Super Mario 3D World – First Impressions

Today was a big day for Nintendo games, with a new Mario game and a new Zelda game released on the same day. These are the games I’ve been waiting for, so I picked them both up today: Super Mario 3D World for Wii U and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds for 3DS.

mariozeldaMario and Zelda are two of my favorite game series, but I have to say Mario just slightly edges out Zelda. So Super Mario 3D World is the first of the two games I played, and it will be the focus of this blog entry. Right near the beginning of the first level, there is a bell power-up, which turns you into Cat Mario. Of course the first level is a great place to just explore and learn how to be a cat. Cat Mario can use his claws to scratch enemies and climb up walls.  The game has transparent pipes, which you basically fly through. I had fun just going back and forth through some of them. When you hold the run button, you can see a steam trail behind you. Here, you can see me chasing a rabbit.

sm3dw-rabbitThe game feels surprisingly fresh and innovative. That’s something that couldn’t be said of any Mario game of the past few years, not since the first Super Mario Galaxy on Wii. Most levels have three green stars to collect (so far), which you can grab all in one go–you don’t have to keep restarting the level to collect them one at a time like in some previous games.

sm3dw-purpleSome levels are completely different, including this stage where you must play as Toad. Toad can’t jump in these levels, so you have to cross bridges and platforms to reach ramps that let you ascend the tower.

sm3dw-toadThere was also a racing-type level where you ride a dinosaur named Plessie down a river.

Riding Plessie down a river.I’ve only played the first world, but I’m very impressed with the game so far. If the remaining worlds are as good as the first, this could be the best Mario game in a very long time. Other Mario games have had solid gameplay, but this one seems to have that spark of innovation that’s been lacking from Mario games in recent years. I’ll have more updates in the coming weeks, so check back for more. Here is a video of the first level, World 1-1. I’ll be sure to make more videos of this hot game, so subscribe on Youtube if you want to see more.

Buy Super Mario 3D World at Amazon
Buy Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds at Amazon

Pikmin 3 – Vehemoth Phosbat

I continued my game in Pikmin 3 today. I still needed to find the Captain, so I returned to the Distant Tundra level to resume my search. I made my way to a dark cave where a huge creature could be seen flying overhead. It was late in the day though, so I returned to my ship for the night. I had recovered two new pieces of fruit however, a citrus lump (orange) and dark pustules (grapes). After analyzing the new fruit, I was told that I have now recovered 10 types of fruit, and fruit will now show up on the radar. That will be definitely be helpful.

p3-10fruitWhen I returned to the cave, that big ugly creature was still flying around. I would later find out that it’s called a Vehemoth Phosbat.

p3-phosbatI saw that I needed to use yellow Pikmin to conduct electricity in order to turn on various light bulbs in the cave. The big flying creature did not enjoy the light, and it would temporarily stun it. This was my chance to attack!

p3-uglyIt was a battle, but I eventually beat the Vehemoth Phosbat. With its last bit of life, it tried to fly away…but instead smacked its head on a huge light bulb and fell to the ground. Once it landed, there was a big surprise! Its mouth opened up and our captain, Charlie, came out!

p3-captainHe told me that, based on a data file he found, Olimar (from the first two Pikmin games) must have landed on this planet shortly before we did! And he apparently has our cosmic-drive key, which we’ll need to leave the planet. So it’s clear now that we have to find Olimar! A new signal appeared to be coming from the Tropical Wilds area; could it be Olimar? I’ll have to head that way next time to find out.

Zelda LTTP: Death Mountain

I was overdue to resume my adventure in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for SNES. I needed one more pendant, and it just happened to be up on Death Mountain. So I headed up that way, when I ran into an old man who insisted on following me into a dark cave. If Fi was in this game, she might have told me that she’s 95% certain that going into dark caves with a stranger isn’t the best idea. But she’s not, so I did.

zlttp-oldmanIt turned out okay though. He gave me directions on when to turn and he warned me of hazards along the way. He was like my GPS (Grandpa Positioning System).

zlttp-watchstepOnce we made it out of the caves, he gave me a magic mirror.

zlttp-magicmirrorHe told me to gaze into it if I ever wander into a magical transporter. Uh okay, sure, gramps. He then asked me what channel Matlock was on. I quickly ran away from him and continued climbing the mountain.

Eventually, I reached…a magical transporter. Oh. Stepping into it transported me to a strange, mysterious place: The Dark World. This is one of the most memorable parts of the game for me. Link turns into a bunny, and there are two characters there. One of them kicks the other one around like a ball.

zlttp-bunnyStrategic use of the magic mirror allowed me to reach the next dungeon, the Tower of Hera. Throughout the dungeon, there are numerous switches that raise and lower blue and orange blocks. Likewise, there are star switches that you can step on to change the location of holes in the floor. They add some puzzle elements to the action.

zlttp-switchesA large treasure chest holds the Moon Pearl, which allows Link to retain his normal shape when entering the Dark World. This allows him to use his normal items, which he can’t do in bunny form.

zlttp-moonpearlThe boss of this dungeon is Moldorm, a large yellow worm that you must fight on a relatively small platform with no walls.

zlttp-moldormIt’s quite easy to be knocked of this platform, so it can be frustrating if you’re fighting him for the first time. Fortunately for me, I’ve played this game several times before. So I remembered to use spin attacks and attack his tail, and I didn’t have much trouble with him this time. Once I defeated him, I received the Pendant of Wisdom. (Where exactly was the worm storing this pendant?)

zlttp-wisdomI can now head to the lost woods to acquire the Master Sword! So that’s where I’ll be headed next time.