Review :: 3D Dot Game Heroes

Silicon Studio are bringing gaming back to its roots with 3D Dot Game Heroes. Drawing much of it’s influence from the well known and loved Zelda series, it may come off as just a bit similar. Now hit the jump and see why this isn’t just a rip off.

Well, I kind of lied. Stay with me though. 3D Dot Game Heroes undoubtedly takes most of its gameplay mechanics and story progression from Nintendo’s beloved series, The Legend of Zelda. It’s quite obvious that this was the developers intentions. Appreciate it in all its retro-themed glory, and enjoy your slice of the Zelda pie on your Playstation 3.

3D Dot Game Heroes is a delightful, light-hearted romp that will invoke nostalgia and either remind experienced gamers of the games of old, or introduce newer gamers to what video games used to be. You’ll make your way through a number of temples in pursuit of rescuing “Dotnia” from the utter destruction of  monsters and such. It’s obviously formulaic, but it’s still great fun. The various allusions to other games will make the experienced gamer laugh, and even further appreciate what Silicon Studio has done here.

Gameplay in 3D Dot Game Heroes is, obviously and intentionally, akin to that of the Legend of Zelda. You’ll progress through the various temples of the game whilst acquiring new tools and items to assist you on your way. The entire world can’t be accessed from the beginning, but acquiring these items such as a boomerang, grappling hook, and more will help you reach previously unattainable destinations. Your sword is your main weapon, as expected. The more health you have, the larger it is. It’s a joy to see your massive blade at full health, because it looks ridiculous. The boss battles are easy to figure out, but sometimes are difficult to actually execute. For me, it’s the way a boss battle in a game like this should be. To be quite honest, I was surprised as to how fresh such an old formula could feel. In a market flooded by new gameplay mechanics, although not a bad thing, it’s nice to be reminded as to how gaming got to this point in the first place.

This is an incredible looking title, and easily one of the most aesthetically pleasing games of the year. 3D Dot Game Heroes is presented with a simple, 8-bit look, but modernized to fit the times. The semi-low camera angle presents an awesome depth of field effect, and everything is crisp as could be. All of the character models look great, and look even better exploding into a million blocky bits. It’s a wonderfully colorful experience. It’s virtually flawless from a technical stand point, and is a smooth experience all the way through. Developers take note; well-executed simplicity can be miles better than a title that tries to look too flashy for its own good.

The audio is good, but not great. The classic chippy tunes you would expect are here and sound great, but can tend to grind the gears of your mind when heard fifty too many times. The sound effects are basic and stand true to what the game is going for, so I can’t really complain. A little more variety here would have went a long way.

Other than the audio, I really only have one other complaint. The story really had nothing in it to make the player care. Some characters like the king are absolutely hilarious, and make the player want to see more. Most to all of the others just did nothing for me. Also, I often was confused with where to go next. I guess that’s the bad side of retro gaming.

Overall, 3D Dot Game Heroes is a great game. Simple but fun gameplay mechanics, excellent visuals, and nostalgia are what carries it. I can absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for something in the summer drought of gaming. It won’t blow your mind, but it’s an excellent time filler until the holiday season.

8.4/10

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