eShop Review: Gargoyle's Quest - One Hell of a Classic Game

Say what you will about Capcom, but the quality of its Game Boy endeavors is undeniable. Capcom's Gargoyle's Quest, a highly-revered Game Boy title, is now available as a Virtual Console download on the Nintendo eShop for $3.99.

Gargoyle's Quest has you take control of Firebrand, a gargoyle tasked with saving the Ghoul Realm from the evil King Breager, the "King of Destruction" who has returned to power years after suffering defeat. While the awfully generic plot does little in terms of engaging the player, it does a wonderful job of setting the mood for an amazing adventure.

Fans of the Ghosts 'n Goblins series will notice that Firebrand is actually an enemy from Capcom's popular platformer. Gargoyle's Quest offers a unique opportunity to play as Satan's offspring, which makes for, at the least, a very interesting experience.

For a Game Boy Game, Gargoyle's Quest has quite impressive visuals.  There's something charming about the 8-bit graphics and extremely dated music that makes this game quite enjoyable to play after twenty-one years.  And while there is occasional slow-down, things usually return to normal speed within seconds and have no real impact on gameplay.

Gargoyle's Quest is unlike most other side-scrolling platformers, incorporating several elements of role-playing games. When Firebrand isn't engaging in tricky platforming and side-scrolling random battles, he'll traverse the Ghoul Realm in a top-down perspective. The ratio between side-scrolling levels and top-down exploring is perfect, and you won't get bored of either quickly.

Like any respectable RPG, there are several items throughout Gargoyle's Quest that will enhance Firebrand's abilities and aid him in his adventure. Items will easily become your best friends as the difficulty of Gargoyle's Quest is quite high. Thankfully, there are plenty of unique features - like the ability to hover, cling to walls, and fire projectiles - that make every frustrating level a bit more enjoyable.

If you're like me, you'll find yourself creating Restore Points often to avoid restarting a particularly difficult section.  While Gargoyle's Quest can be difficult, you'll never suffer a cheap death, and the game's difficulty is part of what makes it so good.

Gargoyle's Quest is a beautiful blend of exciting platforming action and well-implemented RPG elements.  At $3.99, Gargoyle's Quest is a must-have title that earns four stars out of four.

Also Available This Week on the Nintendo eShop
Calculator (Nintendo eShop/DSiWare)
Let's Create! Pottery (Nintendo eShop/DSiWare)
Magical Whip: Wizards of Phantasmal Forest (Nintendo eShop/DSiWare)

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Amazon and Target Selling Nintendogs + Cats for $20 (US)

In addition to Best Buy's selling a range of Nintendo 3DS titles for $20, both Amazon and Target will be offering all three Nintendogs + Cats titles at half-price.  If you're undecided on these titles, be sure to check out Castelia City's review of Nintendogs + Cats!

Titles currently on sale for $20 include:

Amazon

• BlazBlue Continuum Shift II
• DEAD OR ALIVE Dimensions
• Nintendogs + Cats: French Bulldog and New Friends
• Nintendogs + Cats: Golden Retriever and New Friends
• Nintendogs + Cats: Toy Poodle and New Friends
• Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D

Best Buy

• BlazBlue Continuum Shift II
• Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion
• DEAD OR ALIVE Dimensions
• Madden NFL Football
• Raving Rabbids: Travel in Time 3D
• Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D
• The Sims 3
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars

Target

• Nintendogs + Cats: French Bulldog and New Friends
• Nintendogs + Cats: Golden Retriever and New Friends
• Nintendogs + Cats: Toy Poodle and New Friends

If you want to learn more about these games, be sure to check out Castelia City's reviews!

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Best Buy Offering $20 3DS Titles Until August 27 (US)

Starting today, Best Buy will be selling select Nintendo 3DS titles for $20.  This promotion ends on August 27, so be sure to act fast.  Titles on sale include:

• BlazBlue Continuum Shift II
• Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion
  
• DEAD OR ALIVE Dimensions
• Madden NFL Football
• Raving Rabbids: Travel in Time 3D
• Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D
• The Sims 3
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars

If you want to learn more about these games, be sure to check out our reviews!

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Review: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D - A Remake for the Ages

Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 64 was the first Zelda game to abandon traditional sprites and feature three-dimensional gameplay. Now, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D is the first Zelda title to be playable in full glasses-free 3D.

Ocarina of Time translates amazingly to a handheld game. A new touch-screen interface has been implemented that helps in a lot of previously difficult tasks, and motion controls have even been added.  Of course, motion controls can be disabled for those who want an experience more faithful to the original’s. For newer players, or even those who are just lost, there are also video clips to help in solving puzzles and clearing obstacles.

The classic story remains intact, but graphics have been updated and look absolutely stunning. Colors are extremely vibrant, and environments are generously detailed. Models that were previously blocky and washed-out are smooth and sharp. The graphical overhaul is most evident with 3D turned on, but don’t try to use 3D and motion controls at the same time - while both technologies do wonders for the game, using them in conjunction will result in a blurry, headache-inducing mess.

Unfortunately, Ocarina of Time’s music has not been updated to match the beautiful new graphics. This isn’t a major issue as the game still sounds great, but it would have definitely been nice to have a remastered soundtrack - especially since the game features a plethora of catchy tunes.

After beating Ocarina of Time 3D, players will realize that there’s much more to do in the incredibly difficult Master Quest. This is for the most serious of players, but the satisfaction one achieves from beating Master Quest is immense. Even after Master Quest, there is still Boss Rush mode, which can be played in a single sitting and is great for on-the-go play. Even once the main quest has been completed, Ocarina of Time 3D will keep you busy for a very long time.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D is a perfectly-handled remake that both veterans of the Zelda franchise and new players alike will enjoy. Despite a few, very minor complaints, there’s nothing not to love about this remake. It’s the best game currently out for the Nintendo 3DS, and it’s deserving of four stars out of four.  The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D is so good, in fact, that I believe it's deserving of an Editor's Choice award.

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eShop Review: Pokédex 3D - A Beautiful Way to Catch 'Em All

It's hard to find a free application more jam-packed with content and potential than Pokédex 3D.  The Pokédex application, available as a download through the Nintendo eShop, offers a unique 3D experience featuring the Pokémon introduced in Black and White Versions.

The Pokémon, traditionally seen as pixel art, come to life in beautiful 3D.  Each creature looks stunning, and this title quite literally gives new depth to the previously flat Pokémon.

Pokédex 3D starts you off with sixteen Pokémon, with an additional three arriving each day via SpotPass.  It's exciting to wake up every morning and discover the three new Pokémon that have arrivedd on your 3DS, and Pokédex 3D makes more use of SpotPass than any other title to date.  Pokémon can also be obtained by scanning special AR markers with the 3DS camera, and from friends over local wireless.

In true Pokémon fashion, you'll have to connect with a few friends to fill your Pokédex entirely.  This isn't exactly a negative, but the lack of online support means that some Pokédex 3D owners will never have the chance to complete their Pokédex.

In addition to a the top screen's 3D viewing experience, the touch screen provides detailed information concerning the Pokémon's stats, evolution line, and other important information.  This is a particularly useful tool for owners of Pokémon Black and White Versions, but will mean nothing to those who download the title just to see the pretty 3D models.

Pokédex 3D also features a surprisingly robust augmented reality function that is weighed down quite a bit by the 3DS' lackluster camera.  Still, the technology works great and adds a lot of value to this already-strong title.

Pokédex 3D is a brilliant, must-have title for 3DS owners and Pokémon fans alike.  Sure, being familiar with the series will enhance your experience, but Pokédex 3D provides a good deal of entertainment for anyone.  And while only fifth-generation Pokémon are currently available, there is a strong chance we'll be seeing some of our favorite older Pokémon in the near future.  With beautiful graphics that bring Pokémon to life, a useful reference tool, and an experience that emphasizes the Nintendo 3DS' core features, Pokédex 3D is a free download that I'd gladly fork over a few dollars for.  It gets four stars out of four.

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Review: DEAD OR ALIVE Dimensions - Knockout Title or Sucker Punch?

Fighting games are not my cup of tea, but Super Street Fighter 4: 3D Edition was able to get me into the genre. DEAD OR ALIVE Dimensions is an equally fun, well-polished fighter for the Nintendo 3DS.

It’s easy for anyone to pick up Dimensions and play a solid game right out of the box. Still, there are complex mechanics and skills for those who are willing to learn them. In-game tutorials make learning the ins and outs of DEAD OR ALIVE a breeze. There’s even the option to perform complex combos using the touch screen, but these are sometimes difficult to execute due to limited screen real estate and don’t provide the satisfaction of pulling off a killer combo.

Fights take place in extremely beautiful, interactive, and sometimes destructible environments. You can use these to your advantage by throwing your opponents into fire, off roofs, and over bridges. Characters also look great, but despite stunning graphics, there tends to be a bit of choppiness when playing in 3D.

In addition to the standard Arcade, Free Play, and Training Modes, DEAD OR ALIVE Dimensions features a pleasingly satiating Chronicle Mode, which ties together the entire DOA storyline and features beautiful cutscenes. There’s also the difficult Tag Challenge Mode and an Internet Play Mode that suffers from a bit of lag. My biggest issue with DOA Dimensions is its online system. It pales in comparison to Street Fighter’s, and really turned me off from that part of the game.

There are 25 characters to choose from, more than any previous entry in the series. Adding to the variety, there are plenty of costumes to unlock and download through SpotPass, and collectible figurines that can be photographed for show. With StreetPass and SpotPass support, there will always be new stuff to check out.

If you’re looking for an alternative to Street Fighter, a gateway drug to the DOA series, or just a chance to fight using well-endowed, scantily-clad women, then DEAD OR ALIVE Dimensions is a knockout. It gets three stars out of four.

Did I get it right?  Is DEAD OR ALIVE Dimensions a knockout, or simply a sucker punch?  Let me know in the comments!

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Review: Pilotwings Resort - Does it Soar Past Expectations?

Developed by Monster Games and Nintendo, Pilotwings Resort is a visually stunning flight simulation game available for Nintendo 3DS.

Players, as their Mii characters, take to the sky in three different types of aircraft - Planes, Rocket Belts, and Hang Gliders. Pilotwings focuses around the player's aerial antics throughout Wuhu Island (of Wii Sports Resort fame) and the various objectives and missions that must be completed along the way.

Pilotwings features two ways to play - Mission Flight Mode and Free Flight Mode, which provide structured, linear gameplay and a free-roaming adventure respectively. Mission Flight Mode offers, as you may have guessed, five sets of missions. Each tier must be completed using at least three different types of vehicles, keeping gameplay fresh and exciting. While early objectives - like following a basic path and flying through rings - are a bit mundane, Pilotwings features a few amazingly unique missions dispersed throughout each tier. In particular, I enjoyed photography-based missions, which offer scenic views in addition to relaxing gameplay. Other missions include rounding up UFOs and diving down a mountainside in a specially-tailored Squirrel Suit. There's certainly no shortage of creativity where missions are concerned, but there is a shortage of actual missions. With just over forty missions in total, Pilotwings isn't going to provide more than a few hours of unique gameplay.

Free Flight Mode offers a great opportunity to fly around Wuhu Island in one of six different aircraft, three of which have to be unlocked during Mission Flight Mode. To keep things interesting, there are various items to collect, balloons to be popped, and tricks to be performed throughout Free Flight. Some items are barely hidden, but others are tucked away in intricate, elusive locations. This means that every crevice of the island must be explored, providing for a great sightseeing adventure. Sadly, there's also an entirely unwarranted time cap, which essentially defeats the purpose of "free" flight. Still, the time limit does add a sense of challenge to what would be an otherwise noncompetitive game, so it's not all bad. There's plenty to see and do in Free Flight Mode, but it certainly gets boring quickly.

Visually, Pilotwings Resort excels. The environment is crisp, vivid, and full of objects that actually make 3D depth perception useful. With 3D turned on, distances and depth can be judged with ease, making flying the skies of Wuhu Island an even more pleasurable experience. No complaints here.

Resort features a relatively limited, calming audio playlist consisting mostly of elevator music. The conservative, yet catchy tracks serve their purpose - setting the atmosphere without stealing the show - perfectly, while well-timed sound effects augment the experience as a whole. Pilotwings Resort certainly doesn't have an award-worthy soundtrack, but its music works subtle magic to set the tone for the entire game.

Pilotwings Resort is a fantastic game, but all of its components share a common theme: Not enough content. With an insubstantial selection of missions, a limited soundtrack, and only one major island to explore, Pilotwings Resort left me feeling a bit cheated. On the other hand, a bit of the game's charm is mastering each mission - an extremely daunting task. Replaying missions over and over in search of a perfect score does, however, quickly become a stale and frustrating venture.

Had more missions or additional locales been added, the game would have potential for greatness. Luckily for fans, Nintendo does have the option to push out new content through SpotPass. Let's hope that Nintendo chooses not to ignore its own, highly ambitious distribution method and decides to send Pilotwings Resort players some love in the form of free downloadable content.  Until that fabled day, however, Pilotwings Resort is better off making a round-trip flight - rent, don't buy.  Despite being light on content, it gets three stars out of four.

Did I get it right?  Does Pilotwings Resort soar, or is it doomed for a crash landing?  Let me know in the comments!

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