I got my N3DS from my mom as a present for my birthday last year along with a copy of Ocarina of Time 3D and Pokemon X.
In terms of total hours of gameplay, I haven't gone hardcore just yet on my 3DS racking only 433 hours of gameplay across sixteen titles and several other software over the course of one year. To be fair, I've been away from her for the first four months of the year because of hardcore acads only really immersing myself with her games during the four-month long vacation that followed.
Now usually if a milestone like this has been reached I'd be talking about the games ranking them as I see fit, and yeah I am going to do that but first here are the current stats of my 3DS:
Battery Life: It's always the battery life. This has always been a major issue in the system because it is such a big trade off to the new features that the 3DS introduced. In my case, I never really used most of this features like spot/streepass and the Nintendo e-shop unless I really needed to (usually for system updates). The battery life of my 3DS can still last about seven hours provided that the 3D feature and volume are off, and the backlight is down to minimum.
Streetpass: Thanks to the 3DS community here in the University, my Mii Plaza's not as lonely anymore with only my Mii being the only previous dweller in that desolate place. However, I still don't normally turn it on wherever I go because like I said it drains the battery faster. I only ever reconsider whenever I'm at malls or other places of massive social gatherings.
Friends: In terms of a 'registered profile' friends then I only have one. Apparently (at least I think so) the 3DS community values Streetpass encounters more than registering friends in the console. I do play with a lot of friends, I just don't have them registered on the friend list.
Mic.: I find it kinda weird that I haven't played a game which utilizes the established microphone of the DS family. It was one of the most marketed feature of the console way back in 2005 and now I think it's just forgotten. It is used for recording using the 3DS camera and voice recorder so...I guess that's a plus?
Input: The input buttons are all still fine save for the a few smudges and the oily surface. Perhaps the most abused part of my 3DS is the Circle Pad mainly thanks to Super Smash Bros. and Super Mario 3D Land, while the most unused part is the D-Pad. Really, I have yet to play a game which requires me to go hardcore on the D-Pad.
Camera: Other than playing AR games, the only other time I used the cameras are for the creation and editing of my Mii's.
Alright, enough of the boring part let's get to the ranking!!
Note: There's no real basis of comparison between the games listed here as I feel it's illogical to compare games of different genres because they have their own appeal. However, they do have varying levels of enjoyment, entertainment, replayablitiy and impact to me so I used those factors in coming up with this list instead of comparing the games to each other.
Ready?
Note: There's no real basis of comparison between the games listed here as I feel it's illogical to compare games of different genres because they have their own appeal. However, they do have varying levels of enjoyment, entertainment, replayablitiy and impact to me so I used those factors in coming up with this list instead of comparing the games to each other.
Ready?
13. Code of Princess
Genre: RPG, Beat 'em up
Total Hours of Gameplay: 9:05
 |
| Solange |
I admit, I bought Code of Princess out of impulse thinking that because its a JRPG it was bound to be great. It wasn't. But it wasn't bad either, it's just good for the Beat 'em up genre. For an RPG the options for character customization are very limited, and the gameplay as a whole was very short. However, I did enjoy playing each of the four main characters with my favorite being Allegro Nantabile Cantabile - you kick ass using the sound waves of a damn electric guitar how is that not epic?
Perhaps Code of Princess' biggest selling point is its humorous dialogue which is great because the game relies more on the story than its gameplay, and with that alone the whole game was worth playing to the end.
There were plenty of gags, unexpected revelations (that were still humorous) and a surprisingly paced character development even with the linear story, all these were enough to keep me interested until the end. It's also great that the game has plenty of unlockable characters from NPC's to monsters to antagonists so even with the short main story over, there's still something to return to once in a while.
12. Monster Hunter Tri
Genre: Action, RPG
I traded my copy of Yoshi's New Island for a copy of MH3 thinking that I landed a good deal. Yah, I did at first but I found it hard to get fully hooked on the game. Maybe because I was used to the similar gameplay but more anime-ish design of Gods Eater Burst or probably because Super Smash Bros. 3DS came out just a few weeks after I got the game, or maybe it's ultimately because you can't friggin' jump in this game, but either way I'm not as interested in it as most hardcore fans of the series who rack in hundreds of hours of gameplay.
With my current progress, I've managed to go through the Rank 1 and 2 missions but those were enough for me. Besides, I'm not that good of a hunter even with the Circle Pad Pro accessory. I usually end up dying most of the time and then replaying a mission is just too tedious. So in that eleven hours of gameplay all I ever managed to do was die a lot and drain my 3DS' battery. But despite my lukewarm reaction to it, I can't deny that this game has a lot of great things to offer. From the tutorial to the first missions there are always new things to explore and most of the times it's up to you to discover them. There's little to no hand-holding in this game, if you get lost then good luck to you (or you can just, y'know search the web for a walkthrough?). I haven't tried co-op mode yet but based from the reaction of my more hardcore friends they seem to love it.
Bottomline, this is definitely a great game and a must have for the console I'm just not one of the target audience for it so...yeah.
11. Mario Kart 7
Genre: Racing
THG: 13:47
I actually don't know if I've completed the game yet. By characters unlocked then yes I've unlocked them all but in terms of other things such as karts etc. no I think I still have a lot to unlock. I'm not really interested in racing games at first because it's always the same formula from start to finish unless the game is still fresh with plenty of characters ready t be unlocked.
While there are a lot of playable characters in MK7 I just tend to always pick my favorite racer (Rosalina) because, while all characters are indeed unique, there aren't much variety in my case other than their weight class. The new tracks are awesome especially Music Park and this iteration's Rainbow Road, and the addition of gliding and underwater routes finally makes 'accidental' drops actually fun.
In the end, as with most video games with competition as its core, Mario Kart 7 is best played in multiplayer mode.
10. New Super Mario Bros. 2
Genre: Platformer
THG: 9:16
I can't tell if NSMB 2 is a sequel or an update of an update. We knew that the NSMB for the DS was a game made to reintroduce the original Super Mario Bros. for the NES to the then current generation. It was technically an update but in its entirety it was a great game on its own and it didn't need to ride the popularity and the reputation of the original NES game to be considered a great title for the DS. But I didn't feel the same way about New Super Mario Bros. 2. While it kept the same beloved formula of the 2D side-scrolling Super Mario games it didn't have enough unique content on its own for me to enjoy it as much as I did with the first New Super Mario Bros. game.
The gold rush mechanic of the game was a nice addition, yes, but it gets old really fast. When taken seriously the gold rush turns the game into a collecting game instead of an action platformer. Of course, there's nothing wrong with collecting things but the problem here is you're collecting coins. Those have been there since the beginning why focus on them now?
The game is also undeniably easy and the actual challenge (which still isn't NES-era Nintendo hard) starts really late in the game. Overall, New Super Mario Bros. 2 was just a continuation of the 'New' Super Mario games. It's not a carbon copy of the previous game, but it's not that unique either.
Oh and they took the REC Room away *sobs*.
9. Super Mario 3D Land
Genre: 3D Platformer (thus the title)
THG: 14:27
When I first played Super Mario 3D Land I got a little confused because I expected gameplay similar to Super Mario 64. Instead, it plays like a hybrid between the 2D side-scrolling Mario and Super Mario 64 - or for short something similar to Super Mario Galaxy...I love it!! The game utilizes the 3D feature well because not only was it for aesthetics but it was also crucial in several parts of the game. It was difficult to tell which platforms Mario is going to land on without the proper depth perception, and that's where the 3D feature comes into play. But it's not all about the 3D gameplay it's also about the environment. The level design was gorgeous and amazing. It has the kind of appeal that the worlds in Super Mario 64 has where it encourages you to explore more than it wants you to rush into the end of the level. But still the main goal of each level is to reach the end and optionally get a 1-Up out of a flagpole.
The main game where you save Peach for the 857124345383524th time was rather short and, again, easy despite the enjoyable route this portable Mario game has taken, but thankfully saving Peach is just half of the whole game and the second half is definitely worth playing through despite having identical level design with the normal worlds. It's a fun and challenging Mario game overall with the only problem being the 'fun' and 'challenging' parts rarely coincided within the many levels in the game. Still if there's one Super Mario game you should have that's made for the 3DS this is so far the best choice.
8. Bravely Default
Genre: RPG
THG: 31:19
Bravely Default is an incredibly long game. I'd like to blame it on my constant level grinding but seeing as it is an RPG level grinding is a given. So yeah, Bravely Default is an incredibly long game. Thirty one hours in and I still haven't reached the halfway point, what's worse I already know the plot so there's little motivation for me to keep going. As an RPG this game is amazing. It features classic RPG mechanics found in early Final Fantasy games boasting a lot of jobs allowing plenty of combinations for our four main characters. The main story, with all the drama and mystery included, is very intriguing and it draws you in with the lovable characters (except Agnes, she was an alpha b*tch the majority of the first half) at first but it gets watered down often times thanks to optional quests that keep popping out every chapter. While some of these side quests are relevant to obtain Asterisks, when they're taken outside of their chapter it kinda ruins the whole linear narrative. Hopefully it won't have those kinds of problem in Bravely Second.
The overworld of Bravely Default was magnificent that traversing through the vast land reminded me of Tales of Eternia but BD takes it a notch higher in exploration by allowing the gamers to set the frequency and difficulty of spawning enemies. I find the game in most parts challenging thanks to scarce materials and roadkill expensive products such as elixirs, etc. The only real way to heal is through Inns which makes it tedious to keep going back and forth to each dungeon and the closest town to heal.
Overall, I still like this game and the 31 hours I spent playing it were all fun and worth the level grinding. What's keeping me from progressing is the fact that most people keep saying that the latter half of the game lives on repetition with only the plot keeping it interesting. I'll probably play Bravely Default again when Bravely Second is released.
7. Resident Evil: Revelations
Genre: Survival-horror/ Action
THG: 21:38
Revelations is the first Resident Evil game that I've played AND the first game of its genre. Everyone knows I'm a big scaredycat, that's not a secret and I'm sometimes proud of it because it gets me away from accompanying anyone on their midnight bathroom trips. Anyway, this is one game I was really compelled to finish as fast as possible. At first the eerie atmosphere of Queen Zenobia had me quitting even before I got to chase around Rachel (or was it the other way around), but as I went along I got brave enough to fire a bullet before actually running the heck away. It is a difficult game for me and most of the time tedious because I never really found the glorious enjoyment in shooter games that others do whether in first-person or third-person (rail shooter is a different story) but the sheer terror and fright I feel moving along the corners of the forsaken ship kept me up on my (or Jill's) toes. I was never bored, I was too scared to be bored and that was a good thing, it's this games charming point.
I didn't pay much attention to the story even if the internet has told me where it places on the timeline because I simply just don't know the stories of the other ResE games. However, this game alone has an interesting story even with all the scientific ho-hums in the game but really the game itself without the story is still fun.
Gameplay was a little slippery even with the Circle Pad Pro accessory attached, or maybe I was just shaking too much to even properly coordinate the camera with the laser pointer. I don't know about the other ResE titles but Revelations is one game that forced me to search ever nook and cranny of the ship just for a couple of bullets and a herb. The variety of firearms in the game doesn't really help without the proper bullets and even with some bullets you need a hella lot of them. I struggled with this part of the game because once a bullet is shot it can't be recovered and one missed shot is really a big deal when it comes to most enemies. Though the game gives off hints about approaching bosses or sub-bosses by technically throwing supplies right at Jill's face, I still found myself completely naked in the battlefield every time I survive such ordeals. The game is still pretty interesting after clearing the main campaign. You could always play at a harder difficulty provided you're either a hardcore ResE fan or an M (y'know what I mean), or you could be both. As for me I just went with Raid Mode as it is shorter, segmented and you have more control over the current situation of each level. The rewards for clearing the stages of Raid Mode aren't all that much though aside from the occasional hard hitting weapon and new playable character. Yep, that is indeed what should be called survival-horror.
6. Kid Icarus: Uprising
Genre: Rail shooter, Platformer
THG: 38:22
Ah yes, the only shooter I ever loved even with the clunky controls. Kid Icarus was a Nintendo title that has been dormant for 20 years but with Uprising it not only revived interest in the franchise but also drew in a multitude of new fans.
Save for some chapters, the majority of Uprising features two segments in every chapter - sky and land. In sky battles Pit's flight route is controlled by Palutena but his position is still controlled by the gamer. While in the air the gamer must dodge and attack the enemies as with any rail shooter games, and while on the ground Pit can be moved freely but it's in here where the clunky controls start getting annoying. Despite all the cool variety of weapons, and powers these are all useless if Pit isn't properly maneuvered around each chapter. Still, these slippery controls didn't stop me from playing because it is fun. Simple as that.
Uprising also has one of the most enjoyable and well-written stories that I played through. It's not that serious, in fact they're hilarious the majority of the time but when they do get serious you feel the characters (at least I did) I even shed a tear for Pit by the end of Chapter 21: The Chaos Vortex. Part of the enjoyable story are the very likable characters especially Pit, Palutena, Pittoo, Viridi and Hades (ok I don't like Pittoo that much). Plenty of 'chapter characters' occasionally appear past their supposed screen time either to provide more comic relief or surprise us again with their own antics.
With 25 chapters and one boss rush chapter Uprising is packed with hours of varying challenge thanks to its scalable difficulty, but of course the real rewards come at the high risk ones and clearing all chapters at intensity 9.0 is a big deal. Still, just revisiting chapters just to bust up some enemies and collect hearts is rewarding in itself more so because of the amazing level design and the amount of unique detail each one has. This title is a definite must have for the 3DS.
5. Rune Factory 4
Genre: life simulation, RPG
THG: 88:52
RF4 is so far the longest game that I played in the 3DS and I am still struggling with Sharance Maze and Rune Prana hoping to finally get past that damn elephant. There tons of things to do in RF4 and almost all of them from farming to saving a dragon are relevant to the progression of the story and the growth of your character. It's technically Harvest Moon but with swords and magic, thus the subtitle of previous titles 'A Fantasy Harvest Moon'. The game's emphasis on relationships was nothing complicated but the fact that its simplistic nature of just talking and giving made me feel like there was real progress. It also helps that they only have one new thing to say every in-game day (except on certain circumstances) to prevent spamming one character to boost a relationship in just a day (I think it's still possible but I've never tried it). Of course, as with most life-simulation games, there's also the marriage system and depending on your choices as the player character you can choose among six bachelorettes if you picked Lest, or six bachelors if you picked Frey, but whichever gender of the character you use their story remains the same (to whine about Venti before actually doing stuff).
Aside from the peaceful life as a mistaken Prince/Princess in Selphia there are a lot of travelling involved and thankfully there actually are a lot of places to go to progress the story, A LOT. The game's combat, while not the smoothest, is rather dynamic giving you eight types of weapons each with their own abilities. While we're at it you can also use magic, bring up to two companions (human or monster) in your journey and tame monsters on the go. Leveling up doesn't take much at first since simply walking, cooking or taking a bath can give you experience points until you've raised all at max - but that's one thing that would really take time since at max level the protagonist would be at level 50,000. It's not required to be at that level to breeze through the game but I do suggest being somewhere near 500 to guarantee a smooth progress in Sharance Maze and Rune Prana.
This game will definitely keep you addicted for a long time and even if you think you're done there are still optional challenges such as maxed out skills, finding or crafting rare items, marriage, and hidden areas that could be triggered under specific events. This is one of the most enjoyable games that I've played...buy it!
4. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Genre: Action-adventure
THG: 18:27
The second Zelda game for the 3DS and the latest Zelda title in the franchise is one heck of a fantastic throwback to the Zelda series bringing nostalgia to old fans for bringing back the same adventurous feeling of epic proportions that A Link to the Past offered while introducing new concepts, game mechanics and an overall unique story adding in a variety to the already legendary mix of Zelda. But don't get me wrong, this Zelda doesn't only cater to old fans but it also serves to draw in new ones - 'From a classic to a modern masterpiece' as what the younger generation of gaming said. While it doesn't have the same charm in exploration as the other 3D titles in the franchise, A Link Between Worlds separates itself from the 2D Zelda norm by adding a unique game mechanic that adds greater depth to exploration - merging. Through this a lot of options open up for the gamer giving him more than a couple of ways to approach a challenge, a puzzle or a boss fight. That said, there's also no specific order in which Link must travel Hyrule to progress with the story. Unlike previous Zelda games where you find most key items in dungeons, this title allows you to tackle each dungeon however and whenever you want to thanks to Ravio's Shop, a place (it's actually your house) where you can rent the key items necessary for your journey such as the hammer, bombs and the bow and arrow. However, given all these unique game mechanics for a Zelda game it does get some challenges watered down from frustratingly difficult to actually bearable even on the first go and the game is shorter than the average Zelda title. But to address these issues there are, of course, the side quests where the game can ultimately pack in about a few more hours of gameplay long after the credits have rolled. There's also Hero Mode that is pretty much like Ocarina of Time 3D's Master Quest if you're not content with standard difficulty.
The story is pretty straightforward and actually predictable if you're a longtime Zelda fan but there's always sentiment and heartwarming moments that would just make you hug these characters.
This is a great Zelda game that pays tribute to the past all while still proving to be completely new and unique to the world.
(Ok that was a statement too forced).
3. Super Smash Bros. 3DS
Genre: Fighting
THG: 54:45
As my first experience playing Smash Bros. this game exceeded my expectations. I gotta say this game was hyped even before E3 kicked in and I was part of that hype even if I had no idea just what kind of unique fighting game is Smash. By the time I played the game two months ago, wow. It was amazing. Not only was I brought to tears seeing the faces of my favorite videogame characters side-by-side on one roster, it also gave me such an enjoyable time kicking Lucina's behind for being such a copycat. No, really this isn't an advertisement for each own's franchise, this is a hardcore fighting game that deserves to be taken seriously in all matters. Each of the 52 characters have a surprisingly unique and accurate moveset that, even if they remain fixed (unless customized are enabled), hitting combos and knocking opponents off the stage has never been so satisfying in my gamer life. Most of the stages featured are also fun to play in sometimes being a game inside a game to keep things unpredictable. Aside from the main fighting game there are also classic, all-star, and smash run to add variety to the game and to complete the massive trophy hoard, and the challenges. And like Mario Kart 7 this game, where intense competition is its charm, is played best in multiplayer mode.
2. Pokemon X
Genre: RPG
THG: 49:26
The transition of Pokemon to 3D was not just a gimmick! It was just part of a completely new generation of Pokemon gaming. This game brought it all out - fantastic visuals, design, story, new Pokemon species, a new Pokemon type, new legendaries, character customization, plenty of surprises, Mega evolution, and, oh my, and friendship! (that's the main theme actually). However, it can't be denied that this game returned to basics as they introduced this new game that will most likely define a new generation in Pokemon gaming - Pokemon X was too easy for a Pokemon game. It gives plenty of freebies from a second starter to a free Lucario to a Mewtwo that could be easily caught. It feels like a new start again and, though it was easy, it was a great and refreshing start for the Pokemon series. It has the most compelling story out of all the Pokemon games that I've played (and I only missed two generations at that). This game also has a lot of social features ranging from global battles to global trading. There's also a mini Nintendogs-like mini-game called Pokemon-Amie where you can pet, feed and play with your Pokemon at a time. Depending on your friendship level, it can directly affect your Pokemon during battle such as fast recovery from status ailments, high evasiveness, etc.
Pokemon X is an example of a great game that underwent a lot of changes while still keeping the series' core mechanics. Even with the different look and apeal, I still felt at home the moment I stepped out of my in-game house and travel around Kalos with my Pokemons.
Before we get to number 1 (which is pretty obvious by now) here are the games I currently have but I haven't played enough to give it a place on the rankings:
Castlevania Lords of Shadow: Mirror of Fate
Genre: action-adventure
THG: 6:13
Those who frequent my blog already know my deep hatred for this particular title. Basically I don't think it has the right to call itself Castlevania because that's giving of too much air for something created by mixing already existing formulas from other games without even adding its own dash of originality. I hate this game as a Castlevania title, but I guess its alright gaemplay wise because it offers great challenge that are one hit wonders but dull on the next. I just don't like this game.
Yoshi's New Island
Genre: Platformer
THG: 5:53
There's nothing wrong with Yoshi's New Island. It's a good platformer with just enough of its own concepts to separate itself from being compared to the likes of Mario. However, I can't deny that this is such a childish game. It caters to a much younger audience and most likely also to those who played and enjoyed the original Yoshi's Island.
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire
Genre: RPG
THG: 6:02
I haven't played enough of Alpha Sapphire to properly find its place on the list so for now this is a special mention. But with my current progress I gotta say this remake is far from simply being an improvement of the original Gen. III games, it feels like Game Freak used the same concept but with completely new materials with their own special attribute. There are plenty of new things to keep this game interesting - from catching Pokemon to Gym Battles. Pokemon Alpha Sapphire (and Omega Ruby) will surely not fail the expectations of veterans.
So here we go, at number 1:
1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
Genre: Action-adventure
THG: 43:34
Embarking on an epic quest to thwart evil never felt so stimulating than when I played Ocarina of Time 3D. The buildup and progression of the story that went along with all those fun/frustrating dungeon puzzle solving, boss battles, and rolls from Kakariko to Hyrule Castle Town had such an addicting feel to it that really makes you want to save Hyrule in one go. There weren't any dull moments in the game even if you just ride Epona around Hyrule Field because the amount of hidden content in this game is massive. The side quests are fun and rewarding prompting gamers to revisit old areas, and what makes exploration not tedious is that the game has no time pressure. Everything you do is at your own pace (or until Navi annoys you to desu). That said, Hyrule is really big with each area having their own unique appeal, and you're just never sure what you'll find in one area at a specific time or event. The level design in the game was fantastic, I mean even with a map I still found it surprising that one door could lead to another room that I've already been to. Each dungeon has their own puzzles that require the smart use of weapons and sub-weapons with little to no hand-holding at all. It's just you, your weapons and your wit (and Navi's annoyance) for the majority of your adventure.
Boss battles were thrilling and crazy difficult until you've figured out the pattern but simply knowing isn't enough you have to be fast and evasive as well. Heck, these bosses are gigantic - a theme that's almost present in all Zelda titles and with Ocarina of Time's bosses size makes all the difference.
And finally when the battle is over, all those hours rolling around, traversing through the kingdom of Hyrule saving the sages and ultimately defeating Ganon is one of the most satisfying feelings I've felt as a gamer. There's just a feeling I had playing this masterpiece that I couldn't properly put into words (yes, yes I have a shallow fountain of words) but if anything, all I can say is that all it deserves all the praises given to it...and this game sold me the 3DS.
So what do you guys think abut my ranking? Think I may have overlooked several other aspects of the games listed above that could bring change to the list then by all means please tell me in the comments and I'll definitely look into it.
Thank you for reading a post this long. I actually started editing this post two weeks ago but thanks to a tight schedule (of hardcore acads...) I couldn't find the time. Still, I hope you guys like dthis and...that's all for now.
Yeah.
Bottomline, this is definitely a great game and a must have for the console I'm just not one of the target audience for it so...yeah.
11. Mario Kart 7
Genre: Racing
THG: 13:47
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| I thought Bowser was after Peach? |
I actually don't know if I've completed the game yet. By characters unlocked then yes I've unlocked them all but in terms of other things such as karts etc. no I think I still have a lot to unlock. I'm not really interested in racing games at first because it's always the same formula from start to finish unless the game is still fresh with plenty of characters ready t be unlocked.
While there are a lot of playable characters in MK7 I just tend to always pick my favorite racer (Rosalina) because, while all characters are indeed unique, there aren't much variety in my case other than their weight class. The new tracks are awesome especially Music Park and this iteration's Rainbow Road, and the addition of gliding and underwater routes finally makes 'accidental' drops actually fun.
In the end, as with most video games with competition as its core, Mario Kart 7 is best played in multiplayer mode.
10. New Super Mario Bros. 2
Genre: Platformer
THG: 9:16
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| the gold rush wasn't as interesting |
The gold rush mechanic of the game was a nice addition, yes, but it gets old really fast. When taken seriously the gold rush turns the game into a collecting game instead of an action platformer. Of course, there's nothing wrong with collecting things but the problem here is you're collecting coins. Those have been there since the beginning why focus on them now?
The game is also undeniably easy and the actual challenge (which still isn't NES-era Nintendo hard) starts really late in the game. Overall, New Super Mario Bros. 2 was just a continuation of the 'New' Super Mario games. It's not a carbon copy of the previous game, but it's not that unique either.
Oh and they took the REC Room away *sobs*.
9. Super Mario 3D Land
Genre: 3D Platformer (thus the title)
THG: 14:27
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| oh now he's after Peach again |
When I first played Super Mario 3D Land I got a little confused because I expected gameplay similar to Super Mario 64. Instead, it plays like a hybrid between the 2D side-scrolling Mario and Super Mario 64 - or for short something similar to Super Mario Galaxy...I love it!! The game utilizes the 3D feature well because not only was it for aesthetics but it was also crucial in several parts of the game. It was difficult to tell which platforms Mario is going to land on without the proper depth perception, and that's where the 3D feature comes into play. But it's not all about the 3D gameplay it's also about the environment. The level design was gorgeous and amazing. It has the kind of appeal that the worlds in Super Mario 64 has where it encourages you to explore more than it wants you to rush into the end of the level. But still the main goal of each level is to reach the end and optionally get a 1-Up out of a flagpole.
The main game where you save Peach for the 857124345383524th time was rather short and, again, easy despite the enjoyable route this portable Mario game has taken, but thankfully saving Peach is just half of the whole game and the second half is definitely worth playing through despite having identical level design with the normal worlds. It's a fun and challenging Mario game overall with the only problem being the 'fun' and 'challenging' parts rarely coincided within the many levels in the game. Still if there's one Super Mario game you should have that's made for the 3DS this is so far the best choice.
8. Bravely Default
Genre: RPG
THG: 31:19
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| this is one fairy they should have stepped on right at the beginning |
Bravely Default is an incredibly long game. I'd like to blame it on my constant level grinding but seeing as it is an RPG level grinding is a given. So yeah, Bravely Default is an incredibly long game. Thirty one hours in and I still haven't reached the halfway point, what's worse I already know the plot so there's little motivation for me to keep going. As an RPG this game is amazing. It features classic RPG mechanics found in early Final Fantasy games boasting a lot of jobs allowing plenty of combinations for our four main characters. The main story, with all the drama and mystery included, is very intriguing and it draws you in with the lovable characters (except Agnes, she was an alpha b*tch the majority of the first half) at first but it gets watered down often times thanks to optional quests that keep popping out every chapter. While some of these side quests are relevant to obtain Asterisks, when they're taken outside of their chapter it kinda ruins the whole linear narrative. Hopefully it won't have those kinds of problem in Bravely Second.
The overworld of Bravely Default was magnificent that traversing through the vast land reminded me of Tales of Eternia but BD takes it a notch higher in exploration by allowing the gamers to set the frequency and difficulty of spawning enemies. I find the game in most parts challenging thanks to scarce materials and roadkill expensive products such as elixirs, etc. The only real way to heal is through Inns which makes it tedious to keep going back and forth to each dungeon and the closest town to heal.
Overall, I still like this game and the 31 hours I spent playing it were all fun and worth the level grinding. What's keeping me from progressing is the fact that most people keep saying that the latter half of the game lives on repetition with only the plot keeping it interesting. I'll probably play Bravely Default again when Bravely Second is released.
7. Resident Evil: Revelations
Genre: Survival-horror/ Action
THG: 21:38
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| zombies like monocles |
Revelations is the first Resident Evil game that I've played AND the first game of its genre. Everyone knows I'm a big scaredycat, that's not a secret and I'm sometimes proud of it because it gets me away from accompanying anyone on their midnight bathroom trips. Anyway, this is one game I was really compelled to finish as fast as possible. At first the eerie atmosphere of Queen Zenobia had me quitting even before I got to chase around Rachel (or was it the other way around), but as I went along I got brave enough to fire a bullet before actually running the heck away. It is a difficult game for me and most of the time tedious because I never really found the glorious enjoyment in shooter games that others do whether in first-person or third-person (rail shooter is a different story) but the sheer terror and fright I feel moving along the corners of the forsaken ship kept me up on my (or Jill's) toes. I was never bored, I was too scared to be bored and that was a good thing, it's this games charming point.
I didn't pay much attention to the story even if the internet has told me where it places on the timeline because I simply just don't know the stories of the other ResE games. However, this game alone has an interesting story even with all the scientific ho-hums in the game but really the game itself without the story is still fun.
Gameplay was a little slippery even with the Circle Pad Pro accessory attached, or maybe I was just shaking too much to even properly coordinate the camera with the laser pointer. I don't know about the other ResE titles but Revelations is one game that forced me to search ever nook and cranny of the ship just for a couple of bullets and a herb. The variety of firearms in the game doesn't really help without the proper bullets and even with some bullets you need a hella lot of them. I struggled with this part of the game because once a bullet is shot it can't be recovered and one missed shot is really a big deal when it comes to most enemies. Though the game gives off hints about approaching bosses or sub-bosses by technically throwing supplies right at Jill's face, I still found myself completely naked in the battlefield every time I survive such ordeals. The game is still pretty interesting after clearing the main campaign. You could always play at a harder difficulty provided you're either a hardcore ResE fan or an M (y'know what I mean), or you could be both. As for me I just went with Raid Mode as it is shorter, segmented and you have more control over the current situation of each level. The rewards for clearing the stages of Raid Mode aren't all that much though aside from the occasional hard hitting weapon and new playable character. Yep, that is indeed what should be called survival-horror.
6. Kid Icarus: Uprising
Genre: Rail shooter, Platformer
THG: 38:22
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| 'Sorry to keep you waiting (for 20 years)' |
Ah yes, the only shooter I ever loved even with the clunky controls. Kid Icarus was a Nintendo title that has been dormant for 20 years but with Uprising it not only revived interest in the franchise but also drew in a multitude of new fans.
Save for some chapters, the majority of Uprising features two segments in every chapter - sky and land. In sky battles Pit's flight route is controlled by Palutena but his position is still controlled by the gamer. While in the air the gamer must dodge and attack the enemies as with any rail shooter games, and while on the ground Pit can be moved freely but it's in here where the clunky controls start getting annoying. Despite all the cool variety of weapons, and powers these are all useless if Pit isn't properly maneuvered around each chapter. Still, these slippery controls didn't stop me from playing because it is fun. Simple as that.
Uprising also has one of the most enjoyable and well-written stories that I played through. It's not that serious, in fact they're hilarious the majority of the time but when they do get serious you feel the characters (at least I did) I even shed a tear for Pit by the end of Chapter 21: The Chaos Vortex. Part of the enjoyable story are the very likable characters especially Pit, Palutena, Pittoo, Viridi and Hades (ok I don't like Pittoo that much). Plenty of 'chapter characters' occasionally appear past their supposed screen time either to provide more comic relief or surprise us again with their own antics.
With 25 chapters and one boss rush chapter Uprising is packed with hours of varying challenge thanks to its scalable difficulty, but of course the real rewards come at the high risk ones and clearing all chapters at intensity 9.0 is a big deal. Still, just revisiting chapters just to bust up some enemies and collect hearts is rewarding in itself more so because of the amazing level design and the amount of unique detail each one has. This title is a definite must have for the 3DS.
5. Rune Factory 4
Genre: life simulation, RPG
THG: 88:52
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| Lest and Frey |
RF4 is so far the longest game that I played in the 3DS and I am still struggling with Sharance Maze and Rune Prana hoping to finally get past that damn elephant. There tons of things to do in RF4 and almost all of them from farming to saving a dragon are relevant to the progression of the story and the growth of your character. It's technically Harvest Moon but with swords and magic, thus the subtitle of previous titles 'A Fantasy Harvest Moon'. The game's emphasis on relationships was nothing complicated but the fact that its simplistic nature of just talking and giving made me feel like there was real progress. It also helps that they only have one new thing to say every in-game day (except on certain circumstances) to prevent spamming one character to boost a relationship in just a day (I think it's still possible but I've never tried it). Of course, as with most life-simulation games, there's also the marriage system and depending on your choices as the player character you can choose among six bachelorettes if you picked Lest, or six bachelors if you picked Frey, but whichever gender of the character you use their story remains the same (to whine about Venti before actually doing stuff).
Aside from the peaceful life as a mistaken Prince/Princess in Selphia there are a lot of travelling involved and thankfully there actually are a lot of places to go to progress the story, A LOT. The game's combat, while not the smoothest, is rather dynamic giving you eight types of weapons each with their own abilities. While we're at it you can also use magic, bring up to two companions (human or monster) in your journey and tame monsters on the go. Leveling up doesn't take much at first since simply walking, cooking or taking a bath can give you experience points until you've raised all at max - but that's one thing that would really take time since at max level the protagonist would be at level 50,000. It's not required to be at that level to breeze through the game but I do suggest being somewhere near 500 to guarantee a smooth progress in Sharance Maze and Rune Prana.
This game will definitely keep you addicted for a long time and even if you think you're done there are still optional challenges such as maxed out skills, finding or crafting rare items, marriage, and hidden areas that could be triggered under specific events. This is one of the most enjoyable games that I've played...buy it!
4. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Genre: Action-adventure
THG: 18:27
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| yep, blurry image |
The second Zelda game for the 3DS and the latest Zelda title in the franchise is one heck of a fantastic throwback to the Zelda series bringing nostalgia to old fans for bringing back the same adventurous feeling of epic proportions that A Link to the Past offered while introducing new concepts, game mechanics and an overall unique story adding in a variety to the already legendary mix of Zelda. But don't get me wrong, this Zelda doesn't only cater to old fans but it also serves to draw in new ones - 'From a classic to a modern masterpiece' as what the younger generation of gaming said. While it doesn't have the same charm in exploration as the other 3D titles in the franchise, A Link Between Worlds separates itself from the 2D Zelda norm by adding a unique game mechanic that adds greater depth to exploration - merging. Through this a lot of options open up for the gamer giving him more than a couple of ways to approach a challenge, a puzzle or a boss fight. That said, there's also no specific order in which Link must travel Hyrule to progress with the story. Unlike previous Zelda games where you find most key items in dungeons, this title allows you to tackle each dungeon however and whenever you want to thanks to Ravio's Shop, a place (it's actually your house) where you can rent the key items necessary for your journey such as the hammer, bombs and the bow and arrow. However, given all these unique game mechanics for a Zelda game it does get some challenges watered down from frustratingly difficult to actually bearable even on the first go and the game is shorter than the average Zelda title. But to address these issues there are, of course, the side quests where the game can ultimately pack in about a few more hours of gameplay long after the credits have rolled. There's also Hero Mode that is pretty much like Ocarina of Time 3D's Master Quest if you're not content with standard difficulty.
The story is pretty straightforward and actually predictable if you're a longtime Zelda fan but there's always sentiment and heartwarming moments that would just make you hug these characters.
This is a great Zelda game that pays tribute to the past all while still proving to be completely new and unique to the world.
(Ok that was a statement too forced).
3. Super Smash Bros. 3DS
Genre: Fighting
THG: 54:45
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| Mario looks like he's holding that fart in |
As my first experience playing Smash Bros. this game exceeded my expectations. I gotta say this game was hyped even before E3 kicked in and I was part of that hype even if I had no idea just what kind of unique fighting game is Smash. By the time I played the game two months ago, wow. It was amazing. Not only was I brought to tears seeing the faces of my favorite videogame characters side-by-side on one roster, it also gave me such an enjoyable time kicking Lucina's behind for being such a copycat. No, really this isn't an advertisement for each own's franchise, this is a hardcore fighting game that deserves to be taken seriously in all matters. Each of the 52 characters have a surprisingly unique and accurate moveset that, even if they remain fixed (unless customized are enabled), hitting combos and knocking opponents off the stage has never been so satisfying in my gamer life. Most of the stages featured are also fun to play in sometimes being a game inside a game to keep things unpredictable. Aside from the main fighting game there are also classic, all-star, and smash run to add variety to the game and to complete the massive trophy hoard, and the challenges. And like Mario Kart 7 this game, where intense competition is its charm, is played best in multiplayer mode.
2. Pokemon X
Genre: RPG
THG: 49:26
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| Xerneas |
The transition of Pokemon to 3D was not just a gimmick! It was just part of a completely new generation of Pokemon gaming. This game brought it all out - fantastic visuals, design, story, new Pokemon species, a new Pokemon type, new legendaries, character customization, plenty of surprises, Mega evolution, and, oh my, and friendship! (that's the main theme actually). However, it can't be denied that this game returned to basics as they introduced this new game that will most likely define a new generation in Pokemon gaming - Pokemon X was too easy for a Pokemon game. It gives plenty of freebies from a second starter to a free Lucario to a Mewtwo that could be easily caught. It feels like a new start again and, though it was easy, it was a great and refreshing start for the Pokemon series. It has the most compelling story out of all the Pokemon games that I've played (and I only missed two generations at that). This game also has a lot of social features ranging from global battles to global trading. There's also a mini Nintendogs-like mini-game called Pokemon-Amie where you can pet, feed and play with your Pokemon at a time. Depending on your friendship level, it can directly affect your Pokemon during battle such as fast recovery from status ailments, high evasiveness, etc.
Pokemon X is an example of a great game that underwent a lot of changes while still keeping the series' core mechanics. Even with the different look and apeal, I still felt at home the moment I stepped out of my in-game house and travel around Kalos with my Pokemons.
Before we get to number 1 (which is pretty obvious by now) here are the games I currently have but I haven't played enough to give it a place on the rankings:
Castlevania Lords of Shadow: Mirror of Fate
Genre: action-adventure
THG: 6:13
Those who frequent my blog already know my deep hatred for this particular title. Basically I don't think it has the right to call itself Castlevania because that's giving of too much air for something created by mixing already existing formulas from other games without even adding its own dash of originality. I hate this game as a Castlevania title, but I guess its alright gaemplay wise because it offers great challenge that are one hit wonders but dull on the next. I just don't like this game.
Yoshi's New Island
Genre: Platformer
THG: 5:53
There's nothing wrong with Yoshi's New Island. It's a good platformer with just enough of its own concepts to separate itself from being compared to the likes of Mario. However, I can't deny that this is such a childish game. It caters to a much younger audience and most likely also to those who played and enjoyed the original Yoshi's Island.
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire
Genre: RPG
THG: 6:02
I haven't played enough of Alpha Sapphire to properly find its place on the list so for now this is a special mention. But with my current progress I gotta say this remake is far from simply being an improvement of the original Gen. III games, it feels like Game Freak used the same concept but with completely new materials with their own special attribute. There are plenty of new things to keep this game interesting - from catching Pokemon to Gym Battles. Pokemon Alpha Sapphire (and Omega Ruby) will surely not fail the expectations of veterans.
So here we go, at number 1:
1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
Genre: Action-adventure
THG: 43:34
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| majestic |
Embarking on an epic quest to thwart evil never felt so stimulating than when I played Ocarina of Time 3D. The buildup and progression of the story that went along with all those fun/frustrating dungeon puzzle solving, boss battles, and rolls from Kakariko to Hyrule Castle Town had such an addicting feel to it that really makes you want to save Hyrule in one go. There weren't any dull moments in the game even if you just ride Epona around Hyrule Field because the amount of hidden content in this game is massive. The side quests are fun and rewarding prompting gamers to revisit old areas, and what makes exploration not tedious is that the game has no time pressure. Everything you do is at your own pace (or until Navi annoys you to desu). That said, Hyrule is really big with each area having their own unique appeal, and you're just never sure what you'll find in one area at a specific time or event. The level design in the game was fantastic, I mean even with a map I still found it surprising that one door could lead to another room that I've already been to. Each dungeon has their own puzzles that require the smart use of weapons and sub-weapons with little to no hand-holding at all. It's just you, your weapons and your wit (and Navi's annoyance) for the majority of your adventure.
Boss battles were thrilling and crazy difficult until you've figured out the pattern but simply knowing isn't enough you have to be fast and evasive as well. Heck, these bosses are gigantic - a theme that's almost present in all Zelda titles and with Ocarina of Time's bosses size makes all the difference.
And finally when the battle is over, all those hours rolling around, traversing through the kingdom of Hyrule saving the sages and ultimately defeating Ganon is one of the most satisfying feelings I've felt as a gamer. There's just a feeling I had playing this masterpiece that I couldn't properly put into words (yes, yes I have a shallow fountain of words) but if anything, all I can say is that all it deserves all the praises given to it...and this game sold me the 3DS.
So what do you guys think abut my ranking? Think I may have overlooked several other aspects of the games listed above that could bring change to the list then by all means please tell me in the comments and I'll definitely look into it.
Thank you for reading a post this long. I actually started editing this post two weeks ago but thanks to a tight schedule (of hardcore acads...) I couldn't find the time. Still, I hope you guys like dthis and...that's all for now.
Yeah.
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