Atlus shipping 3D Dot Game Heroes in North America on May 11
by JC Fletcher 
{ Nov 17th 2009 at 1:35AM } 
We've got some delightful new screens in the gallery below, if, like us, you're nowhere near over the novelty of giant pixels rendered in HD.
Update: Commenter Orchard Pear points out that the GameStop listing also prices the game at just $39.99. If that turned out to be the final price, it would basically be a miracle performed by the gods of retro gaming.
Gallery: 3D Dot Game Heroes (11/17/09)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
BananaBoat @ Nov 17th 2009 1:37AM
...May.....May.....
Must....not...import.....
Grrrrrrahhhhhh
Solace @ Nov 17th 2009 1:55AM
why would you import it? I'd wait it out and try supporting Altus for localizing the game and for giving out some pre-order freebies.
Husher @ Nov 17th 2009 2:01AM
i would have to agree. when it comes to america it atlus always seems to want to do a poll or some kinda, if the demand is strong enough email use thing.
jahd5000 @ Nov 17th 2009 2:56AM
not related really, but, anyone care to explain why the Taylor Lautner turning 18 countdown ad on Joystiq?
I mean, I get that Joystiq needs adds to sustain the site, but what kind of market study determined gamers are interested, like, at all?
BananaBoat @ Nov 17th 2009 3:10AM
Probably landed based on a word or phrase that was found on the site.
Don't get me wrong, I'd buy the English version as well, I'm just not sure I can wait till May to play this game. I realize that the game is all text screens, and that playing it would be a bitch due to my lack of Japanese skills, but I don't know if I can put up with them getting to play this for 6 months (They'll be bragging...you know they will).
Meh, in the end, I'm sure my wallet will win out. 70+ dollars to import, or 40 dollars in May. Considering that there are over a thousand dollars worth of games coming out that I want this holiday season, I can't really justify dropping 70 on an import just so that I could then drop 40 more on the English version.
PN04 @ Nov 17th 2009 3:10AM
day one purchase if I can preorder it at amazon, since I dont buy anything at lamestop.
Matt @ Nov 17th 2009 4:42AM
YES!!!!!!!!!!!
I will buy a PS3 just to play this game.
-Jad- @ Nov 17th 2009 5:32AM
yeah, Solace is right. I want to support Atlus, besides it's more cheaper :)
mahouneko @ Nov 17th 2009 6:31AM
@Matt:
I cannot believe that you didn't buy a PS3 to play Valkyria Chronicles or Demon's Souls or even Uncharted 2. Any one of them is a worthy reason to buy the PS3 for. Of course, it'd also help if Yakuza 3 would show up stateside.
Sumez @ Nov 17th 2009 9:40AM
I'm DEFINITELY importing it... the moment the US version gets out!
Matt @ Nov 17th 2009 10:53AM
mahouneko,
I've been pretty busy with my PSP, DS, Xbox 360 and Wii :P
And I'm not a *huge* fan of the way FPS' control on console, I prefer to play them on my computer, so Uncharted 2 wasn't a huge selling point for me personally.
I am playing the shit out of Borderlands on PC, though.
rickjamess04 @ Nov 17th 2009 11:08AM
@ Husher: "when it comes to america it atlus always seems to want to do a poll or some kinda, if the demand is strong enough email use thing."
@ Jahd5000: "not related really, but, anyone care to explain why the Taylor Lautner turning 18 countdown ad on Joystiq? I mean, I get that Joystiq needs adds to sustain the site, but what kind of market study determined gamers are interested, like, at all?"
@ Jad: "I want to support Atlus, besides it's more cheaper :)"
No offense to the above, but your comments made my brain hurt...
Levi @ Nov 17th 2009 1:18PM
Maho: I didn't buy an xbox for Halo, Gears of War, or whatever other big exclusives it's had. I got one for Shadow Complex. If Shadow Complex was PS3 only and 3DDGH was 360 only, I'd buy a 360 for it too :)
mahouneko @ Nov 17th 2009 8:34PM
@Matt:
I'm pretty sure that Uncharted 2 is a 3rd-person shooter.
koehler83 @ Nov 17th 2009 1:37AM
Better start grinding your legal team, Atlus. Nintendo of America is waiting to pounce on this one.
Solace @ Nov 17th 2009 1:53AM
shut the fuck up no they arent dumbass
Solace @ Nov 17th 2009 1:56AM
I'll pre-order it at Amazon, just in case they raise the price I still get it for $39.99
koehler83 @ Nov 17th 2009 2:11AM
You may want to be judicious with your labels until you've investigated the matter of grammar and punctuation.
Well, maybe you'll learn that next year. Have you started your alphabet at school yet?
Kevadu @ Nov 17th 2009 2:27AM
So why hasn't Nintendo of Japan said anything then? Seeing how it's coming out in Japan first and Nintendo and From Software are both Japanese companies...
koehler83 @ Nov 17th 2009 2:40AM
Because Japanese companies and artists parody each other's IPs constantly. There, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
In the US, the gross national product is Legal fees. Anyone will sue anyone at the drop of a hat. In this case, I'd say there is legitimate legal grounds for a copyright infringement suit. I don't think NOA's about to let it slip by.
NintendoJunkie @ Nov 17th 2009 2:59AM
I wish Nintendo would make a Zelda game in a similar style, however I don't see that happening anytime soon (or ever).
jahd5000 @ Nov 17th 2009 3:00AM
bah I'll prefer to think you said that because of insomnia rather than cuz of any fanboyism / jealousy of your precious game being, lets say, and inspiration to others.
lol we all like old school zelda, why want to bash this?
Solace @ Nov 17th 2009 3:14AM
"Because Japanese companies and artists parody each other's IPs constantly. There, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."
That makes absolutely no sense whats so ever. So your basically saying that Nintendo is going to take legal action against Altus for publishing a game FromSoftware in the US but they're okay with it being sold in Japan. How does that work in courts you tell me, by Nintendo saying we only want to target the US game release and not the JP?
BananaBoat @ Nov 17th 2009 3:16AM
Parody is protected as far as I know, and this game could easily fit that bill. I really doubt that Nintendo will spend money suing to protect the image of their characters that haven't been used (in that form anyway) in 20+ years. It's the other companies that I'm worried about (I've seen a Gundam character, multiple Final Fantasy characters, and a ton of other anime/video game characters that were officially included in the game AFAIK.)
If Atlus is risking themselves over this game, then we can be pretty sure that they've done their due diligence. Worst case scenario, a pixel or two gets changed to make Link not look so much like Link anymore, and all is right with the world again.
KingOfHearts @ Nov 17th 2009 9:22AM
Actaully BananaBoat, they'de change a voxel or two...
But, yeah, you right. You right.
Levi @ Nov 17th 2009 1:26PM
Although I think the OP is kinda dumb, Japan's copyright laws are much different, so if any dumb legal action went don't sure it'd be in the good ol USA.
Bobby Kotick - Co-Founder of the ATDF @ Nov 17th 2009 1:41AM
Gamestop is also stupid enough to just give away hundreds of copies of games to one guy. I trust the May 11th date.
Alvin_Rod @ Nov 17th 2009 1:43AM
Better late than never.
jahd5000 @ Nov 17th 2009 2:47AM
Im actually surprised by how early...
Orchard Pear @ Nov 17th 2009 1:46AM
And another fantastic PS3 exclusive.
It's even priced right at $39.99
BananaBoat @ Nov 17th 2009 1:52AM
39.99? You are cutting me deep good sir. The import version is double that....but...May....compared to November.... this is going to take will power
CJLopez @ Nov 17th 2009 10:27AM
naaaaa, quite a lot of games comming up that can keep me distracted while this comes out
Calvin @ Nov 17th 2009 1:58AM
I expect a soundtrack and an artbook, don't fail me now Atlus
jahd5000 @ Nov 17th 2009 2:52AM
talking about soundtrack, if they manage to get it to translate us to ten year ago, I dont see this getting any bad reception.
They are using notalgia, hopefully theyll do it well.
TrendGiveAfuck @ Nov 17th 2009 2:06AM
It looks sweet n all, but I'm a little worried that it will feel kinda... empty.... there's nothing happening in the screenshots, not even in the video :/
jahd5000 @ Nov 17th 2009 2:49AM
... Well watch some A link to the past vids and tell me they dont, according to your criterion
bm @ Nov 17th 2009 6:21AM
Jahd, this is based more on the original NES zelda than anything else.
Elias @ Nov 17th 2009 2:31AM
Europe?????
aristokrat @ Nov 17th 2009 2:27AM
Man, every time I see this game I get flashbacks to my childhood and A Link to the Past. Pending good reviews, I'd be willing to buy (instead of GameFlying it) to support cool ideas off the beaten path.
Gervin @ Nov 17th 2009 3:17PM
That's why I've been playing "A Link to the Past" on my PSP for the past few weeks.
NintendoJunkie @ Nov 17th 2009 2:54AM
Atlus is actually worth supporting...unlike Activision.
mahouneko @ Nov 17th 2009 6:33AM
Dood, Atlus has ALWAYS been worth supporting.
NintendoJunkie @ Nov 17th 2009 2:56AM
Not that this year hasn't had good PS3 games, but next year is looking pretty sweet for PS3 games.
Solace @ Nov 17th 2009 3:21AM
sure is I'm mostly looking forward to this, GT 5, Heavy Rain and *crosses fingers* The Last Guardian
Ben @ Nov 17th 2009 4:01AM
Well, looks like I'll be importing this in to Australia from the US next year (to any Australians reading this that haven't seen the site, check out play-asia.com). Ironically, it's still cheaper to import a game from aforementioned site than it is to actually purchase the game retail. Ridiculous, really.
Can't wait to get my paws on this though. Heh, I was thinking about this game and, on a whim, decided to check Joystiq to see if, by some amazing chance, the US release date/publisher had been announce. Lo and behold, it was the first entry. Makes a man smile when things happen nicely.
DEVIN @ Nov 17th 2009 5:05AM
hmmmm
bm @ Nov 17th 2009 6:23AM
Oh wow, the ripoff gets more blatant with every screenshot I see. I try to tell myself, oh, it's just an homage... but then look at the screen at the top of the article. Seriously Atlus?
Tony @ Nov 17th 2009 7:51AM
There's a fine line between ripoff and homage and personally I feel investing the time to think about it isn't really worthwhile. Fun is fun from my end. Game looks neat and it looks fun. Nintendo doesn't own the rights to "bats in a dungeon room".
I can't afford a PS3 right now, but I am hoping From goes forward with the 360 port they've semi-considered.
bm @ Nov 17th 2009 3:02PM
Oh come on. Stop kidding yourself. That up there, that goes way beyond just "bats in a dungeon room".
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith-ATDF Co-Founder @ Nov 17th 2009 9:07AM
Probably have to get this. That's assuming I've beaten all the 2010 titles first, though with Atlus's low print runs, waiting may not be a good idea.