Chalk full of humor and nostalgiac values, this is a wonderful homage to those yesteryear cIassics.
The first thing you need to know about this game is that it is SUPPOSED to be a "rip-off". The whole purpose of 3D Dot Heroes is to take you on a nostalgiac and entertaining ride that harkons back to those 8 and 16 bit adventures, as it intentionally mimics many elements of such games as Dragon Quest and Legend of Zelda. If you hear anyone crying or whining about how this ripped off ______ game, just feel glad that you "got it", while they obviously did not.
So, the parallels to Zelda and Dragon Quest are fair and intentional, but thats really just the tip of the iceberg. 3D Dot Heroes not only pays homage to those cIassics, but it uses tones of quirky references, easter eggs and humorous tidbits to make the adventure almost a tongue-in-cheek joke upon itself. Its very well done, and often times borders on hilarious. You know the game doesn't try to take itself seriously when the publisher makes fun of itself right away! (one of the first NPCs you meet gripes about how difficult "demon's souls" was, for example). If you remember that this game is SUPPOSED to mimic its inpirational sources, you'll find a hilarious and entertaining trip, that also contains some interesting surprises to boot.
Visually, the game is very artfull in its design. Its got nice visuals and effects, but underplays them in an effort to remain true to it's source materials. Characters and environments are comprised of individual blocks or pixels (hence the "dot heroes" moniker) so it has a similar appeal to the LEGO based games (for lack of a better example). This also applies to the main character, whom you can either select from a pre-set list, or completely generate on your own by using the creator tool, which allows you to fill in the "dots" and basically build a unique hero from scratch. Altering aspects of the pre-set characters is also an option, but honestly, you'll want to spend a few hours just tinkering about to see what you can come up with. Its noteworthy that these custom builds can be swapped or traded with your friends, so there's much fun to be had before you've even begun your adventure.
Once in the game, gameplay works very smoothly, and resembles the same gameplay mechanics you're used to if you've ever played Legend of Zelda. There is an overworld to explore, dungeons full of tricks and traps to conquer, and of course the typical boss fights you'd expect to find. Again, there isn't anything overly original here, but rather a pursposeful collection of nostalgiac elements, usually accompanied by some lighthearted humor. You'll find secret items, purchase upgrades in town, and take on little missions and side quests, all the while progressing through a familiar yet entertaining oldschool RPG story. Not really much of a spoiler here, but the plot may involve an evil wizard, some crystals, a castle, and a king in need of a hero.
For the mostpart, the game pulls off what its trying to do quite well, however, the game's difficulty level won't exactly make you sweat. From moment one, you're fairly powerfull, and by the time you've completed a few dungeons, you'll be hard pressed to worry about dying very often. That said, difficulty wasn't the game's purpose, and those who appreciate the appeal of the game's oldschool charm will find themselves engrosed and entertained, without the need to worry about how challenged they were.
Sure, the graphics could have been a tad better, and ramping up the difficulty a bit wouldn't have hurt, but such was not the focus of this charming and entertaining piece of nostalgia. Simply pop the game in, welcome yourself back to 1989, and enjoy one of the most entertaining nods to oldschool gaming.