3D Dot Game Heroes

Review Feeling nostalgic for 8-bit gaming? Then 3D Dot Game Heroes will, no doubt, satisfy. There’s no need to drag out your NES as this square-edged upstart hails from the land of Sony and is exclusive to Playstation 3. With fervour for the 1980s increasingly present in popular culture (Hot Tub Time Machine, anyone?), 3D Dot Game Heroes buys into this sentimentalism and looks, plays and sounds like nothing else around since 1986.

In the merry old land of Dot

Being an Alias Maya convert, 3D Dot Game Heroes encourages me to dabble with its unique character design options, where you can rearrange cubes to make your very own pixel powered hero. It looks a lot like Atlus has taken 2D 8-bit and 16-bit game sprites from the 1980s and added a 3D effect for you to play with. No NURBS here though, boxy rules!

If you’ve got the time to waste, this is a fun way to add some 3D modelling skills to your retinue. Going down the ready-made character route also gives you a pretty good variety: want to be an assassin, a dragon or Father Christmas? Done. Apparently you can also trade designs with friends with USB storage.

"I'm gonna knock your block off!"

Your hero's blade is also upgradeable as you progress through the game, letting you add length and width to create a sword that fills the whole screen. Killing everything in sight is satisfying, but only an option if you’re fully powered up.