Toronto Thumbs

Review
Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir

These are 2D representations of 3D images.

Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir (by Nintendo and Tecmo Koei Games) is an augmented reality horror survival game for the Nintendo 3DS that adds an interesting twist to game-play. Unfortunately, the innovations within the game and the spooky story and atmosphere are not enough to save you from the worst fate that could befall a person playing in this genre: boredom.

Read the rest »

Posted in 3DS, Reviews | No Comments »

Taking the Plunge
New Love Plus – Part I

All of these images are 2D representations of 3D. They might also be 2D. Stop being so damned picky.

Japan may not be the trendsetting industry leader in gaming that it once was, but it’s still producing some of the most boundary-busting, creative, and just plain weird games around. A lot of those do have some niche cache with open-minded and/or weeaboo gamers: Dynasty Warriors spin-offs, anything Gundam or One Piece, JRPGs, bullet hell shmups – they’ve all got their followings.

On a personal level, I came to Japan in no small part to explore my own love of video games; specifically the Japanese ones, both historical and current. Though the vocal minority (and Phil Fish) like to decry the state of Japan’s game creation today, the good stuff is still coming out regularly, and heavy-hitters like Nintendo still know how to delight. To wit, the 3DS is already ranking among my all-time favourite consoles due to the sheer joy of playing the thing.

Still, there’s one final frontier for me and many other gamers. One genre that is just too far beyond the pale, for various reasons, both perceived and actual. That is, the dating simulation. A staple genre in Japan, lumped casually in with everything else.

Read the rest »

Posted in 3DS, News Bytes, Reviews | No Comments »

Review
Kid Icarus: Uprising

Having a ball playing Uprising! All images are 2D representations of 3D.

Believe it or not, my first exposure to Kid Icarus was when I watched an episode of Captain N: The Game Master, a Saturday morning cartoon. Since I didn’t have a Nintendo gaming system, my interest waned after the television show left the air. Time passed; it was only when I started playing Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Nintendo Wii that I saw everyone’s favourite angelic buddy with his trusty bow and arrow.

Now that I have been playing Kid Icarus: Uprising for the Nintendo 3DS handheld gaming system, I find myself wondering why it took me so long to really get into this character given how amazingly fun this recent release is.

Read the rest »

Posted in 3DS, Reviews | No Comments »

Review
Tekken 3D: Prime Edition

All images in this article are 2D representations of 3D images.

I remember the first time I played a Tekken game; it was in an arcade at Fairview Mall (Toronto), right across the street from my apartment at the time. Tucked away towards the back, the arcade box caught my eye and I inserted that fateful fifty cents that would wed me to the franchise from that point on. After I purchased my first console, it was one of the first games that I bought – and I continue to play them casually to this day. So what do I think of the latest iteration – Tekken 3D: Prime Edition – for the 3DS? Surprisingly good – yet oddly shallow. Read on!

Read the rest »

Posted in 3DS, Reviews | No Comments »

Review
Tales of the Abyss

Images are 2D representations of 3D; or (3-1)D images. The fact that I have to type this makes me sad.

I have never played a Tales game before. A quick research dip into the interwebz demonstrated that there an a lot of titles in this franchise over the Pacific. A quick fact check also reveals that Namco-Bandai’s Tales of the Abyss is really a six-year-old game that was first released on the PS2 and has since been re-jigged for the 3DS. Does this refreshed RPG warrant a re-do?

Read the rest »

Posted in 3DS, Reviews | No Comments »

Preview
Kid Icarus: Uprising

All images (except one) are 2D representations of 3D images.

I had yet to play a game on the 3DS that just blows my mind out my ears. I was starting to think that perhaps my brain would never be free from this cage of a head I have, until I played Kid Icarus: Uprising; suddenly my brain was blasted from my head. I had a chance to sit down with this game at a recent event showcasing Nintendo’s lineup for its loyal audience. Nintendo as of late has been focusing more on its core players with some very intense games. Even third party games such as Resident Evil: Revelations, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D and Tekken 3D: Prime Edition cater to those of us who froth at the mouth for awesome material. However, I respectfully submit that Kid Icarus: Uprising (if you’ll excuse the pun) rises above the rest.

Read the rest »

Posted in 3DS, First Impressions | No Comments »

Review
Cooking Mama 4: Kitchen Magic

At any given time, there will be at least one person playing a Cooking Mama title on their DS while riding the subway; this is a scientific law*. And why not? Cooking Mama is, essentially, a mini-game based cookbook, taking recipes and teaching them using a gaming interface. Cooking Mama 4: Kitchen Magic is the latest in the addictive series and is the first of the bunch made specifically for the 3DS – but it is not necessarily the greatest. Let’s take a look at why Cooking Mama 4 is not as tasty as it could have been.

Read the rest »

Posted in 3DS, Reviews | No Comments »