3D Dot Game Heroes Review

By Tom Bramwell Published 19 April, 2010

Link exchange.

Version tested: PlayStation 3

The two-dimensional RPG kingdom of Dotnia has seen better times. Stories of an ancient Hero's miraculous exploits have long since passed into myth, and as a result nobody can be bothered tripping along to check out his magical sword in a nearby forest. The king, desperate to boost the flagging economy, therefore declares that everything must be upgraded to 3D to save the day.

However, in a classic case of mistaking correlation for causality, the king has foolishly overlooked the impact on tourism of all the angry bunnies, men with bows, spiders and other monsters rampaging around the countryside. Not to mention the fact that the evil Fuelle has taken control of the six legendary orbs, condemning Dotnia to a future of pain and suffering.

So it turns out this 3D thing isn't good for business. But it is good news for us, because it means 3D Dot Game Heroes looks unlike anything else you've seen. It's still a 2D top-down RPG in form and function, but everything in it has been built in 3D out of little "pixel" cubes, and then augmented by modern effects like shimmering bodies of water, lens flare when emerging from a cave, deep shadows and fancy reflections.

It's not quite as stunning or delightful an effect as something like Paper Mario, another Japanese RPG series that sought to distinguish itself through its unique visuals as well as its enterprising gameplay, nor as evocative as your first glimpse of Zelda's divisive Wind Waker approach (which I loved), but it's a strong foundation, and a pleasurable background perk.

1

A lot of areas in the overworld look the same, so you end up doing a lot of backtracking because you forget which bit takes you where. The map's no help.

Once it takes on a passive role after the introduction, however, you're left with another strong impression: 3D Dot Game Heroes is a massive Legend of Zelda rip-off. It's inevitable that games will be derived from other successful games, but this isn't Batman: Arkham Asylum building on lessons taught by Super Metroid and Metal Gear Solid; this is something else entirely.

You are a new Hero, descended from the old one, in a kingdom overrun by monsters, charged with a mythical quest to restore peace by recovering magical orbs and besting the evil Fuelle. You navigate a mazy overworld to reach dungeons, and each dungeon confers a new ability that allows you to solve puzzles there and, once you emerge, access new areas of the world map.

Completing a dungeon also earns you another heart container for your life bar, which you can also admire on your inventory page, which is full of bottles, bows and arrows and other memorable (or rather familiar) items. In between dungeons you can puzzle your way to treasure chests, which are full of gold and other goodies, hack down long grass to find coins, and wallop enemies with your sword, providing you can reach them with your four d-pad angles of attack.

You could still make a good, distinctive game out of that premise, as Nintendo has proven about 478 times with the Zelda series itself, and to be fair developer Silicon Studio has a crack at that. There are some good gags and diversionary antics to uncover - a tower defence game, which is good for 10 minutes' fun, and a "From Cave" populated by Demon's Souls and Armored Core in-jokes - a nod to the game's Japanese publisher, From Software.

There are gameplay variations too - tablets that allow you to view hidden writing or reflect offensive magic, and the ability to upgrade your swords at blacksmiths, increasing blade width, length, strength and other attributes. When you're at full health your sword swing is comically gigantic, and by whipping the analogue stick as you strike you can tackle a circle of enemies.

But these distinctions, along with the graphics, are like doodles in the margins on a test paper where all the actual answers have been copied off the likes of Shigeru Miyamoto and Eiji Aonuma. Your first discovery, for example, is a pair of dash boots. Then you find a boomerang, which you use to hit switches or stun enemies. Then there's a grapple hook for pulling yourself across chasms toward particular wooden posts. Then there are bombs, for breaking through obvious cracks in walls.

Oh, and every discovery is celebrated with a little musical jingle, which is familiar in composition and tone, yet somehow nowhere near as catchy as the one it's ripping off from Legend of Zelda. Predictably, this ends up being 3D Dot Game Heroes' problem in microcosm: it looks very pretty, and some of the chiptune music is pleasant (I've got the desert overworld music stuck in my head at the moment), but otherwise it's a poor imitation.

2

The bosses look quite interesting but generally aren't.

Dungeon design, for example, is rough around the edges next to the intricate, ingenious and beguiling labyrinths that define the series 3D Dot Game Heroes seeks to emulate. The Zelda games would hint at the way to reach an out-of-the-way treasure chest, but they wouldn't just reward you for reaching it - they would be careful to deposit you in such a position as to continue exploring with a minimum of confusion and backtracking. 3D Dot Game Heroes gets the first bit right, but then makes it frustrating or boring to get back to where you left off.

Arbitrary punishment is a problem upstairs in the overworld, too. Deciding where to step onto the tangle of "quick sand" conveyor belts in the desert is tricky enough, for example, because the arrows that show which direction they point look very similar whether they're pointing up or down, or left or right. But this is compounded by an apparent delight in sending you back to the beginning of the maze when it's not your fault, all because you couldn't see far enough ahead.

The developers have incorporated a patch, released in Japan at the turn of the year, which enables a hard disk install option (something of a must), so that's good, but there also remain performance issues, like frame-rate drops in dungeon interiors, which all look very similar, ensuring the problem is noticeable throughout.

3D Dot Game Heroes does have its moments and fun features, like a cute little avatar editor (guess what I made), and the ability to take screenshots and save them to your PS3's photo gallery. But every one of the problems it suffers from elsewhere is something that Legend of Zelda, through its longevity and the massive expertise of its designers, has either long since overcome or never had to worry about anyway. More or less everything 3D Dot Game Heroes does well, meanwhile, is something Zelda has already done better.

6 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
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About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000. Follow him on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (61) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • carrotcake #1 2 years ago

    Going to cancel my preorder. Shame the gameplay is not as unique and appealing as the graphics. Would be cool if the Lego games looked like this

  • Charlie_Miso #2 2 years ago

    I'm still keen.

  • scorch #3 2 years ago

    pre-order?

    this isn't a PSN title?

  • super_monty #4 2 years ago

    I going to ignore the review and have a look at what it scores on gamerankings.

    I got really fed up especially at the end, count how many references there are to Zelda. I can't see why Eurogamer apply the logic to score games down because it's been done before, except for battlefied, COD, GTA, Halo talk- abut done to death but yet not marked down.

    EDIT: Strange just looked at gamerankings:
    It's says Eurogamer gave it a 7 (not 6)
    and IGN 8.5.

    A few more scores like IGN's and this will be a purchase for me.
    Edited by super_monty at 19/04/10 @ 08:26

  • super_monty #5 2 years ago

    @scorch there is a link to Shopto at the top selling this for a resonable £32.95, if you are interested.

  • super_monty #6 2 years ago

    A number of Eurogamer reviews these days have been just terrible, no because I don't agree with the score or the opionion but they way they arrive at the conculsions and the general approach.

  • karooo #7 2 years ago

    "I can't see why Eurogamer apply the logic to score games down because it's been done before, except for battlefied, COD, GTA, Halo talk- abut done to death but yet not marked down."

    BF, COD, Halo, Gears dont really copy any other games, they invented that style. anyways its ok though i didnt really expect this game to get high scores, but anyways still gonna get it.

  • GamesConnoisseur #8 2 years ago

    Where Splinter Cell scores 7/10 a numbers of PS fan were seemly satisified that either SC dumbed down or that exclusivity is nothing to worry about, personally found game more fun and now a damp and disappointing review for much anticipated PS3 rpg game (as it is for me) and now seem that it is EG at fault and not the game?!

    So when will we learn not TO trust the score at end of review, it's never be all or end all. Sure THE actual contents of review will tell you much about how certain reviewer of the day found the game to be. Whether that reviewer is spot on or wide may depends also how 'aligned' you are in term of viewpoint.

    Generally I found EG to be pretty fair most of time, sure strongly disagrees on odd numbers but far better than too many 9/10 10/10 scores given out that doesn't really deserves it. As diluting the truly exceptionals.

    Still gonna get 3D Dot Hero as loving the idea of finding all the homages and references to other games and also fancied Zeldaesqe game at the moment.

    Still for those who really wants to play Zelda there is only Zelda.....

  • Tonka #9 2 years ago

    Really? You get lost in Zelda games? Man oh man... Everyday life must be a struggle for you.

  • super_monty #10 2 years ago

    COD invented what style exactly, FPS twitch shooter? NO, They are all great games but drew heavily from other influences.

    MOH came b4 COD, even Operation Wolf come before those all shooters mentioned.

    Anyway I am sick of USA gung ho shooters so many of them just feel the same now, even if they get a great score like 9/10.

    After a bit more reseach this is now a must buy, can't wait:

    N4G 8.5/10
    6th axis 8/10
    JPS 4.5/5
    Mid life gamers 9/10

    Time for a pre-order.
    Edited by super_monty at 19/04/10 @ 09:03

  • jimboton #11 2 years ago

    I think I prefer the original Keza review. All this sounds too much like Tom just isn't willing to deal with a zelda type game lacking modern day handholding anymore.

    naughty, naughty quicksand maze that can send you back to the beginning because you're not able to tell which path is right beforehand...

  • super_monty #12 2 years ago

    @GamesConnoisseur in your opionion when was the last amazing Zelda Game?
    link to the past? because TWP was just missing something for me.

  • Segnit #13 2 years ago

    "avatar editor (guess what I made)"

    Cock?

  • Goodfella #14 2 years ago

    I'm not that interested in this game but IGN liked it.

    http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/108/10842...

  • TheStatics #15 2 years ago

    Are we really going down the "the reviewer doesn't agree with my thoughts on this game, even though I haven't played it" route.... I mean really?

  • Beano #16 2 years ago

    Not a great score and this should maybe have been a budget title... but it still look charming and fun. I'm still buying.

  • twoism #17 2 years ago

    Still getting this, looks fun and that's all that matters, not how derivative the game ultimately is.

  • scorch #18 2 years ago

    @5 yes I know, but up until now I thought it was a PSN title. It seems too irreverent to be a full game.

  • Krelle #19 2 years ago

    Played this. It has it ups and down.
    In the beginning the gimmick is enough to keep you entertained, but it quickly turns into Zelda1 all over again. And lets be fair, it may not the the most exciting year 2010.
    But..after a few dungeons the difficulty ramps up and it gets really fun.

    There is also quite a bit to do after you finish it. Difficult trophies etc.

    Id give it a weak 8 all in all.

  • super_monty #20 2 years ago

    @android123
    I know what you mean but hopefully we will have Agent, Infamous 2, Demon Souls and DC online,not sure of any other exculsives but hoping for resistance 3.

    But I am lucky enough to have 360 and ps3 too.

    @Krelle is to worth the £33 or best waiting for the £20 mark?
    Edited by super_monty at 19/04/10 @ 09:27

  • DoctorFouad #21 2 years ago

    (android 123) :
    are you kidding ? lol


    already beginning of 2010 :
    - heavy rain
    - yakuza 3
    - god of war 3
    + a better version of FF13

    than you have also for sure for 2010 :
    - GT5
    - Resistance 3 (or another game from insomniac but I doubt it wouldnt be R3)
    - motor storm 3 (or another game from evolution studios but I doubt it wouldnt be MS3)

    We could even see this year : the last guardian

  • Retro_ #22 2 years ago

    I've learnt that review scores from the gaming sites don't always reflect what gamers think, The Saboteur being a perfect example, Metacritic 7/10 average, gamers....8.5/10 average. AvP being another, reviews generally panned the game but The players seem to enjoy it immensely.

    Pre-ordered :)

  • menage #23 2 years ago

    Can we please stop acting like Zelda is flawless and all. The game already has serious issues that never got fixed since the N64 days.

  • spiritsnake #24 2 years ago

    ok maybe it is an imitation of sum great games, but review it in its own light. in todays world which game isnt an imitation of some other super hit game. just talk of the game you're reviewing,and make a passing mention of what it has imitated.

  • TheSabreman #25 2 years ago

    3D Dot Game Heroes PS3 £26.95 http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/653755/3d...

  • Fletche #26 2 years ago

    is this a 6 because it isn't as good as Zelda, or is it a 6 because it isn't that good in it's own right? Ok a 6 isn't bad and this in no way will stop me buying this (got it on pre-order for £26.95!) old style Zelda's were such good games that any nod in their direction is fine by me

  • Retroid #27 2 years ago

    I personally love the look but:

    "But it is good news for us, because it means 3D Dot Game Heroes looks unlike anything else you've seen."

    Which means it'll sit on store shelves.

    :(

  • schnide #28 2 years ago

    Of course all games have similarities, genres such as the FPS all have standards within them - but isn't this just pretty much a Zelda rip-off with curious graphics?

  • makariel #29 2 years ago

    "Can we please stop acting like Zelda is flawless and all. The game already has serious issues that never got fixed since the N64 days."

    You just committed the cardinal sin by criticizing Zelda. And I fully agree with you. Zelda is stagnant. I really can't distinguish the individual games anymore. Maybe the time-to-boomerang is unique for each game, but I stopped caring. Last Zelda I bought was Phantom Hourglass, but I didn't finish a Zelda game in a long time. I just got tired of playing essentially the same game with the same bomb and same boomerang.

  • Old_Books #30 2 years ago

    I think it's the inconsistency in the way gaming 'commandments' are applied in reviews; Shadow Complex, for example, wasn't inspired by Super Metroid, it was Super Metroid, set in Cliffy B's typical macho militaristic setting yet it stll got rave reviews. I think I would probably enjoy Dot Heroes the same way I enjoyed that game and that is what matters, right?

  • sneetch #31 2 years ago

    @schnide
    Of course all games have similarities, genres such as the FPS all have standards within them - but isn't this just pretty much a Zelda rip-off with curious graphics?

    It does pretty much sound that way from the laundry list of "borrowed" elements that Tom lists. Be that as it may a well done old-school Zelda "rip-off" could still be awesome but this isn't quite there in terms of level design and so on. Still though, is there a demo? Haven't seen anything on PSN.

    I can never really decide between Wind Waker, Ocarina Of Time and Link To The Past as my favourite Zelda but LTTP was one of my favourite SNES games and I'd love to be reintroduced to that style of adventure again.

  • rhubarbandcustard #32 2 years ago

    "Really? You get lost in Zelda games? Man oh man... Everyday life must be a struggle for you."

    If we take this thinking to it's logical conclusion, could we ban from voting anyone who has not been able to beat Dragon Age.

  • rhubarbandcustard #33 2 years ago

    whispers...(I have not been able to beat Dragon Age ... it's really freaking hard)

  • sneetch #34 2 years ago

    @Old_Books
    I think it's the inconsistency in the way gaming 'commandments' are applied in reviews; Shadow Complex, for example, wasn't inspired by Super Metroid, it was Super Metroid, set in Cliffy B's typical macho militaristic setting yet it stll got rave reviews. I think I would probably enjoy Dot Heroes the same way I enjoyed that game and that is what matters, right?

    I don't think that the fact that it's like Zelda that's the problem here, it's the fact that it's like Zelda but the Zelda games have far superior design and implementation. Shadow Complex is more or less Metroid re-skinned but is a fantastic game and so deserves good reviews. If I made Super Sonic Universe and it was far superior to SMG then I'd expect great reviews but if it was a weaker game then I'd expect people to mark it down and in either case I would expect the reviewers to comment on the fact that it's just like SMG.

  • menage #35 2 years ago

    @makariel

    Indeed. How many times will people play the same freaking template anyway. It's not even trying to be different at this point. Just add a different mode of transportation, done, instant sales. I can't stand to have to go a freaking tutorial of 4 hours anymore until the game get's underway, and yes dammit I know what a Rupee is and no I have almost never used them for anything cause you can find shit all over the place.

    lLst real fun one was the Windwaker, and ALTTP before that for me. But the latest DS games really take the cake in the rehash dep.

  • Krelle #36 2 years ago

    "is this a 6 because it isn't as good as Zelda, or is it a 6 because it isn't that good in it's own right?"

    Both!
    As I mentioned above, I think its rather a 7-8, but no, its not as good as (recent) Zeldas, and no, its not a 9-10 no matter how you look at it.


    Remember, its not the 3D-zeldas that this game is copying. Its Zelda 1. For the NES.
    Tbh, if you havnt played zelda1 I think alot of the appeal is lost.

    I bought this for about £20 and it was worth it. Took me around 25h to finish, and I still havnt got more than 40% trophies.

    If you buy this and expect 2010s Demons Souls youll be dissapointed.


    EDIT:
    "naughty, naughty quicksand maze that can send you back to the beginning because you're not able to tell which path is right beforehand..."

    There is even a trick to this. You can figure out whats the right path beforehand. I wont spoil it thou, you can find it yourself if you want to Im sure.
    Edited by Krelle at 19/04/10 @ 11:19

  • carrotcake #37 2 years ago

    I get lost in Zelda games too. Never finished either N64 game, or the SNES game due to reaching a point where I am completely at a loss for what I am supposed to do or which direction I must head in to accomplish it.

  • Krelle #38 2 years ago

    super_monty:

    "@Krelle is to worth the £33 or best waiting for the £20 mark?"

    Depends on how eager you are to play Zelda1 again. If your on the fence about this or something else, Id probably wait. If your bored..pick it up!

  • Metalfish #39 2 years ago

    Note the term "rip-off". And then all the text describing why it's worse. Super-Currentday-Shooter-twelveteen might be similarly derivative of, say doom, but it gets away with it by being a good game.

    This review suggests that 3D Dot Game Heroes doesn't do anything better and has a number of flaws of it's own. Thus 6/10 above average score, job done.

  • Harun #40 2 years ago

    Hang on, didn't you lot import review it and give it a 7?

    Is it suddenly worse now it's in English?

    edit: Here we go. Different reviewer, which makes sense I suppose.

    http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/3d-dot...
    Edited by Harun at 19/04/10 @ 11:48

  • Krelle #41 2 years ago

    Harun: Last time I checked, EG was not a hive-mind. I think its refreshing that 2 people on the same site can have 2 different views.

    Edit: fair enough!
    Edited by Krelle at 19/04/10 @ 11:48

  • sonicyoda #42 2 years ago

    What I really want to know is what's been lost in the translation.
    You reviewed the import version with a score out of 7/10 so clearly something must have got worse...

  • charliemouse #43 2 years ago

    I'm still proper looking forward to this, haven't had a proper top-down Zelda for a long time and if this fits the bill even just adequately I'll be happy.

  • Les #44 2 years ago

    "Hang on, didn't you lot import review it and give it a 7?

    Is it suddenly worse now it's in English?"

    Standard EG policy it seems: the import review generally scores 1 point higher than the Euro review. Guess the person(s) doing the import reviews are less critical. Or have a different taste in games.

    /spelling
    Edited by Les at 19/04/10 @ 13:47

  • darkmorgado #45 2 years ago

    Erm, my understanding is that the whole Zelda design was actually completely deliberate, a comment about games all being derivative of each other?

  • darleysam #46 2 years ago

    Are people still dumb enough to skip the actual text and just look at the score? If the metacritic average goes up, you'll buy it? How about actually reading the text of the damned review and seeing why it was scored as it is? It's stupid beyond belief to make your game-buying decisions by the little number slapped at the end of the review. How is a 7 better than a 6? Oh this one got a 9! It must be good! Oh except it's full of things I don't like because it's not a game I like, but hey, it's a 9!

  • Les #47 2 years ago

    "It's stupid beyond belief to make your game-buying decisions by the little number slapped at the end of the review."

    +1

    And reviews like this especially prove the point: on the same site, using the same review & scoring guidelines, two reviewers come to different conclusions. There is no objective truth so don't expect to find it in video game reviews.

  • GreyBeard #48 2 years ago

    @darleysam

    If the numbers aren't important and representative, why have them then?

  • Krelle #49 2 years ago

    "It's stupid beyond belief to make your game-buying decisions by the little number slapped at the end of the review."

    But still not as stupid as making your decisions by only one review/one persons opinion, no matter if you read the text or not.

    People who treat EG scores (and texts) as LAW takes the cake.

  • mukki #50 2 years ago

    like the look
    and still interested
    but so much to play and well its warm and sunny out so screw playing
    is this a PSN title?
    will get later maybe...
    8bit 3D or not still have a special place in my 8bit heart

  • Erebu #51 2 years ago

    Bramwell, you Zelda Fanboy!

  • Jester9 #52 2 years ago

    It's a sad day when an IGN US review is more thorough and professional than its EG counterpart.

  • darleysam #53 2 years ago

    Well numbers seem to be a staple of the system, and I can't see them going away, and the problem is more with the weight apportioned to them over the actual review. The way it is at the moment, a reviewer could take 2000 words to destroy every facet of a game, but a 7/10 at the end and people would just look at the number and go "oh, not bad then". I read reviews to learn what the game's about, what the mechanics are like, whether it falls into line with the kinds of games I enjoy or whether it meets expectations. So much emphasis is placed on review scores by readers, publishers and metacritic (publishers putting embargoes on reviews that score the game lower to boost the metacritic average, because that's all some idiots look at to see if a game is 'good'). It should be there to give you a brief snapshot of what the reviewer thought of the game, but absolutely not the guiding light by which so many make their decisions.

  • cozeny #54 2 years ago

    Krelle, is the game more Legend of Zelda than A Link to the Past?

  • patchbox360 #55 2 years ago

    Alan wake runs at 576p

  • cozeny #56 2 years ago

    ^^^loooooooooooool, street-teaming negative AW sentiment is p. lame dude and unseemly to boot but take this +1
    Edited by cozeny at 19/04/10 @ 18:28

  • super_monty #57 2 years ago

    @Krelle cheers mate, I will get this for sure and am looking for it, but will wait for your advice and pick it up for around £20, let's face it there is plenty to play in the meantime.

  • smelly #58 2 years ago

    Whats wrong with him comparing it to zelda? Lets take another example, like conduit on the wii - compare that to fps games on other platforms and it falls flat... And as such should be reviewed/scored as such.

    If the game isnt as good as another game (on another platform or not) then the review should take that into consideration... And if you're upset by that, maybe you should play the "other" game in question and see why the reviewer felt it wasnt as up to scratch.

    As for getting upset by the score... *sigh* gamers never learn.

  • Krelle #59 2 years ago

    cozeny:
    "Krelle, is the game more Legend of Zelda than A Link to the Past?"

    Definitly. 90% Zelda1, 5% ALttP, 5% weird.



    super_monty: np, glad I could help!

  • theinvigorator #60 2 years ago

    Ign gave it an 8.5, and gametrailers gave it an 8. plus its only $40. :)

  • SchumiF1 #61 2 years ago

    I see Eurogamer never change their rating policy when reviewing PS3 games. A PlayStation 3 exclusive game automatically gets docked -2 simply for being a PS3 exclusive while a X360 exlusive gets some +2 points for being a X360 exclusive.
    Nice unbiased site.