Nintendo has released several versions of this game over the years: If you pre-ordered Wind Waker, you were treated to a disc with several classic Zelda games. The disc also featured a version of Ocarina of Time that included some slightly updated graphics and an additional Master Quest, an odd re-mix of the original quest with some twists. There was also a version released for the Wii’s Virtual Console. This version is a faithful recreation of the original game. With all these remakes and re-releases, should you even spend the money to buy this version? ABSOLUTELY!

If you were too young to be introduced to Ocarina of Time, this is the way to play it. And if you are one of the many gamers that have beaten this game several times, this is the way to play it. This remake does so much more than simply rehash the same adventure. It fixes many of the small issues that you may have by playing the original cartridge.

First and most significant is the menu system. Having to pause the game and go to a multi-screen menu to equip the iron boots was a huge problem in the original, especially in the water temple. The developers recognized this issue and made the iron and hover boots items you can assign to one of the four shortcut buttons on the touchscreen. They also moved the Save option to the Start button, which solves the problem of going to that Save screen when you accidentally press the wrong button when exiting the inventory screen. It’s remarkable how they were able to get so much functionality out of so few buttons.

They also really updated the graphics. What’s truly amazing about this update is that they stayed true to the original source, but beefed up the detail and textures to add more life to everything. There are some debates out there that maybe they didn’t do enough. I am going to disagree with that notion and state that the feel of the original game was so integral to the experience, and updating the graphics too much would take away from the nostalgic feeling that veterans of the game will experience.

The updated graphics actually make things easier to see subtle details and clues. In the Water Temple, there is a cut-scene that subtly hints at a hidden passageway under a floating block. In the original, I completely missed that because the graphics were a little hazy. In this version, it was clear that there was a gaping hole. It’s easier to notice the Tri-Force symbols that are strewn around various dungeons. And they did it without sacrificing the images conjured by my memories of the first game, it enhances them.
The most dynamic change to the graphics is the 3D. Since this was one of the games to bring video games into the 3rd dimension, it is only appropriate to remake it in true glasses-free 3D. And it looks great. I would argue that is actually makes things a little easier, especially when tracking the distance of those pesky Keese or when playing energy-bolt tennis with Phantom Gannon and Gannondorf. Navi and the Deku Tree have never looked better.

The game uses the gyroscope to allow you to look around the environment by moving the 3DS unit around. When you go into a first-person perspective or aim the hookshot, bow, slingshot, and boomerang, you can either use the analog stick to look around or move the 3DS around. It’s like your DS is a virtual window into Hyrule. It is a neat addition that makes aiming a bit easier. Be careful and make sure that you are turning with the 3DS or else you will lose the 3D effect and the screen will get blurry and make you dizzy. For those who don’t like the 3D, or it makes them feel dizzy, you can just turn it down or off. Some people turn it off when they are in first-person. I personally like it on all the time. One thing I noticed is that there is a weird paradox while using the gyroscope to look around. You don’t have to turn all the way around to see behind you as Link turns much faster than you do. It only takes a quarter turn for you to see directly behind Link.

Nintendo has also included the Master Quest! This odd, and challenging remix that was introduced in the Master Quest re-release for the Gamecube takes the game and flips it around, as well as changes up some of creatures you find in the dungeons. It’s amazing how turned around you will get in the Master Quest after you get familiar with the layout of the original.

Another inclusion is a boss challenge mode. You can relive any boss battle you have already completed. There is a timer so you can go online to see how you stack up against others. It’s actually kind of nice to have a chance to practice these battles so when you play through the game again, you stand a better chance, especially in the Master Quest.

Best of all, the game is portable. It may be worth the purchasing a 3DS just to get a chance to play it. If you don’t believe me, borrow it from someone first and you will see what I mean. This is truly a worthy remake of one of the greatest video games in history.

The concept is simple, you will play through a whole new story that takes place prior to the events in the movie. This 2D side-scrolling version of the game introduces many of the characters in the movie. Each chapter, seven in all, is broken up into three parts, which is capped with a big boss battle at the end. Using Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir, and his God Powers, you fight wave after wave of enemies as you explore each world that Loki sends you to. That pretty much sums it up.

If this concept sounds fun to you, by all means pick up a copy of this game. For me, it felt like I was fighting the same four or five enemies, just packaged up a little different each time. At least there are several ways to dispatch enemies and runes that you can use to spruce up your already overwhelming powers.

Some of the platforms are destructible and can be dropped on enemies. The only problem is that most of the time you end up knocking them down on accident while trying to bash enemies rather than being able to use it as a strategy.  Also, you can pick up enemies and use them as umbrellas for falling toxic rain, or as a weapon. Although the sequences are at times frustrating, the moments where I had to use an enemy in this fashion are a nice change of pace from the “run till the screen stops, then fight a bunch of enemies till the screen moves again” formula.

While the main levels are pretty bland, the boss battles spice it up a bit. While none of them are too difficult, they present a nice challenge and exhibit some creativity on the part of the game-makers. They are big enough to fill both screens and have some sort of weakness you have to exploit to beat them.

The graphics and the music don’t get in the way, and that’s a good thing. They also aren’t very good. The character’s have lots of jagged edges and the cut scenes just feature still cut-outs with text boxes, which is really pretty standard for the DS. The bosses look epic, but it’s nothing that we haven’t already seen on inferior platforms such as the Gameboy Advance.

If you beat the game, you gain access to a Survival mode that pits you against each of these enemies in a constant stream. In this mode, you get to choose which world you want to explore, so in a sense you are playing the same game as the single player story minus a couple of the game’s most interesting elements.

Other bonus content includes a gallery of the game’s art featuring work by Mark Brooks, a sound player that plays music and sound FX from the game, and another mode where you can pick any of the main NPCs from the game and beat up even more of the same enemies from the game. Sadly, none of this adds enough to the experience to say that it adds any value to the game.

I could probably recommend better side-scrolling beat ‘em ups to you, but if your kid is into Thor, this should keep him occupied for a few hours. The difficulty is low and the moves are varied so kids new to games may enjoy the added complexity to an otherwise simple and easy game.

Thor God of Thunder (DS) is rated E 10+ for Everyone 10 years and up and is available on the Nintendo DS.  Other versions of the game are available for the Xbox 360, PS3, and the Nintendo Wii.

A review copy of the game was provided and did not affect the outcome of this review.

Check out our Thor God of Thunder Wii review and Xbox 360 review.

The game itself ups the difficulty from its predecessors by adding more technique. There are many new attack styles and ways to break an opponent’s blocks and exploit your enemy. You have Super Combos, Ultra Combos, EX Attacks, and Focus Attacks. Each of these have different qualities that, when used under the right conditions, do some serious damage and can break the opponents block. The system is fairly complex and can take some time to learn.

Fortunately, the 3DS version allows you to use its “Lite” control scheme that allows you to map special attacks to buttons on the touch screen. You can map four special moves. This allows you to practice difficult moves right out of the box and adds a handicap for newer players so they can compete with veterans from the get-go. If you are confident in your skills, you can turn this mode off.

The new control options do effect the balance of online matches because there is no rule that you have to be a rookie to use the “Lite” mode. You can search for opponents only using Pro mode, but they tend to be really rare and really good. For veterans, using the “Lite” mode makes you almost invincible to n00bs online.

The buttons on the 3DS are a little small making it more difficult than ever to pull off your moves. With a little practice (and a little cramping), you will start to get the hang of it. Also, the main issue with Street Fighter and handhelds is the 6-button configuration. This forces you to use the shoulder buttons for certain attacks, which can be awkward. The included training mode helps a little, but ultimately, you will have to seek an online guide or play with friends that are willing to help you to really learn the controls and how to pull off special moves.

Being on a smaller screen, the graphics are as sharp as ever. They look great, especially the Ultra Combos. Capcom also created a new 3D view mode that puts the camera over your shoulder as your fighter moves towards and away from you in 3D space. It looks pretty cool, although it’s a little disorienting at first. The only downside to the graphics is that the backgrounds to each level are now completely static. This doesn’t take away too much from the overall experience as it is hardly noticeable unless you are looking for it.

The music and sounds are straight from the console/arcade releases. It sounds great and there is no compromise because it is on a smaller system. You can use headphones for the best experience.

The game also uses StreetPass and Play Coins to collect and trade figures. Until the system is in more hands, though, these features will add little to your experience. When more people have this title, you can assemble StreetPass teams with collected figurines that you buy with Play Coins. Your team will do battle with other players’ teams as you walk pass them.

Even with these few little issues, Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition for the Nintendo 3DS is the best fighter available for any handheld system. The game sacrifices very little and adds just enough to be a great value, and I can safely recommend this version over any other simply from the fact that you can carry it with you wherever you go. The downside to that is if you want to play with a friend, they have to have a 3DS and a copy of the game too.

Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition is rated T for Teen and is available now exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS.

This was my first PSP minis game. I played it for a while on the PS3 and then transferred it to my PSP. It’s definitely more suited for a handheld system and iFun4All obviously knew this as the game is coming soon to the iPhone and iPad.

Fish Tank is a Match 3 type of puzzle game that borrows heavily from Tetris and Bejeweled. It is set underwater, in a Fish Tank (duh), and its game board is set up horizontally with the game pieces (fish) coming from left to right towards rows and columns of bubbles. As they reach the right side, they become encased in a bubble and can only disappear when 4 or more fish of the same color are lined up. You can control which bubble row you what a particular fish to go with the D-Pad. When 4 or more fish are lined up, a button icon appears and you must press the corresponding button to make the cluster of fish disappear. You can speed up the fish with the R button and you can activate power ups with the L button.

The game is pretty straightforward although, I had a bit of a tough time with it my first time through. Once I read the directions and got used to its horizontal set-up, I was kinda hooked. The game features Easy, Medium, and Hard difficulties and each level will vary in the number of colored fish available. You have a time limit and a mistake limit and when either of these are up, the game is over. There is also a Challenge Mode with 24 sets of various challenging “puzzles”, each with its unique level handicap.

Fish Tank also features Trophies on the PS3 and Achievements for the PSP. There is no multiplayer in either the PS3 or the PSP versions but that doesn’t hurts its overall value; it’s definitely a single player experience.

The graphics aren’t the greatest and on an HD TV with the PS3, it is quite apparent with the jaggy lines. It looks far better on the PSP, as to be expected. The music is annoying but catchy as I am humming it in my (can’t get it out of my) head right now. Once you get into it, it’s a fun and addicting game. If you enjoy these types of puzzle games, you may very well enjoy Fish Tank. If you have an iPhone or iPad, you may want to hold out until those versions come out.

Fish Tank is available now on PSN for the PS3 and can also be downloaded onto a Sony MemoryStick and played on the PSP. The iPhone and iPad versions are coming soon.

A review code was provided but did not affect the outcome of this review.

Being on a handheld, I’m much more forgiving of some of the graphical shortcuts. I’m pleased to say that there aren’t many issues with the graphics in this game. The world isn’t that large, so you don’t have a lot of areas to cover, but you will visiting a couple of small villages, a large city, a flooded forest, and a couple of other very unique areas that I will refrain to mention as it might spoil some surprises. They all look good and have unique features that make each area feel fresh and new. The characters all have a hand-drawn look to them that animates well on the DS.

But this franchise is about gameplay and story, and I’m pleased to report that both are excellent. As you play the game, it’s apparent that Capcom has a lot of experience with creating Zelda titles for the DS. They developed The Minish Cap, as well as both Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, both critically acclaimed Zelda titles. Ōkamiden draws heavily from Phantom Hourglass, although they did not develop that title. In making a direct comparison between Phantom Hourglass and Ōkamiden, I can safely say that the story element is stronger in Ōkamiden, but the gameplay element is just not as strong as any of the Zelda DS titles. OK, I will stop talking about Zelda now and get to the nitty-gritty.

The gameplay is a little clunky, but it’s effective. You control Chibiterasu, the wolf-child of Amaterasu from the first game, by using the analog pad. This isn’t strange in and of itself, but coupled with the odd camera, it has some uncomfortable moments where you are pressing down on the pad, but you are not going straight down. It’s difficult to describe but it’s worthy to note because you will notice, especially when you need to make small adjustments to line up with a character or item. It doesn’t ruin the experience, I just kept wondering if there was a better way to handle the movement and honestly, maybe there isn’t.

Navigating the menus is easy and also includes a “hot” menu for frequently used items. I never actually used this menu because I like to pause the action while I decide what items to use, but it’s there for those who will find it useful. Switching weapons is a breeze, but since there are no stats for your weapons so it’s hard to know what the best weapon is. Although it really doesn’t matter what weapon you choose because your main weapon will be your brush techniques.

Combat in Ōkamiden is just like Okami. There aren’t any random encounters, however you will see Daemon Scrolls floating around the world. Should you choose to bump into a Daemon Scroll, you are transported into the Daemon Plane where you are confined to a small area in which to combat the daemons of the scroll. There is a rift in each scroll so if you need to escape, you can cut a hole in the rift and flee. Combat is easy enough that you will probably never have to flee.

You have three weapons you can use to defeat Daemon Scrolls. You start out with a Celestial Mirror, which is the disc on your back. You can switch this main weapon out with other types later in the game. Your second weapon is your partner. You will almost always have a partner with you that can perform certain attacks and combos to aid you. Your third weapon is your celestial brush. You can use brush techniques to slice, bomb, and perform different elemental attacks to quickly dispatch your enemy. Once you unlock a certain technique, you are required to use it in the next battle, especially during boss battles.

Boss battles are the most fun because you are not transported to another plane and you can use the environment around you to find ways to damage these colossal enemies. These are obviously the most challenging parts of the game, but the game wisely puts a save point near every boss battle, so if you do fail, it’s not that much of a pain to get to a rematch. Even on hard, there aren’t too many boss battles that you will have to try multiple times. It seems that this game is more about going through a story rather than challenging your gaming skills.

And the story is quite good. It focuses on the theme of companionship, which explains the “buddy” mechanic that prevails throughout most of the game. Early on, you are paired with Issun, a small green bug who was featured in Okami. Later, you will meet and pair up with several different characters, each with their own powers. You can also have them do little tasks on their own by directing a path for them to follow using your celestial brush. Each partner you meet has an interesting story of their own and, in the end, you have to use all of them to complete your objective. It’s a quirky story that can be sickly sweet at times, but still keeps you interested to find out what happens next.

While Ōkamiden seems skewed towards a younger audience, with its friendship theme and simple dialogue, I still really enjoyed the game and I am playing through it a second time, trying to find all of the collectibles in the game. In fact, I think that this would be an awesome game for a parent and child to enjoy together. Kids might find certain battles a little challenging and an adult could easily help out with the tougher sections. The game teaches excellent lessons about forgiveness and kindness that should resonate with children.

I can safely recommend this game to anyone that has enjoyed the original Okami or any Zelda game, particularly Phantom Hourglass. I also think it’s a great game for someone wanting to give the action adventure genre a try for the first time. However, if you’re someone that won’t buy a Wii because it’s too “kiddy”, you might want to skip this one, but you know that already, don’t you?

Ōkamiden is rated E10+ for Everyone 10 years and up and is available now, exclusively for the Nintendo DS for $29.99.

A review copy was provided but did not affect the outcome of this review.

But what about everything else? And is it worth it to purchase yet another handheld?

WHAT WE KNOW:

• The 3DS will feature 3D graphics without needing special glasses.

• Like the DS before it, it features 2 displays, however the upper screen is larger and the lower screen is smaller:

• Top screen: 3.53 inches/resolution 800×240 pixels/3D capable

• Bottom screen: 3.02 inches/resolution 320×240/Touchscreen.

FEATURES:

• Microphone for recording your voice or for game control.

• Motion Sensor and Gyroscope.

• Analog Control via the Circle Pad. Gives you a “joystick” feel.

• 3 Single Focus Lens Cameras: Two of the cameras face outward and allow to capture stereoscopic 3D images. The third camera, which does NOT capture images in 3D, faces the user and may be used in certain game software. Resolutions are 640×480 for each camera.

• Adjustable Stylus that allows you to make it shorter or longer.

• Mii characters. You can create your own Mii avatar, or create one by taking a 3D photo of yourself and let the hardware make one for you.

• Wireless Communication within 98.4 feet depending on environmental situations. The connection speed is 2.4 GHz and supports IEEE802.11 b/g with the WPA™/WPA2™ security feature.

• Sleep Mode. A low energy mode that allows it to send and receive data wirelessly from other 3DS units.

• SpotPass™ allows the DS to find areas where you can wirelessly connect to the internet via wireless hotspots or wireless LAN access points.

• Street Pass™ that allows your 3DS to connect with other 3DS units in the vicinity when the units are in Sleep Mode. You control what information is shared while they are connected, such as Mii characters and high scores.

• eShop where you can purchase software or view trailers, reviews and maybe more. This will not be available when the system launches.

• Charging Cradle. Instead of plugging in the 3DS, you will place it on a cradle to charge up the batter. You can leave the 3DS in sleep mode while charging.

• A 2 GB SD Memory Card is included for storing photos, recordings, games and music. You can purchase your own SD or SDHC card to increase your storage.

• Support for MP3 and AAC file formats which are two of the most common music file formats available today. This should allow you to play most of your iTunes library.

• Backwards compatibility with most DS and DSi games. Games that include special accessories or games that were intended for the Game Boy™ Advance and prior will not work with the 3DS.

• Parental Controls allow you to restrict game content and connectivity.

• 3D Depth Slider that allows you to adjust and turn off the 3D effects.

• The battery is a lithium ion battery with a life of approximately 3-8 hours depending on what functions are being used. It takes about 3.5 hours to completely charge the batter.

• The stereo speakers are placed to the left and right of the top screen. You can also plug in standard ear buds into the audio jack and enjoy stereo output.

• Built-in software includes the Home Menu, Nintendo 3DS Camera, Nintendo 3DS Sound, Mii Maker, StreePass, Mii Plaza, AR Games, Activity Log, Face Raiders, and maybe more.

• Launch colors: Aqua Blue and Cosmo Black

WHAT’S DIFFERENT?
Here is what’s different from the DSi. Many of these features are in the list above:

• 3D effects, including the ability play 3D games and take 3D pictures. The DS had two cameras, one facing in and one facing out, so the only new thing is the 3D effect via the third outer camera.

• Most of the built-in software such as AR Games, Face Raiders, Mii Maker, Street Pass™ Mii Plaza™, and others that feature 3D are all new.

• The Nintendo 3DS Sound application is also new, although we are not sure if it features or uses 3D.

• The System Transfer feature.

• $250.00 launch price is quite a bit of a difference from previous Nintendo handheld launch prices: at least $100 more!

• The top screen has increased in size, while the lower screen has shrunk a little bit. This shouldn’t effect game play whatsoever.

• Adjustable stylus.

• The Circle Pad analog stick.

• Home Button that allows you to access the Home Screen, even from a game’s pause menu.

• What happened to the ability to adjust the backlit screen brightness?

• It’s more powerful than the DSi in terms of graphic and processing power.

DSi

• CPU: The DSi has two ARM architecture CPUs ARM9 and ARM7. The ARM9 is clocked at 133 MHz.

• RAM: 16 MB

• Storage: 256 MB of internal flash memory with a SD card (up to 2 GB) and SDHC card (up to 32 GB) expansion slot.

• Wireless: 802.11b/g internal wireless connectivity

• There is a great breakdown located on the 3DS Wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3DS

WHAT WE DON’T KNOW

• How much games will be.

• Launch titles, although we know many titles that will release within a launch window. Who cares? You still have all the DS games that are out, and there are some awesome titles!

• When the Internet Browser and eShop be available.

• What other colors be available and when.

OK, now that you know everything there is to know about the new system, here are some of the things that people who have seen it are saying:

The 3D effect really works! you can adjust the amount of 3D to suit your tastes using the 3D slider on the unit. However, under certain circumstances, such as as you tilt the unit or pull the unit away, you can lose the 3D effect. This is interesting because the unit also has the gyroscope, so games probably won’t be able to use both at the same time to its full potential.

The fact that Nintendo is releasing a handheld system for $250.00 is not very characteristic of the company. They usually make many sacrifices in a system’s hardware to bring the price point down to a consumer friendly level. Could this be a risk? I doubt it. This is technology the masses have been waiting for. The biggest complaint about 3D is that you need glasses. Not anymore! The fact that it works so well is a “you have to see it” kind of thing that will sell units like mad. Already the DSi sales numbers have dropped considerably as people are holding out for the new system, so $250 shouldn’t scare anybody away.

Nintendo also has a sordid history regarding releasing new versions of their handheld hardware relatively soon after the launch of the first generation. You saw the DS Lite, with a much improved aesthetic design, released a mere 2 years after the DS. The DSi, which upgraded the system’s CPU and RAM, was released 2 years after that along with the DS XL. Also, many colors were shown at E3 so they are bound to release new colors once initial sales slow down. So should you wait? I wouldn’t, unless the color of the system is that important to you, and even then I’m sure companies will start releasing skins for the device if they haven’t already. In two years, the tech may be ready to upgrade, and so will you. Of course, if you wait, prices of the system will probably drop as will the price of some of the amazing launch-window titles. So if money is tight, maybe you should hold out.

What about the PSP2? There is no doubt the PSP2 will be an amazing handheld gaming system. It’s pretty much a guarantee that the graphics will blow the 3DS out of the water. Not only that, but there are some pretty cool technology that is going to be used in Sony’s handheld, including multi-touch and touch-pad on the back of the device. Very exciting stuff. Two points to consider though:

1) No 3D
2) Price. You think $250.00 is bad. Try $300 – $350!

With all systems, console and handheld alike, the games are king. Honestly, there are only a handful of amazing games for Sony’s fledgeling system, yet I’m guessing the new system will be able to play these games. Nintendo has a back catalog of countless games for the DS that are both critical and commercial successes for the DS, and they have announced that most DS games (those that don’t come with special peripherals), will be playable on the 3DS.

I feel that my money is best spent on the 3DS just based on the fact that I spend more time with my DS than the PSP. I never really got into the way the PSP feels in my hands. I also believe that the better value will be with Nintendo’s device. However, I’m the kind of guy that will own both soon enough anyway (especially if April has anything to say about it!).

Related Links

For those of you who don’t already know Ōkami, it is an original Capcom title that has since inspired top titles such as Twilight Princess and Epic Mickey. It was originally released as an exclusive PS2 game and features an incredibly gorgeous art style that made the whole game look like it was painted onto your TV with watercolor. You play as the white wolf Amaterasu, the Goddess of the Sun, as she embarks on an epic quest to rid the world of the demons that were released in ignorance by a skeptical warrior named Susano. Using her powers, Amaterasu learns the 13 Celestial Brush techniques that eventually restors the land to its former glory. The quest rivals that of its major inspiration, The Ocarina of Time, in both length and complexity.

The new game, Ōkamiden (which translates to Wolf Tale) features Chibiterasu, a youthful sun god. However, this is not a prequel, and in fact takes place about nine months after the events that concluded Ōkami. The game will feature a new cast of characters and items that will help Chibiterasu in her quest to restore order to the land. Along the way, Chibi will learn lessons on friendship, responsibility, and love between parents and children.

The Celestial Brush returns from the original game and as in the original, you can turn any screen into a canvas and paint symbols over objects to produce different effects. For example, drawing a circle over a dying tree will cause it to bloom with leaves and flowers. You also use the brush in combat, where you can paint slashes through enemies that translate to sword slashes in the real world, or paint a bomb on the screen to blow up several enemies at once. In Ōkami, your ink vials replenished over time, however Chibi is still too young to possess that strength, so he has to find vials to replenish his ink stores.

Also returning is scroll painting art style that made the original such a critical success. While the DS can’t quite capture the subtle details featured in the PS2 version, it compares well to its Wii counterpart, which ditched the cool paper-like texture that permeated the background. The screenshots do not do it justice; to really appreciate the quality of the graphics, you have to see it in action.

New to the series is the ability to partner-up with a few of the characters in the game. You can have them ride Chibi, or you can use your Celestial Brush to paint a path for them to take, a la Phantom Hourglass. Each of these characters possess special abilities that will help Chibi in her quest.

We got to play a couple of levels at the demo and I didn’t want to put it down. The gameplay and control is on par with the original, such as the loose jumping and chaotic combat action. Once you figure out an enemies weakness, you will be using the same techniques over and over again to defeat them. However, the boss battles are a lot of fun. One of the boss battles we saw had you using every technique in your arsenal and it still took about 5 minutes to defeat.

If you are a fan of the original Ōkami or of the Zelda franchise, into action adventure games, or just want to play something epic, keep an eye on this game. I think that kids will enjoy this title as well, although the challenge level may be a little bit high for some. Fortunately, you don’t have to play the first game to get into Ōkamiden because they recap the whole adventure at the beginning of the game.

There are some lovely pre-order bonuses available for Ōkamiden – if you pre-order the game through GameStop, you will receive a special Ōkamiden stylus.  If you pre-order the game through the Capcom Store, you will get a super-kawaii Chibiterasu character plush keychain.

Ōkamiden is set for release on March 15, 2011!  Visit the official Ōkamiden Facebook page for updates and official Capcom contests and info!

Related Links

The game is relatively short. I was able to finish the game in about 3 hours and collected 100% of the items in about 4 hours. Normally I would knock a game that was so paltry in content, but for a game geared towards children, this game makes a great diversion that meets the average kid’s attention span.

The concept is simple. You navigate Yogi in a 2D side-scroller that tasks you with collecting various objects in each level. There are three types of collectables in each level: Picnic Baskets (duh!), Gears (huh?), and a food item that changes every few levels. The Picnic Baskets don’t serve any purpose that I found, but the gears are used to build items that are necessary to collect all the items in late levels, and you can unlock quality stills from the movie by beating a bonus game that you can play if you collect all 100 food items in each level.

Levels are broken into two sections, with a checkpoint between them. This was nice in some of the platforming levels because you (or your kids) will experience some pretty cheap deaths as you learn how to navigate Yogi through some of the more complex areas. You may go back and retry any level you have passed so you can collect all the items, or you can just push through the game. Achieving 100% items is not difficult at all, so I would recommend getting your money’s worth and finding everything.

Yogi features a double-jump and a belly stomp, and will also collect handy home-built items such as spring shoes, a jack-hammer, roller skates, a helicopter helmet, and a wheel for the zip lines in some of the levels. You obtain these items by collecting the gears in each level and completing a ridiculously simple mini-game that features connecting dots and moving/rotating items into their proper spots on the screen. The controls work well enough, even using items like the roller skates was a snap.

Most levels give you a detection meter that when full, you are caught and you have to start at your last checkpoint. It takes a lot to get nabbed though. I was hit by a stupid chipmunk dropping acorns on me several times before I was in any real danger. Besides, the levels aren’t very big anyway so it was just embarrassing to have to start over rather then frustrating.

Other levels are just the opposite. You have a full meter and have to replenish it by collecting cameras strewn throughout the level, or by having a tourist snap your photo. These levels are even easier as you can just camp out with a tourist anytime your meter is running low.

The game also has a couple of throwaway mini games that can be played outside of the main game. One is a trace the path game called Picnic Pilfer where you have to move Yogi to the food item at the end of a simple maze. The other is called Food Craze and you are tasked with tracing food into Yogi’s mouth. They are both pretty weak and don’t add to the game’s value.

Last, there is the Gallery. By collecting all 100 food items in a level, you get a little mini game where Boo Boo has to catch food items dropping from the sky. Collect a certain amount and you unlock a still photo from the movie. The stills are pretty decent in quality so fans of the movie will probably enjoy them.

And that’s what it comes down to. Kids who enjoyed the movie will probably find this game entertaining for a short time. I suppose for a game based on a movie based on a cartoon character, it’s not too bad.

Yogi Bear: The Video Game is rated E for Everyone and is Nintendo DS and the Nintendo Wii.  This review is based on the DS version.

A review copy of the was provided and did not affect the outcome of this review.

Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light is truly an old-school RPG. The game features random battles for leveling up, nasty bosses to defeat, and a heavy-handed and sometimes convoluted storyline filled with side-quests and hidden challenges. You can end up in areas that you have no business being in, and you may find some areas too easy and others way too difficult. If you weren’t around for the early days of Final Fantasy or Phantasy Star, you may find this game a bit frustrating.

With current RPGs straying more and more away from random battles, this game embraces the dated mechanic, and it doesn’t suffer a bit from it. Having random battles forces the player to keep a balanced party, ready for any challenge. You never know if you are going to face a fire beast, or a fairy that will charm your party members to attack each other. Building each character to have a focused job such as attacking or healing, yet making sure that everyone can defend against any kind of attack takes care and strategy that hasn’t been forced on players in RPGs of this generation.

To bridge the gap between the two styles, FF:4HoL uses a simple interface which includes a job system that makes it easy to experiment with your characters to find a sweet spot that works for you. This can be both good and bad. Ultimately, it makes the game much easier. While you cannot switch jobs during combat, it’s generally pretty easy to figure out what went wrong if you are defeated, and just as easy to change up the tactics so you won’t lose a second time.

This is good because the game keeps moving. You won’t be stuck on any part for very long unless you are lost. Even then, there is a traveler and his animal companion there to point you in the right direction and save your game. It’s actually a great formula for those new to RPGs and I can see this game as a great way to learn the nuances of the genre. However, this keeps the game from ever really being a challenge because it is over simplified.

Simply donning a crown changes your job. Assign the skills your character has along with those granted by the hat, and voila, you are a healer, an assassin, a thief; there are 26 crowns to find. However, you will probably only use a handful of these because many of them just don’t measure up. Their effect is as simple as better item drops from defeated enemies to making you a healing master. Most of the best crowns are unlocked in the first half of the game. This makes the second half kind of drag.

You can upgrade your crowns as well as your equipment by using gems you get after defeating enemies. The game uses 8 gems which you can either sell or used to upgrade your gear. A couple gems can be sold for an absurd amount of money, so you may consider selling a few of these to get some extra gill (money). Each type of gear, be it a weapon, armor or crown, has a unique set of gem slots. Once each of these is filled, your weapon goes up a level. You can keep this up to really beef up your favorite weapons.

Your character’s appearance changes as you change crowns, weapons and gear. It’s a thoughtful touch that makes everything a little more rewarding. I’m surprised this feature hasn’t become a standard thing in RPGs, so it’s interesting to note that this throw-back handheld title has something that’s still relatively new and fresh.

The overall art style and graphics are quite nice. As you travel around the overworld, the background scrolls like you are on a giant sphere instead of a flat plain. It adds to the depth and hides the fact that the draw distance of the DS is slightly limited. The character models look like they are out of a Super Nintendo game, but with tons more detail. The maps are big and detailed, with more attention given to its look than its functionality. The battle screen is very active and it pans as your character moves in for a strike, and in the grand tradition of RPGs the magic spells always look way more powerful than they really are.

The battle system is pretty simple too. Good thing, because this game doesn’t feature a tutorial, so you will have to read the instruction manual (the what?!) of just figure it out. In combat, you don’t have to manage any complex system of mana or the like. Instead you have 5 action points. A melee or ranged attack takes one point. Magic and Special Abilities can range from 2 to 5 action points. You can also take a turn and focus to gain an additional action point for that character.

The touch screen works perfect for this simple interface. The section buttons are nice and big so you won’t accidentally pick the wrong action during a pivotal battle. You can move your character around with the stylus or the D-pad, although the stylus is the better option in my opinion.

If you are a fan of old-school RPGs, or if you just want to get a taste of the type of game that started the whole genre, FF:4HoL is a great game for you. Its heavy emphasis on grinding and its open world make it a perfect game for killing time, which makes it all the more sweet that it’s on a handheld. If you own a DS and you have played RPGs before, this is a great addition to your game collection.

Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light is rated E10+ for Everyone 10 years and up and is available now for the Nintendo DS.

A review copy was provided and did not affect the outcome of this review.

Ben 10: Ultimate Alien: Cosmic Destruction is pretty linear, when you enter certain sections of a level, you get an overview shot of what you need to do and where you need to go. Should you forget where you are going or get turned around (doesn’t happen very often), you can also press the L1 button (PS3) and it will point the camera in the direction of your objective. There isn’t a lot to explore except a few nooks and crannies where you can find collectible Sumo cards – three in each level.  The game has a great Quick Switch feature which will allow you to change into any one of the 4 different aliens on the fly.  These are all chosen at the start of each level.  The game will recommend three aliens as they will be needed to complete some of the puzzles in the level.  It also chooses an optional alien that you can feel free to switch out for a more favored alien.  You can actually choose ANY four aliens to start with but you may have to switch them out during the level for the alien who can complete the specified task.

The combat system is simple, you just hit the attack button to chain together combo attacks.  You can block attacks as well and if you block at the right time, you will not only block the attack but you will counter it, knocking your enemy back or destroying their shield.  The timing is easy as a green fist shows up and you have a second to press the block button.  You need to get this move down as it will be crucial in most battles.  The aliens all have four special attacks that can deliver more damage and affect more enemies than the regular attacks.  Be aware of your combo meter as using the special attacks will drain this meter.  No fear, the meter is filled by hitting enemies so if you are empty, just lay a few punches into your nearest enemy.

You can upgrade all of your alien forms as well and to do so, you will need to collect DNA.  This can be collected by smashing objects within the levels.  Most of the objects lying around the levels are breakable from boxes to vehicles so you will never have a hard time collecting DNA.  There is health along with DNA in everything you break so replenishing your health is pretty easy as well.  Breaking items is somewhat crucial in the game play as you will want to upgrade your aliens so their special attacks and attributes get stronger.  You can upgrade your aliens at any time as well.

Ben 10: Ultimate Alien: Cosmic Destruction is primarily an action adventure game with some platforming and puzzle elements.  You will need to climb ledges, move objects, and “fly” to get through the levels.  Some things can only be done with specific aliens characters like using Spidermonkey to grapple or AmpFibian to supply power.  Some aliens also jump better like Terraspin and Big Chill.  Others can blow things up or freeze things.  I had some issues with the control while performing some of the platforming elements in the game.  Ledge jumping and double jumping caused me some issues as my timing was off which I am not 100% sure if it was due to user error or to mid-level control.  I had more issues with the camera but it was mostly pretty decent.  Sometimes the game would force the camera in a direction that I didn’t particularly care for so I felt like I was fighting it at times.

The game is featured in a more CGI fashion rather than a cell shaded or cartoon style like the TV show.  The graphics and level design are decent – some portions do feel rather drab.  You get to travel to several real world locales like Italy, France, Tokyo, and China.  The artists and level designers did a great job of getting the feel of the locale across.  Overall, the game was quite easy to play while still providing some challenge.  Younger and more inexperienced gamers may find this game to be a challenge while seasoned gamers will be able to blow through the game with a lot more ease.  Boss Battles were pretty easy as well but increased in difficulty as the game progressed.  Some were far harder than others since you had to figure out what damages the boss as well as which alien could do the job.  Some of the boss battles required the use of one particular alien.

There are save points throughout each level and in some cases, the game would check point so if you died, you didn’t always have to start at your last save or all the way at the beginning of the level.  This wasn’t always too consistent as in some cases I would respawn quite far away or right where I died which was frustrating since I seemed to die in places where the respawn was far from where I died.  Load times were very fast so you never had to wait more than a few seconds to resume game play.  Most cut scenes are skipable as well.

I did experience some issues with the game that may have been issues with either the game, the game disc, or my PS3.  I played through about half of the game in one sitting and had no background music (BGM).  I went into the game’s options menu and the BGM was turned up and the music came on when I clicked on the volume (there is no mute function).  When I returned to the game, the BGM was gone again.  I quit the game and restarted it and still had issues.  The next day, after the PS3 had been turned off, I had no issues with the BGM.  The next issue was also on the first day and was with the video.  After defeating the dragon boss in the Tokyo level, the screen went black.  I could still hear sound and I could push buttons and hear that I was doing an attack.  I quit and restarted and still experienced the black out at the same moment.  Again, I tried it the next day (after the PS3 had been turned off) and I had no problems.  The last issue I had occurred on the second day and was a freezing issue.  I would die and restart a particular puzzle.  Since I had already seen the cut scene (several times) I wanted to skip it.  This would work two times and on the third try, the video would freeze while I could still hear sound and none of the buttons would work.  This time I quit and restarted the PS3 and no longer had issues.  I contacted D3 Publisher regarding this and no one else had been experiencing the same issues or hadn’t said anything to them about them if they were.  It is still unclear if the problem is within the game, the disc, or my poor PS3.  Needless to say, I was able to power through these issues and finish the game.

Ben 10 Ultimate Alien: Cosmic Destruction is a fun game despite some of the issues with the camera, control, and PS3 issues that I experienced.  While it was a bit on the easy side for me, others may find the game to be a challenge.  It’s appropriate in difficulty for the audience that it is aimed for and still a lot of fun to play.  There is also a Making-of Featurette and Concept Art featuring environmental and character art.  There is no multiplayer or co-op featured in the game so replay value may be low for some.  Fans of the TV series may want to play the game through again to get all the SUMO cards or to collect more DNA to fully upgrade every alien.    Upon the game’s completion, you unlock Four Arms, giving fans another reason to play though the game a second time.  The game also supports Trophies which are pretty easy to unlock even if you aren’t trying.  I managed to unlock 60% of the Trophies on my first run through and really only tried for a few of them.

Ben 10 Ultimate Alien: Cosmic Destruction is rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and up and is available now for the PS3, Xbox 360, Wii for $39.95; for the Nintendo DS and PSP for $29.95; and for the PS2 for $19.95.  Only the Xbox 360 and PS3 feature exclusive aliens to unlock – Four Arms on the PS3 and Rath on the Xbox 360.

A review copy of the game was provided and did not affect the outcome of this review.  This review is based on the PS3 version of the game.