Zelda, Shadows of the Damned and F.E.A.R. 3 get busy on our consoles
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (3DS)
Price: $39.99
Official Site
What’s it about?
A semi-reissue of the 1998 original, Ocarina 3D takes one of the most perfect games of all time and puts it into a handheld, 3D form factor. Nintendo made the wise decision to preserve almost every aspect of the original game, but also added a couple of tweaks that even the most ardent lover of the N64 will appreciate.
How does it look?
Phenomenal. The game was given a big graphics boost that seems subtle, until you take a look at a screenshot of the N64 version. We loved watching all the cut scenes with the 3D maxed out but, after the initial awe of playing an old favorite in 3D, we switched to good ol’ 2D for the bulk of the game.
Is it any good?
Are you kidding? Ocarina of Time was the high water mark of the Zelda series, innovating like nothing that had come before, without overreaching like the Zelda games that came after: It’s an epic game that will provide days of entertainment for newcomers and decade-long fans alike. Amazingly, Nintendo exercised the good sense of not fixing something that wasn’t broken, while successfully tweaking a couple of things (touch screen button mapping; new boss battle modes; hints from prophetic stones) that were hugely appreciated. We especially loved the inclusion of the 3DS’s motion controls as a means of aiming and viewing the world in first-person. Oh, and special thanks to our friends at Nyko who preemptively sent us their PowerPak for the 3DS – these huge games eat up battery faster than we eat Nachos (and friends, that’s fast ).
Out of ten?
9. Ocarina of Time was a perfect game back in the day and it continues to be a crowd pleaser with its quirky characters, labyrinthine dungeons, captivating plot and, big, bad boss battles. We did find that the 3D effect got annoying during long sessions, as we squirmed to stay comfortable and were struck with double vision instead of 3D, but it did serve up the cut scenes in an eye-popping way that probably would’ve made our 1998 selves shit in our 1992 pants.
If I like this, what else will I like?
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Legend of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass, impatiently waiting for Skyward Sword to launch.
Shadows of the Damned (XBOX, PS3)
Price: $59.99
Official Site
What’s it about?
Suda 51’s follow up to No More Heroes is a riff on the grindhouse genre, combining aspects of a Tarantino flick with Suda’s notable and weird perspective. So, when you’re scratching your head, wondering why you’re a Latino dude named Garcia with a British-accented skull as your sidekick/weapon, try not to worry, Suda’s probably just watched Dusk til Dawn and Inglorious Basterds too many times.
How does it look?
Graphically, it’s impressive and a big step up from No More Heroes’ graphics, which suffered on the underpowered Wii. Stylistically, Shadows of the Damned is a dim and brooding game that plays on the contrast of light and dark, not just for its looks but as a key component of the game itself. Though a device like this is clichéd at this point in gaming history, it works to both keep the action pumping as well as lay the foundation for some clever puzzles.
Is it any good?
At first we groaned about being force fed another horror game but, out of respect for Suda, we kept an open mind and were pleasantly surprised with some snappy dialogue, an offbeat plot and many other little quirks that kept things interesting (shove your first strawberry into a baby’s face and you’ll know what we mean). Controls were relatively well thought out, allowing for weapon switching and modifiers to be quickly and easily applied, but the aiming system felt wonky with its lack of a lock-on feature. There’s nothing worse than being in a boss battle and wasting time panning the camera to find your enemy, when he’s actually chomping on the back of your head. Well, ok, losing your knees in an industrial farming accident is probably worse, but you know what we mean.
Out of ten?
6.5. Suda’s unconventional characters and quirks are well placed in this overtly cinematic 3rd person shooter but, for all the good that’s found here, the game feels worn because the genre is so played out. If Suda can’t breathe some life into it, we fear that no one can.
If I like this, what else will I like?
Splatterhouse, Alice: Madness Returns, being stalked late at night by someone who may or may not have a very pointy knife.
F.E.A.R. 3 (XBOX, PS3, PC)
Price: $59.99
Official Site
What’s it about?
Following up the events of the earlier games in the series, F.E.A.R. 3 brings back Point Man who, despite his best efforts and a lot of explosives, couldn’t put the nail in the coffin of his psychically-charged mother, Alma, or his cannibal brother, Fettel. So, once again, we’re going back to Fairport to finish what we started.
How does it look?
Fine. There’s nothing outstanding to speak of, but the graphics aren’t so bad that they detract from the overall gameplay or plot. There is a good amount of variety to the levels too but, again, it’s not a make or break point for the game, it’s just there. We did like the cut scenes and the way the game carried on the plot of the series, so there’s that.
Is it any good?
Though the game is fully playable in a single player campaign as Point Man (and re-playable as Fettel), F.E.A.R. 3 shines when you buddy up as Point Man with a friend as Fettel. Point Man’s powers are familiar to anyone who’s played earlier games in the series, or any FPSer really, but Fettel’s psychic abilities are a great compliment in co-op mode and allows for some very interesting teamwork. F.E.A.R. 3 adheres to our rule of thumbs: four are definitely better than two.
Out of ten?
7.5. F.E.A.R. 3 is a must for fans of the franchise that absolutely need to know what happens next, but the average gamer will find one of the more unique co-op experiences of the year buried within F.E.A.R.’s psychic exterior. Everything else considered equal (and it’s pretty much on par with every other FPS game out there) the story and campaign found here get our seal of approval. Which is nearly as good as our walrus of adoration, but not quite.
If I like this, what else will I like?
F.E.A.R., F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, couch time for your mommy issues.
So, what else is out this week?
Dungeon Siege III, LA Noire DLC: The Nicholson Electroplating Disaster, Cars 2 The Video Game, DuelPen Sports on 3DS