nintendo review – Mattina Technology

Shovel Knight Review

When I first downloaded Shovel Knight I didn’t expect it to be anything great. I was wrong this retro looking game is amazing. The object of the game is to defeat the Evil Enchantress and save your lost love. It is an intense Platformer. The story is simple and basic but the level design is not. It reminds me of classic games like Mario and Mega Man. I am surprised at how new and fresh the game seems.

I really like how Shovel Knight uses a shovel to attack enemies. Shovel Knight can use his shovel as a pogo stick, a weapon or he can shoot magic out of his shovel. As the player progresses the levels get exceedingly more difficult. I really enjoy the retro music and sounds in this game. I also like how the player can increase his magic and health. It makes the game more interesting.

I don’t like how the primary button in this game is set to B; I am always trying to press A. I also don’t like how the player can run into enemies when navigating the map. It is frustrating and I often lose my focus when this happens. I know this is supposed to emulate past games but it is just annoying. I don’t like the boss battles, because the bosses are not very interesting. Most of them seem to be derived from Shovel Knight himself.

This game is a must own for any Wii U owner. It is an instant classic and it emulates past games like Mario, Mega Man, DuckTales, and Zelda 2. I enjoyed blasting enemies away with my shovel and playing through the various levels. It is not an easy game by any means. I give this game a 8 out of 10.

-MT

Super Mario 3D World Review

Super Mario 3D World isn’t just a great game it is an amazing game. Super Mario 3D World is a 3D Platformer for the Nintendo Wii U. The game has nine worlds and each world has levels that the player needs to complete. Each world also has unique puzzles that the player needs to solve using Toad. The game goes a step beyond the New Super Mario Bros Series.

My favorite part of each level is collecting the green stars and stamps. There are three green stars hidden throughout each level and one stamp hidden in each level. It is no easy task collecting the green stars. I also like the power ups in this game. The best power up in this game is the Cat Suit. The Cat Suit allows players to scale walls and pounce on enemies. The Giant Mushroom also returns! Super Mario 3D World has great visuals and the it looks awesome in HD. I also enjoy the music that plays in each level.

The game has five playable characters and one of those characters is unlockable. I wish that the game had more playable characters from the mushroom kingdom. It would be cool to play as Wario or Waluigi. Super Mario 3D World is a really positive gaming experience.

It is the type of game that players can enjoy by themselves or with others. The multiplayer is fantastic in Super Mario 3D World and it is really competitive. The player with the highest score gets to wear a crown. I really like searching for the collectibles in this game. However I wish that this game had a larger cast of characters to choose from. I give Super Mario 3D World a 9 out of 10.

-MT

Super Smash Bros 64 Review

Super Smash bros for N64 is one of the greatest games of all time. The game pits famous Nintendo characters against each other. The game was released on April 26, 1999. Super Smash Bros for N64 paved the way for Super Smash Bros Melee and Super Smash Bros Brawl.

The game has 12 playable characters and 9 stages. The characters include Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Yoshi, Link, Samus, Kirby, Fox, Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Captain Falcon and Ness. Four of the characters must be unlocked in Single Player Mode. The Single Player mode is a series of battles that pits you against different Nintendo characters. The final boss is the Master Hand. I really enjoy single player mode but the multiplayer is what really makes this game special.

This game introduced me to several of Nintendo’s core franchises including Metroid and Starfox. I grew up playing and loving Super Smash Bros. I really like the game because it pits famous Nintendo characters against each other. I also like the challenge of defeating my friends and family. Super Smash Bros is a game that is easy for anyone to pick up and play. I enjoy the randomness and chaos that the game has to offer. The game also has a variety of items such as the beam sword and hammer. These items add to the chaos.

Super Smash Bros for N64 is not perfect. The graphics have not aged well and the amount of playable characters is small. However, it is still a really fun and exciting game because of the core concept. I give Super Smash Bros for N64 a 8 out of 10.

-MT

Nintendo 3DS XL Review

The Nintendo 3DS XL is the best handheld system currently on the market. The handheld isn’t the most powerful but it has the best library. It has a better library then the Playstation Vita and any other handheld system currently on the market. It is the games that make or break a system and the 3DS has a vast library of games.

What I like about the 3DS XL?

I already stated that I love the library of the 3DS XL; it has a nice selection of games. I also like how big the screens are on the 3DS XL. The top screen is 4.88 inches and the bottom screen is 4.18 inches. I recently had no problem playing through Donkey Kong Country Returns for the 3DS. It is a Wii title that was ported to the Nintendo 3DS. I also like the placement of the stylus on the XL. It is placed on the side of XL and it is easy to access when playing a game that requires the stylus. I am also a fan of the home, start and select buttons on the 3DS XL. They are clickable and work considerably better then the ones on the original 3DS. I am excited because the selection of games is getting even better this spring. Some of the games that are coming out include Yoshi’s New Island, Mario Golf World Tour and Kirby: Triple Deluxe.

What I don’t like about the 3DS XL?

I don’t care for the sound quality on the 3DS XL. It isn’t very loud when playing a game or watching a video on Netflix. However, this isn’t that big of a problem considering that I can just plug in a set of headphones. I also don’t like the the power button; it is hard to start up the system. The power button should stick out a little bit more. I also wish that the Nintendo E-shop on the 3DS included GBA games. The GBA has a huge selection of excellent games that would make the 3DS library that much better.

My Rating of the 3DS XL

Overall the 3DS XL is a solid and very capable system. I got my 3DS XL this December and so far I have been playing The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Pokemon Y and Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon. I have enjoyed playing all of these games and I can’t wait to play more games on my 3DS XL. I give this system a 9 out of 10.

-MT