Game EvaluationGame Evaluation
Jim NardecchiaJim Nardecchia
CIS 487CIS 487
Basic InformationBasic Information
Mario Hoops 3 on 3Mario Hoops 3 on 3
DeveloperDeveloper
Developed by Square-EnixDeveloped by Square-Enix– Best known for Final Fantasy seriesBest known for Final Fantasy series
Primarily features Nintendo Primarily features Nintendo characters and settingscharacters and settings– Some Final Fantasy unlockablesSome Final Fantasy unlockables
Published by NintendoPublished by Nintendo
Type of GameType of Game
Basketball gameBasketball game– Teams of 3Teams of 3
Nintendo ‘twists’Nintendo ‘twists’– Baskets are worth 20, 30, and 40 pointsBaskets are worth 20, 30, and 40 points– There are ‘?’ blocks on the court, There are ‘?’ blocks on the court,
dribbling on them gives coinsdribbling on them gives coins– Coins are added to basket point totalsCoins are added to basket point totals– ‘‘?’ blocks also give familiar Mario items?’ blocks also give familiar Mario items
PricePrice
$29.99 to $34.99$29.99 to $34.99– Most 1Most 1stst party DS games are $29.99 party DS games are $29.99– Most 3Most 3rdrd party DS games are $39.99 party DS games are $39.99
Hardware Hardware RequirementsRequirements Nintendo DS or Nintendo DS LiteNintendo DS or Nintendo DS Lite
Retails for $129.99Retails for $129.99
Game SummaryGame Summary
Quick OverviewQuick Overview
3 on 3 Basketball game with Mario 3 on 3 Basketball game with Mario characters, items, and settings.characters, items, and settings.
Gameplay uses only the D-Pad and Gameplay uses only the D-Pad and touchscreen.touchscreen.
Extensive tutorialExtensive tutorial Tournaments are main gameplay Tournaments are main gameplay
modemode 2 Minigames2 Minigames
Quick Overview (cont.)Quick Overview (cont.)
21 Characters21 Characters– 11 are hidden11 are hidden
5 are from Final Fantasy universe5 are from Final Fantasy universe
16 unique courts16 unique courts– 4 are hidden4 are hidden
Single and Double cart multiplayerSingle and Double cart multiplayer Single and Multiplayer stat trackingSingle and Multiplayer stat tracking
Players RolePlayers Role
The player is in control of one The player is in control of one character at a time.character at a time.– On offense, whoever has the ballOn offense, whoever has the ball– On defense, player can swap On defense, player can swap
characterscharacters
InstallationInstallation
User InterfaceUser Interface
Game is played using the D-Pad and Game is played using the D-Pad and Touch screen.Touch screen.– It is possible to use the buttons instead, but It is possible to use the buttons instead, but
the game was designed for the touchpadthe game was designed for the touchpad– Game plays better with the stylus than it Game plays better with the stylus than it
does with the thumbstrapdoes with the thumbstrap The menus in the game can only be The menus in the game can only be
navigated through using the touchpad.navigated through using the touchpad.
GameplayGameplay
Move character using D-PadMove character using D-Pad Touchpad controls all other movesTouchpad controls all other moves
– OffenseOffense Tapping touchpad dribbles the ballTapping touchpad dribbles the ball Sliding touchpad up shoots the ballSliding touchpad up shoots the ball Sliding touchpad left or right passes ballSliding touchpad left or right passes ball
– DefenseDefense Sliding touchpad up jumpsSliding touchpad up jumps Sliding touchpad down stealsSliding touchpad down steals Pressing the ‘L’ button changes charactersPressing the ‘L’ button changes characters
Gameplay (cont.)Gameplay (cont.)
– Special shots – tap pattern on Special shots – tap pattern on touchpadtouchpad Dunks are unbeatableDunks are unbeatable Alley-oops can be blockedAlley-oops can be blocked
– Advanced movesAdvanced moves Charge shotCharge shot Charge dunkCharge dunk Blind passBlind pass Ground poundGround pound Charge stealCharge steal Jump stealJump steal
ScoringScoring
2 point shots = 20 points2 point shots = 20 points 3 point shots = 30 points3 point shots = 30 points Special shots = 40 pointsSpecial shots = 40 points Then add any coins that were Then add any coins that were
picked up by the player.picked up by the player. Team can score a maximum of 140 Team can score a maximum of 140
points per basket.points per basket. Team with most points at the end Team with most points at the end
of a game winsof a game wins
Graphics and ArtworkGraphics and Artwork
The game looks beautifulThe game looks beautiful Arguably best 3D game available for Arguably best 3D game available for
DSDS– Models look greatModels look great– Textures aren’t as blockyTextures aren’t as blocky– Framerate is consistent and smoothFramerate is consistent and smooth
Visual style is impressiveVisual style is impressive– Mario with a twistMario with a twist
Menu’s are very colorful and Menu’s are very colorful and animated wellanimated well
Sample ScreenshotsSample Screenshots
Sound and MusicSound and Music
Backround music is goodBackround music is good– Title screen theme song especiallyTitle screen theme song especially– Game music gets tuned outGame music gets tuned out
Sound effects are greatSound effects are great– Each character has their trademark Each character has their trademark
voices, sayings, and/or noisesvoices, sayings, and/or noises– Game sound effects are adequateGame sound effects are adequate
Special FeaturesSpecial Features
Tournament TrophiesTournament Trophies– Bronze for winningBronze for winning– Silver for winning each game by 100Silver for winning each game by 100– Gold for winning each game by 200Gold for winning each game by 200
11 Unlockable Characters11 Unlockable Characters– 5 from Final Fantasy Universe5 from Final Fantasy Universe– Unlockable costumesUnlockable costumes
4 Unlockable stages4 Unlockable stages Several unlockable ballsSeveral unlockable balls
Game ManualGame Manual
Game Manual is adequateGame Manual is adequate– In game tutorial is betterIn game tutorial is better– Manual doesn’t give enough detailManual doesn’t give enough detail– Technical content is greatTechnical content is great
BugsBugs
None that I’ve run acrossNone that I’ve run across
Game ReviewGame Review
Good stuffGood stuff
The game is simply fun to playThe game is simply fun to play Game mechanics are refreshingGame mechanics are refreshing Playing Basketball in a Mario Playing Basketball in a Mario
setting is a lot of funsetting is a lot of fun Plenty of unlockablesPlenty of unlockables Final Fantasy characters add a Final Fantasy characters add a
special extra touch to itspecial extra touch to it Multiplayer is great and a ton of Multiplayer is great and a ton of
funfun
Bad stuffBad stuff
Computer AI needs workComputer AI needs work– Teammates are practically worthlessTeammates are practically worthless– Opponents go from stupid to awesome too Opponents go from stupid to awesome too
quicklyquickly Touchpad controls get touchy at timesTouchpad controls get touchy at times Tournaments are the main modeTournaments are the main mode
– Game could really use a league featureGame could really use a league feature Basketball sometimes plays 2Basketball sometimes plays 2ndnd fiddle to fiddle to
coin collectingcoin collecting Single-cart multiplayer options are Single-cart multiplayer options are
limitedlimited
How does it compareHow does it compare
Not meant to compare to Not meant to compare to basketball gamesbasketball games
Compares to other Mario sports Compares to other Mario sports titles somewhat favorablytitles somewhat favorably– Probably comes in lastProbably comes in last
Definitely on the DSDefinitely on the DS
Why is it better/worseWhy is it better/worse
Other games are more fleshed Other games are more fleshed outout
Other games focus more on their Other games focus more on their sportsport
Other games have one or more Other games have one or more key features that are missing key features that are missing herehere
Appropriate AudienceAppropriate Audience
Anybody (Rated E for Everyone)Anybody (Rated E for Everyone) PrimarilyPrimarily
– Any fan of past Mario sports gamesAny fan of past Mario sports games SecondarySecondary
– Mario fansMario fans– Basketball fansBasketball fans– Final Fantasy fansFinal Fantasy fans
Design MistakesDesign Mistakes
Could argue there is a Could argue there is a fundamental flaw with the fundamental flaw with the basketball aspect, too much focus basketball aspect, too much focus on coin collecting.on coin collecting.
SummarySummary
Overall Strengths & Overall Strengths & WeaknessesWeaknesses ProsPros
– Fun to playFun to play– Controls are refreshingControls are refreshing– Mario setting is funMario setting is fun– Final Fantasy extras are coolFinal Fantasy extras are cool
ConsCons– Not enough modesNot enough modes– AI could be betterAI could be better– Basketball plays 2Basketball plays 2ndnd fiddle fiddle– Touchy touchpad controls (at times)Touchy touchpad controls (at times)
Worth PurchasingWorth Purchasing
Like Mario sports games?Like Mario sports games?– YesYes
Like Basketball or MarioLike Basketball or Mario– PerhapsPerhaps
Hate Mario KartHate Mario Kart– NoNo
Want something unique that takes Want something unique that takes full advantage of the DS hardware?full advantage of the DS hardware?– DefinitelyDefinitely
How can it be How can it be ImprovedImproved Fix AIFix AI
– Teammates need to defendTeammates need to defend– Computer difficulty curve needs to be Computer difficulty curve needs to be
lighterlighter Add a league modeAdd a league mode
– 6 teams, 5-20 games, playoffs6 teams, 5-20 games, playoffs More Basketball, less coinsMore Basketball, less coins Tighten up controls a tadTighten up controls a tad More charactersMore characters