Mario Hoops 3 on 3

"Mario Basketball? Well, it is what you'd expect..."

Well, first things first. If you've never played a Mario Sports game, and you're thinking this will be your first, stop. Get Mario Strikers or something first, just to dip your feet into the Mario Sports games. They are a different breed.

Gameplay

I would have never figured that using a stylus to play basketball would become so... intuitive. I'm serious, you don't even think about it at all after you take their quick course on how to play. Stokes across the lower screen dribble, shoot, steal, pass, jump, and do your special shots. The only problem I've really found with it all, is that when you're trying to switch characters, that can be a pain. Why couldn't you just press L or R to switch to the characters on those sides? ANYWAYS, with the control being surprisingly second nature, the actual game of basketball gets to be quite simple. Tap the lower screen to dribble on your item and coin blocks, run up and dunk it. Pretty easy, until you get to some of the tougher competition. However, this game is DESIGNED to play against someone else. With the controls as simple as they are, it's almost impossible to find a bad opponent, or a "borderline cheater" like Snakers in Mario Kart DS.

Music and Look

Well, for a DS game, the music is certainly not that bad. Exactly what you would expect from a Mario Sports game. Nothing to really write home to mom about, but enough not to be annoying or bothersome. Not really much to speak of with sound effects, besides the swipes of you stealing the ball and dunks galore. It doesn't look as good as some DS games, but I will say it is seamless in motion. There is no slowdown or lag at all, and the action is fast and exciting.

Other things

Alot of options and character choices, and some minigames as is always the way with the DS. However, they are all basically just a means to an end, the three on three is the big draw here. The other things are all just time wasters.

Overall

If you're looking for another Mario Sports title with alot of fun, arcade feeling, and just something to have FUN with, this is exactly it. Especially if you can play online or with others, since this game seems almost destined to have been made for multiplayer, like many Mario Sports titles.

GAME STATEMENT : Multiplayer Must Buy, Single Player Hit or Miss

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 09/15/06