I just love playing the games on the handheld system starting from Game Boy Color to Game Boy Advance where I first had these portable device as a child back in my old days of gaming. With many classics like Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, Metroid Fusion, Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and Minish Cap, Wario Land 4, Game and Watch Gallery 2, Tetris, Sonic Advance 2, and other beloved libraries of games that I can able to take these and my portable devices anywhere else to play is what I liked about the system.
In decade later, I'm stepping forward with the modern portable gaming system such as PS Vita and of course 3DS that caught my attention due to better technologies and creating innovation is made me want to give it try with these portable system.
The topic that I want to discuss mostly is the Nintendo 3DS which is a handheld system that was released in 2011, and it is a successor of the Nintendo's best-selling handheld devices back in mid-2000s such as Nintendo DS, a video game portable system that has double-screen technology and has ability to use touchscreen interface adding an in-depth gameplay style which is quite innovative at its time.
While 3DS retains the previous features from the predecessor that I've mentioned above, it's one of the system that utilised the 3D stereoscopic that allow the main screen of the 3DS system to display the 3D effects without the use of 3D glasses, circle-pad controls designed for 3D game titles, and offers new additional features such as StreetPass, new online services like Nintendo Network, AR using 3D cameras, online store like Nintendo eShop, social networking service like Miiverse, internet browser, and online video streaming services like YouTube.
The 3DS has large libraries of recognisable games mostly by Nintendo themselves which is the reason why it became the best-selling handheld devices of 8th-gen console era has sold over 75 million units that outsold the competitors such as SONY's PS Vita which sold 16 million units proves that the way Nintendo handle their handheld marketing a lot better than the SONY can't do with the PS Vita any justice leading the end of the lifespan in 2019.
I decided to make my own 5 favourite games that are just too good to play on the system because I had over 20 games that I've own on my collection which is why I've spent mostly time on the 3DS than the PS Vita which I own about 8 library of games.
Anyway, I'm going to list out the games that I personally enjoyed the most and why is it fun to play that are highly designed for the portable system.
So without go further do, here is my Top 5 Nintendo 3DS games.
5 - Metroid: Samus Returns
Metroid is one of the video game series that started off pioneering the side-scrolling adventure genres which was known as Metroidvania helps influencing many developers to create their own later titles such as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Cave Story, Shantae, Axiom Verge, Hollow Knight, and many more as the today.
Metroid is one of the main thing that started back in 80's which was credited for non-linear design and exploration, where as the later instalment in 90's such as Super Metroid which was highly regarded as being one of the greatest video game ever made that defining not only the SNES libraries, but defining the genre as a whole thanks to dynamic exploration, atmospheres, intense bosses, and unique playthroughs that made everyone remembers the game very well as today.
In 2000's, we had Metroid Fusion for GBA which I described it as a fantastic follow-up to the predecessor deserves a same praise, where as Metroid Prime takes the 3D approach for Gamecube which I call it an outstanding transitions of the 2D original franchise.
Then it got quite disappointing with the Metroid: Other M for Wii and Metroid Prime: Federation Forces for 3DS which is considered as being the worst that killed off the beloved franchise are nowhere near good as the predecessor titles leaving these games being never touched ever again.
A year later, Nintendo had finally returning back to it's original form of the series with another title called Metroid: Samus Returns for 3DS which is a game that we been wanting from Nintendo.
It's a 2D Side-Scrolling Adventure game only for 3DS, which was developed by MercurySteam and published by Nintendo. It is a full reimagining of the 1991's game for Game Boy called Metroid 2: Return of Samus which is the second remake on the series since the 2004's GBA title Metroid: Zero Mission.
The game takes place after the event of the first Metroid game, so you take control of Samus in 2D perspective which heavily focused on Metroidvania aspects such as exploration and collecting power-ups that requires to gain access to undiscovered location.
Your goal is to take down many metroid species as possible which leads you to next area at golden statues depending how many DNA samples you have collected so far.
The game has 9 large environmental areas to explore where you will encounter numerous of things in the game such as collecting items, upgrades, power-ups, and remaining species whereabouts that requires to enter undiscovered areas and being able to reach higher platforms.
The game also introduces new gameplay mechanics such as the melee system that allow you to parry the enemy's attack, and has 4 aeion abilities that is rely on an energy gauge such as scan pulse that lets you scan the surrounding environment for hidden paths and items, the lighting armor are used for protective shield to prevents physical damage from enemy's projectiles and toxic acids, the beam burst allows you to enhanced beam attack power with rapid-fire shots which is effective against one of the enemy's weak spots, and phase drift lets you performing slow down time helps you get across the obstacles and slowing the enemy's paces down which I call it a great addition to its combat and use of abilities that worked really well in the game.
The actual controls feels just like playing the 2D classic Metroid games which I believe this game got it right with the button mapping such as shoot, melee, jumping, and morphing, as well as having to select any weapons on the touch-screen interface that worked pretty good for most part.
The boss battles in the game is clearly a solid action that I wasn't feel disappointing with the Metroid game like this thanks to strategic enemy's patterns that really adds up a fun factor of the game.
The presentation and visuals are stunningly impressive for the 3DS standards especially having the 3D effects turned on because it looks gorgeous playing on the 3DS with 3D effects that allow the environmental design and character's animations looks and feels like playing a pre-3D Metroid title making the best graphical technology for 3DS hardware that MercurySteam has ever done.
The music in the game is the great rendition of the original game with fully arranged soundtrack and haunting sound design throughout the most areas in the map is what made Metroid a recognisable game.
Metroid: Samus Returns is a very good title that the fans of the series can get a hands on with the full remake that give the classic original a justice with many positive overall.
4 - Super Mario 3D Land
We all know Super Mario is a Nintendo's most iconic video game franchises started back in 80's where Super Mario Bros is well known to be one of the NES's killer app that not only helped the sales of the 8-bit video game system, but helped the gaming industry's lifespan to overcome the video game crash had occurred in early 80's.
The massive success of the franchise had spawned with many game's sequels, spin-offs, animation series, merchandises, comics, and etc. which is why it turned Super Mario series as an pop culture phenomenon for video games.
As I'm the long-time fan of the whole franchise when I started back in my nostalgic days of gaming, I played the hell of those awesome and unforgettable titles like Super Mario All-Stars, Super Mario World, Super Mario Land, Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and of course Super Mario Galaxy which is why I'm proud of being Nintendo's fanatic as a kid back then, but as it now I'm more of fully mature gamer where I mostly focused on other console platforms like SONY's PS3 and PS4 are my main primary system that I used a lot everyday.
Till the day where my brother had decided to gave his 3DS system and the library of the games to me, as he gave up with the handheld system, so I accepted the offer from him that I can spend time playing the 3DS system and buying various of games through online store which is why I bought Super Mario 3D Land for 3DS.
It is a 3D Platformer Game for 3DS, Which was developed and published by Nintendo, as being the first Mario title being released for the 3DS in November 2011.
Looks like King Bowser up to no good and kidnapping Princess Peach as always in entire Mario game, so you're the plumber hero named Mario sets out his adventure to locate and rescuing Peach once again.
The game has 8 worlds with 4 or 5 each levels featuring some unlockable bonus worlds which require all three star medals on each levels.
You get to play as Mario in 3D platforming perspective as your main goal is to head from start to finish by completing level within time limit.
What I liked about this game is that the gameplay style is mixed with the earlier 3D Mario games with more focused on traditional side-scrolling platforming which retains similar elements from the 2D Mario games such as Mario's health system is now based on the side-scrolling titles rather than being a numbered health meter and the levels rather have a time limit and even feature Goal Poles as opposed to collecting Power Stars is kinda like the Super Mario Bros in 3D form which I kinda like the idea of the gameplay concepts.
It also shares with great segments in the game such as jumping off the cliff from the above in athletic course, controlling switchboards by pressing panels from forwards to backwards, flipping panels to create paths, using propeller box to float down slowly in the sky, switches red and blue panels as same time you jump on, and theres so many things that the levels are filled with hazardous objects, wacky puzzles, and has really weird creativity in the game which is a best part of any Mario game like this.
The game has filled with many cool additions to discover such as Luigi as playable characters, has 8 special worlds, galleries on photo albums, and being able to re-visit a same original level to search for more star coins which adds the significant amount of replay values.
It is clearly the best Mario game on the 3DS libraries that I personally enjoyed playing it over the hours of fun, so this is definitely a people's choice title that they can enjoy playing a platforming game on the Nintendo's portable system.
3 - Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadow of Valentia
First of all, it is true that I never actually heard of the Fire Emblem series when I was a child in early 2000's. I remember when I had a copy of Super Smash Bros Melee for Gamecube which I was so addicted to play everyday with my cousins. There's two of the unlockable characters that nobody actually have heard of them are Marth and Roy which had caught my attention, but the issue is that the Fire Emblem series are exclusively in Japan which was the reason why these two ended up popular as a fighting roster of the Super Smash Bros series that leads Nintendo wanted to introduce their Tactical RPG series to western audiences in early 2000's making the first time ever since the Fire Emblem had originated at Japan in early 90's.
A first worldwide debut such as Fire Emblem which is one of the well received GBA title that was being loved by many fans that the series had spawned numerous of sequels such as The Sacred Stones, Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn, Awakening, Fates, and Three Houses, while sharing with spin-offs such as Heroes, Warriors, and Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE.
I was originally gonna put Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn for Wii as my number 2 list because it didn't get a same recognition as the previous titles, but instead I made the mind up with the 3DS title that are actually done better such as Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadow of Valentia is one of the game that I'd preferred it more than any of the Fire Emblem games as my opinion.
It is a full remake of 1992's NES title called Fire Emblem Gaiden which added the elements in the game such as rebuilding the storylines and expanding core gameplay mechanics based on recent 3DS games like Awakening while adding dungeon crawler aspects in game.
You take control of Alm and Celica as part of the Zofian's deliverance team along with the friends to battle against the Duma's Empire of Rigel as well as reuniting with the goddess Mila for seeking help and support of the land of Zofia.
What makes the Fire Emblem game so great is that I loved the turn-based core battle where you and your team batting out against the enemies in tactical battlefield.
The grid system is much easier to navigate where you can able to move and attack the enemy's unit as well as the many of the class units are pretty done fabulous sharing with different advantages of skills, defense, speed, and health which nicely balances the combat performance.
The game also shared with two gameplay mechanics such as dungeon crawling aspects where you explore around the area to locate the hidden secrets filed with coins, items and treasure chest, and then you will have a point and click style where you can able to talk people in the town, examine the whole area for items and weapons, and move to different area to explore which I really liked the idea of adding a new element to it's whole series makes it very different approach from any of the Fire Emblem games.
The whole presentation in the game is looking spectacular for its 3DS standards thanks to full animated sequences throughout the game really shows how amazing the cutscenes looked on the Nintendo's handheld system filled with amazing anime drawn characters and fully voiced dialogue for its story design and it also had a fantastic storyline and interesting characters that really builds up many of joyful and teary moments that makes your heart feels very emotional is the reason why I loved this game so much.
The original score is a great rendition to 1992's original NES title with fully remade orchestrated music as well as included several of new soundtrack that aren't present on the NES version are actually heartwarming and heroic that really fits well for several of cutscenes which is the reason why I considered it as masterpiece.
Although this game did not get a same attention as the previous two titles such as Fire Emblem Awakening and Fire Emblem Fates which had a stronger overall sales, but that doesn't mean this game didn't get a much love what it deserved because this is really outstanding RPG game that the RPG fans should be much appreciated by getting an hands on with this overlooked 3DS title.
2 - Super Smash Bros for 3DS
I just f***ing love fighting games starting off from Capcom's Street Fighter to Midway's Mortal Kombat are the major examples of mainstream 2D fighting game series to newcomer 3D fighting titles like SEGA's Virtua Fighter and Namco's Tekken that was started back in the early 90s of gaming.
There's one of the fighting game that caught everyone attention which is Super Smash Bros for N64, a crossover fighting game title where it had numerous of playable rosters from the various Nintendo franchises including Mario, Link, Samus, Kirby, Fox and many others to join in and compete the battle each other.
While N64 wasn't known for its various fighting game library so unlike PS1 and Saturn had to offer, Super Smash Bros is commercially success and well-received at the release in 1999 praising towards multiplayer mode, original fighting game style, and simple learning curve had sold over 4.9 million worldwide.
The follow-up title such as Super Smash Bros Melee for Gamecube was released in 2-years after the first installiment, had gained overwhelming acclaimed reception for its large numbers of playable roster and stages, multiple of game modes in both single-player and multiplayer, and introducing collectable trophies which heavily regarded the game as the greatest video game ever made which achieved strong sales upon the release becoming the Gamecube's best-selling title with over 7 million copies, as well as considered one of the most competitive games has been featured in many competitive gaming tournaments.
It was followed by Super Smash Bros Brawl for Wii in 2008 expanding more rosters including 2 guest characters such as SEGA's Sonic the Hedgehog and Solid Snake from Konami's Metal Gear Solid, more extensive adventure mode, adds online multiplayer for very first time in the series, and creating own stages in a mode called stage builder had garnered the same praise as the predecessor which made the Super Smash Bros becoming one of the most iconic fighting game franchises in history.
Melee and Brawl are the two of my all-time favourite fighting games over the decade because I played the hell of the Melee with my cousins who also had their Gamecube spent over 2 hours of plays in every weekends which is fun and addicting, where as Brawl which I was so impressed with the large variety of characters, new adventure mode with 2-player co-op, and frantic multiplayer matches that never gets too old which prove that how much I love playing Super Smash Bros.
Since the day that my brother gave me the 3DS, I'm excited to play the Super Smash Bros for 3DS which is the game that I wanted to play so badly as you may know I'm a big Smash Bros fanatic over the years.
It is a Crossover Fighting Games developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Published by Nintendo, and it is a 4th installiment title in the series.
To keep you in mind that the game are also on the Wii U titled as Super Smash Bros for Wii U which I did not own the console and the version, which is why I had the 3DS copy instead.
What I liked about the game is that it has several of the fighting rosters featured in the game such as your favourite returning roster such as Mario, Link, Samus, Kirby, Yoshi, DK, Pikachu, and Fox (While characters like Roy, Lucas and Mewtwo are being featured as DLCs rosters), as well as some new roster being introduced in the game like Shulk, Wii Fit Trainer, Villager, Bowser Jr, Rosalina, Little Mac, Lucina, and Duck Hunt Dog.
While the third-party roster still retain SEGA's Sonic The Hedgehog, it also introduced some characters like Capcom's Mega-Man and Namco's Pac-Man as well as DLCs guests like Platinum Games's Bayonetta, Ryu (Capcom's Street Fighter), and Cloud (Square Enix's Final Fantasy VII) that makes 51 being included in the game and 7 downloadables roster is just about 19 more rosters than the previous entries of the series.
It also has 34 playable stages including 7 DLC stages in the game such as Mute City (F-Zero), Prism Tower (Pokemon X and Y), Spirit Train (Zelda: Spirit Tracks), Balloon Fight (Same Name), Boxing Ring (Punch Out), Brinstar (Metroid), Corneria (Starfox), Gaur Plain (Xenoblade Chronicles), Green Hill Zone (Sonic), Pac-Maze (Pac-Man), and Wily Castle (Mega Man), while sharing with DLCs stage such as Suzaku Castle (Street Fighter), Midgar (FFVII), and Umbra Clock (Bayonetta) which makes all 41 together in the game.
I got to say it plays absolutely perfect thanks to fluid controls does not require a need of combination moveset like any of 2D traditional fighting game series which is the reason why Super Smash Bros is so much easier to get into with the basic controls that is easy to memorise the moves such as your all 3 attacking system, shields for defence, and grabbing and throwing the items or opponents is what makes this fighting game quite friendly to use.
The game also introduces two additional features such as creating your own Miis as fighting roster where you can customise your own fighting moves and attributes, as well as you can also customise your base character's default moves with the other two variations of each move having to be acquired from finding custom parts such as Mario's fast fireball to fire orb, Luigi's fireball to iceball, and DK's lighting punch to storm punch which brings a newer fighting techniques in the game.
I really enjoyed hours tons of fun-packed game modes such as the classic, all-stars, smash runs, stadium modes, and of course the offline VS mode that really keeps you very busy with the fighting game like this with tons of replay values thanks to game's difficulty, scoring boards, list of millstones challenges, and tons of unlockable contents which is the reason why Super Smash Bros for Nintendo 3DS is actually the best fighting game on the system.
This is a recommendation for a fighting game fans who had their 3DS system can spend numerous of time brawling through the matches with many friends and challengers entered the competition.
1 - The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Another Nintendo's flagship franchise started back in 80s where The Legend of Zelda was first introduced on NES. It is a Action-Adventure title where you take control of the Hyrule hero named Link sets off his quest to collect eight missing pieces, defeat Ganon and rescue Zelda.
It was heavily regarded as being one of the greatest and most influential NES game that became a commercial success at worldwide sold over 6.51 million copies.
The game's success spawned with numerous of later acclaimed titles such as Breath of the Wild, Link To The Past, The Windwaker, Twilight Princess, Majora's Mask and of course the legendary title Ocarina of Time had won several video game awards and being listed as greatest video game of all-time.
It is also credited as the forerunner of the RPGs genres thanks to game's fantasy settings, musical style, and non-linear gameplay were adopted by many RPGs series in later decades such as From Software's Dark Souls, Lionhead Studio's Fable, THQ's Darksiders, and CD Projekt Red's The Witcher.
I've been a long time fan of the Zelda franchises since my childhood days where I grew up playing games like A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, The Windwaker, and Twilight Princess. As a grown adult in later years, I recently enjoyed the first original Zelda game on the NES at the time when I had NES classic mini with built-in 30 games as my Christmas gift back in 2018.
After experiencing my previous fun of my 3DS system which I've been busy spending time of collecting more 3DS games last year, it took me awhile to get a copy of A Link Between Worlds which I been searching everywhere on online stores like Amazon and Ebay for cheaper sales, so I can now finally gets a hands on with this game which I've spend for a weeks of fun of playing on my 3DS.
It is a open-world action-adventure game only for 3DS, which was developed and published by Nintendo, and it is a direct sequel to original 1992's title A Link to the Past for SNES.
The game focuses on silent protagonist named Link who sets out his adventures to restore peace to the kingdom of Hyrule as well as rescuing Princess Zelda and seven sages.
It retains the same formula as the classic Zelda game in terms of top-down perspective filled with many exploration, obtaining items that are come in useful, fighting out tons of bad guys, helping villagers in need, joining mini-games activity, visiting two different worlds with many locations, and the best of all is the dungeon stage offers a impressive puzzle solving and has shares with epic boss battles that keeps you very entertained with the game.
I also want to give the game a credit for the wall merging mechanics where you can able to walk through on the walls which I think it's pretty innovative for Zelda series that also works well for puzzle-solving aspects, being able to gain access at the undiscovered rooms, and travel between the worlds of Hyrule and Lorule seems to be very creative idea for this type of game style.
The combat gameplay worked absolutely flawless when it comes with numerous selections of items and weapons which is worked effectively on not just any of puzzle solving, but it worked well against any types of the enemies which is the reason why it made the game quite simple to use.
The game filled with fantastic story written and memorable cast of characters which proves the sequel are doing just as good as the predecessor has to offer, and the whole presentation made a good mixture of light and dark settings of the worlds adds the game's remarkable concept that fits the Zelda universe.
Of course Zelda franchise was widely known for a greatest video game soundtrack in entre main series, so this game still retains the same soundtrack with incredible re-arrangement of the originals, as well as some newer music are been added to the game which really fits the game's epic adventures.
It is clearly not just being the best Zelda game out-there, but also one of the greatest 3DS game of all-time that is definitely must own for 3DS collectors to gets a hands on with the epic action-adventure on the portable system.
Honorable Mentions:
Poochy and Yoshi's Wolly Worlds
Luigi's Mansion 2
WarioWare Gold
Kirby: Triple Delxue
Super Mario Maker
Mario and Luigi: Dream Team
Kid Icarius Uprising
Mario Kart 7
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