Mario Hoops 3 on 3

"What can't this Mario guy do?"

3....2....1....BZZZZZZ! Mario, with the buzzer beater! Mario Hoops 3-on-3 is an all-around great game. It has its flaws and I will discuss them later. I want to first point out that all the reviews that gave this game below a 5 need to make one big correction in their reviews: There IS an option to play the game with the buttons.
If you go into the options menu and turn the 'help buttons' on then you can control the game with either the buttons or the touch screen.

Visually the game is very bright and colorful. the characters and stages are among the best I've seen on the DS. The special shots are just amazing to watch. really, this game shines!

I'm not one to notice the audio in games unless it is a part of the game element, but the music is not bad. the 'mario hoops' theme can bend a nerve after a while, but it quickly goes away when you play a match.

The game plays well, but there are some issues. Your teammates are like zombies on speed, very active, but they have no idea what they are doing. without you telling them what to do they just stand there and look at the ball. More than once I've been controlling a player and saw the ball drop at the feet of another and they just stand there and look at it. even if the ball hits them they won't pick it up unless you control them. This makes team play very difficult. all the AI know is how to position the players on the court.

As for controlling players, it's not a bad system, just not the best. there are some response issues. The touch screen doesn't always do what you tell it. Some times you input the pass command and the character just stops and looks in that direction. The manouvers in the game are great and easy to peform, but sometimes they just don't work. this is where the other reviews go wrong; if you like you can turn the 'help buttons' on and play the game with the face buttons. the game is more responsive and plays like a regular game.

Mario Hoops 3-on-3 is a fantastic game that has some issues, but is a very fun and enjoyable experience. Give the game a shot and you'll see what a truly great game this is. An excellent addition to the Mario Sports series.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 03/03/08

Game Release: Mario Hoops 3 on 3 (US, 09/11/06)