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Game Evaluation. Jim Nardecchia CIS 487. Basic Information. Mario Hoops 3 on 3. Developer. Developed by Square-Enix Best known for Final Fantasy series Primarily features Nintendo characters and settings Some Final Fantasy unlockables Published by Nintendo. Type of Game.
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Game Evaluation Jim Nardecchia CIS 487
Developer • Developed by Square-Enix • Best known for Final Fantasy series • Primarily features Nintendo characters and settings • Some Final Fantasy unlockables • Published by Nintendo
Type of Game • Basketball game • Teams of 3 • Nintendo ‘twists’ • Baskets are worth 20, 30, and 40 points • There are ‘?’ blocks on the court, dribbling on them gives coins • Coins are added to basket point totals • ‘?’ blocks also give familiar Mario items
Price • $29.99 to $34.99 • Most 1st party DS games are $29.99 • Most 3rd party DS games are $39.99
Hardware Requirements • Nintendo DS or Nintendo DS Lite • Retails for $129.99
Quick Overview • 3 on 3 Basketball game with Mario characters, items, and settings. • Gameplay uses only the D-Pad and touchscreen. • Extensive tutorial • Tournaments are main gameplay mode • 2 Minigames
Quick Overview (cont.) • 21 Characters • 11 are hidden • 5 are from Final Fantasy universe • 16 unique courts • 4 are hidden • Single and Double cart multiplayer • Single and Multiplayer stat tracking
Players Role • The player is in control of one character at a time. • On offense, whoever has the ball • On defense, player can swap characters
User Interface • Game is played using the D-Pad and Touch screen. • It is possible to use the buttons instead, but the game was designed for the touchpad • Game plays better with the stylus than it does with the thumbstrap • The menus in the game can only be navigated through using the touchpad.
Gameplay • Move character using D-Pad • Touchpad controls all other moves • Offense • Tapping touchpad dribbles the ball • Sliding touchpad up shoots the ball • Sliding touchpad left or right passes ball • Defense • Sliding touchpad up jumps • Sliding touchpad down steals • Pressing the ‘L’ button changes characters
Gameplay (cont.) • Special shots – tap pattern on touchpad • Dunks are unbeatable • Alley-oops can be blocked • Advanced moves • Charge shot • Charge dunk • Blind pass • Ground pound • Charge steal • Jump steal
Scoring • 2 point shots = 20 points • 3 point shots = 30 points • Special shots = 40 points • Then add any coins that were picked up by the player. • Team can score a maximum of 140 points per basket. • Team with most points at the end of a game wins
Graphics and Artwork • The game looks beautiful • Arguably best 3D game available for DS • Models look great • Textures aren’t as blocky • Framerate is consistent and smooth • Visual style is impressive • Mario with a twist • Menu’s are very colorful and animated well
Sound and Music • Backround music is good • Title screen theme song especially • Game music gets tuned out • Sound effects are great • Each character has their trademark voices, sayings, and/or noises • Game sound effects are adequate
Special Features • Tournament Trophies • Bronze for winning • Silver for winning each game by 100 • Gold for winning each game by 200 • 11 Unlockable Characters • 5 from Final Fantasy Universe • Unlockable costumes • 4 Unlockable stages • Several unlockable balls
Game Manual • Game Manual is adequate • In game tutorial is better • Manual doesn’t give enough detail • Technical content is great
Bugs • None that I’ve run across
Good stuff • The game is simply fun to play • Game mechanics are refreshing • Playing Basketball in a Mario setting is a lot of fun • Plenty of unlockables • Final Fantasy characters add a special extra touch to it • Multiplayer is great and a ton of fun
Bad stuff • Computer AI needs work • Teammates are practically worthless • Opponents go from stupid to awesome too quickly • Touchpad controls get touchy at times • Tournaments are the main mode • Game could really use a league feature • Basketball sometimes plays 2nd fiddle to coin collecting • Single-cart multiplayer options are limited
How does it compare • Not meant to compare to basketball games • Compares to other Mario sports titles somewhat favorably • Probably comes in last • Definitely on the DS
Why is it better/worse • Other games are more fleshed out • Other games focus more on their sport • Other games have one or more key features that are missing here
Appropriate Audience • Anybody (Rated E for Everyone) • Primarily • Any fan of past Mario sports games • Secondary • Mario fans • Basketball fans • Final Fantasy fans
Design Mistakes • Could argue there is a fundamental flaw with the basketball aspect, too much focus on coin collecting.
Overall Strengths & Weaknesses • Pros • Fun to play • Controls are refreshing • Mario setting is fun • Final Fantasy extras are cool • Cons • Not enough modes • AI could be better • Basketball plays 2nd fiddle • Touchy touchpad controls (at times)
Worth Purchasing • Like Mario sports games? • Yes • Like Basketball or Mario • Perhaps • Hate Mario Kart • No • Want something unique that takes full advantage of the DS hardware? • Definitely
How can it be Improved • Fix AI • Teammates need to defend • Computer difficulty curve needs to be lighter • Add a league mode • 6 teams, 5-20 games, playoffs • More Basketball, less coins • Tighten up controls a tad • More characters