A Link to the Future?
The Swords of Ditto is a compact action RPG that creates a unique adventure for each new hero of legend in the relentless fight against the evil Mormo.
The Swords of Ditto is a roguelike RPG that takes inspiration from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. You play as a hero who picks up the Sword of Ditto and heads off to fight the evil Mormo, only to be killed instantly and a hundred years later, a new hero rises and retrieves the sword once again but this time you can actually train up before heading straight to the final boss. That being said, if you die in combat then you will still die for real and have to go through the whole ordeal again.
On the plus side, you still keep your equipment and stay at what level you are at…but it’s still slightly frustrating that you can’t just reload a save or checkpoint to avoid a good trek to carry on your journey. The game is set out in true Zelda form with it’s dungeons and town layout and you only have several days till your showdown with Mormo, but you do gather objects that can make the time longer. In many respects, it’s almost a bit like Majora’s Mask with its time mechanics.
You’ll gather “Toys” which essentially are items to be used in combat or to solve puzzles, like bombs, arrows and so on. The dungeons are obviously Zelda-inspired and they work well because of it and some are on the tricky side, which is what I like in a dungeon. You can also warp to previous visited locations using a kazoo that spawns a bus, all of which sounds very familiar. They do say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, after all.
The 2D cartoon visuals are charming and definitely fit with the vibe of the game. It’s a cute aesthetic overall and the soundtrack is pretty cute too. I didn’t spot any drop in framerate and the game can run at a higher resolution than 1080p if you so choose.
The Verdict
The Swords of Ditto is a charming homage to A Link to the Past but with roguelike RPG elements added on. Some elements may be frustrating for some like having to reclaim the sword every time you die, but these small complaints can’t hold back what is a great action RPG and one that deserves your attention.