Gameboy – Kirby’s Dream Land[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehTr0ZcBYlM[/youtube]
Kirby’s Dream Land was the very first experience I had with famed development studio HAL Laboratory. Designed by Masahiro Sakurai, the Kirby character was designed with the intention of being able to be enjoyed by beginning and veteran gamers alike. The game isn’t particularly challenging but it is still a fun experience none the less. The game is availible on the 3DS eShop, so if you would like to give it a whirl, all it takes is a download.
Gameboy Color – Toki Tori
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCLyFoF-Vn4[/youtube]Toki Tori is one of those video games that has been on every console under the sun. Android? Yup. iOS? Sure has. I got my fill of the game on the console where it got its start, the Gameboy Color. The game reminds me slightly of Lemmings on the surface. The basic premise of the game is to get your Toki Tori to gather up all the eggs in a level by using tools to help him traverse the level. The puzzles in the game are designed to make you think about what tool to use, and in what order. One wrong move can make the level unbeatable, and touching one of the enemies will instantly kill Toki Tori. While on the surface Toki Tori may be rather simple conceptually, the game is surprisingly deep in the later levels and is a must play for puzzle fans.
Gameboy Advance – Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgBd8-ji4Bw[/youtube]One of the most compelling reasons to own a GBA when the console launched in 2011 was to play the newest Castlevania adventure in Circle of the Moon. There had certainly been numerous Castlevania titles up until the point when Circle of the Moon had been released, but the GBA title was different. It was the first handheld Castelvania that followed the Symphony of the Night/Metroid style of gameplay in which backtracking was required and item collection was top priority. There are many things to love about the DS adventure such as the magic cards found throughout the game that determined the type of magic being performed and the incorporation of role playing elements in the game. Castlevania has always been one of my favorite video game franchises, and Circle of the Moon certainly didn’t disapoint.
Nintendo DS – Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfMHDzNOv4k [/youtube]I was pleasantly surprised when I first placed that Phoenix Wright cartridge into my DS. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the game. I mean, what other video game lets you take the role of a lawyer who makes friends with a ‘spirit medium’ who can channel the spirit of her dead sister to help with cases. Yeah, I can’t think of one either. The game is a lot like point-and-click adventure games of old, only this time you can scream objection! at your console when you feel getting crazy. The zany story to be found in the games is the real reason to stick around for the entire adventure. If you can keep up with what’s happening (because it really is crazy at times), it truly is a game everyone who owns a DS should play at some point.
Nintendo 3DS – Monster Hunter Tri G
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJMUvIPClLk [/youtube]Monster Hunter isn’t a series I am particularly well versed in. In truth, my first exposure to the franchise was on the Nintendo Wii in Monster Hunter Tri. I can’t say that I particularly cared for the game, but then again by all accounts I was playing it wrong: by myself. If Monster Hunter Tri G (or 3G as it is sometimes called) comes to the states, I can see myself spending a significant amount of time with the game. After all, the PSP versions of the game were extremely popular in Japan, and I think a lot of it had to do with the game being better suited for a handheld experience. If it does come out, I suppose I had either have a Circle Pad Pro or pray Nintendo has already released an updated 3DS with built-in second analog (come on, we all know it’s going to happen) because that seems like the preferred way to play the game. Here’s hoping it is released sooner rather than later.
