Dungeons and Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara: PS3 Review

Dungeons and Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara: PS3 Review

Platform: PS3
Released by Capcom

Ah, retro gaming.

They say nostalgia ain't what it used to be - but given that Capcom's already given us the Arcade Cabinet this year which collected together the likes of 1942 and Commando, as well as Ghosts'n'Goblins, I'd be inclined to disagree.

Thankfully, Capcom's continuing to pump out some real retro classics with this latest side scroller, an updated HD version of Dungeons and Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara.  The original was apparently a fave of the D&D world and had only been found in arcades scattered around the world. Which is kind of odd, because they're fun in a very old school, button mash, grab a group of friends together kind of way.

You get to choose a character to be part of the action, and then you're straight into it - and three other mates can join you as well as you bash away at anything which moves and breathes fire or threatens to kill you. Be you dwarf, elf, wizard or cleric, there's plenty of different strengths to explore and exploit. Magic forms part of the game as well and by accessing the menu through triangle, you can bring up the magic spells and use them to your advantage. It slows down the gameplay ever so slightly, but it's nothing too intrusive.

In terms of the gameplay itself, it's relatively simple - move around the screen, hack and slash your way to victory and save the day. Not exactly rocket science by any stretch of the imagination, but damn it all, it's great fun to play - either solo or with others. Treasures lie around after your various kills and it's worth picking those up and trading on them later on, but if you don't want to spend that time collecting, you can get on with the killing as well.

Clear definition HD graphics only accentuate the arcade experience in that they faithfully reproduce what was on the arcade screen back in the day. I have to admit I've not played the games back then, but these console versions are fun, enjoyable and easy to dive into for a few minutes or a few hours. With the chance to go online as well, you don't have to be a Elfy no mates at home and play solo.

Overall, Dungeons and Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara won't change your life - but it's a solidly entertaining piece of retro gaming that's well worth considering a download from the PlayStation Network for.

And remember, nostalgia is well worth it in the gaming world.

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