Mario and friends must really like sports. For a long time it was just golf, tennis and racing that got them excited. Lately they've branched out to baseball and soccer. Mario, Luigi and Peach even guest starred last year in the last SSX snowboarding game. Now on the DS, the popular Nintendo characters are taking their conflicts to the hoops.
The Square Enix-developed "Mario Hoops 3 on 3" does everything a good Mario sports game should do. It finds the essence of what makes the sport fun, simplifies the controls and splashes it with color.
Just about every Mushroom Kingdom character a gamer could want has been included, as well as a few unlockable Square characters from the "Final Fantasy" series. Gamers can pick teams of three for tournaments and enter skill challenges. It's also possible to challenge up to three friends with a single game card. Sadly, the game does not take advantage of the Nintendo Wi-Fi network.
Controls, however, take advantage of the DS touch screen. Players who've played basketball video games in the past may feel disoriented because shooting, passing, dribbling and stealing is all done with stylus strokes. The only buttons pressed are the D-pad for movement and the L button to switch characters when on the defense. It's definitely unusual, but after about an hour it feels like second nature.
The rules of basketball and physics are significantly loosened for "Mario Hoops." Every basket is worth at least 20 points, and potentially way more if you collect coins strewn throughout the court. On the defense, Mario and friends can pick up power-ups like green shells, bombs and lightning bolts to take control of the game. Each member of the gang also has his or her own set of special shots that really heat up the action.
Basketball courts all have their own themes and inherent challenges. In the haunted mansion, players must worry about ghosts stealing the ball. Slowed movement must be dealt with in an underwater level, and slippery ice contended with in a snow arena.
The graphics are sharp and full of color. The presentation is nice for the most part, but instant replays strangely leave out the five guys not making the dunk, even if one was maniacally jumping up and down in front of the net.
Square Enix has taken a rather standard approach with its use of the DS's second screen. The top shows the action while the bottom displays a map. It's not innovative, but forgivable since maps are always useful.
"Mario Hoops 3 on 3" makes the time fly by and is a great title to bring on the road and play with friends. Though there are a couple flaws, it's a bunch of fun no DS fan should miss.
