2012 Nintendo Lifeline Awards: Nominees

Well, it's that time again. The time when we look back at all of the best moments of the year. The purpose of the Nintendo Lifeline Awards is to celebrate the best moments in the world of Nintendo. First, however, I feel it necessary to offer this disclaimer: I will never have the time or money to try every worthwhile game in any one year, so my experience is quite limited. The Lifeline Awards are for entertainment and reflection only.

That said, here are the categories and corresponding nominees:

Best Overall Game

• Super Mario 3D Land (N3DS)
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (N3DS)
• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)
• Mario Kart 7 (N3DS)
• Wii Play Motion (Wii)
• Star Fox 64 3D (N3DS)
• Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition (N3DS)
• Lost in Shadow (Wii)

Best Overall Graphics

• Super Mario 3D Land (N3DS)
• Star Fox 64 3D (N3DS)
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (N3DS)
• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)
• Steel Diver (N3DS)
• Lost in Shadow (Wii)

Best Get-up

• Tanooki Mario (Super Mario 3D Land)
• Ghirahim (The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword)
• Metal Mario (Mario Kart 7)
• Kirby Hat (Nintendogs+cats)

Best Method of Travel

• Loftwing (The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword)
• Tanooki Tail (Super Mario 3D Land)
• Cannon (Super Mario 3D Land)
• Propeller Block (Super Mario 3D Land)
• By Shadow (Lost in Shadow)
• Submarine (Steel Diver)
• Arwing (Star Fox 64 3D)
• Horse (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D)
• Hang Glider (Pilotwings Resort)
• Customizable Kart (Mario Kart 7)

Best Use of Stereoscopic 3D

• Super Mario 3D Land
• Steel Diver
• Nintendogs+cats
• Pilotwings Resort

As you can very well tell, there isn't a whole lot of variety in either my categories or the nominees therein. You'll also notice that the "Best Method of Travel" category easily packs in the most nominees of all, so my advice is that you take all of this with a grain of salt. Please feel free to give your favorites shout-outs in the comments, because I will certainly take them into consideration as I decide the winners. Check back in early January for the results!

Why Pilotwings Resort does all the right things: A Review

The idea behind Pilotwings Resort for the Nintendo 3DS is very simple: the player takes flight in three different vehicles to complete a variety of missions around the game's location, Wuhu Island. Easy enough? Okay, then, this review has come to a close!

I'm just kidding, of course. The three vehicles are: airplane, jet pack, and hang glider. What would you expect from a game like this? For the controls to be spot-on, that's what! I'm very glad to say that there is no disappointment where controls are concerned. The feel of each vehicle is distinguished from the others and has its own unique quirks. The airplane is easy to control, but can pull off more tricks. The jet pack is versatile, but difficult to master. The hang glider has limited maneuverability, but can pick up some serious speed. Thanks to the 3DS system's circle pad, controlling the three vehicles is seamless and feels authentic, not to mention amazing.

Wuhu Island is a great place, especially in 3D. The sensation of flying is only enhanced by the depth. I literally felt dizzy when I tried a loop-the-loop for the first time. That aside, the 3D effect aids gameplay and provides a visual kick that suits this game well.

Every other element in Pilotwings Resort blends perfectly. The sound effects are convincing, the music is catchy, and the visual style is appropriate. The mission mode is a bit bare, but I'll definitely be heading to Wuhu Island frequently during the lifespan of my Nintendo 3DS, even if it's just for a relaxing, four-minute glide. 

Now That I've Had the 3DS For a While...

The 3-D Visuals
The visual effect of the 3DS is astounding...when you can find your 3-D sweet spot. It's not something that I can show to many people at once. But it gives the feeling you're looking into a window to another world. This is especially true of the Mii Maker channel, where the little characters I've created look up at me, and I look down at them. It is a little bothersome that adjusting the system in my hands turns the screen blurry, but it's easy to overlook.

Built-in Software
It's not just the cool 3-D visuals that are cutting edge with this piece of hardware...it's the awesome little diversions that come in every unit. Augmented Reality (AR) games are played by placing little cards on any surface. The two outward-facing cameras on the 3DS pick up on which cards are on the surface and turn it into a gaming zone with a lot of mind-boggling features. Face Raiders is another game that comes built into the 3DS. Not only does this game allow the player to shoot friends' and family members' faces with tennis balls, but it takes place in whatever environment the player is in, thanks to the two cameras.

Games
So far I've got Steel Diver and Pilotwings Resort to play on my handheld 3-D screen. The controls in Steel Diver are hard to master, but the 3-D in this game is really pretty. It's mild (so I can turn the 3-D depth slider all the way up) but still impactful.  Pilotwings is a different story. The effect is very powerful, so I find it hard to look at with the 3-D all the way up. But the 3-D really enhances the game at about half-way down or less. Steel Diver and Pilotwings Resort are two solid titles.

What's Missing?
The only short-coming I can identify with the 3DS is that many of the important online features are missing at this early stage. There is an internet browser at the top of the main menu, but "it won't be available until a future update"? That's only half of it...I would have liked to see the eShop available at launch, but it won't be available for a month or so. The 3DS does have dismal battery life, but that doesn't bother me too much. Other than that, the 3DS is a cool little system. $250 seems like a lot to spend, but I'll get my money's worth out of it before the end.