So let me start off by saying this. If you own a 3DS this is a must have game! Now onward towards the review.
First up let me say that this is Pits (main protagonist) first appearance in over 20years if you exclude him from Nintendo's Super Smash Bros Brawl. Its created by the famous game designer Mashiro Sakurai (creator of kirby and SSB series).
First lets talk about the story, this game is set by a number of chapters that have to be completed in order to progress within the game. Each chapter is broken down into 3parts and has a difficulty setting called the Fiend's Caldron for people depending on how much each individual can handle through each level!
So let me say that difficulty in this game is actually fantastic! The standard difficulty settings are set to 2.0 which is average. It can go up or down by 0.1 which lowers to as low as 0.0 or as high as 9.0! Note that bringing higher will make enemies more aggressive and/or appear more in numbers. Perfect for gamers looking for a challege and for seeing how much you can handle. The higher the settings means you'll have to pay more hearts which can lead to more and better rewards! But as a precaution if someone loses the difficulty lowers to make it easier to pass each chapter.
The chapters like i previously stated are broken into 3 parts. Air, Land, and Boss Battles. First lets Talk about Air Battles↓
Air battles are pretty straight forward. You move around in the air shooting down and avoiding obstacles. Depending on what type of weapon you weild it can affect how fast you move when firing! Pit has his shooting, charge shots, and dodge manuvers while in this state. Also waited for a while gives you a Charge Special which allows you to do damage to all enemies on screen. While its the first part of numerous chapters some occasions have a boss fight.
Land Battles. This is after Air Battles Pits wings burn up or landed at his destination. You get to have full control of his movements. With more freedom you can roam around, shoot baddies, find secrets, etc... (Note: some chapters actually make you fight bosses during this time).
After completing a Land Battle you move straight into the Boss's Domain (Boss Battles). At this time the Main fight begins and you have to take down and figure out how to defeat the boss of the chapter. Pretty Straight Forward on this!
Now Gameplay and Controls. Controls is probably more of the main issues in this game. With having one hand moving and pointing at each enemy and the other constantly moving the control stick (including dodges) and shooting with L button (R for leftys) it can seem pretty uncomfortable! This can be helped a little with the stand that comes with the game. Some people can handle it, while some have to take time getting used to unfortunately.
Now gameplay wise its a shooter and feels like a fighter like SSB. You move around while constantly dodging. Charge shots, rapid shots, and dodging shots have their own uniqueness in them depending what weapon you have. Their are 9 types of weapons with over 10 in each category. (Blades, Claws, Canons,etc). Each with their own speed, power, and effects to them making each person in choice different. Also too add on this each weapon has stats (which modify weapons like Overall defense +2 or Poison +4) and is added on Value which for multiplayer balanced out scoring.
Multiplayer is where this game shines with a good fighter of which 6 people local or online can battle in a free for all or Team up 3 vs 3 in Light vs Dark. With Free for all you can have 2-6 players fight for points which is determine on the person you kill and their Value of their weapon, also your weapons value when you die, which is all balanced out. (pretty much higher value the weapon, more points a player gains when defeating that oppenent. So you want to balance out your own weapons value as well.
In Light vs Dark its the same but with teams and a set value points life bar which when depleted the last person to die becomes either pit or dark pit (depending on which side your on) and has to survive from the opposing team! Very Balanced when it takes from the whole weapons value!
Other Features in the game are collecting (like in SSB) and making weapons (called Fuse Weapons) which allow you to combine two weapons into one and adopt stats from each!
The other things i like to point out in this game which one that nintendo does really well is Music and Graphics. The Music is very very well done with each chapter having its own theme. This game has one of the best soundtracks in a Nintendo Franchise! The graphics are the best in all the 3DS library thus far with only a few titles right behind it, Visuallys through each level are outstanding and very eye catching!
Finally my verdict! (if music was included it be a 10 but everyone has different taste so i wont include)
Gameplay=7/10 (its gameplay is perfect but with the controls it makes a small mess)
Graphics= 10/10 ( for the hardware yes and its very beautiful)
Story= 9/10 (great, funny, and enjoyable! makes you want to listen to every conversation pit is having!)
Multiplayer= 10/10 (online is simply a blast)
Difficulty= 10/10 (with its settings this is a game for noobs to professionals, no problem here what so ever, in fact other games should take notes)
Length= 9/10 (has great replay ability too with gather more weapons and items and making it have more difficulty if you choose so)
Overall= 9.2/10
This game is a must have and like i said begore if you like SSB and shooters give this game a try. You cant go wrong with multiplayer either. Its crazy fun with a good story mode as well... I hope you enjoyed!
