DOA: Dimensions gets a MashButtons Review

The second fighting title for the 3DS has been out for about a week now and with its release being just before Blazblue hits store shelves, it's got some pretty stiff competition. It is beginning to feel like the 3DS is a solid platform for fighting titles and DOA is another great example of why. Team Ninja is back with the Dead or Alive franchise, this time around toting new features like 3D of course along with multiplayer, both local and online, one on one and tag matches, and a roster consisting of 20 fighters. But most notably for new comers to series and fans of the series is the ability to relive the story lines from the original up through the latest release, Dead or Alive 4. So let's get the show started and see if we finally have a title to take Super Street Fighter IV off its pedestal.

To start, this is like if not better than playing any of the previous Dead or Alive titles, in terms of graphics and gameplay. The storyline is nothing new but is nice to play the previous versions of the games on a portable device. The thing I liked most is the controls, as it is not as easy to spam specials against your opponents like in Super Street Fighter IV. The online matches are easy to find although I think that either players are better or the specials are harder as it is harder to win the online matches. 3D visuals are more subtle so it adds depth without straining your eyes after prolonged gameplay. There is a lot of replay value with the online gameplay, but the biggest reason for continuously picking up and playing Dimensions is the scheduled DLC and challenges, so you continuously get free costumes and challenges to keep things fresh, that and the bouncing boobies.

The bad, well first off would be the story. I am not the first to say that stories in fighting games lack substance as it is hard to enjoy watching a long cutscene only to play a one to two minute fight just to watch another cutscene. Sure the stories over the course of the series are not bad, but there is not enough gameplay to justify the amount of cutscenes. Also, I had to play through the chronicle in order unlock other fighters to be used online so you are pushed into playing through the stories to play as your favorite fighters online. Luckily, you can skip the cutscenes to move onto the next match. I did not notice much in the way of bugs or lag, but there is still lag and does not play quite as smoothly as the 3DS launch fighter, Super Street Fighter IV.

All in all, this is my go to fighting title for the 3DS as I had always liked the series, it looks great, the girls kick high, it isn’t hard to find matches online, and have played about as much as I can of SSFIV. Though it is not the best fighter out there, but is a good transition for those that are getting tired of Super Street Fighter IV. Also, with BlazBlue coming out next week, I am not sure how it will hold up in the collection of 3D fighters, but is definitely a contender with the free DLC costumes and challenges. I give DOA: Dimensions an 8 out of 10, and hope to see you online against my Hyabusa and Tina.

LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game

Just in time before this summer's 5th most-anticipated movie, Pirates of the Caribbean, comes the video game counter-part to be released on May 10th.  Well, if that's still too long to wait to see some swashbuckling action; starting today you can play the demo of said new Lego game on Xbox Live (I hear the PSN is having some issues, so they won't have the demo available).

If you've played any of the LEGO games, they're a fun time for all ages, I always get a kick out of the simple gameplay, and the quirky telling of the source material, it's always fun.  In many cases, these games are better than most serious video-game adaptations of a summer blockbuster (Matrix, Iron Man, Kung Fu Panda, you get the idea).

Check it out, LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game will be available on May 10th, on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PC, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS and Sony PSP.  Whew.

In other news, the movie will be in theatres on May 20th.

Dood, Get Ready to Play Cave Story on the 3DS

That's right, if you are like me and have missed the recent release of Cave Story, well fear not as you will soon get to play it on the go, in 3D, without glasses. Expect to see this gem on store shelves in the states come August 9th.

Centipede resurected in the third dimension

Atari recently announce this morning that Centipede, the age old arcade game is making a comeback, not for the arcade, but on the Nintendo 3DS and Wii. The reboot is to feature not only infestation in the name but also run and gun shooting, tower defense objects and including some of the same gameplay elements that made the original so addicting through seven environments and 40 stages.

RAYMAN’S AWESOME TRANSITION TO TRUE 3D ON THE 3DS REVIEW

Rayman, Ubisoft's limbless action hero first made his debut on the original Playstation and introduced an incredible Disneyesque world filled with color and many interesting creatures. Being the brainchild of French game designer Michel Ancel, Ubisoft quickly recognized the genius of this platformer and polished this game to be in contention with competitive games the like of Mario and Sonic, it seemed Sony had its first platformer and it was incredible then fans waited and waited for a sequel but nothing showed until 1999.

Rayman 2 The Great Escape was released on rival gaming systems Nintendo 64 and Sega Dreamcast on January 6, 1999. It was considered by many to have raised the overall standards of 3D gaming design even against titles such as Mario 64 and the Banjo Kazooie games. Rayman 2 quickly became such a fan favorite that Ubisoft then proceeded to release it on practically every other gaming system as well as handheld portables. Today we gamers have available to us one of the super system portables of the future the Nintendo 3DS. The Nintendo 3DS has finally given us 3D gaming without the glasses, and now designers everywhere are scrambling to invent unique 3D gaming ideas without realizing that they have some already right in front of them. Guess What? Ubisoft did. Rayman 2 was already a 3D game without a means of displaying itself in true 3D. So now that the means are here, the brains at Ubisoft saw how this favored game could finally represent its true inspiration.

Alas comes Rayman 3DS and yes it is Rayman 2 but who cares? It’s freaking amazing! There are literally 20 or more reviews of all the different incarnations of this game available, but it is the 3DS that has given me what I should have had over 10 years ago. Rayman 3DS is not only now in true AWESOME 3D, but also high definition. The images are crisp and clean while the colors are rich and exuberant. The game levels are all there and the control is spot on but, it’s the little things that have me amazed. Things like butterflies, dust, and sparkles that now in 3D really make this world POP! It is truly an immersive experience. It blows my mind that Nintendo did not bring us redo’s of Mario 64 or Banjo when they could have really given even these beloved titles new life on this system so I must praise the wisdom of the minds at Ubisoft to have given us a true classic and now I want MORE! I can only hope Rayman 3 Hoodlum Havoc is not far off and then maybe an original release in the future.

If you are the proud owner of the new Nintendo 3DS and want to see an amazing example of 3D gaming then look no further. Don’t walk, RUN and pick up a copy of RAYMAN 3DS today. We live in a 3D world…now let’s play in it. The Z man is running late as usual so I bid you adieu. I got some gaming to do. Zircon Out.

Asphalt 3D |Review

So I have had about a week with the Nintendo 3DS and a handful of the release titles to help accelerate the crossing of my eyes and melting of my brain. I figure that it is about to start working on a few reviews and help any of you on the fence regarding Asphalt 3D. When I went into reviewing this title, I immediately thought about the racing titles for the DS and how there really weren't any worth remembering. Did Asphalt 3D even stand a chance of getting a good review? Well we will get to that soon, but before that, a little background of the Ubisoft released 3D racer. Developed by the mobile mogul Gameloft is a game that holds 42 licensed cars and 17 locations making for a lot of goal based events.

Now back to that first question about whether this game had a chance...you betcha. The reason being is that the this handheld isn't just a DS with 3D, this is like the difference between the Game Boy Advance and the DS. Asphalt 3D is definitely one of the games you can show off to your friends still on the fence and waiting for a sucke...I mean friend to get one first to make sure it isn't the next DSi. Being a fan of Forza, Gran Turismo, and just about any other racing game, licensed cars are a huge plus in my book, as it isn't much fun to crash a car that resembles like a Lamborghini. This is not a racing sim though, it is more like Need for Speed and San Francisco Rush had a long night in Cabo during Spring Break. Here is the part you are all waiting for, the 3D, I liked it mainly because it was subtle and not as is your face as Street Fighter 4, making it easier to play longer without feeling discomfort while enjoying the depth and layers the I hadn't noticed before.

What were some things that I felt didn't bode well for the experience? I would start with the load times. At times, mostly when going starting the game and before races, I felt I was thinking why does it take so much longer to load than it did on the DS. Next, and this is a personal issue, but is it necessary to have in game advertising on a small screen you need to hold inches from your face to be seen? I crashed multiple times trying to see the ad on the billboard for wheels, not noticing the track as I squint trying to decipher what the brand is. Lastly, it felt a bit like I was playing an on rails game where the tracks feel confined and walls do not slow you down much at times.

Though, not without quarks, it was a solid racer chock full of leveling up, modifying, painting, and racing that stays fun event after event. Though there isn't much competition right now for the top 3DS racer, it did have stiff competition with the age old franchise, Ridge Racer, and I feel that for gameplay, Asphalt had me playing longer, where as with Ridge Racer, I felt was more the showoff to friends game, that didn't hold my interest as long. It does boast the Street Pass feature and local multiplayer, but was unable to try either feature but looking forward to exchanges ghosts with strangers.

Samurai Warriors Chronicles |Review

We have been playing Ubisoft's release titles along with Capcom, now it is time for Koei's release title, Samurai Warriors Chronicles or as I call it, Dynasty Warriors 3DS. the small screen hack and slash action RPG has a lot to offer with this entry, boasting of course the 3D visuals, but also fluid gameplay, countless enemies, multiple playable characters, and huge battles. Also new to the series is the ability to change between four charters to play as on the fly along with a friendship meter based on interactions with your comrades.

Koei has done it again, by wowing me with their 3DS launch title, pleasantly surprising me in terms of gameplay fun and one of the best looking games for the handheld. The gameplay is very fluid, making attacks lightning fast depending on your weapon and character being used. It is a lot of fun mash away on the 3DS' buttons to try and string along huge combos and throwing enemies left and right. Switching characters on the fly is nice and reduces time spent on missions as they are placed in different strategic locations throughout the map. The rpg elements have you spending as much time equipping your character and upgrading weapons to make the most out of each warrior.

The not as good side of Samurai Warriors were few but not so very far away. The first is that enemies just pop on the screen without much notice and can not be seen until they are right in front of you. Another is that there is a lot of dialogue that you cannot skip the first time it is encountered and it isn't a little bit of script, it is enough to make some of the longer load times in console games seem short. Lastly, I had to use the map on the bottom screen A LOT and when playing in 3D, having to constantly look away from the top screen to see the map in the bottom, it was a strain on my eyes after short amounts of playing.

I am not too surprised that I found this to be one of the best launch 3DS games, as the majority of the games I have played in the last year from Koei, have been good if not great. The reason I found Samurai Warriors to be so entertaining is how fast it played, the replay value, and the unlockables. Even if you are not a fan of the Dynasty Warrior games, I suggest giving it a shot as you may be more surprised than you think.

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Shadow Wars |Review

Shadow Wars, the next chapter of the Tom Clancy game franchise and also one of the launch titles available for the Nintendo 3DS. The top down, turn based strategy RPG will take the player to Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Siberia to take down the Soviet “Dead Hand” bases being used to build an army of drones. While I am currently swimming in 3DS game cartridges and cases like Scrooge in his vault of money, I am finding it harder and harder to put the portable down, particularly Shadow Wars for the reasons listed below. Sit back, put down the 3DS to give your eyes and brain a break to take in my impressions of the first Tom Clancy game the next gen handheld.

So what does Fire Emblem and Shadow Wars have in common? A lot, which I never thought I would say, but they are both turn based strategy RPG games. I have played HAWX, Splinter Cell, and Rainbow Six titles in the past, but this is one of the franchise’s most addicting and unique games, which potentially could have been a huge risk to put out, but many of us thank you for taking the risk. Though very similar to games like Advance Wars, Fire Emblem, and Final Fantasy Tactics, all games I respect highly, it does not feel like a clone but more of a tribute to the genre using what the team knows best, military conflict. The gameplay is kept familiar, so it is easy to pick up and get into, with long missions that use lots of thought, and something that you should know is that it has an ability to save in the middle of missions…huge plus! The graphics are good, not much better than the DS, but the 3D elements add depth to the environments, but not so much that the 3D is in your face, like most of the other release games for the handheld.

Those familiar with the genre will find the tutorial during the first couple of missions frustrating, as in between each turn there is a lot of text to go through in order to get the basics of how to play, sometimes what seems to be multiple times. Another thing that stood out was the graphics, mainly because it seemed grainy and very similar to the DS, which I thought would appear better being on the new next gen handheld. As stated previously, having the ability to save is massive in games like this especially when the battery doesn’t last as long as the DS, but some of the missions feel a bit too long with additional objectives being thrown at you before completion.

Small issues aside, Shadow Wars is a lot of fun to pick up and play, whether it is just to complete a couple objectives or if you have more time, to work your way through a couple of the 35 missions. However, if you are not a fan of the strategy RPG genre, I do not think jumping into this would be a good idea as it does play a lot like Advance Wars and less like the typical Tom Clancy titles we are accustomed to over the past years and releases.

What could SONY possibly be announcing so late tonight? [Update]

2???

At 1:00am EST to be precise?  Will you be up to see all the news?

Technically, as the worlds foremost time-scientists will have you believe, since it's taking place in Tokyo, it's actually tomorrow afternoon.  That's just crazy talk, time-traveling countries, c'mon!

Place your bets here people, I'll bet dollars to donuts, they're re-introducing the SONY WEGA line of tube televisions.  Others seem to think it's something to do with the next PlayStation Portable.  Shhh, like wishing for rainbows in a cave!  Right?

Stop back tomorrow for more news...unless all you care about is some new 3D portable gaming system

Update:
This, yes, THIS is what it is:

Hi, I'm the NGP!

 

It's a 3DS News Day, price and release date announced

Following Nintendo's press conference yesterday, it seems a plethora of news has found it's way to my inbox, so it is only proper I share it with you. To start, the release date for the US is March 27th, while the price tage will be set at $249.99. Also, 30 plus games have been announced to be available on release.

Ubisoft has announced the below listed games for their lineup.

Asphalt 3D
Driver Renegade
Rabbids Travel in Time
Rayman 3D
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Shadow Wars
Tom CLancy's Splinter Cell 3D

Also, recently announced while writing this post were Sims 3 and Super Monkey Ball 3D from EA and Sega.

3DS gets list of launch titles from 3rd parties

So after seeing the Nintendo 3DS, and drooling perhaps too much over the Kid Icarus trailer being see in 3D, without glasses, Ubisoft and Hudson both sent over a list of titles to be launched for the portable.

Hudson, is planning on releasing a Bomberman title, in hopes to add to the 10 million already sold over the franchise's history. Along with Bomberman, will come DECA SPORTS and Kororinpa.

Ubisoft has announced six launch titles, all of which are mentioned below.

-Hollywood 61
-Battle of Giants: Dinosaur Strike
-Driver Renegade
-Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory
-Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon
-Assassin's Creed Lost Legacy