I love JRPG’s but these days as I get older I get more time poor.

More JRPG’s have dropped the length opting for brevity over excessive grinding which has certainly made me happy. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has reminded me of all the things I loved and hated about ridiculously long JRPG’s with a massive 150-hour playtime.

The question is, is it worth the time?

Well if you are a student that can only afford a game a month, well easily, you will get lots of time out of this one.  If you are more time poor, it is still worth having a closer look as there is a real gem here.

If you are unfamiliar with the Xenoblade Chronicles stories, don’t be scared away just yet.  The story is surprisingly self-contained with all but references to the previous games. This is really handy for a massive JRPG that is also the third in its series, as newcomers can definitely find their feet here.

The game kicks off with some long cutscenes and a tutorial battle that tells you a lot about this world.

We see soldiers in a massive battle where two sides are at war. When people die their essence feeds into these massive machines that seem to be driving the fighting.

I am keeping this vague here in case you want to enjoy some of the mystery of the world. Soon after we discover that our protagonists are in a fighting school where they battle all the time, ready for the next real battle. Should they survive until they are 10 years, they give their life to the queen, which is the ultimate honour. Immediately you should be engrossed, I certainly was.

This strange life they have is all based around this limited time. Die fighting, or live to join your queen in death, weird right? Well the game is going to smash you over the head with its themes around time so be ready for a lot of that.

The story is really interesting, but is mostly driven by some really good characters.  I mean they tend to be anime trope material, but still really damn good.

One thing that is weird about the series, and as such this game is the combat.

You run around freely but to attack you must stop moving to let the characters auto attack. This alone creates a weird vibe on the battlefield as some difficult fights are hard if you want to be on the move, but you still need to land those hits. Many nuances come, but it is mostly based around doing arts, which are special attacks.  These power up and if you line it up with timing of an auto attack then you can do some serious damage. I won’t get into the weeds of the combat because actually learning it is half the fun, and the game will spend heaps of time teaching you it. Basically it is just unique enough to differentiate from other JRPG’s, but still has a feeling of familiarity.

The open world is massive, and navigating around can be as much fun as it is annoying.

It is truly impressive that this game runs on the Switch, but some of those quests get really annoying. Running around collecting materials can feel unnecessary at times, and given the massive length of the game they could have easily had heaps cut. This would also help with pacing because questing can really break up story beats.

The game looks incredible; I mean if you haven’t seen it check out some videos. I kept being blown away that this is running on a Switch. Playing a game this big, and this beautiful on a handheld on the train just seems unnatural.  How the hell the developer eked out every last drop of power to make this run is something truly incredible.

The voice acting can be hit and miss, but hits more than it misses.

Overall if you are a fan of JRPG’s then this is a must play.  It is a great story, with some overly complicated combat that you have plenty of time to learn, and looks amazing. Having this on the Switch helps so you can do some of the mindless quest action on the go.

Just be ready for some long cut scenes as you get into the swing of things and be ready for one really weird story.

The post Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (Switch) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

This year Mario reaches an impressive milestone in video gaming: 30 years as a leading man in Nintendo’s timeless Super Mario Bros. series.

At E3 2015, Nintendo celebrates Mario’s longevity with a new instalment in the series called Super Mario Maker, one of many games at the show that transforms familiar characters and their games with unique new looks, styles and gameplay features.

Players will see new instalments of beloved series like Star Fox, Yoshi, Animal Crossing, Mario & Luigi, Xenoblade and Metroid, and enjoy the reimagining of Bowser and Donkey Kong as Skylanders figures that also have amiibo functionality with compatible Nintendo games.

During the Nintendo Digital Event video on the opening day of E3 2015 in Los Angeles, Nintendo announced games launching in the near future, with a focus on what fans can enjoy in the second half of 2015 and early 2016.

Here’s a round-up of some of the news and games Nintendo showed at E3 2015:

Wii U

Super Mario Maker: The next evolution of the Super Mario Bros. series lets people’s imaginations run wild. For the first time ever, friends can have fun playing through levels they create for one another. The Wii U GamePad controller makes it so easy for anyone to create Levels; it may feel like simply sketching out ideas on paper.

Players can enjoy a seemingly endless supply of inventive Mario Levels from players around the world. The game includes a Hardcover Artbook totaling about 100 pages that illustrates the boundless possibilities in Super Mario Maker. Nintendo will also release two special Mario amiibo figures, one of which will be part of a limited edition software bundle, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original Super Mario Bros. game.

Tapping these amiibo in Super Mario Maker adds a Big Mushroom power-up to your course, allowing Mario to grow big, bust blocks from any direction, as well as adding a retro visual filter to the game, reminiscent of older cathode ray tube televisions.

In addition, many other amiibo will also be compatible with Super Mario Maker through the use of a new item called the Mystery Mushroom. This item allows Mario to take the appearance of many other characters, such as Link, Kirby, or Wii Fit Trainer, complete with character-specific animations and sound effects. These character costumes can be unlocked by completing the 100 Mario Challenge mode and many can also be unlocked if the player taps the amiibo of the character to the Wii U GamePad.

To coincide with the Super Mario Bros. anniversary, the Super Mario Maker game, which includes the Hardcover Artbook, will launch on 12th of September, 2015. On the same day Nintendo will also release a limited edition Super Mario Maker bundle that includes the game, Hardcover Artbook, as well as a Mario (Classic Colours) amiibo from the Mario 30th Anniversary Collection.

Both amiibo from the Mario 30th Anniversary Collection will also launch as standalone amiibo during summer 2015 in Australia and New Zealand.

LetsSuperMario.com website: To continue the celebration of Super Mario’s 30th anniversary, fans around the world are encouraged to create personal “Let’s Super Mario” video tributes that showcase their love for the legendary series.

The videos can be submitted to a dedicated website which can be found HERE.

Whether it’s through song, dance or reliving favourite moments, Nintendo will honour Super Mario by showcasing the creativity of our fans. In the spirit of Nintendo’s mission of putting smiles on the faces of everyone that experiences our products, Nintendo’s share of any ad revenue generated from the Let’s Super Mario 30th Anniversary videos will go towards a donation Nintendo is making to Operation Smile, a global surgical charity dedicated to healing the smiles of children around the world suffering from cleft lip and cleft palate.

Star Fox Zero: Fox, Falco, Peppy and Slippy are back in a new adventure. Players pilot an Arwing in the traditional style of TV gameplay and, in a new twist, players can use the cockpit view on the GamePad to aim and shoot enemies using the gyro controls.

Having two unique viewpoints offers distinct gaming advantages and frees up the TV for more cinematic moments in the title’s brand-new all range mode. Scheduled to launch in Q4 2015, Star Fox Zero includes a new Walker transformation for the Arwing, a new Gyrowing vehicle and the return of the Landmaster Tank.

Skylanders SuperChargers from Activision: Both Donkey Kong and Bowser guest star in the next Skylanders game, complete with their own vehicles and move sets that celebrate the lore and legacy of their 30+ years in the video game universe.

As an added bonus, the Turbo Charge Donkey Kong and Hammer Slam Bowser Skylanders SuperCharger characters also work as amiibo in compatible Nintendo games, so players can store their save data in both modes with a simple twist of the figure’s base. The game is anticipated to launch on the 24th of September, 2015.

Just Dance 2016 from Ubisoft: Just Dance 2016 is the latest instalment in the best-selling music game franchise of all time. Launching on both Wii and Wii U, the game features tracks from artists like Jason Derulo, Meghan Trainor and Lady Gaga. This year, the free Just Dance Controller app enables Wii U players to use their smartphones to play.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Amidst an intergalactic war between aliens and human survivors, players fight for survival while exploring the massive expanses of an unknown planet.

Weaponised mechs called “Skells” let players access every location they see. Players also can customise a lethal skill set of combat and defensive skills, called Arts, to strengthen their strategies and defeat enemies efficiently.

The game launches in December 2015.

Animal Crossing – amiibo Festival: Animal Crossing amiibo figures and cards get their own party game. Players are challenged to collect the most Happy Points by the end of a dynamic board game.

The board layout can remain the same, but the spaces and even the environment change, depending on which month players choose for their game. As in otherAnimal Crossing games, players can buy turnips and use strategy to decide when to sell them for big money. Scheduled to launch in Q4 2015, Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival will release as a bundle that includes the game, two amiibo figures and three amiibo cards.

Genei Ibun Roku #FE (name not final): Set in modern Tokyo, young people come together to weave an epic tale alongside heroes from an alternate world. This brand-new RPG, developed by ATLUS, is infused with elements of the popular Fire Emblem series. In the struggle between the worlds of glamour and darkness, these young heroes rise to face the challenge.

The game is scheduled to launch in 2016.

Mario Tennis – Ultra Smash: Up to four players can compete in tennis matches that could only take place in the Mushroom Kingdom. With the addition of Jump Shots to hit high balls overhead, or Giant Mushrooms that when picked up make characters bigger, this Mario Tennis is reborn with features enabling players to aggressively go after higher balls.

The game is scheduled to launch in Q4 2015.

Yoshi’s Woolly World: Collect, cooperate and get crafty with Yoshi in a world made completely from yarn, felt and other fabrics and textiles. Pulling on strings in the game usually leads to discoveries, while new transformations include Moto Yoshi, Mole Yoshi and Sky Pop Yoshi.

The game’s simple platforming adventure challenges players to find hidden secrets. Tapping select amiibo characters to the GamePad creates new patterns for Yoshi, while new Yarn Yoshi amiibo let players control two Yoshis at the same time. This first-ever two-player co-op Yoshi game includes Mellow Mode, which gives Yoshi wings, and is perfect for players who just want to hunt for treasure, or newcomers who want to get the hang of the game.

The game launches on 25th of June, 2015 in Australia and New Zealand.

Nintendo 3DS

The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes: Three players take on the role of individual Link characters and team up to solve puzzles and battle bosses in dungeons.

The game features the same top-down view and visual style of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. Players must work together, as the group shares all hearts. All three Links can stack on top of one another to create a Totem to reach new locations and solve puzzles or fight enemies. Different outfits offer unique abilities.

The game is scheduled to launch in Q4 2015.

Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon: The player transforms into one of 20 Pokémon as he or she sets out on an adventure in a world inhabited solely by the 720 discovered Pokémon, including Legendary and Mythical Pokémon.

This game boasts hours of replay-ability by randomly generating each dungeon, so players will never explore the same dungeon twice as they unravel this tale of adventure and mystery.

The game is scheduled to launch in early 2016.

Animal Crossing – Happy Home Designer: One of the favourite activities in the Animal Crossing series now gets a full game. With more options than ever, players design interiors and exteriors of homes for hundreds of animal characters, and can even design a garden.

They can choose where to place the home, and then pick out a house style and colours for the roof, door and fence before getting to work on the interior. Tapping compatible amiibo character cards brings favourite Animal Crossing characters with their separate personalities and design requests into the game, which launches with a complimentary amiibo card on the 3rd of October 2015.

A bundle will launch the same day and include the game, one amiibo card and the Nintendo 3DS NFC Reader/Writer accessory.

YO-KAI WATCH: This game sold millions and became a cultural phenomenon in Japan. Now players in Australia and New Zealand get to experience the fun of hundreds of sometimes cute, sometimes spooky, and usually mischievous Yo-kai that inhabit our world. Players explore using their Yo-kai Watch to find Yo-kai, then befriend them and turn them into a team to battle other Yo-kai.

The game is scheduled to launch in 2016.

Fire Emblem Fates: Two versions of the franchise’s new instalment offer players an unprecedented choice: fight an opposing force or join the other side and try to make changes from within.

For the first time in the series, players take on the role of the main character and command an army, while struggling to decide which path to follow: helping blood relatives or the family that raised him or her.

The game is scheduled to launch in 2016.

Mario & Luigi – Paper Jam Bros.: Paper Mario jumps out of the book and into the bizarre adventures of Mario & Luigi, resulting in hilarious and dangerous hijinks. Become the superstar team of Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario to take on quests, take down enemies and untangle these two unique universes in this playful new entry in the Mario & Luigi series.

The game is scheduled to launch in autumn 2016 in Australia and New Zealand.

Hyrule Warriors – Legends: The Wii U version of Hyrule Warriors comes to the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. In the portable version, experience new story elements and playable characters inspired by The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.

New features allow players to enhance their tactics and switch between different characters on the fly as they explore and battle in Hyrule’s most famous locales.

The game is scheduled to launch in Q1 2016.

Metroid Prime – Federation Force: Up to four players can connect online or locally to take on co-op missions in this first-person sci-fi adventure set in the Metroid Prime universe. Players don a mech suit and work together as a team to clear out enemy-infested bases and complete objective-based missions.

After completing the missions, up to six players can compete in Metroid Prime: Blast Ball, a three-on-three game that requires players to shoot a ball into their opponents’ goal.

The game is scheduled to launch in 2016.

The post Mario Turns 30 & E3 2015 Announcements from Nintendo! appeared first on Shane the Gamer.