The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D - Game Review

The 3D revision of arguably one of the best games of all time hit store shelves last Sunday, June 19, 2011 – The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. There is no denying the simple fact that the original Nintendo 64 adaption to the series had a following that nearly rivaled that of Final Fantasy VII. It was the game that introduced three-dimensional graphics to the already hugely popular franchise... And now its back, in a new kind of 3D!

Super Mario (3DS) - E3 2011 Demo Impressions

I have always had a hard time playing the Super Mario titles that take place in a three dimensional space. I struggled with the platforming because I always had a hard time judging where Mario was in relation to the other objects in the game. So since Super Mario 64 I have never really bothered with the series because I would always end up frustrated. Needless to say, I was hesitant regarding the Super Mario (3DS) demo at E3 this year.

The demo lets you select from four stages each one offering different environments. The first stage has you running around an open environment that you can progress through as quickly or as slowly as you want. The second stage has you exploring a cave with a secret warp zone hidden in it. The third stage is what I would call an obstacle course, where if you are not careful you can easily fall prey to the levels tricks. The final stage is inspired by one of the classic air ship levels found in Super Mario Brothers 3. The demo ends with a boss bottle against Boom Boom!

Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny - E3 2011 Demo Impressions

This is the game I spent the most time with at the show. I had almost an entire hour with a near final version of the game. The Natsume rep, who happened to be one of the staff in charge of localization for the game, informed me that the only major part of production that was left to finish was the English voiceovers. Which are being handled by the same group who did the voiceovers for Rune Factory 3 on the Nintendo DS, which were top notch if I do say so myself.

I decided to start a brand new game file. There are two main characters Aden and Sonja, but after a series of events they become one. Well Sonja’s being is inside of Aden and Sonja’s body is nowhere to be found. I know, it is a little strange. As always with Rune Factory and Harvest moon games you are found by a local who brings you into town and gives you your own house. This is where the game really begins.

Luigi's Mansion 2 - E3 2011 Demo Impressions

At this year's E3 Nintendo Press Conference, the only surprise game announcement was Luigi’s Mansion 2. While the game had been hinted at in the past, I’m not sure anybody saw it coming so soon, let alone being playable on the show floor. The game is a sequel to the GameCube launch title. While no story details have been given the demo shows Dr. E. Gadd digitizing Luigi and sending him to a mansion inside of a computer. Or at least that is what it looked like. The playable portion of the demo then begins there.

Shinobi (3DS) - E3 2011 Demo Impressions

I’ll admit I have never played any of the original Shinobi games, so I went into this demo knowing nothing but that Ninjas are involved. This one was announced just a short while back, and I was surprised to see it playable at the Sega booth at E3 this year. You have a few abilities to quickly learn. A grappling hook is used for climbing up to roofs and high ceilings. The basic sword attack which can be chained into combos up to 3 times. The right shoulder button will trigger your counter/deflect ability which has to be timed very accurately. You can also rapidly throw shuriken.

The way some of the abilities were mapped onto the 3DS buttons came off as awkward. However, the Sega rep assured me that in the final game the player will be able to fully customize the controls of the game. Still it made for an awkward demo session, for me at least. The first stage was a standard side scrolling level. I had to grapple onto and underneath buildings to climb on top of them to avoid fires and other objects blocking my path. And fight off the occasional ninja grunts and a few more powerful enemies.

Mario Kart (3DS) - E3 2011 Demo Impressions

Mario Kart is a franchise that needs no introduction. It is quite possibly some of the most fun you can have with a group of friends. The series has always been easily accessible by newcomers but it also offers a level of depth for those willing to spend the time to master the game and its controls. Mario Kart 3DS is no different.

The E3 demo consisted of three races on three brand new tracks with one of them being themed around Donkey Kong Country Returns. Which makes sense since Retro Studios is contributing to the game. The new tracks fit right in with the series, they feature all sorts of turns, traps, and power ups. However tracks now feature gliding and underwater sections.

Resident Evil: Revelations - E3 2011 Demo Impressions

The E3 2011 demo starts with Jill asleep in bed. She wakes up and finds herself in what appears to be a familiar mansion. She then receives a transmission from her partner, Parker, a new character to the series. I then took control of Jill with the goal of meeting up with Parker. I wont bore you with an exact retelling of the entire demo. Instead, this is what I thought worked well for the game

The game appears to run at 30fps with the 3D on and possibly even 60fps with it off. Either way was very smooth and I experienced no graphical hiccups. Jill’s character model looked as if she came right out of Resident Evil 5 without losing any of the detail. She is looking better than ever!

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword - E3 2011 Demo Impressions

For nearly five years we have gone without a console Zelda experience. While Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks are fine games in their own right, they just can’t compete with the console outings. This will all be changing this year with the release of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Officially announced to be the prequel of Ocarina of Time, the game is sure to reveal many answers to questions players have about the mythology and lore surrounding the Zelda series. Details on the story are still scarce but that should be changing in the next couple of months as the game gets closer to its release.

Kid Icarus: Uprising - E3 2011 Demo Impressions

Kid Icarus: Uprising was the surprise announcement from Nintendo at last years E3 Expo. And over the past year the game has been playable in different forms. It is clear that they have really been polishing up the game over the past few months. At E3 this year I got a chance to go hands-on with the latest playable build of the game.

Since I had never had the chance to play Kid Icarus: Uprising before this year's E3, I selected the first stage of the demo which was labeled as being ‘easy’. The demo then asks me to select a weapon, there are several choices but I went with the ‘Orbitars’.