The Grid

The Grid is a 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.

Sora
Sora is awed by a Regonizer, and chases after it. Soon, several black guards attempt to arrest him, 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, 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. Quorra decides to assist Sora.

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

Meanwhile, Sora and Quorra enter CLU's ship, where they are suddenly ambushed by Rinzler. Sora attempts to get Rinzler to remember his past as Tron, but he suddenly counterattacks. Rinzler then kidnapps Quorra, and Sora then encounters Young Xehanort and Xemnas. Xemnas 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. Sora then find himself in the Disk Wars arena, where he encounters CLU and Rinzler. CLU offers to release Rinzler in exchange for the Keyblade, which Sora refuses. Sora then fights Rinzler, not caring if Tron is/was a close friend.

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

Riku
Riku enters The Grid and is instantly captured. He rides a Regonizer alongside Sam Flynn, and is soon riding a light cycle. Riku fights a Dream Eater boss on this. 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, presumally learning that she's the last remaining ISO. Suddenly, Riku spots a Regonizer. Like in the film, Quorra spots Rinzler and runs off after him, handing Flynn her disk. (By this point, Flynn's disk is gone, presumming that Sora already met him by this point) 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, 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 sends a Dream Eater to kill them. Riku fights and defeats it, and Flynn then speaks with CLU. But CLU attacks him. Riku prepares to fight CLU, but the events happen like in the film, with Sam and Quorra escaping to the real world, as Flynn dies absorbing CLU. Riku is left alone, where he then spots a Keyhole and seals it.

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 the black suit 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.