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Video Games

SteamWorld Dig: A Fistful of Dirt

SteamWorld DigWhen I saw that IGN had given SteamWorld Dig a 9.5, I figured I’d download it and give it a shot. Could use something new to kill some time with, plus I do like my trusty 3DS.

It was a very cool and addictive little game. I always root for the smaller game studios and their content on the eShop, and this one was pretty impressive. I’d have to agree with the reviews that compared it to a Dig Dug with some Metroid thrown in.

Power-ups are always great to get, and mining for treasure to buy them is very simple yet fun at the same time. A very simple but effective formula.

The pacing is what really made this one great to me. You’d sit for for small chunks of time and didn’t have to invest hours at a time to make progress.

Great little game.

 

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Video Games

New Super Mario Bros. 2

New Super Mario Bros 2I’ve found my trusty Nintendo 3DS to be a reliable killer of time over the past year or so. It’s done an admirable time of entertaining me from time to time.

So back when all the stores were running all of their big holiday sales I picked up New Super Mario Bros. 2 for pretty cheap and finally got around to playing it a few weeks ago. I’m a big fan of the New Super Mario style as it takes me back to the simpler yet still challenging days of my side scrolling youth.

I’m very glad to say that this is another excellent installment in the Mario franchise. It’s nothing groundbreaking and not quite as good as Super Mario 3D Land (which you should play if you haven’t) was, but still a very enjoying time.

It’s nice to be able to just pick it up and walk somewhere and try to beat a level while collecting all 3 Star Coins, then return to whatever it was I had just taken a break from. Though there are times where you do get sucked into numerous attempts to get a difficult Star Coin, overall the difficulty is just about right.

Very fun and just what you’d expect from a Mario game.

 

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Video Games

Paper Mario: Sticker Star

Paper Mario: Sticker StarEvery Christmas I usually end up playing some video game as a last resort means of escape from holiday craziness and such. This year I went with Paper Mario: Sticker Star on the 3DS since it’s Mario and who doesn’t like Mario and being on the 3DS it gave me more options to retreat with it as holiday craziness escalates.

I’ve enjoyed the previous Paper Mario games over the years, so I had some high expectations for this sticker fun. Once again I thoroughly enjoyed this Paper Mario fun. It was good stuff.

I thought the whole sticker system was pretty cool and a creative idea. Everything was pretty much sticker based, battles, secrets, etc.

However, my only complaint was that some parts were just difficult to figure out at times. Like when to use certain stickers to unlock things and collecting the Wobbler parts was kinda tough to figure out. Luckily the internet exists and got me through these few tough spots after numerous tries. Or maybe it isn’t hard to figure out, but I’m just too old for these games anymore.

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Video Games

Metroid Fusion

Metroid FusionOne of the free games that were made available through the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador program that I was looking most forward to playing was Metroid Fusion. The original Metroid for the NES way back in 1986 was one of my and my friends favorite games when it was released. It was so cool and different than anything else we’d played at that time.

I’ve since tried to play the majority of it’s sequels over the years. However, I never did get around to playing Metroid Fusion when it was released for the Game Body Advance in 2002. So when I found out that it would be available and for free nonetheless I was excited to finally play it.

Despite being 10 years old and for the Game Boy Advance originally, it’s held up really well over the years. I really enjoyed it, it was true to the side scrolling adventures I used to enjoy so much growing up.

Challenging, but not impossible this has given me something to entertain myself when I need some down time. It was nice to face off against arch-nemesis Ripley yet again (surprisingly that hasn’t gotten old to me), and battling a clone of yourself was strange as well.

They really did a great job of keeping that creepy aloneness feeling that has made so many of the installments so great. This was definitely a fine installment in the series and I’m glad I finally got a chance to play through it (I still have a battle or 2 for finish it).

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Video Games

Resident Evil Revelations

Resident Evil RevelationsJust finished up the campaign mode on Resident Evil Revelations for the Nintendo 3DS. It was great, going back to the creepy roots that the earlier Resident Evil games used to be. With the same guy saying the title (if you played any of them you know what I mean by that).

The quality of this one by the folks at Capcom was top notch. It was a full Resident Evil title and not a scaled down portable game. The graphics were better than what I’d of thought the 3DS capable of, and the 3-D was very well done, but not to the point where it ever felt forced.

The story was a bit confusing and cheesy at times, but what else would you expect from a proper Resident Evil?

The whole mood and atmosphere was expertly crafted. There’s many times where you can hear something, but not quite see it and it really gets you into the game. I really enjoyed playing this on the 3DS, because you do seem much closer and into the action than if you were comfortably seated on your couch several feet from your TV.

The game was great, and quality wise what I would expect to play on a console. This was extremely well done, and a must buy for any Resident Evil fan. Even worth picking up a 3DS to play on as well. Hopefully other titles of this quality can continue to be released.

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Video Games

Pushmo

PushmoDownloaded a fine little 3-D puzzle gem title Pushmo a few weeks ago. It’s very fun and a perfect little eShop game.

The idea is so simple, you just pull blocks to climb up a structure. However as with any great puzzler it can go from simple to challenging in no time. At times, I want to break it challenging.

The use of 3-D is really nice, but not overdone. Pulling blocks towards you just looks cool. Very good quality, especially for a eShop game. I really like the art style, there’s something fun and light about it.

You can also create and share your own levels too. I haven’t delved much into this yet, but will have to come up with something goofy if I get some time.

Simple fun way to kill some time. If you own a 3DS download it now.