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.

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
Before Radiant Garden's fall, Ansem the Wise come upon the Grid and copied its data at the time to create Space Paranoids for both his world's town maintenance and for his personal research. When the Heartless began invading the Realm of Light, The Grid was one of the worlds that was swallowed in darkness. Although it was freed from the Realm of Darkness after Sora defeated Ansem and purged the End of the World, The Grid remained asleep as one of the Sleeping Worlds, plagued by Nightmares.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
<!--***Do not add until story is checked and filled in***

Side: Sora
Sora lands in this world and, by recognizing his clothes, believes to be back in a familiar world. He spots a Recognizer and chases after it. Soon, several Black Guards attempt to arrest him, thinking him to be a stray program since he failed to state his handle, 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 Throneship, 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 (as contestant number 13), 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 reprograms 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 derezzes, causing Rinzler to fall down, despite Sora's attempts to save him. CLU then leaves to recapture Rinzler, saying he'll deal with Sora later. Though sad from having to watch his friend fall to his presummed death, Sora accepts Quorra as a friend. He soon find a Keyhole and seals it, ending his story for The Grid.

Side: Riku
Riku enters The Grid. Upon seeing his new clothes, he questions whether this world is special. However, he is confronted by several guards, who believe him to be another stray program. To learn more about the world, he allows himself to be captured by the guards. He rides a Recognizer alongside Sam Flynn, who tells him of his location. Upon arrival, Riku is pit against several Black Guards on light cycles but before his escape from the race track, CLU sends out a Dream Eater, the Commantis, 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, so that he can derezz CLU and free his father.

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. Flynn also reveals that CLU's actions is his fault; Riku compares him to Xehanort; they both focused on one thing so hard, that they let bad things happen. 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 disc. Riku insist that they save Quorra and steal back Flynn's disc. He and Sam head off to the Throneship.

Riku and Sam manage to steal back Flynn's disc, but it's soon revealed that Rinzler has captured Quorra. They manage to free her and defeat Rinzler by throwing 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 Commantis 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.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance


Trivia

 * While not actually shown, Castor (otherwise known as Zoos) from the movie is implied, when Sam talks about "meeting someone in the city," plus Sam going to the End of Line Club.