Finally - a 3DS cartridge worth getting excited about! This excellent compilation does what Sega should have been doing for the last decade, which is leverage their substantial (and long dormant) back catalog. Sega 3D Classics Collection offers nine games originally from the arcades, Genesis, and Sega Master System. Its 3D-centric games like Thunder Blade have been enhanced to dramatic effect, and even 2D games like Sonic the Hedgehog benefit from the razor-sharp, layered backdrops. The first game, Power Drift, is a high-speed racer with scaling graphics and elevated roadways. I had never even heard of this game! It's such a pleasant surprise I can almost forgive Sega for the omission of Outrun. Puyo Puyo is a pleasant Japanese Tetris clone with endearing anime graphics. If you haven't played Sonic the Hedgehog for a long time, rest assured it's still awesome. This version may run a smidge slower (no blast processing - duh!) but that's offset but by the spin-dash move (not in the original game) and a stage select screen (formerly available via cheat code). I was never a huge fan of Galaxy Force II or Thunder Blade, but the eye-popping new 3D visuals elevate these games to a whole new level. They both look absolutely sensational and occasionally vertigo-inducing. Altered Beast is a cheesy side-scrolling beat-em-up. The graveyard looks very cool but its 3D effects are most pronounced on the transformation screen. Fantasy Zone II is a lighthearted side-scrolling shooter with goofy enemies, fluorescent scenery, and steel drum music. The Sega Master System version is also included. Maze Walker is aptly-named because it's super slow! Originally known as Maze Hunter 3D (Sega Master System, 1988), it was designed for use with Sega's 3D glasses peripheral. This overhead platformer looked pretty amazing on the Master System, and this version is much sharper and conveys more depth. Some instructions for these games would have been nice, but I like how you can adjust the settings for each game and there are even few bonus modes. Sega 3D Classics Collection really brings the arcade home with fast action, easy controls, and eye candy galore. And if you think 3D effects are just window dressing, this cartridge might just change your mind. © Copyright 2016 The Video Game Critic.

I felt like Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (Wii U, 2016) was a nearly flawless platformer, and when I began playing Pirates Curse I got that same feeling! This game has it all: cool atmosphere, clever dialog, keen attention to detail, and a toe-tapping soundtrack. At first the controls were cause for concern. The 3DS nub is a little touchy for jumps, and falling into the water is harmful (you can tell by the ghostly skulls emanating from it). Fortunately falling into water or off a cliff only costs you a fourth of a heart so it's not the end of the world. Once again our hair-smacking heroine finds herself in gorgeous tropical locations, battling mermaids, giant frogs, crabs, and zombies while searching for incredibly specific items like "ham stink". There's a lot of creativity in Pirate's Curse, including a cornfield stage overrun with creepy animated scarecrows! The visuals have a stylish anime flair reminiscent of Metal Slug (Neo Geo, 1994). I just wish those ghosts didn't materialize while you're in the air - not fair! I'm not normally big on 3D, but the towns are beautifully layered and I love how scenery in windows appears much further away. Even the mineshaft stages are easy on the eyes. I love the pacing of this game; you can really get into a rhythm playing this. The action is non-stop and there are frequent save points. I also enjoyed the infectious soundtrack and the offbeat humor. One thing Pirate's Curse lacks however is structure. I didn't mind revisiting various islands, but sometimes it was hard to remember what the heck I was trying to do. Certain sequences of the game are a too long, like having to carry Rottytops through that never-ending underground obstacle course. Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is not as good as its Wii U cousin but it's still a heck of a good time. © Copyright 2017 The Video Game Critic.

It seems like Sega is repeating the same mistakes over and over again. There are so many fundamental flaws with Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal, I can't get over it. The action is fast-paced but you'll typically fall into a familiar pattern of busting through blocks, swinging on electric beams, and performing homing attacks on robots. A branching map offers a variety of challenges. The foot races reminded me of Sonic Rivals (PSP, 2006) and the worm tunnel felt like a throwback to the 16-bit era. But the basic stages are not very fun. You'd expect a stage called "seaside jungle" to be loaded with eye candy, but it's so boring! The music sounds like something you'd hear on an elevator. You need to collect a whole lot of stuff including crystals, gears, and various types of rings. I hate how when you bust through an object the rings spill behind you, forcing you to go back and retrieve them. You toggle between characters via the directional pad, but it all feels very mechanical and contrived. You use Tails to float on vents, Sonic to break through blocks, and newcomer Sticks to activate switches with her boomerang. The stages are so repetitive and maze-like it's hard to tell if you're making progress or going in circles. You'll wonder if it will ever end! Good luck mustering enough enthusiasm to revisit stages to collect missing items. Between stages you're subjected to prolonged cutscenes. You can't skip them and paging through all that inconsequential text is pure agony. Even the branching stage mechanism is flawed, with seemingly unlocked areas turning out to be unavailable. When I entered Knuckles Hideout I was told "Knuckles has stepped out. Come back tomorrow." Who the [expletive] designed this game? Sonic isnt even fast for crying out loud. The only thing this Sonic Boom will shatter is the hopes and dreams of every long-suffering Sega fan. © Copyright 2017 The Video Game Critic.

The intro story to Yoshi's New Island explains in lurid detail exactly where babies come from. They're delivered by storks of course (duh!). When one such delivery goes awry, baby Mario sets out to save baby Luigi from baby Bowser. Can't these babies all just get along? The true star of the game is Yoshi, with baby Mario just along for the ride. New Island's style and controls harken back to the original Yoshi's Island: Super Mario World 2 (SNES, 1995). The backgrounds resemble kiddie art projects with soft edges and muted color schemes. The lighthearted platform action is easy and leisurely paced. You'll flutter between platforms, pounce on enemies, hit switches, and climb beanstalks. Yoshi's ability to toss eggs adds some much-needed spice. This is done by swallowing an enemy (B button), laying an egg (push down), and then hurling the egg using a timed aiming mechanism (X button). It seems awkward at first but becomes second nature with practice. Not only can you hurl eggs at enemies, but you also hit special clouds to reveal hidden doors. Does that make any sense at all? Nope! Yoshi's New Island is enjoyable once you get the controls down. There are a few surprises like giant Shy Guys that produce huge eggs that can be thrown (or rolled) to wreak immense damage (very satisfying). I also enjoyed the puzzle sections where you guide a "fake" Yoshi into a bed of spikes. The 3DS capabilities aren't on display except for the bonus stages where you guide minecarts and balloons by tilting the system. The music and sound effects aren't exactly pleasing to the ears. Some of the tunes sound like they're played on kazoos (ugh) and hearing baby Mario screaming after you take a hit is grating. I'm not sure when the game saves your progress exactly, since it doesn't bother to tell you. I wouldn't call Yoshi's New Island particularly addictive or memorable, but it's kind of relaxing, and there's something to be said for that. © Copyright 2014 The Video Game Critic.