Mario Hoops 3 on 3
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1up Mario Hoops review -- did Mario serve an airball?
Mario Hoops 3 on 3 has had so much hype that we were ready for a game full of more fun than a circus. But from the sound of it, all we got were peanuts. Having played the game ourselves, we see where the review is coming from and we are 100% catching what they are throwing -- something Mario and his pals seem to fail at. The review basically states that the controls are good in theory, but iffy on paper. Stealing is difficult and passing is okay, when it works. Your teammates are pretty much useless. They never try to steal or use items to help you out. They are especially difficult to work with against perfect AI on harder levels. Good luck on unlocking all your favorite Final Fantasy characters. The levels are difficult and your opponents ruthless. While it sounds like a challenge, it lacks an important element -- fun. Mario Hoops 3 on 3 received a 6 out of 10 -- a passable grade and rightful score for an average sports title. Check out the rest of the review to see what else 1up found wrong with the game. Or, pipe up and let us know that we and everyone else is completely wrong (we know you like doing that anyway) and Mario Hoops is zomg teh best game evah kthxbye! [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Lefty Mario Hoops 3 on 3 video preview
This left handed freak (kidding!) sent in a video to let us get a look at how Mario Hoops 3 on 3 works for left handed folks. We get to see a few of the controls but the picture isn't the best. There seems to be a glare that distracts from seeing gameplay well. Is it us or does this remind you of The Leftorium? [Thanks Spadge!]
Mario Hoops 3 on 3 update
Mario Hoops 3 on 3 is definitely one of the most anticipated games of the season. With all the familiar faces from the Mario series plus Final Fantasy characters on top of cool basketball courts and super slam dunks, we simply can not wait. Everyone loves Mario and his pals but we can't forget about the bad guys -- specifically the tall, skinny counterpart of Luigi, Waluigi. The official site for the game has yet another teaser cut scene for you. This time, it shows Waluigi in all his tornado-bubble glory scoring some big points. Don't you admire a guy who wears orange shoes and relentlessly shakes his fist at you? Ah, amore.
Mario Hoops 3 on 3 video
It seems like we keep repeating the same message about Mario Hoops 3 on 3 -- this game is going to rock your friggin' socks off. Sounds a little extreme but we think this video, with its familiar characters and badass basketball court will help reiterate how cool this game is going to be. Now, if we could just get some Wi-Fi action up in here... [Via Go Nintendo]
Mario Hoops is just that good
We here at DS Fanboy can tell you with authority that 2006 is the year of the threesome. Of course, it's with GameBrink's authority, but who's keeping track? The site recently put up a review of Mario Hoops 3 on 3 that is so hot it burns -- on their rating system, it pulled a 95, outscoring such DS classics as Phoenix Wright and Trauma Center. In fact, the only game to score higher with their reviews was Mario Kart. What makes this more interesting than it otherwise might be is that Mario Hoops has only local Wi-Fi capability -- if you've a friend with a DS nearby, you can go head-to-head. The game does not, however, feature the open online play that many expected. Imagine if it did. Why ... Mario Hoops might take over the world, then. See? They left out online play to save us. Mario is here for you. But, y'know ... sometimes we like to suffer. In this case, it might have been a worthy tradeoff. [Thanks, Zuko!]
Mario Hoops 3 on 3 preview
We have heard quite a bit about this little Mario sports game. It might be the very first Mario sports we try. With no ref's to bust your chops, fatality-like slam dunks (minus blood and guts) and playable moogles, catuars, mages and every other Mario character under the sun, what's not to like? Game Trailers got their hands on a copy of the game (lucky dogs) and provided the rest of us not so fortunate with info regarding the game (dur, its a preview). The environments are awesome, gameplay innovative (but will it lead several to scratching the hell out of their screen?) and graphics great. The only downer thus far is that their is no online play -- as of yet. Hopefully they will find a way to make online play possible. That would make the game ten times sweeter than it already is. We'll let Game Trailers tell you the rest.
Mario Hoops site updated
The pre-launch extravaganza for Mario Hoops: 3 on 3 continues with the latest video update centering around another simian slam-dunker in Dixie. The video, which shows Dixie's Barrel Drop maneuver, allows us to enjoy the carnage resulting from the massive alley-oop as Dixie sits atop the giant wooden barrel, blasting the ball to Peach, who then rocks the rim with the kind of authority that could put Shaq to shame. See also: Get schooled at Dunk U
Mario Hoops import previewed
A gentleman, calling himself Zombie, yet we believe to actually be the kid brother to ring-bearing Frodo, shows us some tutorial action as well as full-fledged in-game action on an import copy of Mario Hoops: 3 on 3. The controls may not be so smooth, but what this blogger finds most disturbing is right around the 1:30 mark. Seriously, we know the competition between Donkey Kong and Mario is heated, but we never thought the Italian plumber would play so dirty. [Via Go Nintendo]
Mario Hoops special shots videos
The Japanese web site for Mario Hoops: 3 on 3 has put up some videos depicting various characters laying the smack down with their specialized shots. The available videos of Mario, Luigi, Peach, Wario, and Diddy Kong getting nasty on the court may take a bit to load, but they are very much worth the wait. The Nintendo sports titles may not be the most grounded-in-reality interpretation of whichever sport they're based on, but they have consistently been fun throughout each iteration. As such, we're dying to get our hands on this game and have our own DS Fanboy playoffs.
Cheesy Mario Hoops ad hits YouTube
In case you were at all curious how you might play Mario Hoops 3-on-3 on the DS, there's an absolutely pitiful Japanese ad on YouTube that will show you. Apparently, there will be a lot of tapping going on. The one thing we may be even more curious about is why Nintendo still insists on using grown men dressed up as Mario and Luigi to peddle their wares. You know, Nintendo, that style is sooooo 1988.[Via Digg]
