Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime offers an inventive blend of action, puzzle-solving, and light platforming, all viewed from a charming top-down perspective. You control the plucky slime hero as it stretches its body like a rubber band, releasing to fling itself at enemies or ricochet off walls. This core “Elasto Blast” mechanic feels fresh and satisfying, whether you’re bouncing through a cramped dungeon hallway or flinging yourself across open rooms in pursuit of a fleeing foe.

As you navigate the twisting corridors of Sulabacca Island’s many dungeons, you’ll encounter both puzzles and foes that demand creative use of your stretching ability. Certain chasms can only be cleared by propelling yourself to hit hidden switches, while treasure chests might require precise aim and timing. Enemies range from irritatingly persistent bats to hulking beasts, each with their own attack patterns that you must learn to dodge or counter by ricocheting back at them.

Interwoven with the on-foot exploration are the Slime Tank battles, a unique turret-style minigame that activates when you face off against Shippo Dan’s larger ships. Here, you load your tank with various ammo types—bombs, oil slicks or poison barrels—and engage in strategic shoot-’em-up duels. Timing and ammo management become critical, as you must both defend your own hull and exploit enemy weaknesses to emerge victorious.

Graphics

On the Nintendo DS hardware, Rocket Slime pushes the system’s capabilities to deliver colorful, crisp visuals that pop on the small screens. The environments are rich in detail, from mossy dungeon walls to rolling grasslands surrounding the slime kingdom. Each area has its own distinct color palette and set dressing, ensuring that exploration never feels visually repetitive.

The character animations are delightfully expressive, giving personality to every bouncing slime and scuttling foe. When your slime stretches for an Elasto Blast, its body deforms smoothly, and impact animations feel weighty and satisfying. NPC slimes emit adorable wiggly motions when rescued, reinforcing the game’s upbeat tone.

Special effects, such as explosions in Slime Tank battles or the sparkle from a newly discovered treasure, are handled with bright, playful flourishes. Though the DS’s resolution and polygon count are limited, the game’s art direction compensates by embracing a bold, cartoon-esque style that looks great on the handheld’s screens and never feels muddy or washed out.

Story

The narrative premise of Rocket Slime is simple but engaging: the peaceful Sulabacca Island has been invaded by the nefarious Shippo Dan, and all 100 of your slime brethren have been kidnapped. You alone remain to mount a daring rescue mission, traversing diverse dungeons to free your friends from a grisly fate. This setup provides a clear goal and constant motivation to press forward.

As you progress, you encounter quirky characters—both friend and foe—who contribute to the game’s lighthearted humor. The Shippo Dan officers deliver over-the-top villainy in short cutscenes, and the rescued slimes greet you with triumphant chatter. Though the story rarely ventures into deep drama, its cheerful tone and episodic structure keep things engaging.

Side quests and hidden detours enrich the narrative by offering glimpses of life in the slime kingdom before the invasion. Fishing minigames, treasure hunts and optional boss fights fill in backstory and reward exploration. While the plot itself remains straightforward, these diversions add layers of world-building and make the rescue mission feel more meaningful.

Overall Experience

Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime succeeds at delivering a fresh and endlessly charming adventure on handheld hardware. Its innovative physics-based mechanics and varied dungeon design offer a satisfying balance of challenge and accessibility. Beginners will appreciate the intuitive controls, while veteran players can master tighter ricochet angles and Slime Tank strategies.

Replay value is enhanced by collectible treasures, secret areas and a ranking system for each dungeon, encouraging you to revisit familiar locales with new tactics. The game’s upbeat soundtrack and delightful sound effects further elevate the experience, making every bounce, boom and slime rescue feel rewarding.

Whether you’re a longtime Dragon Quest fan or new to the series, Rocket Slime provides a captivating and joyful romp through a colorful world under siege. Its blend of action, puzzles and tactical minigames offers enough variety to keep you engaged from start to finish. If you’re seeking a lighthearted yet cleverly designed handheld adventure, this game is a must-have.

Retro Replay Score

8.1/10