A lot of big things happened this month for us gamers. For months we anticipated the release of both Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One, and now they’re finally both here. How many gamers are enthused to go out and buy the new consoles? Honestly, I can say I’m not. At the moment I’m pretty content with my present consoles. So, while these two competitors duke it out with each other to see which console is the best, Nintendo has decided to jump into the fun by releasing new titles from two of the most recognizable franchises in Nintendo’s history: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Super Mario 3D World.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
Release Date: November 22
A Link Between Worlds is a sequel to A Link to the Past and is set in the same world as the Super Nintendo classic, but with new dungeons to explore and a new storyline to follow. This Nintendo 3DS version is unlike any of the recent Zelda games. First of all, those who are familiar with the process of obtaining weapons and valuable items in any of the recent series all know that we must go through dungeons and defeat bosses before getting any of the good stuff, right? But in A Link Between Worlds we don’t go through that long, dreaded process that takes forever; no, we have immediate access to all the goodies. A rabbit-eared-wearing merchant named Ravio sets up shop in Link’s home. You can purchase or rent items and weapons from this wacky character and head out on adventures. The downfall is that if you die, Ravio will take away the weapons and items you rented, and you have to travel back to him to obtain these weapons and items again. Also, players have the choice to head in any direction they want. The game doesn’t just push the player into a specific journey: the player gets to decide which journey they would like to carry out first. It’s nice to play a Zelda game where you’re given the freedom to explore wherever you choose.
Super Mario 3D World
Platforms: Wii U
Release date: November 22
Now Mario players can enjoy multiplayer gameplay while not being restricted to a two-dimensional plane. What makes this game so different compared to all the other Super Mario games? Princess Peach! For once, she is not being kidnapped by Bowser (finally) and she’s been added to the character list. Yes, Nintendo has presented Peach as a playable character for the first time since Super Mario Bros. 2 in 1988. Now, players can enjoy using Mario, Luigi, Toad, or Princess Peach, who all possess unique abilities (think about the abilities in Super Mario Bros. 2; kind of the same thing).
Well, I am leaving Camosun, so this is my last installment of Gameplay. Before I go I want to say thank you to my readers and a big thanks to Nexus for encouraging me to write this column!