Many links to the past.
Developers have been chasing Nintendo’s Zelda formula for decades now. So many games get compared to the adventures of Link, but few leave a lasting impression. Developer One Bit Beyond’s latest title brings the familiar dungeon-crawling of the aforementioned series with some really cool ideas that make it stand out. While there are certainly drawbacks to its design, there is no denying that Swords of Ditto left a lasting impression on me.
Let’s start with the visual presentation. This game looks ripped straight out of Cartoon Network’s lineup. The animations are exaggerated and the colors vibrant. The entire world looks like a living cartoon, and it’s gorgeous. Characters are all shapes and sizes with large eyes and defined outlines. I simply adore the cute aesthetic.
MSRP: $19.99
Platforms: PlayStation 4
Price I’d Pay: $19.99
Themes match the colorful look. Items to traverse dungeons are displayed as toys, while passive abilities are equipped using stickers. It is the definition of whimsical and I love it.
The hook to Swords of Ditto is that it follows another popular genre: the roguelike. Every time I died in the game, it starts the cycle over. I got to keep my level and various items, but the entire set of dungeons resets. The game also employs the Majora’s Mask mechanic of time management. Every new game gives the player seven days until the final confrontation. I could also opt to head straight to the final boss at any point, but without taking down the anchors her powers would likely overwhelm me.
My first run I simply was not feeling the game. Once I got a few cycles in though it started to click. The world got smaller and the mechanics became clear. Each series of seven days only lasts a couple hours, and I learned how to manage that time. It was addictive, and I was always excited to see who the new hero would be.
Procedural generation is both a blessing and a curse. The over world stays the same, but the dungeons are entirely generated upon each playthrough. This keeps each run fresh, but also ends up with some weird design choices. There are logics behind each of the puzzles, and sometimes they come together a little too simplified. There are some puzzles that can be solved in seconds and feel more like obstacles than challenges. Still it does keep things from getting frustrating.
I did however run into a few issues with dungeons spawning me into rooms I simply had no idea how to get out of. Thankfully, dying was never an obstacle, and after the second run through I didn’t mind starting over. It was a good loop and just enough retained to give a sense of progression.
Swords of Ditto is a unique take on a tried and true formula. What it brings is interesting, even if it is a bit flawed. I really had a good time after coming to grips with its systems. I definitely recommend it to those who enjoy the Zelda loop. This game’s colorful world and charming aesthetic makeup for its shortcomings.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.