THE SWORDS OF DITTO
Inspired by classics, but not much of a copycat
Sometimes, things don’t go to plan. The Swords Of Ditto knows it, and revels in it. On one hand it makes you and the world deal with the consequences of that failure. But more than anything it gives you a chance to bounce back. It’s redemption one procedurally generated quest at a time, sending you off on a potentially endless adventure (with an optional co-op buddy). Washing up on a beach, you’re told by ghostly dung-beetle Puku (just go with it) that you’ve been chosen as the next-in-line to wield the titular sword of Ditto, and quell an awakening evil. You’re given five days to prepare before tackling the villainous Mormo’s dungeon and attempting to liberate the world from her grasp. Fail, and (roguelike-style) you’ll lose your progress and equipment, carrying on as a new successor to the sword 100 years later, with the overworld, dungeons, and population changed. Given the amount of power you lose, this can sometimes be pretty brutal and disheartening playing solo, as it can take a while to reach your former glory.
Retro-inspired, it plays very much like a link to the past in more ways than one. You have a simple three-hit combo with your sword, and a quick roll that makes combat dynamic and extra satisfying when you land a critical hit.
Exploring the overworld on your quest to weaken Mormo by clearing four main dungeons you’ll cut through plenty of enemies. You’ll also come across little optional caves and puzzles that can yield extra treasure to increase your power for that final encounter, and help you level up the sword that passes from hero to hero.
STICK IT TO ’EM
These power-ups can come in the form of stickers you equip to gain new buffs and abilities (poison resistance or protection from projectiles, for instance), or ‘toys’ – essentially new equipment and weapons. These range from classics like bombs to a vinyl record projectile that bounces off walls, and ‘The Foot’, which summons a giant gorilla from the sky to stomp and stun enemies.
You can’t look at The Swords Of Ditto without noticing the gorgeous comic-styled art that really makes the game stand apart. It’s colourful and vibrant, and it feels like a lot of time has been spent designing and animating every little thing you see. The game is stuffed with genuine character in a genre that’s otherwise quite jam-packed.
Even beyond beating Mormo once, The Swords Of Ditto will challenge you to uphold the peace for as many successive eras as possible, improving the fortunes of everyone living in the world. It’s the sort of game that hides layers of secrets that’ll take multiple runs to fully discover – ways to help deal with the time limit, more quickly power up new characters, and even a little cameo from some orange PlayStation friends.
VERDICT
“THE SORT OF GAME THAT’LL TAKE MULTIPLE RUNS TO FULLY DISCOVER.”
If you like this style of dungeon exploration, then this is a fantastically made one you can play co-op that’s essentially endless, and what’s not to love about that? Oscar Taylor-Kent