mariohoops
Latest
Comparing Square Enix's Japanese and US boxart
In a recent interview with 1UP, Square Enix's marketing communications manager gave us some insight on the process behind adapting Chocobo Tales' packaging for the US. We happen to prefer the Japanese version's modest artwork over North America's chaotic cover, but we understand that the company had a younger audience to appeal to and a different message it needed to convey. We've collected DS covers from Square Enix's Japanese and US releases after the post break for you to compare and decide which one you like best. To its credit, the company hasn't completely mangled its DS boxarts so far (The same can't be said about Nintendo's bastardization of Hotel Dusk's cover). How do you feel about Children of Mana's simplified design? Does Final Fantasy 3's stripped packaging appeal to your western tastes? And do you agree with 1UP that publishers have been doing a better job with dressing their products?
DS releases for the week of February 12th
After last week's flood, it looks like DS owners are back down to a trickle of releases, but importers take note -- there's all sorts of hotness in Japan this week. The three Japanese releases are definitely games to watch. While we drool and dream over those, gamers in Europe can finally get in on some 3-on-3 basketball action, Mario-style.DS releases (US) F-24: Stealth Fighter For the rest of the world, check after the jump.
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!]
Happy Birthday Mario!
September 13 is the 'birthday' of everyone's favorite plumber, and Nintendo's not letting September pass without a little recognition. Two new DS games this month feature Mario and company: the highly anticipated Mario Hoops 3 on 3 and the offbeat Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis. Salut! And many happy returns.Mario Hoops is scheduled for release next week, and March of the Minis follows two weeks later. If only every month could be September.
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 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.
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]
Moogle joins Mario Hoops team roster
A recent Famitsu scan seems to indicate that the obscenely colorful cast of Mario Hoops: 3 on 3 will be joined by a fluffy Final Fantasy favorite -- Moogle. Franchise crossovers are always amusing, though we thought that Square Enix would at least have the good sense to toss Quina Quen from Final Fantasy IX in there. We're convinced that Mario would rather have a freakish, grammatically challenged cook on his team as opposed to a little white creature that's probably a bit crap at playing basketball. [Via 4CR]
