The Grid

The Grid is a sleeping world that is featured in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. It is based on the Disney film, , and is one of two worlds to be based on the Tron franchise, alongside Space Paranoids.

Locations
The world's playable areas include Tron City, the Disc Arena, the Light Cycle Grid, the Solar Sailer, The Rectifier, and the Portal to the Real World.

Development
The Grid was originally intended to be playable only for Riku, while Sora would visit the "original Tron World". Nomura instead scrapped this idea and had both Sora and Riku visit The Grid.

Between Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts
Sometime after Terra-Xehanort's descent into darkness, his Heartless, Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, attacked many worlds, including The Grid, and swallowed them into the darkness. Though it was restored after Sora defeated Ansem and purged the End of the World, The Grid remained in a state of deep sleep instead of returning to the Realm of Light, plagued by Nightmare Dream Eaters.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
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To make sense, Sora's part comes first, since Rinzler is recaptured following his defeat, clearing this plothole.

Sora lands in this world and, by recognizing his clothes, believes to be back in Space Paranoids. He spots a Recognizer and chases after it. Soon, several Black Guards attempt to arrest him, thinking him to be a stray program, but he escapes. He soon runs into Rinzler and they prepare to fight, but Rinzler suddenly leaves. Sora then introduces himself to Kevin Flynn, his son Sam, and an ISO named Quorra, who takes interest in Sora's Keyblade, and asks if they know Tron. However, Flynn explains that CLU reprogrammed Tron to serve him, and that the figure that Sora encountered was Tron. Sora offers to restore Tron, and Quorra agrees to take him to the Rectifier.

Sora enters what appears to be a train-like Solar Sailer and soon finds himself on the Rectifier.

Meanwhile, Sora and Quorra enter the bridge on the Rectifier, where they are suddenly ambushed by Rinzler. Sora attempts to get Rinzler to remember his past as Tron, but he suddenly counterattacks. Rinzler then kidnaps Quorra, and Sora then encounters the unknown man and Xemnas. Xemnas explains that this is the world where Ansem got the data for his own computer (causing Sora to realize that he is not in the world with the Tron he knew) and then creates many copies of Sora, then deletes them all, one by one. Both vanish and open the doors behind Sora, unleashing a strong gust of wind that causes him to struggle to breathe, telling Sora this this is not a dream, but reality. Sora then finds himself in the Disk Wars stadium, where he encounters CLU and Rinzler. CLU offers to release Rinzler in exchange for the Keyblade, which Sora refuses. Rinzler attacks Sora, who then fights back per Quorra's advice, since Tron is able to hear him.

Sora defeats Rinzler, and stabs him, freeing Rinzler and allowing him to remember his past, as well as his time with Sora as Tron, but CLU appears and attempts to take out Sora with his Disk. Rinzler manages to protect Sora by pushing him aside and take the hits, before the floor beneath him shatters, causing Rinzler to fall down, despite Sora's attempts to save him. CLU then leaves to recapture Rinzler. Sora then accepts Quorra as a friend, find a Keyhole and seals it, ending his story for The Grid.

When Riku enters The Grid, he is immediately captured by black guards, who believe him to be a stray program. He rides a Recognizer alongside Sam Flynn, and is soon riding a light cycle. Riku is pit against several Black Guards and even Rinzler on light cycles but before his escape from the race track, CLU sends out a Dream Eater to take him out. Riku battles the Dream Eater on his light cycle and soon escapes the arena by blowing up a wall. After escaping, Riku learns that Sam's father vanished 20 years ago, and that he believes his father's in this world. Sam explains his reunion with his father, and why he suddenly took off: to find a way out of The Grid.

Later, Riku follows Sam, who then goes on ahead. Riku finds himself fighting Dream Eaters. He soon catches up, to encounter Sam, his father, and a defeated Quorra, who then walk off.

Riku joins the trio on a Solar Sailer and witnesses Flynn repair Quorra, learning that she's the last remaining ISO. Suddenly, Riku spots a Recognizer, and they soon find themselves on the Rectifier. Like in the film, Quorra spots Rinzler and runs off after him, handing Flynn her disk. Riku then runs alongside Sam.

Riku and Sam manage to steal back Flynn's disk, but it's soon revealed that Rinzler has captured Quorra. They manage to free her and defeat Rinzler by pushing him off the Rectifier, then join Flynn on a glider, heading towards the portal that will take Flynn and Sam back home.

The four reach the portal, where they encounter CLU, who then summons the Ele Kamakiri to stop them from going further. After a long battle against the Dream Eater. Sam and Quorra wait at the Portal with Flynn talking to CLU, however CLU attacks Flynn and runs back to take out Sam and Quorra, Riku prepares to battle CLU but is startled when Flynn attempts to absorb CLU, stopping him from going any further. Sam and Quorra escape while Flynn disappears after absorbing CLU. Riku looks up and the Keyhole of the world appears, he then seals it ending his story in The Grid. -->

Character Design
Like in Space Paranoids, Sora and Riku are converted into data and change forms accordingly. The forms resemble the outfits worn by other characters in the film. They both wear dark blue suits with light blue circuitry and visors characteristic of participants in the Grid's Disk Wars competition. Sora's form also slightly resembles his Kingdom Hearts II design, but without the prongs.