Merging two different visual genres together, 3D Dot Game Heroes is, without question, an experience like no other.
The story itself doesn't get any more cliché or generic, but that's pretty much the general idea. The kingdom of Dotnia itself had long toiled in the encroaching dregs of the two-dimensional plane, prompting the King to decree its epic, three-dimensional renovation. While such a transition carries a hope for peace and prosperity-the likes of which were never possible in 2D---it has also brought evil back to the fray in the form of a despondent archbishop named Fuelle, who has seized the Dark Orb in a heartless scheme to harness the wicked powers encapsulated therein so that he can take over all the world. You take on the role of a pixelated hero who just so happens to be the descendant of a legendary warrior that saved Dotnia from the throes of destruction in ages past. The king himself asks that you retrieve the Ancient Sword used by the hero of legend, find the missing Princess, seek out the six Sages and inherit the mystical powers of the six Orbs to save Dotnia once again from the threshold of darkness.
If you've ever played games like Dragon Warrior or Legend of Zelda for the NES, you'll probably know what to expect out of 3D Dot Game Heroes. But imagine all of that 8-bit, pixelated retro goodness propelled in modernized three-dimensionality, and you're left with an experience as delightfully interesting as it is exceedingly bizarre. The environments are constructed almost entirely under an 8-bit concurrent, meaning all the castles, buildings, forests and people are intentionally designed in such a manner to convey the nature of the game's overall emphasis in combining the best of both worlds. And it all looks fantastic. The realistic lighting effects give an 8-bit world some surprising depth-an excellent example would be the canyon area with its glorious, enriched orange sunset. Old school dungeons, when given the 3D and lighting treatment, are as foreboding visually as they are aesthetically. Character models, 8-bit as they are, look good in their 3D interpretations as well-even though they're forever imprisoned within the confines of two to three frames of animation. Of course, there's no real reason to complain when you understand that it's that way for a reason, and believe me when I tell you---you would appreciate their shortcomings that much more.
When you begin a new game, you will be handed an opportunity to choose your gender as well as one of several templates to represent your avatar, and there are many different varieties of 8-bit chunkers to choose from. It is possible to play through the entire game as just a dot, and it wouldn't make much difference. (You're given the chance to change your appearance at any time when you load your game from a previous save.) There are also three classes to choose from as well-a Hero, a Royal and a Scholar; each with their individual benefits. Of course, the butter in the bread of 3D Dot Game Heroes has to be its elaborate character creation system, where you can create your own characters. The editor might take some time to get used to, but it isn't overly complex or confusing, and can actually be a lot of fun. Once you get the overall hang of it, you'll be churning out your 8-bit armies of pixelated awesomeness in no time flat. Want to share your creations with your jealous friends? You can do that by way of a USB Flash Drive or a Memory Stick Duo. Not into the creating-your-own-character jive? You can download other player's concoctions from the internet or a friend's house. Needless to say, the possibilities are limitless.
3D Dot Game Heroes makes no apologies in drawing tongue-in-cheek references from other well known role playing games-the greater focus of these is Legend of Zelda. (However, I did think the Demon's Souls nods were pretty funny, too.) From its antiquated exploration to some of the items that you'll use-even the menu layout and the musical style of its theme song (listen carefully to it and you'll see-rather hear-what I mean) gives nods to a certain other franchise that it borrows from. 3D Dot Game Geroes doesn't try to take itself too seriously, so if you're going in expecting an epic storyline filled with memorable characters (well, maybe some of the characters in the game could qualify as memorable) and a deep plot, you're missing the point. Still, for what it's worth, one of the key factors that elevate the package is the simple, old-school gameplay---made even more interesting with the addition of some eye-popping new features-such as your sword attacks. Now, normally, a sword in a traditional RPG would be a deadly weapon in and of itself, but when it's about the size of half a football field, you can pretty much assume every bragging right of a legendary hero that ever existed. (Thought Cloud and Sephiroth's blades were big? You ain't seen nothin' yet.) Taking a page from Legend of Zelda, whenever you're at full health, your sword will expunge in all its maximum power and strength, stretching it far enough across your high-definition television screen and bringing all manners of pixel-popping destruction to those foolish enough to stand in its path. And the best part? You can continue to upgrade its overall power by visiting blacksmiths who can extend its reach, increase its power and widen its swing width; that sort of thing. Such a power might seem a little over-the-top, but remember-3D Dot Game Heroes is by no means a serious-minded role-playing game. You can swing this bad boy around in a circular motion to really bring the hurt on surrounding enemies, watching in delight as they explode in clouds of pixels. If only traditional RPGs gave you this much of a sadistic satisfaction.
Furthermore, aside from your main quest, you can also take part in side-quests to gain rewards like money and Life shards (four of them will increase your life meter by one apple-another Zelda reference), but in doing so, you will have to speak to townsfolk before and after key events-such as clearing the game's six Temples. You can easily miss a quest and never know it; in some cases, some quests will disappear forever unless you either start a New Game+ or begin anew, so it pays to be observant even it does get a little annoying. There are also mini-games to enjoy during your travels-such as Dash Race, a Tower Defense game, and an Arkanoid style paddle game. They're not only great diversions, but they are also necessary in obtaining key items like Small Blocks, which in turn can be traded in to build new swords. Nonetheless, these activities will keep you busy long after the main quest is over and done-during which you can start a new game+ which carries over all your weapons and items.
Overall, there's a lot to admire and like about 3D Dot Game Heroes-not only because of its unique, aesthetic style, but also the simple, rewarding gameplay that defined many old-school role-playing games of the golden age. It isn't entirely difficult, but for the most part, it is quite challenging. While the mainstream gaming audience may be scratching their heads as to why the game looks so oddball, those who fondly remember the good old days are primed to get the most out of the experience, but that isn't saying the game isn't for everybody. It can be, and it should be. Because there's no denying the charms of blocky, 8-bit heroes with big-ass swords to swing around. Whether you're an old timer like me or a newbie just starting fresh in an expanded, three-dimensional 8-bit role-playing experience, this is one game worth your time and money.