The Video Game Critic's
Nintendo DS Reviews M-R

Even after finishing Mario Hoops, I have mixed feelings about it. 3 On 3 is an arcade-style basketball game in the tradition of NBA Jam, only with your favorite Nintendo characters like Mario, Peach, Wario, Bowser, and Donkey Kong. On defense you'll block shots, swipe at the ball, and use power-ups to jar the ball loose. On offense you'll collect coins, perform jump shots and electrifying slam-dunks. I love how the number of points scored is based on the number of coins you collect while dribbling around. The game is controlled via the stylus, directional pad, and left shoulder button. The scheme feels contrived at first, as if Nintendo was trying to force the DS interface onto a game best played with buttons. But while the stylus seems clumsy at times, it's not an impediment once you get a feel for it. Despite how you feel about the controls, 3 On 3 is fun and addicting. The graphics have that familiar Nintendo charm and the soundtrack rocks. The courts are set in imaginative locations like Bowser's castle, Luigi's haunted mansion, a rocking pirate ship, an ice rink, and a raft floating down a river. Advanced stages incorporate obstacles like fireballs and walking bombs, but instead of adding strategy, they mainly just cause chaos and confusion. The camera moves around constantly, and it's easy to lose track of the ball - or even your character. The game is definitely on the easy side, and I breezed through all four tournaments without losing a single game. Fortunately, that opened up a "hard" mode. Mario Hoops might have been better suited to the GameCube, but I suspect Nintendo thought it might be too similar to Mario Strikers. I enjoyed this game enough, but it's not the slam-dunk I was hoping for. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

Clinical tests have proven that nine out of ten gamers can't resist the simple yet entrancing gameplay of Mario Kart. Incidentally, one out of ten gamers is a friggin' moron, because Mario Kart kicks ass! At its core, the long-running series has always represented racing in its purest form, appealing to gamers of all ages. The races are far from predictable thanks to hazard-laden courses and random items that add drama and intrigue. In some ways, Mario Kart DS is a "greatest hits" of sorts, incorporating tracks and musical numbers from classic Mario Kart games released for the SNES, Nintendo 64, Gamecube, and Gameboy Advance! Highlights include exotic beach resorts, dark haunted castles, dusty desert roads, and bright winter wonderlands. It goes without saying that the controls are dead-on, and have only been slightly tweaked since the original Mario Kart (SNES, 1992). Some innovative new weapons have been incorporated however, including a flying squid that sprays ink across your "windshield", temporarily obstructing your view. But you're probably wondering: Does Mario Kart DS take advantage of the system's unique capabilities? Yes. The touch screen isn't really used, but the overhead map on the lower screen comes in handy for locating nearby opponents and approaching projectiles. But what truly pushes Mario Kart DS over the top is its easy-to-use WFC (Wi-Fi Connection) capability, which allows you to race other gamers from all over the world. Yes, you heard it right; the Video Game Critic has stepped into the 90's and gone online! It was surprisingly easy. Since I already have a wireless router, I just had to enter my WEP encryption key, and the next thing you know I was being matched up with gamers in Japan! There's no registration, and it's all free! I also tried the local wireless mode with a buddy, and it was equally seamless and fun. What's not to like about this game? Mario Kart DS is positively terrific, and a perfectly good reason to run out and purchase a DS. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

Meteos is yet another variant on Tetris, but it has an "explosive" quality lacking from most puzzle games. As various colored blocks rain down, you rearrange the columns formed by "dragging" blocks up or down with the stylus. Once you line up three or more of the same color, they "launch", pushing any blocks above them towards the top of the screen. Any blocks that clear the top are instantly destroyed, and those that don't clear it slowly drift back down. Being able to launch blocks in motion is one of the game's novel features, and I also like how you can sometimes launch blocks by accident! It's all quite innovative, and the flashy launch effects provide instant gratification. Unfortunately, Meteos is a one-trick pony that gets old after a while. There are several play modes and colorful "stages", but the gameplay didn't reel me in like Zookeeper did. There's a variety of tunes, but the only one I really enjoyed was the steel drum music of the water planet. I don't see what the big deal is about this, but a lot of people swear by Meteos, so puzzle freaks should check it out. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.

I'm getting a little tired of seeing other video game publications fawn over Metroid Prime Hunters. Some have even reduced themselves to using the hackneyed term "killer app" (I'm think I'm going to be ill). The truth of the matter is, Hunters is a standard first-person shooter (FPS) with PS1 quality graphics. So what's all the fuss about? It's all about the fact that no one thought a decent FPS was possible on the DS. Hunter's unconventional controls use the stylus to aim, the directional pad to move, and the shoulder buttons to fire. It's quite intuitive once you get the hang of it, and even jumping platforms is surprisingly easy. But let's not get carried away here - the overall experience still pales compared to most big-screen FPS's, including the GameCube's Metroid Prime titles. Although the stylus acts as a mouse, it doesn't provide nearly the same degree of precision. The small screen makes it hard to see targets, and holding the DS in place will cramp your hands during extended play. The much-ballyhooed multiplayer mode makes it easy participate in worldwide death matches, but you'll need a lot of practice to avoid getting your ass kicked. The single-player mode features atmospheric music and crisp sound effects, but you can only save at the end of each stage, making this ill-suited for gaming "on the go". Don't make the same mistake I made, shutting the game off in the middle of a stage thinking it saved automatically at each checkpoint. If you're looking for a portable FPS, Metroid Prime Hunters certainly gets the job done - with style. It plays well and has that distinct Nintendo polish, but it's hardly the revolutionary title some make it out to be. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

This brilliantly conceived pinball game effectively stretches the playing field over both DS screens - very cool. Its multiple "tables" depict muddy swamps, snowy ridges, and ominous space stations inspired by the Metroid series. And I love how Metroid Prime Pinball incorporates neat features not possible in a real pinball game, like rainstorms and force fields. This game also comes with an extra surprise - a rumble pack! Yes, this free attachment, shaped like a Gameboy Advance cartridge, plugs right into the bottom of your DS. The vibration feedback is subtle but really does contribute to the overall experience. Metroid Pinball is very easy to play, since all you really need to do is press the comfortable shoulder buttons to engage the flippers. But like any good pinball game, there's a lot more to it than meets the eye. Learning the ins and outs of the various modes takes time, and casual gamers may find the game confusing at first. The ball itself is surprisingly large and easy to follow. The environments don't provide many immediate targets, but as alien creatures are unleashed onto the table, you'll have plenty of things to aim for. Occasionally the frantic pinball action is interrupted by mini-games including wall-jumping and rapid-fire shooting stages. While these are intended to add variety, they tend to disrupt the flow of the game and frankly aren't all that fun. Another issue lies with the awkward tilt control which forces you to touch the screen in order to jostle the playing field. When you're in the midst of some intense pinball action, the last thing you want is your fingers getting in the way of the screen. The audio is first rate, with an ominous soundtrack and crystal-clear sound effects including metroids that squish like grapefruit. Metroid Prime Pinball is addictive and fun, and since high scores are saved, you always have something to shoot for. I'd be curious to see if Nintendo can apply this excellent pinball engine to other franchises as well. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

If anyone needs a word coach, it's the Video Game Critic. Do you realize how hard it is to write thousands of reviews without repeating the same words and phrases? My Word Coach adopts the same formula as Brain Age (Nintendo 2006), offering a daily routine of vocabulary exercises. Most of these games require you to spell out words or select a correct definition as fast as possible. The simpler games are most fun, like "fill in the missing letter" and "select the correct definition". There's even an enjoyable Tetris variation. A few of the games do royally suck however, in part because they employ a completely unnecessary "drag and drop" control scheme. Towing the letters in the alphabet soup game is bad enough, but having to blow on the soup to reveal letters is just obnoxious. The letter writing recognition could be better as well. I print my letters the way I learned in first grade, yet My Word Coach interprets my "A" as a "Q", "O" as "D", and worst of all, "M" as "J"! I had to adjust my writing style to play this, but it wasn't that big a deal. Word Coach does toss out some really good terms like callow, vermin, tisane, and cavalry. About half the games are fun enough to play daily, but the other half are just a chore. My Word Coach has a lot of potential, but if it expects people to stick with the program, it needs to be more fun. © Copyright 2008 The Video Game Critic.

In an era when nobody knows how to make a decent 2D shooter anymore, it heartens me to play a game like Nanostray. With little fanfare, Nanostray builds on the foundation laid down by classic shooters like Axelay (SNES 1992) and Thunder Force 3 (Genesis 1990). This game has it all, including selectable stages, devastating weapons, satisfying explosions, and a reasonable difficulty level. The varied stages include a lot of old standards like a volcanic planet, an asteroid belt, and a submerged city. Enemies emerge in various shapes and formations, but unlike most modern shooters, the number of projectiles you need to dodge is never insurmountable. Incoming missiles are easy to see, and the small size of your ship makes it easy to maneuver. I love how you have an energy meter, so you can absorb a series of hits before biting the dust. Even the boss encounters are infrequent and reasonable in difficulty. You can switch between weapons on the fly, including heat-seeking lasers, lightning bolts that latch onto enemies, and a powerful side-shot. Normal weapons are augmented by a "sub-weapon", but since its use is limited, you'll want to save that for the big guys. There's even a "smart bomb" button - how old-school is that? Destroying enemies releases floating "coins" to collect, including blue ones that replenish your energy. Clearing stages in the story mode unlocks stages in the challenge mode, extending Nanostray's replay value. Even the music has a catchy, electronic flavor reminiscent of an old 16-bit title. If there's one thing to critique, it may be the touch screen functionality, which seems a bit contrived. It's used to switch between your four weapons types, but this functionality would have been better served with the shoulder buttons (to cycle through them). Nanostray game has received some tepid reviews, but those reviews are crap. One site whined about a weak multiplayer mode, repetitive design, and limited replay value! It's a shooter for Pete's sake!! For a game like this, you have to judge it for what it is. And if you enjoy shooting games with an old-school flair, Nanostray delivers the goods. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

I don't know whether to criticize this game for its lack of creativity, or praise it for paying homage to the old-school. Nanostray 2 plays like a classic Genesis shooter, except with crisp 3D backgrounds and swinging camera angles. Your main weapon is a three-way cannon that can be angled on the fly in three configurations (front, back, sides). Before each stage you select from six special weapons, but why would anyone choose the "mines" when they could have the "seeker" instead? The uninspired stage design include hollow space stations, tranquil water planets, and steamy volcanoes. Nanostray 2's shooting action is pretty much on target as you weave around obstacles and spray missiles at waves of enemy ships, many of which can be seen approaching from the background. Enemy missiles and collectable coins come in many colors, and sometimes it can be confusing to tell them apart. If you cut your teeth on 16-bit shooters, expect a lot of familiar hazards like doors that clamp shut and flames that shoot out at regular intervals. Each stage features a pair of bosses, and while they're not spectacular, I really like that fact that they don't take forever to defeat. The brooding electronic soundtrack is appropriately futuristic but not memorable. Nanostray 2's one original feature is its unconventional (and confusing) scoring system, which rewards you for killing enemies one at a time. The adventure mode lets you unlock the eight stages, and it's a lot of fun despite some lame intermissions. An arcade mode lets you play each stage for score, but the fact that you need to finish each stage in order to register a high score makes no sense at all. When the rubber hits the road, Nanostray 2 succeeds in bringing back old-school shooting action, but isn't distinctive enough to make a name for itself. © Copyright 2008 The Video Game Critic.

Appropriately named, this is the first "new" 2D Mario Bros. game since Super Mario World (SNES, 1991). Nintendo handled this update perfectly, preserving the style and spirit of the original NES trilogy while incorporating enough new ideas to keep things fresh. Despite receiving a 3D makeover, the graphics don't look radically different than the old games. You'll traverse the standard pipes and blocks, but also walk across ropes, bounce on trampolines, navigate bending mushrooms, and contend with blocks that jump on their own. Like the original Super Mario games, you end each level by jumping on a flagpole and entering a small castle (sometimes accompanied by a fireworks display). Despite his age, Mario is more agile than ever, able to run, slide, and stomp the ground to crumble blocks beneath his feet. All the standard Mario power-ups are in effect, but there are some interesting new additions. One new mushroom transforms Mario into a rampaging King Kong-size monster, and another shrinks him to the size of a flea. Both of these are hilarious and really shake up the action. The appealing soundtrack offers slight variations on classic Mario tunes, and enhanced digitized sound effects give familiar foes extra bite (pun intended). Not only is New Super Mario Bros. just as fun as the old games, but you have the luxury of saving your place after every few stages. Some have accused this game of being somewhat short and easy, but don't believe it. The game is an ideal length, and there are hidden areas, mini-games, and two-players modes to boot. Well designed, true to the original, and universally fun, New Super Mario Bros. defies criticism. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

Appearing three times on the Playstation One, Point Blank was the premiere light gun series for many years. Presenting players with a randomized series of short mini-games, Point Black was best known for its head-to-head split-screen action. Thankfully this DS edition retains the same cartoonish graphics, whimsical style, and offbeat sense of humor. I always thought the DS stylus would make a fine light gun substitute, and I was right. Just tap it on the screen and you effectively fire at that spot. While the controls are super accurate, that doesn't mean the game is easy. The arcade mode is madly addicting as you attempt to conquer four difficulty levels. You'll take aim at stuffed animals, cuckoo clocks, jumping skeletons, and ninjas that come out of the woodwork. You'll even sheer sheep and try to shoot a single fly buzzing around a room. A few stages can be mentally taxing, like one where you need to shoot the clock displaying a specific time. The small size of the DS screen can be a hindrance when it comes to shooting matching shapes, because smaller objects can be hard to make out. Over 40 different mini-games are included, which sounds good but is actually far less than the 80+ games found in the PS1 editions. As a result, the games began to repeat sooner. Point Blank's wacky soundtrack is appropriate enough, and its crisp digitized sound effects include shattering glass and rattling bones. There are actually five different modes of play, but each uses the same pool of games. High scores are saved automatically. Point Blank DS does a great job of retaining the charm of the original games, and it's a nice change of pace from all the platform and puzzle titles of there. As long as you resist using the infinite continues, Point Blank DS will charm and entertain. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

I've always been a rabid fan of the Resident Evil series, and Deadly Silence is basically a portable version of the 1996 Playstation original. While it remains a terrific game after all of these years, there's really no justification for porting it to a portable system like the DS. Sure, the DS is capable of rendering graphics comparable to the PS1, but a lot of detail is lost on that small screen. The meticulously detailed rooms of the original seem watered down, and you'll be squinting to see small items. Let's face it, a survival horror classic like Resident Evil deserves to be played on a full-sized TV with the lights out. In addition to the original version, you can also try the new "rebirth mode", which incorporates some touch screen functionality in the form of first-person knife sequences. It's fun to poke and slash creeps with the stylus, and it made me wonder how a light gun game might work on the DS. Another nice feature is the ability to view the house map at all times on the upper screen. Like the original game, there are plenty of anxious moments that will make you jump, but the default green blood looks cheesy! Deadly Silence also includes multi-player cooperative and competitive modes, but I didn't test them out. I love Resident Evil, but it's hard to recommend this miniature version. At its core, this is a solid game, but not a good fit for the DS. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

Leave it to the "new Atari" to screw up all the classic Atari games we grew up with. This company doesn't even deserve the Atari name! Retro Atari makes an absolute mockery of some of the greatest video games ever conceived. How? Well you can start with the ill-conceived control schemes, ugly graphics, and sloppy programming. You can't even save your high scores, which was the whole point of playing these games! The stylus proves to be an awkward control mechanism for most of these titles, so you'll want to stick with the control pad (although you don't even have the option with Tempest). Missile Command is spread out over both screens, but it's confusing to "toggle" the cursor between them. Games like Centipede, Asteroids, and Warlords are playable, but they're marginal compared to the original versions. Sprint and Gravitar are practically unplayable due to their touchy controls. I've played decent versions of Pong, Breakout, and Lunar Lander in my time, but these renditions are just slow and boring as hell. Perhaps the worst travesty is the "remixed graphics" option. Missile Command's new skyline looks fine, but Centipede's day-glow colors and pink hearts (in lieu of mushrooms) will have you reaching for a barf bag. Retro Atari is a total sham that does a great disservice to a lot of legendary games. If you see this one on the shelves, keep walking. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

With its flashy graphics and simple arcade style, Nintendo probably assumed Ridge Racer would be a safe bet as one of the first DS titles. I've been a huge Ridge Racer fan since it first appeared as the original Playstation "pack-in game" (circa 1995). This DS edition is basically a scaled-down, "best-of" compilation, and it covers a lot of familiar territory. The game incorporates the tight controls the series is known for, letting you execute precision power slides with a touch of a button. Don't expect much realism though. Crashing into guardrails doesn't slow you down one bit, and the collision detection between cars is erratic at best. To be honest, I much prefer playing Ridge Racer on the big screen. The roads in this version look angular and the "bleeding" tail light effects look gratuitous. The scenery is not very impressive, and it's sometimes hard to see the road ahead. I also discovered that those tiny DS buttons will hurt your fingers if you have to hold them in for too long. Yes, you also have the option of steering via the touch screen, but that won't make your life any easier! Ridge Racer DS does offer substantial replay value, with a deep single-player mode along with wireless play for up to six players. Still, I find it very hard to get excited about this. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.