3D

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Pokedex 3D (3DS) Impressions

Posted by Andrew Jackson on January 25, 2012
Posted in: Impressions. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Pokedex 3D is a free download from the 3DS e-shop.

Pokemon has been a worldwide phenomenon side the original Red and Green versions launched in Japan over 15 years ago. It has spawned a never ending anime, trading card games, toys, posters and any kind of merchandise you could imagine. The franchises sports over 600 creatures through 5 generations of games,  that are called “pocket monsters” or Pokemon for short.  The games are unique RPGs- focusing on collecting and training different Pokemon to battle teams of other Pokemon, usually involving a lot of strategy and many hours of dedication into breeding your Pokemon into battling machines.

From inception until the current day, all of the main series games have been sprite based. In the newest games- Pokemon Black and White for the Nintendo DS- Game Freak has started utilizing 3D models for buildings and towns- however the character models of trainers and Pokemon are still animated sprites. With the release of Pokedex 3D, a free application available for the Nintendo 3DS e-shop fans now can view all of the newest Pokemon rendered in 3D models and viewable with 3D graphics.

However, just like in the games you do not get a full Pokedex from the start. From the beginning your Pokedex will only contain 16 Pokemon. There are a few different ways to acquire the others. Pokemon can be added to your Pokedex by getting a StreetPass, scanning a Pokemon’s QR code, downloaded through SpotPass, or traded wirelessly with a friend.

Each Pokemon is fully animated, and by pressing the A button- they will perform a special animation. The Pokedex can also be a useful tool for Pokemon breeders and Pokemon buffs. The Pokedex will show each creature’s stats in a bar that goes from 1 to 10, as well as listing the height, weight, egg group, abilities, evolutions, and all possible moves (along with the moves, information- such as type, power, accuracy, and PP). If you select a move- it will take you a page that shows you all of the Pokemon capable of learning that move.

Pokedex 3D also provides search options, allowing your search for Pokemon by name, type, egg group, ability, and moves. By pressing the gear option in the upper right hand corner of the bottom screen you can bring up the options menu- including a favorites menu for quick access to the Pokemon you love. There is an option to use the Pokemon in a similar fashion to the AR cards provided with the system. Also in the options, is the ability to customize the background of the Pokemon viewer,  color scheme options for the menus, various languages, developer credits, and the update feature-which you should always run after receiving new Pokemon, as it adds a pause button that you may press to freeze the Pokemon during their special animation.

Pokedex 3D is a great tool for Pokemon fans, not only because of its useful information all in one location, but because it is a very charming application that lets you see your favorite new Pokemon come to life in three-dimensions like ever before. All in all this is a handy, and fun application for the Nintendo 3DS, and since it is available for free on the e-shop, any fan even only slightly interested in the series should take the time to at least experiment with a fun application.

UPDATE:

With the release of Pokedex 3D Pro the original Pokedex 3D is unneeded. It includes all Pokemon pre-XY, unlocked from the start, with a greater depth, and more information than the original release.Unlike Pokedex 3D, the pro version is not free, so bear that in mind. However, Pokedex 3D remains available for download on the eShop as a curiosity for you to download.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (3DS) Review

Posted by AGG Staff on January 25, 2012
Posted in: Reviews. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Guest Review by Jordan Schmidt

Ocarina of Time is my favorite game of all time. That being said, I was extremely pumped for this new 3DS remake. If you’ve played Ocarina of Time before, you already know what to expect. It retains all the dungeons and areas we know and love. But, the 3DS version adds many great new features to the original formula, and also some… Not so great ones.

First of all, we have the touch screen. The touch screen works wonders for the game. You are able to assign 2 items to the touch screen for quick access, and you can also assign an item to X and an item to Y. The touch screen assigned items work fairly well, but can become a bit cumbersome when in an action sequence and trying to tap them. The touch screen also features a map of the area you’re in. The map is great and it’s a lot better than having to press start to bring it up.

Image From http://www.nerdreactor.com

As for the graphics, they simply look phenomenal. The 3D effect works wonders, like on Kokori Forest light sparkles seem to come out at you, or when you pick up a Cucco and feathers fly in your face. But even without the 3D, the game looks great. Ocarina of Time 3D shows off all new character models, and completely 3D rendered backdrops inside buildings. Although the remake does bring all those great new features to the table, it has one shocking shortcoming that I am astonished the developer even let it go without fixing it.

In the original Ocarina of Time, when Link jumps off a high ledge, you can tilt the analog stick in the direction he is facing to do a roll when you hit the ground, which breaks your fall and prevents you from losing any health. It no longer works, and it’s frustrating because it’s second nature for me to try and roll after a big fall, and I just can’t do it. Hopefully they release a patch of some sort somewhere down the road. But all in all, it’s just a fantastic remake, it also includes a remixes Master Quest and a Boss Rush mode, so you definitely get your money’s worth. So do yourself a favor and go buy this classic remake, you’ll be glad you did.