3D Dot Game Heroes Review

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April 16, 2010 - If you caught our recent Zelda vs. 3D Dot Game Heroes video feature, then it should be pretty clear that The Legend of Zelda is the inspiration for 3D Dot's style, structure and appearance. While it's fun to slap a controversial phrase like "Zelda for PlayStation 3" on 3D Dot Game Heroes and call it a day, this isn't really accurate, and it tends to diminish the game's ample charm. Equal parts homage, parody and fan-made sequel, it's obvious that 3D Dot Game Heroes is in debt to, and in love with, gaming's past.

If Zelda comparisons mean nothing to you, then here's 3D Dot Game Heroes in a nutshell: you're a plucky adventurer tasked with stopping an evil bishop from making the world a miserable, monster-filled dystopia. Seven dungeons are spread across a sprawling world map peppered with towns, caves, fairy fountains and other attractions. Not all of the "overworld" is immediately accessible, but the tools you'll find in each of the dungeons will aid in your quest and allow you to reach new places. You'll uncover standard gear of the dungeon-plundering trade such as the item-retrieving boomerang, secret-passage-exposing bombs, a grappling hook to carry you over wide gaps, and dash boots that will carry you quickly to your destination.

To a large number of readers, this may sound all-too-familiar, so let's get something out of the way before we proceed: I've seen fellow Zelda fans react in mixed ways to previews of 3D Dot Game Heroes. While reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, cries of "ripoff" and accusations of unoriginality just couldn't be more misguided -- and they also show a shortsighted view of game history.

Games that take a great foundation and build on it are invariably respected and championed for doing just that. Dragon Warrior begot Final Fantasy, Super Metroid begot Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and Guitar Hero begot Rock Band. Celebrated games are often blatant iterations on a previous game. The difference here is that 3D Dot Game Heroes isn't an attempt to one-up a competitor. It wears its heart for Zelda, and other retro games, on its sleeve. It's a love letter to Zelda and the games of yesterday, and it doesn't ever make the mistake of taking itself seriously -- and neither should you.

3D Dot Game Heroes' goofy, often self-referential humor is a major part of its appeal. "Experienced" gamers will not only catch the many allusions to Zelda but also humorous references to Mega Man, Bionic Commando, Final Fantasy and even Demon's Souls. Ironic uses of Engrish, jabs at game development and scatological jokes are all part of 3D Dot Game Heroes' celebration of gaming kitsch and geekdom in general.

Like other contemporary pseudo-retro titles (e.g. Retro Game Challenge and Mega Man 10), 3D Dot Game Heroes combines the awesome style of classic games with the conveniences of modern gaming. Stuff like a save-anytime system, fast travel and a decent translation are things we take for granted. When these elements are applied to retro games it can breathe life into old designs that normally seem outdated or overly frustrating. A great example of this is 3D Dot Game Heroes' combat system. A comically large sword is your primary means of cutting down enemies in 3D Dot, and you can spend your money augmenting a weapon in various ways: You can make it stretch the entire screen, pass through solid objects, shoot beams or add unique attributes based on the sword. There are dozens of "swords" to collect, too, ranging from baseball bats, fish, beam swords and even firearms. You can fashion a massive weapon that can sweep a 180-degree path of death across the entire screen, easily eliminating the toughest foes before they can even react.

But there's a catch: all of your sword's powers -- including its reach -- are rendered ineffective if you don't have full health. If you are missing half a measly apple (the life bar is represented by a row of apples) you'll be wielding a short, underpowered stub. I found that much of my dungeon exploring was spent desperately searching for an item to refill that last bit of health because a stunted sword meant a slow progression to death.