Showcase: Chibi Ukiyo-e Heroes (Part II)

I've posted about Jed Henry's outstanding Chibi Ukiyo-e Heroes series before. I just can't get over how awesome these are... Especially that last one with Samus. It's never too late to sign up for your monthly print!

[Jed Henry's Ukiyo-e Heroes]

Showcase: Chibi Ukiyo-e Heroes

I've featured Jed Henry's Ukiyo-e Heroes pieces here and there in the past, but I really wanted to showcase his Monthly Chibi Heroes subscription service. Besides the fact that they are, frankly, adorable, the printing quality of each piece looks to be incredible. The Monthly Chibi Heroes service runs you $20/month.

[Jed Henry's Ukiyo-e Heroes]

Triptych: What A Horrible Night For A Curse

"Belmont Pest Control Specialists" by Greg Barnes

"Castlevania Japanese Ukiyo-e" by Jed Henry

"Castle Relics" (t-shirt) by Winter Artwork

Dragon Quest: The Bar

A Dragon Quest-themed restaurant called Luida's Bar has opened in Tokyo's Roppongi District. I'd have more to say but I'm busy booking a one-way flight to Japan as we speak.

(Yes. I plan to live there, in the restaurant itself, lurking under tables and gathering scraps of fallen food until I have enough material to craft a liquid metal sword. You heard me.)

This is simultaneously the greatest news I've heard all day, and the worst. The greatest, because clearly my daily prayers to the Goddess have not only been heard, but answered; the worst, because I promised to sacrifice my first-born child (as yet unconceived) for it to happen.

3D Dot Game Heroes

3D Dot Game Heroes, from From Software (presumably the software development branch of the Department of Redundancies Department) and Atlus, tickles my novelty bone SO HARD. I'm adding it to my list of reasons to finally buy a PS3 (along with Little Big Planet, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Katamari Forever and the upcoming Final Fantasy XIII) and I DON'T EVEN CARE that it's a complete crib of The Legend of Zelda. You could rip off worse games.

I don't know much about Atlus (although I have their Knights in the Nightmare for my DS, which I hear great things about but have yet to play) and even less about From Software. I firmly believe that they, on the other hand, somehow know ME, because 3D Dot Game Heroes is tailor-made to cater precisely to my videogame demands. If I was ever approached by a game company and asked to make a list of all the things a game would have to include to ensure that I would buy it, 3D Dot Game Heroes would go ten for ten.

That said, I'd be remiss in my responsibilities as videogame blogger if I didn't return to the point mentioned above, namely that 3D Dot Game Heroes is, at heart, an unauthorised clone of The Legend of Zelda. It may be all gussied up in self-aware, ironic new clothes, but the gameplay looks to be pretty much identical to the classic NES title. Personally, I couldn't care less, but others (namely, Nintendo) may have a different take on it.

Gallery and an in-game video clip under the cut.