Review: "Donkey Kong: Country Returns 3D" (2013) "Swings Into Handheld AGAIN"

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By: Gabriel Roderick

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I was very excited to see that Donkey Kong was getting a reboot to the Nintendo 3ds. And instead of making a whole new game, they decided to take probably one of the best Donkey Kong's of all time; Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Wii.\



It was a fantastic game, that added a new twist to the series. More complex levels and added even more difficulty to the side scroller that we know and love.



This port over to the 3DS does just that and more for the series. It sure brings the difficulty level to a whole new level and I found myself spending hours on just one or two of the levels. Nintendo tries to level with you (made a pun) on this one by giving you the two player aspect. Yes this game is two player co-op for two friends in veracity and game.



The game starts off with a bang, and I mean BANG. I nice volcano explosion to supplement some great cut scenes and beginning to this game. But before you can even get to that point you must choose, new mode or original mode. Original mode is the exact same thing as the Wii version ported over nothing new or fancy about it. While new mode is supposedly graphically better and more challenging.


Yes it is definitely more challenging but graphically it is a HUGE step down from the Wii version. There is so much going on in the game the framerate is the one aspect Nintendo didn't really put the time into. Don't get me wrong this is a wonderful game even with a this issue. The point of the game is you and Diddy Kong teaming up again to kick some major but and get some bananas. Which adds some fun using Diddy Kong seeing as he helps you glide a bit with his jetpack. This helps with A LOT with the amount of challenges of this game.

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The biggest probably being collecting everything. There is so much to acquire such as puzzle pieces, the most bananas, and of course the letters for the name "Kong". Lots of them SEEM impossible but if you have the ability to go back, DO SO.



The controls were nicely ported over. You basically only use "X" to smash things and sometimes to "A" to roll and take things down. This simplifies things to a point and makes it easier to get past most levels.


Our Honest View gives Donkey Kong: Country Returns 3D, 8.2/10. This is a great port from the original Wii version. Granted it's plagued by graphics and difficulty, so much more is put into this game making it a fantastic and long game.


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Replay Value: Moderately High

Like Donkey Kong?
Similar Games:

• Donkey Kong Country
• Donkey Kong 64
• Donkey Kong Country Returns

 

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Preview: "Donkey Kong Country Returns: 3D" (2013) "3D Has Gone Bananas"

By: Gabriel Roderick

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So he's back again!

After the success and popularity of Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Wii he's back again and on the handheld this time! And something special about this one is it's in 3D!

The 3DS version will include two modes, "Original Mode" which plays the same as the original Wii version, and "New Mode" which introduces a handful of new items to make the game easier, including extra health. The 3DS version will also contain an extra world with new levels not present in the original Wii version. These other levels are rumored to be one's from the original Donkey Kong games from previous consoles.

From the looks of this trailer this game will be a more crystal clear version of the first. I'm glad that they're not changing much to it. But apparently they had to remake the game in order to implement the 3D component.

However the first game was extremely diffcult and a little lackluster for the story mode. I'm hoping these new features will add to the original and make the game the great concept it deserves to be.

Donkey Kong swings into stores May 24th check it out!

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Preview: "The Legend of Zelda: Oracle Of Seasons And Ages" (2013) "A Deal Of The Ages AND Seasons."

By: Gabriel Roderick

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So the dates have been announced for the newest in next current gen console Zelda games. Finally a release in 3D!

Nintendo will be re-releasing The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Season AND  Oracle of Ages for 3DS on May 30th. These games will be digital only and retailing at 5.99$ each.

Now if you remember from both games first releasing on Gameboy Color they had two different but similar stories. 

And if you played both games and linked them together you got a special ending. Where both game stories crossed over into each other. 

Nintendo is making reliving this possbile! If you buy both games from the eShop channel within the first two weeks, you'll get both for only 4.99$ each! So for under 10$ you'll be able to play through the game again! And relive all the fun crossover and other great elements of the Zelda series.  The other great thing is these will be the second and third Zelda games in 3D as well. 

Check out Nintendo's teaser trailer!

 
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Review: Nintendo Direct 5/17/13

By: Gabriel Roderick

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If you missed the amazing conference you can re-watch it here: Nintendo Direct: http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct/archive/05-17-2013/

The key things to take away from this were:

• Nintendo will have their own form of E3 prior to E3.
• Animal Crossing sharing features
• Legend of Zelda Oracle of Ages and Seasons DLC price/ dates
• Resident Evil Revelations Infernal Mode
• New Super Luigi U DLC
• MORE Sega Genesis Games Coming to eShop!

Nintendo is being very gracious with their downloads! Buy Legend of Zelda Oracle of Seasons and Ages on the eShop starting May 30th. If you purchase the downloads within the first two weeks you can get both for $4.99 each as opposed to $5.99 each!

Also if you already have Super Mario Bros. U you can buy the add on Super Luigi U starting June 20th for just $19.99 which will include even more multiple player aspects!

A final note Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games for the Wii U was revealed in a Nintendo Direct announcement on May 17, 2013. It is part of a three-game partnership between Nintendo and Sega to bring Sonic the Hedgehog games exclusively to Nintendo gaming systems. This version like Sonic All Star Racing Transformed will let you change your sport while in the game. The video showed the player go from skiing to snowboarding then finally to sledding while simultaneously playing the game!

Part it here for the latest announcements on Nintendo's summer conference and more updates on these games as they become available. 

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Review: "Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins" (2013) "SO Sequel's Can Be Better Than The Prequel."

By: Gabriel Roderick

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Nintendo first released the second part of the two game series, Lego City Undercover last month which was essential Grand Theft Lego, of course dulled down exponentially but still a great game in the Lego Series. This of course was a Wii U exclusive.


They send released this game, Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins which is a prequel to the earlier release. Unlike most prequel/sequel's this is released on a secondary system not even a predecessor.

There is a lot I like about Lego City and a lot that I don't which can be broken down to; the good, the bad and the ugly.

Shall we talk about the good?

This game has a lot going for it, it's the first open world lego game for 3DS and the first open world game on a handheld that works for me. I had a lot of problems with Monster Hunter 3 for the 3DS due to the vast open world they spent so much time on and forgot about graphics. This game follows the same scenario but they hold your hand through the open worldness making it much easier.

That leads a little into the ugly because since so much emphasis is put into the open world aspects that the game seriously lacks on detail in the graphics. Everything looks pixlated and not well developed. Much like Minecraft but without effort.

 I was a little bit more impressed with the 3D seeing as the game was so plain it added much more depth to it. The only problem is, the map is a flat 2D surface making it difficult to view both sometimes to find your location. Not all games on 3DS need to be in 3D, just saying.

Back to the good it's simplistic. Which is good seeing as the game is geared towards younger children like most Lego games are. Areas are marked out for you on the map and you know where you need to go. It's a nice game to pick up in your handheld and cruise around to different areas and find what you need.

It's simplicity is also it's downfall.

Yes you are a cop.

However if I am playing as a detective I want a challenge when finding my clues not having to follow the clues six feet in front of me and finding it. If it's a city you should have to EXPLORE the city to find what you need. Another bad thing about the simplicity is the fact that the game holds your hand through the entire game. Constantly tutorialing you on how to do things, and since most of the missions are repetitive this is kind of annoying.

Back to the good! The length of this game is something very surprising, this game holds about 30 hours of just story then not to mention being a competitionist would add major game time. I love the story as well. I feel like I'm playing Die Hard but "G" rated and of course this game has great cut scenes which is surprising as the graphics are not well done.

You are a master of disguise so you can constantly change your outfit for different missions. This can be fun and exciting seeing as different outfits have different abilities for missions.

Combat can also be exciting, you basically play like your Batman and counter each and every move of your opponents then lock them up. You don't even get to put the handcuffs on them. They put up on them and they disappear not really that exciting the billionth time, you find this repetitive thing can be a bad thing to older people.

I'm sure children love repetitive things however.

NOW the ugly. As I said the combat is repetitive, however the driving is real bad. In the other game you had more cars, better handling and a gorgeous road to drive on. In the 3DS version you have maybe about 10 different cars with the same amount of speed.

The variety is so bland, but the controls kill you. It's near impossible to drive correctly and of course with bad looking graphics this makes it even harder to drive. Once again I find myself saying children must love these games!

Our Honest View gives Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins 7.0/10. This game has all the right tools to have the best handheld lego game but doesn't utilize them. To children this is probably one of the best games, but to older people we except a little bit more. Maybe it wasn't Nintendo's wisest move to release the Wii U version first? Whatever the reason may be, it is what it is!


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Replay Value: Moderate

Similar Games:

Grand Theft Auto: ChinaTown Wars - M Rated

Lego City Undercover - E Rated

Better 3DS Games:

Fire Emblem Awakening - T Rated

Review: "Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate" 2013 "Double Swords, Two Systems."

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David Howard

I've always loved the Monster Hunter games ever since it's American debut on PS2.

Over the years it has expanded into a worldwide phenomenon. The Wii U /3DS Monster Hunter falls just short of greatness. It does a lot of things right however, the duel touch screens help make the complicated controls must easier to use.

It's funny in America Elder Scrolls is the true open world, go out craft, do missions game. But in Japan the Monster Hunter series is just that and more! 

For 3DS they don't tell you but using a circle pad pro makes the game a lot easier and more plausible. However with the pad it makes the games much easier to play than the psp hunter games!  So any 3DS Xl users you may be in the cold on this one. Seeing as Japan hasn't released the circle pad pro for 3DS Xl in America yet, fighting in the water and trying to change the camera angles is VERY difficult.

Now with the Wii U using the tablet controller feels a little awkward so by using the pro controller you feel like your playing a open world game on a top notch gaming console.

But the new installment of Monster Hunter is a glorified Monster Hunter Tri which was first on the Wii, and utilized the classic controller to make the game playable. While that may not be bad what is, is that there isn't enough new content to keep me going. For someone new to the series this is a perfect place to start.

There is a few problems I had with both versions such as how the long the tutorial was. It is about 15 hours of the 300 hour plus gameplay. As I was saying since I finished Monster Hunter Tri I was hoping to be able to jump into the game. 

Another issue I had was graphics, I understand how beautiful the Wii U version would be but when you make a game equivalent on the handheld console it should equally look as beautiful! The 3DS version looks very dulled down and not as vibrate. The controls on the 3DS actually took some time getting use to and the tutorial wasn't the biggest help in the game, after mastering the controls however I felt that they we're sluggish.

The Wii U version and 3DS can share save files by downloading a app from the eShop channel. The Wii U version can play online which is great but of course not on 3DS, however it leaves a lot to be desired. It is very easy to set up but connection lost, lagging or errors and you'll be finding yourself at the home screen again!

You even get companions in the main story, one named Cha-Cha who aids you on quests and even will help you by distracting the big bad monsters so you can hit heavy blows!

On another note, the cross platform play between the two systems works much better than the PS3's crossplay. No internet required is the biggest feature to be incorporated.

The game is however solid and feels right to be on the Wii U. Customization feels just right and after

you learn it, you know it. This mechanic I was fine with them porting over from the previous game because crafting ultimate weapons are great. I felt targeting however lacks and with sluggish movement on 3DS when I missed with a large weapon and wasted stamina I had to "try" and dodge.





Our Honest View gives Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate 7/10.  For older fans to the series that previously played Monster Hunter Tri, I just couldn't get into the SAME game again. I am still a fan and I still look forward to whatever the future holds, I just hope it's something new!


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Replay Value: Infinite

Similar Games:
 

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Monster Hunter: Freedom

Monster Hunter 3 Tri

Review: "LEGO City: Undercover" (2013) "Grand Theft Lego"

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Our Honest View

When this game was announced I was very excited for it's release and unlike the game itself I'll keep the review short and sweet so I can keep playing.

And now that I've played it, I can truly say it is an exploratory game. The Lego games have always had a certain charm to them and undercover retains that and more. It stars super cop Chase McCain as he returns to Lego City after learning Rex Futy has escaped from jail.

The game easily coaxes you into the world with it's tutorial missions! The game's controls are tight and after 20 minutes or I was a pro at navigating the enormous city. To call the game world "massive"

is still an understatement! There are more than 17 districts to the world where the story takes place. Each area is FULL of side objectives that all unlock characters or vehicles that Chase can then purchase and use in the city.

All Lego games are known for having many characters to use, and with Chase's disguise system you can play as more than 200 people from the game world!

You can also create your own Lego disguise character to choose from just like the Scribbernaunts series. Each disguise you unlock gives Chase new abilities that allow you to access more of Lego city.

The missions of the story mode remind me of GTA's structure. The story moves forward by going to a mission point and completing objectives like arrests and free run segmants.

The missions are varied and introduce new characters and skills at a solid pace. However the game physics sometimes get in the way of trying to complete a simple objective. Nevertheless, after my time in the city, I left wanting more. Even though the campagin is well over 20 hours long I still wished for more.

Our Honest View gives Lego City: Undercover 9.5/10. This game is the defining reason on the list of reasons to buy a Wii U. Like all Lego games it lives up to the Lego Name and pushes the bar to higher levels at the same time. With a game like this nothing is impossible for Lego games in the future.

Replay Value: Infinte

Similar Games:

• Lego Anything
• Grand Theft Auto (Mature Rated)
• Scribblenaunts Umlimited

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Our Honest View

By: David Howard