3D Dot Game Heroes

Take a 2D Legend of Zelda Game, add a third dimension, and put it on the PlayStation 3. That's it. That's the review, that's all you need to know. Everyone said it at the time, but there is no better way to describe what this game is like other than a vintage Zelda game in 3D. But that is not to do this game a disservice, 3D Dot Game Heroes is one of those titles that just brings you joy. It's hard to believe a game like this would exist these days. Part of what I love about going back and exploring old games is finding gems like this.

The game is unabashedly a homage to the older Legend of Zelda games, specifically those 2D adventure type ones. The game’s story and its dialogue is very meta in acknowledging that and the lore of the world was that it was once a 2D land which became 3D. So the developers found a way to take 2D pixel art and turn that into 3D pixel art using blocks. It’s very clever and inventive. You do all the things you would do in a Zelda type game, explore the land, go to various temples, find keys, fight bosses. There are even bombs, boomerangs, bow’s, lamps and all sorts of other items you would expect in a game like this.

The game is also very funny and self aware. At the start of the game the King requests that you go on this difficult quest and the game presents you with the “Yes/No” option. Of course I had to find out what happens if you said “No”. The King politely tells you that “This option does not advance the story”. It is a perfect little dig at those pointless choices in so many games like this, I’m looking at you Pokemon Games. Along the way there are plenty of little fun nods to other games, stereotypes of gaming, and there is an unconscious body lying around who your fairy friend assumes “Must be a video game developer”.

To be slightly negative for a moment I did find some of the music a bit repetitive and the environments could feel quite empty. There are boss rooms which are just a big square room with very little going on except for the boss. I get that this might be a natural consequence of the design but I did feel it whilst playing it.

The game’s art style and simple fun gameplay make this game timeless and perfect to pick up all these years later but there is a slight problem, due to the game being trapped on the PlayStation 3 it can be pricey to obtain a copy. At the time of writing eBay is suggesting around $40 USD which is not too bad but in the UK you could be looking at £50-60. So definitely one to keep an eye out for. It’ll keep you a little bit busy with an average completion time between 15-20 hours, even more if you want to go for the platinum trophy which requires some careful planning and 3 playthroughs! But if you can get hold of this title I cannot recommend playing it enough, it is an absolute, nostalgic joy and a breeze to just play casually.