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Super Mario Strikers
I don't really give soccer (or football, for those of you in Europeland) a lot of attention. It's fun to play, so I don't really know why. Super Mario Strikers has been my only real soccer play time ever, despite it being completely inaccurate to how soccer actually works. Never mind all the Mario-esque Charge Shots and Bob-ombs, but you are capable of knocking each other over, beating them into an electric fence, and knocking out the goalie to allow a free hit. As epic as it sounds, I'm pretty sure that wouldn't fly in a real game! Also unlike actually professional soccer, your team is comprised of your captain and four other generic members, when real teams are much larger. This actually allows for more movement and strategy to get to your opponent's goal, and the game play is fact-paced enough that it never feels like the field is empty.
PROS | CONS |
| Soccer filled with explosions and crossed with the beat-em-up genre | You can only control one member at a time, and swapping doesn't really work that well |
Super Mario 3D World
Super Mario 3D Land was a great idea, a good mix between 2D and 3D Mario games that felt like a mix of Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario 64. It was a purely single-player experience, though, so the sequel, Super Mario 3D World took it a step further. Mario and Luigi are now joined by Peach and Toad (as well as an unlockable Rosalina) to save the Sprixies that were captured by Bowser. The game uses a lot of power-ups that make great use of the 3D space, from the traditional Fire Flower to the new Super Bell, and even being able to ride within a Koopa Shell. There was enough added to this game that didn't make it feel like just a rehash of 3D Land, but I don't feel like it's very refined. The depth perception is terrible in this game, as it uses 3D Land's camera angles, which mainly relined on the use of the 3DS's 3D function. The controls don't feel all that solid, I don't know why we need to have a run button with a control stick. 3D World certainly has a bigger focus on teamwork, so if you're going it alone, you may run into a bit of trouble with some challenges.
| PROS | CONS |
| Incredible visuals and soundtrack, with fun power-ups and surroundings | Depth perception is terrible in this game |
| Plenty of well-thought out challenges that make great use of the Gamepad and teamwork |
Pokken Tournament
At last, those Pokemon anime battles can finally become a reality! Pokken Tournament takes the one-on-one Pokemon battles and mixes it with the gameplay of the Tekken series (hence "Pokken") for a chance to see your Pokemon on the field. Each Pokemon has their own set of moves, much more than just the four you're limited to in the main series, and are capable of moving around the field in real time. The field also shifts from 3D space to 2D space, which is done by landing certain moves, turning it into a traditional fighting game mid-battle and opens up new moves and strategies.
There is a very small pool of Pokemon to choose from, however, from ones you would expect in a fighting game (as in, the more human ones) to the likes of Suicune and Gengar. Any other Pokemon can still take part as Support Pokemon. The battlefields don't add much variety, either; they are all different circular shapes, but the terrain does nothing special. The story for the game is pretty cool, having to go up against a corrupted Shadow Mewtwo, but all of the voice actors sounds kind of sleepy and like they'd rather be doing anything else. Especially the partner that is with your for the entirety of the game, Nia, who is very obviously reading from the script. These are all minor complaints though, and don't hamper game play any.
Pokken Tournament Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch also adds additional Pokemon into the mix, including those from the Alola Region from Sun and Moon.
| PROS | CONS |
| Fast-paced action | Voice acting from the human characters needs work |
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass was our first Nintendo DS title, we got it with a special Golden Triforce DS bundle. It really shows what the DS is capable of, far more than that of launch title Super Mario 64 DS. Movement is completely controlled by the touch screen, with some exceptions, and the puzzles make great use of touch controls and the note taking. Overworld exploring is done by boat, like its prequel Wind Waker, though it's done by plotting a course and letting new character Linebeck take the wheel. While the controls are a bit awkward and can take some time to get used to, the main complaint with this game centers around the frequently-visited Temple of the Ocean King. You come back to this level a LOT. Literally every time you complete a dungeon, you have to return to Mercay Island to find out where to go next, even if you are on the complete opposite side of the world, and progress through the dungeon in a time-restricted environment from the start every single time.
| PROS | CONS |
| Well done puzzles and interesting game play mechanics | Temple of the Ocean King |
| Linebeck is an absolutely hilarious character with great development |
Fire Emblem Heroes
As a big Fire Emblem fan, I enjoyed seeing some of the characters all come together as Spotpass units in Fire Emblem Awakening. But Fire Emblem Heroes took that a step farther and started including everybody! From well-known series icons to the obscure units like it's looking like literally every Fire Emblem character will make their way into the game at some point. The game is constantly receiving updates, and even characters already in the game are getting variants based on seasonal events and holidays. I absolutely love seeing all the characters come together, but that's really the best part about the game. Being a mobile phone title, the character acquisition is entirely based on luck, you spend 5 Orbs for every pull, and you will usually not get the character you are hoping for. Basic game play of Fire Emblem is also heavily streamlined to be able to fit on the phone screens, with movement and statistics nowhere near the level of the regular Fire Emblems. That said, this is easily the best phone games ever, to the point where it was the number one best seller for phone games, beating out the likes of Pokemon GO.
| PROS | CONS |
| The biggest Fire Emblem troupe ever | Character obtaining is restricting to the luck-based gatcha system |
| While some characters are hit-and-miss, Heroes definitely shows the time and effort that is put into it |
