Atari's Greatest Hits: Volume 1 (Rating: 9/10)
I just reviewed Retro Atari Classics moments ago. However, although I gave it a positive review, THIS compilation makes RAC look pathetic in comparison! Retro Atari Classics only featured 10 arcade games, while Greatest Hits features FIFTY arcade/Atari 2600 titles! Oh, and a trivia game.
Unlike my review for RAC, though, there are so many games here that I can't possibly talk about each and every one of them (Most of the games from RAC are included here too, just so you know). I will say this though: A great majority of these games are very fun to play and some may have even stood the test of time. The games are addicting
What I really like about the collection is that it brought a few games onto here that were previously unreleased altogether. Who would've thought an Atari 2600 version of Tempest was going to be in the works? Okay, so the psuedo-3D wasn't even psuedo-3D (it looked UGLY), but the gameplay...it was there.
One thing that bothered me about the collection though was that it included the Swordquest games. Yeah, I get it. Those that have seen the Angry Video Game Nerd video about how interesting those are, but here on the DS, what the heck are you going to use to play those properly? You don't have a Swordquest comic book, nor the manuals for the original games with hints and such.
Lastly there was this Atari trivia quiz composed of 20 questions in random order. This is really interesting, because it gives out quite the obscure facts about Atari and its games (At least...for me they are obscure).
Overall, this collection's a hoot! If you're an Atari fan, definitely pick this up. If you are excited about the fact that there are 50 games in this cartridge, DEFINITELY pick this up! Even if some games suck, you're sure to have a grand ol' time with your classic Atari games.
Unlike my review for RAC, though, there are so many games here that I can't possibly talk about each and every one of them (Most of the games from RAC are included here too, just so you know). I will say this though: A great majority of these games are very fun to play and some may have even stood the test of time. The games are addicting
What I really like about the collection is that it brought a few games onto here that were previously unreleased altogether. Who would've thought an Atari 2600 version of Tempest was going to be in the works? Okay, so the psuedo-3D wasn't even psuedo-3D (it looked UGLY), but the gameplay...it was there.
One thing that bothered me about the collection though was that it included the Swordquest games. Yeah, I get it. Those that have seen the Angry Video Game Nerd video about how interesting those are, but here on the DS, what the heck are you going to use to play those properly? You don't have a Swordquest comic book, nor the manuals for the original games with hints and such.
Lastly there was this Atari trivia quiz composed of 20 questions in random order. This is really interesting, because it gives out quite the obscure facts about Atari and its games (At least...for me they are obscure).
Overall, this collection's a hoot! If you're an Atari fan, definitely pick this up. If you are excited about the fact that there are 50 games in this cartridge, DEFINITELY pick this up! Even if some games suck, you're sure to have a grand ol' time with your classic Atari games.
Atari's Greatest Hits: Volume 2 (Rating: 9/10)
Atari's Greatest Hits Volume 2 is really more of the same of what Volume 1 had to offer. Considering this is a collection that contains 50 Atari games crammed on one DS cartridge though, why would I resist that offer?
While there are still lots of greats, there are some misses, as well as few that are really interesting (Return to the Haunted House is a HOMEBREW game). Most of these games have stood against the test of time and offered some really awesome gameplay experiences. For example, Warlords is a 4-Player battle combination of Pong and Breakout with a medieval twist of its own. Night Driver is pretty much Pole Position, except stylized and with a better feel. There are many more examples I could name, but that'd probably lengthen this review by a lot.
There are also some games from Volume 1 that have technically been brought back in this installment, in the forms of Asteroids Deluxe, Millipede, as well as its Atari 2600 counterparts.
There are some notable games that truly aren't that great. Golf is a REALLY unplayable game, and Mini Golf has no variety in its courses at all (not to mention low range). Breakout is very bland, but Super Breakout fixes the former's slow pace and, if playing its Breakthru mode, EXTREMELY rapid and sudden increase in the ball's speed (Super ditches that mode).
But overall, like the first Volume, this is a must-have for Atari enthusiasts, or for those wanting to seek a game collection or wanting to learn a bit about some Atari history (After all, the game's extras kinda focus on that).
While there are still lots of greats, there are some misses, as well as few that are really interesting (Return to the Haunted House is a HOMEBREW game). Most of these games have stood against the test of time and offered some really awesome gameplay experiences. For example, Warlords is a 4-Player battle combination of Pong and Breakout with a medieval twist of its own. Night Driver is pretty much Pole Position, except stylized and with a better feel. There are many more examples I could name, but that'd probably lengthen this review by a lot.
There are also some games from Volume 1 that have technically been brought back in this installment, in the forms of Asteroids Deluxe, Millipede, as well as its Atari 2600 counterparts.
There are some notable games that truly aren't that great. Golf is a REALLY unplayable game, and Mini Golf has no variety in its courses at all (not to mention low range). Breakout is very bland, but Super Breakout fixes the former's slow pace and, if playing its Breakthru mode, EXTREMELY rapid and sudden increase in the ball's speed (Super ditches that mode).
But overall, like the first Volume, this is a must-have for Atari enthusiasts, or for those wanting to seek a game collection or wanting to learn a bit about some Atari history (After all, the game's extras kinda focus on that).
Cars (Rating: 2/10)
The movie-based Cars on the Game Boy Advance was actually a pretty decent title. After all, Cars's theme involves racing, and that's material alone for a video game. Cars DS, on the other hand...............I have no idea what was going on behind this one.
The game is actually...a poor man's minigame collection. The minigames you find on this thing are either dull or are knockoffs of old timey games. For example, the blinking traffic light minigame is just another Simon. The minigame with the car "Snot Rod" is a variation of bunches of LCD electronics, in which you just simply dodge cars. The minigame where you fill up gas for cars....That's just dumb and plays badly.
Apparently, there just so happens to be racing....But believe it or not, THAT plays more like a minigame than freaking Mario Kart!! On top of that, the AI is dumb as rocks. Chick (the green car) always wiggles around and the other cars just stay still. Oh wait...I'm only against Chick? BULL. And guess what? You can even cheat in the race. Just keep using the brakes to build up speed (Because you'll automatically be moving forward anyway), and once the finish line comes, just zoom in to win.
And with no reason to come back, Cars on the DS is just plain trash. If you have a choice, PLEASE go get the Game Boy Advance version. It's much more fun and actually has RACES.
The game is actually...a poor man's minigame collection. The minigames you find on this thing are either dull or are knockoffs of old timey games. For example, the blinking traffic light minigame is just another Simon. The minigame with the car "Snot Rod" is a variation of bunches of LCD electronics, in which you just simply dodge cars. The minigame where you fill up gas for cars....That's just dumb and plays badly.
Apparently, there just so happens to be racing....But believe it or not, THAT plays more like a minigame than freaking Mario Kart!! On top of that, the AI is dumb as rocks. Chick (the green car) always wiggles around and the other cars just stay still. Oh wait...I'm only against Chick? BULL. And guess what? You can even cheat in the race. Just keep using the brakes to build up speed (Because you'll automatically be moving forward anyway), and once the finish line comes, just zoom in to win.
And with no reason to come back, Cars on the DS is just plain trash. If you have a choice, PLEASE go get the Game Boy Advance version. It's much more fun and actually has RACES.
Game de Demashita! Powerpuff Girls Z (Rating: 8/10)
Sometimes, it's okay for licensed games to stray far from their roots, as long as we still get to see our favorite characters and a plot that would fit right in with the show/movie it's based off of. In this case, Bandai gives the Powerpuff Girls Z a Mario Party-style adventure against good/bad ol' Mojo Jojo. Of course, the game is in Japanese. Once you get past that (Although some minigames will require knowing the language), you've got a solid DS game you should probably play.
The game boards are simple. They all have an end, and you gotta reach there before Mojo does (Or your friends, if you're playing multiplayer)! Certain spaces could allow you to access a shortcut. Mojo spaces are to this game as Bowser spaces are to Mario Party (vice versa when landing on Poochi spaces). And there are some spaces that cause a certain type of minigame.
There are a nice variety of minigames, all of which are kinda easy (Unless you don't know Japanese. If that's so, then a few minigames may be a burden), but at the same time, intense considering you have to compete with Mojo in all of them. The action goes at a good pace and the games in general are pretty fun and satisfying, even though they probably do not relate to Powerpuff Girls Z whatsoever (When in the show do Blossom and Mojo have to race each other in cars at fast speeds?)
The game boards are simple. They all have an end, and you gotta reach there before Mojo does (Or your friends, if you're playing multiplayer)! Certain spaces could allow you to access a shortcut. Mojo spaces are to this game as Bowser spaces are to Mario Party (vice versa when landing on Poochi spaces). And there are some spaces that cause a certain type of minigame.
There are a nice variety of minigames, all of which are kinda easy (Unless you don't know Japanese. If that's so, then a few minigames may be a burden), but at the same time, intense considering you have to compete with Mojo in all of them. The action goes at a good pace and the games in general are pretty fun and satisfying, even though they probably do not relate to Powerpuff Girls Z whatsoever (When in the show do Blossom and Mojo have to race each other in cars at fast speeds?)
Game Hits (Rating: 8/10)
I honestly expected a generic compilation of games that you find on the computer, card games, board games, puzzles, etc. However, looking at the box of Game Hits, it doesn't contain such things. Clearly, we're getting Tetris, Pac-Man, Space Invaders, and Frogger. Right there, on the box, those games are displayed! How no one sued the company behind this collection is beyond me. I guess there is reason why they cloned our favorites, though. Either they always wanted to make their own versions of the games (I mean..Hey. I've always wanted to make my own Super Mario World) or they are just desperate for sales. Whatever reason, I don't totally care.
For some reason, the games (other than the rip of Space Invaders) star this robot character for some reason. This rather gets in the way of the nostalgia, but.....
This version of Pac-Man, the classic dot munching arcade game, contains a handful of new mazes! On top of that, the developers managed to sneak in a Pac-Man remix as the background music, as well as the iconic maze from the original. There's also a new gameplay mechanic that allows you to move faster. However, with that combined with the slow movement of the enemies (in comparison to you with added speed), there are more opportunities to use blue Power Pellet-like substances, making the game easier. Still very fun.
The version of Space Invaders here contains different enemy layouts. Few enemies try to dive down. However, the fun is kinda defeated by the fact that your missiles are slow, unlike how fast they were in the original. Fortunately, shooting the UFO gives you one of a few power-ups. The graphics gave a retro feeling in a way, and the music was pretty neat.
The version of Tetris is the most faithful to the original game. Nothing was changed at all (Other than the obvious background graphic changes), but there was the inclusion of really nice-sounding music. Tetris has always been a great puzzle game, and even though this isn't full-featured like the standalone Tetris releases, it actually contains a co-op mode (The other games have that too)! That's something I haven't seen in a Tetris game since....the unlicensed Tetris on NES.
The version of Frogger has 2 different levels, and you have to collect pieces of machinery that are found on the other side of the levels. Other than the slightly changed goal, this is a lot like the original Frogger. I kinda wish it had a bit more challenge to it, though.
All in all, this is a neato collection of clones of arcade classics. They may not exactly be like the originals, but it has some new things that can be pretty enjoyable. In fact, there's multiplayer - Both co-op and versus. Where are you ever going to find a Pac-Man on a handheld system, let alone Tetris, where you guys work together?
For some reason, the games (other than the rip of Space Invaders) star this robot character for some reason. This rather gets in the way of the nostalgia, but.....
This version of Pac-Man, the classic dot munching arcade game, contains a handful of new mazes! On top of that, the developers managed to sneak in a Pac-Man remix as the background music, as well as the iconic maze from the original. There's also a new gameplay mechanic that allows you to move faster. However, with that combined with the slow movement of the enemies (in comparison to you with added speed), there are more opportunities to use blue Power Pellet-like substances, making the game easier. Still very fun.
The version of Space Invaders here contains different enemy layouts. Few enemies try to dive down. However, the fun is kinda defeated by the fact that your missiles are slow, unlike how fast they were in the original. Fortunately, shooting the UFO gives you one of a few power-ups. The graphics gave a retro feeling in a way, and the music was pretty neat.
The version of Tetris is the most faithful to the original game. Nothing was changed at all (Other than the obvious background graphic changes), but there was the inclusion of really nice-sounding music. Tetris has always been a great puzzle game, and even though this isn't full-featured like the standalone Tetris releases, it actually contains a co-op mode (The other games have that too)! That's something I haven't seen in a Tetris game since....the unlicensed Tetris on NES.
The version of Frogger has 2 different levels, and you have to collect pieces of machinery that are found on the other side of the levels. Other than the slightly changed goal, this is a lot like the original Frogger. I kinda wish it had a bit more challenge to it, though.
All in all, this is a neato collection of clones of arcade classics. They may not exactly be like the originals, but it has some new things that can be pretty enjoyable. In fact, there's multiplayer - Both co-op and versus. Where are you ever going to find a Pac-Man on a handheld system, let alone Tetris, where you guys work together?
Giana Sisters DS (Rating: 9/10)
A little history lesson before I get to reviewing the game. In 1987, a glorious Mario clone came into the scene for Atari ST, MSX2, Amiga, and Commodore 64 systems. However, there was clearly a problem: Nintendo took legal actions against the company behind the game, due to how IDENTICAL it was to the original Super Mario Bros. As a result, the game was pulled off shelves within weeks after its release. So Giana Sisters never got to be a franchise.....UNTIL 2009, where we somehow see a DS sequel that Nintendo actually allowed to be on their handheld system.
Giana Sisters DS obviously retains its Marioness, but spruces it up with new enemies, levels, and even a few gameplay mechanics. The game is actually quite big for what it is. It has a whopping 80+ levels, including a main 8 worlds and 9 levels in each. So yeah...There's definitely a lot of classic platforming here. Mechanics introduced later on like riding a bubble or destroying bricks with a soda bottle are nice additions, but really, it's all straightfoward, SMB-style fun.
As for how the game looks on the outside, it is marvelous. The music is nice, the graphics are lush and detailed, and the presentation to begin with is nostalgic and inviting (Like, seriously. The title screen is composed of a "level" scrolling, with bricks spelling out the title).
Since this is practically like a new Super Mario Bros game, of course it would turn out to be good. However, I just wish there was a bigger variety of items and powers (Shooting fireballs is the only power-up....). Plus, the difficulty is rather tame.
Nevertheless, if you are a Mario fan, please get this game. If you're done with New Super Mario Bros, and want to crave on another 2D Mario platformer on the go, get this instead of New SMB 2. It's a good-enough substitute and you know it.
Giana Sisters DS obviously retains its Marioness, but spruces it up with new enemies, levels, and even a few gameplay mechanics. The game is actually quite big for what it is. It has a whopping 80+ levels, including a main 8 worlds and 9 levels in each. So yeah...There's definitely a lot of classic platforming here. Mechanics introduced later on like riding a bubble or destroying bricks with a soda bottle are nice additions, but really, it's all straightfoward, SMB-style fun.
As for how the game looks on the outside, it is marvelous. The music is nice, the graphics are lush and detailed, and the presentation to begin with is nostalgic and inviting (Like, seriously. The title screen is composed of a "level" scrolling, with bricks spelling out the title).
Since this is practically like a new Super Mario Bros game, of course it would turn out to be good. However, I just wish there was a bigger variety of items and powers (Shooting fireballs is the only power-up....). Plus, the difficulty is rather tame.
Nevertheless, if you are a Mario fan, please get this game. If you're done with New Super Mario Bros, and want to crave on another 2D Mario platformer on the go, get this instead of New SMB 2. It's a good-enough substitute and you know it.
Intellivision Lives (Rating: 4/10)
I loved Intellivision Classics on the original Playstation, so I thought Intellivision Lives would be a pretty good buy. After all, it's a collection of Intellivision games - On the go!
However, I was not exactly in for as good of a time as I expected. There were a few games I liked playing, but the collection as a whole is a step down from Intellivision Classics. This time around, not many games are particularly interesting. However, you do get to play some knock-offs like Space Armada, which is a Space Invaders clone.
The few games I did like playing were Snafu (a Tron light-cycles clone, but you can move diagonal), Pinball, Space Armada, and Night Stalker. But considering the amount of games on this cartridge, that isn't much enjoyment.
Plus, while the controls are considerably better than on the original Intellivision, the emulations fall flat in the sound department, where the sounds have been downplayed to Atari-esc beeps and bloops. This ruined Snafu's catchy music (When it plays), and it takes away from the nostalgic value.
Buy yourself a used Playstation 1, get a cheap copy of Intellivision Classics, and you've got yourself a better deal than Intellivision Lives.
However, I was not exactly in for as good of a time as I expected. There were a few games I liked playing, but the collection as a whole is a step down from Intellivision Classics. This time around, not many games are particularly interesting. However, you do get to play some knock-offs like Space Armada, which is a Space Invaders clone.
The few games I did like playing were Snafu (a Tron light-cycles clone, but you can move diagonal), Pinball, Space Armada, and Night Stalker. But considering the amount of games on this cartridge, that isn't much enjoyment.
Plus, while the controls are considerably better than on the original Intellivision, the emulations fall flat in the sound department, where the sounds have been downplayed to Atari-esc beeps and bloops. This ruined Snafu's catchy music (When it plays), and it takes away from the nostalgic value.
Buy yourself a used Playstation 1, get a cheap copy of Intellivision Classics, and you've got yourself a better deal than Intellivision Lives.
Mario Kart DS (Rating: 10/10)
The Mario Kart series has come pretty far since the original Super Nintendo game. So what must you expect from Mario Kart DS that you hadn't already seen in the other Mario Karts? A lot of things, actually.
For the first time ever, Mario goes Wi-Fi in this cool kart racer! That's right! You can play online with 3 other people! Sure, that's not a lot, and the track selection is somewhat limited here, but just being able to actually play with people from across the world in the comfort of your home is incredibly appealing.
Internet aside, there's still much more to enjoy here. The tracks here are as robust and colorful as ever! I mean, seriously. You can't possibly go wrong when it comes to racing through the likes of a giant pinball machine, or Luigi's very spooky mansion. Plus, Nintendo has also managed to revive a whole lot of tracks from previous Mario Kart games, including favorites like Double Dash's Baby Park, Super Circuit's Sky Garden, and MK64's Moo Moo Farm.
The Battle mode is VERY lively here compared to other games! Here, you can actually play alone and battle 7 computer players, teams or not! Multiplayer is also a very nice option here, as well (Too bad only Local, though). Whether you're popping each other's balloons with items or stealing each other's Shine Sprites, there's surely some fun to be had.
Here's a thought: Ever wanted to more than just race and battle with these karts? Well, Mario Kart DS introduces a new mode in which you complete MISSIONS to progress through (Sadly, this isn't in Mario Kart Wii or 3DS)! The missions give off even more variety, as if the regular tracks didn't offer that much, by giving you challenging tasks to do. There's also Boss Battling, as you must defeat bosses that try to literally attack you, popping the balloons you have. I bet you'd be at this for a while.
Overall, Mario Kart DS has a unique value to it that other games don't really have. It is just as good as many of the other Mario Karts, and I totally recommend it for all Nintendo fans.
For the first time ever, Mario goes Wi-Fi in this cool kart racer! That's right! You can play online with 3 other people! Sure, that's not a lot, and the track selection is somewhat limited here, but just being able to actually play with people from across the world in the comfort of your home is incredibly appealing.
Internet aside, there's still much more to enjoy here. The tracks here are as robust and colorful as ever! I mean, seriously. You can't possibly go wrong when it comes to racing through the likes of a giant pinball machine, or Luigi's very spooky mansion. Plus, Nintendo has also managed to revive a whole lot of tracks from previous Mario Kart games, including favorites like Double Dash's Baby Park, Super Circuit's Sky Garden, and MK64's Moo Moo Farm.
The Battle mode is VERY lively here compared to other games! Here, you can actually play alone and battle 7 computer players, teams or not! Multiplayer is also a very nice option here, as well (Too bad only Local, though). Whether you're popping each other's balloons with items or stealing each other's Shine Sprites, there's surely some fun to be had.
Here's a thought: Ever wanted to more than just race and battle with these karts? Well, Mario Kart DS introduces a new mode in which you complete MISSIONS to progress through (Sadly, this isn't in Mario Kart Wii or 3DS)! The missions give off even more variety, as if the regular tracks didn't offer that much, by giving you challenging tasks to do. There's also Boss Battling, as you must defeat bosses that try to literally attack you, popping the balloons you have. I bet you'd be at this for a while.
Overall, Mario Kart DS has a unique value to it that other games don't really have. It is just as good as many of the other Mario Karts, and I totally recommend it for all Nintendo fans.
Mario Party DS (Rating: 9/10)
Okay, let me start off this review by pointing out how the Mario Party series had been going since its first game. Now, really, the series would start to grow stale every new installment, but MP2 remains to be the best one.
Mario Party DS, though, actually has a good chance of being a close second.
In the Mario Party games, you must basically go get Stars, but you need coins to pay for the Stars. Whoever has the most Stars wins. Every turn, there would be a minigame. Whoever wins the minigame gets 10 coins.
The minigames have their own rules that separate from each other. You can read them in-game.
There are some other game modes that have you fight to the finish by playing the minigames.
Some of the minigames may be boring, but the huge majority of them are just plain fun.
Mario Party DS takes that big concept and takes it ON THE GO! With even more cool game modes, wireless multiplayer, and some really addicting puzzle games (I like Mario's Block Party the best), it all makes the game help become the second-best Mario Party game there is!
Mario Party DS, though, actually has a good chance of being a close second.
In the Mario Party games, you must basically go get Stars, but you need coins to pay for the Stars. Whoever has the most Stars wins. Every turn, there would be a minigame. Whoever wins the minigame gets 10 coins.
The minigames have their own rules that separate from each other. You can read them in-game.
There are some other game modes that have you fight to the finish by playing the minigames.
Some of the minigames may be boring, but the huge majority of them are just plain fun.
Mario Party DS takes that big concept and takes it ON THE GO! With even more cool game modes, wireless multiplayer, and some really addicting puzzle games (I like Mario's Block Party the best), it all makes the game help become the second-best Mario Party game there is!
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis (Rating: 9/10)
Mario Vs Donkey Kong was one of the most fun Game Boy Advance games I've ever played, mainly because it retained the action/puzzle platforming from the Game Boy's Donkey Kong (Which is one of the best games on that system). The graphics and levels were equally well-polished. As for this sequel, though, it drops the enemy-throwing, hopping and bopping, etc, for having to control Mini Marios. Actually, this makes for a very interesting change in gameplay, and it offers some deep elements.
So...yeah. Mario Vs Donkey Kong 2 has you guide the Mini Marios around the level with your stylus, proving to be a good example of what you can do with the touch screen. But as you move them around, there are enemies, springs, and power-ups along the way. It is awesome getting the Fire Flower, since the Mini Mario that collects it automatically shoots fireballs at the enemies ahead...
The level designs are very interesting and clever. Getting past some of them requires you to really concentrate. The worlds the levels are in totally vary from each other, so when going to another world, be sure to expect something new coming up. For example, there will soon be magnetic floors, as well as pipes that will take the Minis to a different area in the level.
The best feature in the game is the Construction Site, which allows you to make your very own witty levels, and even share them with friends that own the game. That alone would make the game worth it.
Overall, this is truly a great DS game. It is definitely one to pick up for all puzzle game fans. However, I prefer the original MVSDK.
So...yeah. Mario Vs Donkey Kong 2 has you guide the Mini Marios around the level with your stylus, proving to be a good example of what you can do with the touch screen. But as you move them around, there are enemies, springs, and power-ups along the way. It is awesome getting the Fire Flower, since the Mini Mario that collects it automatically shoots fireballs at the enemies ahead...
The level designs are very interesting and clever. Getting past some of them requires you to really concentrate. The worlds the levels are in totally vary from each other, so when going to another world, be sure to expect something new coming up. For example, there will soon be magnetic floors, as well as pipes that will take the Minis to a different area in the level.
The best feature in the game is the Construction Site, which allows you to make your very own witty levels, and even share them with friends that own the game. That alone would make the game worth it.
Overall, this is truly a great DS game. It is definitely one to pick up for all puzzle game fans. However, I prefer the original MVSDK.
Michael Jackson: The Experience (Rating: 7/10)
I feel a bit of guilt for being a fan of Michael Jackson only right after his death. Nevertheless, I still felt pretty bad, because my dad was a fan of his songs. After listening to some of his music, I couldn't have been any more shocked as to why I didn't bother doing so earlier. Michael Jackson DESERVED to be labeled as "King of Pop"! So when Michael Jackson: The Experience was announced, I thought "Hey. This could be great!" I didn't really feel like hopping into the console games yet, though, so I gave the DS version a spin.
So, apparently, this version of MJ: The Experience only has 12 songs. Not exactly much compared to what the other versions of the game offer. And when playing a song, you are treated to an animated Michael Jackson dancing on the top screen, dressed in a costume based on the respective song. It's nice to see his dancing fully animated, and for each song too, but Michael honestly looks rather lonely. He dances by himself and only himself, making the scenery feel empty. Plus, it would have been nice if there were original tunes implemented into the menus and title screen. Unfortunately, the only original jingle I know of is the oh-so-brief victory theme...and it sucked.
Fortunately, each and every song is, in a word, amazing. This is a soundtrack that sets the bar higher than a LOT of video games can achieve: Michael Jackson's music. From songs like "Another Part of Me" to "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" to "Beat It", Michael Jackson: The Experience packs quite the punch for music fans. What makes things even better is that all of these songs are presented in surprisingly great quality. There's even a Jukebox mode for listening to the songs you've played, which is nice if you solely want to listen to the songs.
The gameplay is simple, yet addictive. You tap circles to sync with the song in one way or another. There would be a bit more variety mixed in, such as having to tap a circle twice, or sliding the stylus across the screen for one circle to connect with another. It actually makes for a pretty fun time. However, when playing Medium or Hard on a song, it can be difficult to earn any tokens you need to unlock later songs. Meanwhile, on Easy mode, it's a bit simple to do so (at least, for me). I wish things were a bit more even for song unlocking.
Overall, my reactions toward the game are rather mixed, but fortunately, what matters more outweighs the negative comments I have to say. In the case, Michael Jackson's ultra-awesome songs and good rhythm-based gameplay make this cartridge worth it. Just go and get a copy for $10 or under, though. Considering the length, I wouldn't say it should be the average $30 price. It's not QUITE the Michael Jackson game it could have been, but it's still very enjoyable.
So, apparently, this version of MJ: The Experience only has 12 songs. Not exactly much compared to what the other versions of the game offer. And when playing a song, you are treated to an animated Michael Jackson dancing on the top screen, dressed in a costume based on the respective song. It's nice to see his dancing fully animated, and for each song too, but Michael honestly looks rather lonely. He dances by himself and only himself, making the scenery feel empty. Plus, it would have been nice if there were original tunes implemented into the menus and title screen. Unfortunately, the only original jingle I know of is the oh-so-brief victory theme...and it sucked.
Fortunately, each and every song is, in a word, amazing. This is a soundtrack that sets the bar higher than a LOT of video games can achieve: Michael Jackson's music. From songs like "Another Part of Me" to "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" to "Beat It", Michael Jackson: The Experience packs quite the punch for music fans. What makes things even better is that all of these songs are presented in surprisingly great quality. There's even a Jukebox mode for listening to the songs you've played, which is nice if you solely want to listen to the songs.
The gameplay is simple, yet addictive. You tap circles to sync with the song in one way or another. There would be a bit more variety mixed in, such as having to tap a circle twice, or sliding the stylus across the screen for one circle to connect with another. It actually makes for a pretty fun time. However, when playing Medium or Hard on a song, it can be difficult to earn any tokens you need to unlock later songs. Meanwhile, on Easy mode, it's a bit simple to do so (at least, for me). I wish things were a bit more even for song unlocking.
Overall, my reactions toward the game are rather mixed, but fortunately, what matters more outweighs the negative comments I have to say. In the case, Michael Jackson's ultra-awesome songs and good rhythm-based gameplay make this cartridge worth it. Just go and get a copy for $10 or under, though. Considering the length, I wouldn't say it should be the average $30 price. It's not QUITE the Michael Jackson game it could have been, but it's still very enjoyable.
New Super Mario Bros. (Rating: 10/10)
Well, since New Super Mario Bros 2 is coming out for the 3DS later, I kinda figured I may as well go back and look at the title that started a series that harks back to the even-older days. I remember when I used to be really excited for this one. After seeing a picture of a supersized Mario running through a field of Koopas, I had to get it. However, it kept being delayed....And then when it finally came out, I got it, and I wasn't disappointed.
Those that have played the original Super Mario Bros series (as well as Super Mario World) know what to expect. Classic 2D Goomba-stomping block-breaking action throughout all-new levels. This is something we haven't seen since Super Mario World (Although there have been remakes and stuff), so it is pretty cool getting fresh 2D Super Mario action once again. What's also great is that the gameplay still remains to be good fun, and with all these new levels, as well as some other elements mixed in, it just makes it even better.
One downside is that while the minigames were a nice touch, but they were mostly recycled from Super Mario 64 DS. I guess it's okay for those that don't own Mario 64 DS, but those expecting new minigames will be disappointed.
However, 4-Player multiplayer makes the minigames fresh again! Meanwhile, you can also play with a friend in a Versus mode in while Mario and Luigi compete and find Stars around 5 levels. That is pretty fun, actually, especially when getting to use the power-ups to sabotage the other player.
Overall, this is a pretty great adventure that does the original SMB series justice. Let's just hope New Super Mario Bros 2 does something clever with its coin gimmick...
Those that have played the original Super Mario Bros series (as well as Super Mario World) know what to expect. Classic 2D Goomba-stomping block-breaking action throughout all-new levels. This is something we haven't seen since Super Mario World (Although there have been remakes and stuff), so it is pretty cool getting fresh 2D Super Mario action once again. What's also great is that the gameplay still remains to be good fun, and with all these new levels, as well as some other elements mixed in, it just makes it even better.
One downside is that while the minigames were a nice touch, but they were mostly recycled from Super Mario 64 DS. I guess it's okay for those that don't own Mario 64 DS, but those expecting new minigames will be disappointed.
However, 4-Player multiplayer makes the minigames fresh again! Meanwhile, you can also play with a friend in a Versus mode in while Mario and Luigi compete and find Stars around 5 levels. That is pretty fun, actually, especially when getting to use the power-ups to sabotage the other player.
Overall, this is a pretty great adventure that does the original SMB series justice. Let's just hope New Super Mario Bros 2 does something clever with its coin gimmick...
Nicktoons MLB (Rating: 1/10)
One could argue that Nickelodeon doesn't give a crap about their shows as much as Cartoon Network did. After all, Cartoon Network actually CELEBRATED their anniversaries, and even made special animated bumpers for such events. Plus, Cartoon Network's licensed video games always featured varieties of characters ranging from the older shows to Ben 10: Alien Force (See Punch Time Explosion). However, when I saw Nicktoons MLB, I figured this one would have a chance. After all, we have characters from Invader Zim and Ren and Stimpy appearing here!
But as far as the character roster goes, it isn't really all that special. We may have Ren and Stimpy characters and Zim and Gaz, but we also have FIVE Spongebob characters, FOUR Avatar characters, Danny Phatom, Dudley from Tuff Puppy, 3 Planet Sheen characters, and Fanboy and ChumChum. That's it. That's your roster (not counting the awkwardly included real-life baseball players - rendering the MLB license itself awkward). Where are the Fairly Oddparents characters? What about Rugrats? Wild Thornberrys? Arnold? CatDog? Chalk Zone? Ricko's Modern Life? Rocket Power? ANYTHING???? For a game about NickToons, there sure are a lack of them.
When it comes to the actual gameplay, there's nothing interesting. It's just baseball, but with Nickelodeon characters and baseball players. I was hoping for something to imitate Mario Super Sluggers or something, but no. The licenses are absolutely wasted as it's ordinary baseball. In fact, the game moves at a terribly slow pace. Like..seriously! The characters move so slow! And when the batter hits the ball, THE SCREEN FADES TO BLACK BEFORE SHOWING THE BALL BEING HIT INTO THE AIR! That's really flawed design. The announcer repeating full sentences/comments on the play instead of "Strike!" or "Foul Ball!" does not help, either.
Overall....You're better off with any other baseball game or Nickelodeon game. Heck....I'd say you should try and see what Cartoon Network has in store for you. They at least put more effort into things than how this embarrassing excuse for a game turned out.
But as far as the character roster goes, it isn't really all that special. We may have Ren and Stimpy characters and Zim and Gaz, but we also have FIVE Spongebob characters, FOUR Avatar characters, Danny Phatom, Dudley from Tuff Puppy, 3 Planet Sheen characters, and Fanboy and ChumChum. That's it. That's your roster (not counting the awkwardly included real-life baseball players - rendering the MLB license itself awkward). Where are the Fairly Oddparents characters? What about Rugrats? Wild Thornberrys? Arnold? CatDog? Chalk Zone? Ricko's Modern Life? Rocket Power? ANYTHING???? For a game about NickToons, there sure are a lack of them.
When it comes to the actual gameplay, there's nothing interesting. It's just baseball, but with Nickelodeon characters and baseball players. I was hoping for something to imitate Mario Super Sluggers or something, but no. The licenses are absolutely wasted as it's ordinary baseball. In fact, the game moves at a terribly slow pace. Like..seriously! The characters move so slow! And when the batter hits the ball, THE SCREEN FADES TO BLACK BEFORE SHOWING THE BALL BEING HIT INTO THE AIR! That's really flawed design. The announcer repeating full sentences/comments on the play instead of "Strike!" or "Foul Ball!" does not help, either.
Overall....You're better off with any other baseball game or Nickelodeon game. Heck....I'd say you should try and see what Cartoon Network has in store for you. They at least put more effort into things than how this embarrassing excuse for a game turned out.
Pac-Pix (Rating: 9/10)
Pac-Pix is not the average Pac-Man game. Rather than having to control the dot-muncher himself, the goal is to actually save him from ghosts that popped out of a coloring book by drawing up Pac-Men of your own! The result is another arcade-style triumph.
The premise is pretty simple. You just have to make your drawn Pac-Men eat up the ghosts in the level to move on. However, like any well-crafted concept, it becomes very addicting. In fact, it even teaches you a few new things that enhance the gameplay rather than detract from it. For example, you would eventually draw walls to guide the Pac-Men, bombs, arrows, etc. It's no Scribblenauts, but it certainly is very fun to do all this.
In case if you're still craving for little more, the game has a built-in sketchbook that allows you to freely play around with your newly found gameplay techniques, as well as try to find some hidden ones within (I scribbled, and it created a rain cloud) Overall, Pac-Pix is a must-have for any DS owner.
The premise is pretty simple. You just have to make your drawn Pac-Men eat up the ghosts in the level to move on. However, like any well-crafted concept, it becomes very addicting. In fact, it even teaches you a few new things that enhance the gameplay rather than detract from it. For example, you would eventually draw walls to guide the Pac-Men, bombs, arrows, etc. It's no Scribblenauts, but it certainly is very fun to do all this.
In case if you're still craving for little more, the game has a built-in sketchbook that allows you to freely play around with your newly found gameplay techniques, as well as try to find some hidden ones within (I scribbled, and it created a rain cloud) Overall, Pac-Pix is a must-have for any DS owner.
Pac 'n Roll (Rating: 9/10)
Okay, I get it. Pac-Man's on his 30th (31st, counting 2011?) Anniversary, but the point is: Pac 'n Roll is a very good game. Unlike Pac-Pix for the Nintendo DS, where it was an innovative arcade-style game, Pac 'n Roll is not really innovative, but it's a whole platform-adventure.
Think of this game as a more straightfoward Pac-Man World installment, but with the lack of being able to actually jump. Fortunately, as you roll Pac-Man with the stylus, you may find some cool power-ups as you advance through the levels. One gives Pac-Man some armor to make him heavy. Another gives Pac-Man wings, so he can soar through the air while he's rolling.
The level design is pretty interesting, as there are many different obstacles, such as bouncing platforms, ramps, breakable objects, and good ol' ghost-chomping action. The challenge is spot-on, too. Sometimes, it maaaay be a bit too hard, but in the end, it's another fun Pac-Man game. Plus, the original arcade Pac-Man is an unlockable game.
So overall, this is a great game. Definitely pick it up if you're a Pac-Fan.
Think of this game as a more straightfoward Pac-Man World installment, but with the lack of being able to actually jump. Fortunately, as you roll Pac-Man with the stylus, you may find some cool power-ups as you advance through the levels. One gives Pac-Man some armor to make him heavy. Another gives Pac-Man wings, so he can soar through the air while he's rolling.
The level design is pretty interesting, as there are many different obstacles, such as bouncing platforms, ramps, breakable objects, and good ol' ghost-chomping action. The challenge is spot-on, too. Sometimes, it maaaay be a bit too hard, but in the end, it's another fun Pac-Man game. Plus, the original arcade Pac-Man is an unlockable game.
So overall, this is a great game. Definitely pick it up if you're a Pac-Fan.
Pac-Man World 3 (Rating: 7/10)
Pac-Man World 3 differed quite a lot from the previous games in the series, but it's still a very fun game. However, it featured a lot of content. The environments were huge and the levels were long. There were loads of cutscenes and dialogue with a clever sense of humor. Not to mention, there's a museum complete with collectible cards, the classic Pac-Man game, and there are Galaxians scattered around levels that allow you to play techno-esc mazes. How will the DS respond?
Well...It doesn't carry any of the new mazes or the classic Pac-Man. Instead, there's a "VR Maze" as an extra, and it's actually the original Pac-Man's maze, but you can only play it once before "YOU WIN!" pops up. The other extra is the interview with the creator of Pac-Man, but apparently, it's not a video. It's made of still pictures FROM THE VIDEO. The DS can handle video, people! Use that for your advantage, developers!
Despite the poor presentation (Although the title screen looked pretty awesome), this is actually a faithful port of the console game. However, certain elements have been simplified, and some enemies take less hits. The levels end rather abruptly too. There's also no dialogue or cutscenes, and if you press a switch, the camera doesn't pan over to see what was being affected by the switch, so you have to figure out for yourself. Speaking of which, the camera could use work.
Underneath the flaws, though, the game is pretty intact. The levels are large and the environments are detailed, and the fun gameplay is there. In case you haven't already known about what PMW3 has to offer, you still have Pac-Man's Butt-Bounce and Rev Roll moves from the past two games, but now you can punch, and perform combos with the Butt-Bounce. There are also different kinds of Power Pellets that give you a certain power. Oh, yes. And you can Wall Jump.
But even though I really like getting the chance to play a mostly intact PMW3 on the go, the flaws within the game prevent this from being a 5-star title. Personally, the problems don't affect my experience by THAT much, but I still feel like they shouldn't have existed in the first place. For example, Namco could have just made the "VR Maze" repeat so that way it's like arcade Pac-Man. Heck, why not just replace that overall with the actual Pac-Man game? And why the heck can't the game simply tell me where to go after I press a switch that affects another part of the level?
But overall, this is a solid game. If you want to play Pac-Man World 3 on the go, this is definitely for you. However, for a top-notch DS adventure, I would rather prefer you buy Super Mario 64 DS, or the 2D Sonic titles released for the system.
Well...It doesn't carry any of the new mazes or the classic Pac-Man. Instead, there's a "VR Maze" as an extra, and it's actually the original Pac-Man's maze, but you can only play it once before "YOU WIN!" pops up. The other extra is the interview with the creator of Pac-Man, but apparently, it's not a video. It's made of still pictures FROM THE VIDEO. The DS can handle video, people! Use that for your advantage, developers!
Despite the poor presentation (Although the title screen looked pretty awesome), this is actually a faithful port of the console game. However, certain elements have been simplified, and some enemies take less hits. The levels end rather abruptly too. There's also no dialogue or cutscenes, and if you press a switch, the camera doesn't pan over to see what was being affected by the switch, so you have to figure out for yourself. Speaking of which, the camera could use work.
Underneath the flaws, though, the game is pretty intact. The levels are large and the environments are detailed, and the fun gameplay is there. In case you haven't already known about what PMW3 has to offer, you still have Pac-Man's Butt-Bounce and Rev Roll moves from the past two games, but now you can punch, and perform combos with the Butt-Bounce. There are also different kinds of Power Pellets that give you a certain power. Oh, yes. And you can Wall Jump.
But even though I really like getting the chance to play a mostly intact PMW3 on the go, the flaws within the game prevent this from being a 5-star title. Personally, the problems don't affect my experience by THAT much, but I still feel like they shouldn't have existed in the first place. For example, Namco could have just made the "VR Maze" repeat so that way it's like arcade Pac-Man. Heck, why not just replace that overall with the actual Pac-Man game? And why the heck can't the game simply tell me where to go after I press a switch that affects another part of the level?
But overall, this is a solid game. If you want to play Pac-Man World 3 on the go, this is definitely for you. However, for a top-notch DS adventure, I would rather prefer you buy Super Mario 64 DS, or the 2D Sonic titles released for the system.
Retro Atari Classics (Rating: 3.5/5)
Retro Atari Classics is simple and to the point - It's a compilation of 10 arcade games made by Atari (Who else?). The majority of the games are fun and they hold up pretty well this day and age. However, there are a few clunkers. I've played each game, and here are my statements about them.
Asteroids: This space shooter is so darn addicting!
Missle Command: Honestly, I used to really hate this one. Fortunately, the touch screen really helps make the game playable/fun.
Centipede: Just as great of a classic as Asteroids!
Pong: Can I really criticize Pong? It is a classic, and it always will be (Although, I will admit - It was a bit weird seeing the game in a vertical view)
Warlords: It's like a hugely modified twist on Pong. You hit the ball against other people's castles to destroy bits and pieces of them. It's a remarkably fun twist, actually.
Breakout: The game has aged horribly. The block busting isn't really that fun since there's...like...a hundred blocks on just one screen, and there's nothing that can help you destroy all that except if you have enough patience (which I highly doubt). Plus, the ball physics are sometimes screwy.
Sprint: I wanted to like this one. I really mean it. However, the problem with this early racer is that if you slip on oil or collide with a car, you instantly head straight into a wall. Lots of frustration here.
Gravitar: A really interesting one here, actually. It's like an adventure version of Asteroids in a way. Not bad, not bad.
Lunar Lander: I just don't like this one...
Tempest: Another great shooter! The pseudo-3D gimmick is pretty impressive, considering its age, and it's very addicting!
Overall, I give this collection a thumbs up. However, let me simply say I hate the collection's "Remix" editions. They're just like the originals, but with crappier sprites. Play the originals, and you'll have a great time with this DS cartridge!
Asteroids: This space shooter is so darn addicting!
Missle Command: Honestly, I used to really hate this one. Fortunately, the touch screen really helps make the game playable/fun.
Centipede: Just as great of a classic as Asteroids!
Pong: Can I really criticize Pong? It is a classic, and it always will be (Although, I will admit - It was a bit weird seeing the game in a vertical view)
Warlords: It's like a hugely modified twist on Pong. You hit the ball against other people's castles to destroy bits and pieces of them. It's a remarkably fun twist, actually.
Breakout: The game has aged horribly. The block busting isn't really that fun since there's...like...a hundred blocks on just one screen, and there's nothing that can help you destroy all that except if you have enough patience (which I highly doubt). Plus, the ball physics are sometimes screwy.
Sprint: I wanted to like this one. I really mean it. However, the problem with this early racer is that if you slip on oil or collide with a car, you instantly head straight into a wall. Lots of frustration here.
Gravitar: A really interesting one here, actually. It's like an adventure version of Asteroids in a way. Not bad, not bad.
Lunar Lander: I just don't like this one...
Tempest: Another great shooter! The pseudo-3D gimmick is pretty impressive, considering its age, and it's very addicting!
Overall, I give this collection a thumbs up. However, let me simply say I hate the collection's "Remix" editions. They're just like the originals, but with crappier sprites. Play the originals, and you'll have a great time with this DS cartridge!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Arcade Attack (Rating: 3/10)
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade games were the best. Unfortunately, I don't think Ubisoft knew that. Turtles in Time Reshelled happened to be a pretty sucky game. Now we've got another game from Ubisoft that attempts to revive the arcade games. Did it succeed? Of course not.
The presentation is great. After all, we've got that familiar 80s TMNT logo, and the cutscenes are all presented in the style of the original comics. Plus, the graphics are spot-on. However, that's where the greatness ends.
Jumping into the actual game, you beat up enemies by mashing the A or B buttons. And you.......keep doing that. There's nothing unique in any part of the game. You just kill, kill, and kill. No matter what level you're on, there's no difference in gameplay. Remember in the TMNT arcade games how there were tons of enemy variety, and even the levels themselves had obstacles? You won't find any of that here. Everything plays the saaaame. No level gimmicks. No enemy variety. Heck, even the BOSSES feel like standard enemies, but with secondary attacks.
There are only 8 levels in the game, but each one overstayed its welcome. The length of the levels is too long to keep your sanity. I would usually think "When the heck is this level going to end?!" as I play.
On top of all that, there was hardly a challenge. The Stage 6 and 8 bosses were the only things difficult enough to force me to use continues. Other than that, it was a walk. It didn't help that I had a CPU help out in dealing with enemies. Co-op play is a nice addition, but I doubt anyone would want to play this for a while.
The game's a boring mess. Just stay away from it, unless you're dying to play through the game for its cutscenes.
The presentation is great. After all, we've got that familiar 80s TMNT logo, and the cutscenes are all presented in the style of the original comics. Plus, the graphics are spot-on. However, that's where the greatness ends.
Jumping into the actual game, you beat up enemies by mashing the A or B buttons. And you.......keep doing that. There's nothing unique in any part of the game. You just kill, kill, and kill. No matter what level you're on, there's no difference in gameplay. Remember in the TMNT arcade games how there were tons of enemy variety, and even the levels themselves had obstacles? You won't find any of that here. Everything plays the saaaame. No level gimmicks. No enemy variety. Heck, even the BOSSES feel like standard enemies, but with secondary attacks.
There are only 8 levels in the game, but each one overstayed its welcome. The length of the levels is too long to keep your sanity. I would usually think "When the heck is this level going to end?!" as I play.
On top of all that, there was hardly a challenge. The Stage 6 and 8 bosses were the only things difficult enough to force me to use continues. Other than that, it was a walk. It didn't help that I had a CPU help out in dealing with enemies. Co-op play is a nice addition, but I doubt anyone would want to play this for a while.
The game's a boring mess. Just stay away from it, unless you're dying to play through the game for its cutscenes.
Sonic Colors (Rating: 9/10)
Dimps has done a really great job with the handheld Sonic games every time around, while the console games are each a hit-and-miss after Sonic Heroes (Until the Wii version of this game, that is). However, until now, Dimps' Sonics never shared the same name with a console game. But is the game as terrific as the Wii version?
When starting a new game, it shockingly shows a CGI cutscene from the Wii game. Yep. This is going to be good (But if only more CGI cutscenes were shown...). As for the game itself, it builds on Sonic Rush's fantastic gameplay (You can see my review for that if you want) and 2.5D graphical style, while adding in its own setting and storyline, as well as Wisps (For power-ups) and a Homing Attack.
The level design is extremely fun and has a fair amount of platforming elements thrown in together with fast speed! Plus, while Sonic Rush had pits for you to die in here and there, Sonic Colors doesn't have as much, giving you more time to gaze at the running hedgehog in awe. Things get even more exciting when collecting a Wisp. There's one that lets you Boost more, but others have different powers, such as drilling into the ground, using flames to hop in mid-air and beyond, etc.
Unlike the Wii version, though, in which there were 6 acts and a Boss in each world, Sonic Colors for DS has 2 and a Boss, making the game rather short. Fortunately, there are Missions in the game, and they are surprisingly hosted by other Sonic characters (Knuckles, Blaze, Charmy, Espio, and heck; even Silver and Omega!), which add some replay value. Actually, one thing that would keep you playing is the online play. Yup. Sonic Colors has you race against other people worldwide! Unfortunately, I couldn't find anyone online most likely due to Sonic Generations being released. Hopefully, you'll have better luck than I did.
But overall, this is still a fantastic game. Definitely a must-have for DS. Even if you already own the Wii game, it's totally worth it.
When starting a new game, it shockingly shows a CGI cutscene from the Wii game. Yep. This is going to be good (But if only more CGI cutscenes were shown...). As for the game itself, it builds on Sonic Rush's fantastic gameplay (You can see my review for that if you want) and 2.5D graphical style, while adding in its own setting and storyline, as well as Wisps (For power-ups) and a Homing Attack.
The level design is extremely fun and has a fair amount of platforming elements thrown in together with fast speed! Plus, while Sonic Rush had pits for you to die in here and there, Sonic Colors doesn't have as much, giving you more time to gaze at the running hedgehog in awe. Things get even more exciting when collecting a Wisp. There's one that lets you Boost more, but others have different powers, such as drilling into the ground, using flames to hop in mid-air and beyond, etc.
Unlike the Wii version, though, in which there were 6 acts and a Boss in each world, Sonic Colors for DS has 2 and a Boss, making the game rather short. Fortunately, there are Missions in the game, and they are surprisingly hosted by other Sonic characters (Knuckles, Blaze, Charmy, Espio, and heck; even Silver and Omega!), which add some replay value. Actually, one thing that would keep you playing is the online play. Yup. Sonic Colors has you race against other people worldwide! Unfortunately, I couldn't find anyone online most likely due to Sonic Generations being released. Hopefully, you'll have better luck than I did.
But overall, this is still a fantastic game. Definitely a must-have for DS. Even if you already own the Wii game, it's totally worth it.
Sonic Rush (Rating: 9/10)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it: Sonic had sucked in his modern games throughout the middle of the 2000s. Actually, that was what the blue hedgehog was like on his CONSOLE games. His handheld offerings were way better, because they were just plain 2D. Sonic Rush is no exception.
While Sonic Rush is, indeed, a 2D Sonic game, it isn't EXACTLY like the Sega Genesis games. In the Genesis titles, there was a mix of platforming and speed. Here, it's a video game equivalent to a roller-coaster ride, complete with some platforms and enemies to kill off. But you know what? It was fun. You also have the graphics and music to help make the game look even better.
The graphics are gorgeous. You get a combination of good-looking 3D models of the characters and the 2D backgrounds and platforms. The result is way better than you may think it would be. The music is great, but it's also weird at the same time. Human vocals seem to be used as instruments to go with the music. I just don't know what to say about it, but the music is still nice to listen to.
While I do love playing through the game, there are a few flaws that I've noticed. The one major problem is that there are a lot of places where you fall and die. I find myself ending up like that more than getting killed by enemies. The other flaws are pretty minor, but are just awkward. Knuckles makes an appearance in the game, but one line he says is "I'm so angry I want to punch something!" Let's be honest: It's ridiculous to say stuff like that, even if someone's mad. At least it isn't worse than "I'm so mad that I can't see where I'm going". A couple of the bosses can get annoying, too, especially since Tails keeps repeating these two lines: "Alright, Sonic!" (When you hit the boss) and "Oh, no, Sonic!" (When you get hit).
Still, this is an overall amazing Sonic game. It's a must-have for the DS. Sorry PSP owners, but you got the wrong Sonic series.
While Sonic Rush is, indeed, a 2D Sonic game, it isn't EXACTLY like the Sega Genesis games. In the Genesis titles, there was a mix of platforming and speed. Here, it's a video game equivalent to a roller-coaster ride, complete with some platforms and enemies to kill off. But you know what? It was fun. You also have the graphics and music to help make the game look even better.
The graphics are gorgeous. You get a combination of good-looking 3D models of the characters and the 2D backgrounds and platforms. The result is way better than you may think it would be. The music is great, but it's also weird at the same time. Human vocals seem to be used as instruments to go with the music. I just don't know what to say about it, but the music is still nice to listen to.
While I do love playing through the game, there are a few flaws that I've noticed. The one major problem is that there are a lot of places where you fall and die. I find myself ending up like that more than getting killed by enemies. The other flaws are pretty minor, but are just awkward. Knuckles makes an appearance in the game, but one line he says is "I'm so angry I want to punch something!" Let's be honest: It's ridiculous to say stuff like that, even if someone's mad. At least it isn't worse than "I'm so mad that I can't see where I'm going". A couple of the bosses can get annoying, too, especially since Tails keeps repeating these two lines: "Alright, Sonic!" (When you hit the boss) and "Oh, no, Sonic!" (When you get hit).
Still, this is an overall amazing Sonic game. It's a must-have for the DS. Sorry PSP owners, but you got the wrong Sonic series.
Super Mario 64 DS (Rating: 10/10)
Say you're back in 2004. You were psyched to buy the new Nintendo DS system. As you bought it, it came with a launch title. That launch title is...Super Mario 64 for the DS? Yeah, one of the launch titles is really a remake of an old Nintendo 64 game. But you know what's so great about it? That old Nintendo 64 game was one of the best games ever created, and having to experience it on a portable machine was a big thrill.
This time, you start out playing as Yoshi. The other playable characters have to be unlocked. Fortunately, Yoshi isn't all that bad. Sure, he can't wall jump like Mario can or even punch, but he can eat up enemies and throw them as eggs! This can upset those with nostalgia, but at least it isn't long before you unlock Mario.
Speaking of which, there are lots of new areas to play in. As you enter a new level to unlock a character, you'd end up discovering that there's more to it. You can find red coins, get a Star before it disappears, etc. Even though these levels are new, you'd still have that classic Mario 64 feel. Heck, there are also new missions. Do you remember collecting 5 Silver Stars, or, as already mentioned, race against time to snatch a star, or use Wario to break black bricks? I'm sure you don't. All of this results (Extra levels and missions) in 30 more Stars to collect in this already-big game.
Another thing to enjoy is a nice selection of minigames. These can be unlocked by snatching rabbits with keys (instead of Stars), although there already are some minigames to choose from. These minigames play like arcade games: They go on and on, but they are very addicting, or at least, for some, they can go on if you let them.
One problem that I find with the game is that there's no analog. For the most part, it plays fine without it, but when it comes to stuff like swinging Bowser's tail, it's just one of those instances where you think that the game should be played with analog and not a stylus or a D-Pad to make things a little easier. Another problem is the multiplayer. It's only a Vs mode, with you and your friend searching for Stars, or beating yourselves up to steal each others'. In early screenshots of the game, I see co-op multiplayer. It disappoints me to realize that you can't team up to fight Bowser in this final product.
But overall, it was a fabulous start for the Nintendo DS. It's one of the best games I know, and having the game on the go only increases the fun I'd have with it. Let's not forget all of the new content, either.
This time, you start out playing as Yoshi. The other playable characters have to be unlocked. Fortunately, Yoshi isn't all that bad. Sure, he can't wall jump like Mario can or even punch, but he can eat up enemies and throw them as eggs! This can upset those with nostalgia, but at least it isn't long before you unlock Mario.
Speaking of which, there are lots of new areas to play in. As you enter a new level to unlock a character, you'd end up discovering that there's more to it. You can find red coins, get a Star before it disappears, etc. Even though these levels are new, you'd still have that classic Mario 64 feel. Heck, there are also new missions. Do you remember collecting 5 Silver Stars, or, as already mentioned, race against time to snatch a star, or use Wario to break black bricks? I'm sure you don't. All of this results (Extra levels and missions) in 30 more Stars to collect in this already-big game.
Another thing to enjoy is a nice selection of minigames. These can be unlocked by snatching rabbits with keys (instead of Stars), although there already are some minigames to choose from. These minigames play like arcade games: They go on and on, but they are very addicting, or at least, for some, they can go on if you let them.
One problem that I find with the game is that there's no analog. For the most part, it plays fine without it, but when it comes to stuff like swinging Bowser's tail, it's just one of those instances where you think that the game should be played with analog and not a stylus or a D-Pad to make things a little easier. Another problem is the multiplayer. It's only a Vs mode, with you and your friend searching for Stars, or beating yourselves up to steal each others'. In early screenshots of the game, I see co-op multiplayer. It disappoints me to realize that you can't team up to fight Bowser in this final product.
But overall, it was a fabulous start for the Nintendo DS. It's one of the best games I know, and having the game on the go only increases the fun I'd have with it. Let's not forget all of the new content, either.
Tetris DS (Rating: 10/10)
Tetris is one of the best puzzle games in existence, and everyone (should) knows that! The addictiveness of the game is so intense that it will hook pretty much anybody, perhaps even those that haven't been interested in puzzle games before. But there are so many versions of Tetris, and on every single system, too. Which one should you get? Tetris DS is the answer.
Good GOD there's so much to do in Tetris DS! Let's cut to the chase on what the game has to offer:
First, we have the Standard mode. Even this thing comes with multiple variations, including a Marathon. What is totally awesome about Marathon mode is that while you're playing Tetris, there's gameplay footage of an old NES game atop. If it's Super Mario Bros, or SMB3, the said games' camera scrolls whenever you clear lines! Awesome!!!
Then, there's a Touch mode, making use of the DS stylus. There are bunches of blocks piled as a tower. What you gotta do is rotate and move the blocks to clear lines. The result is a great new spin on an old formula.
The game's Zelda-themed Mission mode gives players specific things to do as they play. For example, you may have to clear lines with a certain block, or maybe you have to clear lines at a certain height. Does it harm the formula? Nope. Once again, it's enhanced!
A Catch mode in a Tetris game? Well, it actually turned out to be just fine! You guide a block, and you must catch other falling blocks. In order for you to shrink in size, you must form a cube out of the stray blocks and yourself. How the heck do they pull this stuff of so flawlessly?
There's also a Push mode. It's a battle against the CPU, and you must clear lines to push the CPU to its doom!
Think it's all covered yet? Nope. We still have one more game mode here, and it is perhaps the most faithful to another puzzle game that the mode's theme is based off of: Yoshi's Cookie. Already a great puzzler, have it fused with Tetris, and it results to you manually having to choose which blocks you can use to clear all of the lines. It is all based on logic, so you have to plan it all carefully.
All of these game modes are extremely fun, and they are all as majorly awesome as the original Tetris game. But considering there's a lot of playtime to go with each of these game modes, this game will stay in your DS for a loooong time.
FURTHERMORE, there's an ONLINE MODE! Yeah! You can actually play against other people across the globe! Whether it's facing against a lone other player normally, or facing against 3 others by using items Mario Kart-style, this alone would be the reason why to buy this DS cartridge! This is definitely the best DS puzzler, as well as perhaps one of the best puzzle games PERIOD. It's NES theme only makes it all the more better.
Good GOD there's so much to do in Tetris DS! Let's cut to the chase on what the game has to offer:
First, we have the Standard mode. Even this thing comes with multiple variations, including a Marathon. What is totally awesome about Marathon mode is that while you're playing Tetris, there's gameplay footage of an old NES game atop. If it's Super Mario Bros, or SMB3, the said games' camera scrolls whenever you clear lines! Awesome!!!
Then, there's a Touch mode, making use of the DS stylus. There are bunches of blocks piled as a tower. What you gotta do is rotate and move the blocks to clear lines. The result is a great new spin on an old formula.
The game's Zelda-themed Mission mode gives players specific things to do as they play. For example, you may have to clear lines with a certain block, or maybe you have to clear lines at a certain height. Does it harm the formula? Nope. Once again, it's enhanced!
A Catch mode in a Tetris game? Well, it actually turned out to be just fine! You guide a block, and you must catch other falling blocks. In order for you to shrink in size, you must form a cube out of the stray blocks and yourself. How the heck do they pull this stuff of so flawlessly?
There's also a Push mode. It's a battle against the CPU, and you must clear lines to push the CPU to its doom!
Think it's all covered yet? Nope. We still have one more game mode here, and it is perhaps the most faithful to another puzzle game that the mode's theme is based off of: Yoshi's Cookie. Already a great puzzler, have it fused with Tetris, and it results to you manually having to choose which blocks you can use to clear all of the lines. It is all based on logic, so you have to plan it all carefully.
All of these game modes are extremely fun, and they are all as majorly awesome as the original Tetris game. But considering there's a lot of playtime to go with each of these game modes, this game will stay in your DS for a loooong time.
FURTHERMORE, there's an ONLINE MODE! Yeah! You can actually play against other people across the globe! Whether it's facing against a lone other player normally, or facing against 3 others by using items Mario Kart-style, this alone would be the reason why to buy this DS cartridge! This is definitely the best DS puzzler, as well as perhaps one of the best puzzle games PERIOD. It's NES theme only makes it all the more better.
Tetris Party Deluxe (Rating: 8/10)
When I reviewed Tetris DS long ago, I stated it was the best variation of Tetris I ever played, as well as perhaps the best puzzler ever. There were so many new ways to play Tetris. See my review on that if you're curious. But anyway, it was reasonable for a version of Tetris to come out for WiiWare in the form of Tetris Party. After all, the classic puzzle game just has to be on EVERYTHING KNOWN TO MAN!
Tetris Party Deluxe offers quite some new ways to play. With your Tetrominos, you get to blow up bombs, help a man climb to the top, and even guide your block downward as it must avoid colliding with walls. If any of these kind of game modes feel totally fresh to you, and you feel like they could be fun, definitely get the game because they ARE.
Tetris is already one of the most addicting things ever, but throw in these game modes (AND ONLINE PLAY), and you got yourself a package all right! However, I just can't help but feel that there was no need for this to be released on DS. Again, there's already Tetris DS released as far back as 2006.
Used copies cost slightly less than this, but that game's NES flavor plus the game modes that are even more satisfying than Tetris Party's (And yes; Tetris DS also has ONLINE PLAY), you are much better off getting Tetris DS. You can get both Tetris Party Deluxe and Tetris DS (the more new game modes the merrier), but if you had to pick one of the two, Tetris DS is the way to go.
Tetris Party Deluxe offers quite some new ways to play. With your Tetrominos, you get to blow up bombs, help a man climb to the top, and even guide your block downward as it must avoid colliding with walls. If any of these kind of game modes feel totally fresh to you, and you feel like they could be fun, definitely get the game because they ARE.
Tetris is already one of the most addicting things ever, but throw in these game modes (AND ONLINE PLAY), and you got yourself a package all right! However, I just can't help but feel that there was no need for this to be released on DS. Again, there's already Tetris DS released as far back as 2006.
Used copies cost slightly less than this, but that game's NES flavor plus the game modes that are even more satisfying than Tetris Party's (And yes; Tetris DS also has ONLINE PLAY), you are much better off getting Tetris DS. You can get both Tetris Party Deluxe and Tetris DS (the more new game modes the merrier), but if you had to pick one of the two, Tetris DS is the way to go.
The Legend of Kage 2 (Rating: 6/10)
I haven't played the original Legend of Kage, but I did after I played this sequel (I'll make a review of that later). Anyway, I was expected some old-school 16-bit-ish action when I saw screenshots for the game. Being the gamer I am, I jumped straight into it.
This game seems like it would've been an incredibly awesome one. The graphics are lush and detailed, the music rocks, the combat was excellent and felt great, and the storyline is epic! There is no way how this one could go wrong! Or so I thought.
The levels were reeeaally bland in design. Plus, I realized that I didn't even have to fight the enemies to move on (Although there are some neat mini-bosses at times). A great majority of the time playing was spent just simply going across the level. The difficulty in these parts doesn't even exist. I hardly got struck by anything as I was just holding right and timing my attack when necessary.
Then came the boss battles. This was where the game redeemed itself a bit. The bosses are challenging and very well-thought out! It fits perfectly well with the game's combat, which was just as brilliant.
If only this game was about just these bosses alone. Y'know - Like how Mega Man: The Power Battle was all about killing the Robot Masters (bosses of the Mega Man series). These amazing bosses in The Legend of Kage 2 contrasted greatly from the levels to the point where I felt like the levels were just filler to add to the game's length.
Speaking of which, I only spent an hour and a half before I reached the final boss. Actually....This was where things got brutal for me. The level before it was actually not that bad compared to everything else. After all, it had CHALLENGE! I was actually attacked by enemies! However, the final boss himself...was hard as HECK. He even manages to be harder than the boss in which it was the 3 bosses before it COMBINED. He's that difficult!
But all in all, The Legend of Kage 2 is a really polished game, but it can't seem to make up its mind in terms of difficulty and design. The levels are utter crap, while the bosses are incredible. The levels are too easy, while the bosses can get hard (and the last boss can get BRUTAL).
This game seems like it would've been an incredibly awesome one. The graphics are lush and detailed, the music rocks, the combat was excellent and felt great, and the storyline is epic! There is no way how this one could go wrong! Or so I thought.
The levels were reeeaally bland in design. Plus, I realized that I didn't even have to fight the enemies to move on (Although there are some neat mini-bosses at times). A great majority of the time playing was spent just simply going across the level. The difficulty in these parts doesn't even exist. I hardly got struck by anything as I was just holding right and timing my attack when necessary.
Then came the boss battles. This was where the game redeemed itself a bit. The bosses are challenging and very well-thought out! It fits perfectly well with the game's combat, which was just as brilliant.
If only this game was about just these bosses alone. Y'know - Like how Mega Man: The Power Battle was all about killing the Robot Masters (bosses of the Mega Man series). These amazing bosses in The Legend of Kage 2 contrasted greatly from the levels to the point where I felt like the levels were just filler to add to the game's length.
Speaking of which, I only spent an hour and a half before I reached the final boss. Actually....This was where things got brutal for me. The level before it was actually not that bad compared to everything else. After all, it had CHALLENGE! I was actually attacked by enemies! However, the final boss himself...was hard as HECK. He even manages to be harder than the boss in which it was the 3 bosses before it COMBINED. He's that difficult!
But all in all, The Legend of Kage 2 is a really polished game, but it can't seem to make up its mind in terms of difficulty and design. The levels are utter crap, while the bosses are incredible. The levels are too easy, while the bosses can get hard (and the last boss can get BRUTAL).
Toy Story 3 (Rating: 7/10)
Toy Story 3 is a really great movie. It combines humor with emotion, as well as really interesting settings.
The DS version of the game follows the movie quite well, but it has a few scenes of its own.
This game seems to be targeted for little kids, because there is no way how you can lose. Sure, you can die, but then you'll realize that you have infinite lives. This would usually go for a little kid's game, but there IS an exception (The Simpsons Game) or two. Another way to tell is that it tells you EVERYTHING you must do next on the top screen.
Because of this, pretty much anybody can be able to beat the game. That might not be a bad thing, however. Then again, a "Lives" option would be nice.
You can only play as Woody and Buzz, and you can't choose them yourself. There are levels in which you use one or the other. They have their own unique moves, such as Woody being able to throw his hat like a Boomerang, and Buzz can karate chop.
Since the DS has its limits, the cutscenes aren't taken from the movie. Instead, most are recreated to match the scenes from the movie. 3D models talk silently to each other in the cutscenes, and the text is seen on the bottom of the screen. That's a nice replacement, right there.
There is a game mode called "Playtime Mode" that replaces the "Toy Box Mode" from the console versions. Is it as fun? No. "Playtime Mode" has you play a Toy Story-themed tower defense game. Build towers that can fire at the upcoming enemies. Each with their own kinds of ammo, and if you like, you can call Slinky or Rex for assistance. It may not be superior to the "Toy Box Mode" in the console games, but it's still fun to play some Tower Defense.
The Wi-Fi experience I had here was unexpected, mainly because I never used the DGamer service before I played this game. You can chat with other people that own a Disney game for DS. Unfortunately, the chat is limited (You know: FOR KIDS!), so you can't curse out to anybody or make up words. What may keep players playing Toy Story 3 is the Leaderboard. Wanna beat the high score for a level? Go for it!
Overall, it's a good movie-licensed game that you should try out. People who want a challenge, however, should pass.
The DS version of the game follows the movie quite well, but it has a few scenes of its own.
This game seems to be targeted for little kids, because there is no way how you can lose. Sure, you can die, but then you'll realize that you have infinite lives. This would usually go for a little kid's game, but there IS an exception (The Simpsons Game) or two. Another way to tell is that it tells you EVERYTHING you must do next on the top screen.
Because of this, pretty much anybody can be able to beat the game. That might not be a bad thing, however. Then again, a "Lives" option would be nice.
You can only play as Woody and Buzz, and you can't choose them yourself. There are levels in which you use one or the other. They have their own unique moves, such as Woody being able to throw his hat like a Boomerang, and Buzz can karate chop.
Since the DS has its limits, the cutscenes aren't taken from the movie. Instead, most are recreated to match the scenes from the movie. 3D models talk silently to each other in the cutscenes, and the text is seen on the bottom of the screen. That's a nice replacement, right there.
There is a game mode called "Playtime Mode" that replaces the "Toy Box Mode" from the console versions. Is it as fun? No. "Playtime Mode" has you play a Toy Story-themed tower defense game. Build towers that can fire at the upcoming enemies. Each with their own kinds of ammo, and if you like, you can call Slinky or Rex for assistance. It may not be superior to the "Toy Box Mode" in the console games, but it's still fun to play some Tower Defense.
The Wi-Fi experience I had here was unexpected, mainly because I never used the DGamer service before I played this game. You can chat with other people that own a Disney game for DS. Unfortunately, the chat is limited (You know: FOR KIDS!), so you can't curse out to anybody or make up words. What may keep players playing Toy Story 3 is the Leaderboard. Wanna beat the high score for a level? Go for it!
Overall, it's a good movie-licensed game that you should try out. People who want a challenge, however, should pass.
Ultimate Mortal Kombat (Rating: 8/10)
Mortal Kombat was no stranger to portable handheld conversions, but unfortunately, those versions of the Mortal Kombat games usually turn out to be pretty crappy. Every once and a while, there would be a good Mortal Kombat on the go. For example, we've got Mortal Kombat 2 on Game Boy, and Deadly Alliance on Game Boy Advance. And now we have an arcade-perfect port of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 on the Nintendo DS.
When I said arcade-perfect, I MEANT it. This DS version is almost exactly as it was in the arcades! The fighting gameplay is superb, and the graphics are brilliantly digitized and pretty awesome to look at. The sounds/music are great, too, complete with realistic punching/kicking/whatever sounds and a rad soundtrack. To make things even better, you can play this game with anyone in the world via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to test your skills to the max!
But there was something that just didn't quite appeal to me. Is it just me, or is the game REALLY hard? Heck, I couldn't even beat the game on Novice Mode, considering Shao Kahn (the last fighter) would never give me a chance to beat up on him. I'm sure the game is actually possible to beat, but still....You'd expect the game to be pretty forgiving on lower difficulty modes. In this case, I just feel slight differences that helped me progress. Either that, or Shao Kahn is the same in every difficulty mode. At least the game isn't flat-out impossible like Mortal Kombat Advance.
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 certainly is a pretty great fighting game, but it sure does seem a bit small when comparing it to other DS titles on the shelf. So Midway made a great decision: Tack on Puzzle Kombat, the puzzler spin-off to Mortal Kombat!
Puzzle Kombat is a pretty good puzzle game. Through the MK elements displayed onscreen (like the fighters), clearing blocks and creating combos help make the game feel like a Mortal Kombat game. Of course, this is more similar to Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo, but hey! This game is cool and fun! And it helps add to the value of this DS cartridge. I just wish Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 wasn't so difficult on here...
When I said arcade-perfect, I MEANT it. This DS version is almost exactly as it was in the arcades! The fighting gameplay is superb, and the graphics are brilliantly digitized and pretty awesome to look at. The sounds/music are great, too, complete with realistic punching/kicking/whatever sounds and a rad soundtrack. To make things even better, you can play this game with anyone in the world via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to test your skills to the max!
But there was something that just didn't quite appeal to me. Is it just me, or is the game REALLY hard? Heck, I couldn't even beat the game on Novice Mode, considering Shao Kahn (the last fighter) would never give me a chance to beat up on him. I'm sure the game is actually possible to beat, but still....You'd expect the game to be pretty forgiving on lower difficulty modes. In this case, I just feel slight differences that helped me progress. Either that, or Shao Kahn is the same in every difficulty mode. At least the game isn't flat-out impossible like Mortal Kombat Advance.
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 certainly is a pretty great fighting game, but it sure does seem a bit small when comparing it to other DS titles on the shelf. So Midway made a great decision: Tack on Puzzle Kombat, the puzzler spin-off to Mortal Kombat!
Puzzle Kombat is a pretty good puzzle game. Through the MK elements displayed onscreen (like the fighters), clearing blocks and creating combos help make the game feel like a Mortal Kombat game. Of course, this is more similar to Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo, but hey! This game is cool and fun! And it helps add to the value of this DS cartridge. I just wish Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 wasn't so difficult on here...
WarioWare D.I.Y. (Rating: 9/10)
The WarioWare series is well-known for its ways of showing off how the innovative concepts of Nintendo's systems can be put to great use, and that's shown through its bizarre minigames that last about 5 seconds. But believe it or not, it made the series a winner, as it continued within new installments. But WarioWare DIY is a first; it lets you make your OWN MINIGAMES.
Now, let's be honest here. This isn't necessarily something little kids would enjoy. They'd probably find the game making system very tedious. But it's very simple to use for experienced guys like me, and the results are always worth it! It was awesome being able to make a game about Happy Gilmore (Funny Golf movie. You should watch it), Sonic, and....Heck, you could just come up with any concept imaginable and try making it as a minigame! That's the fun of making your own minigames.
Not only is a game creator present, but you could also compose your own music! This is obviously much easier to use than the game creator, since you can just place notes and instruments, but you're not making your songs a mere 5 seconds. Instead, you could make the song as long as a few minutes.
And here's another interesting thing to do: Comics! You can make your own 4-panel comics! Fun for making up your own stories, splitting them up into several different comics, or perhaps you can just draw/write up simple jokes. This is also a great feature.
Lastly, let's not forget the pre-made minigames that usually make up all of the WarioWare games. Here, the minigames may not be as robust, considering they are supposedly made from the game creator you use, but they are still pretty enjoyable. Oh, yeah. Did I forget to mention that there are pre-made comics as well? Really, you have to unlock these, but they are hilarious!
Overall, you've got a pretty huge package right here. Just being able to make your own minigames makes this totally worth it, no matter how long the minigames have to be.
Now, let's be honest here. This isn't necessarily something little kids would enjoy. They'd probably find the game making system very tedious. But it's very simple to use for experienced guys like me, and the results are always worth it! It was awesome being able to make a game about Happy Gilmore (Funny Golf movie. You should watch it), Sonic, and....Heck, you could just come up with any concept imaginable and try making it as a minigame! That's the fun of making your own minigames.
Not only is a game creator present, but you could also compose your own music! This is obviously much easier to use than the game creator, since you can just place notes and instruments, but you're not making your songs a mere 5 seconds. Instead, you could make the song as long as a few minutes.
And here's another interesting thing to do: Comics! You can make your own 4-panel comics! Fun for making up your own stories, splitting them up into several different comics, or perhaps you can just draw/write up simple jokes. This is also a great feature.
Lastly, let's not forget the pre-made minigames that usually make up all of the WarioWare games. Here, the minigames may not be as robust, considering they are supposedly made from the game creator you use, but they are still pretty enjoyable. Oh, yeah. Did I forget to mention that there are pre-made comics as well? Really, you have to unlock these, but they are hilarious!
Overall, you've got a pretty huge package right here. Just being able to make your own minigames makes this totally worth it, no matter how long the minigames have to be.
Wreck-It Ralph (Rating: 2/10)
Wreck-It Ralph has to be one of the most beloved Disney films of recent times. It's a movie that's directed straight to people that have grown up in the 1980s (although it appealed to kids as well), and seen how the arcade game industry has changed overtime. The movie was full of laughs and references, but featured a really deep and thrilling tale of a video game bad guy who wants to get a new name for himself. So what does this game based off the movie based off of games have to offer? Absolutely none of what I just described.
The game is supposed to take place straight after the movie's plot, but it IS possible to avoid spoiling the movie, right? Unfortunately, Activision refused to try. Within the first seconds after starting a new game, the ending of the movie is instantly spoiled. But since I'm so nice, I won't spoil it for this review. However, I will have to mention that the Cybugs, one of the few conflicts in the movie, is THE WHOLE CONFLICT here in this game for some reason. I don't want to think of Wreck-It Ralph as a series about hideous bugs. I want to think of the series as a love letter to gamers!
Anyway, that was all presented in a mere "cutscene" where there's a speech bubble over Ralph. They have this in all versions, but only in the DS game would that be for the intro, too. Excuse me? The DS can handle video footage, you know. Just look at Sonic Colors and Mario vs Donkey Kong 2. Activision sure rushed THIS out the door. BUT GUESS WHAT? Wait til you see what the actual game looks like!
Oh GOD did things go downhill! The graphics look like they were created for the Sega 32x. They are downright awful, and the music totally accompanies them by playing a short loop of a song that would only sound nice the first few times. And now for what we've been waiting for: The gameplay mechanics.
Let's just say this is one of the most uninspired platformers I've played yet. Throughout, I am treated with really generic levels that only make the already not-so-great gameplay just plain boring and repetitive. Nothing in any of these levels truly stand out (Other than that one and only Super Mario Bros reference in the "Hero's Duty" world). The combat in the game is clumsy. It feels very tedious when it takes some time for Ralph to throw a punch or Felix to wield his hammer (Which, by the way, somehow kills enemies instead of fixing them). By the way, you know how I mentioned that the Cybugs are the main conflict in this game? Well, they are the ONLY ENEMIES IN THIS GAME, so there's no enemy variety, really.
Not to mention, even with the clumsy combat, the game is beyond easy as a whole. During my first run through the game, not once did I get a Game Over, but rather did I get over 13 lives. The bosses didn't help the difficulty. They were incredibly easy as well.
To think this goes for as long as...an hour and a half?
Yup. This is one of those games with a pretty short length. However, after what you've been through after playing this monstrosity, beating the game in such a short time is rewarding enough.
If you want to see a video game do Wreck-It Ralph justice, play the game that's available on iOS devices for THE PRICE OF A COKE CAN. It's $39/29 less, but 100 times more fun.
The game is supposed to take place straight after the movie's plot, but it IS possible to avoid spoiling the movie, right? Unfortunately, Activision refused to try. Within the first seconds after starting a new game, the ending of the movie is instantly spoiled. But since I'm so nice, I won't spoil it for this review. However, I will have to mention that the Cybugs, one of the few conflicts in the movie, is THE WHOLE CONFLICT here in this game for some reason. I don't want to think of Wreck-It Ralph as a series about hideous bugs. I want to think of the series as a love letter to gamers!
Anyway, that was all presented in a mere "cutscene" where there's a speech bubble over Ralph. They have this in all versions, but only in the DS game would that be for the intro, too. Excuse me? The DS can handle video footage, you know. Just look at Sonic Colors and Mario vs Donkey Kong 2. Activision sure rushed THIS out the door. BUT GUESS WHAT? Wait til you see what the actual game looks like!
Oh GOD did things go downhill! The graphics look like they were created for the Sega 32x. They are downright awful, and the music totally accompanies them by playing a short loop of a song that would only sound nice the first few times. And now for what we've been waiting for: The gameplay mechanics.
Let's just say this is one of the most uninspired platformers I've played yet. Throughout, I am treated with really generic levels that only make the already not-so-great gameplay just plain boring and repetitive. Nothing in any of these levels truly stand out (Other than that one and only Super Mario Bros reference in the "Hero's Duty" world). The combat in the game is clumsy. It feels very tedious when it takes some time for Ralph to throw a punch or Felix to wield his hammer (Which, by the way, somehow kills enemies instead of fixing them). By the way, you know how I mentioned that the Cybugs are the main conflict in this game? Well, they are the ONLY ENEMIES IN THIS GAME, so there's no enemy variety, really.
Not to mention, even with the clumsy combat, the game is beyond easy as a whole. During my first run through the game, not once did I get a Game Over, but rather did I get over 13 lives. The bosses didn't help the difficulty. They were incredibly easy as well.
To think this goes for as long as...an hour and a half?
Yup. This is one of those games with a pretty short length. However, after what you've been through after playing this monstrosity, beating the game in such a short time is rewarding enough.
If you want to see a video game do Wreck-It Ralph justice, play the game that's available on iOS devices for THE PRICE OF A COKE CAN. It's $39/29 less, but 100 times more fun.
Yoshi Touch & Go (Rating: 8/10)
Yoshi's Island was terrific on the Super Nintendo. It stroke back again on the Game Boy Advance. And now, we get....what seems like a minigame of the Yoshi games.
Yoshi Touch & Go has a variety of game modes. The one I always play is Marathon.
The graphics are great for the DS handheld.
The sounds are superb too.
As for the gameplay...
In a normal game mode, Baby Mario would fall from the sky. As he floats down (He's attached to balloons), you must draw clouds to guide him from being attacked by the enemies in the air.
The usual gameplay for this game is you playing as Yoshi. He automatically runs, and you must tap anywhere in the air to throw eggs in those directions. Tapping Yoshi would make him jump. Tapping him in the air would make him keep jumping. You must try not to get hit by the enemies or anything. Just try to make your way through the level without dying. Otherwise, it's Game Over.
There's also a VS Mode, in which you play this game with a friend.
The game is fun and all, but it probably won't have enough for you to satisfy yourself with, depending on whether you like arcade-style games or not.
Yoshi Touch & Go has a variety of game modes. The one I always play is Marathon.
The graphics are great for the DS handheld.
The sounds are superb too.
As for the gameplay...
In a normal game mode, Baby Mario would fall from the sky. As he floats down (He's attached to balloons), you must draw clouds to guide him from being attacked by the enemies in the air.
The usual gameplay for this game is you playing as Yoshi. He automatically runs, and you must tap anywhere in the air to throw eggs in those directions. Tapping Yoshi would make him jump. Tapping him in the air would make him keep jumping. You must try not to get hit by the enemies or anything. Just try to make your way through the level without dying. Otherwise, it's Game Over.
There's also a VS Mode, in which you play this game with a friend.
The game is fun and all, but it probably won't have enough for you to satisfy yourself with, depending on whether you like arcade-style games or not.