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