Nintendojo's Reviews
I find myself extremely impressed by RMX. It takes everything about Neo and improves upon it, while also adding in new features and tweaks that make it suitable for both play at home and on the go. As a launch title, RMX boasts a level of thoughtfulness and polish that isn't often seen until well into a console's life cycle.
WayForward proved its considerable talent at creating fun, colorful, retro-inspired platformers long ago and each Shantae title has simply reinforced that reputation. It should come as little surprise that Half-Genie Hero continues that tradition. While some longtime fans might be somewhat turned off by the more contemporary visuals and streamlined level design, others will undoubtedly enjoy these changes.
All in all, Skylanders: Imaginators offers a ton of content, regardless of how many accessories players choose to purchase. At its worst, the title can sometimes exemplify the greediest excesses of the toys-to-life craze, but long-time fans will still find plenty to offer, as well. Toys-to-life fans and those who love creating custom characters will find a lot to enjoy, but newcomers on a fixed budget may want to look elsewhere.
Corpse Party is a great, different game, one that a system as far along in its life cycle as 3DS greatly needs to keep things fresh. If you’ve been looking for something off the beaten path, I highly recommend picking this one up.
The best retro throwbacks rise above their influences to become something endearing of their own accord. Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse does just that, with quality and production values that rival many AAA releases.
Severed is a raucous good time on Wii U, taking perfect advantage of the hardware to deliver an improved version of what was already excellently done on Vita. The graphics are lush and engrossing, and the music tethers everything together wonderfully.
The love and care that Next Level Games put into Federation Force is evident throughout. It’s lush with detail, offering gameplay that is evocative of the Prime series while still establishing its own identity. The game makes no attempt to pretend it isn’t a spin-off of the Metroid series, and I think that if fans can look beyond their own desire for another Samus outing and embrace Federation Force for what it is, they’ll find a very respectful new take on a beloved formula.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice is yet another worthy Ace Attorney successor. It’s ultimately not the series at its highest peak, but it’s hardly the nadir, and that it continues to feel this fresh in light of its flaws already has me hungry for the next turnabout. No objections here, Your Honor.
With level breakdowns that make the long console levels more manageable, strong use of 3D, and some creative additions, the 3DS version of The Force Awakens delivers in a way that just barely edges out its console brethren.
Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens feels designed to quell even the loudest detractors of the Lego games. With increased level variety, new gameplay additions and excellent, original dialogue, the title gives Star Wars fans plenty of reasons to revisit the franchise.
Generations is a real gem at this late point in 3DS’s life cycle.
If your love for RPGs comes from a love for strategic thinking and party customization, then 7th Dragon III absolutely deserves a look.
Lego Marvel's Avengers is a wonderful recreation of the source material. Fans of the Marvel Studios films will be happy to know that the trademark humor they've come to expect from both Marvel and Lego remains intact. Unfortunately, the game never quite reaches the same heights as its predecessor, Lego Marvel Super Heroes. Still, the title is fun to play, and for Marvel fans aren't sick of the Lego formula at this point, there's quite a bit to enjoy.
Kirby: Planet Robobot delivers, with a wonderful experience for Kirby fans of all ages. The game’s controls, sound, and visuals are pitch perfect, and the gameplay is classic Kirby. It’s over a little too quickly, but the pink puffball’s adventures have never overstayed their welcome. It’s a small gripe for an otherwise fantastic game.
It's worth a peek, but probably not until it's on sale
Sega 3D Classics Collection is decent collection of games made better by an earnest attempt to do something fun and unique with older games. Sega could have easily made a cynical cash grab by throwing a layer of 3D paint over everything and calling it a day, but the developers obviously put quite a bit of effort into making everything look as good as it could while also making a few worthwhile tweaks to the playability. Unfortunately, all that effort is actually let down by the selection of games.
Pokkén Tournament is a very solid Pokémon spin-off. Giving players the chance to actually control the pocket monsters themselves in battle has long been something fans have wanted to see, and this title certainly provides.
Twilight Princess HD reaffirms everything that made this game great the first time around. Every element of the title has been refined and improved upon, making it the ultimate version of Twilight Princess.
There are plenty of nitpicks that can be made about Mega Man Legacy Collection, but at its core, the title is a compilation of some of the best games of the 8-bit era. While there have been plenty of other ways to acquire these games in the past, it's impossible not to give the game a high recommendation. There's a reason the Blue Bomber has proven so enduring. Fans new to the series and those that have yet to experience the games will find a lot to love.
Return to PopoloCrois is one of many excellent RPGs available for 3DS, but please don’t let this wealth of options allow it to get lost in the shuffle.