Game – Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy (Rated T for Teen)
Version – Nintendo 3DS
Obtained – Review copy from Namco Bandai
Reviewer – Steve Cullum

The critically acclaimed aerial combat series flies onto the Nintendo 3DS in Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy. While it looks pretty, does it also pack a punch in other aspects? Read on to find out.

Story & Plot
You are a pilot for USEA Allied Forces, a group of nations who have joined forces against two world superpowers. However, the northern and western nations are strongly against a specific treaty between the southern nations and the Osean Federation. A band of conservative extremist have staged a military coup, and the allied forces have initiated their retaliation attack. You have been chosen for this mission as a member of Special Tactical Squadron “Scarface,” a part of Operation: Fighter’s Honor, to take out the rebel forces.

From the menu, you are given ability to jump into the story, pursue specific challenge modes (unlocked as you progress), view your game data, and change options within the game. As you begin the story, you are briefed on each mission, given the ability to choose your airplane, gear, and (sometimes) your wing-man. Then, you are off to the skies to take on whatever mission awaits you. After you complete your mission, you are debriefed and given a ranking based on how you performed. In addition, you can even keep a video copy of your mission by saving it to your SD card. Unfortunately, you cannot share these videos with anyone.

Gameplay & Controls
Each mission is pretty straight forward. Sometimes you will be shooting down rebel pilots. Other times, you could be taking out targets on the ground. Still, other times, you could be shooting down supplies dropped from enemy airplanes. Usually, you will complete the initial mission, and then go back to your base. On occasion, though, harder enemies will surprise you afterward. It is very easy to understand what you are to do each time, and you will rarely get confused.

Ace Combat feels great. It is not a simple flying game, as you will find a slightly higher learning curve than something like Star Fox. However, the controls are fully customizable. This includes changing which buttons fire which weapons to inverting the axis for flight. If you prefer, you can even change the language for the subtitles. With all these options, you are sure to find the control scheme that works for you, which is just another strong point to this game.

Graphics & Sound
Every aspect of Ace Combat looks amazing on the 3DS screen. You do not have to play with the 3D on, but it is highly recommended. It gives a depth that really adds to the gameplay. The only problem is that you may end up moving around while flying, if you are that type of pilot. If so, you may drop out of the 3D “sweet spot,” so just be careful not to move around quite a bit. You are able to change the in-game view from third-person, cockpit, and HUD view. I prefer the third-person view myself. There are few animated cut-scenes in the game, but when they do show up, they are also very good.

The music during the menu is some sort of Japanese slow pop style, but during gameplay, you will get a variety of orchestral music that fits very well to the feeling of flying in the open sky during combat. Sounds are spot-on, and it sounds great coming out of the 3DS speakers. However, if you plug in a set of headphones, you will be even more drawn into the combat.

Concluding Statements
In all honesty, there are very few things to be said against this game. In fact, all I can think of is the lack of multiplayer. Connecting with a friend for a local or online dogfight would have been a great addition. In the end, though, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy is an excellent game. If you are a fan of flying games, you have to get this today.

FINAL SCORE: 4.5 out of 5

Here is a video I shot off-screen of the opening song and video sequence.

Here is a video I shot off-screen of Mission 02.

Game – Mighty Switch Force!
Version – 3DSWare
Time Spent Playing – 3.5 hours
Price – $5.99
Obtained – Review Copy courtesy of Nintendo of America

Story

Space Hooligans have escaped custody and are wreaking havoc all over Planet Land!

Gameplay and Controls

Players take control of officer Patricia Wagon as she seeks out the 5 Space Hooligan Sisters through 16 different levels, known as Incidents.  Your job as the player is to track down the 5 sisters who are hidden, sometimes in plain sight, throughout each level.  The challenge and enjoyment comes from the clever use of foreground and background puzzle elements.  Not only does officer Wagon wield a nifty pellet gun, she also has a rather unique ability via the use of her helmet siren, switching foreground and background objects.  By simply pressing either L,R, or A players activate the siren causing clearly marked objects in the background to ‘switch’ to the foreground and vice-versa.  Combining the switch ability with your pellet gun, which allows you to blast baddies and obstacles alike to smithereens, makes for some fun times.  As your progress through the levels, you’ll have to take care to time your jumps as you ‘switch’ things up.  There seems to be an ample supply of spiked floors which remove one heart and start you back at the last checkpoint.  There are also plenty of strategically placed objects which, if you are not careful when ‘switching’, will smash you against the screen in a delightful animation.  The aforementioned smashing also applies to enemies in the same way.  You can lure enemies onto the path of a background object and smash them with a ‘switch’ that is constantly satisfying.

Of course, where would the challenge be without limited life? So naturally, the folks over at WayForward have generously given you 3 hearts and a moderate amount of health pickups scattered throughout each level or dropped when an enemy has been defeated.  One would think that if this much health abounds, there is not much of a challenge. Not so I say, not so.  See, the real detriment to your 3 hearts is yourself.  I can’t tell you how many times I died because my timing was off during a jump and a ‘switch’, either resulting in me falling into spikes or getting smashed into the screen. No really, I died so many times, yet I always went back for more.  Thankfully, there are some checkpoints scattered throughout each level, represented by what looks to be an odd looking dog, I think?

I already mentioned that timing is important.  So on that note, let’s talk about Par times.  Every level has a Par time which you are encouraged to beat.  In case you wondering, no I didn’t beat any of the Par times.  Yes, I suck at setting time records.  Besides, I was too focused on just beating the level.  To add a bit more of a challenge, each time you get smashed into the screen or land on spikes you are brought back to the last checkpoint, but your time keeps on ticking.  I would like to point out that if you get hit by an enemy, the effect is different, as you just lose 1 heart per hit.  Once you lose all 3 hearts, Officer Wagon screams and her suit dissolves from her body, leaving her quite like Samus Aran.  Then, she bursts into a handful of shiny star bits that bounce around the screen, in 3D no less and you are returned to the title screen, fun!  After you capture the 5 sisters, you must make your way to Corporal Gendarmor who flies in and lands somewhere in the level.  How do you find him you ask? Okay, so maybe you didn’t ask but I’m going to tell you anyways.  On the bottom screen of your 3DS is a generic radar which shows you the general direction of not only Corporal Gendarmor, but also the sisters.  This may prove helpful when trying to beat those Par times.

Controlling Officer Wagon is easy and her movements are fluid and precise. I mentioned before that ‘switching’ is done using L,R, or A.  Players shoot with Y and jump with B, everything is quite simple.  I never had any issues with the controls.  There was one other feature of the controls, panning the camera, which I hardly ever used.  While pressing X, you can pan the camera just a bit allowing you to see ahead or behind you.  I’m sure this is useful when trying to judge distances or check for upcoming enemies.  However, I never found much use for it as I viewed it hindering my attempt at a low time/score.

Visuals and Sound

Anyone who is familiar with WayForward knows that the team puts great effort into the visuals and style and Mighty Switch Force! is no exception.  From the character designs and level layouts to the smallest details, such as the little star bits that bounce around after you die or defeat an enemy, or the goofy looking face the enemies make as they smack into the screen complete with cracks in the glass, the visuals are sure to please.  The 3D effect was done quite nicely and looks great the whole way through.  You will notice it the most with the subtle things, such as the lightposts in the foreground or when the enemies fly into the screen and it looks great.  The music is just as enjoyable and catchy to boot! There were many times I found myself tapping my foot along to the beat of the techno themed music and I always enjoyed listening to the voice of Officer Wagon as she shouted out, “Justice served!”

Concluding Overall Impressions

Mighty Switch Force! is, at just 16 levels a short but sweet game.  I mean really, the graphics are crisp and fun to look at it and the 3D effect is subtle but well done.  Both the music and sound bites are catchy and the gameplay is challenging and fun.  The replay value exists in those Par times you want to beat, which is helped of course by a certain unlockable after your first play through.  Wait, what? Just play the game to find out more!

Final Score: 5 out of 5

OFFICIAL PAGE – Mighty Switch Force

Mutant Mudds is a 2D platformer presented in stereoscopic 3D, loaded with challenges, superb visual style, nostalgia inducing audio and a heck of a lot of FUN!

40 LEVELS – 5 WORLDS – 3 POWER-UPS – 1 AWESOME GRANNIE – AND MORE…

Story
Max (The Hero) is just sitting there watching TV at his Grannie’s house when all of a sudden, news breaks that Mutant Mudds have invaded Earth!  Now it’s up to Max, armed with his water cannon and H2O jet pack to save the day, with a little help from Grannie of course!

There isn’t much in the way of a story here and that’s ok, because Mutant Mudds doesn’t need some deep story when it has such great gameplay to prove it’s worth.

Gameplay and Controls
When you start off, you will be in the hub world as seen in the screenshot below.  At first, doors will have numbers on them informing you how many Water Sprites you must collect before you can access the level.  As you progress, the numbers will be replaced with animation that looks like a ripple in water.  So imagine everyone of those doors animated at once, kind of hypnotic.  Ah, as usual, I digress.

Your goal in every level is to run, jump, hover (briefly), and shoot your way past enemies and cleverly designed levels and collect the Water Sprite located at the end of each level.  A secondary goal is to collect all 100 of the golden diamonds scattered generously throughout each level.  These diamonds are a necessity as they allow you to purchase 3 upgrades from none other than Grannie.  The upgrades you can purchase are a power shot, which allows you to shoot bullets faster.  The extended hover, which lets you hover for double the time and the final upgrade is the high jump which allows you to jump incredibly high, incredibly fast to reach those hard to reach places or even to skip around the level when needed.  These upgrades won’t be available until further in the game as they cost a lot of golden diamonds.  Believe it or not, there is even a tertiary goal.  In each level there is a hard to reach door leading to a secret level.  The door will be labeled either G-Level, which is a homage to the Game Boy color scheme or V-Level, which is modeled after, yes you guessed it, Virtual Boy.  Both the V and G levels use the color palette of the corresponding handheld.  Each of these levels has a Water Sprite ripe for the picking, but of course you have to survive the challenges that await you.

Now, all of this may sound easy on the surface and at first it is.  However, you will quickly find out that Renegade Kid did not intend for Mutant Mudds to be easy.  No, in fact it can become maddeningly difficult at times, but never so frustrating that you don’t want to finish.  There were levels when I died more than 20 times before I finally made it to the end, but it was so incredibly rewarding when I finally beat the level.

I think I’ve covered just about everything with the gameplay so let’s move onto the controls.  You control Max with the Circle Pad or D-Pad.  He can move left, right and he can crouch.  You jump by pressing B or A and you can hover by pressing either of those buttons 2 times in quick succession.  I can assure you the controls are tight and responsive, you will find no faults here.  Thank you Renegade Kid!

Visuals and Sound
From the moment you load up Mutant Mudds, you will be treated to a simple, yet impressive 3D Title Screen displaying Max and a Sacky Sit-Sit on each end of the title.  Whatever you do, do not let the simplistic visuals turn you off from this game.  Rest assured that there is far more to Mutant Mudds beyond these sweet looking graphics and the great gameplay I already mentioned above.  In particular, I am talking about the 3D effect.  Every level has 3 layers of depth to them.  The foreground, the background and the middle, which is the default.  The 3D effect is some of the best I’ve seen on the 3DS to date and truly enhances the gameplay.  By using layers, they had the ability to do so much within each level.  For instance, there are Blowers that sit in the background.  Every few seconds they blow a puff of air which, if you get caught in it will push you to the foreground.  This usually results in death by spikes or pits.  In later levels there are large swinging spikes which if you get hit by them will send you flying into the foreground/screen so hard you die instantly.  These are just two examples of many in which Renegade Kid has enhanced the gameplay using the 3D and layered level design.  Oh, and here is a little something that you may not even notice about Max, which is his wave.  If you don’t move Max for about 5 seconds, he turns towards the camera and waves, a nod to you the player perhaps.  I have always enjoyed these little additions in games I play, so it was a treat for me to see it in Mutant Mudds.

The chiptune soundtrack, created by Troupe Gammag, is fun, catchy and an absolute pleasure to listen to, even while not playing.  No wonder Grannie is dancing!  Every single track compliments the levels and helps to create a memorable gaming experience.  Seeing as I am a fan of the soundtrack, I have gone ahead and included the download link below.  Do you guys notice the Sacky Sit- Sit up above, even it is dancing to the sweet music! I’m telling you, listening to the music and playing the game brought back good memories of the NES and SNES days.

Concluding Overall Impressions

You will be hard pressed to find a title on the eShop channel better than Mutant Mudds.  Yes, I believe Mutant Mudds is the best game on the eShop service at this time.  Sorry Pushmo, I like you, I really do.  But Mutant Mudds, you aren’t.

Renegade Kid brought an outstanding product in the form of Mutant Mudds to the eShop and have set a high, yet attainable bar for other developers.  So, if you like platformers in general, are a fan of old school graphics, and you just like having fun when you play games, then go to the eShop NOW and support Renegade Kid by purchasing Mutant Mudds.  Yes, it is easily worth the $9.

Final Score: 5 out of 5

You can check out the official website for Mutant Mudds HERE!

You can listen and download the Mutant Mudds OST HERE!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Game – Cars 2
Version – 3DS
Profiles/Save Slot – 3
Multiplayer – Yes
Obtained – Review Copy courtesy of Disney Interactive Studios

[Spoiler Alert!]

If you have seen the movie, then you know the story.  In a nutshell, Lightening McQueen is invited to participate in the World Grand Prix, sponsored by the alternative fuel company, Allinol.  Really, the WGP is just a front for an operation by Dr. Z and the former oil tycoon Miles Axlerod, now a green power advocate.  Their plan is to use a device disguised as a television camera to fire a laser at the cars using the Allinol.  The chemical reaction causes the cars to break down or be damaged beyond repair, thus casting biofuels in a bad light and bringing crude oil back to the forefront.  Boy, this sure does seem like a politically motivated plot!

[End of Spoiler]

Gameplay and Controls
The game consists of several races as Lightening McQueen either in a 3 lap race to 1st place or a knock out race which eliminates the car in last place every 30 seconds or so.  The races are broken up by spy missions in which you control Mater, Finn McMissile or Holly Shiftwell.  To help you out there are 3 nitro tanks at your disposal plus a special move which you can use once every 20 seconds or so.  McQueen has the ability to leap through the air and get ahead of his opponents, whereas Mater can drive backwards.  I’m not sure what the advantage of this move is, other than it looks funny.  Finn McMissile and Holly have a cloaking mechanism which allows them to escape detection for roughly 5 seconds.  The gameplay is so incredibly monotonous and boring, I had to push myself to finish the game for the sake of the review.  There are a few options on the archaic looking menu which you can choose from, here is a quick breakdown.

• Story Mode – It is what it is, a story mode.
• C.H.R.O.M.E. Mode – Simulate races and field missions and earn awards.
• Quick race – What can I say here, it’s a quick race.
• Profiles – Yes, up to 3 people can save their progress on this game.
• Options – music and audio volume and control layouts.
• Extras – view awards and trophies and cups.

I guess it’s a bonus to anyone who chooses to buy this game, but Streepass functionality has been included which unlocks hidden content.  Also, local multiplayer has been included, but with a game of this caliber I’m going to wish you luck in finding anyone to play against.

Visuals and Sound
Both the visuals and sounds are quite lackluster and not a single thing stands out to me in these categories, save for how bad they were. The animations look cheap, the level designs are generic, repetitive and overly simply, the voice acting is decent, but sparse. I’m really disappointed, but not totally surprised by the quality of Cars 2 for the 3DS.  The only segments of the game I enjoyed, although briefly were the races and the enjoyment waned just as quick as it started.

Concluding Overall Impressions
Cars 2 is repetitive, has little to no challenge, can be beaten in less than 5 hours, the unlockables seem to be nothing more than an afterthought to inflate the games content and the graphics are atrocious.  Plus, there is hardly any replay value.  The only redeeming quality I can find is that the game features the like-able Cars characters and their easily recognizable voices and even that isn’t enough to warrant a purchase.

Final Score: 2 out of 5

Game – Pushmo
Version – Nintendo 3DS
ESRB Rating: ‘E’ – Everyone
Obtained – Purchased from the eShop

Gameplay

The game play is quite simple, you pull out blocks, and the objective is to rescue Pushmo children who are trapped at the top of the tower.  Each level is a picture, or mural with different colored blocks, and the player must solve the puzzle of which to pull out, and which to leave alone.  There is also a limitation to each level, each block can only be pulled out 3 segments from the back wall.  When on top of a block, you cannot pull it out 3 segments while backing up, and must use the side pull or find an alternate way up.

After several levels, the player gets introduced into new advanced features such as switches and manholes.  The switches will extend all blocks of that color to the full 3 segments out from the wall.  Manholes allow Pushmo to ‘teleport’ to another part of the level with the matching colored manhole.  Switches and Manholes have to pulled out at least 1 segment to be active, and in order to use the manhole, both must be moved out at least 1 segment for you to travel between them.

If the player makes a mistake, they can hit the reset button at the bottom and the level will completely reset back to its original form when you started – all the blocks pushed in.

Controls

The controls are also quite simple, the player moves Pushmo with the circle pad, uses B to grab a block, and A to jump.  The player can also use X or R to zoom, X more for the map of the area in the immediate vicinity of the player, and R a zoom on the ‘map’ on the lower screen.  Using L the player can rewind time in case you missed that jump and don’t want to work your way back up to where you were, or perhaps you realized you pulled a block out that you didn’t need to, or one that you should have pulled out.  This will undo all your latest actions, and this feature only rewinds about a minute of time.  So if you do not catch your mistake, you may not be able to return to that point to correct it.

Game modes

Pushmo consists 3 main areas.  There is a tutorials section; which allows players to practice and see different tips and tricks Pushmo can do.  There is Pushmo Park, which is the main story mode.  There are at least 11 “worlds” each containing 18 levels.  2 of the worlds introduce the game play techniques with different levels.  Finally there is Pushmo Studio, which allows the player to create their own levels and receive new ones.  All of the controls and functions available within the level creation are explained through the help icon.  To create levels with the advanced techniques, the player must have unlocked them from Pushmo Park.  The player is able to create 5 worlds worth of levels, and/or receive levels via QR Code.  The player can create a QR Code for their level, and distribute it over the Internet for others to play.  To add levels via QR Code, the player must simply click the icon, and align the QR Code within the frame and the level is brought in instantly.

Visuals/3D Graphics

The visuals are pretty basic.  The game is very colorful and the game looks very good.  The 3D effects aren’t required to do well in this game, and help make some blocks pop out so the player can clearly see how far the blocks are pulled out.  With some blocks close together and at different depths, some blocks are harder to see and the 3D effects help the player get a better idea how far the blocks are pulled out.

 Sound

The music and sounds are basic.  The sounds while pulling out the blocks are very distinctive and the player can tell how far each is pulled out, or pushed in.  Each of the segment has its own sound with each sound increasing in pitch when pulling out, and descending when pushing one back in.

Concluding Overall Impressions

Overall, the game is very fun.  The puzzles can get frustrating, but due to the limitations they do not become impossible to solve.  I am nearly finished with the game since I’m enjoying it so much.  I would recommend this to anyone that is a fan of fun puzzles.  With over 150 different puzzles and ones to add via QR Code in addition to the ones you can create, the player will spend many hours attempting to solve each one.

4.5 out of 5.

Here are some sweet puzzles I found on the Internet:

Game – Mario Kart 7 (Rated E for Everyone)
Version – Nintendo 3DS
Obtained – Review copy from Nintendo of America

When one thinks of racing video games, certain titles come to mind — Need for Speed, Gran Turismo, Forza, and Mario Kart. The arcade-y kart racer has been around since the SNES. Since then, every system has had its own version. Taking a turn away from the subtitles typically present, the beloved franchise got its newest installment on the Nintendo 3DS in Mario Kart 7. Does it hold up to the hype or is seven an unlucky number for kart racing fans?

Story & Plot
Mario Kart has never been much for a story or plot. This version is no different, and that is a good thing. One positive is that Nintendo has never felt the need to stick an unwanted or forced plot into their racer. Instead, we just assume that members of the Mushroom Kingdom and their friends (and enemies) get together to have some fun races.

One new element in this version is the ability to customize your kart. Gone are the days when your character determines your weight, speed, and acceleration. Instead, you will choose among three kart pieces (frame, wheels, glider) that come together for your stats. No matter what character you use, your kart will always be the same. Of those characters, you will see a couple new ones added to the list. Wiggler, Lakitu, Honey Queen, and Metal Mario all join the list to make a total of 16 available characters.

You will progress through the main game by completing each cup or set of four races/tracks. There are a total of eight cups. Among them are four cups of brand new tracks and four cups of tracks from past Mario Kart games, adding together for a total of 32 tracks. This follows in cue from the past couple titles. It makes for a solid list of never-before-seen tracks and classics. In similar fashion to Mario Kart Wii, this version also tweaks the retro tracks just a bit to accommodate for new features.

Gameplay & Controls
As you progress through the eight cups, you once again have the option of choosing from three different speeds/difficulties: 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc. If you are new to the Mario Kart scene, it might be helpful to start with 50cc in order to learn the ropes. However, you will eventually move onto 150cc. In fact, there are many unlockable characters and kart pieces in Mario Kart 7. If you want to unlock them all, you will need to get that top rank in every cup. Be ready, though. The spiky blue shell is coming for you, and usually, it does not have any mercy when you are about to cross the finish line. It will strike, and you will get upset.

Speaking of items, there are several new ones in Mario Kart 7. Fireballs make a return from Double Dash, but now anyone can have them. The tanooki tail from Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario 3D Land is also available for hitting opponents. The final new item is a “Lucky 7″ that gives you seven items at once. You can use them all, but if someone runs into you, they will steal one of the items. Some missing items include the upside-down question block, POW block, mega mushroom, and lightning cloud.

Another new component of Mario Kart 7 is the ability to drive underwater or to glide through the air. Both offer new elements that insist a change in strategy. Some tracks even offer multiple avenues, which will have players choosing to go to the air or water. Overall, this is a welcome addition to the game, and it does not take long to get use to it. The only problem is going back to older versions and expecting to drive through the water.

If I had one complaint about early Mario Kart games, it would be that their controls were awful. Granted, they were about as good as they could be for the time, but they do not hold up to today’s standards. Mario Kart 7 does not make huge strides in the control side of things, but instead, sticks with a system that works. In fact, if you have played Mario Kart Wii, you will notice very little change. This also goes for your slide that powers up with time as to prevent “snaking” (i.e. Double Dash and DS). The noticeable difference between 7 and Wii is the trick system, as you do not have to shake your 3DS. You will just press the R button.

In addition to Circle Pad (analog stick) controls, you can also switch to a first-person gyro-controlled mode. This is more for those who enjoyed the motion-controls in the Wii version. However, the view and the control go hand-in-hand. For example, you cannot use motion with third-person. Also, you will want to turn off the 3D when using motion control, as it is tough to keep in the “sweet spot” when moving around. Motion control does work well, but I highly recommend sticking with the Circle Pad.

Graphics & Sound
One of the biggest additions to Mario Kart on the 3DS is the obvious third dimension. Sure, you can turn it off, or even tone it down, but it is something to consider. The question is: does it help the graphics or gameplay? Honestly, it does not help that much. While it add something and it looks cool, it is definitely something that you do not need to enjoy Mario Kart 7 to its fullest. In fact, after some time, especially when playing online, I forgot to turn on the 3D and it did not change the game one bit.

With that being said, the graphics are a big update from the DS version, but not much of a change from Wii. However, this is actually a good thing. To see a Wii-like appearance on a Nintendo handheld is a welcome thing. With a consistent 60 frames per second, the game looks as smooth as it feels. You will not find any realistic graphics here, but when you think about it, is that what you really want in a Mario Kart game?

The music of Mario Kart 7 is solid, but you will not necessarily be humming these tunes later in the day. While the sounds and tunes are great, they do not seem to have that lasting appeal that past games put forth. The sound effects, though, have not changed much. Again, they have not messed with a good thing.

Multiplayer & Online
Nintendo seems to have taken a cue from other game companies when they put together their online system for Mario Kart 7. In addition to the seamless worldwide and play-with-a-friend multiplayer that has no visible sign of lag in most cases, they have developed a community room system. Anyone can create a community, which has an assigned number. That way, if you want to play online with a group of people, everyone just heads to that particular room. Better yet, that room sticks around forever, so you can keep using it over and over. In addition, you can join in with a friend straight from your 3DS friends list, which is a great feature.

The online system is lacking in some areas, though. For some reason, Nintendo has decided to leave out voice chat. Even though they have included it on recent Pokemon games, they have left it out of Mario Kart 7. Instead, you are stuck with a pre-determined list of one-liners to send to others in the community lobby. On top of that, they left out any way of booting people out of the lobby or group. This is unfortunate when you have someone who is exploiting a track’s glitch (only one at this point) or starting the race too quick before others show up.

Local multiplayer works similarly to Mario Kart DS, where you can share a cart or play with multiple carts. This comes in handy when you meet up with someone who does not own the game. That person does not have as many choices, though, but they are still able to participate.

Concluding Statements
While Mario Kart 7 does have a few flaws, the end product is solid. It does not move the series forward by leaps and bounds, but what it does do is really good. The controls are solid, and it looks great too. It is quite fun to play alone, but especially with friends. The online system has moved forward, but it could still improve much more. Even without those, Mario Kart 7 is one of the best games out for the Nintendo 3DS. Now, if Nintendo would only offer some patches to fix glitches and make online better. Then, we would have a near perfect experience.

FINAL SCORE: 4 out of 5

Game – Disney Universe
Version – Nintendo Wii
ESRB Rating: ‘E 10+’ – Everyone 10 and up
Obtained – Review copy from Disney

I’m a huge fan of Disney, starting with their NES games, SNES and now Wii.  After playing Epic Mickey, it helped rekindle my love for Disney games and I was eager to check out this title.   I have to say that I was very impressed with this Disney Universe and with it being such a fun multi-player game.  This game was so much fun that I decided that I will attempt to finish it up with my friend.

Gameplay & Controls
The gameplay is quite simple, the players begin by each picking a costume and then a world.  The world has 3 different levels, and each level consists of 3 different segments.  Each segment is filled with enemies, puzzles and hidden items.  The players must work together to solve the puzzles as some require 1 player to be moving or activating a switch while the other player crosses through.  Each segment has 3 hidden objects that unlock pieces in the art or music galleries.  At the end of each level, players unlock new costumes.  It is possible to play this game going solo, but I found it to be much more enjoyable having at least 1 friend helping out.

Throughout each segment, players fight through enemies and also acquire gold.  The gold is used to purchase new worlds and the costumes the players unlock.  Each enemy will drop gold when defeated, and there is plenty of gold hidden, or just flat out in the open to be collected.  Each players gold count is kept separate throughout the segments, and is added together at the end of the level.  Also hidden in each segment are stars.  These are always found in locked treasure chests where players must locate a key, then unlock the chest.  The star levels up the player who collects it, and each costume maxes out at level 4.  When the costume is leveled, that player gets a stronger weapon.   Also within each segment are mini-games, where players take a break from the action and either work together to defeat enemies, dodge or avoid hazards or even straight up fight each other.  The winner gets a gold trophy and bragging rights that they did better at the game than other players.

The controls were pretty basic with the Nunchuck and Wii remote setup.  Players used the joystick to move around, Z button to interact or move things, A to jump and B to attack.  I though t that the controls worked really well for this setup and did not have any issues.  The game also reminded you of the controls when a player needed to perform a particular action.

While this game was pretty fun overall, I disliked the game putting an arrow over the object you needed to approach and where it needed to be moved to.  Since the levels are pretty limited for exploration, the tasks asked did not need to be pointed out each and every time.   I understand that players may lose focus, but I would have preferred for it to appear after the players did not advance after a period of time, or at least an option to turn it off. I did enjoy the unique items throughout the segments which interacted with the levels, and how if a player wanted one of the level’s secret items they would need to back track.  I also enjoyed the fact that the game’s worlds can be completed in any order as the players have to buy the remaining worlds after the first Pirates one.  Another nit-pick of mine is that the costumes do not offer any unique abilities and not offering any additional bonuses to the levels being played.

Visuals and Sound
The music and sounds were a little on the dull side with older video game style tones and combinations.  The music was okay, but nothing to be a major selling point.  It could have been much better to have tracks from the movies remixed into the levels or something more enjoyable to listen to while playing.  The visuals were pretty solid, plenty of colors and made the game easy to see the helping hints, their own character and the items within the level to collect.  The levels had plenty of good animations of the assisting objects, and the backgrounds fit very well with each level.

Concluding Overall Impressions

Disney Universe is a really fun game to play both going solo and with friends/family.  The unique game play combined with puzzles and full of action makes Disney Universe a very enjoyable game to play.  This game is perfect for Disney fans of all ages and players will have fun working with and against each other while playing.   I would recommend this game to anyone seeking a simple, fun, and competitive experience.

Final Score: 4 out of 5

Game Informer – 85
With the addition of both local and online multiplayer, Fortune Street is a much smarter, infinitely more playable title. If you’re a fan of board games, it deserves your support.

1UP – 83
Fortune Street excels as a social experience: The sort of things that fosters knock-down, drag-out competition over the course of long, grueling hours. Just the thing for the holidays, really.

Nintendo Life – 80
Offers some tremendous potential for fun. The experience is hampered somewhat by its complexity, but that’s nothing that can’t be overcome with a little bit of practice.

NintendoWorldReport – 80
Fortune Street is a deep board game experience that is great if you have people to play with, but it can overstay its welcome in single-player. If you have friends that love Monopoly, or if you want a deep and lasting experience for the Wii, Fortune Street is one of the best of its genre on the system.

Worth Playing – 75
Even fans of the genre will find the somewhat unfair single-player experience to be off-putting, despite the new boards and characters. For everyone else, it’ll be a solid rental as long as you go through the options and tailor each game to last about an hour.

Games Radar (in-house) – 70
Fortune Street is one of those games that isn’t going to appeal to everyone, but those it does appeal to will be totally enthralled with it despite its handful of annoyances. If you like Monopoly but wish the strategy were a little more robust, Fortune Street is game you’ve been waiting for.

IGN – 69
It’s a clever take on the Monopoly formula, and playing online offers a great option for people who can’t find a buddy to play with at home.

GameSpot – 60
Fortune Street is a decent strategy board game, but the slow pace siphons away much of the fun.

Digital Chumps – 50
Fortune Street is a good board game in terms of premise but as a videogame, it suffers in many areas that we would expect would be enhanced by being a virtual experience.

Joystiq – 50
The game-breakingly slow pace of a game that isn’t that exciting to start with took its toll. Fortune Street has no respect for players’ time, turning what should be a breezy pastime into a languid, dull experience.

Game – DaGeDar
Version – Nintendo DS
ESRB Rating: ‘E’ – Everyone
Obtained – Review copy from Gamemill Entertainment

Being a nostalgic gamer, I must first say that this game reminded me of a combination of the classic Marble Madness for the Nintendo Entertainment System and F-Zero franchise.  If Marble Madness was beefed up with unique ball options, 30 some levels, and racing laps around courses kind of similar to F-Zero; then you would have this amazingly fun game DaGeDar.

Gameplay & Controls
This game had reminded me of Marble Madness since the player controls a ball-like sphere or DaGeDar and competitively races against one other DaGeDar.  The objective is clear; you must cross the finish line before the other DaGeDar.  Each course consists of five races, the victor winning three of the five.  Another mode to play is Time Attack where your DaGeDar goes against the clock.  In this mode, you simply must beat the target time.

Players control their own DaGeDar, and must move, jump, dodge and turbo their way through each race.  Each race is unique and has different obstacles to dodge, gaps to be jumped and hills and loops to turbo through.  This is a fast paced racing game similar to F-Zero since decisions to dodge or jump need to be planned ahead.  Each level also has several cannons that launch you up and around to excel the speed for a short period.  Each race isn’t cut and dry either, there are numerous alternate paths to be found, oftentimes shortening your lap time by seconds.

There are numerous unlockables available from playing through the game.  The player starts with a choice between ten different DaGeDars to choose from with different stats.  The player must decide if they want DaGeDars with higher amount of speed,  acceleration, control or one with a balance of these stats.  New courses unlock when races are won in championship mode where you race against an AI DaGeDar.

Additional DaGeDars are unlocked when winning against the DaGeDar in Championship mode, or beating the target time in Time Attack.  There are over 100 different DaGeDars that can be unlocked.  Also, when you beat the Novice League in Championship mode, Pro League will unlock and another league will unlock after that.  Time Attack is just one race at a time with each level being available when it is unlocked in Championship mode.  The initial selection of the available DaGeDars, is limited as they all have one bar of speed, varying one to three bars of acceleration, and varying one to five (max) bars of control.

The game also features a practice mode and multiplayer.  Practice mode allows the player to take their time through the race to practice the course at their own pace.  This allows the player to find the fastest routes through the race without it counting against you or having to play the other courses.  In Multiplayer you can host a game, join a game, or play locally on a single cart.

The controls are simple and just use the D-pad (or circle pad on a 3DS), Y and B.  The touch screen is not used except for menus (which can still use D-pad and buttons to make selections).  This makes it easy to play and does not complicate the game with different buttons to press at different times.  Y is used for turbo by pressing and holding while the player has turbo to use.  There are recharging spheres throughout the race that slowly recharge the turbo so the player must use turbo at the most opportune points in the race, such as going up into a loop, going uphill, or charging through the sand-like pits that slow the player down while they attempt to just move through it.  B is used to jump over gaps, or jumping to a higher alternate path.  Missing a jump or even overshooting a jump lands the player in an electric field where the DaGeDar is then reloaded just seconds prior to the jump.

The main issue I had with this game is that the difficulty appears to be harder than I expected.  Don’t get me wrong, I love difficult games as much as the next gamer, but seeing how this is targeted towards DaGeDar fans (a younger audience), the difficulty seemed to start off pretty high off the bat.  The player needs to make sure to practice the courses in either Time Attack or Practice mode first so that they have an idea where all the jumps are, and the shorter alternate paths to take during Championship mode.  With the first league being called “Novice” I found it more to be a pro league, since in Championship mode the AI will only make the majority of their mistakes on the first lap, and will take the faster routes on the second to final laps.  So if the player is still unfamiliar with the race or having trouble making jumps, it can be difficult to beat or catch up to the Novice DaGeDar.

Visuals and Sound
The visuals are mostly pretty basic with a 2D background picture behind the race.  The course outlines and DaGeDar designs are pretty solid and met my expectations.  The DaGeDars have unique faces on their ball-like spheres and differently themed.  The cannons are looking sharp as a futuristic type of launching device, and the zip pads are clearly visible as an orange color.  The sand-like pits are off-colored from the main track and are somewhat hidden to make the races more difficult.  The sound is very upbeat and within the techno/electronic genre which makes sense for this futuristic type of race.  I enjoyed the sound as I am a fan of that music type and it goes along with the race perfectly.  The sounds from being launched from a cannon or when going over the zip strips are very basic but they clearly work making the game very enjoyable.

Concluding Overall Impressions
DaGeDar is clearly geared towards younger boys with a fast pace racing and DaGeDar designs.  The controls are simple enough for anyone to play, and I found myself able to enjoy playing this game without being familiar with DaGeDars.  I enjoy a game with a bit of difficulty to make sure you don’t easily win the game and put it down.  I felt obligated to practice up to beat the AI.  Overall the game creates a very enjoyable experience and I believe anyone of any age can enjoy this unique fun, addicting, and challenging game.

Final Score - 4.5 out of 5

Game – Centipede Infestation
Version – Wii
Obtained – Review Copy courtesy of Atari
Developer – Way Forward

Story
Set in a post apocalyptic world where nuclear waste has caused insects to grow larger than life and society is relegated to bunkers/communities surrounded by the Wastelands, our hero Max The Bug Slayer roams said Wasteland with no purpose just trying to survive day to day, that is until he runs into Maisy, the girl with a green thumb.  Maisy doesn’t care for Max as he is a bug magnet and all she wants to do is tend to her gardens.  Of course Max in his arrogance thinks he is protecting Maisy by killing the bugs, so he tags along.  Interestingly enough, Maisy is the only one who capable of growing gardens in the Wastelands and wherever she has a garden it produces oxygen, which allows people to live outside of bunkers.  Along the way, Max develops feelings for Maisy and realizes his calling to rid the world of these bugs and restore life back into the Wastelands.  The story unfolds via non animated cut scenes (with visual style reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons) before each level.

Gameplay and Controls
Centipede Infestation is a top down shooter comprised of 35 levels and 5 boss battles.  You can play in single player or 2 player co-op mode (which is where the replay value lies.)  The levels are quite small in scale but the enemies come at you from every corner, whether it be through crawling, flying, digging or hopping so be on guard at all times.  Before each level you will be given an objective, most often times it is to destroy all the bugs, however there will be occasional changes to that formula, such as protecting Maisy or making your way through a larger level.  Really though, your main focus is to kill all the bugs.  The game controls are simple and work really well.  You move Max around with the analog stick and move your on screen cursor by pointing the Wiimote at the screen.  You can press and hold down the B button to fire, but alternatively you can press A to perform a stomp attack which destroys all bugs within a small radius.  This is quite helpful when the bugs have gotten to close to you and you need some breathing room.  Just note that the stomp action has to recharge and takes somewhere between 10-2o seconds before you can use it again.  You will notice a second circle underneath Max when you are able to perform the stomp.

Now, let’s talk about all those sweet guns you’ll be playing with.  You start off with your basic gun in each level but are quickly offered several upgrades within moments.  Upgrades come in the form of spiders that drop down from the ceiling.  These spiders don’t attack you, but if you touch them you will lose a hit point.  So, make sure you destroy the bug first and then collect the upgrade.  You can store up to four gun upgrades at once which are assigned to your d-pad, and you can increase the power of these guns by collecting two of the same upgrade tokens.  The gun upgrades are timer based once you activate them, so once you activate them keep an eye on the timer.  The guns themselves are pretty cool and you will find yourself using guns such as electricity, freeze, flamethrower, laser, nukes, poison and more.  My two favorite gun upgrades were the laser beam and the machine gun, especially when they were maxed out.

To help you fight off the waves of bugs are the bugs themselves, their carcasses I mean.  Certain bugs when killed will cause a turret to grow which will automatically fire at the enemies, this is tremendous help when you are in the thick of things.  Other times, dead bugs will cause mushrooms to grow which act as blockades between you and the bugs.  At the end of each level you will face off against some centipedes and as you kill them, mushrooms will grow where they died.  Most often times the centipedes are incredibly easy to kill, save for how quickly they move.

Visuals and Sound
The visuals were alright as was the sound, but nothing really stood out to me as impressive.  I was disappointed with the repetition of audio tracks and the environment.  I admit that I don’t understand the process of creating a video game, as in how much time or cost is required.  Maybe the developers were on a deadline and had to leave things out, I don’t know.  So maybe I don’t know enough to truly appreciate the visuals or sounds.  I just don’t understand why they were so repetitive.  The bugs on the other hand looked good and I liked getting to lay waste to countless swarms of them and watching their bodies burst apart, so yeah that’s cool.  Plus, the guns had some cool visual effects.

Concluding Overall Impressions
You may have noticed a recurring theme in my review of Centipede Infestation  and that is repetition.  Centipede Infestation is a modern take on a classic game that unfortunately fails to deliver due to repetitive gameplay and bland level design and in a game as short as this (just over 4 hours) repetition really hinders the enjoyment.  I want to stress that there is fun to be had, especially if you can get a friend to join in the Co-op mode, but it is limited. While the hi-scores, challenges and unlockables provide a little replay value, they are not enough to justify the $29.99 price, at least to me.  Regardless, if you would like to purchase a copy of Centipede Infestation for the Wii so you and your friends obliterate heaps of bugs, then stomp on over to the NintendoFuse store and pick it up today - Buy Centipede Infestation.

Final Score: 3.5 out of 5

GameShark – 100
Speaking for myself, I’d rather play through Cave Story again five times than have a second run through the tedious and dated Ocarina of Time, and discovering this game’s unique world in a new 3D format has been surprisingly rewarding. It may very well be the 3DS’ best game to date.

Gameblog.fr – 100
This 3DS remake of the cult Cave Story fits the bill. It’s nicely re-done, all the while keeping what made the original a brilliant game. Perfect gameplay, inspired level-design, mesmerizing musics and enticing plot: no element of this remake can disappoint the fans of good old action platforming “oldschool” games in 2D. A gem of passion you have to play.

Machinima – 90
The biggest hurdle towards recommending this game for the 3DS is the fact that it’s so widely available on other platforms, and for less money.

Metro GameCentral – 90
Giving a purposefully retro 2D platformer a 3D makeover sounds like the worst idea ever, but the end result only reconfirms Cave Story as a modern classic.

Games Radar (in-house) – 90
It’s Pixel’s dream realized on a new platform for the masses, and in a form anyone can appreciate.

ZTGameDomain – 90
Cave Story 3D provides the perfect blend of action and adventure that embodies the days when Jason was the kid with a mutated frog and an awesome tank and not the kid that wandered away from his Dad and got lost in a mall.

Digital Chumps – 90
Cave Story shouldn’t be missed no matter what platform you play it on, but Cave Story 3D offers the most unique perspective on this independent gem.

Nintendo Life – 90
Cave Story has always been an extremely charming and engaging experience, but never before has the game come alive with the type of depth and realism that the 3D visuals and lighting effects provide. When you couple all of this together with the classic high-quality platforming and shooting action of the original, not to mention an amazing remixed soundtrack, you end up with what has to be one of the most impressive video game remakes we’ve seen in recent years and a title you absolutely should not miss.

SpazioGames – 85
A true masterpiece. On 3D, the brand can live a second life that all the more experienced players will appreciate.

IGN – 85
A brilliant, touching game that is truly special, and that all gamers should make it a point to play.

Official Nintendo Magazine UK – 85
Mildly disappointing port of an exceptional game that retains its charm.

Destructoid – 85
It’s one of the best games ever made, in 3D or otherwise.

1UP – 83
The real appeal of Cave Story 3D is a chance to see Pixel’s low-rez world rendered in elaborate detail.

3DJuegos – 81
The art of pixel claims its place thanks to a Cave Story’s remake that remains the original spirit, revamps the graphics and adds an interesting 3D effect. We hardly had seen so much talent concentrated in only one game.

GameSpot – 80
It’s not possible to recommend this version of Cave Story over all others, but it is a worthy, good-looking adaptation of a wonderful game all the same. If the WiiWare and DSiWare versions passed you by, and you’d rather do your platforming with an analogue pad than a keyboard, Cave Story 3D is a great way to discover a game that well deserves your attention.

Modojo – 80
Whether or not you should buy Cave Story 3D boils down to A.) if you played another version before, and B.) how much you loved it. At $39.99, it’s significantly more expensive than purchasing the DSiWare port ($9.99) via the 3DS eShop. Go that route, and you receive a similar, arguably better experience at a fraction of the cost.

Eurogamer – 80
This remake is a labour of love, and it catches the single most important thing about Cave Story. Objectively, it’s a 2D game heavily inspired by Metroid. In its details, and in your hands and head, it’s another world entirely.

GamePro – 80
If you haven’t played Cave Story before and want to see what the fuss is about, or are a die-hard fan who needs to have it in every form possible, you simply can’t go wrong with Cave Story 3D.

Nintendo Power – 80
Taken on its own merits, however, it is an absolute blast, and if you don’t play Cave Story in one form or another, you’re missing out on a modern classic. [Nov 2011, p.84]

Game Informer – 80
The original Cave Story is a great game, and what is being offered here is the same at the core. It looks a bit bland, but it’s still fun to play, the music is still great, and the story is still interesting.

NintendoWorldReport – 80
Cave Story is game that every gamer needs to play, and if Cave Story 3D is the most viable method of doing that, so be it. However you get your hands on this game, just do it. It’s that good.

Vandal Online – 77
The new features are interesting, although not impressive technically, but under them there is still a great game, fun and challenging, that provides hours of enjoyment.

Gamekult – 70
Quotation forthcoming.

Gamer Limit – 100
The Bit.Trip games are near flawless and there isn’t a whole lot more you could want from Bit.Trip COMPLETE as a package. It offers some of the best games of the generation, an incredible amount of added content at a value price. And what with the complete drought of quality software, Wii owners looking for a good game really have no excuse. Buy this immediately.

Destructoid – 100
Given that all of the Bit.Trip games are almost perfect as-is, and that this collection has so much new content — all of it top-notch — and that this is a $40 budget release at retail… well, I think I have to go whole hog on this one. It feels weird to finally go ahead and commit to this sacred, borderline magical number, but it’s the truest form of expression I have at my disposal to show you just how much enjoyment I’ve gotten from this compilation.

NintendoWorldReport – 90
If you’re completely new to the series, get it. If you already own one or more of the titles, or the style of play isn’t really your cup of tea, this set might have trouble winning you over.

Nintendo Life – 90
It would have been amazing enough just to be able to own all six BIT.TRIP titles on one Wii disc, but getting 20 new challenges per game, not to mention a wealth of bonus content, makes this the definitive collection of BIT.TRIP goodness.

Nintendo Power – 90
This collection adds some challenge stages and, for those not born with a controller in their hands, a more merciful difficulty setting so that everyone can enjoy the fantastic sights and sounds, and the “just one more go” fun they have to offer. [Sept 2011, p.82]

GameTrailers – 85
The very embodiment of addicting.

GamerNode – 80
Bit.Trip Complete gives both casual and hardcore fans enough content to satisfy their needs.

IGN – 80
Online leaderboards and an included soundtrack only further round out this great package. If you haven’t played these games yet, wait no longer.

GameSpot – 80
Bit.Trip Complete expertly presents the Bit.Trip games with a complement of changes that make it easier than ever to enjoy this remarkable series.

Game Informer – 80
A few new difficulties and 120 new achievement-like challenges even make this a tempting collection for those who already downloaded the games individually.

NGamer UK – 79
A stern memory and reflex test. [Nov 2011, p.69]

Gaming Age – 75
Bit.Trip Complete feels pretty much spot on to the WiiWare releases, but with bonus content to give previous players some incentive to buy it. Is it enough of an incentive to re-buy if you already own all six games? I don’t think so. But it’s certainly the best option out there for people that are new to the series.