Game of the Week: Zoo Resort 3D

The first set of cute 3DS games has arrived, however, despite Zoo Resort 3D being obviously aimed at a younger gaming audience, Mini Gamers was pleasantly surprised by what we found.

The aim of Zoo Resort 3D is to stock and maintain a Zoo which has been left to you by your (in-game) late grandfather. You must unlock different breeds of animals, from simple birds, to large land-and-sea predators, and the majority of the game is centred around the players abilities to feed and display the animals to growing crowds of visitors.

The more you feed and interact with the animals in your care, the more visitors you attract and the more money you gain, which will allow you to develop your zoo and unlock more animals.

The first thing you gain access to after your initial animals have been placed in the zoo, is the 'Animal Dispenser'. This allows you to randomly create animals in exchange for some coins. The more popular your zoo becomes, the more types of Animal Dispensers you can use. Nevertheless, the latter dispensers are very expensive and can cost up to 8000 coins a time to use.

In order to gain access to the various unlockable items that the game has to offer, you must first bond with the animals through feeding them and taking a selection of top quality photographs or video for your apparent zoo blog, and trying to gain the maximum popularity for each animal group in turn.

If you have managed to gain the maximum bond with your animals, fulfilled the total number of appearances to members of the public, and also happen to have the correct number of each animal in their individual enclosures, (this info can be found on the information card displayed on the animal selection screen), you will be treated to a stunning animated 3D cutscene showing the animals in their daily life at the zoo. These visuals are truly breathtaking most of the time and really help to bring each animal to life. The cutscene can then be replayed at any time.

As the game is primarily aimed at younger gamers, it is very easy to pick up and play, with simple tasks that will help the zoo to run smoothly.

Nevertheless, the game will sometimes throw up random challenges such as 'displayed animals will become sick today', which means that you won't be able to display those animals for a few in-game days, or 'elephants at another zoo have become more popular', in which case you must try to raise the popularity of your own elephants etc.

These challenges help to lower the visitor count and therefore alter the amount of money that you earn on that day and the subsequent day, making your progress through the game slightly slower.

However, if you wish to miss the challenge altogether you can simply select the End The Day/Journal tab and you will recieve a summary of how much you earned the previous day and your progress will be saved. Please note, however, that your subsequent earnings will decrease for each day that you choose to miss.

If you are successful in making your zoo popular, you will also earn the right to expand your territory, which will open up more land and new animals for you to care for. You will also gain access to certain Special Commands, which can then be purchased in order to increase the popularity of the zoo.

Once you have unlocked over 75 different species of animal and gained access to the last of the Animal Dispensers, the main story of the game comes to an end and you are free to add to your zoo as you see fit. You will also uncover the secret of the mysterious gentleman you meet at the beginning of the game.

In conclusion, Zoo Resort 3D is not as lame as it might first appear. The 3D graphics are amazing and players can survey the whole of the animal enclosure by simply using the circle pad. All the environment and animals are extremely lifelike.

Nevertheless, this game is aimed more at younger gamers between the ages of eight and fourteen, and is therefore quite simplistic in its actual gameplay, so it is unlikely to keep adult gamers entertained for hours.

However, for a sweet and uncomplicated little game that you can play for a spare five or ten minutes whilst on the train, this title does very nicely, and we can see this one being a winner with the kids at Christmas. Overall rating: 8/10

Game of the Week: Dual Pen Sports

It is the latest sports title to appear on the 3DS, but Dual-Pen Sports certainly has one unique selling-point - The game is designed to be played with TWO styluses instead of one. As a result, the game even comes packaged with two unique green styluses of its very own.

There are seven sports included in the game: Boxing, Paragliding, Skiing, Football, Archery, Baseball and Basketball.

Each of the sports involves two distinct actions in order to complete them. This sounds complicated, but with a bit of practise, both actions will become second nature.

 For example, in the Basketball game, players must first tap the left side of the screen to catch the ball, and then slide the stylus in an upwards motion on the right side of the screen to shoot at the basket.

Each sport has two types of matches as well. Rank matches take place against a CPU opponent. The task here is to beat your opponents' rank.

 Please note, however, if you fail to successfully complete either of your two main actions, you will fail the round. If you fail for three rounds in a row, it will be 'Game Over', making Dual Pen Sports very challenging indeed!

The second type of match is a Score Match, whereby players try to score as many points as they can. This type of match also uses Score Multipliers.This is a lot of fun and adds loads of replay value to the game.

Each sport comes with a practise session before the main match, and has its own illustrated tutorial, which can be re-read at any time.

This is very helpful with sports such as Boxing, which contain two main actions for players to complete, (Strike Left and Strike Right,) but which also contains several optional actions that can be performed as well.

If you are concerned at the thought of playing a game with two separate stylus, then Mini Gamers can reveal that the game can actually be played just as easily with one single stylus, although the timing of each action may take a little more work this way.  

The game also features a Daily Challenge, these challenges will help players to hone their dual pen skills before competing in an actual match.

Each of the seven sports included can also be played against friends via the 3DS' local wireless settings.

 Unfortunately though, this will mean that each player will have to have their own copy of the game in order to play. Nevertheless, competing against real human beings does mean that you will get a chance to prove who the most ambidextrous amongst you and all your friends, which is an interesting contest.

Dual Pen Sports Trailer

In conclusion, unlike other sports compendium games, like Sports Island 3D, this game does not allow players to take part in complete sports matches, but rather consists of a set of sporting mini-game challenges, such as kicking the ball into the goal, or knocking out an opponent within three rounds and so forth. Thus, it may not appeal to the hardcore sporting fans amongst you.

Nevertheless, for those players who are looking for a unique, fun and challenging sporting title, which can be replayed again and again, then this is definitely the game for you. Overall rating: 10/10.

Professor Layton and the Specter's Flute/Last Specter Gets New Title For Its UK Release Date...

*Professor Layton 4 Release Date Announced. CLICK HERE for details...*

Professor Layton is one of a few videogame series to which the question: 'What's in a name?' seems to be of great importance. The previous three games in the series all had different Japanese, American and UK titles, and it now seems that the fourth game  is set to continue this trend.

The game was initially released in Japan as Professor Layton and the Specter's Flute. However at E3 2011, a new trailer revealed that the game would also be known as Professor Layton and the Last Specter. The Trailer also revealed a North-American release date of 'Fall 2011'.

However, a recent announcement about the UK release revealed that the fourth Professor Layton game would have a different title yet again. Apparently the UK version of the game will now be known as Professor Layton and the Spectre's Call. 

Unfortunately, there is still no specific UK release date yet, although the game is apparently still scheduled for release in the UK some time in  late 2011, which means that it will probably hit the shelves in time for the Christmas rush, but this is purely conjecture at the moment.

However, it is now also looking increasingly likely that the long-awaited fifth game in the series, Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle, which will make its debut on the Nintendo 3DS, will now not reach UK stores until 2012 at the earliest.

Keep checking in with the Mini Gamers blogsite for more news on this game as it develops.



Japanese Gamers To Get TV Programmes On Their Nintendo 3DS...

Japanese Gamers are to receive a specially streamed television service directly onto their 3DS consoles from Tuesday.

According to gaming website andriasaang,  Japanese 3DS gamers will receive exclusive access to both Fuji and Nippon television services, including Sport and Sumo Wrestling, News and Information and even Animal Care or Wildlife programmes all in  full-3D.

The 3DS Television Streaming capability will become available via a downloadable application, which is called Itsu no Ma ni Terebi in Japan.

The 3D Television App

It is unclear whether this is a totally pay-per-view TV streaming service or whether some programmes might actually be free to download, but we do know that there are plans to have some of the programmes available for daily download via SpotPass.

A sample of 3DS Programmes on offer

The announcement has once again sparked interest from European gamers who are wondering whether they might also receive a similar service in the near future. The recent Green Lantern 3D Trailer has raised questions about whether a film service may actually be made available at some point as well.

Programmes will be available via SpotPass

However, although Nintendo has admitted that they have been working with companies such as Eurosport, Sky TV and NetFlix to bring these kinds of services to the European 3DS market, no actual dates have been given for the commencement of any type of television services yet.

Mini Gamers is excited by the prospect of 3D television and films on our 3DS consoles, but we realise that it could be a very long wait yet. Keep checking in with the Mini Gamers blog for more information on this subject as it arrives.

Game of the Week: Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D [3DS]

If you had any sort of interest in videogames back in 1998, then it is likely that you will have heard of The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

The game has received much acclaim since its original release and is often heralded as: "The best Zelda game of all time..." [Sourced from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time]

The original Ocarina of Time also employed many new gameplay mechanisms such as an enhanced Targeting Lock System and solid-looking characters that were all rendered in full-3D, which was no easy feat at that time. Furthermore, the Legend of Zelda series has gone on to inspire many of the videogames that we have today.

Thus, it is not surprising that Mini Gamers had very high expectations for the newly-released 3DS version of Ocarina of Time, (simply referred to as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D,) and we are pleased to announce that we have not been disappointed.

The first things that springs to mind when you talk about a 3DS game is, of course, the graphics. There is only one word that truly conjures up the graphics quality of Ocarina of Time 3D, and that word is 'WOW!!!'.

Now, the usual high-quality 3D rendering that we have come to expect from the Legend of Zelda games is actually viewed in real 3D for the very first time. The result is a visual eye-fest!

There is also a greater feeling of depth within the game and the real-3D capabilities also enhance the Camera View and Targetting Lock System, giving the game an even more realistic feel than ever before.

It is hard to describe how brilliant the new sense of depth really is to someone who hasn't already seen it for themselves, but it really does add an extra dimension to the way the game unfolds.

Although the main plot of this game remains unchanged from the original Ocarina of Time, some new 3DS-exclusive mechanics have been added to the new version, including use of the 3DS gyroscopic functions when using Link's bow and arrow, boomerang and Slingshot. This makes the current version of the game more challenging than its predecessor and a lot more realistic.

For those that struggle with the gyroscopic controls however, there is an option to swap back to the original analogue controls as well.

The 3DS version also has a Boss Challenge Mode, which allows players to fight all of the main 'Boss' characters in the game one after another in the order in which they appeared in the game.

Furthermore, the game also features a new video-hint system, called Visions. Visions can be selected in the Save Options menu when Link has been killed.

 Visions are a video snapshot, which reveals information about where certain key items are hidden in the game. This can prove invaluable when searching for important weapons etc.

The 3DS version also contains Master Quest, which first started as an expansion to the original Ocarina of Time game, but has since become bundled with the game on several different platforms.  Master Quest will only become available when the main game has been completed.

The 3DS version of Master Quest differs from the previous versions however, because the entire map is mirrored, meaning that all the overworld map locations and dungeons will now be flipped and reversed. Furthermore, all 'Bosses' in Master Quest Mode cause twice as much damage as in the main game.

Official E3 2011 Trailer

In conclusion, this game is a stunning graphical masterpiece. The gameplay is very challenging but also fun. The new 3DS-exclusive functions enhance the overall gameplay and add a few new twists for hardcore Zelda fans.

If you played the original The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time game, you will be instantly familiar with a lot of the areas of the game, but will also find new enjoyment in the amazing 3DS graphics and the new gyroscopic weapon controls.

If you have not had a chance to play this game yet, you really are missing out on something special. If you like RPG-Platform adventure games, then this is most definitely the game for you. Overall rating: 10/10.

A 3D trailer of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D is available to watch for FREE from the Nintendo 3DS eShop now

Nintendo 3DS eShop: Is 'The Green Lantern' 3D Trailer A Sign That 3D Movies Are Coming To The 3DS?

When Nintendo  first showcased the new 3DS console back in January this year, they mentioned the fact that the new console was capable of showing 3D TV programmes and films, which could be downloaded using the 3DS SpotPass feature.

Amongst the television production companies said to be involved at that time were Eurosport, Sky TV 3D and Aardman Animations, who would apparently be responsible for producing a set of exclusive fifteen-minute  short films in full 3D, starring Children's TV favourite, Shaun the Sheep.

 Several Hollywood movie studios were also said to be partenering with Nintendo in order to stream 3D movies onto the console. A trailer for a 3D version of Disney's Tangled was shown during the Nintendo Press Conference in January as an example of this.

However, nothing further has really been mentioned about the possibility of using the Nintendo 3DS to stream TV programmes and films since that time.

Now, however, a trailer for the new Warner Bros film,  The Green Lantern, (which is set to debut in cinemas across the UK on friday) has recently appeared in the Nintendo 3DS eShop.

The trailer looks incredible when viewed in full-3D on the Nintendo 3DS and certainly gives a good indication of the kind of quality gamers could expect from 3D films that might be shown on the console in the future.

Nintendo is currently said to be in negotiation with an American firm called Netflix - the company which allows films to be streamed onto the Nintendo Wii console. The idea is that the Netflix company will stream 3D films directly onto the 3DS console via the newly-launched Nintendo eShop.

The NetFlix film service is expected to be available from July/August 2011 in North America, but as Netflix is largely unsupported outside of the USA, it is likely that another similar service, such as LoveFilm, will have to be used in other countries.

However, we should also point out that, as yet, there have been no dates given at all for the commencement of any such equivalent film-streaming service for the 3DS in the UK or the rest of Europe.

Thus it looks like gamers in the UK have a little while longer to wait yet until we can actually enjoy films on the 3DS. Until then, we can expect to see more 3D film trailers in the near future.

If you haven't seen the 3DS version of The Green Lantern trailer for yourself yet, it is well worth a look. It can be downloaded for FREE from the Nintendo eShop now.

Please note that Nintendo eShop content is currently updated every Thursday, and therefore items in the eShop may subsequently be added or removed at this time.

New 3DS Games Announced: Kid Icarus: Uprising, Mario Kart 3D, StarFox 64 3D, and Super Mario 3D, Luigi's Mansion 2 and Lego City Stories all confirmed for 2011/2012...

Nintendo were extremely busy at this year's E3 conference, as well as unveiling their new portable Wii U controller, the company also gave details of several new 3DS titles, which would debut over the next two years.

First on the list was the highly-anticipated Mario Kart 3D, which, according to the CEO of Nintendo America,  Reggie Fils-Amie, would be a "tricked-out version,[which] you haven't driven before..."

A new feature exclusive Mario Kart 3D, is how characters now interact with each other while driving. Characters now not only turn their heads when another racer is nearby, but they also have the choice to 'make faces'  as well, such as glaring at their opponents.

The accompanying E3 Trailer showed Mario and friends racing around never-before-seen tracks. It also showed hand-glider races, and even included some underwater race environments too, which of course will all be viewed in full-3D when the game debuts later this year.

The trailer also gave hints of the various customisable options that would be included in the new game, such as bigger 4X4 tyres, new sticker and logo designs and various different vehicles to drive.

This game is sure to be a big hit for Mario fans when it gets released in the UK. If you can't wait until then, you can watch the trailer for yourself by clicking HERE.

Mario isn't alone in making his 3DS debut either. Mario's brother, Luigi, is also set to star in his own 3D RPG adventure - Luigi's Mansion 2.

Nintendo were keen to point out that this game is NOT merely a port of the original Gamecube version, but has been especially created from scratch for use on the 3DS console.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the original game, Luigi must collect poltergeists from a haunted mansion with the help of an adapted vacuum cleaner called the 'Poltergust'.

Some of the new 3DS features will also include a strobe function in which Luigi's torch can be used to stun ghosts before they are sucked up with the Poltergust. There will also be multiple mansions this time around, which will host different kinds of ghosts, each of which must be captured using different methods to unlock new areas and treasure chests.

The Poltergust has also been upgraded for the 3DS. As well as sucking up various spectres, it can now be used to reveal secret passages, clean up piles of treasure or simply just collect coins.

It sounds like a very fun little game, but it could be a while before fans in the UK actually get to enjoy Luigi's Mansion 2  for themselves, as the game is not expected to reach UK stores until 2012.

 If you would like more information, you can watch the E3 trailer of the game by clicking HERE.

One of the 3DS games announced for release in 2011 however, is Star Fox 64 3D. For those of you who have never heard of this game before, Star Fox 64 3D is a platform shooter game. Players must take control of the central character, Fox McCloud, as he fights against various enemies.

  The game, which was originally released for the Nintendo 64 console in 1993, has once again been given a total revamp for use with the 3DS. This time around, players can choose to make use of the 3DS' gyroscopic sensors if they wish - tilting the console up and down, left and right in order to fly the special Arwing aircraft.

Furthermore, a group-play multiplayer option will be enhanced by the use of the 3DS cameras, which can record the player's reactions as they play, which can then be transmitted to the rest of the group.

The enhanced gyroscopic features and 3D graphics should help to make Star Fox 64 3D a really enjoyable Flight-Simulation experience as well as a general Platform Shooter.

 

The game is set to debut in North America on the 11th of September 2011 and is expected to be released in the rest of Europe soon after. The Star Fox 64 3D trailer can be viewed by clicking HERE.

Another long-awaited 3DS game to be given a 2011 release date time-frame is Kid Icarus: Uprising. Players take the role of Pit, an angelic hero with the ability to fly between worlds and fight evil forces. In Kid Icarus: Uprising, Pit must defeat a reborn Medusa as she seeks to destroy mankind.

According to Nintendo, Kid Icarus: Uprising will make full use of the 3DS system including the Augmented Reality features, although it is unclear exactly how this might work at present. The game also features many multiplayer options including "Three-On-Three Multiplayer action"
[Reggie Fils-Aime, CEO of Nintendo America).

Kid Icarus: Uprising is scheduled to be released in America at the latter part of 2011. No other details about the game have been released at this time. If you want to see the E3 trailer for yourself, please click HERE.

Two surprise announcements from the Nintendo Conference at E3 included a 3DS version of the ever-popular Super Smash Bros Brawl 3D, which will apparently debut alongside the 'Wii U' version in 2012. Apparently, amongst other new additions to the series, there will be an appearance by the PS3 Infamous character, Cole Macgrath. However, that is all we know about the 3DS version for now.

The other surprise announcement was that another 'Wii U' title would also be getting the 3DS treatment some time next year. Lego City Stories is an open-world adventure game developed by the brains at Travellers Tales. No further details about the game have been released yet.

All of the games showcased at this this year's E3 conference were amazing. Mini Gamers looks forward to bringing you more news about these 3DS games as it develops.