Japanese Hobby

Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (3DS)

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<a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B01IW7Z67E" class="amzn_ps_bm_il" data-amzn-link-id="08ee6a11ef1785324aa0f049967afdde" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="luigi's mansion: dark moon (3ds)" href="http://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-Selects-Luigis-Mansion-Dark-Moon/dp/B01IW7Z67E/ref=as_li_bk_ia/?tag=hungtran86-20&linkId=08ee6a11ef1785324aa0f049967afdde&linkCode=kia" id="amznPsBmLink_1847570" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://static3.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2389461-darkmoon1.jpg" width="400" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_1847570" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=hungtran86-20&bm-id=default&l=kia&linkId=08ee6a11ef1785324aa0f049967afdde&_cb=1490752285672" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></div>
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Nintendo has proclaimed 2013 to be "The Year of Luigi": a long overdue celebration of Mario's underdog brother. There are already a few Luigi-themed (or at least partially related) releases to come later in the year, and we wouldn't be surprised if the Japanese games giant had a few more projects tucked up its sleeve. It's a good time to be a fan of the man in green.<br />
And what better way to kick off the festivities than with a sequel to Luigi's most important gaming adventure to date? <b><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B01IW7Z67E" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="287e896c442900ca7cf6710cae66678e" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon" href="http://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-Selects-Luigis-Mansion-Dark-Moon/dp/B01IW7Z67E/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=hungtran86-20&linkId=287e896c442900ca7cf6710cae66678e&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_881583" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_881583" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=hungtran86-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=287e896c442900ca7cf6710cae66678e&_cb=1490752303518" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></b> may be a 3DS title, but it has clearly been developed to offer an entertaining action-adventure experience to mirror that of original GameCube classic. The end result is a worthy and authentic follow-up, and one of the finest titles we've seen yet on the system.<br />
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It's impressive just how much effort has been put into Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon's presentation. This is undoubtedly one of the best-looking games on the system — if not the very best. The environments are crammed full of detail, the physics are spot on and the lighting effects outclass anything else seen on 3DS thus far; of particular note are the character models, which not only look silky smooth, but are also superbly animated.<br />
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This is all further boosted by the game's exceptional storytelling. The plot is undeniably simple: Luigi has been drafted in yet again by the peculiar Professor E. Gadd to rid various mansions and creepy locations of ghosts and ghouls. Yet, it's the frequent dialogue between Gadd and Luigi that really brings the game to life; it's superbly written and there are some genuinely funny moments that all age groups will enjoy. Luigi's character is portrayed flawlessly and, ironically, he's a much stronger lead here than Mario has ever been. That's because he's far more emotive, no doubt due to the fact that he's constantly terrified throughout the game, and forever suffering at the hands of his own clumsiness. Nevertheless, he's a hero in the non-traditional sense and you can't help but want to root for him.<br />
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This game's biggest achievement, however, is it's single-player experience, which is exceptionally well-structured. Each of the game's ghoulish locations is neatly divided up into manageable stages that typically take between 10 and 20 minutes to complete. But don't worry, this doesn't mean that everything is done on a small scale; in fact, it's quite the opposite. Essentially, you start with exploring a certain area within the first stage, and as you progress everything begins to open up at a gradual and manageable pace. As a result, it's very difficult to get lost because everything is familiar to you by the time you reach the boss fight at the end. The map on the bottom screen also does a great job of pointing you in the right direction and giving you clear objectives; you never feel overwhelmed, and this allows you to focus on the finer details.<br />
Having more than one location to explore is a big plus, and it goes a long way towards keeping the experience fresh throughout. Each area presents new challenges — many of which require you to think outside of the box — and you're constantly given varied objectives to complete. This is further complemented by the game's combat sections, which are surprisingly challenging at times. Busting ghosts sounds simple enough: stun them with your Strobulb and then give them a good hoovering. However, some of the pesky ghouls come armed with an array of weapons and defences (such as sunglasses), while others are just incredibly tough. The boss ghost battles are inventive, often requiring you to resort to logic in order to win the day; in this regard, it's a great blast from start to finish and there's never a dull moment.<br />
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It's important to note that when you first pick it up, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is a bit fiddly in the controls department, and you may miss having a second stick at times. In fact, it's somewhat curious that the Circle Pad Pro isn't supported when you take into account that the GameCube original was the first Nintendo game to feature a dual analogue setup. Fortunately, the alternate control scheme implemented by Nintendo is ideal, with the X and B buttons being used to aim up and down. In combat though, things can get a bit cumbersome. Once you start to use your Poltergust 5000 or charge your Strobulb, your directional movement becomes extremely limited. You can't turn left or right while doing these things, meaning that you need to make sure you're facing the right way before you press anything. It's fair to say that this really doesn't get in the way of the gameplay though, and you simply need to approach the combat side of things in a slightly different way to the original; it's still ultimately playable and, in a way, makes the game more challenging and fun as a result.<br />
For those that prefer it, there's the option of gyro controls for aiming up and down, although this will cause you to lose the sweet spot if playing in 3D. Annoyingly, motion control is shoehorned into a few minor parts of the game; when walking across ceiling beams, for example, you have to tilt the system to keep your balance. It's a bit confusing because this isn't made very clear when you first come across it. Thankfully, these moments are few and far between, and they don't impact on your overall enjoyment of the game too much.<br />
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Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon will feel very familiar to those that played the original, but there are still plenty of new ideas. For example, this time around, Luigi has a tool called the Dark-Light device, a special rainbow-coloured beam that reveals hidden doors, objects and even Boos (which you need to find in order to fully complete the game). It's used throughout the entire game, and it's nice how it puts much more emphasis on thoroughly exploring your surroundings.<br />
In fact, exploration is a key element of Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon. Each location is stuffed full of cash, gems and other collectibles, and only the most eagle-eyed player will spot everything; finding every last coin is by no means mandatory, and you can stroll through the game at a relatively quick pace should you wish. However, those that invest more time into this aspect of the game will likely find the experience much more rewarding.<br />
This is because the game uses an upgrade system. Throughout, Luigi is presented with cash targets, where upon achieving them unlocks a handy upgrade. These bolster your equipment, the most vital being the Poltergust 5000 upgrades that greatly enhance its power. While you can technically complete the game without these upgrades, the system is just another nice inclusion that really motivates you to explore everything.<br />
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The game's Thrill Tower multiplayer mode is a pleasant surprise. It certainly isn't perfect, but it's a nice distraction with a surprising amount of depth in places. There are three game modes to choose from: Hunter, Polterpup and Rush, all of which can be enjoyed with up to four players in the game's online, local and download play modes (although the latter has some limitations). In Hunter it's a race against the clock to clear a floor of ghosts, and it gets more and more challenging as you progress. Players really need to work cooperatively if they want to succeed, as the time limit is strict and you have to find rooms in order for them to appear on your map.<br />
Polterpup is inspired by some of the single-player stages, and it requires players to use their Dark-Light devices to track down pesky ghost dogs that are hiding inside furniture and objects on each floor. This mode works better in local play, as teamwork is key, and the game's preset phrases for communicating with other players are awfully limited. Finally, Rush mode lives up to its name, as the goal here is to find a hatch (containing a chest) before the timer runs out. The time allocated for this is remarkably short, and it's certainly a lot tougher with a smaller number of players; this last mode is a nice diversion, but it probably won't hold your interest for as long as the others, if only because the experience doesn't really evolve into anything more challenging as you climb the tower.<br />
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It's clear that a lot of thought has gone into each mode, and on the whole the multiplayer element doesn't feel like it has just been tacked on. With that being said, it isn't as fleshed out as it could have been. For example, it's a bit baffling that the single-player upgrade system wasn't also brought across or in some way linked — upgrades are present, but only last temporarily, and bonus items are randomly assigned in between floors (provided players find four red coins upon completing the floor). Therefore, it's unlikely that this mode will hold your interest for long, and a wider progression system and leaderboards would have certainly helped to extend its replay value.</div>
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Conclusion</h2>
<a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B01IW7Z67E" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="8a1ba129697c081873549d5d3dcd97a3" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon" href="http://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-Selects-Luigis-Mansion-Dark-Moon/dp/B01IW7Z67E/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=hungtran86-20&linkId=8a1ba129697c081873549d5d3dcd97a3&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_9191242" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_9191242" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=hungtran86-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=8a1ba129697c081873549d5d3dcd97a3&_cb=1490752366275" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /> is nothing less than an absolute triumph for Nintendo. Everything about it from its glorious visuals right through to its in-depth, incredibly fun gameplay just oozes high quality. It almost begs the question why this game wasn't developed for Wii U; it's a home console quality experience and proof that on its day the 3DS can deliver above and beyond its competitors. The multiplayer mode is slightly disappointing, if only because it could have been much more, and the control setup is a tad awkward in places. Nevertheless, don't let these minor niggles stop you from enjoying everything else that Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon has to offer; namely its superb single-player adventure. It's one of the best games yet for 3DS, and evidence that 2013 is very much the "Year of Luigi".</div>
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Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (3DS)

Nintendo has proclaimed 2013 to be "The Year of Luigi": a long overdue celebration of Mario's underdog brother. There are already a few Luigi-themed (or at least partially related) releases to come l…

31 Mar 2017

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity (3DS)

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With the Pokémon series nearly ready to celebrate its 18th birthday next year, some of its many spin-offs have become enduring gaming traditions in their own right. The Mystery Dungeon games are a prime example, combining classic roguelike dungeon crawling with the endless appeal of playing as Pokémon, and as the series' first entry on the 3DS, <a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B00AYABWYE" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="0c473b1d060e1f69ce4358faccce40f9" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity" href="http://www.amazon.com/Pok%C3%A9mon-Mystery-Dungeon-Gates-Infinity-nintendo/dp/B00AYABWYE/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=hungtran86-20&linkId=0c473b1d060e1f69ce4358faccce40f9&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_4551711" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_4551711" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=hungtran86-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=0c473b1d060e1f69ce4358faccce40f9&_cb=1490161852182" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /> brings the formula into the third dimension for the first time. It's charming, addictive fun with a focus on accessibility that makes Gates to Infinity an excellent starting point for newcomers and younger players as well.<br />
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Our story begins with a dream about a Pokémon in danger. It's your dream — you being the everyday human playing the game — and when you wake up, you'll see a plucky, fresh-faced Pokémon taking your place in the mirror. Gone are the obfuscating personality quizzes from past installments — here you'll get to select both your character and your partner Pokémon outright. Unfortunately, there are also significantly fewer options this time around, with just five Pokémon to chose from: Pikachu, Snivy, Oshawott, Tepig, and Axew.<br />
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Once you've picked your 'mon and partner, you'll leap headfirst into the adventure ahead and — unusually for a dungeon-crawler — it's a journey that's propelled as much by story as it is by grinding for items and experience points. Gates to Infinity weaves together the twin threads of your chosen human-as-Pokémon's dark recurring dreams and your partner's quest to build a Pokémon Paradise, creating a light but compelling narrative that will appeal to children and open-minded adults alike. The storyline feels very much like an after-school special, in that it's innocent and funny but capable of hitting right in the gut — there are quite a few "very special episode of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon" moments — and there's a huge emphasis on "doing one's best".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GgKqNet8MUUWpt7dEdw5_OJoa6wlY4FMu2YeJXCAc_HaROUJLAYQ0_QG0IBQqVOtYWkdf-_rY6qNUSyLEX3FyvV7pJmQ93cdABufsl29jdtb6SOpC2jdBHLF09KYQL-bz3F8FcYZQms/s1600/899e97a53354f3d2a1e877ea189dcdff-731103.jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6399595464019010178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GgKqNet8MUUWpt7dEdw5_OJoa6wlY4FMu2YeJXCAc_HaROUJLAYQ0_QG0IBQqVOtYWkdf-_rY6qNUSyLEX3FyvV7pJmQ93cdABufsl29jdtb6SOpC2jdBHLF09KYQL-bz3F8FcYZQms/s400/899e97a53354f3d2a1e877ea189dcdff-731103.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Just as the story blends two distinct plot lines together, its gameplay is an appealing hybrid that sees you jumping back and forth between top-down dungeon-crawling and captivating town customization in Pokémon Paradise. That said you'll still spend most of your time in the dungeons as a four-Pokémon team, combing the gridded caves for items, battling and recruiting Pokémon, and working your way through floor after floor to find the exit.<br />
Combat in Gates to Infinity is turn-based, quick, and seamless. There's no distinct battle screen, and skirmishes take place out in the open on the dungeon floors as soon as you engage an enemy — or enemies; every once in a while there are epic engagements between a dozen 'mon or more. Holding down the 'L' button brings up an overlay of your four moves, which are mapped to the face buttons. Since you're free to move around (one tile per turn), placement becomes important too, and this makes the combat a good deal more interesting: moves can affect one Pokémon or the whole room, hit from one, two, or several tiles away, or even cut around corners.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeb7SDC3EeBtuQDiIPab_TP9Ciu1E0LzI4Marsj262rl9ZANItkkxdKR2i3B9KgzFqmVzSTf74UpSEr2jaIJx6DraL7b05h5jxvaqDiSFxQiGp8TMG9MKbSDTvPEtuZRZY271hx3WYbNw/s1600/63c3265b315d424d827351128a0c4b57-732607.jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6399595475868013266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeb7SDC3EeBtuQDiIPab_TP9Ciu1E0LzI4Marsj262rl9ZANItkkxdKR2i3B9KgzFqmVzSTf74UpSEr2jaIJx6DraL7b05h5jxvaqDiSFxQiGp8TMG9MKbSDTvPEtuZRZY271hx3WYbNw/s400/63c3265b315d424d827351128a0c4b57-732607.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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From time to time, a Pokémon you're battling will decide that it would rather be friends instead, and when presented with the option you can recruit them to your team. There are a few old favourites returning from previous regions — including Eevee, Marill, Swinub, Wooper, and their evolutions — but most of the 140-odd Pokémon in the game are fifth-generation Unova Pokémon. Whether that's good news or bad news will depend on your own Poké-preferences, but either way, the story helps add some personality to Pokémon you might not have expected to love. We're looking at you, Gurdurr!<br />
Gates to Infinity's dungeons are randomly generated, so floor layouts are unique each time you head out spelunking, but they also fall victim to the classic trap of randomization in that they just don't feel very distinct. Sure, the stairs will be in a different place each time (sometimes right next to your spawn point!), and you won't ever know where a path is headed, but you'll quickly get used to the assets the game randomly arranges to build its world. Once you do, a feeling of déjà-vu sets in very quickly. Luckily, the labyrinth layouts get a boost from some cool sections that take place in outside, ungridded areas. These often feature extremely simple environmental puzzles of the 'push switch(es) to open pathway' variety, but they're also a great breather that helps to break up the dungeon crawl.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDOIOqmZ9XjoTESvAfm9nD-gK0zygM0mfPSVy3YWG-1yG1YBBmAaDYMOnozHcbr4cYHg_S7K24_KC1UP9K-pULApBh1mPpRsDIOfuuWS67N_Hf4SX4-CEHehKxxVRgN_VVliRAAHAAw4/s1600/a02af17f71fe979bb6ee46682a0f8805-734129.jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6399595477827783378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDOIOqmZ9XjoTESvAfm9nD-gK0zygM0mfPSVy3YWG-1yG1YBBmAaDYMOnozHcbr4cYHg_S7K24_KC1UP9K-pULApBh1mPpRsDIOfuuWS67N_Hf4SX4-CEHehKxxVRgN_VVliRAAHAAw4/s400/a02af17f71fe979bb6ee46682a0f8805-734129.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Aside from the main storyline quests, many of your expeditions to the dungeons will be made to fulfill requests left by various Pokémon on Paradise's noticeboard. These usually involve either rescuing a Pokémon who's gotten in over their head, bringing back a particular item, or finding and defeating a particularly strong 'mon. True to the spirit of the game, missions of this last type are invariably framed in a positive light, with titles like "Mamoswine is a good Pokémon, but…" and "Klang is at a difficult age…", and besting the rogue 'mon in battle always leads to them promising they'll be nicer in the future.<br />
The dungeons are fun by themselves, but what really makes this game is the fantastic world that surrounds them. Interacting with Post Town's charming residents and shopkeepers is as enjoyable as it is useful, but even better is your Pokémon Paradise. From its humble beginnings as your partner's impulse-purchase parcel of desert land, the Paradise you build throughout the game blossoms into a one-of-a-kind team headquarters. By gathering materials from requests, you'll be able to prepare the land and build everything from shops selling rare items and fields for growing berries to dojos for powering up moves - and even discover a few mini-games. What you put in your Paradise is entirely up to you, and planning and developing your patch of land quickly becomes one of the most engrossing aspects of the game.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPNGtVvRR07hHgoaKiTdzxu1Vcn57iASz0Pdqo2HLa8FkARFgwWG0ED4VlX01OkE2Q6Qe91DM3femDaXqagaXvsiIiJxQyHpkIBjz9EMGr169OQiSUhCh2DijrlqF-jNjMH1CvBChyphenhypheny8/s1600/3ba7404a33fd45979d533b8e8908a84d-735730.jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6399595488611275554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPNGtVvRR07hHgoaKiTdzxu1Vcn57iASz0Pdqo2HLa8FkARFgwWG0ED4VlX01OkE2Q6Qe91DM3femDaXqagaXvsiIiJxQyHpkIBjz9EMGr169OQiSUhCh2DijrlqF-jNjMH1CvBChyphenhypheny8/s400/3ba7404a33fd45979d533b8e8908a84d-735730.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In Gates to Infinity's opening moments, the exploration and combat almost feel too simple, but deeper mechanics quickly begin to reveal themselves. These are doled out one-by-one, each with an excellent explanation, so first-timers should have no trouble getting the hang of everything. Moves can "level up" as you use them, gaining extra power and PP in the process, and these upgrades apply across all Pokémon with access to the technique. There are also Team Attacks, room-clearing assaults activated by tapping a touch-screen icon when your party is "in-sync", and Team Skills, passive abilities whose effects range from recovering PP as you switch floors to increasing your chances of landing critical hits.<br />
Another new mechanic is the V-Wave, a daily bonus that gives a particular Pokémon type an extra advantage. It's a fun addition that you'll need to factor into your exploration plans, though if you're dead set on heading out on a day with an unfavourable V-Wave, you can always try your hand at Victini's V-Roulette — if you win, you can change the V-Wave to whatever you like.<br />
There's plenty to keep track of, but there are several design choices that make it wholly accessible for newcomers. For the most part, you won't need to think about recovering after battles, since HP refills as you walk. The hunger mechanic from previous games is also (almost) entirely absent here, so the only thing that will stop you from exploring as far as you'd like is running out of PP - and even then, hitting the 'A' button without the moves overlay up will perform a weak physical attack with unlimited PP.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhyphenhyphenl07wTUV_h_FK7lCQR1nTLQckeRO-7s8QTBATTUmaYW7QQDhPda6k12E2XctsRhjjaIJuSz9kMrjJIwK7TNzlOO4GZz05GXMki-eq6OhPgfp1d-nWKcyNtTjnv1t7vhMK3llDiknbQ/s1600/9ccabfafe96f9e829f346688641edb1b-737300.jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6399595492005062866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhyphenhyphenl07wTUV_h_FK7lCQR1nTLQckeRO-7s8QTBATTUmaYW7QQDhPda6k12E2XctsRhjjaIJuSz9kMrjJIwK7TNzlOO4GZz05GXMki-eq6OhPgfp1d-nWKcyNtTjnv1t7vhMK3llDiknbQ/s400/9ccabfafe96f9e829f346688641edb1b-737300.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Trainers used to bringing weaker Pokémon into battle to level them up will be happy to know that those left back at base still gain experience points, so you won't need to worry about planning your team out in advance. You can also recruit new Pokémon even if your party is full, and choose which member to send back, so if you find a 'mon you like you can get started using them right away.<br />
There are item deposit boxes and save points helpfully located before difficulty spikes in dungeons, and you can also do a quick suspend save at any time — a very welcome feature for a portable dungeon-crawler. And when you resume your game, a Layton-esque "Story So Far" screen helps get you back up to speed. The "run" command is also a beautiful example of a user-friendly feature done right: holding down 'B' propels your Pokémon party forward at lightning speed, but you'll automatically stop when you hit a fork in the road. It helps make retracing your steps less tedious, while ensuring you won't miss anything important as you dash around.<br />
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Speaking of speed, the familiar Poké-tradition of heading straight for the options menu to change the text speed to 'fast' before beginning a new adventure is not an option here. Gates to Infinity's text speed is slow — think Snorlax, not Sawsbuck — and for a title with so much unskippable dialogue, the molasses-drip speed at which it's presented is a real letdown. Holding down the 'B' button will auto-advance the conversation, but you'll still need to wait for each line of dialogue to spell itself into existence before moving on to the next. And since 'B' also exits out of menus, it's easy to get into dialogue loops with chatty shopkeepers when you're eager to speed through familiar conversations — echoes of the Pokécenter's famous 'mash-'A'-to-heal' loop. It's not that the dialogue isn't worth reading, it's just that it doesn't take that long to read, and not being able to speed it up is frustrating.<br />
There's a similar issue with the Message Log, a transparent text ticker that pops up over the bottom fourth of the top screen with updates like "Pikachu used Thunderbolt" and "Snivy picked up the Oran Berry". The messages themselves are helpful, and it's nice that they're there, but they hang around for an inordinately long time before relinquishing their screen space.<br />
Finally, your party members will sometimes take off after enemy Pokémon on their own, and aside from any AI silliness, the way the game handles these off-screen battles is awkward. There are two options: you can set the camera to switch back and forth to show each turn where it's happening, or you can keep the view on your own Pokémon and keep tabs on the off-screen battles with the Message Log. The latter is less immediately jarring, but it's still odd to have your own movement interrupted with colour commentary when a faraway teammate gets a quick jab in.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-zpztWKyf_LgGkroYm9D0skKRgVt9mKgEq9eyYMTfRut6_3b8i7gYb-FbZC7DLJPcoj69EeXIc9_ODBvfKlYi7m8Hn3pu3LqIJ0ApF4T0fuogFwwfZNdkAB_iuxNxJeptFdzT7fEBuw/s1600/5d30ed71a0ab8b1a00937812176e70b3-740248.jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6399595507565539186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-zpztWKyf_LgGkroYm9D0skKRgVt9mKgEq9eyYMTfRut6_3b8i7gYb-FbZC7DLJPcoj69EeXIc9_ODBvfKlYi7m8Hn3pu3LqIJ0ApF4T0fuogFwwfZNdkAB_iuxNxJeptFdzT7fEBuw/s400/5d30ed71a0ab8b1a00937812176e70b3-740248.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Pokémon games have never exactly been known for their visual flair, but Gates to Infinity happily bucks that trend; this is perhaps the best looking Pokémon game yet. Its world is awash in colour, with vibrant backdrops and beautiful dungeon designs that beg to be called anything but "dungeons", and if these 3D Pokémon models represent the future visual direction of the series, we'll be very happy. Their animations are particularly adorable — Pikachu's brisk, confident walk is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face — and fun portraits add plenty of feeling to the characters' dialogue delivery. The soundtrack is similarly expressive, providing plenty of catchy tunes and moving melodies to match the story's emotional roller coaster, and its rousing dungeon themes will make you feel like a true Pokémon adventurer.<br />
Beyond its charming presentation, the game is chock full of endearing little touches; one of our favourites is the fact that the 'bash/examine' button turns into a 'wave hello/gesture and dance' button when you're facing a teammate instead of an enemy. It's such a small detail, but it's indicative of the heart poured into the game. The writing also gives Gates to Infinity a huge infusion of charm; while the story's definitely aimed at kids, players of all ages will appreciate the fact that each individual Pokémon has a well-drawn personality. From unassuming Quagsire's hidden power and Victini's over-the-top animé-inspired poses to Herdier's Robbie Burns-esque idiom, these really are memorable characters.<br />
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While there's plenty of content in the main game, this experience really earns its subtitle via an AR-enhanced feature that lets you discover new dungeons via "Magnagates" in the real world. It uses the 3DS's front cameras to create a unique labyrinth out of any circular object you can find. Once you've scanned your CD, pizza, or frisbee, you'll head down the rabbit hole with a team randomly selected from the game's starter Pokémon and their evolutions. It might sound like a gimmick, but Magnagate exploration is actually a really fun feature — it's a great way to jump in for some quick dungeon-crawling, and all the money and items you pick up along the way will transfer to your deposit box in the main game.<br />
If the prospect of unlimited Magnagates somehow doesn't seem like enough content, Gates to Infinity also offers paid DLC dungeons. Like <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/3ds/fire_emblem_awakening" target="_blank">Fire Emblem: Awakening</a>, each pack tends to focus on a particular feature that will help you in your main quest: one dungeon provides plenty of easy cash, while others hide rare items, or let you recruit certain types of Pokémon, including starters like Pikachu, Snivy, and Oshawott. As a nice added bonus, each download comes with two pieces of classic Pokémon background music.<br />
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Rounding out the package is a local multiplayer mode for up to four players, though each trainer will need their own copy of the game. The multiplayer focuses exclusively on Challenge missions, where players can team up to fight their way through more difficult dungeons than those found in the main game. If multiplayer is a big draw for you, it's worth noting that it's not unlocked from the start — we had to play for close to eight hours before we were able to access it. There's also a StreetPass feature that allows you to 'rescue' players you pass if they've been knocked out, or be revived if you've fainted yourself. It's a cool concept, but you'll either need to live in Goldenrod City or have a friend or family member with a copy of the game to get much practical use out of it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIvkjonduYUbOrqgG3Q-kbvqrduYc7jonY2lOkH6uMymleU2_c2XezFuyZNPWgjG4D6FAZe3YrN4vVgzIsADY_5lTWZD3uwEtqJiYUwlDqsh6MDRIgnjUI4ol572XV73sicy9Ukn6sC4/s1600/7cf484f0f4c2753b05397d1a47b9d890-729589.jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6399595461743927186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIvkjonduYUbOrqgG3Q-kbvqrduYc7jonY2lOkH6uMymleU2_c2XezFuyZNPWgjG4D6FAZe3YrN4vVgzIsADY_5lTWZD3uwEtqJiYUwlDqsh6MDRIgnjUI4ol572XV73sicy9Ukn6sC4/s400/7cf484f0f4c2753b05397d1a47b9d890-729589.jpeg" width="333" /></a></div>
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<h2>
Conclusion</h2>
If miles of unskippable dialogue and a Saturday morning cartoon storyline are barriers to enjoyment, Gates to Infinity is perhaps not for you. For players open to some innocent, longwinded storytelling with their dungeon crawl, however, this is the complete Poké-package. <a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B00AYABWYE" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="130c4f4d1e341ab418d61bb87b061b42" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity" href="http://www.amazon.com/Pok%C3%A9mon-Mystery-Dungeon-Gates-Infinity-nintendo/dp/B00AYABWYE/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=hungtran86-20&linkId=130c4f4d1e341ab418d61bb87b061b42&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_1094872" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_1094872" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=hungtran86-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=130c4f4d1e341ab418d61bb87b061b42&_cb=1490162048731" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /> is a fun, charming roguelike with beautiful presentation, accessible mechanics, and the warm, fuzzy feeling that can only come from playing as Pokémon. And with a never-ending supply of Magnagate dungeons, there's more than enough here to tide Pokémaniacs over until October's generational leap.</div>
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Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity (3DS)

With the Pokémon series nearly ready to celebrate its 18th birthday next year, some of its many spin-offs have become enduring gaming traditions in their own right. The Mystery Dungeon games are a pr…

27 Mar 2017

Review: Mario Tennis Open (3DS)

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<h4>
Camelot's revered <strong>Mario Tennis</strong> series has a split legacy: on home consoles as a primarily multiplayer-focused insane-o-thon, and on portables as a more solo-oriented sports RPG.</h4>
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<a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B007BGUGVO" class="amzn_ps_bm_il" data-amzn-link-id="c8d1c4f14cd9e1f499d220872b6d4355" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="mario open tennis" href="http://www.amazon.com/Mario-Tennis-Open-nintendo-3ds/dp/B007BGUGVO/ref=as_li_bk_ia/?tag=hungtran86-20&linkId=c8d1c4f14cd9e1f499d220872b6d4355&linkCode=kia" id="amznPsBmLink_1657786" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjeni4ADRoOWZIw30HCiEEKSGJ6mNZSwe0Dz_Gp1mDUXZ_0mbrAYn2p5xL6ODYqppftF1zd_AhugNxVp10qWaFU1XhssIvfphmbdO-sJu4DVY3s7nx7LW9LWS7V36xt_MNxZoNOk_5O7dRSZr4rYPqkKWOuE7-g944ZFsfC3P0syryNZO8kIDcv1oB6uFo87FSF8L3bjcppHbRNdgVnClntt41ZrsMEFbdVfiMeR1UvwVM=" width="400" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_1657786" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=hungtran86-20&bm-id=default&l=kia&linkId=c8d1c4f14cd9e1f499d220872b6d4355&_cb=1490025865696" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></div>
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<b><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B00LD3U350" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="c7b72df7c3f6ac3e49a3fe43e3f2a667" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Mario Tennis Open" href="http://www.amazon.com/Mario-Tennis-Open-Nintendo-3DS/dp/B00LD3U350/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=hungtran86-20&linkId=c7b72df7c3f6ac3e49a3fe43e3f2a667&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_4990567" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mario Tennis Open</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_4990567" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=hungtran86-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=c7b72df7c3f6ac3e49a3fe43e3f2a667&_cb=1490025720787" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></b> falls somewhere in between, trying to capture the best of both worlds in the most accessible way possible. In many ways Camelot succeeds in its goal of serving up a fun time with tennis, but forging this middle ground leaves behind a little of the spirit that made each of its branches truly smashing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHpBvi309ioEGFG219gr6ODGjyKymx6JRHXRi0bSTTOfzWbl0Qq6jnSoMWD9tN15khKTge98_9yd3OjirKj8928ZR23fcB0S9s6mzrDvWV117ITeWBrmcGgvXavbR4JtQtSsU10wcP6A/s1600/19f5346f611b1a6f13036c1a7540fc32-773416.jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6399594361922723106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHpBvi309ioEGFG219gr6ODGjyKymx6JRHXRi0bSTTOfzWbl0Qq6jnSoMWD9tN15khKTge98_9yd3OjirKj8928ZR23fcB0S9s6mzrDvWV117ITeWBrmcGgvXavbR4JtQtSsU10wcP6A/s400/19f5346f611b1a6f13036c1a7540fc32-773416.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
Scaling back the lunacy that riddled <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/gamecube/mario_power_tennis" target="_blank">Mario Power Tennis</a> on GameCube and later <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/wii/new_play_control_mario_power_tennis" target="_blank">Wii</a>, Open strips away the variables of items and overpowered character-specific special shots and places a much stronger emphasis on skill and tactics. Much of that comes in the form of the colour-coded shot circles that spring up around the court: fire off a colour-corresponding shot while in it and the shot gets a bit more <em>oomph</em> behind it, lending extra power to smashes or gnarly curves to spins. While on the surface it sounds like a basic addition, the circles open the door for novices to feel skilled and equal — and expert players can wrangle all sorts of strategy and mind-games from them to outfox their opponent.<br />
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<a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/screenshots/35344/large.jpg" target="_blank" title="Screenshot 2 of 4"></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOoTvkhPhm1EMlQyQMelbEX0l5SnUweUEQKGl1qCd1ySiHqS4g2XEwc_8HCju4zHV6tDWKtQLinYrQxJb1bsI3lrKml0bw5UqMDQBgonsyyX07PAYTos5WZ4ThSZtLcsOBeC6lyhSmxs/s1600/e1aaba9896c7d5145d1aac30309e4046-775119.jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6399594366636811314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOoTvkhPhm1EMlQyQMelbEX0l5SnUweUEQKGl1qCd1ySiHqS4g2XEwc_8HCju4zHV6tDWKtQLinYrQxJb1bsI3lrKml0bw5UqMDQBgonsyyX07PAYTos5WZ4ThSZtLcsOBeC6lyhSmxs/s320/e1aaba9896c7d5145d1aac30309e4046-775119.jpeg" /></a></div>
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It may seem at first that the circles are used to gently nudge players around the court, and when a colour appears a player's certain to try to get to it. In this sense it opens up the court, forcing players to keep alert lest they miss an opportunity to strike — or defend, as it were. But contrary to how it may seem at first glance, the circles aren't random; by thinking a few steps ahead a skilled player can manoeuvre an opponent to a certain section of the court and yield the desired colour to go for the kill. It's also possible to fool your opponent with them. The circle lights and rises when a player stands inside it and shines brighter and higher if said player hits the button for the corresponding shot, signifying that a specific type of powerful shot is coming your way. But that doesn't mean that you can't change your shot at the last second and throw them off.<br />
It's fairly impressive how tight the actual tennis action feels in light of this seemingly simple addition, and it's an improvement that players will likely appreciate more than throwing a banana peel into play. Keeping track of the colours and shots is easy after a while, although up front the touch screen comes in more than handy — players can tap the corresponding colour-coded button to swing, or just use the display as reference. Knowing your colours is critical if you're to have any chance conquering the more challenging singles or doubles cups, in which the AI puts up a good fight without feeling too cheap. There certainly are a lot of cups and challenges to put your skills to the test, but after a while the few modes on offer start to feel a bit repetitive and mundane.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eN6s5NHqtoXq9gaPR6oqOVMbOAnDByY541KDd7RuF9FfEohyphenhyphenVBSZwnK4WQQ0vw2Xp6fvI3qh3VdW5cUDCFPBIfcLVzJ3Ob8nFQJo7baU-Y87Ya2ECHUhlqbGGEP9iJ18O6pIGIMj7TM/s1600/e885b5ba8b8dbdc0bbb419ba6d900012-776705.jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6399594376351812754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eN6s5NHqtoXq9gaPR6oqOVMbOAnDByY541KDd7RuF9FfEohyphenhyphenVBSZwnK4WQQ0vw2Xp6fvI3qh3VdW5cUDCFPBIfcLVzJ3Ob8nFQJo7baU-Y87Ya2ECHUhlqbGGEP9iJ18O6pIGIMj7TM/s320/e885b5ba8b8dbdc0bbb419ba6d900012-776705.jpeg" /></a></div>
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To encourage repeat play, there's plenty of gear for your Mii and characters to unlock and buy along the way. Items are unlocked for purchase through playing cups and matches, and bought with coins won in the four Special Games. The gear acts as a sort of substitute for the previous handheld games' RPG mode, allowing you to customise both the appearance and skill set of your Mii with rackets, outfits, sweat bands and shoes. The system works similar to <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/3ds/mario_kart_7" target="_blank">Mario Kart 7</a>'s kart customising, but unlike there coins can't be earned in the main mode. The Special Games are the only place to earn scratch, which is a bit annoying if you don't much care for the extra modes on offer like Ring Shot or the novel Super Mario Tennis that involves playing racquetball against a customised <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nes/super_mario_bros" target="_blank">Super Mario Bros.</a> stage.<br />
All told, the customising is nice but feels like a sidestep for the series — lacking an RPG mode, the gear only goes so far to scratch that same itch. The RPG mode wasn't really about customising as much as it was about feeling like there is more to do than just swat the ball back and forth; once you settle on a wardrobe that matches your play style, there's little incentive to grind out the rest of the shop. And that's where human opponents come into play.<br />
As expected, multiplayer is the true star of the show here, and Mario Tennis Open is best when played in the same room as your favourite gang of knuckleheads. Regional online is available for the first time, ensuring that you'll never be short of human opposition, but it's a comparatively isolated experience.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNtxWgIBKLgTsV3iJ0uxU2wT1Z2bP9NJ6zUU3pTsuAlYsnTlrvif6lhRYAQL73Z03Blv_ctudDMNSZ4gLAvUUuf5m6dXZ7HZowXR36Slv5vN3okyRzIqy2_vqgqonEFxMC5LM5cjDH1I/s1600/b8f93d4a0107814a27266bee47217202-778183.jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6399594379427633058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNtxWgIBKLgTsV3iJ0uxU2wT1Z2bP9NJ6zUU3pTsuAlYsnTlrvif6lhRYAQL73Z03Blv_ctudDMNSZ4gLAvUUuf5m6dXZ7HZowXR36Slv5vN3okyRzIqy2_vqgqonEFxMC5LM5cjDH1I/s320/b8f93d4a0107814a27266bee47217202-778183.jpeg" /></a></div>
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The beauty of Mario Tennis on console, to which Open feels most kindred, is that there were virtually no barriers to entry for players who don't play a lot of video games — just grab a controller and huddle around the screen for fun, sometimes intense, plain ol' good times. If your friends own a 3DS then Mario Tennis Open may very well take a top spot in your multiplayer rotation, but considering having four units in the same room is a less widespread circumstance, Mario Tennis loses a bit of that human spirit that likely drew many to it in the first place. (Can you imagine playing <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/wii/rock_band" target="_blank">Rock Band</a> with non-gaming friends, to whom Mario incontestably appeals, and expect them to have their own set of plastic instruments?) Now that everyone is supposed to have their own handheld, well, let's just say don't unplug that Wii yet if you want some impromptu tennis action with friends.<br />
The handheld versions didn't run up against this issue of isolation in the past because the RPG mode was there to give solo players their own experience, acting as a companion piece or alternate flavour to the multiplayer bonanza in the living room. With Open flying solo (that we're aware), it needs to deliver both flavours rolled into one — and while a good argument could be made that it delivers on what matters (the actual tennis game is no less fun or well done here than anywhere else), it still feels like you're playing on your own island unless under very specific circumstances, which goes against what the game truly can be.</div>
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Conclusion</h2>
There's no doubt that Mario Tennis Open is a strong and accessible entry in the beloved series, and a group of friends gathered round can lose themselves in it for a long time. Solo players can still have a good time perfecting their skills, and playing online is a nice way to keep things interesting, but the missing RPG mode leaves a pretty big hole that a lack of substantial single-player content struggles to really fill — and unless you're a part of a cabal of 3DS owners you'll miss out on the real heart of the game: punching your wily opponent in the arm after a hard-fought match.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-top: 1px solid #d3d3d3; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 32px; padding-top: 16px; width: 100%px;">    <tbody>
<tr>     <td style="color: #747474; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Evernote helps you remember everything and get organized effortlessly. <a href="https://www.evernote.com/getit?utm_source=service&utm_medium=email&utm_content=emailNote&email_name=emailNote&email_guid=9216ea40-a2f8-4773-99e6-ed945ca670f2&email_link=download_app" style="color: #5fb336; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Download Evernote</a>.     </td>    </tr>
</tbody></table>

Review: Mario Tennis Open (3DS)

Camelot's revered Mario Tennis series has a split legacy: on home consoles as a primarily multiplayer-focused insane-o-thon, and on portables as a more solo-oriented sports RPG. Mario Tennis Open fal…

22 Mar 2017

Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (3DS)

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<a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B01AC3Z9J6" class="amzn_ps_bm_il" data-amzn-link-id="421c323ba1731afc2d6d9e0499858851" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="donkey king 3ds" href="http://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-Selects-Donkey-Country-Returns-3DS/dp/B01AC3Z9J6/ref=as_li_bk_ia/?tag=hungtran86-20&linkId=421c323ba1731afc2d6d9e0499858851&linkCode=kia" id="amznPsBmLink_3857108" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GV4h2rC3X70/maxresdefault.jpg" width="400" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_3857108" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=hungtran86-20&bm-id=default&l=kia&linkId=421c323ba1731afc2d6d9e0499858851&_cb=1490025148997" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></div>
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It's easy to forget, as Nintendo has seemingly decided that it's no longer a definitive unique selling point, but the 3DS has a <em>fantastic</em> stereoscopic 3D screen. It's tempting to be blase about it, but it's still the only mainstream piece of hardware — certainly in gaming terms — that uses it so effectively. The exceptional level design in <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/wii/donkey_kong_country_returns" target="_blank">Donkey Kong Country Returns</a> on Wii featured dynamic shifts in perspective and depth, so this 3DS port makes a lot of sense, in that respect, and we'll ease any lingering nerves right off the bat — Monster Games has done a <em>terrific</em> job with Retro Games' masterpiece.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO42DlBh8wh5uRCnOXuRVYBcmfEEkwrj8UsKdWVKPluTt76Ja5j8CII07u3DUz37YrQeXdG4k9FfadZwmErdA-Ufnyj0ZNfpHG9OZ1Jl9dEOGqOBK-Fga1R-E_WNcQwt4Bm74cG-Wf5Kc/s1600/8669eaa8ef2915552d6997f647639067-717426.jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6399594975577373938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO42DlBh8wh5uRCnOXuRVYBcmfEEkwrj8UsKdWVKPluTt76Ja5j8CII07u3DUz37YrQeXdG4k9FfadZwmErdA-Ufnyj0ZNfpHG9OZ1Jl9dEOGqOBK-Fga1R-E_WNcQwt4Bm74cG-Wf5Kc/s400/8669eaa8ef2915552d6997f647639067-717426.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And it is a masterpiece. If you missed out on the Wii version, you arguably passed on the finest 2D platformer on the system, though it certainly has a lot of competition. While there are enough throwbacks to entertain fans of Rare's Super NES trilogy of titles, <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/3ds/donkey_kong_country_returns_3d" target="_blank">Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D</a> nevertheless stamps its own identity on the franchise, with a cartoonish visual style, exceptional performance and weighty physics. This is running and jumping like the old days, but DK has a real sense of weight — appropriate for a large tie-wearing ape — and adjusting to that <em>feel</em> is one of the first challenges and delights that you'll face.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRwFjivutz2sz7DH5N7qSHnW4KPmrltTtRsCKnQCBBZw03yv1vkt1PNB6MIsNggbk6vzKhJO0t4BKhaBaSoIGsxlaPNlkmeb7Xv8zOczmsEeW3R97T8W9UqAJRcBP9vosVGrLbR-P05Y/s1600/6a35c484d3b6ba2b10f021b7d84f039a-716656.jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6399594978103926994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRwFjivutz2sz7DH5N7qSHnW4KPmrltTtRsCKnQCBBZw03yv1vkt1PNB6MIsNggbk6vzKhJO0t4BKhaBaSoIGsxlaPNlkmeb7Xv8zOczmsEeW3R97T8W9UqAJRcBP9vosVGrLbR-P05Y/s400/6a35c484d3b6ba2b10f021b7d84f039a-716656.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
Like almost any platformer with a Nintendo brand, your adventure starts off in the hero's home territory, gently introducing you to the mechanics before ramping up the difficulty. There are eight initial areas/worlds, with between 6-8 levels and a boss encounter, with each progressive area moving around and up DK's island as he battles masked Tikis to retrieve his banana stash. It's not the Citizen Kane of gaming, a title Retro Studios was awarded by some for <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/gamecube/metroid_prime" target="_blank">Metroid Prime</a>, but it's humorous and full of quirky character.<br />
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In typical Nintendo style this is gaming at its most irreverent and, most importantly, fun. DK wears a tie, Diddy Kong has a jet-pack and clings to his old ape's back — invaluable for extending and controlling the hefty primate's jumps — while also firing a peanut gun in local multiplayer. Diddy is particularly valuable as the difficulty ramps up, not just for his jet pack but the extra hits he allows. In normal mode DK has two hearts, with Diddy adding his own when he's released from a barrel; lose two hearts and you lose Diddy Kong, which encourages a careful rather than reckless approach.<br />
You explore worlds that incorporate pirate ships firing cannons, sprawling forests with enormous swinging contraptions, a factory full of smog, a brooding volcano and more. Each has its own variations of enemies, twists on the game's conventions and, at times, devious trickery. The tempo's never settled, keeping you on your toes as you go from a steady level heavy on exploration, to rushed stages riding a rhino over collapsing environments, and then terrifically entertaining mine kart and rocket barrel set pieces.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW34G9K9dk1RIBIkvMz7XyQg7Qs3B50SW-KPS2YxZ3zD7agRaAGsUQekJ6rsWxjPv5GeHjVBPahWaBKSxDa5eW0T2i6UzohhGnWdiXzG0Q-JUBPT4hC31P3_q2wtm-FDz5yeJbiEh4AKs/s1600/2d13a40335b73df394450e8da7dd9ca9-718664.jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6399594978766431746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW34G9K9dk1RIBIkvMz7XyQg7Qs3B50SW-KPS2YxZ3zD7agRaAGsUQekJ6rsWxjPv5GeHjVBPahWaBKSxDa5eW0T2i6UzohhGnWdiXzG0Q-JUBPT4hC31P3_q2wtm-FDz5yeJbiEh4AKs/s400/2d13a40335b73df394450e8da7dd9ca9-718664.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The DK platforming mechanics put to work in these areas are unique from its Nintendo contemporaries, helping this franchise to distinguish itself. Beyond basic moving and jumping, we have rolling — used to make a longer jump or take out enemies — as well as pounding and blowing. All have to be used, particularly when seeking out hidden puzzle pieces — which unlock concept art and other goodies — and the all-important KONG letters.<br />
You're not simply blasting through levels and looking for hidden areas — though they're in there too — but also manipulating plants, fans and other parts of the environment with the blow and stomp mechanics. Figuring out which items can be manipulated is a treat for first-timers once the process clicks, with the title sensibly forgoing time limits and allowing you to progress at your own rate. You can also tackle Time Trials, the gold medals of which require perfect runs, while keen players will eventually unlock a minor but challenging additional variation for each level.<br />
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Those unique mechanics highlight one advantage this version has over the Wii original, as waggle has deservedly bitten the dust. While waggling to pound and blow was passable in the original release, tolerated due to being part of an exceptional title, the 3DS setup is a far more intuitive affair. DK now grabs vines, barrels and grasses with either shoulder button, while pounding and blowing is done with X or Y. With A or B to jump, settling your thumb over the two main buttons while keeping a finger poised over the shoulder button becomes second nature, and most importantly removes any quirks of inadvertently shaking the Wii Remote and plunging to your doom.<br />
While we certainly recommend the Circle Pad control scheme outlined above, there is an alternative to use the D-Pad for movement. In this option grabbing is fixed to X, with Y taking over as a Run button, as DK gambols along at a slower rate than he does with the Circle Pad at full stretch — stomping is now moved to the shoulder buttons. It works and apes the Mario run/dash mechanic, and may be good for less experienced players to naturally run at a slower pace, but is less intuitive, while later more demanding levels will likely be too difficult for anyone that can't handle the mascot's lolloping pace on the Circle Pad.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO42DlBh8wh5uRCnOXuRVYBcmfEEkwrj8UsKdWVKPluTt76Ja5j8CII07u3DUz37YrQeXdG4k9FfadZwmErdA-Ufnyj0ZNfpHG9OZ1Jl9dEOGqOBK-Fga1R-E_WNcQwt4Bm74cG-Wf5Kc/s1600/8669eaa8ef2915552d6997f647639067-717426.jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6399594975577373938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO42DlBh8wh5uRCnOXuRVYBcmfEEkwrj8UsKdWVKPluTt76Ja5j8CII07u3DUz37YrQeXdG4k9FfadZwmErdA-Ufnyj0ZNfpHG9OZ1Jl9dEOGqOBK-Fga1R-E_WNcQwt4Bm74cG-Wf5Kc/s400/8669eaa8ef2915552d6997f647639067-717426.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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For veterans of the Wii title considering a double-dip there's likely to be one key question; what's new? The headline addition, for experienced gamers in any case, is the Cloud Gateway, which features eight brand new levels as well as the tricky finale from the original. Each is based on one of the eight worlds, and represent some of the most challenging moments in the entire game. They're all excellent and welcome stages, with a few that are standouts due to their length and/or witty level design. Only unlocked after collecting all KONG letters and completing rather tricky Kong Temples, they reward persistent and skilled players, potentially beyond the scope for some jumping into this title as one of their first platformers.<br />
That does bring us to the New mode, introduced to help those that may struggle with the level of difficulty in this game — particularly its sub-objectives of Kong Letters and puzzle pieces. While the levels are the same, the shop in each area not only offers the additional level key, extra lives and energy boosts, but also a DK barrel that you can activate on the touchscreen when in a tight spot, a green balloon that'll save you from a pitfall — though not on a mine kart or rocket level — and a potion that adds two extra hits to the traditional one-hit deaths of the kart and rocket barrel stages. DK and Diddy also have an extra heart each by default, taking you up to six when both are in action, and along with the original items they can potentially be invaluable.<br />
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One area where this 3DS port falls short of its Wii predecessor, though not in a substantial way, is with its framerate. The Wii title earned plaudits for its attractive visuals and impeccable performance, never dropping a frame and therefore being one of the smoothest platformers to grace any system. This 3DS version retains the visuals and excellent sound design, but can't match that level of smoothness. The framerate performs well, with just the occasional but minor dip, but doesn't have the silky 60 frames of the home console version. That applies in 2D, too, though there are some moments where the animations are marginally smoother with 3D off. It's a trade-off, but for our money the title looks wonderful in 3D and performs admirably; the level designs and aforementioned dynamic camera shifts feel like they were conceived with the 3DS in mind. Those that are intimately acquainted with the original will notice that this is more 30fps than a stunning 60fps, but it quickly becomes relatively unimportant.<br />
When you throw in local multiplayer — though both players need a copy — we have a faithful and top-notch port of a Wii classic. While occasionally its home console origins betray it, with a lower framerate, this is nevertheless a treat for 3DS owners. Some may say it's a gimmick, but when you've catapulted into and towards the screen from exploding barrels with the 3D slider all of the way up, it's immediately memorable. Combine that with some extra levels and an easier mode, and we have a fantastic portable iteration of the game, even if the Wii version pips it at the post as the definitive version.</div>
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Conclusion</h2>
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D may be a port less than three years after its original, but it has a new burst of life on Nintendo's handheld. The 3D effect has arguably never been better used in a platformer on the system — ironic as it wasn't originally designed for the hardware — and it's a technically sound iteration of one of the Wii's very best games. This is platforming at its finest, imaginative, exciting and playful, while also laying on a serious challenge for veterans and skillful players. The New Mode helps less experienced gamers along, though they'll need to learn and improve quickly, and if you're diligent there are eight terrific new stages to discover.<br />
It's not as silky smooth as its Wii predecessor, which strips it of perfection, but it does dispense of waggle. If you haven't played this on Wii and want it on the go, this is a must-buy. If you're wondering whether to double-dip, you can be confident that this isn't a half-baked sloppy port, but does the original justice. It's most certainly on like... well, we're not allowed to say that, but you know what we mean.</div>
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Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (3DS)

It's easy to forget, as Nintendo has seemingly decided that it's no longer a definitive unique selling point, but the 3DS has a fantastic stereoscopic 3D screen. It's tempting to be blase about it, b…

20 Mar 2017

RPGFan News - Warriors of the Sky Update Available for Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization

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Bandai Namco Entertainment has released a new update for <strong>Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization</strong> titled Warriors of the Sky. </h4>
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This free large scale update allows players to enter Sacrament Dungeon 3, giving players access to eight high level dungeons to conquer.<br />
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Players will also get the chance to meet Seven and Rain, two characters originally introduced in <strong>Sword Art Online: Lost Song</strong>. Lastly, Bandai Namco is also introducing a Duel System into the game. Players will be competing in one on one fights against other players or monsters, with rewards ranging from buffs, treasure chests, and other assorted rewards. You can check out the reveal trailer below.<br />
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In addition, Bandai Namco is also releasing two free DLC packs for <strong>Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization</strong>. The first, titled Lord of Inferno, adds and additional raid boss for players to fight after completing the main quest of Warriors of the Sky, while the second, Missing Chest, adds a treasure chest to Teleport Plaza that allows players to exchange gold for special items.<br />
<strong>Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization</strong> is currently available for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. Stay tuned to RPGFan for more news and info.</div>
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RPGFan News - Warriors of the Sky Update Available for Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization

Bandai Namco Entertainment has released a new update for Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization titled Warriors of the Sky. This free large scale update allows players to enter Sacrament Dungeon 3, gi…

18 Mar 2017

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