Super Mario 3D Land

Super Mario 3D Land was released in Japan on November 3rd, America on November 13th, Europe on November 18th, and Australia on November 24th 2011.

Mario is once again, on another adventure to save Princess Peach from Bowser. The game combines elements of 2D platformes of the past and the 3D adventure you found from Super Mario Galaxy. Mario also has some more tools for his adventure and the ability of 3D.

So is this 3D mario adventure fun for the whole family, or is it just a a block of bricks?

Lets Find Out!

Story:
Really, are you asking me a story to a Super Mario game? Ah well, there isn't much there. A tree which contained leaves, which are actually super leaves are blown away by a thunder storm. In reality though, it is Bowsers plot to give his minions new abilities, and mario findes out the princess is captured by Bowser again. Thats all I can give you!

Gameplay:
The gameplay is well made, with elements from the Super Mario Galaxy game. The game has good control and is best enjoyed with the 3D activated to solve some puzzles and just for more of the experience.

Mario this time has a few new power-ups in this game. The Tanooki suit makes a return, allowing Mario to glide over all the enemies and get to the flag. He can also spin his tail to attack goomba's and what not.

Mario in his Boomaring Suit

The boomaring flower allows, when picked up, to throw boomarings attacking enemies from a distence.


The propeller block makes a return from New Super Mario Bros Wii allowing Mario to fly up, then slowly glide down.


Other power ups are the Ice flower, Fire flower, the ever classic Star, and the iconic mushroom.
All you have to do is traverse through the obsticle course filled with death traps, monsters and many other condrems in about 299 seconds. Have Fun!

Starcoins also make a return as in later in the game, they are really needed.

The game also uses the Streetpass feature to give you extra puzzlez, and help with item houses. You may also compare times with your friends on your friend list.

Artstyle:
Mario games have always been very cartonish, and this game is no exception. The style is inspired by the Nintendo 64 game Super Mario with its many world scnearios. This game for a portable system has pretty good graphics and hopefully, will never get old.

Music:
The music is once again, very well done. The enviroments the music is in ar just perfect and fit the Mario series well.

Final Verdict:
This game is pretty loads of fun. The game is greatly controled, great music, and also great artstlye. So load up a level and have fun.

Story---------------- 6.0
Gameplay---------- 8.0
Artstyle------------ 7.0
Music-------------- 7.0

Final Verdict: 7.5

Sonic and the Secret Rings

Sonic and the Secret Rings was released on February 20th, 2007 in North America, March 2nd in Europe, and March 15th in Japan. This game marked the beggining of the storybook series, made by SEGA only for the Wii.

The game was one of the many games that came out on the Wii near its release, which ment that the games usually stunk. This game had a new story which takes place in the storis of the Arabian Knights, new characters like genie's and princes, and they only had Sonic as the actual character.

So does this game save the Arabian stories, or will they burn to ashes.


Lets Find Out!

Story:
The game starts Sonic off sleeping on his couch, when he is woken by Shara, genie of the ring.(I know it sounds really weird.) Anyway, Shara informs him about the storis of the Arabian Knights are burning by the evil Erazor Jinn. So normally, Sonic goes to helpShara to bring down Erazor Jinn and save the pages of stories. Other Sonic characters make apperances like Dr.Eggman plays the role of King Shahryar and Tails as Ali Baba

Gameplay:
The gameplay I find is a little stiff. To move you tilt the Wii remote left and right to move, well left and right. That works just fine and dandy but the problem is backing up. You have to turn the wii remote backwards. So I find it is just a nusence to back up and get things you missed.

The controls are also sometimes unresponsive like when trying to do a homing attack. You have to thrust the wii remote in any direction, this can be confused with the going backwards movement and everything.

The game also includes a EXP system where each level and chapter completed, you earn a new skill. There is also two features in this game you get later on.

One is called Speed Break, which makes you invincble and move at incredbly fast speeds. The other is Time Break, Which slows down time to provide more of a chance to attack enemies. This of course is controled by the Soul Gauge. You get souls to fill it up by defeating enemies, or just runnunig into them.

Sonic doing a homing attack, while collecting Souls

Artstyle:
The artstyle is very interesting with there new approach to make the storybook series. The cutscenes were handdrawn on parchament paper to make the cutscenes, which in my case is really impressive.

The game also shows many difrent variety to levels, including Jungles, Deserts, Oceans, and floating islands. The graphics were really inspired by the stories of the Arabian Nights and you can see that.

Music:
the game is composed byKenichi Tokoi, Fumie Kumatani, Seirou Okamoto and Hideaki Kobayashi of Wave Master; Steve Conte and Runblebee performed the vocal tracks.

The game combines good tracks, combining rock themed songs and placed with a twist of Middle Eastern music. The game would also never be complete without some familiar sonic sounds.

Mulitplayer:
Surprisengly, there is a multiplayer to this game and it is Party Mode. This mode contains 40 diffrent party games. It is just a little cheap gimmick to have more replay value. You can play the game with either the Wii Remote's or Gamecube controllers, one problem. The first player is forced to use the Wii remote.

Final Verdict:
The verdict for this game is easy to decided. This Sonic game is one of the early bunch. The game's that did not use the Wii's Upgrades. Because of its quality of control, its diffuculty goes with it.
Story:------------ 5.0
Gameplay:------ 4.0
Artstyle:--------- 6.0
Music:----------- 7.0
Multiplayer:---- 4.0

Final Verdict: 5.5