Analog sticks = win

Played the demo and it wasn't too shabby. While not nearly what the Vita version is visually, the 3D depth really does add a nice layer of realism to the experience. I'm definitely going to pick up this 3DS version now.

Your gist is correct.

La Mulana is still coming to PC. That being said, the WiiWare version of La Mulana I have on my debug Wii has turned into one extremely limited release. LOL

Wouldn't hold my breath @TheDreamingHawk. LOL

It's a shame, but sometimes things just don't work out. Nicalis still have 1000 Spikes and NightSky coming, among other things.

Nothing like a bunch of $.99 iPhone games to devalue games on dedicated game systems. I have no problem tossing money at developers who put their heart and soul into their games and make great gaming experiences. It helps the gaming industry I love (and never want to see come crashing to the ground again) AND gives me something to play. WIN/WIN

Developing a brand new Dementium costs big bucks and they'll almost have to have a publisher fund the project. This is basically upgrading an already-existing game to the 3DS. Big difference. I think we'll see a new Dementium game down the line.

Still one of my all-time favorite WiiWare games. Can't WAIT to play this 3DS rendition.

I'll bet Nintendo is wanting to focus more on Wii U at E3, so perhaps that plays into revealing this title now. But as you said Tom, they might have a monster 3DS title to reveal and want to give it center stage at the E3 press conference. We'll know soon enough. If you guys hear someone squealing like a little girl during the press conference, there's a good chance you'll know who it is.

Now this is a game that I'm getting more and more intrigued by. I'll have some impressions from the E3 show floor on this one. Should be interesting.

Next year we rock E3 Slap.

I'll have plenty of impressions during E3. Be fun to get some hands-on time with this and the other titles Nintendo announce.

How about those spider webs in the second screenshot? Looks pretty cool to me.

Good news, but I'll save my real excitement when we finally get a Paper Mario 3DS release date. Then I'll jump for joy.

I loved this game when it was first released. A portable Castlevania game was a dream come true for me. I played the hell out of this game. That being said, the sequel Belmont's Revenge was a much more well-rounded title.

There's a reason Xbox Live Arcade is the "go to" place for most developers looking to release downloadable titles on game consoles. Hopefully Nintendo will make it more attractive for these smaller developers on the Wii U.

I think Nintendo platforms would be getting a lot more indie development love if they'd loosen up the rules a bit. When I think of how many great indie games came close to seeing a Nintendo release only to have those indie devs back out due to the strict guidelines Nintendo employs, it makes me a sad panda.

@ James - I agree, but given that we're already seeing the "Wii U isn't powerful enough" stuff popping up, I would have thought Nintendo might have tried to knock one out of the park with a 3D Super Mario title. But I'll take NSMB Wii U, just not quite I was expecting.

I'd rather see something new along the lines of a Super Mario 64, but with more pizazz.

It could be said that these "people" you speak of don't get you either. I've been playing games for 33 years, and I still love playing these old NES games as much now as I did back in the day. To me they're quite timeless, even with newer technology we see in more modern games. Hell I'd take many of these amazing NES games over a lot of the crap we see coming out now any old day.

The first time I played this game when it was originally released, it completely changed the way I thought about what console gaming could be. I doubt I'll ever play another game in my lifetime that has the kind of effect the original Legend of Zelda had on me in 1986. Now THIS was a game changer.

Of the "Big 3" this is the game I most wanted, so I'll be picking this one up when it hits here in NA. Great review Tom Cat.

Man I hope they get this one right because I LOVE the original Dragon Warrior Monsters on GB.

Wake me when Mario Golf comes out.

I've got a good mind to show up in Boston just so I can run up and toss raw biscuits at Jon.

2D platformer = win for me. I still love Castle of Illusion on the Mega Drive, so this should be right up my alley. I just added this one to the list of games I'll be checking out at E3 in June.

I make no bones about loving my PlayStation Vita system, but if someone made me choose between my Vita and 3DS, the 3DS would win, because nothing beats Nintendo's first-party franchises. Nada!

I got my NES system on Christmas 1985 when my mother got a friend of hers that lives in Santa Monica to pick one up for her and I was sitting at my TV playing Super Mario Bros. that morning. So we do know it was released during the early release in NY and LA. Now as to the exact date, that I don't know.

That's on par with what I'm hearing from developers as far as what the system can do from a processing standpoint. I personally would have liked to see them at least kick it up a few notches above PS3. We'll just have to wait and see what transpires in June at E3. We'll get a good look at what it can do there.

You've got the DSiWare review. The game is basically the same except it has two additional modes: VS and Survival. It's a solid and very fun game.

I'm not sure why people are complaining. If you've ever had any desire to develop games, what better addition to your portfolio than a finished game that was basically your design idea. If I wasn't friends with Jools, I'd be entering this competition myself.

Awww that's a shame. I was hoping this would be good. Guess I'll just wait for the Final Fantasy rhythm game to hit stateside. Great review Big Phil.

@TwilightV - Wow, I didn't know anyone over the age of 18 didn't have a debit card.

I have to be honest with you, while I know there's no way the game is going to look anywhere nearly as slick as the Vita game, I'm extremely excited about the prospect of playing the game with that 3D depth. But I would rather them get it all polished up before releasing it, so the wait isn't too much of a killer.

Great review Tom. I've been at this game all morning and I can't put it down. Xenoblade and Kid Icarus: Uprising on the same day. I may never leave the house again.

Wow, so this awards show is basically the video game equivalent of our Grammys. Makes sense now.

After the absolutely stunning Vita version of the game, I'd rather them get this 3DS version right. I'm really looking forward to playing the game in 3D depth and using the 3DS d-pad. But it's gonna be a long wait until June.

If Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World are NP-Hard, then Super Mario Bros. 2 Famicom is MF-Hard.

I plan on spending some hefty hours tonight playing this baby. Been waiting a long time for this game.

It's more about losing your confidence with gamers and publishers than money sometimes. Nintendo has done a fantastic job of injecting new life into the 3DS and they need to knock one out of the park with Wii U to get the third-party developers and publishers on board.

I really enjoyed Nano Assault, but there will always be a part of me that longs for a new Nano Stray game on 3DS. Great review Phil!

I'm betting this is a 3DS 3D port of Donkey Kong Country Returns. In fact, I'd probably bet a lot on it.

I still prefer Samurai Shodown II and I, but this one isn't too shabby.

Flip Mode is basically a vertical mirror version of the levels.

Thanks for the tip TeeJay, but Tyrone told me it was coming the other day. So I was checking my 3DS fairly regularly. But we do appreciate the news tips. Keep 'em coming man.

The bottom line is that we want as much of the money to go into the developer and publisher pockets. That's good for the industry and in turn, good for us gamers. And if that in turn saves gamers some money along the way, then it's icing on the cake as far as I'm concerned.

Indeed Des. And we just saw Motorstorm RC released as a download-only title after it was considered to be a retail release and it was only $10. In fact, it was free for early buyers, but that's exactly the kind of savings we need to see in order to entice gamers to go digital. As I said earlier, the 10% off in the PSN store right now isn't enough for most people.

I agree 100% Des, publishers and developers do need to pass some of that affordability on to the consumers as well and will have to if they expect gamers to give up the physical copies of games to purchase the download version. Ten percent isn't enough of a bargain, especially when these developers and publishers are saving quite a bit more money by going the digital route.

But as long as we see publishers still providing retail copies of games, as most of the digital download Vita titles still alternatively provide, I doubt we'll see a lot of savings passed onto digital buyers as those publishers are still having to provide the retail packaging and still taking quite a risk at retail. Perhaps when we finally do reach a totally digital level, the savings will then be passed on more substantially. I hope so, at least.