Welcome back to IGN Nintendo's monthly round-up of all the hottest games to hit the 3DS eShop. This month was pretty eventful in terms of great eShop titles, so check out the guide below for an idea of which games you should buy, which you should consider, and which you should avoid at all costs.
Let’s get right to it, shall we?
Crashmo
Last year Pushmo took the 3DS eshop by storm with its additively clever puzzle design and charming presentation. Crashmo takes that same formula and turns into something fresh and distinct by adding a handful of new mechanics - and the results are incredible. Things like an updated camera that lets you spin all around each puzzle, the ability to slide blocks rather than just pull or push them, and a variety of new gadgets (like Float Blocks and Move Switches) make for an incredibly challenging (and incredibly fun) puzzle adventure. Throw in the equally addictive puzzle creator, and you have another must-buy eShop title care of the folks at Intelligent Systems. If you loved Pushmo (or somehow managed to miss out on Mallo's debut), don't hesitate to give Crashmo a purchase.
Check out our full Crashmo review here.
Pokedex 3D Pro
If you have fond memories of any generation of Pokémon, Pokédex 3D Pro is probably right up your ally. This fully fledged Pokédex gives you detailed information on every single Pokémon currently in existence, from the original Red and Blue all the way to Black 2 and White 2. It also comes with a Movedex and a Pokémon Challenge mode (where you can test your Pokémon knowledge). More importantly, the ability to watch full 3D animations of every monster is an absolute dream come true, and probably the closest you'll get to seeing a glorious 3D model of Bulbasaur or Lucario for quite some time. It's a great companion for those still working their way through Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, and a wonderful app for anyone who wants to get an eyeful of their favorite monster whenever they please.
Spolier: Kangaskhan's animation is incredible.
Johnny Hotshot
Johnny is at it again with his latest download game, Johnny Hotshot - but unfortunately, this latest entry isn't so hot. The game is basically a poorly thought-out shooting gallery, with three different "modes" spread across five different galleries. All three modes are pretty similar, though, as all look about the same and involve aiming with the stylus or Circle Pad and shooting with A. The controls, while simple, still somehow manage to feel clunky, and it's annoying that occasionally you'll shoot something, but the game won't recognize that you did. Bottom line: don't buy this game. Your time and money are both far too valuable.
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is often considered the "black sheep" of the Zelda family, largely because it's so drastically different from other entries in the franchise. But don't let that fool you - this is still an incredible, totally classic adventure, and one that should not be missed. With RPG elements and a unique topdown perspective that shifts to side-scrolling in battle and in towns, Zelda II is truly one of a kind. It's also incredibly challenging, but in a very good way. If you have the patience to take on this somewhat strange, crazy difficult, but ultimately extremely well-made chapter of Link's history, definitely give this one a download.
Save the princess - this time with side-scrolling!
Aero Porter
Following last month's Liberation Maiden, Aero Porter is the next Level-5 joint to make it's way from the Japan-only Guild01 collection to the 3DS eShop. The game has you managing luggage at an airport, using the L and R triggers to raise or lower differently-colored luggage to the corresponding platform. The longer you play, the more complicated this seemingly simple task gets, as more colors and platforms are introduced, and things like fuel and lighting management are added to the mix. To be honest, I'm not exactly sure why I enjoyed this game as much as I did. It should be terribly boring, but there's something fairly addictive about its simple controls and complex management tasks. This isn't the sort of experience everyone will enjoy... but if you give it a shot, you might be surprised by how much fun sorting baggage can be.
Pac-Man
Once again, that hungry circle dude called Pac-Man has made his way onto the 3DS eShop. There's not much to say about Pac-Man that hasn't already been said - it's a classic arcade game where you maneuver the titular character around a maze, trying to eat up all the dots while avoiding being killed by the ghosts. This particular version is the NES port. It's a solid version, albeit without much in the way of bells and whistles. If you already have a way to play Pac on the go, there's really no need to shell out the cash for another. But if your portable library is still missing this gaming staple, this version is one of the better ones to own.
2 Fast 4 Gnomz
Let's be honest, most of the endless runners that have made their way to DSi, 3DS and Wii have been pretty pathetic. There are exceptions, of course (ehem, Bit.Trip Runner) - and 2 Fast 4 Gnomz is one of them. The game has you switching between four kinds of gnomes (or, I suppose, "gnomz"). Each has a different ability, like floating or running fast, that will help you nab collectibles and survive for as long as you can. The game is pretty amusing, as switching abilities shakes up what is often a repetitive and boring genre. If you're in the market for an endless runner (or amusing time waster), go forth and gnome.
Dress to Play: Cute Witches!
Dress to Play: Cute Witches! has a fairly decent premise - you customize your own cute, Chibi-style character, who you then take out on the town in her own side-scrolling action game. Unfortunately, neither the customization nor the action element are any good. To start, the dress-up portion of the game is something of a joke. There are only a dozen or so tops and bottoms to choose from, several of which only differ in color. For something called "Dress to Play," that's a rather sorry amount of clothing options. Unfortunately, the adventure part is pretty lame too. While it's cute to look at, all you do is side-scroll your way through a level, avoiding obstacles while grabbing stars. It's not bad, per se, but it's also not interesting enough to justify a whole game (or make up for the lame dress-up segment). Take my advice and don't let that cute, pink octopus icon trick you into wasting a download on this one.
That wraps up this month’s notable 3DS eShop releases! We're still working out how we want to revamp the eShop ranking to include more games, so sound off with your ideas in the comments below (remember to tell us what games you'd like to see at the top of the list). We'll unveil the new ranking next month, so now's the time to let your voice be heard!
Source : ign[dot]com
