Tag: first impressions

Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

As you may have seen in Friday’s post, I recently bought The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds for Nintendo 3DS. This is a description of my first half hour or so with the game.

lbw-titleLink has overslept and has to hurry to the workplace of a blacksmith. Before leaving the house, I noticed that Majora’s Mask is hanging on Link’s wall! What’s that all about?

By looking at the overworld map, I can’t help but notice that it looks almost identical to the world of A Link to the Past. I knew A Link Between Worlds was set in the same world as A Link to the Past, but I wasn’t expecting the world to be practically identical!

Anyway, the blacksmith sends me off on an errand to return a sword to a captain who left it behind. On my way, I ran into a Hyrule soldier who commented about vandals painting on all the walls…that’s pretty funny if you know what Link can do later in the game. I was told to go to the sanctuary, but I did a little exploring first. I stopped to take a look at Kakariko Village, with all its familiar sights. The buildings were all locked or closed of course, but it was definitely a nostalgic visit.

lbw-villageI also walked into the Haunted Grove and the animals scattered, just like they did in A Link to the Past. It’s just a joy to revisit these memorable places from A Link to the Past.

I eventually went ahead to the sanctuary, and I was surprised to see Dampe’ from Ocarina of Time outside. But something bad happened inside the sanctuary, and I was unable to go in. Dampe told me there was a secret passage from the graveyard into the sanctuary. So I had to push some gravestones until I found some stairs, which led me down into the sewers. I had to use a lantern to light the way while avoiding rats. It’s a lot like a scene from A Link to the Past. Once I got to the sanctuary, I saw that the captain and a woman named Seres were turned into paintings by a villain named Yuga. It looked like a woman, but the game referred to Yuga as “him.” After a failed attempt at attacking Yuga, I was knocked unconscious and I woke up back in my house.

I was told I had to get to the castle to warn Princess Zelda. Once I reached her, she told me I needed to find the elder, Sahasrahla, in Kakariko Village. I went to see him, and he told me to go ahead to the Eastern Palace. This series of events closely mirrors those of A Link to the Past. A Link Between Worlds was originally going to be a remake of A Link to the Past before it turned into a sequel, and it really shows. The early going is surprisingly similar to the SNES classic. But that’s not a bad thing, as A Link to the Past was a great game (and my favorite Zelda game).

I’m not very far into A Link Between Worlds yet, but I am enjoying what I’ve seen so far. I’m looking forward to getting into a dungeon next time. However, I’m probably going to be focusing my gaming time on Super Mario 3D World for a while. But I will definitely get back to A Link Between Worlds, so keep checking Jeff’s Gaming Blog for updates on both games.

Buy The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds at Amazon

Buy Super Mario 3D World at Amazon

lbw-sanctuary

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

It’s been nine long years since Pikmin 2 was released, and finally, Pikmin fans have a new game to play. Pikmin 3 has just been released for Wii U and I picked it up today. Once I put the disc in, it downloads and installs an update. That took several minutes, and then I started watching the opening sequence. The first thing that struck me is that the characters speak gibberish. Is Nintendo still stuck in the days of Banjo-Kazooie on N64? Maybe it’s just me, but I’d prefer actual language over “Arry, arry? Oo too roo umplin, wah wah.”

Pikmin 3 - Charlie screenshotAnyway, you start out as Captain Charlie. Your team has three characters, but all three begin the game in separate locations after a crash landing. Charlie stumbles onto yellow Pikmin very early on. You make your way through a snowy area, using Pikmin to clear away mushrooms that block your path.

p3-yellowAfter Charlie reaches a certain point, you switch to controlling Alph instead. He finds red Pikmin at his location. Much as in earlier games, you will order the Pikmin to build bridges, destroy walls, push boxes, and defeat enemies. And when need be, run for your life.

p3-redYou can control the game with a Wii remote and nunchuk, or you can use the Wii U gamepad. So far, I’ve only tried it with the gamepad. It seemed like gamepad controls would be most similiar to the controls of the original GameCube games, which used two sticks. Unfortunately, Nintendo hasn’t tried to keep the same control scheme. I’m used to pressing B to whistle for Pikmin, and now I have to use ZR. And the right stick is not used for directing the Pikmin like it was in the GameCube games, so the controls are going to take me a while to get used to. So far, I haven’t seen an option to customize the gamepad controls.

But controls aside, I am enjoying the game so far. I’ve only played two “days” of gameplay, and the first day is just a tutorial, so I’ve barely scratched the surface.  I’m looking forward to delving deeper into the game in the weeks ahead. I’ll be sure to update my progress from time to time, so be sure to check back!