Normal Mode vs Story Mode – Normal mode has random encounters, hard boss fights, and the ability to open up the entire expansion to the storyline. Story mode there are no random encounters, no shopping, no side jobs, you cannot open the menu and instead only save, can save wherever, and the expansion to the storyline that unlocks Cerabum and Rahmur are not available.
Night and day cycles – Night and day can change how a town feels and what is open or closed. Shops being closed, and ready for robbing them, the Bars are open at night as well as the always open Inn. Dimensional Gates makes sure there are things to do at night in towns, like robbing stores and finding shady characters to sell you exclusive items or send you on side jobs.
Unique Environment for each dimension - Each dimension has several biomes and unique environments as well making them each feel like you traveled to another world.
Robbing stores – Once you get Yosei, as a thief, he can rob any store with an open window at night, unless you unlock his final class. Walking up and just opening a chest isn’t that exciting though, so sometimes you are attacked by the owner of the shop. In these fights, only Yosei is there to fight back forcing you to earn that stolen prize.
Working PC on Airship – Not just fully working, but boots itself up every time you turn it on. With loading screens and beeps at the right time, the PC feels like it really is working. On the PC you have the options to:
Read short stories – Short stories you can read about the characters in the game and more. All written by the Dev David Listzwan, they can help to unravel some of the mysterious side jobs hidden in the game.
Watch movies and shows – RPG themed movie and show parodies to help make the world around you feel alive, and to give you a laugh or two.
News Reels – Media directly from Earth that has no idea about these dimensions. Only the Shetman Corporation knows and is using these dimensions for personal gain. In these news reels, the anchor will go through the stages of the Shetman Corporation rising to power rapidly.
Play video games – Inside of Dimensional Gates video game, are other video games. Not small ones either. There are two other RPG’s that when you beat them, they unlock powerful accessories for the main game. One being another direct RPG like Dimensional Gates, and the other in the style of having the monsters block your path and you have to fight them to move forward. No random encounters in that one.
System Folder – Another fun feature to the game, there are Vending Machines on the Airship that you can upgrade. In the System Folder you can do just that. Finding different discs spread out all over the dimensions, you can unlock powerful Shetman quality accessories and items.
Side Jobs – Obviously extra things you can do in the game to earn rewards; side jobs are also something you need to do the right way. If you do something wrong, or too soon even, it can have dire results you will have to live with. Make sure to do all of your side jobs before moving forward, and do them right, or pay the consequences. Completing Side Jobs can lead to rewards of special reusable items, and even keys needed to unlock the secret at Poshi Cemetery.
NPC’s Working and Playing – For immersion purposes, towns have citizens doing their jobs, playing, and just relaxing and having a good time. Intricate details in their chores that go beyond other RPGs dedication to level of detail.
Image Changes – As you change the armor on each character, their image will change according to that armor to add more immersion. Images only change on character and not text boxes.
Class Leveling Up – Each time you level up a character’s class, they level up their Max stats as well. Doller levels up her Intelligence and Wisdom, while Yeign his Attack and Defense. Magic also evolves to become more powerful and better control as each magic user levels up their class. There is no long list of spells that grows, instead they evolve and grow as their user does.
Instant Dimensional Travel – Like you’ve seen in the trailer, you can travel to and from each dimension with the press of a button using the airship. However, you will have to find and bring back the dimensional crystals from Jamonic, Cerabum, and Rahmur to be able to travel to them with the airship. These dimensions can be traveled to using dimensional gates until then, but only if you unlock the airship in the connecting dimension.
The Shadow Squad – Not just the saviors of Doller, the Shadow Squad are in fact your airship crew. Being a part of the story and stealing the airship for the Dimensional Travelers, the Shadow Squad will instill pride in your airship crew more than any other game has. The Commander guides them, but Symon and Syrah are the heart and soul of the Shadow Squad.
Fighting the Dimensional Beast – Which dimension you fight the beast in is up to you. Once you are able to bring the airship to a dimension, you can fight the beast there. The more you unlock however, the better the outcome. The game doesn’t end with the beast and you will have to live with whichever dimension takes the damage.