to use the circle pad to move around, or the directional pad next to it.
Replaying and Saving
Cheats and Easter Eggs
While usual cheats that boost your powers can be achieved with cheat devices, one known cheat in-game is called a Wall Jump. In order to use this cheat, the player must stand near a wall and press the Y button to use the Flowmotion function. Then, you press the B button to jump during Flowmotion, then quickly press the Y button again. Press Y and B repeatedly while positioned against the wall and you’ll go higher up the wall. This can help to reach high up treasure chest, and can also access areas that the player cannot reach until after completing an objective.
As for Easter Eggs, with every Kingdom Hearts game has a secret ending. If you complete the criteria that the game expects you to uphold to (gaining every trophy, finding every treasure chest, etc.), then a secret ending will play once you complete the game. The secret endings usually hint at what is yet to come in the next game in the series.
Section III – Story, Setting and Character
Story and Narrative
Backstory
Following the events of the previous games, Sora and Riku must now take the Mark of Mastery exam where Master Yen Sid tests the two boys so they are ready for the battle against the main antagonist of the series, Master Xehanort. The boys are separated but sent to the same worlds previously restored where they must fight off Dream Eaters so that the restored worlds may resurface and be connected to other worlds.
Plot Elements
Elements stemming from previous games’ storylines
License Considerations
The Kingdom Hearts series is a crossover with characters from animated (and occasionally live action) Disney films. Although the series is a collaboration with Square Enix and Disney, Square Enix has to obtain copyrights of the movies they were using elements of in order to use them in-game.
Cutscenes
Cutscene #1 - Sora Meets Neku
Haley Joel Osment (Sora), Jesse David Corti (Neku Sakuraba)
When Sora first enters Traverse Town, he is surprised by his new outfit. After realizing he landed in a familiar world, he calls out for Riku, only to meet a new friend instead.
Game World
General look and feel of world
Area #1
First District (Traverse Town)
General Description
The main area of Traverse Town.
Physical Characteristics
Shops, a restaurant, an underground tunnel leading to Traverse Town’s mail routes, and many doors leading to other areas.
Levels that use area
Traverse Town
Connections to other areas
Each district lead to other districts
Characters
Sora
Backstory
15 year old boy who lived on an island with his friends Riku and Kairi. One day his world was overtaken by darkness and he was separated from his friends. He ends up in a world called Traverse Town where he learns that he has the power to wield a Keyblade, a mysterious weapon that he uses to solve the mysteries of other worlds. He is accompanied by Donald Duck and Goofy, loyal subjects of Disney Castle who are searching for their ruler King Mickey. Together they travel to many worlds, facing many enemies and making new friends while trying to search for Riku and Kairi. After much hardship, Sora, Riku and Kairi reunite a year later to fight together.
Personality
Sora is an optimistic and outgoing teenager. He does his best to see the good in everyone, but doesn’t take enemies lightly. He is very friendly and supportive, yet can be quite naïve at times.
Look
Physical characteristics
Brown spiky hair, blue eyes, lightly tanned skin. While Sora is 15 years old in real world time, he reverts back to his 14 year old body in the dream verse where most of the game takes place.
Special Abilities
Sora wields the power of the keyblade, and all the magic and abilities that goes along with it.
Relevance to game story
Sora is a main character of the series. He is the protagonist in every Kingdom Hearts game excluding Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days(The protagonist is Roxas) and Birth By Sleep(The protagonists are Ventus, Aqua and Terra).
Relationship to other characters
Sora is a longtime best friend of Riku, the other playable character. Sora is also close to Kairi, the girl seen in the secret ending of the game who has also been relevant to the main storyline since Kingdom Hearts began. He also made friendships with many Disney characters, especially Donald Duck, Goofy, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, etc.
Statistics
Depends on Sora’s in-game level
Character #2
Riku
Backstory
16 year old boy who lived on an island with his friends Sora and Kairi. One day his world was overtaken by darkness and he was separated from his friends. Riku was originally supposed to wield the Keyblade, but because he accepted darkness into his heart, the Keyblade “went down the list” and chose Sora instead. He ends up in a world called Hollow Bastion where he meets the evil witch Maleficent. While Riku tries to reconnect with Sora, Maleficent manipulates him and makes him believe Sora no longer cares for him. Riku and Sora are pitted against each other for awhile, but when things became grim Riku found out the hard way that his actions had consequences. A year later, Sora and Riku are finally able to reconcile and fight alongside one another along with their friend, Kairi, who had recently discovered her ability to wield a Keyblade.
Personality
Riku is almost the exact opposite of Sora. While still friendly, he is very serious and stern. However, unlike Sora, he’s not foolish. Riku learned from his past mistakes to become stronger. Behind his tough demeanor, he cares for his friends very much and would gladly risk his life to keep them safe, like he has already done a few number of times.
Look
Physical characteristics
Short silver spiky hair, light blue eyes. While Riku is 16 years old in real world time, he reverts back to his 15 year old body in the dream verse where most of the game takes place.
Special Abilities
Riku wields the power of the keyblade, and all the magic and abilities that goes along with it.
Relevance to game story
Riku is a main character of the series. While important to the storyline, Dream Drop Distance is the fourth game where he is a playable character (Chain of Memories and its PS2 remake are the first games where Riku is playable, Riku was temporarily playable in Kingdom Hearts II during the final boss battle, and Riku is playable in the Multiplayer Mode of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days).
Relationship to other characters
Riku is a longtime best friend of Sora, the other playable character. Riku is also close to Kairi, but not as much as she is to Sora.
Statistics
Depends on Riku’s in-game level
Section IV – Levels
Training Level?
The player is introduced to basic fighting and magic casting with a battle against a Phantom version of Ursula the sea witch from The Little Mermaid.
Level #1 - Entering Traverse Town
Synopsis
This is Sora’s first time to Traverse Town in this game, though he has been to Traverse Town in previous games.
Introductory Material
Sora first “Dives” into Traverse Town, then the game goes to a cutscene where Sora realizes he has been reverted to his 14 year old self, as well as changed clothes. Sora calls out for Riku, but is instead greeted by a new face, Neku. Neku talks to Sora about the Game, a subject brought over to Dream Drop Distance from Neku’s original game The World Ends with You. Neku says he is looking for his Game Partner, but is surprised when Sora says he wishes to help him. Neku shows off his Flowmotion skills, prompting the player to take a tutorial on how to use the new Flowmotion element.
Objectives
Help the Players from TWEWY reunite with their Game Partners.
Physical Description
A Victorian-like town made up of five districts. This is a world that many people go to when their world is lost. However, some people have somehow found their way to other worlds. It’s a pretty standard looking town that houses many friendly residents, but also monsters.
Map
(Sora)
(Riku)
Encounters
Characters from The World Ends with You, Young Xehanort (main antagonist), Nightmare Dream Eaters, Julius (secret boss).
Level Walkthrough
see previous video
Closing Material
Joshua, a TWEWY character who is not a Player but the creator of the Reaper’s Game, builds two more districts in Traverse Town and helps the Players reunite with their Game Partners. He also gives good advice to Sora and Riku before they depart.
Section V - Interface
Visual System
HUD - What controls
Menus
see above
Camera
Can be adjusted in game/follows the player in 3rd person
Control System
How does the game player control the game? What are the specific commands? Circle Pad Pro/Directional Pad controls Sora and Riku’s movement, while the ABXY buttons trigger actions such as interacting with objects, using attacks, and using Flowmotion.
Audio
Dream Drop Distance includes animated cutscenes where the characters have voice actors.
Music
Composed mainly by Yoko Shimomura, the game features music where the original worlds have their own distinct tune while the Disney worlds have music based on the soundtracks of their respected films.
Sound Effects
Based on individual worlds. Original worlds have more realistic sounds while most of the Disney worlds’ sound effects are more cartoony.
Help System
Config menu in the in-game main menu
Section VI - Artificial Intelligence
Opponent AI
Opponent AIs trigger battle music and force Sora and Riku into a battle position.
Enemy AI
Nightmare Dream Eaters and various bosses
Non-combat Characters
Supporting characters
Friendly Characters
TWEWY cast, non-villainous Disney characters, the protagonists
Support AI
Spirit Dream Eaters
Player and Collision Detection
The game recognizes when the player is against an enemy or on a triggering device that causes an event.
Pathfinding
If you walk down the wrong entryway while you’re playing within the story, sometimes the game will give you hints that you are going in the wrong direction.
Section VII – Technical
This may be abbreviated with most in the Technical Bible.
Dream Drop Distance is developed by the Square Enix 1st Production Department and distributed by Disney Interactive Studios. It runs on an improved game engine from previous games Birth By Sleep and Re:Coded.
Section VIII – Game Art
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