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Super Smashing! Nintendo does it yet again to the surprise of literally nobody
Developer: Sora Ltd, Bandai Namco Games
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: 3DS, Wii U
The time has finally come and now Super Smash Brothers for the 3DS has arrived! Fans have been eagerly awaiting the title ever since Super Smash Brothers Brawl released all the way back in 2008. Now the newest entry in the franchise is here and portable to boot. Here are my thoughts on Nintendo’s newest iteration of this fighting game classic.
First and foremost let’s talk character. I don’t mean how much a person has changed over the plot of the game or who they are as individuals; I mean the insane number of characters available this time around in Smash Brothers. Players have access to 39 characters to begin with and 12 to unlock through playing different modes in them game. That’s 51 unique characters to play as in this iteration of the franchise. Out of that 51 there are 17 new characters to the series such as the villager from Animal Crossing, the Wii Fit Trainer and my personal favorites Mega-Man, Pac-Man and (SPOILERS) Duck Hunt dog and bird duo amongst others. It’s insane to think that when the series started back in 1999 it only had 12.
This gives players a plethora of different fighters to choose from. The humongous roster also allows for a multitude of different play styles with each character. Each one is wonderfully and whimsically designed in some cases to represent their respective series. I’ve been playing as Duck Hunt for a while now and I’ve never looked back.
Each character plays smoothly thanks to the well-developed controls. My only gripe here, and really my only gripe about the game at all, is not being able to switch character movement to the d pad and taunts to the circle pad. I’ve heard reports of some competitive players damaging and breaking their circle pads so please be careful when playing.
My other favorite part of the title has to do with the levels and game modes included. Nearly every level available is masterfully designed and a blast to play on. There are even 3DS exclusive stages such as the Spirit Train from Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks and the Golden Plains from New Super Mario Brothers 2. They are all a blast to play on and even offer up obstacles such as the Yellow Devil boss from Mega-Man showing up in the Dr. Wily stage.
Game modes include solo and group mode along with online as well. There’s also the inclusion of Classic mode (btw easiest way to unlock characters), Smash Run: a mode where the player traverses a map full of enemies to collect power-ups to help them when they inevitable fight other players or CPU characters in a final showdown, and others like training mode and trophy run. I had the most fun with Classic mode but also had a few good times with Smash Run. Add to all of this the ability to find parts for each character to make them stronger or faster and make slight changes to move sets and you have a title that will be played for years and years to come.
On the presentation side Super Smash Brothers looks phenomenal on the 3DS. I wasn’t actually expecting the game to look this good when I picked it up. I was so wrong because every single iota of the game from characters to levels to music and even the menus look beautiful and vibrant. Each character’s move set is also littered with references to a multitude of things they did in their respective games. One exception to this is Duck Hunt who uses different NES inspired attacks from classic games. Nintendo is a company that truly cares about the history of their characters and franchises and it truly shows within Smash Brothers. I’ve been a Nintendo fan for nearly my entire life and there’s things represented here that I’ve only ever seen in this game. From utilizing different Namco items and characters within Pac-Man’s move set to allowing players to beat up Mega-Man as the dog and duck from Duck Hunt whilst being pushed along the screen of an old Nintendo Gameboy there’s nothing not to love about this iteration of the series. Fans love Nintendo and Nintendo loves its fans.
This title is one that will clearly be played for many years to come. This will only get stronger with the addition of the Wii U edition to drop this holiday season. The gameplay is just as fast and frenetic as it has been before if not more so. Add to that the plethora of characters, stages, game modes and unlockables and you have a title that will be nearly impossible to put down. Online mode alone would’ve been enough but Nintendo went above and beyond as usual to show just how inventive a company they truly are.
Super Smash Brothers for the 3DS is one of the best titles to ever be released for the system. I’m completely in love with everything from the visuals to the gameplay to the characters and so much more. It’s actually hard to not stop writing this review right now and play the game some more. I’ve loved every second I’ve had with the game so far and I don’t see that stopping. There’s something here for every player from first timers to veterans who have played since the N64 days. My only gripe with the game as stated before has to do with movement controls. Nintendo has not officially released a statement about this issue but they will likely issue and update that will allow players to change controls slightly to alleviate this issue. I give this title a 9.5/10. Now if you’ll excuse me I have to go make Pac-Man throw fruit at Mega-Man while Wii Fit trainer shows us how to salute the sun….yup….real sentence I just said there.
Can you dig it? Shovel Knight is an 8 bit journey into every retro gamer's childhood
Developer: Yacht Club Games
Publisher: Yacht Club Games
Platforms: 3DS, Wii U, PS4, Xbox One
Shovel Knight is honestly one of the best games I have played in quite some time. Its charm is summed up in its overall design, and how it’s a send-up to NES style graphics and game play aesthetics. Here is my full opinion on this masterpiece of a title.
The storyline within Shovel Knight is a simple, yet well written one. The main character is tasked with rescuing Shield Knight, his lover, from the Evil Enchantress and her Order of No Quarter. The Order is comprised of eight different bosses that Shield Knight must eventually face in battle.
Every character presented is lovingly written and truly shines throughout the game. Each battle begins with a conversation between Shovel Knight and his adversaries. All are expertly written and hilarious in some instances. The player will instantly fall in love with the characters and want to see how everything plays out until the end.
While the story isn’t the overarching Oscar award-winning material present in games such as "The Last Of Us," it still serves as a simple connection between the world and characters of the game. It is also impressively self-referential and usually makes a few callbacks to old games of the past and sometimes tropes of modern gaming.
The masterfully produced game play is where the title truly shines. If you have ever played any older Mega-Man or Castlevania games, you’ll be right at home in Shovel Knight. The map even gives a Super Mario Brothers Three feel and you instantly feel right at home while playing. Shovel Knight is primarily a side-scrolling platformer with combat and RPG elements. The small blue warrior uses a shovel to attack, and can dig up treasure that can be used to buy armor, shovel upgrades, and the many relics in the game.
This mad dash to collect treasure adds a nice feel to the game that are missing from many current titles since the days of Donkey Kong Country and Super Mario World. He can also bounce on enemies like Scrooge Mcduck in the Ducktales NES game. Each enemy presented in the game has their own distinct attack patterns that a player must learn to survive.
The difficulty of the game is about the level of an average Mega-Man game. It always pushes you to go one level further. The combat and platforming mash so well together I almost forgot I was playing a NES tribute game. I found myself lost in the game play and never wanted to find my way back.
The controls are buttery-smooth and intuitive. On the 3DS, the attack button is relegated to the B button and A to jump. The second screen is used for housing and different relics to use in battle or to cross a chasm. You can use the stylus to choose a different relic and seamlessly continue on your journey .
The relics are governed by a magic system reminiscent of mana used in many games. You activate each relic by selecting one and using either “up” on the D-pad and the attack button or by pressing the “R” button.You can also find multiple health upgrades known as meal tickets to give to the Gastronomer to upgrade your overall health. Or you can talk to the mage to increase your mana level.
I never once had an experience where I felt like the design of the game play held me back or failed me. If you’re failing in Shovel Knight, it’s plainly your fault, not the design of the game. If you die, you lose a portion of your treasure and must regain it after starting at the latest checkpoint. If you don’t, or if you die once more, that treasure is gone. Add this to the fact that you can gamble with fate by destroying the multiple checkpoints within each level for more treasure, and you get an exhilarating challenge that made me play time and time again.
Presentation is another huge success of the game. The art style is very reminiscent of old styled NES titles. There are hints of Mega-Man inspired levels mixed with Castlevania and others to boot. Each character and enemy is painstakingly drawn with such detail in their portraits and programmed into the game in 8-bit format. This adds to the charm and are some of my favorite moments of the game.
One favorite moment was when I faced off against Tinker Knight, a tiny diminutive warrior who begins by running around nervously, throwing wrenches at you. It seems easy to beat him, but then phase two begins and he jumps into a giant mecha suit straight out of Mega-Man or Power Rangers. I laughed so hard when this happened and quickly had to compose myself to avoid death. Each boss has their own personality and style of fighting that you must contend with as the player. This adds a layer of challenge that’s missed in modern gaming today.
The music is also masterfully composed. Each track brings me back to the days of classic gaming when HD graphics, explosions and guns were not necessary. The music also serves as a means to encourage the player to continue on. Some of my favorites were the Overworld Map Screen track and the tracks for the separate boss fights along the way.
Shovel Knight took me nearly 10 hours or more to beat on my own. This does not include time used to grind for treasure and to find secrets in each level. Add this to the separate optional boss fights with characters and you can easily add another few hours to your experience. My favorite optional quest boss is a hat salesman who really wants to add your helmet to his collection. After fighting, he laments over his hobby getting in the way of his logic. There’s also a New Game Plus mode that ranks up the difficulty, but allows you to keep the relics, upgrades and treasure you had when you beat the game. This gives the title a huge jump in replay ability and longevity overall.
I love Shovel Knight and it instantly has become one of my favorite 3DS games and one of my favorite games of all time. It began as a humble Kickstarter project that exploded into popularity. Those who donated are even immortalized in a level within the game itself.
The design of the game play to the NES styled presentation and character designs make me absolutely recommend this title to anyone looking for a fun NES throwback. It will melt and charm your heart. I give this title a 10/10. Let’s Get Digging!
Developer: Yacht Club Games
Publisher: Yacht Club Games
Platforms: 3DS, Wii U, PS4, Xbox One
Shovel Knight is honestly one of the best games I have played in quite some time. Its charm is summed up in its overall design, and how it’s a send-up to NES style graphics and game play aesthetics. Here is my full opinion on this masterpiece of a title.
The storyline within Shovel Knight is a simple, yet well written one. The main character is tasked with rescuing Shield Knight, his lover, from the Evil Enchantress and her Order of No Quarter. The Order is comprised of eight different bosses that Shield Knight must eventually face in battle.
Every character presented is lovingly written and truly shines throughout the game. Each battle begins with a conversation between Shovel Knight and his adversaries. All are expertly written and hilarious in some instances. The player will instantly fall in love with the characters and want to see how everything plays out until the end.
While the story isn’t the overarching Oscar award-winning material present in games such as "The Last Of Us," it still serves as a simple connection between the world and characters of the game. It is also impressively self-referential and usually makes a few callbacks to old games of the past and sometimes tropes of modern gaming.
The masterfully produced game play is where the title truly shines. If you have ever played any older Mega-Man or Castlevania games, you’ll be right at home in Shovel Knight. The map even gives a Super Mario Brothers Three feel and you instantly feel right at home while playing. Shovel Knight is primarily a side-scrolling platformer with combat and RPG elements. The small blue warrior uses a shovel to attack, and can dig up treasure that can be used to buy armor, shovel upgrades, and the many relics in the game.
This mad dash to collect treasure adds a nice feel to the game that are missing from many current titles since the days of Donkey Kong Country and Super Mario World. He can also bounce on enemies like Scrooge Mcduck in the Ducktales NES game. Each enemy presented in the game has their own distinct attack patterns that a player must learn to survive.
The difficulty of the game is about the level of an average Mega-Man game. It always pushes you to go one level further. The combat and platforming mash so well together I almost forgot I was playing a NES tribute game. I found myself lost in the game play and never wanted to find my way back.
The controls are buttery-smooth and intuitive. On the 3DS, the attack button is relegated to the B button and A to jump. The second screen is used for housing and different relics to use in battle or to cross a chasm. You can use the stylus to choose a different relic and seamlessly continue on your journey .
The relics are governed by a magic system reminiscent of mana used in many games. You activate each relic by selecting one and using either “up” on the D-pad and the attack button or by pressing the “R” button.You can also find multiple health upgrades known as meal tickets to give to the Gastronomer to upgrade your overall health. Or you can talk to the mage to increase your mana level.
I never once had an experience where I felt like the design of the game play held me back or failed me. If you’re failing in Shovel Knight, it’s plainly your fault, not the design of the game. If you die, you lose a portion of your treasure and must regain it after starting at the latest checkpoint. If you don’t, or if you die once more, that treasure is gone. Add this to the fact that you can gamble with fate by destroying the multiple checkpoints within each level for more treasure, and you get an exhilarating challenge that made me play time and time again.
Presentation is another huge success of the game. The art style is very reminiscent of old styled NES titles. There are hints of Mega-Man inspired levels mixed with Castlevania and others to boot. Each character and enemy is painstakingly drawn with such detail in their portraits and programmed into the game in 8-bit format. This adds to the charm and are some of my favorite moments of the game.
One favorite moment was when I faced off against Tinker Knight, a tiny diminutive warrior who begins by running around nervously, throwing wrenches at you. It seems easy to beat him, but then phase two begins and he jumps into a giant mecha suit straight out of Mega-Man or Power Rangers. I laughed so hard when this happened and quickly had to compose myself to avoid death. Each boss has their own personality and style of fighting that you must contend with as the player. This adds a layer of challenge that’s missed in modern gaming today.
The music is also masterfully composed. Each track brings me back to the days of classic gaming when HD graphics, explosions and guns were not necessary. The music also serves as a means to encourage the player to continue on. Some of my favorites were the Overworld Map Screen track and the tracks for the separate boss fights along the way.
Shovel Knight took me nearly 10 hours or more to beat on my own. This does not include time used to grind for treasure and to find secrets in each level. Add this to the separate optional boss fights with characters and you can easily add another few hours to your experience. My favorite optional quest boss is a hat salesman who really wants to add your helmet to his collection. After fighting, he laments over his hobby getting in the way of his logic. There’s also a New Game Plus mode that ranks up the difficulty, but allows you to keep the relics, upgrades and treasure you had when you beat the game. This gives the title a huge jump in replay ability and longevity overall.
I love Shovel Knight and it instantly has become one of my favorite 3DS games and one of my favorite games of all time. It began as a humble Kickstarter project that exploded into popularity. Those who donated are even immortalized in a level within the game itself.
The design of the game play to the NES styled presentation and character designs make me absolutely recommend this title to anyone looking for a fun NES throwback. It will melt and charm your heart. I give this title a 10/10. Let’s Get Digging!