I'm playing 3 games right now, so I thought I'd just go through them and tell you what I think. Got a problem with that? Good.
So 3DS. I just actually finished the main campaign of Kid Icarus: Uprising.
Uprising is the first Kid Icarus game in many years, since as far back as KI: Of Myths and Monsters on the original Gameboy. Obviously, with so much time passing, the game is very different from the originals, yet does an amazing job of keeping the aesthetic and soul of the original.
Gameplay wise, each level in Uprising (with a couple exceptions) is split into two styles. Each level opens with a flight segment, which plays out like Star Fox meets Sin and Punishment. Pit flies "on rails", his flight path set out by the Goddess of Light Palutena, and you simply use a combination of the stylus on the touch screen to control your aiming reticule, and the circle pad to control Pit's movement on the screen to dodge incoming fire. The result is an incredibly tight and cinematic experience, which really is what sets these segments apart from most shooters. The combination of terrific writing, amazingly well orchestrated music, and tense situations all being able to be "directed" by the flight path, make these segments feel hectic, intense, yet controlled and always serving the (kinda silly) story.
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| Bad dog! |
The second half of each level is ground based, third person, adventure. These are the segments that caused the most controversy, due to a very unusual control scheme. forward/back and strafe movement are all controlled by the circle pad, but turning is done using the stylus. By swiping back and forth along the bottom screen, you turn the world around Pit more than turning him, most commonly compared to spinning a globe. It's an odd choice for sure, but I personally found it pretty easy to get used to, and a few missions in, I pretty much never thought about it again, just did it. It can cause a few problems in some later levels when precise platforming is needed, which this scheme does not do well.
Finally, what I found most addicting and what really turned this game into one of may favorites for the 3DS is the HUGE list of weapons and powers that can be unlocked and customized throughout the game. There are 10 classes of weapons (from palms and claws, to bows and cannons) that each have many variations. Each of these weapons can then be augments with countless stat boosters and attributes, making for nearly limitless customization and experimentation. I found myself, more often just fusing weapons, playing levels to unlock more, and grinding for hearts (Uprising's currency) to purchase new ones. It's a seriously addictive and ever changing system, that can make every small change you make translate into an entirely different experience.
There is much more I could talk about with Uprising, such as the Intensity system for difficulty setting, the cool but ultimately pointless AR cards, and the very well implemented and unique multiplayer options, but I've gone on long enough, and you can find some much more comprehensive reviews here and here.
I'll just say, the Uprising did one thing for me very well, and that is surprised me. I had little interest in it when it came out, and bought it used on the cheaps, hoping for just some simple shooty entertainment. But from the clever and sometimes outright hilarious dialogue ( there are many 4th wall breaking moments and one Metroid inspired one toward the end of the game had me laughing out loud) to the sheer addictiveness of the previously mentioned weapon system, I found myself pouring over 30 hours into the game before finally finishing the main story. It's been a long time since I've gone into a game with little expectation and been so thoroughly impressed and entertained. Uprising is easily one of the best games for the 3DS released this year, if not one of the best in the entire 3DS library. Don't let any complaints about the controls sway you. If you own a 3DS this isn't just a great game, it's a must own. Period. Buy it or I'll turn you into an eggplant.
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| You've been warned. |
Okay, plan is tomorrow I talk about the second game I'm currently playing Xenoblade Chronicles for Wii. The much talked about Project Rainfall game that so far I have put 58 hours into, and I'm pretty sure I'm nowhere near the end.
