8-Bit Goes HD in 3D Dot Game Heroes

One of the greatest regrets of many a Sony fan is the fact that the Zelda games will never grace their disc drives.  That’s not likely to change any time soon, but From Software aims to make the pain a little easier with 3D Dot Game Heroes. Published by From Software, the makers of PS3-exclusive action RPG Demon’s Souls, 3D Dot Game Heroes aims to provide an entirely different experience than its older brother, soon to be released in the US.  While Demon’s Souls took most of its inspiration from Western RPGs and the King’s Field series, 3D Dot Game Heroes is aiming a bit further back; way back, that is, to a time when upstart adventurers didn’t get flashy cutscenes to start off their journeys; a simple “it’s dangerous to go alone, take this” was all they’d get before being thrust into worlds full of monsters, puzzles, and triangular artifacts of unlimited godly power.

3D Dot Game Heroes is set in the 8-bit kingdom of Dotnia, a sprite-based world much like the Zelda and Dragon Quest games of yore; however, the country’s king, desperate to increase tourism to his little video game world, cast a spell to make the world 3D.  While the spell succeeds in transforming Dotnia into a three-dimensional paradise, something goes wrong.  This is where your hero comes in.  Years ago, a demon lord besieged the land of Dotnia, but was sealed away into six magical elemental orbs and scattered across the land by a legendary swordsman.  Your hero is the grandchild of the legendary swordsman, sent out by the king to save the world.

Featuring a truly unique “3D 8-bit” visual style that seems equal parts Zelda and Dragon Quest, the game is an action RPG in much the same vein as the original NES Legend of Zelda; you have a sword and shield, as well as an arsenal of sub-weapons including a boomerang, bombs, and a bow and arrow.  Sound familiar?  From top to bottom, 3D Dot Game Heroes seems to be a throwback, if not an outright homage, to the fallen 8-bit days of yore.  Despite this, the game features a number of more modern tweaks to freshen up the formula; enemies explode into showers of bouncing pixel cubes when defeated, the camera perspective can shift to a number of positions depending on the area the player explores, and despite its unabashedly old-school art style the visuals manage to still feel modern.  Even more intriguing, players have the option to customize their own hero from scratch, creating a set of 16×16 “sprites” to represent its poses.  The hero’s blade is also customizable, featuring the ability to grow as long, or as wide as the player wants over time; Cloud Strife himself would be jealous.

3D Dot Game Heroes hits the PS3 in Japan this November.  While no US release has been confirmed as of yet, it is known that From Software is seeking a Western publisher to bring the game to the English-speaking world; hopefully Atlus, Nippon Ichi, or any other publisher will find enough room in their hearts for a pixelated hero out on a journey to save the world.  In the meantime, take a look at the game’s recently released trailer, featuring the first active footage of the game.

Source: 3D Dot Game Heroes Official Website (Japanese)