Review: 4 Things I Loved About Super Mario 3D Land (And 4 Things I Hated)

Mario's latest romp on the 3DS has been kind of a mixed bag for me.  I want to believe the masses, and claim that 3D Land is the best game available for the handheld at the moment, but I can't bring myself to do it.  Besides, that honor has already been taken in my eyes.  For every enjoyable quirk I find in the game, I encounter an equally annoying aspect that seems to put a damper on all of the fun.

Imagine the Fire Flower, but with much less practical use.

Mario, I want to love you, but sometimes you just make it too hard for me to admit it.  At the same time, you have a charm that's impossible to ignore.  So, allow me to organize my thoughts in an indecisive, wishy-washy fashion, just for you.

Feature: Top 7 Moments I Hated In Games I Love

I've never really encountered a game that has been absolutely perfect.  More often than not, there's almost always at least one thing I don't like about a certain title as I play it.  These little nitpicks usually become more noticeable whenever they are involved in games that I really enjoy.  As a result, I often remember them with deep-seeded hatred rooted in the memories of hours of frustration.  Sometimes when I think about them, I find myself curling up into a corner as I attempt to cry away my trauma.

...And then everything turns blue, for some reason...

The games on this list are among some of my favorites that I've ever played.  However, each of them has one of those moments that can be deemed "That One Part" by many fellow gamers who can relate to my sorrow (at least I'd like to think so...).

Feature: Top 5 Video Game Characters I've Actually Cared About

Video game characters are kind of a mixed bag for most audiences.  Some of them are lovable, while others are obnoxiously annoying.  Still others are merely blank slates for the player to project onto.  However, in terms of personality, few characters out there have actually made me feel emotionally attached to them.  These select few compel me to sympathize with them during their hardships, and join in during their celebrations.  Sure, Mario's a well-designed mascot and all, but can you really grasp what he's feeling whenever he finds out that Princess Peach has decided to relocate yet again?

Takes it like a champ...

The characters in the list below are the ones that I truly connected with.  Ones that I cared about protecting.  In the end, these are the characters that I will always remember for their actions, not just their style.

***SPOILER WARNING IN EFFECT FOR ALL GAMES MENTIONED!***

Feature: Top 10 Best Games I Played in 2011

I'm not exactly one who's known for being able to keep up with the times.  Sure, I follow gaming news regularly, and I usually know what's what about the world at large, but when it comes to playing new releases, I always seem to trip and fall on my face while everyone else gets a head start.

That's not to say that there aren't SOME games that I buy day one.  However, if I were to look at my backlog of games, it would become increasingly apparent that the titles I've played this year are...shall we say, dated?

"Hey guys, did you know that they're making a second
Mario Galaxy?  I might want to get that eventually!"

So, amidst all of the Top 10 best of 2011 lists sprouting up all over the Internet, I thought I might as well contribute one of my own.  The following is a countdown of the 10 best games I've played this year, regardless of when they were released.  Because being topical is just sooooo predictable (albeit practical).

Review: 9 Reasons Why I Love 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors

I recently had the extreme pleasure of playing through a nifty little visual novel game that completely blew my freakin' mind.

Music: Top 10 Video Game Songs That Get You Pumped Up

Video game music has always done a great job at conveying a certain mood.  Some songs invoke sadness or regret, with slow, flowing rhythms and peaceful instruments.  Others convey a feeling of wonder and joy, with fast-paced notes and an almost cartoon-like vibe.

...And then there are those few songs that just plain get you excited.  No matter when you hear them, you feel like you're ready to accomplish something great.  Something epic.

Something like this.

These are the songs you hear when you charge head-on into a horde of zombies with nothing but a machete and a baseball bat with a nail sticking out.  They play as you commence in a one-on-one duel with Death itself on a dragon flying over an exploding volcano.  Simply put, these are the songs that just fire you up, in any situation.

Feature: Top 5 E-Rated Games That Are Too Hard For Kids

According to the ESRB, a game that is rated "E" is supposedly dubbed "appropriate for children ages 6 and up."  I've always pondered this notion, as many of the games I play don this rating.  However, as I go through some of them, I sometimes wonder how such a young child can be expected to play them competently.  Even games that are rated "E10+" have struck me as kind of odd, for the very same reason.

Personally, I believe that games should be rated not only based on content, but also based on difficulty.  For instance, next to the "E" on the back of a box, a list of criteria could include something like this:

 
This way, the ESRB can actually inform parents about the true nature of a game (for once).  Truth be told, game ratings are incredibly misleading, because "questionable content" isn't the only thing to watch out for when buying a new title for your 1st grader. 

As it turns out, some games that are rated "E" are actually intended to appeal to older audiences.  However, these games don't contain anything too inappropriate, so they pass by with an "E" or "E10+" rating (and yes, I'm pretty much grouping those together).  Once this happens, the trap is set, and parents buy these games for their elementary school kids, not knowing that said games were going to be punching their children in the guts with their challenges.