System got off to a strong start with
Pilotwings Resort. Sunk nearly 30 hours into the game, all capped off by the most delightful comeback of (spoiler alert)
. For the life-long Nintendo nerd in me, that was an unrivaled rush of nostalgic goodness. So relaxing, just flying around, drinking up the details, basking in the atmosphere, listening to the music over the rising wind (ignore the objective in campaign if you want true Free Flight). And the main campaign was superb, with later missions requiring pinpoint precision, quick reflexes and nerves of steel. Perfect challenge + perfect control = can't put the game down. With the 3D dialed up, the sense of sheer open
space was unrivaled, and the game wasn't just about depth -- try rotating the figurines in the 3D model viewer gallery to see a degree of pop-out not even movies have matched.
Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D had a similarly addicting quality, in a surprisingly competent emulation of the HD Mercs experience, with the welcome revival of HUNK and Krauser (complete with new RE5-style context-sensitive melees) and RPG-lite loadout leveling and perks customization, as well as some great remixes of old settings and enemy layouts (including the bat/silkworm boss from RE5?!), not to mention badass unlockables like Grim Reaper HUNK. Online co-op in this game afforded me many nights of laugh-out-loud fun.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D is the definitive version of the game. The re-texturing of everything, the optional gyro cam, the rock-solid framerate, the widescreen, the solid-looking 3D, the relocation of the HUD to the second screen, the masterfully implemented touchscreen inventory, including quick select of the Iron Boots and extra item assignment keys... It's all so well-done. The boss rush mode and mirrored version of Master Quest were great additions as well, the latter effectively doubling the game. This treatment NEEDS to be given to Majora's Mask, aka The Best Zelda Game.
Super Mario 3D Land is quite possibly the best Mario game to date. Pre-release talk of "combining 2D and 3D Mario" sounded like PR bullshit for "3D Mario with a flagpole at the end." But no, they actually pulled it off, creating a brilliant hybrid that has the addictive, no-frills, pick-up-and-play quality of SMB3/World with the dynamic level design and added interactivity of the Galaxy twins. The game looks every bit as good as its Wii siblings, and with 3D turned on it's absolute candy for the eyes -- incredibly tangible, like a pocket-sized world full of toys and colorful confection you can touch (or that can leap out and touch
you, as I thought would happen when Mario leapt toward the screen in 5-2). The 3D is simply incredible, and there are two versions of it, too, tapping the D-pad to toggle pop-in or pop-out. The controls are peerless, imo, the dedicated run button allowing for some truly precise timing, and the second half of the game -- another eight worlds AFTER the first eight worlds -- put that control to the test. The game is jam-packed with content and polished to a shine -- they even have World-style artwork on the 3D postcards you collect and save to the SD card. Definitely one of the 3DS' crown jewels.
Mario Kart 7 is another gem, marred only by the absence of a single-player Versus mode option like the one found in Mario Kart DS. Otherwise, it's a great new installment, with some of the best course designs in the series: the amazing new Bowser's Castle and Rainbow Road (the BEST Rainbow Road, I might add), and one of my new favorites, DK Jungle. Wiggler, Lakitu and Metal Mario are all great new characters, though where's Waluigi? Another odd omission aside, a stellar game with fun new kart customization mechanics, gliding and diving that really spice up each course, and some reliably fun online play with relatively quick matchmaking and a bottomless supply of competitors from around the world (but stop picking Maka Wuhu, you cheating bastards!).
Pushmo is one of the best puzzlers in ages, right up there with Catherine. Being able to create your own puzzles, in a sprite editor the envy of Animal Crossing (you can fully customize the color pallet), and share it with others via QR codes is a stroke of genius. But it's the core campaign, consisting of hundreds of Nintendo-made puzzles, where you learn the mechanics, and boy do they shine. The simple act of waddling and jumping around has a buoyanty animated charm to it, and everything is crisp and colorful and oh-so-solid in 3D, where the three layers of depth -- background, mid-ground and foreground -- are wonderfully accentuated by the effect. Tight controls, smooth learning curve, abundant content, and limitless user content -- for $7 this is a STEAL.
Resident Evil: Revelations is the best game on the 3DS. Period. It's also the second-best RE title, slotting snugly beneath RE4. Actually, in many respects I prefer RER: the story is the best the series has seen yet, with a diverse cast of characters (many new) threaded through a strongly paced narrative that keeps you guessing as the plot twists and turns. Everytime the "Previously on RER" recap played, I smiled, and then the next chapter began and I smiled wider as I thought, "Wow, where will we go from here?" The production values are astounding; RER handily outclasses anything on Wii and would be right at home on the HD consoles. We're talking intricately detailed environments, abundant atmospheric effects from fog to particles to lighting; we're talking beautifully rendered and animated characters, and a soundtrack that is without a doubt the series' best, with many a strong melody, all orchestrated, and some
breathtaking choir pieces near the end. The gameplay is perfect: you're never fighting the controls -- in fact, the game empowers you with the helpful persistant map, quick select via touch (also mapped to buttons) and gyro aiming (optional), and you can fully customize your controls, even with CCP support. Yet this is a return to survival horror, with a palpable atmosphere and enemies that take a licking and keep on ticking. You can shoot in first-person or over-the-shoulder; you can move while firing, sidestepping enemy projectiles as they come your way. You can scan your environments for hidden items, another great addition, and you can even dial the 3D up
beyond the system max, accessing "Very strong 3D" from the Options menu -- it has ghosting at first, but once your eyes acclimate, it's incredibly immersive and pleasurable to the mind. The main campaign was a solid 12 hours for me, iirc -- longer than RE5 -- and then Raid mode, like a mission-based Mercs without the time limit, kept the fun going so that I've now logged 60 hours in the game, with the addition of leveling and loot and abundant perks and unlocks. Hopping online to tackle Ghost Ship with another legendary weapon-toting Lv. 50 never gets old -- nor does the costume you unlock for Jessica at Lv. 40:
"I can get used to that."
The 3DS hasn't been without its share of problems, but it's certainly served me well thus far. Happy birthday, and here's to many more years! Thanks to this thread, I now know that Mario Tennis Open has a NA name, boxart and release date. Things are getting interesting, and I'm looking forward to Kid Icarus Uprising and Luigi's Mansion 2 in the coming months. Who knows what we'll see next? I just know I love seeing Nintendo and company with all this power, and in a portable. It's a good time to be a gamer.