Game Freaks 365’s Nintendo 3DS Guide
By Kyle W. Bell
Smashwords Edition 2, March 2012
(Originally Published December 2011)
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Copyright © Kyle Bell 2012
License Notes:
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
Cover design by Angel Cortes cortesangel@live.com
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Table of Contents
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Introduction
You earn a check that only gets you by enough to pay your bills. Maybe you struggle to make a car payment. You really want to play the latest video game, perhaps Resident Evil: Revelations or Super Mario 3D Land, but your budget does not allow you to buy both. What should you get?
Picking good games can be hard. Avoiding duds can be even more difficult. That's why smart consumers turn to experts on the subject. Game Freaks 365 was founded to help people choose games that are worth their hard earned dollar and bypass games that are better suited for the trash can. Writing about video games is our passion. This guide aims to help the smart consumer pick the best games that the Nintendo 3DS has to offer.
Over twenty reviews from some of the finest games on the 3DS are included in Game Freaks 365's Nintendo 3DS Guide, including popular titles like Dead or Alive Dimensions, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Mario Kart 7, Nano Assault, Resident Evil: Revelations, Ridge Racer 3D, Sonic Generations, Star Fox 64 3D, Super Mario 3D Land and Super Street Fighter IV 3D.
So what are you waiting for? Get reading!
Reviews
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Date: March 27, 2011
Available On: 3DS
I was looking forward to playing some racing games on the 3DS. Blazing at top speeds with the environment coming to life with an enhanced sense of depth is what it should be all about. At least with the launch titles, that does not appear to be the case. It certainly is not with Asphalt 3D, a clumsy attempt that is better suited for the smartphone market.
The game has only three main modes: career, free race and multi-player. The career mode takes place over the course of fourteen different series. Each series contains four events and one bonus event that gets unlocked after completing all events. Some of these are straight-up races, others are takedown events, duels and so on.
All of this sounds fine and good until you start playing. You quickly find yourself retracing your way through the exact same courses in different game modes. In the first series alone you race twice in San Francisco, twice in Aspen and once in Athens (but don’t worry, they’ll make sure you race in Athens again in the next series). Repetition is the name of the game and it is excruciatingly boring.
Gameloft managed to attain some licensed vehicles for Asphalt 3D. The number of cars is relatively impressive for a handheld title at over 40. Use the points that you acquire in the races to tune-up your ride by buying new parts. Further customization is allowed cosmetically by applying decals and painting your vehicle.
These are things we have come to expect with racing games. Asphalt set out at the bare minimum for a product in the genre. Unfortunately, it shows quite vividly in the graphics department. I can quite confidently say that Nintendo DS games look about as good as this. The cities in this game would not even be convincing on the PS2. Asphalt 3D is plagued by slowdown. Seeing oncoming cars is difficult to near impossible. You’ll find yourself crashing unexpectedly, causing you to lose the race and restart.
As far as the 3D goes in the game, the graphics do jump out at you a little bit, especially the cars. However, none of what I see in the game screams to me as being worthy of extra attention and in fact, the 3D only highlights the jagged edges within the game. It certainly in no way enhances your sense of speed or immersion in the race.
Speaking of speed, Asphalt 3D has no sense of it at all. Whether the speedometer is saying you are going 70 or 150, you really cannot tell much of a difference. Worse yet, it feels like you are driving on ice when you turn. It is not that you lose complete control, but more that the wheels do not have a sense of being grounded.
I was hoping that Asphalt 3D would prove to be a launch success. The Nintendo 3DS hardware has a lot of potential with racing games. The developers at Gameloft missed a key opportunity to show off the system by making a shoddy product that is a true sham for consumers at $40. I would recommend that gamers pass up Asphalt 3D and wait until a more legitimate racing title reaches the market. Ubisoft, we expect more from you than this.
Graphics: 5
Sound: 6
Gameplay: 4
Creativity: 5
Replay Value/Game Length: 5
Final: 5 out of 10
Written by Kyle
Cubic Ninja
Developer: AQ Interactive
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Date: June 14, 2011
Available On: 3DS
The best way to use a new technology is to go all-in. At least that must be the motto behind Cubic Ninja as this title features nothing but the Nintendo 3DS' gyroscope. That is to say that it does not have any buttons at all. Yep, none at all. This is basically a Wii platformer on the 3DS.
You play as CC, a cube-shaped ninja (as the title suggests) out to save a princess. In order to do this you will tilt your way through the world getting from the start of a level to an end-point. There's nothing terribly innovative about any of this, except for the input device.
I have never been opposed to using motion controls for creative uses. The problem comes up when the controls themselves become an impediment to gameplay. This is readily apparent when you attempt to play around with the three-dimensional world that CC lives in. Having the character move towards you means tilting the system towards you, obscuring your vision in the process.
While the gameplay mechanics can detract from the experience, the platforming is actually quite solid. You get a nice variety of obstacles, hazards, and even occasional boss battles. The game will take you only a few hours to beat, unfortunately. Throw in a level creator and time attack mode; that’s about it. It is also worth noting that due to the movement necessary to play, Cubic Ninja does not support 3D.
Cubic Ninja is a fresh concept that you would be more likely to find on an iPhone these days than a 3DS. It is a fun and imaginative game that would probably be better suited for a $20 budget release than the full $40 that Ubisoft is asking for it. When the red clearance tag gets put on it, give Cubic Ninja a second look.
Graphics: 7
Sound: 5
Gameplay: 7.5
Creativity: 8.5
Replay Value/Game Length: 6
Final: 6.8 out of 10
Written by Kyle
Dead or Alive Dimensions
Developer: Team Ninja
Publisher: Tecmo Koei
Release Date: May 24, 2011
Available On: 3DS
It has been fifteen years since Dead or Alive made its debut in arcades. While it has since become a favorite of console gamers, the franchise has never appeared on a Nintendo system before. That changes with Dead or Alive Dimensions, an original fighting title designed specifically for the Nintendo 3DS. Fighting fans are sure to be more than pleased.
The minute that you start playing Dead or Alive Dimensions you notice how beautiful it looks for a portable title. Certainly graphics have always been a big draw of the Dead or Alive franchise, but I really was not expecting to see such a stunning title this early in the 3DS’s life cycle. Characters are well-detailed, although there are moments when you notice jagged edges.
The 3D is the most striking of any game on the system to date. The levels (and even the menus) pop right out at you. The game looks just as good in 2D, although this is one of the few games on the system where I can say the 3D has the advantage. The 3D is brighter and seems more vibrant. As usual, cleavage is readily apparent on the female characters, even more so in 3D.
I was surprised to see that Team Ninja went all-out in terms of game modes. I was expecting more along the lines of an arcade experience, but they actually have a ton of content on here for a fighting game. You get a story in Chronicle Mode that spans the entirety of the franchise. This is a great mode to learn some new moves, since it basically acts as a tutorial for fighting techniques.
Other modes include Arcade (where you fight a consecutive number of people), Survival (challenge a set number of fighters and see if you can last), Tag Challenge (team up with the AI to take on powerful opponents), Free Play (you choose the fighters and the level), Training, Local Play (multi-player in the same room with two 3DS systems), and Internet Play. Each of these modes brings something different to the table. You can hone your skills in Training or fight with a friend online.
The fights themselves last less than a minute each. This is exactly the type of game intended for handheld play. You want something fast-paced and over in short bursts of time. Dead or Alive Dimensions does a great job keeping you engaged and interested. You will also need to play a variety of game modes in order to unlock all of the characters in the game. Overall, there are more than twenty Dead or Alive characters that you can unlock.
As someone that does not go out of my way to play a fighting game, I walked away impressed with Dead or Alive Dimensions. The gameplay is not nearly as intimidating for newcomers as some other fighting games. Better yet, you can learn the ropes by playing through the story mode and following the in-game directions for moves. The graphics in Dead or Alive Dimensions are quite amazing for an early release title. Finally, the fact that it packs so many game modes makes it well worth the price.
Graphics: 9
Sound: 8
Gameplay: 9
Creativity: 8
Replay Value/Game Length: 8.5
Final: 8.7 out of 10
Written by Kyle
Dream Trigger 3D
Developer: ART
Publisher: D3 Publisher
Release Date: May 10, 2011
Available On: 3DS
The Nintendo 3DS, lacking a juggernaut franchise like Mario, is bound to have a sleeper hit amongst its early titles. If only a company would release something truly innovative that blew away our preconceived notions of what a game should be. D3 Publisher undoubtedly hoped that it would be them. Dream Trigger accomplished at least part of that – it blew my mind away, but not in a positive way.
Where to start? Dream Trigger is undoubtedly a unique concept. You fly around as a butterfly with the objective of killing invisible enemies. No, this is not Killer 7. The enemies float around the screen shooting stuff at you while you try to avoid it. In order to reveal these enemies you have to ping them by dropping sonar bombs on them. Only then can you inflict damage.
There are two main problems with the premise of this game. The first is that it requires you to switch between viewing the top and bottom screens constantly while also avoiding a frenetic onslaught of enemy attacks. The bottom screen is your radar where you can see the enemy representing as dots on a grid. The second problem is that when you need to drop your sonar bomb to reveal the top screen you need to use the stylus.
It is possible to use the A button instead, but it only drops the bomb where your butterfly dude is located on the screen. Essentially you are screwed either way: use the stylus and deal with the wonkiness of holding the system, moving the butterfly with the analog stick, holding a stylus, and pressing the trigger to fire… or you can avoid using the stylus by pressing A and risk dying multiple times because you get too close to the enemies. It’s your call! Which way do you prefer to die?
To make matters worse there are no difficulty settings that you can adjust in order to make the game easier. Rarely would I need to do this, but after failing the first level twenty times, you would want to as well. There isn’t even a competent tutorial to guide you through the ins and outs of the game. I understand that Dream Trigger is coming out of Japan, but I expect publishers to vet these types of issues before they get released to the general public.
Dream Trigger does have a few redeeming qualities. On the positive side, the soundtrack is pretty nice. They are essentially electronic renditions of classical music. The graphics are also a pleasant surprise. Each level is a visual treat for the eyes. It’s honestly the best part of the game. The 3D does not do a whole lot for it, although it is easier to judge when you can collect items that are floating around.
D3 Publisher missed an opportunity here. If they had launched Dream Trigger with a more realistic control setup and a friendlier learning curve, it could have been a good addition to the 3DS lineup. As it stands, Dream Trigger is such a hassle to attempt to play that you will more than likely just give up after a while. Only masochists are likely to get much enjoyment out of this.
Graphics: 8.5
Sound: 8
Gameplay: 5
Creativity: 7
Replay Value/Game Length: 6
Final: 6.4 out of 10
Written by Kyle
Driver: Renegade
Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Date: September 6, 2011
Available On: 3DS
I never felt the urge to jump out of a moving vehicle before. If Driver: Renegade were real-life and not just a video game, I might reconsider. This game for the Nintendo 3DS crashes and burns. Good thing that there's an ejector seat, too, in the form of the power button.
Driver: Renegade is a mess in nearly all respects. The story is told through what can best be described as comic book illustrations. The game’s protagonist is undercover cop John Tanner, a potty-mouthed and horribly voice-acted character that drops f-bombs without hesitation. You get the green light by a senator to go on a crusade against criminals outside of the boundaries of law enforcement, because clearly senators have the power to do that.
Most of Driver: Renegade’s missions have you run around the city’s open-world environment, driving your car into enemies to take them out. Other missions have you running into “massage parlors” with your car, collapsing the building in the process. It is somewhat hilarious to watch, but the premise is ridiculous. Similar to Grand Theft Auto you can restore life to your car simply by going through a drive-in repair shop.
The sad thing about Driver: Renegade is that the driving mechanics are not bad in and of themselves. It could have been a competent enough game if they had added some variety to the missions, gotten rid of some of the lunacy, and cleaned up the dialogue to where it felt like a foul-mouthed teenager wasn’t responsible for the writing.
This isn’t the worst game I’ve played on the 3DS, Asphalt 3D would get that honor, but it is pretty close. Nearly everything about this game is universally bad and disappointing. A competent driving mechanic isn’t enough to save an otherwise underwhelming game with repetitive missions and a totally unlikable main character.