3D Dot Game Heroes -- Initial Impression.

As we near E3 for 2010 and the impending Zelda reveal, I'm going to be playing 3D Dot Game Heroes. 3D Dot Game Heroes was developed by Silicon Studio and published by Atlus. I'm playing this because I'm more than a little worried about the next Zelda. I'm sort of expecting a hybrid of Nintendo DS mistakes like boats or trains or some other means of removing the proper overworld to explore and Wii Motion Plus controls all made extra simple to insure grandmothers can play the game. I'm expecting them to ruin Zelda as I know it and want it. And 3D Dot Game Heroes is an embrace of everything 8-bit action adventure games once were. The story is about a kingdom that has gone from 2D to 3D and in the process enabled a trapped evil to be freed. You'll search the overworld for dungeons where you'll get a new tool that will further allow you to progress through the world in traditional Zelda fashion. Everything you'd expect is there from swords, shields, bombs, boomerangs, hookshots, potions, and sages to fairies. The game has a charming graphic style that accentuates its 8-bit philosophy. The game also has more references to 8-bit games than most will probably recognize. The music really seems especially designed to evoke 8-bit memories. This genre is my absolute favorite and I treasure almost every chance I get at an action adventure. If 3D Dot Game Heroes can maintain it's initial charm, then I should be in for a treat.