Character Quotes – All the cast of Kid Icarus Uprising

“G Force, IN MY FACE!!!!” – Pit

 “Maybe because of my slightly botched laser eye surgery.” – Palutena

 “No doy.” – Pandora

I know, I know I talked about this already in my game review of Kid Icarus Uprising, but the more I’ve play this game the more awesome this feature of the game becomes. Almost each and every thing that comes out of the characters mouths are instance classic quotes. I’m not kidding; they could easily added garbage, generic dialogue throughout the entire game with only few good lines. Instead these characters speak their minds about the situation they’re in, use comedy like pros, reference their current game with the original one 27 years ago, and all the while doing it without going too far or being annoying. In fact the only thing that could a problem this that the lines are middle of the action of the game – it’s hard to take out the Great Reaper when you’re doubled over laughing at another Palutena zinger. Anyhow, if you haven’t done so before: Go. Buy. NOW!

 

 

 

Game Review: Kid Icarus Uprising – Too big to fail

 

 

Ah yes I remember when the Nintendo 3DS premiered at E3 a couple of years ago, the ones you saw it there thought it was the best thing ever especially after playing Kid Icarus: Uprising. In fact many people pre-ordered the 3DS just to play Uprising at launch. Well sadly the game didn’t make it at launch nor did it make for the holiday season last year, leaving the handheld to gather steam on its own (and it did according to me). Finally, however, Kid Icarus: Uprising is out and available to all now. So the question is: is the game all that or just E3 fluff that should go back into hiding.

 

 

 

Game Info

 

 

Kid Icarus: Uprising is actually the latest sequel to the original Nintendo Entertainment System game Kid Icarus; where the main character, who is not named Icarus (or ‘Kid’ for that matter) but rather Pit. He serves the goddess of light Palutena, keeping order in Angel Land and protecting humans from Medusa the dark goddess of the underworld and her monster horde. At the end of the first game Medusa was put down, but only 27 years later she returns swearing vengeance against all of Angel Land. So once again, guided by Palutena, Pit goes into the breach and faces down the underworld. And that’s it on the story front; it may seem a little light but trust me they make up for it in other ways.

 

This game is a part rail flight combat, part third person shooter in which the controls are highly customizable to individual players (from movement to targeting and so forth). In combat Pit can attack at range or melee depending on distance (of course) and the type of weapon he wields. That’s right; players can equip Pit with nine different weapons this time around each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Also goddess Palutena grants Pit various powers to make his mission easier, but he must equip them to use them and since there not a lot of pockets in his tunic players must pick and choose which powers would help them best. I mean a huge death beam is nice but healing is just plain smart. Outside of saving the day and cracking skulls players do battle with the demonic forces for hearts… Serious, hearts. Don’t worry it isn’t anything touchy-feeling, no; hearts in Uprising is cold, hard, cash, and have many different uses within the game. And of course the Nintendo fanboys (in which I am a lifelong card carrying member) would have a serious cow if multiplayer didn’t make it into the game (seeing how it was a major selling point at the beginning). It only comes with two modes, team and free for all, but playing multiplayer can net you special weapons, abilities and extra hearts for your use in single player.

 

 

The Goods

 

 

Action: Now people don’t get me wrong I like the modernization of video games; how they tell a story, how they make us as players identify with the characters we play and interact with, and so forth. The one thing that more and more current games seem to lack is constant action (meaning from a start of a level to its end is nothing but putting down enemies). It’s not exactly as bad when games like Mass Effect or Gears do it correctly, but too many games follow the formula of:

 

• A little action
• A long cut scene
• Repeat til boss cut scene
• Fight boss
• Long aftermath cut scene

 

This formula can be so plotting it’s like watching a movie (a very slow paced movie) where all you want to do get down with your bad self. Uprising doesn’t do that; oh sure they have their unique way of filling in exposition (more on that next) and make use of cut scenes as well, but their cut scene are no long than ten seconds long. Everything else it straight, unhalted action and combat – it’s like playing a small arcade game right in the palm of my hand. What more, the action can be ramped up or down by the power of heart(s). See in addition to using your hearts to buy things, you can also use them to ‘gamble’ in stage difficulty. The harder the stage the better the hearts you earn, weapons you find, and treasure you collect. However if you lose your life, you lose your hearts (which seems backwards) you betted on. Consequently players will have to pay hearts to take the stages to its easiest level as well. So yeah Nintendo well done.

 

 

Single player Characters and Voice overs: By all that is good I love these characters! You wouldn’t think an over 20 year old cast would be interesting, but they are – and surprisingly Meta. While Palutena & Pit stay on task defeating the evil forces of Medusa; their off topic conversations and hi·jinks throughout the stages range from hilarious to heartfelt. Who would have thought an angel and a goddess could be so down to earth. Often they compare the standard gaming conventions (slyly might I add) in relation to their opponents, obstacles, and even the first game. The other characters are also just as unique in their personalities whether they’re allies or enemies of Pit. After all it’s one thing to have a three-headed hydra attack Pit just for the sake of being evil; it’s another thing entirely to have that same hydra have three different personalities (a brute, genius, and stoic respectively) depending on the head who’s talking – and they hate each other as much as they hate pit. Awesome.

 

 

Multiplayer: Yes people you can relax, multiplayer is pretty good. Like I said before there is only two modes: Team battle (Light vs. Dark) or Free for all. Basically in these two modes players take on ‘Fighter’ forms and use the weapons and abilities from the single player to beat the crap out of your opponents. Each stage has their own little quarks to them as well as interesting temporarily weapons that’ll make someone’s day unpleasant. In LvD however if you beat the life bar out of the enemy team; one player from that team will spawn as a ‘pit angel’. Pit angels are powerful and have twice the heath as a fighter does, but if they go down the team loses and its game over. Admittedly the multiplayer still uses the Nintendo friend codes to a certain agree, but if you have a wireless internet connection you can play against one in the world for five minutes. And trust me, you can dish out a lot of pain in that short amount of time.

 

 

3D Graphics: Do I really have to say anything about the graphic superiority of the 3D graphics of this game? Ok I’ll say this: remember how I said that it was impressive that the 3^rd party game Tales of the Abyss 3DS used the 3D in a creditable way. Well I still stand by that statement, but there is a reason why Nintendo games are some best games in the business. Uprising is the best looking, most colorful, handheld game to date; I dare you to play this game and call me a liar.

 

 

The Bad

 

 

Controls: Even this they tried, they gave players all sorts of options to control Pit and his targeting reticular. D-Pad, thumb pad, touch screen, heck even the ABXY buttons can be co-opted; but at the end of the day the controls are still a sore spot. The 3DS control scheme manipulated in the they need is awkward at best; they know this and even included a desk stand for stability, but for a handheld that doesn’t make sense. If I go to the bank for example and I wanted to play Uprising I don’t want to whip out a plastic stand just to play it – I would look like a dork. The killing part is that it wouldn’t be so bad if they added a target lock function to the controls and not be just a power to active (and find might I add) – very lame Nintendo. As it stands the learning curve on the controls is very high and almost brought the score down I’m sorry to say, but you can’t keep a good game down.

 

 

Ranking

Since the release of the Nintendo 3DS, which is a year old now, there have been games that properly show off the goods of the system but none I would call an icon title for the system (outside the Mario clone games out there). Well no more, Kid Icarus: Uprising will now and forever be synonymous with the 3DS as the very face of its lifecycle – it’s that good. Difficult controls aside the game has enough under the hood to keep 3DS owners entertained for a very long time. Go. Buy. NOW!

Yes people the AR cards return...

 

 

And they fight now, watch out Yu-Gi-Oh, Palutena is coming for you.

 

 

 

Game Review: Tales of the Abyss 3DS – Now in 3D!

 

So the handheld wars have begun again, as it always has been since I was a little boy – Nintendo against the world. No matter how well their home consoles did over the years Nintendo owned the mobile gaming landscape – and always will quite frankly. Ever since the Gameboy there has been many challengers trying to take them down, touting their advantages over the king from being in color to playing full games on their handheld and beyond. But the Gameboy and all other future descendants out lasted them and won – and it is no different today. From the threat of game apps and the newest challenger the PlayStation Vita, many believe the Nintendo 3DS days (and the Nintendo handheld reign) are over. But after playing Tales of the Abyss however, the 3DS isn’t going no where. Ok, a little backstory: Tales of the Abyss 3DS is actually a re-release port of a game (with the same name – without the 3DS of course) from the PS2 back in 2005. It was a good game and it reviewed well but that was seven years ago, let’s see how it holds up with new technology.

 

 

Game Info

 

 

The game starts with the main character Luke fon Fabre, a son of an important Duke. Seven years ago he was kidnapped by a rival country, but was recovered soon after. Since then he was confined to his father’s palatial estate. Now the whole episode has taken a toll on our hero; first he has lost ’all’ his memories as a child and second he is now starting to hear voices. All of this would be a tragic situation if not for his friend Guy and his teacher/sword master Van, so he does have some semblance of normalcy – but it doesn’t last long. His home is raided by a young woman with a strange power; she puts people to sleep with a song called a ‘fonic hymn’. While most were out cold Luke, Guy, and Master Van were awake enough to see the invader called Tear (oh you anime games, so odd ball we luv u) and guess what? She wants to assassinate the sword master himself, but before an epic battle could ensue Luke tried to attack her. Once their weapons clashed it activated something called a ‘Seventh Fonon’ and teleported them all across the world finally landing in a wooded valley which neither was familiar with. They decided to a truce until they find their way out of the valley and thus the true adventure will begin. Far from the enclosed safety of the duke’s home Luke (and the player) will realize the world’s not a peaceful place; were unknown forces are not only trying to start a planetary conflict but tap into dangerous powers that could destroy everythi

Tales of the Abyss 3DS will take you back in time before games like BioShock, Mass Effect, and Elder Scrolls series. Where RPGs were more singular and focused on telling a story, rather than letting the player change it through every, little, action. Where, for good or ill, your characters were your characters and could not customize or tweak them unless the story demanded it. Where you travel on an ‘overworld’ map and fight monster to get money, experience, and sometimes rare items (ok this hasn’t changed much over the years). Where players delve into menus to adjust everything from equipment, fighting tactics and special abilities (call ‘Artes’) to Cooking (which was more of a staple of JRPG than you would think). However this is not total throwback to the days of yore, one of the things the original game was praised for was the ‘Flex Range Linear Motion Battle System’ which was real-time instead of turn based. It made it into this game as well – which is a better Segway than nothing for:

 

 

 

 

The Goods

 

 

Flex Range Linear Motion Battle System: Now I’ll admit people, my favorite old school RPG combat system is still Chrono Trigger’s version. Simple enough for a young chowder brained Boss Bronze (or was that Sub-Boss Bronze back then?) to learn, but still smart enough to make me use characters that fit the situation rather than just sticking with my favorites (Chrono, Frog, and Magus by the by). Be that as it may the FRLMB system does come close. It is more complex but to its credit players have more options to work with. In a fight you control one character at a time while the CPU handles the rest, along with the attack button to can move left, right, up, down, a button for blocks and a button for Artes. Depending on which direction you move and what action you take (the ones you have unlocked anyway) players with always have at least 12 different responses to enemies from relentless assaults to parrying blows. Also, like Chrono Trigger, players can combine your group’s single Artes into improved, very lethal, combo Artes. And of course what old school RPG would be complete without each character having limit break style super attacks that kills everything, or at least hurts a enemy really, really, badly.  All & all people this system is a great way to keep the game lively.

 

3D Graphics: This is as awesome as you think it is, I don’t really need to go into it – but I will, just a little bit. When I bought the 3DS all those months ago I was impressed not only with all it can do, but what it could do in the future. However I never forgot that it is a game machine built to play games (that was the PSP big mistake, and I’m not quite sure Vita learned that lesson either). Sure I’ve played games on it, you know Nintendo games would look good on the thing – my concerns were would 3^rd party developers take advantage of the 3D technology. I’m glad to say not only did they, but they used an older title like Abyss to do so. With the 3D on; locations, people, vehicles, creatures and cutscene have depth and dimensions I never thought would be possible on a handheld before. To say the graphics impressed me would be an understatement, even with the 3D slider turned all the way down the world still looks lively, colorful and full of energy. A great change of pace of today games of brown, black, and grey gaming. What else surprised me?

 

Voice overs: It’s not like the characters always talk with voiceover actors instead of word balloons; but they do it more often than you think which is another credit to this game is. Honestly with this game’s anime looks and actions, text boxes and word balloons wouldn’t have conveyed the character’s personality, their drama, or their comedic sense nearly as well. And as we all know making the player care about the characters in the game is the most important thing of all.

 

 

 

 

The Bad

 

 

Cooking and Titles: Ok, ok, this one is a bit of a double standard, but Cooking and Titles services no purpose here. Yes, yes, I know I said in my Reckoning review that Cooking would be better than any one of the other secondary skills in that game; and yes I know titles are generally cool to have in MMOs to show off to people that you ran the Taral V flashpoint with no problem… But in a single player RPG they service no purpose; titles do nothing (unless you consider changing them yourself something) and Cooking only works if you have recipes, ingredients, and you have to wait 2-7mins before you can cooking something again. I don’t care if they’re legacy features of the Tales series: make them better or delete them.

 

 

 

Ranking

 

At the end of the day Tales of the Abyss 3DS is not only great game and perfect port adaption to a game seven years old, but its proof positive that other game companies can use the 3D tech just as well as Nintendo themselves. I would have given it a higher score, but if you played one RPG in the 90’s you’d played Tales of the Abyss 3DS, plus the whole cooking and titles thing again. Still fans will like this game (Tales and RPG fans of course), and if you got a 3DS with nothing to do – give this game a once over. Who knows, you might become a fan yourself, it’s never too late to start something big.

 

 

 

Games & Gear of 2012 Reloaded – Kid Icarus: Uprising (3/23/12)

 

Hey, hey, hey people, just when I typed saying the list was done, they pull me back in. Thanks to release dates, the Game & Gear list of 2012 is back on and reloaded. Sadly its only for a few games, at least it’s a step in the right direction, and with that Kid Icarus: Uprising. Now the closest thing I’ve played of anything dealing with the Kid Icarus series is SSB:B. However the constant trailers I’ve seen on this game has got me excited to be newest member of the Kid coalition. Utilizing the full 3D technology of the Nintendo 3DS is only the beginning for this game. Uprising will feature both intense flight combat and 3^rd person shooting elements, different interchangeable weapons, and even wireless multiplayer with created characters. Add to the mix an engaging storyline equal to any home console game and, for pre order gamers, the original Kid Icarus game and you got yourself a deal and a half. This game was the reason so many people wanted the 3DS in the first place; now that it’s only a few months a way it would be foolish to miss out on it now.

 

 

 

 

This just in (or not) – Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program starts today

 

Well people I’m proud to say I was one of the first buyers of the Nintendo 3DS and I’ve never regretted it. My only real compliant (and the compliant of many) is there weren’t enough games to fully enjoy the awesome power of this technology. Then again most consoles at launch don’t really have a good library; they usually get away with two great games to hold off demand until developers gets busy. The 3DS two games were either already out for months or Lego Star Wars, but still, Nintendo knows this and decided to ‘provide incentive’ for all gamers at large. Newbies can buy the 3DS for the new rock-bottom price of $170; while early buyers of the system (who from now on I’ll call Ambassadors) got automatically signed on the ‘Ambassador Program’ (provided they logged in to the Nintendo e-shop on their 3DS before Aug. 19). Anyway players being in the Ambassador Program will get 20 free virtual console games – starting today. Couple of things though; one, it’s not live yet so it may take some time (of course I’m typing this at 10 in the morning, EST, so maybe I’m just early) and two, Ambassadors will only get half the games today and the rest in the future. Now these games are NES and SNES legacy games and may have been played before in the past; but hey they’re free and some of the best titles from Nintendo. Beside that, for those who haven’t played these games before, you’ll be in for a real treat. Let’s see how you survive games before map HUDs, in game tips, and infinite continues you young whippersnappers (mwa ha ha).

Armada’s E3 picks – Kid Icarus Uprising

Last E3 my mind was blown when they announced the Nintendo 3DS to the world; a console with the capability to play games in 3D without the need of special glasses. The titles they showed were impressive but there was only one I wanted more than the others: Kid Icarus. When they showed that video at the end I was reminded why Nintendo rules the video game world. One year later the 3DS launches and is doing well, its online functions are up and running, but still no Kid Icarus. But hey it can’t be too much longer right? And when it showcased once again at E3 this year, it reviled a multiplayer mode that only makes me want the game all the more (you can become a battle angel, who wouldn’t want that).  Fortunately more 3DS games are coming out every day to make the wait more bearable, but like last year Kid Icarus Uprising is the one  I, and many others, are waiting for.

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow’s Pick: I swear BioWare, if you make us wait one more year…

 

 

Armada’s E3 picks – Luigi Mansion 2

 

Ok then, my last clue was the toughest one to date…. Because I didn’t give one, my bad. Well no biggie, today’s a new day and that means a new E3 game pick no matter what. Now before I continue I must ask any little children, pregnant women, and people with health problems to leave the site right now; for the contents of this pick are so scary it will chill you to your soul. VG Armada is liable if people get off’ed by soul hypothermia (long story). Anywho, the game is… Luigi Mansion 2, I know it’s so cute it’s scary. Poor Luigi, all he wants to do is live in peace, but his heroic brother, wild girlfriend and Mushroom Kingdom antics has put him one odd situation after another. Even striking on his own is met only with disaster and the supernatural, it happened once and it’s happing again, apparently. Luigi, in Luigi Mansion 2, once again plays exterminator in another haunted mansion; while we don’t know why he’s back or what will come from this new adventure, we do know it’s going to be on the 3DS and should be a lot of fun (well not for Luigi).

 

 

 

 

Oops… I almost did it again, here’s the clue for the today: Some girlie games are pink and filled with horses, shopping and the like. However a unique few have what really matters, body blows, projectiles, and skull crushing finalities.

 

 

Product Placement Guide – Nintendo 3DS

 

Ladies and gentlemen this has been a long time coming for me (and the video game world in general); ever since last year’s E3 I knew this product was ‘the one’. The one that’s going to change everything, the one that’s show the difference between revolutionary and carbon copyoff (see Playstation Move & Xbox Kinect – last time I promise), and finally the one I’ll make my love ones buy because of my resent birthday (get of my lawn you kids). So essentially this will be a couple of firsts for the product placement review: one being this will be the first ‘high-end’ product I’ll be reviewing (meaning the product itself cost more than $100); and two this will be the first product I didn’t have to buy myself (just like a real tech journalist – awesome). So enough banter and fanfare let get down to the nitty gritty…

 

 

The Look:

Don’t expect much from the box here people; recent years Nintendo has stress the minimalist look and they continue that here. The container of my ‘Cosmo Black’ Nintendo 3DS has very little on it: the background is nothing more than metallic black on the top and bottom on the box while white in the middle. Front & center the star of the show, the Nintendo 3DS, or rather its picture, and to its left are the words ‘Nintendo 3DS’ (just in case you forgot what you were buying, heh). Up top, nothing but ‘Cosmo Black’, Nintendo, and a barcode; the right and bottom – even less. Now on the left are some warning about using 3D for little kids and prohibits unauthorized modifications on the actual unit itself. The back is where all the action is because it provides a brief description of what your buying, what features is has (at start up/without updates), Nintendo boilerplates and ESRB ratings.

 

 

The Contents:

 

Now then inside the box you get –

• 1 Nintendo 3DS Entertainment System (w/ 2 GB SD card & extending stylus)
• 1 power cord
• 1 docking cradle
• 1 instruction manual
• Assorted leaflets for ‘club nintendo’, ‘Mii Plaza’, and a quick start guide.
• And 1 pack of ‘AR Cards’ (six cards in the pack), more on this next.

 

 

The Nintendo 3DS (Pt.1):

 

– The following here are functions the Nintendo 3DS are capable of at this point in time  –

 

3D – All the reports I’ve read, heard about, and researched are true… True 3D in my hot little hands without the need of dorky/faux-cool 3D glasses, this is the next true technological achievement in entertainment. Every current handheld device whether it has something to do with gaming or not is now on barrowed time. Sure 3D isn’t very practical for practical purposes like taking notes or keeping addresses, but sooner or later that smart phone or idevice will be used for movies, pictures and yes even gaming. Now imagine those not only improved by looks but by depth as well; the movie ‘Megamind’ during the final battle where building are being flung at you and you flinch, photos you take stand out like never before, and games that use the 3D in such a way players won’t see them coming. This is the future and it starts with Nintendo (as most things do). I’m sorry if my description got a little surreal there; all I really should have said was the 3D is good (which it is). As to accurately describe what it is like, I’ll use the example a good GameStop sales rep told me as I was picking up my 3DS:

“It’s like looking into a window of a house from the outside.”

Which is also true. The Nintendo 3DS games don’t jet from the system but rather allows the player to ‘look into’ the game (and system) itself – perceive it in a 3^rd dimension. Characters, objects, landscapes, all, they now have digital substance that I can almost reach through the screen and touch with my fingertips. That’s incredible. Of course this effect only works on 3DS games and the 3DS Home menu but the advance graphics of the 3DS makes regular DS games look pretty good. But speaking of the Home menu…

 

Home Menu – It is from here where the true action begins, players can select the different functions (with their own 3D icons) by scrolling left or right. Or if that too limiting you can always expand your selection outlook further out to make it look like the familiar Wii selection screen – and even further out.

 

Nintendo 3DS Camera – Every handheld personal device has a camera function on it these days but very few take pictures in 3D! Amaze your friends and random strangers as you show them themselves coming to life in the 3DS. Of course this miracle machine doesn’t stop there, you can also add some finer personal touches to your photos like drawing on it, adding effects (like bubbles, flashes, and even dream sequencetizer), and even merging your ugly mug to a pretty young thang – see what your future kids look like. Once you’re done having fun set that bad boy to Slideshow and watch you handy work by yourself or with others on a media of your choice thanks to the SD card. Here’s a few pictures I took while running errands:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nintendo 3DS Sound – Now the sound application is two fold, one is that it can record audio in ten second intervals and can be edited faster, slower, higher, lower or distorted for your entertainment. The second part is that it can be used as a music player like an ipod; put your favorite tracks on a SD cards, insert it into the 3Ds and just tune out the world- literary. If you feel like sharing you can select your elite tunes for StreetPass (more on that later) and any close by 3DS can check out what your listening to.

 

Mii Maker – This should bring back the old school Wii owners here, actually since the Xbox and PlayStation copied off this as well, this bring back everyone who has a current console. Anyway create your own personal chibi of yourself, your friends, your family, random strangers, Gary Busey, anyone. Once your done you can send your lil’ Frankenstein’s to be viewed by all; you can send(or receive) them wirelessly via your Mii Maker, create a QR (Quick Response) code to be scanned by other 3DS’s or heck just save it as a image send it out on a email, post it, whatever you want.

Orvek DeUltros, My avatar, in Mii form!

QR Orvek - add him to your 3DS today!

StreetPass Mii Plaza – Ok now this is where we get into new territory because before I can explain what Mii Plaza is I must explain what StreetPass & SpotPass are. SpotPass is simply your 3DS communicating with a wireless LAN internet source; from there it will be able to update it’s systems (unlocking unavailable features or just keeping things ship-shape), getting free software, and who knows what other goodies. StreetPass is similar to SpotPass but instead of connecting to the internet, StreetPass connects to other 3DS. When two or more 3DS are connected many different things happen depending on what options each player will allow before the connection. Mainly however for Mii Plaza, StreetPass will (if you allow it) send a copy of your favorite Mii to another 3DS that is if both are close enough to one another and if both are in sleep mode (which is the only way the ‘passes will active). You see players will need those Miis in order too take advantage of everything Mii Plaza has to offer. Not only will you see the S.P. Miis gather in a small plaza for your counting pleasure but you can use them in mini games in plaza. One is a puzzle game where the Miis you meet give you new puzzle pieces to finish it, while in ‘Find Mii’ you’re the king or queen of your kingdom and things are good until you’re captured by ghosts. Now you need other Miis to help you out and slay the ghosts. I must say this is rather cleaver on the part of Nintendo; for trying to get us dungeon lords out of the basements we rule over and get out and socialize, if for nothing else, to recruit Miis and slay evil.  But my friends this is only the tip top of a growing iceberg of fun; the StreetPass is compatible with a lot of games and home applications already unlocking new features or applied bonuses every time the pass is used. Add to the fact that SpotPass can (I’m pretty sure will) add new content regularly.

 

AR Games – Here’s another game changing application, AR (Augmented Reality) Games is basically a collection of mini games that uses the 3DS camera, the AR cards that came with the 3DS, and your own environment, to play. Just put down the question mark box card on any well lit, flat, but mundane surface and watch it come to life through the 3DS screen. Test your skill on the archery range, or maybe your dexterity AR shot, and kick back and relax with some fishing. With the card’s help AR Games provides targets, scenery, menus, produce enemies to fight (Targets won’t be the only thing you’ll be shooting in Archery) and even change the landscape of the 3D environment for added challenge. The other cards (the one with the Nintendo all stars on them) & other options will allow you to also make funny pics with your Miis and the characters on the AR card.

 

Face Raiders – Finally Face Raiders is like AR Games but this one doesn’t need special cards to play – just your face & plenty of room. See, using the camera again the 3DS takes a picture of your face (and later on other people’s faces), stick them on, what I can only call 3D disembodied copter heads, and turn them loose in your living room (or where ever you are at the time). Of course it’s up to you to defeat your own face (and the faces of others) and bring peace to the land. Seeing how the player must turn his whole to body to find the faces flying about, at the same time protecting themselves from the headstrong nuisances as they break through reality like gang busters, is easier said than done.

 

 

Etc – The rest of the stuff that comes with this bad boy is statically data, health warning, system settings, etc. They’re important but nothing we haven’t seen before. But hey, if you want to see how hard you been gaming, and what game the most, you always have the option.

 

 

The Nintendo 3DS (Pt.2):

Man, that was monster the type, even more of a monster to test, research, and play with, but you what – it was a good kind of pain. Let move on to how the 3DS plays, after all what’s good about a awesome piece of tech if it looks good, has a butt load of features, but plays like a three legged mule in a typhoon? Games I used to test the power of the system is two that came with the system (Face Raiders and AR Games) and two I bought (Apollo Justice and Lego Star Wars III the Clone Wars).

 

Face Raiders – Well it started easy enough, the game took my face, made it a floating evil boss (plus minions), and provided easy to shoot (with tennis balls no less) targets. Then they started to move around, bust through the scenery (with the debris coming right at me), and tried to kiss me *shudder*. Finally the bossed showed up, and might I say I never looked so comically intimidating. He was fast, strong, and his metal helmet resisted my tennis balls – to put him down I needed to smack him in the kisser. At the end of the day I was victorious and the evil face me ended up with a afro for his trouble. That was only the first stage and there are six in all offering head exploding good times for all. I had a blast with this game; it’s easy to learn but hard to master, you can’t sit down to play this, as the faces will attack you at all angles. Finally it takes your own face (and the faces of others) and puts it into the game and that’s awesome. There are no problems with the controls and the 3D work as suspected, moving on.

 

AR Games – Like Face Raiders, AR Games uses the world around you as a stage, but unlike Face Raiders this application needs AR cards to play (like I said before). Three games and three art programs plus additional modes purchased using 3DS coins (which can be earned by walking around with the 3DS in sleep mode). The games themselves were fun the first time I’ve played them; I still enjoy fighting that Dragon at the end of Archery. However thanks to needing a well lit area in order for the Nintendo 3DS to scan the card correctly as well as needing 14^th inches, 360 degrees around the card to keep it working – the novelty wears off quickly. The art programs are ok, but I have Photoshop if I get inspired with the arty stuff (like Pimp M.O.D.O.K.) so I don’t use them much. All & all not bad, but I rather play Face Raiders.

 

Apollo Justice, Ace Attorney – The Ace Attorney series is one that perfectly shows why video games is a media beyond all others. Most people only see video games as hyper violence or Wii Sports, not that there’s anything wrong with those, I enjoy both at regular intervals. With Ace Attorney however it tests players with detective work, legal wranglering, and how to put it all together to bring justice to the courtroom. Trust me, its more exciting than it sounds. Now I know regular DS game won’t show in 3D but I wanted to see if it sees plays in general. Well I’m happy to report that everything preformed well; the screen was crisp and clear, the sound was surprising loud, and the D-pad, Thumb pad, and siding stylist interfaced with the five year old without missing a beat. Of course this is all par of the way for backwards capabilities (which Nintendo is very good about), though sadly this is as far as it goes, for there isn’t a GBA slot in this console.

 

Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars – I got to admit, not my first choice for my very first handheld 3D video game, especially since the Lego Star Wars series tend to bored me. But hey I can roll with the punches; and since the only viable candidates (for me anyway) was this, a game I played before (Super Street Fighter IV), and a game I have no interest in (Steel Diver) – I went with the Legos and crossed my fingers. The Lego Star Wars series of games usually follows the events of the movies with there own funny little Lego style humor in them. This time around it’s the Clone Wars cartoon on, you guessed it, Cartoon Network. Now again this series isn’t so bad really, but the whole Lego thing in my Star Wars is like Peanut Butter with my chocolate, and then eat it 3 times day for year – a little goes a long way people. There’s a market for it however and it does score well every new game that comes out; as for me this isn’t a review for the game but of the true 3D of the 3DS. Clone Wars is straight textbook platformer, however thanks to 3D component it gives a new dimension to the most classic gaming genre. Ledges, ridges, parts of the background, and even how some of the enemies come at you have so much real substance now it’s almost unbelievable. Blowing up enemies is also a treat because sometimes the Lego bits come flying at me and make me flinch – excellent. Even the look of the cut scenes are far more improved (even though not in 3D) that I thought for this handheld. The game itself still plays and controls like its predecessors but how it uses the 3D and the vast improvement of its visuals makes this game fun – and I personally excited for what’s to come.

 

 

Problems?

So what’s the catch? I mean the Nintendo 3DS has so much good stuff (in my opinion anyway), there’s got to be a rub, a chink in the armor, a cloud in the silver lining, and so forth. Well… First of all the 3D is great, but it works in such a way that you have to look at the screen straight head otherwise the picture keeps shifting light to dark. This shifting is annoying, especially when you’re trying to play the games that involves you to move, or you’re just moving in general (it is a portable system after all). Another thing I noticed is that the battery life isn’t as stellar as previous Nintendo handhelds, maybe it just me playing it too much (and leaving it on sleep mode overnight) but I swear I recharge this thing more times than not. The two popular problems the Nintendo 3DS has is that players sometimes have headaches playing with 3D on and it freeze from time to time. As of the writing of this article and two weeks of ‘evaluations’ I only had one headache from playing in 3D mode (although that could’ve be from sleeping against a cold wall that night – long story) & the system froze twice. At anytime the 3D can be lowered or shut off if necessary, as for the freezing, well, no current generation system hasn’t froze on me at point or another. These are the only problems I see as problem with the system, anything else can be fixed in system updates.

 

 

Final Ranking:

While I’m happy to say that the Nintendo 3DS is the fasting selling Nintendo portable in history (discounting Japan for obvious reasons), which makes me happy but many major news brands review the 3DS differently from one another. Even Adam Sessler was generally disappointed with the machine, saying that it didn’t have a strong enough library of games at launch and the 3D wasn’t as good as it was at E3. Ladies and gentlemen, I don’t do things half way, I wait and take my time because a rushed job don’t help me or you. I could have put up a quick little somethin’-somethin’ that very day just to say I did, like some obnoxious poster saying ‘First!’ on a message board. I could have describe the features in quick little bullet points or whatever I found on Wikipedia. I could have even bagged on the stylist, like the stylist was beneath me like poor man’s techno elitist. I what I did do however was play the thing: played it in the morning, in the afternoon, and at night. Played it at home, at work, on the road, got it dirty, got it greasy, and wiped it off. Played DS games on it, 3DS games on it, played sitting up, sitting down, the camera, the recorder, the Mii maker, and got Miis via QR codes via the internet and watched an amusing 3D video featuring ‘Ok Go’(came with the first system update). I not only played this but I allowed several others to try it to confirm my finding – including the one man bureaucracy True Backlash & the tech diva Blu. I’ve said all this to say that myself and all I let play this have come to the same conclusion: the Nintendo 3DS F’N good, period. It’s not perfect, but what gaming consoles it? The PS3 was $600 at launch, Xbox 360? Red Ring of Death, something that’s still a problem today (although slight). Wii wasn’t even readily available until a year and half after its launch. Speaking of launch, launch titles have always been habitually pushed late on console launches, why should the 3DS be singled out? I know, I wanted to Kid Icarus too, but I think I can wait to make sure I get the best 3D experience on my handheld – in most cases extra time = less problems when games come out.

 

But I’m starting to repeat myself again so I’ll wrap it up like this: worst case scenario it is Nintendo DSi 2.0, best case scenario it is the most advanced media device you’ll put in your pocket, backed by a time tested master of handheld games that remains undefeated for over twenty years, and in the long run will only get better from here. Remember though this is a gaming device, if you like video games more than checking your twitter page, get the 3DS; if not the iPad 2 is also available.

Nintendo 3DS Coming Out Party – What’s in the box.

Well its finally here and it about time. Of course here at the Video Game Armada we got our pre-orders early and our review of this truly awesome product will be done soon. In the mean time here a small video showing what comes with your standard issue Nintendo 3DS (games not included). Enjoy!

Games & Gear of 2011

Well people we’re in the full swing of the new year already, you can check January off, it is over. Just as well too because there wasn’t any new games coming out that month, but February then on its back to business as usual – and business is good. To assist my fellow man, woman, and childy-types I release my hit list of Game and Gear for 2011 to better prepare yourselves on what to get in the near future. I ask no payment for this service ( although I won’t refuse donations) for this type of work is my calling in life, plus its pretty fun too. Let’s get started:

Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds

Releases [2/15/2011]

Now if for some strange reason readers here been avoiding TBL’s awesome collections of updates for the 11 year sequel in-waiting, Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, here’s the  gist of it. The best (or the most obscure) characters of both brands (Marvel and Capcom) come together and duke it out. Why? Reason is for suckers, just relish in the fact that people will have access to Deadpool anytime they want when the game comes out, I know I will.

BulletStorm

Releases [2/22/2011]

This… This is a game that you ‘don’t’ take seriously, at all. Sure the story is standard fair: A one-man army, Grayson Hunt, and his merry band Gears of War look-alikes must stand up against the generic evil empire and the General who manipulated them in the beginning. Really though that’s just an excuse to allow players to unleash wanton destruction all over the place. The more impossibly sounding, the better; after all any chump can shoot a mutant but it takes some real brass clackers to shoot one in the brass clackers, boot them into a flaming slag pile, lasso them out, stick a ‘nade in their pie hole while they’re floating there, toss them into a group of other mutants, they get set on fire by the sticky molten slag of the first mutant then they all explode thanks to the slag hitting the ‘nade hole finally. Elaborate, yes that’s the point; familiar (i.e. Madworld (even down to the main character’s voice actor, Steve Blum, it seems) crossed with Gears), very, but if it ain’t broke right?

Pokemon: Black and White

Releases [3/6/2011]

Ok ladies and gentlemen, I was into Pokemon since day uno; I got the Red version while TBL got Blue. Ah the matches we use to have, and even though it was always the same: fight trainers, earn badges, become champion, style of game play throughout their entire game series – I can’t help but be excited about this upcoming title. Maybe it’s the contract between the colors of black and white and their deeper meaning (maybe even series maturity) or maybe just the fact I can’t wait the get online and make 9 year olds cry with unbeatable Pokemon. Only time will tell.

Dragon Age 2

Releases [3/8/2011]

Now we’re getting to the good stuff. I loved the first Dragon Age so much that the only way I was ever going to give it up is when Dragon Age 2 was confirmed. Now the bad news is that your character from the first game is not the main character in the sequel (even though he or she does impact the world, the Grey Warden did save all of Ferelden after all) nor can you change the physical look or race of the main character Hawke. The good news is everything else; improved fighting mechanics, new lands to explore and effect with your actions, new companions to befriend or abuse at your digression, and another epic experience just waiting for ambitious players. Viva Va Dragon Age 2!

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Releases [8/23/2011]

I like many things, but I don’t like prequels – in anything. It’s like the writers (or whoever) says: “Forget taking an IP to the next level; let’s just milk that cash cow for all it’s worth! Mwa ha ha!!!” all evil and sinister like that. However since there’s nothing I can do about ‘intellectual backsteps’ I might as well as enjoy the good ones like Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Here you play Adam Jensen who starts as a simple lawman, but after a few artificial implants become a superman tasked to find a conspiracy that threatens to rewrite the world. It a good thing players come armed to the teeth with skills ranging from shoot outs to stealth takedowns. You can even talk your away out of many situations without firing a shot. The Deus Ex series has been doing the ‘choose your own choice’ thing long before most others so they’re pros – which means expect brilliant written storylines, hard consequences for your decisions during the game, and many, many, many replays in the future. Not bad… for a prequel.

Crysis 2

Releases [3/22/2011]

Well the 202X’s to 203X’s seems to be a busy couple of years for us in the near future. First cybernetic conspiracies in Deus Ex: Human Revolution and only a few scant years later the world gets invaded by aliens in Crysis 2. Now even though aliens may seem like a bad thing, players get to strap on a Nanosuit 2 to deal with them. The Semiautonomous Enhanced Combat Ops: Neuro-integration and Delivery AI (SECOND) Nanosuit 2 makes you faster, stronger, tougher, and even invisible whenever you want. No special icons need. The first game was known for two things: outstanding beauty (which is why I’m getting for the PS3… Despite the fact the demo is only available for the 360 gold members) and excellent gameplay. I hope the true can be said for this game when it comes out.

Nintendo 3DS

Relesases [3/27/10]

Ah… Here is the reason I changed the title to Games ‘&’ Gear for 2010. Despite the CES having an above average showing this year the only gear worthy thing I was going to put on this list (that would also come out this year as well) is the Nintendo 3DS. Thanks to a confirmed release date we’ll be having this miracle of modern technology in our hot little hands that much sooner, happy happy-joy joy. Now I hear what some of you are saying:

$250.00 for a handheld?! What am I the queen of England?!

or

Pilotwings launch title?! Where’s my Naked Snake damnnit!

Put your minds as ease boisterous few for the 3DS is worth the money and your patience. $250.00 may seem like much to spend on a handheld, especially since consoles like the Wii is cheaper (places may vary) to buy. However many seem to forget that this handheld (and the models before it) is also a console; many gamers I know only have one console and the Nintendo DS (models vary) is it. It is shortsighted to believe those same gamers wouldn’t buy the next true generation of DS because of price alone, and if you don’t believe me take a quick search online of the sales charts of each new iPhone that comes out. Besides brand loyalty Nintendo has an unbeatable track record on portable gaming; from the Gameboy to now there have always been challengers they’ve beaten to obscurity or extinction. So buying the 3DS is not only a good idea but sound investment to any gamer. As for the launch titles, well launch titles are rarely good accept for a couple. The strength of a console is never judged by its launch titles but its first year of life – and from what I see on the horizon the 3DS (and their owners) is going to have a long, happy life indeed.

Darkspore

Releases [3/29/2011]

Well since I went I little long in my 3DS profile *ahem* I’ll just let the video explain this one for me.

Mortal Kombat

Releases [4/19/2011]

MORTAL KOMBAT!!!!  The game that brought the world to a standstill, where it turned mothers against their gamer sons and daughters (not mine because mine is cool). They’ve come out with many sequels since the first, second, and third games but they didn’t have that same violent magic. Well guess what? It’s coming back home baby. Mortal Kombat (2011) is both sequel and remake to/of the best of the MK games: 1 through 3. Here players once again tango with the klassic kharacters of khoas and karnage in this komplete kombat ka-patchage. Oh, and Kratos is going to be in it as well, so you know things are going to get awesome (and bloody).

LA Noire

Releases [5/17/2011]

The city is a hard place, full for hard people. I am a Detective for the LAPD and I’ve been given the assignment of my lifetime: to stop an insane serial killer and his mad butchery. Team Bondi and Rockstar Games brought me here; they know Noire like nobody else. As the whiskey burns down my throat things swirl in my head: how will I catch him, who is he, does he work alone, and finally who can I trust? To a tourist this city is beautiful, and its people real, but the city is a hard place, full for hard people – who I must save from itself.

Portal 2

Releases [4/19/2011]

The cake was a lie, but Portal was good. Seriously people went nuts for this game from the beginning to its parodied to oblivion credit ending. So Valve got to perform a miracle by catching lighting in a bottle again; I got to admit it doesn’t seem likely – I can count on my hand the number of sequels that where better than the original in every possible way. However with the continuing story of Chell and her murderous, yet humorous, counterpart GLaDOS, a new co-op mode that brings the pain as well as challenges, and new mind bending puzzles, gadgets, and pitfalls it hard to count out Portal 2 by any stretch of the imagination.

Brink

Releases [5/10/2011]

You know people I love Team Fortress 2 and I still time and time again. However the problem is I have that copy of the game from the Orange Box; which means I have the buggy, no upgrades, no updates, no new ANYTHING version. I’ve waited about four years for both Microsoft and Valve to settle their issues with DLC and get something out there; but it seems to be a lost cause. Fortunately the people at Splash Damage and Bethesda Softworks have heard my prayers for frantic class-based action by their creation of Brink. Players pick from two sides, from there anything goes; becoming a chain gun toting bruiser and mow down the enemy line, or a lithe escape artist who skilled at siding through small holes and headshots, or use turrets, machines, and the like to do the killing for you as a mechanic. Try them all, you can, it’s as easy as switching a weapon. However this game has so many options, weapons, skills, customizations, and methods of completing objectives you’ll never wish for a Team Fortress 2 again (sorry…).

Red Faction: Armageddon

Releases [5/31/2011]

I love the Red Faction series, Red Faction: Guerrilla wasn’t bad but, it wasn’t what I was expecting either. Neither is Red Faction: Armageddon, In this game the new rebellion isn’t just fighting greedy corporations or jerkwad military forces. This time their going scary; fighting inhuman terrors similar to creatures found in Dead Space in close, often dark, caves and tunnels. Fortunately what never changes in Red Faction is the ability to blow a hole in anything and anyone in the game. Add to the fact that new weapons, vehicles, and fighting robots are added to the mix and well one has to think who should be afraid of whom here?

Infamous 2

Releases [6/7/2011]

Poor Cole MacGrath, there is so much riding on his skinny little shoulders. I won’t ruin what for the people who haven’t played the first game, but if you have a PS3 and not played Infamous, you should, post-haste. Sadly things have not improved in 2 for him, because the apocalypse nightmare he needs to prevent in the future – had come early. He was on the run, looking for answers, then found him in an area known as New Marais. Unfortunately the city’s in deep turmoil and if there’s any hope in defeating what’s coming, Cole must decide the fate of the city: savor or conqueror…

Gears of War 3

Releases [9/20/2011]

The one and only roided up super soldiers are back for the third tour of duty. It seems like their actions in the previous games only made things worse for humanity on Sera. Now Marcus & co. are little more than hobos (BA hobos, but still…) trying to survive the overwhelming odds of not only one enemy force but two. But you know they old saying you don’t kill a COG solider, you just p— them off. They’ll show their rage by introduction new enemy executions; new weapons like the Bayonet Lancer; new four player co-op and so much more! The only thing you don’t have when buying this game is a portable toilet, you should get one because once you start playing you won’t want to stop.

Rage

Releases [9/13/2011]

I got to admit ladies and gentlemen, out of all the games that are a cross between Fallout and Borderlands, Rage seems to be the most interesting – and I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the crisp look of the game that gets my attention, or perhaps it’s the ability to pimp out your weapons, vehicles, tech and skills to unleash them on a unsuspecting world, heck id Software and Bethesda Softworks both have a hand in Rage’s creation those are pedigrees that you can take to the bank. So no matter the reason (or lack thereof) Rage could be the one to beat in the fall.

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier

Releases [10/1/2011]

I’ve played Call of Duty, Medal of Honor, and Battlefield games before, they good depending on the title, but you only have one first people and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter (GRAW) was mine. Rather it was the first military shooter game I really enjoyed, plus one of the first 360 games I’ve played. I’m personal glad the series is continuing despite the fact that CoD, MoH, and B-field IPs have a proper chokehold on the genre. This time around players will be controlling a four class (Commando, Sniper, Reconnaissance, and Engineer) character squad to protect American and her interests. However the big draw point of the series is the use of military hi-tech like UAV’s, Crosscom HUD, armored support, tactical drones and the like. Combining soldiers with sci-fi is not a new concept but Ghost Recon does it so well it’s very hard to ignore.

Batman: Arkham City

Releases [10/3/2011]

Now I don’t talk about it much on Armada but I do enjoy comics, or rather comic book characters. Yep I watch most shows about them (by the by Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes is very good by the by), and movies too, but not so much actual comic books (don’t know why). I also don’t play video games based on comic book brands because their horrible and terrible or terrible and horrible. However there are exceptions to everything and Batman: Arkham Asylum was it for bad comic book video games. It was brilliant from writing to voice acting to gameplay, it had it all. Now with Batman: Arkham City there are many (myself included) who expect this to have it all again and then some; unfair – yes, but something tells me we won’t be disappointed.  And for the people who haven’t played the first game – do, it’s almost a requirement now for good gamers.

Twisted Metal

Releases [12/1/2011]

Wow, now we’re going back here. Back in the day I couldn’t even afford the massive amount of games (or systems as a matter of fact) I play now; the only time I’d played the legacy Twist Metals were at other people’s houses. Even then I was awe stuck by the beautiful chaos and destruction caused by these odd ball characters, and now they’re back and I mean back-back. Like Mortal Kombat (2011) earlier this year this game is a sequel and a revival of sorts focusing on same the awesome, frantic, balls to the wall action they were known for while at the same time bring something new with teams (the Clowns, the Skulls, the Preachers or the Dolls), interchangeable cars, crazy play modes (Nuke comes to mind) and of course putting them all together with 16 player rumbles online. All I got to say is welcome home Twisted Metal, we’ve missed you.

Mass Effect 3

Releases [12/31/2011]

Finally we come to the end of the list and with a game whose prequel ironically was at the top of the list last year: Mass Effect 3. What can I say really; the first ME was an awesome space opera that kicked much booty, ME 2 did the impossible and made a nearly perfect game (closest game to ever do so), now ME 3 is only 11 months away and will (or rather should) end the adventures of Commander Shepherd. Depend on the player; the story could have gone countless ways reaching this point right now. What is known now is the Reapers have come to Earth (sounds like Halo 2 to me) and the only one who can stop them is Shepherd (of course) but can he/she? Everything we’ve done since the start has worked to his point now, do we have what it takes to finish the job – one way or another…