25 heart-warming retro references in 3D Dot Game Heroes

The load screens alone will validate your entire existence!

Words: on April 20, 2010
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Regardless of what we gave 3D Dot Game Heroes in our review today, it’s a 10 or 11 in terms of raw nostalgia! Yes, most of you probably know that the game is steeped in Dragon Quest and Zelda, but Atlus’ new throwback also contains about a billion other nods to all those games you’ve loved before. Hell, the load screens alone are enough to get lawyers’ spidey senses tingling.


Above: Seriously, ain't these precious?!

There are over a hundred, in fact, and they all lovingly reference famous box art from the US and Japan. Below you’ll find our personal favorites (or at least the ones we recognized,) but know that there are still plenty of others for you to unlock and decipher using obscure knowledge your parents said you’d never use. Enjoy!


Above: Castlevania


Above: Dragon Warrior


Above: Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest


Above: Final Fantasy III


Above: Final Fantasy IV (JP)


Above: Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!


Above: Street Fighter II


Above: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Click to the next page for precious parodies of Contra, Mega Man, Doom and more!

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3D Dot Game Heroes (PS3)

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Platforms:

PS3

22 Comments
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  • DryvBy

    DryvBy  - 1 year, 2 months ago  - Report

    I really hope they're making a second game. This game is a classic to me.
    Reply
  • Thequestion 121

    Thequestion 121  - 1 year, 9 months ago  - Report

    That's just awesome.
    Reply
  • philipshaw

    philipshaw  - 2 years ago  - Report

    These are great
    Reply
  • EnragedTortoise1

    EnragedTortoise1  - 2 years ago  - Report

    Another reason why I'm glad I chose the PS3.
    Reply
  • Cyberninja

    Cyberninja  - 2 years ago  - Report

    i want this game i hope i have money after the summer when the psp will take all my time away
    Reply
  • hardcore_gamer1990

    hardcore_gamer1990  - 2 years ago  - Report

    :')
    Reply
  • ensabahnur

    ensabahnur  - 2 years ago  - Report

    These are awesome, Great job.
    Reply
  • raygillies

    raygillies  - 2 years ago  - Report

    OK, I'm not a Zelda fan and I'm too young to have been a retro gamer. Will I have any measure of fun with this game?
    Reply
  • Conman93

    Conman93  - 2 years ago  - Report

    These are epic. Lol at the tetris one! Im suprised at a lack of a mario one..
    Reply
  • nadrewod999

    nadrewod999  - 2 years ago  - Report

    No, 3D dot engine. Very different, and TONS cooler. If you liked the Zelda games on the Game Boy/GBA, but always wanted to control Link in 3D, this is the perfect game (for PS3 owners)

    Also, ROFL @ Tobli's TRIPLE post XD
    Reply
  • SimOniS

    SimOniS  - 2 years ago  - Report

    lego graphics engine ?
    Reply
  • Tobli

    Tobli  - 2 years ago  - Report

    Garnsr: 360 exclusives falling behind? That sounds like a fanboy statement to me.
    I don't want to buy a PS3 because it doesn't have what i loved about the PS1&2.

    On topic: I loved the ones with final fantasy, and dragon quest.
    Reply
  • Tobli

    Tobli  - 2 years ago  - Report

    Garnsr: 360 exclusives falling behind? That sounds like a fanboy statement to me.
    I don't want to buy a PS3 because it doesn't have what i loved about the PS1&2.

    On topic: I loved the ones with final fantasy, and dragon quest.
    Reply
  • Tobli

    Tobli  - 2 years ago  - Report

    Garnsr: 360 exclusives falling behind? That sounds like a fanboy statement to me.
    I don't want to buy a PS3 because it doesn't have what i loved about the PS1&2.

    On topic: I loved the ones with final fantasy, and dragon quest.
    Reply
  • elpurplemonkey

    elpurplemonkey  - 2 years ago  - Report

    PS3's are expensive and money is tight garnsr, it's not that easy for people to just go buy one nowadays. That being said, I do agree that it's on the upswing. But I digress, this game looks enjoyable, but the art is what really has me intrigued. They are choosing to limit themselves with this style, but are actually creating really charming work.
    Reply
  • garnsr

    garnsr  - 2 years ago  - Report

    I've played almost all of those games, and they're obvious when I see them here, but I wouldn't know too many just as screens in the game. I'm anxiously awaiting its release, though.
    Reply
  • chrisat928

    chrisat928  - 2 years ago  - Report

    You mean 360, right? Putting it on Xbox would do nothing for that dead system.
    Reply
  • chrisat928

    chrisat928  - 2 years ago  - Report

    Loading screens.
    Reply
  • garnsr

    garnsr  - 2 years ago  - Report

    And at this point I think it's time for everyone to get a PS3, the exclusives on 360 are falling way behind lately. Despite the guys on TalkRadar seeming to know almost nothing about the system, it does seem to be on the upswing.
    Reply
  • WillisTron

    WillisTron  - 2 years ago  - Report

    I wish this game was on Xbox
    Reply
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