What has this writer not already said about Fire Emblem Awakening? Easily the greatest game to grace the 3DS, Awakening packs well over 100 hours of content into such a small 3DS cartridge. There is even more hours of content to download through the 3DS' SpotPass functionality or DLC for the game. The amount of content does not matter if the gameplay does not entice you to play for all those hours. Awakening has the already superb tactical gameplay of the Fire Emblem series, but with a couple key improvements to the support system. For Awakening, the support system is brought to the forefront as it allows the player to strengthen bonds, improve stats in battle and even have characters marry, which allows you to recruit their children later in the game. Fire Emblem Awakening is easily the frontrunner for this writer's Game of the Year.
Do not overlook Runner 2 for its incredibly odd title because you would missing out on one of the most enjoyable downloadable games of the year. The Bit.Trip games were retro-inspired rhythm games that made a name for themselves on Nintendo's WiiWare service. Runner 2 is a sequel to the gruelling Bit.Trip Runner. The difficulty may be scaled back for gamers of all ages to enjoy, but that does not mean Runner 2 is a walk in the park. Runner 2 will put any gamer's hand-eye coordination to the test in trying to rack up the most points, collect all the secrets and Perfect+ every stage while listening to the incredible ever evolving soundtrack. Odd name or not, Runner 2 is pure unadulterated fun.
It was a long wait for Crystal Dynamics' new direction for Lara Croft to reach store shelves, but it was well worth it. Tomb Raider takes the iconic and pristine image of Lara Croft and throws it in the mud. The mature tone of this new Tomb Raider is a breath of fresh air for a game series that seemed a little dated this generation especially competing with Sony's action-adventure giant, Uncharted. Tomb Raider does an excellent job of placing gamers in Lara's shoes, which makes her much more relatable than in past entries. Apart from the story, the gameplay is phenomenal as the interplay between the gunplay and stealth is well balanced, the puzzles are always engaging and the optional tombs and collectables offer a lot of opportunities to traverse the interconnected island of Yamatai. The multiplayer may not be the greatest, but it is still a fun diversion for those who cannot get enough of Tomb Raider's combat. Since Tomb Raider's release, the game has not gotten as much attention as it deserves. Hands down, Tomb Raider is one of the best games of this year and should not be overshadowed by some games in this writer's honest opinion are extremely overhyped like BioShock Infinite and The Last of Us.
On the surface, Traveller's Tales first original Lego game may look like just another clone of Rockstar's immensely popular Grand Theft Auto games, but it is a fun and charming experience that gamers of all ages can enjoy. The gameplay is the tried and true Lego formula of breaking and building Lego objects to collect studs and open up new objects to interact with that many gamers are well too familiar with. Even with this tried and true formula, Traveller's Tales has added on a simple combat system similar to that of the Batman Arkham games, various disguises to switch between in order to reach different areas or interact with certain objects and the freedom of an open world to explore at will that all keep this Lego game fun and engaging. The gameplay may be great, but it is the personality and charm that exudes from Lego City Undercover that make it a standout. Hilarious dialogue, amazing pop culture references and one wacky story keep a smile on your face at all times even through the excruciatingly long load times. Young or old, Lego City Undercover is a game that everybody can enjoy.
The first Luigi's Mansion was a launch title for the Nintendo Gamecube. Being a huge Nintendo fan, yours truly was very eager to play Luigi's first big adventure. After breezing through Luigi's Mansion in a week, this writer was very disappointed with the end result. While length does not determine the quality of the game, Luigi's Mansion felt a more like a tech demo than a full-fledged game. The mechanics were never fleshed out enough to feel rewarding in the mid to late hours of the game and there was not much to do in the mansion after capturing all the ghosts other than collect more money. After revisiting Luigi's Mansion about a year ago, I enjoy the game a little more than my initial reaction, but it still was not a home run. Well Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is that home run. It improves on everything the first game lacked. The bite-sized mission structure sets an excellent pace for the game, the multiple mansions offer more places to explore, the length of Dark Moon is two to three times the length of the original and the Poltergust 5000 is so fun to use with the upgradable suction, stunning white light and secret-finding dark light. Also there are tons of secrets to find and Boos to capture and there is a full-on multiplayer mode to boot. This writer can go on and on about everything great about Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, but this article will run far too long. In summation, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is one of the premier experiences on the 3DS and definitely worth owning a 3DS just to play. Do not miss out on the greatest ghost-busting game on the market.
No comments:
Post a Comment