Was going to give it a 9 for relatively small amount of content, but updates have continuously fixed that up. Splatoon's aesthetic style, gameplay, and overall package are all top notch. I had never played shooters before Splatoon, and was simply curious since the mechanics looked interesting. But now 4 months after the game release, I'm still actively playing it. There's a lot of strategic depth behind this game's cute exterior, which is of course very Nintendo-like.
Classic Kirby on the 3DS, what more is there to say? I enjoyed the level design and subtle 3D effects in the game, as well as the more detailed copy abilities. Gyroscope puzzles were also a neat addition, and some were quite creative. It's a solid game, and I had a lot of fun with it. The final world also ramped up the challenge quite a bit, and it was very enjoyable. Overall though, it's a solid ~15 hours of fun to be had, and that is where it loses one point for me, I wish it were a bit longer.
For what started out as an experimental minigame, Captian Toad has become an excellent title. Even at its budget price tag, Captain Toad still packs excellent quality. The level designs are excellent and really show off Nintendo's creativity. The game also oozes with charm, one really can't help but crack a smile while playing this game. I'm thoroughly enjoying what I've seen so far, it's definitely worth checking out if you're into puzzles at all.
In terms of gameplay and content, this game is immense. The dev. team put a ton of love into this game, and it shows in the little quirks throughout. The new fighters all have distinct and fascinating styles, and there has been significant rebalancing of brawl's inconsistencies, and the removal of "features" like tripping that fans have complained about. Beautiful graphics, mammoth soundtrack, tight controls, and of course, an absolute blast to play with friends. You really can't go wrong with this iteration of Smash, go buy it and love it!
An absolutely astounding game, especially for its price tag. Child of Light is a mix of RPG and 2D Platformers, and the blend works very well. It takes influences from series such as Final Fantasy and Zelda, and then blends it all together with a charming fairytale atmosphere. The result is a game that feels simultaneously familiar, yet also innovative in subtle and key ways. Gameplay wise, it's a brilliant title from start to finish. In particular, I was surprised by how deep the battle system was. It feels very much like the classic Final Fantasy ATB, but the focus on interruptions and dynamic cast times makes winning a difficult fight in the game exhilarating. Ubisoft did an excellent job providing the player with lots of options in terms of characters and roles. There's also an "oculi" system, a light relic/materia system in a sense. The result is a highly satisfying amount of customization. It's never overwhelming, and for a $15 game, it completely exceeded my expectations. The title's graphics and music are a delight. The Ubiart engine does an amazing job of brining the world of lemuria to life, and the soundtrack is a beautiful mix of violin and piano. This is definitely a title in which you'll stop playing for awhile just to take in the magnificence of the atmosphere created. Overall, I can't recommend child of light enough, it's definitely one of the best titles on the eshop right now.
Persona is a special game that can't be described well in words... It features one of the most compelling stories I have ever had the pleasure of playing through, commentating on 21st century teenage life in all of its complexities and absurdities. Its network of characters are all fantastically developed, which is not a surprise considering that the main premise of the game is saving each character from his/her darker thoughts and ambitions. Thematically, Persona is profound, deep, powerful, and at times flat out outrageous. But that's what makes it so memorable. This is one story and cast that you won't be forgetting anytime soon. As a game, Persona captures the essence of a JRPG, mixing together creature collection, summoning and magic systems, and the classic swapable 4 member party. The battles have lots of surprises, flow very quickly and cohesively, and feature some of the most creative enemy design I have ever seen. Really, I don't feel I can do Persona 4 justice by simply trying to explain its elements. This is one game you really have to play as a whole to see its genius.
You may have heard that this game doesn't have a good battle mode... That the item balance is still a bit off... Or maybe that it has a strange character roster featuring a few too many koopalings... And all of it is true. But the gameplay itself in MK8 is so ridiculously polished and amazing that for me, all of that was overshadowed. Sure, Nintendo didn't include as many bells and whistles in MK8 as in other titles, but as a game itself, it can't be faulted. Presentation and graphics are all top notch, and the music is absolutely stellar with its unique orchestration and various styles. There's also a lot of nuance to the courses with anti-gravity, air, and sea travel finally implemented on a console MK. Its a game that entertains without fail, even long after all the tracks have worked themselves into your memory (which they will!) Can't recommend this game more, definitely a definitive title on the Wii U.
Nintendo Land is not the Wii Sports of Wii U, despite what you may have heard. It's much, much better. Nintendo Land features fleshed out mini games of Nintendo's IPs, but these games are hardly just distractions. The multiplayer and cooperative games are always a blast, and the simple pick up and play nature of them allows anyone to get in on the fun, while still featuring a decent skill cap that allows more experienced players to experiment with more advanced tactics. The whole game is also laid out with a charming theme of toys and yarn, and in HD it works very well. Overall, Nintendo Land surprised me with its depth and simple, undeniable fun despite its low price tag.
A nice evolution of Advance Wars. Intelligent Systems took a huge risk here and completely overhauled the Visual and even strategic nature of the game. While some may argue that the new gameplay elements are for the worse, I think that is largely just nostalgia talking. As someone who has played every AW released in the US, I think the new CO system is amazing, and the game overall disposes of the clutter and imbalance issues that dual strike had. For once in an AW, there is a serious story. And it's actually fairly compelling, I would say even on the level **** JRPG story. Days of Ruin takes war seriously, and recognizes the repurcusions of it, which is a nice change of pace from the fun and games of previous AWs. The difficulty is also set pretty high for the last few missions (I mean really really high) so the campaign lasts a good while, and S ranking the campaign is harder than ever. Overall, definitely rivals, if not bests previous AWs in quality and value. Excellent game.
Bravely Default is a paradox. Much of the game is incredibly innovative and fresh, such as the battle system, the writing, and especially the story (which takes the classic FF plot and completely turns it on its head.) Yet at the same time, it also clings endearingly to its roots in older games like FFIII, with its classic leveling and job systems, as well as the core overworld+dungeon system that has been always mainstay of oldschool RPGs. I can't emphasize how important this juxtaposition of old and new is to the game's core. We have chibi characters with high pitched voices... making veiled sexual jokes and addressing issues such as business ethics and prostitution. The game opens with beautiful, symphonic music as one would expect from this genre. Then the rest of the soundtrack is full of electric guitars and head pounding drum beats. One could say that BD is a game that doesn't know what kind of style it wants to go for. But the developers have somehow managed to keep the game feeling cohesive, which is a feat in and of itself. The result is a truly fascinating and unique game. Moving into more specifics. I loved the graphical style of the game, which features cute, deformed characters on gorgeous backdrops. It works very well on the 3DS. The soundtrack is... outstanding. I can't even think **** word to describe the score of this game, from its use of theme and variation to its huge variety of musical styles and instruments, all of which are executed perfectly. The gameplay is similarly well executed, if not a bit predictable at times. The sheer variety of strategic options in BD's battle system keeps battles interesting, and inclusions such as a fast forward button are welcomed for grinding sessions. Speaking of grinding, the overall difficulty of the game is very well scaled, and the final boss in particular pulls no punches, being able to OHKO a party that doesn't play defensively. All in all, BD is a standout title in the 3DS's already stellar library. Why did it lose 1 point from me? For me, it really comes down to the last 10 or so hours of the game, which progress very slowly, and feel like a bit of a cheap shot for extending the game's length. Then again, this is a 50-60 hour game, and by the time one reaches the aforementioned portion, the suspense in the plot should be enough to propel him/her to the end. Nevertheless, I felt it to be a slight blemish on this otherwise amazing game. I struggled to think of a way to close this review and sum up BD... But I really can't. There's just too much going on in this package to tie up and present. Go play it!
I really wish I could give this game a 9.5... In many ways, Pokemon X revolutionizes Pokemon as we know it, there are so many fascinating additions for competitive and casual players alike. From a strategy perspective, the game's competitive scene has been balanced from the hyperoffensive style of B/W. The new fairy type works wonders for balancing the type chart, and overall, it's evident that GameFreak spent a lot of time figuring out how to make the game more interesting and strategic for players willing to dig deeply into pokemon deceptively simply battle system. For casual players, we have interesting new features like pokemon amie, character customization, and greatly improved graphics/animations for the pokemon. Going back to B2/W2 after this game is almost unbearable, X blows them completely out of the water. I think the graphics deserve a special mention. Pokemon has never been known for being the most graphically intense game on any console it has existed on, and yet X succeeds where others have failed. This is a pretty game. Certainly not on par with games like resident evil revelations, but for pokemon, it works very well. The cel-shaded, fully animated pokemon models look gorgeous, and attacks look fresh, exciting, and well executed. The presentation in this game is top-notch. For casual and competitive players alike, the game introduces what may be one of the most revolutionary elements in a pokemon game since we got wifi connection in D/P. The PSS. It's available right from the start at the bottom of the screen and constantly updates with information pertaining to the status of your friends or random passerbys so long as you're connected to the internet. Game chat allows you to use your 3DS as a telephone to speak with your friends, making it marvelously easy to see your friend online and challenge him/her to a battle or trade. You can give o-powers to your friends, view others PR videos, the list just goes on and on. The PSS is a huge addition to making pokemon what it was meant to be, a social game. Why can't I give this game a perfect score despite its many strengths? Quite simply, content wise, it feels like a bit of a watered down experience compared to other pokemon games. There is very little postgame content, making this a 30-40 hour adventure and nothing more if one does not decide to jump into the world of competitive battling. Pokemon games traditionally have had so much to explore and do that they could easily last 80+ hours per run through. The lack of some old features such as gems, all the berries, and some of the old lengendaries just add to that "new, but skinny" generation feeling. Everyone knows that everything will become more fleshed out in Z or whatever the 3rd edition will be called. It's a little frustrating to see the signs so evidently. Nevertheless, Pokemon X is a brilliant game that owners of the 3DS shouldn't miss. It becomes an exponentially better game when one gets involved with the huge community behind it. Even just a small group of friends who also play will make the game that much better. Of course, if one were to play it as a single player game, it's a fun little 30-40 hour RPG, and the Pokemon charm still can't be denied.
I'm really kind of conflicted about XIII-2. I came into the game thinking all the flaws of XIII were to be fixed, and the game certainly didn't disappoint in that regard. I was shocked to find problems of a whole different caliber take their place. One aspect of the game I disliked in particular was that the Cerberus-X paradigm essentially beat 99% of random encounters for you. Because Square enix made the game more open, there are a lot more random encounters in the game, making a more streamlined combat system that doesn't focus as much on staggering necessary. But this makes most of the encounters just a flashy X button mashing fest. It also hurt that the story seemed to lose focus as the game wore on, becoming convoluted and confusing, sans a few touching moments. Why do I still give the game an 8 then? Well, the game still has its share of assets, the most prominent being presentation. The worlds of XIII-2 and absolutely astounding, especially now that they are completely open for exploration. The music in the game is also one of the best soundtracks in the series, with an unusual amount of interesting vocal arrangements for key tracks. Serah, Noel, and the rest of the cast are strong, and help mitigate the confusing story. The game's open structure can definitely attract those not as concerned with advancing the story, although completing sidequests will make the game even easier than it already is. ' Ultimately, it's still a strong game, but with its fair share of flaws. Should you give it a shot? Yes, I think you should. Just realize that it's a very different sort of game than its predecessor, and whether that's for the better is up to you.
Graphics and presentation were nice, but I couldn't help but feel the overall experience was a bit bare bones even compared to other mystery dungeon games. The overall impression the game left on me after a few hours was decidingly childish I'm sorry to say. I haven't finished the game yet, so take my opinion with a grain of salt, but I was not overly impressed with the game as a whole.
Simply outstanding... Timeless graphics/presentation, superb and innovative gameplay, and a well told mature story are only a few reasons to love this game. It mixes so many genres together in a euphoric blend of rpg and strategy that anyone can pick up and love. I can't think of any faults to this masterpiece, go out and get it already!
As a relatively new FF fan who just finished VI and VII, I definitely approached XIII with a grain of salt. Many have said it's not like FF at all, or its so linear as to ruin the experience. I can safely say that everyone's opinion was correct... to a certain degree. Yes, FF XIII is exceedingly linear to a fault, and I can see how this would ruin the game for many traditional FF fans. Nevertheless, I don't see why this one low point overshadows the rest of the game's magnificent strengths. In terms of design, the artistic sense and music are excellent, definitely on par if not exceeding the FF standard. The story, while convoluted at times is actually pretty sophisticated, and one who is willing to sift through the copious amounts of information in the datalog will find a nuanced and fascinating tale. Even if some didn't like characters such as Hope or Vanille, the cast as a whole is very strong, playing extremely well off each other and having great voice acting. Even the linearity has its benefits. It adds to the overall streamlined feel of the game. It's really hard to explain it to someone who hasn't played through the game, but there's a sense of slickness to everything in the game. The menus are clean and efficient, the crystarium system is easy to use, and the combat is fast, strategic, and yet understandable. Even though you only control one character at a time, combat in XIII is really a joy. True, the system doesn't show all its features until around chapter 3 out of 13, but once it does it shines for the rest of the game, especially once you have access to all roles and characters. I'm not really sure where the concept that you can just auto battle the whole game came from. Obviously these people never made it to mid-game bosses such as Barthandelus. This is a 40 hour long game, and the combat really doesn't ever get dry, save for grinding (which the main story is perfectly possible without.) Overall, its not a perfect game, but its definitely worthy of its FF title for its overall excellent production qualities, tight gameplay, and excellent story. While the linearity is a turn off for some, its just a different style for others, and one that is perfectly enjoyable if one can appreciate its strengths. I can safely say I was impressed and pleasantly surprised by XIII, although I still like VI the best.
I'm a longtime fan and it's great to see FE evolve yet retain its essence. Intelligent Systems has managed to perfect the classic FE formula while adding new elements as well. They have listened to the fans and provided more character depth and support conversations. The game is more friendly for casual players than ever with the new casual mode and the normal/easy mode. However, Awakening's lunatic mode is a tremendous challenge, even for FE veterans like me. The music is lush, the gameplay is sublime, the presentation is the best on 3ds, honestly I can't find any fault in this game except that it's so addictive you'll be **** into it and use up all your free game time! If you have a 3ds, don't do yourself the disservice of not playing this game.
Xenoblade takes the Wii and really makes it work! The graphics are solid(though definitely not the best such as Metroid Prime 3 or Galaxy) and the music is among the best soundtracks I have ever heard. The gameplay is fast and interesting and overall the package is just great. But despite all these factors, it just doesn't feel particularly memorable. The quest system feels like a skeleton, often asking you simply to kill some monsters or gather materials on the field. These are not Zelda side quests with interesting back stories or lots of unexpected twists and turns. The first 15 or so hours can leave one wishing for more interesting characters, and the cutscenes, while nice, don't feature lip syncing which is a real letdown. This is balanced out by the amazing British accents in the game though :) Overall, a solid JRPG that simply doesn't standout too much to this weary gamer who has probably played a few too many JRPGs in his life.
Make no mistake, this is a polished game. However, I hold Fire Emblem to a higher standard due to the quality of the other games, and this one fails compared to them. True this is a remake of a very old game, but nearly no attempt was made to flesh the story out or update the mechanics. Playing through it, I little attachment to my characters or the plot in general, which is simply told through a short chapter description before each mission. Fire Emblem isn't just a tactics game! There are far better TBS games out there! It's appeal has always been the RPG element, the compelling story, and lovable characters. Strip FE from this, and it becomes only a solid, but not outstanding tactical role playing game.
Poor single player, but the multiplayer is excellent and very polished. A blast to play with friends especially since you only need one card. Other stand outs include the graphics and decent soundtrack. Still, it definitely doesn't have the same atmosphere as the console series. It's more like a sampler, though without the innovation or creative level design that the console games are famous for.
The main complaint about this game everyone seems to have is the controls. Personally, I have absolutely no problem with them! I would take the stylus to aim over an analog anyday, and I didn't find holding the 3ds to be tiring (if you do, there is a stand.) Disclaimer: I have played Metroid Prime Hunters before, which has the exact same control scheme, however it only took me an hour or two to adjust to that, and when I played with my friends they got used to it in an hour or two as well. In reality, I think this control thing is blown out of proportion. These days, critics and gamers alike are more critical since there is so much more to compare with. But if you just look at the game, play it without reading the reviews and all the preconceptions you will form from them, you will enjoy games a lot more! This is a prime example. Don't let the controls get to your head, they don't take long to adjust to and the rest of the game is fantastic. The soundtrack is exquisite, it has the best voice acting and script I've ever had the pleasure to listen to, and the graphics are some of the best on 3DS. The customization system creates lots if replay, and the multiplayer mode only magnifies it more. It's really a stellar game, and anybody who owns a 3ds should at least give it a try.
Simply a timeless, amazing game. Even if your not a fan of TBS, it's a must try. The amount of options for gameplay are staggering, and the multiplayer and interesting new combat mode just sweeten the deal. Only thing missing is wifi battles, but that is included in days of ruin.
The best RPG experience on the DS, it's simply great. The graphics are excellent for the DS, there are full VA cutscenes weaved into the story, lots of customization and everything that FFIII missed. Active time battle system is still great after all these years and the difficulty keeps you on your toes. A game you don't want to miss on the DS.
Final Fantasy III
Average User Score: 7.6
7
It's not bad, but not astounding. Final Fantasy is known for having very high production values, but this remake for the DS isn't quite up to speed it seems. Honestly, if only uses 1 screen for most of the game, and no attempts to update the classic but ancient JRPG formula have been made. This makes it somewhat repetitive at times and may turn newcomers off, as and even the best tactician will probably have to grind to get through this game. Still despite all this, FFIII uses a lot of creative and fun concepts in its gameplay, the shining example of this being the job system. This system alone brings unlimited strategic depth to your combat team, almost like pokemon. To sum it up, this game is a remake, but the graphics (which are still bad) are basically the only thing that has been modernized, and it can feel like a very monotonous game at times. Nevertheless, RPG fans will find this game decent, and it still has that FF atmosphere we all know and love.
If you've played Rune Factory before, this may come as somewhat of a letdown. The developers definitely took a risk, but it falls slightly flat, making the game seem like a cheap imitation of a lot of other games. It still has the charm of Rune Factory, but the loss of the traditional farm system was a huge disappointment, as that was always the beef of the gameplay. The game has been shifted towards combat and interaction, which had a somewhat mixed effect on the game. The novelty of Rune Factory always came from the atmosphere and "suite" of things to do in a fantasy world. When focused on only a small part of that world (like combat), they turn into almost mini-games, and not very well done ones at that. However, the sheer amount of stuff to do does balance this out, as each is actually kinda fun, and you'll almost never feel a lack of things to do in this game. Luckily, all the elements actually do blend together into a surprisingly cohesive game. Overall, it's a pretty game that would make a great relaxing change of pace. It's easy to lose an hour or two in this fantasy world. Like all Harvest Moon games, the appeal of building something rather than destroying can't be denied, and although it falls a bit flat from the other Rune Factory games, it is unique in it's own respect, showing risk taking from the developers. If you've never played Rune Factory before, by all means try this game, but don't judge the rest of the series by this alone. I would recommend Rune Factory Frontier or 3 for the DS over this, but it is by no means a bad game. One of the better ones I've tried this year.
This is an excellent game. Even if your not a fan of farming or sims, if you have a wii you ought to give this a shot. All the elements of harvest moon and a light RPG are meshed pretty nicely in this. If you've ever played Rune Factory for the DS, this is a perfect transition. You can tell there were some pretty high production values for this game, as the graphics are beautiful and a lot of hand drawn are and excellent cutscenes are strewn throughout the game. It falls shy of perfect for some nitpicky things like the inability to stack items (like in RF3), the absurd difficulty (takes at least 60 hours to complete the game with a focus on upgrading weapons and combat ability), and the fairly significant 5-10 second load time between areas that noticeably slows the pace of your day down. Still, its a great start for Rune Factory on the Wii, and it's pretty cheap (though its kinda rare) so pick it up if you can, you'll be surprised at how fun this game can be.
It's an underrated addictive game. Even compared to the other Rune Factories, this one is perfect in all it does. Expedited travelling, a quest system that adds story depth and more opportunities for exciting new items. Easier forging with instant access to storage, better dungeon design and bosses. A story that you actually kinda care about, more convenient farming. Deeper, more interesting characters, more strategy to battles, the list of improvements to this gem go on and on. Probably one of the best DS games I've had the joy to play and I've played a lot of good DS games.
This game has all the depth of a console mario kart on a handheld. The tracks are beautiful and detailed, the models are well rendered and simple but good refinements to the traditional formula make this a must own for 3DS. The fact that none of the new elements like kart customization and gliders feel fun instead of being gimmicks is more than you can say for most wii games already, and the multiplayer is simply astounding. Wifi is excellent, local multiplayer is great, you can even set up your own grand prix! Honestly, I don't see any other 3DS game matching this in quality except OoT 3D and maybe the upcoming Metal Gear Solid.
A lot of skyward sword is either love or hate. I love the new graphics style as well as the new gameplay elements, however I can easily see why someone would not. The stamina bar for example, could either be seen as something that adds to movement strategy or simply another useless meter to worry about. The graphics could either be viewed as laziness or nintendo's way of creatively using the limited power of the aging wii. Speaking of graphics, they are probably (as was with wind waker) the most criticized element of the game. However, I think they're beautiful. Just look into the sky in Faron Woods, or take a stroll through sky loft at night, the impressionist influence really pops. If the graphics style was too realistic, the whole game would lose its whimsical and colorful atmosphere, which could potentially break the game. Combat is excellent, swordplay is now longer just mashing b. Almost all the enemies (save the generic keese/chus) require a special element to defeat them. To provide an example of the depth motion plus gives to combat, remembering OoT when the skullutas just turned around for you? Now you have to horizontally slice them to get them to spin, and then thrust to hit the center. If you thrust first, they just knock into you. All in all, the best time I've had on my WIi in a long time.
This game is underrated. The gameplay is absolutely fantastic, with difficulties to accommodate newcomers and long time veterans alike. It is by far the most challenging game I've played in awhile on hard mode. The story isn't particularly special, but it's original enough to keep you interested. Character list is massive, and customizing as well as strategy is top notch. Replayability is also through the roof, as second play through even gives you perks. The only complaint I have is the low poly graphics on the maps, but the competent battle scenes as well as exquisite music more than make up for that.
If you can get past the graphics (which I personally prefer) then this is perhaps the best entry in the Zelda series. It has an absolutely massive overworld, it's often hard to progress the story because there's just so much random interesting stuff! Once you do get to the dungeons, they are cleverly designed, and the game overall has a sense of epicness to it. My favorite Zelda, and I have played all of them from OoT.
Great Zelda game, especially for those "new gamers" who can't seem to pick up the original because of the technological gap. Everything overall is a step up from the original, and the gameplay is still fresh from decades ago. It's also the first "long 3-d" zelda on handheld.
Simply the most absorbing game I've ever played. It has the refinement of zelda with an amazing graphics engine and an unquestionable amount of atmosphere. I play to this day, it's better than 90% of what's on wii.
