Most Overlooked Nintendo 3DS Games - Part Ten

The Nintendo 3DS library is what I consider one of the most complete and expansive libraries in gaming. Not every title in its library, however, can be a sales success. Many do, in fact, fall by the wayside and through the cracks. These five games for part ten of the Most Overlooked Nintendo 3DS Games are victims of this. Despite being of varied quality (all good quality, however), these games somehow didn't manage to make the impact that they truly deserved. For a look at past installments of this series, check out the following links:

Nintendo 3DS - Part One
Nintendo 3DS - Part Two 
Nintendo 3DS - Part Three
Nintendo 3DS - Part Four
Nintendo 3DS - Part Five
Nintendo 3DS - Part Six
Nintendo 3DS - Part Seven
Nintendo 3DS - Part Eight
Nintendo 3DS - Part Nine

Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past

Pleading to Square Enix and Nintendo to release the Nintendo 3DS remake of the PS1 classic Dragon Quest VII, fans of the series saw victory when not only one 3DS Dragon Quest game was announced for localization but two were announced. However, despite the clamoring on message boards for these games to be released in the West, it appears that these people were a very vocal minority, as Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past failed to sell well in its launch month based on NPD data. Furthermore, the legs of the game are incredibly short, quite unlike the lengthy 100+ hour quest the game possesses. Regardless, those who do look into the game will see the classic turn-based RPG action, charming characters, and lovely vignettes the original Dragon Quest VII was known for, in addition to the beautiful updated 3D models.

Final Fantasy Explorers

Released back in February of this year, Final Fantasy Explorers was Square Enix and Final Fantasy's answer to Capcom's Monster Hunter franchise. The goal was pretty much the same in Explorers as with Monster Hunter's, fell behemoth-sized beasts, use the materials dropped by said creatures to craft new and more powerful weapons and armor. Really, Final Fantasy Explorers is a great introduction to a Monster Hunter-like game for those intimidated by Capcom's franchise. While the combat doesn't take as much skill to master, constantly acquiring new materials to craft awesome equipment to make your hero look like the bad ass he or she is-is a fantastic feeling and gives you a sense of continued progression. Then you can hop online with up to three other explorers to take on monsters and missions alike.

Disney Magical World 2

According to NPD leaks, Disney Magical World 2 netted only about 10,000 sold copies in its initial launch month in the U.S. For its asking price, the game is an embarrassment of riches, whether it's content in the form of things to accomplish, furniture to collect and customize your home, or clothing to wear and outfit your custom character. The abundance of Disney characters your avatar can interact with would make any Disney fan squeal with delight. Entering into the different magical worlds like the 100-Acre Wood of Winnie the Pooh fame, Atlantica of The Little Mermaid fame, Hawaii from Lilo & Stitch, and others to complete missions and quests means you'll never be at a point in Disney Magical World 2 where there is nothing to do. Of course, the total lack of marketing towards the game is easy to blame for the totally lackluster sales, which is unfortunate, as Disney Magical World 2 is a terrific game for the many Disney fans who probably don't even know it exists.

River City: Tokyo Rumble

After many years in hibernation (at least in the West), the River City Ransom series returns, this time to the Nintendo 3DS in a celebration of all things River City. Taking on the role of Kunio, a high school student with the reputation of being a tough guy who will take on anyone who threatens his friends, you progress through a beat-em-up sandbox-style city setting, brawling with goons, henchmen, and bosses alike. While doing so, you gain experience to gain strength and coins to purchase helpful health-restoring items and stat-boosting equipment like undershirts and iron knuckles. A New Game+ option guarantees that you'll be brawling until the sun comes up, and the addition of a four-player versus mode in both fighting and dodgeball ensures that good times will be had by anyone who enjoys a good and satisfying beat-em-up.

Style Savvy: Fashion Forward

Get your inner fashionista on with Style Savvy: Fashion Forward. Intended for the audience that mostly left Nintendo to mobile gaming, Fashion Forward may seem like it's some trashy shovelware, but the quality of the game is definitely up to Nintendo's standards. From performing all the day-to-day duties of running a fashion boutique (stocking, keeping a steady supply of goods, making customers satisfied with appropriate outfits that tailor their wants, etc.) to entering fashion contests to earn prestigious awards, Style Savvy: Fashion Forward is a highly competent game that decidedly isn't for everyone. Nevertheless, you'd be a fool to dismiss it as shovelware just because it doesn't appeal to you. There is obvious effort put into this game seeping out of every crack and crevice.

Most Overlooked Nintendo 3DS Games - Part Nine

The Most Overlooked series of articles is back with a brand-new edition! Here, we're going to be taking a ninth look at some of the more overlooked Nintendo 3DS titles in the system's exhaustive library. This time around each of these games has seen a retail release. These games were passed over when compared to other releases, didn't receive much spotlight or fanfare, or just were plain glossed over. After you've checked out the latest five Nintendo 3DS games to make it on the Most Overlooked list, check out past editions!

Nintendo 3DS - Part One
Nintendo 3DS - Part Two 
Nintendo 3DS - Part Three
Nintendo 3DS - Part Four
Nintendo 3DS - Part Five
Nintendo 3DS - Part Six
Nintendo 3DS - Part Seven
Nintendo 3DS - Part Eight

Project X Zone 2 

Developed by Monolith Soft, best known recently for its work on Xenoblade Chronicles X for the Wii U, Project X Zone 2 once again pairs up characters from publishers Namco Bandai, Sega, and Capcom in one epic crossover story. This time around Nintendo adds some characters into the fray with familiar faces from Fire Emblem Awakening and Xenoblade Chronicles. Maneuver characters around the battlefield and initiate battles with the enemy with high-powered and impressive moves. Thankfully, Project X Zone 2 is nowhere near as repetitive as the original, and though it has a modest difficulty overall, the game's pure charm and humor will keep you going till the very end.

Return to PopoloCrois: A Story of Seasons Fairytale

Travel to the kingdom of PopoloCrois and outside its boundaries in this cute and endearing RPG. Play as Prince Pietro, thrust out of the kingdom by an evil sorceress, wanting nothing but to return home. Easier said than done, but Pietro isn't alone on his journey to return to PopoloCrois. He has numerous helpful and for players of the PSP game, familiar faces to assist him in the grid-based combat. Explore a myriad of dungeons and areas, farm crops and mine materials, and battle fierce enemies both large and small. Expect a review for Return to PopoloCrois later this month-- right here on SuperPhillip Central!

Etrian Odyssey 2: Untold - The Fafnir Knight

A remake of Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard, Etrian Odyssey 2: Untold - The Fafnir Knight (not the most elegant to pronounce title) is a retelling of that Nintendo DS cult classic. It features a whole host of new content, including two main modes: one is the update to the DS game with new and improved dungeons, and the other is the Untold portion, a totally new story mode with beautiful animated cutscenes. All this with a glorious new graphical coating and orchestrated soundtrack add up to a sensational treat for dungeon-crawling fans yearning for a fresh take on the Etrian Odyssey series as they wait for the (hopeful) localization announcement of the fifth mainline game in the series.

Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal

Don't worry, friends. I know what you're thinking (maybe), but no, Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal isn't the massive train wreck that the Wii U's Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric was. While definitely imperfect, Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal offers a lot of interesting ideas in its relatively short campaign. The levels are lengthy, encouraging exploration, and it's quite fun to do so, using each characters' different abilities to make progress and reach new areas. The racing levels, which are so popular that they're getting their own mode in the upcoming sequel, releasing this September, are a great deal of fun, as are the worm hole stages. It's not a fantastic game (wow, Phil, you really know how to sell this game!), but it offers a lot more than those who passed Shattered Crystal over as some generic licensed game.

Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX

While Vocaloid singer Hatsune Miku has a legion of fans in her home country of Japan, she hasn't seen the same amount of success in the West. Still, there are several loud pockets of fans here and there sprinkled across the Americas, Europe, and Oceania. Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX is an updated version of the Japan-only Project Mirai. This new edition saw a Western release with compelling touch-based or button-based rhythm centric gameplay. Tap, touch, and slide to over 40 unique and infectious vocal themes. While not totally ignored on the Nintendo 3DS, one could make a good argument that this series is better served, at least in the West, on the more otaku-oriented handheld, the PlayStation Vita. Don't get me wrong, though-- I really appreciate Ms. Miku gracing Nintendo 3DS owners like myself with her presence.

Most Overlooked Nintendo 3DS Games - Part Eight

We've arrived at the eighth edition of the Most Overlooked Nintendo 3DS Games. Now, that's partly due to the immense amount of titles being released both retail and digitally on the 3DS eShop. It's also because software sales of the Nintendo 3DS in general aren't the greatest. Still, whether it's by sales or through another metric, these next five Nintendo 3DS games didn't get their designated due. Many walked right past them, whether figuratively, or literally, as in they shunned them as they rested on store shelves. Regardless, perhaps after perusing the part's selection of games you'll be interested in checking a title or two out.

For past entries of Most Overlooked Nintendo 3DS Games, look no further than these links:

Nintendo 3DS - Part One
Nintendo 3DS - Part Two 
Nintendo 3DS - Part Three
Nintendo 3DS - Part Four
Nintendo 3DS - Part Five
Nintendo 3DS - Part Six
Nintendo 3DS - Part Seven

Etrian Mystery Dungeon

Taking the great things about both the Etrian Odyssey and Mystery Dungeon franchises and combining them into one release, our first game, Etrian Mystery Dungeon, features all the crawling through randomly-generated dungeons you could ever want. The challenge is there, the penalty for death is ever-present, and the game just keeps you wanting to come back for more and more. While doing well in Japan, selling nearly all of its initial first week shipment, Etrian Mystery Dungeon has had a slow go of it in the West. Like the other games featured on this week's list, Etrian Mystery Dungeon is for a niche of gamers, so to expect to get much attention. However, the game is too good to pass up for a Nintendo 3DS owner who is interested in the Mystery Dungeon style of games and games similar in style to roguelikes.

The Legend of Legacy

Silly title aside, The Legend of Legacy hearkens back to the age of old school RPGs. The game is a wondrous spiritual successor to the SaGa games of old. The difference here is that while many games it can be compared to are linear, The Legacy of Legend-- er, The Legend of Legacy is much more open for players to get to their destination and goal anyhow they see fit. With a lovely art style that is comparable to the chibi offerings of the Bravely Default series, and a terrific soundtrack by Final Fantasy XIII's Masashi Hamauzu, the presentation of the game is perfect for fans of old school RPGs. Given a fairly limited release, there was no doubt that The Legend of Legacy would become a game many Nintendo 3DS owners would sleep on... and they did. But don't you sleep on The Legend of Legacy, as the game is worthy of being played.

Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden

Coming off the excellent (at least in this writer's opinion) Dragon Ball: Xenoverse, I was more than ready to leap into a 2D Dragon Ball Z fighter, despite not holding a high regard to the anime and manga series the game is based off of. The game in question? Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden. Featuring incredibly done 2D sprites, a robust roster of characters-- though paling greatly in comparison to something like Budokai 3, for instance-- terrific combat, an excellent challenge, and interesting modes, Extreme Butoden satisfied my thirst for some Goku vs. Vegeta, Krillin vs. Raditz, and Frieza vs. Cell action. The lack of online no doubt hurt the game, as did its hush-hush appearance on the market. Still, it seems like the former might be remedied, as Japan recently received a patch for online play. Let's hope that the West gets the same treatment, and soon!

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy+

Although named similarly to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 game, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, this 3DS game (known as Ace Combat 3D in Japan), actually has very little to do with its big brothers, as the game is more akin to classic games in the Ace Combat series. Now, I've previously featured the original Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy on this Most Overlooked Nintendo 3DS Games feature before, so it seemed rather obvious that, barring a miracle, the enhanced edition of the game with Amiibo support and updated controls for the New 3DS, wouldn't sell that well either. Truth be told, the game bombed once again, this time even worse than the original 3DS game. It's not a testament to the game's quality, though, as while Assault Horizon Legacy+ is a short game, it's a really well done dogfighting action game.

Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson

Without a doubt one of the most... uh... provocative games ever seen on a Most Overlooked article on any system, this... uh... busty-- NO! I didn't mean for that word to come out! ...I meant to say that this game is a 3D side-scrolling action game where you play as a group of female ninjas. Deep Crimson introduced the ability to have a second character join you in battle. Senran Kagura is as niche as niche gets, and would have probably been better served on the PlayStation Vita, which has a greater otaku audience, if you will. Yeah, that's putting it elegantly enough! Fortunately, the gameplay is of a considerably good nature to be worthy of a play, if you can get over the pandering nature of the title.

Most Overlooked Nintendo 3DS Games - Part Seven

SuperPhillip Central's Most Overlooked series of articles, one of the oldest and longest-running on the site, is back! This time we're dealing with the Nintendo 3DS, a system that I argue has the most quality content across any platform this generation. Regardless of platform, however, there are bound to be games that we overlook, that are underrated, and games that just don't get their due diligence and time in the spotlight. The following five games may not have gotten the best scores, have the most mindshare, or have set the sales charts on fire, but they're still remarkable titles all the same.

For past parts of Most Overlooked Nintendo 3DS Games, look no further than these six links:

Nintendo 3DS - Part One
Nintendo 3DS - Part Two 
Nintendo 3DS - Part Three
Nintendo 3DS - Part Four
Nintendo 3DS - Part Five
Nintendo 3DS - Part Six

LBX: Little Battlers eXperience

Based off the anime cartoon available on Nicktoons (at least here in the States where SuperPhillip Central resides), LBX: Little Battlers eXperience comes packed with customization options and parts to design the ultimate LBX battler depending on the opponent and the scenario. An intriguing story that surprisingly gets dark at some points (at least for a game meant for the younger demographic), great voice work, fast-paced and frenetic battles, and an abundance of replay value in both optional quests and just earning new LBX parts make for a game that should give Custom Robo fans their fix as well as anyone who just loves robot battles. Although selling well in Japan, this first LBX game for the West did not create a big spark in sales. A shame, as it's a highly addicting, massively fun game.

Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash

Beat down in reviews by most outlets and critics, Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash deserves much better than the lack of acclaim it received. Its biggest problem was the Destination Wheel, which players spun to determine what level they would play next instead of a traditional 1-1, 1-2, and then 1-3 structure. However, there are many ways to cheese the system and play the levels you want. For instance, after beating a world, you can choose any level in that world that you desire. Regardless, the actual gameplay of Zip Lash offers the ability to use Chibi-Robo's plug to whip enemies, grab and pull himself onto certain objects, hang from ceilings, and angle his plug to hit off multiple walls to reach out-of-the-way locations and items. The developers said that this could be the final Chibi-Robo! game if sales do not impress Nintendo. Going off by Japan's cold-as-the-stainless-steel-Chibi-Robo-is-made-of shoulder to the game, with the first week sales being less than 20,000, it seems this will be the case. Still, Zip Lash is one heck of a swan song for Nintendo's miniature robot.

Yoshi's New Island

It seems like a good time to talk about this next game, as SuperPhillip Central had just talked about Yoshi's Woolly World earlier this week. While Yoshi's New Island doesn't reach anywhere near the same heights of the either that Wii U game or the Super Nintendo original Yoshi's Island, it does deliver some quaint and cute fun. One of the best new features of this edition of Yoshi's Island is that you don't have to collect all 20 red coins, 5 flowers, and 20 hearts in one run. This was annoying and sometimes even aggravating to accomplish in the original Yoshi's Island. In that regard, Yoshi's New Island is an improvement. While the level design doesn't hit the same notes as the Super Nintendo classic, there are some clever ideas here and there, and some of the bonus stages will definitely test your platforming prowess, especially one that is all vertical and requires multiple well controlled bounces off Bullet Bills with seldom a steady platform to stay on. It's not the best Yoshi has to offer, but Yoshi's New Island is far from a bad game. Bad selling? Definitely.

Disney Magical World

Doing abundantly well in Japan, Disney Magical World in the West didn't receive as much attention from Nintendo 3DS owners. The game itself is a combination of simulation-style gameplay where interacting with Disney characters, running your own cafe, and acquiring materials to build furniture and costumes pieces and dungeon exploration. The latter has you fighting monsters, enemies, opening treasure chests, and plundering for materials. As you earn stickers that serve as a means to progress through the game, new shops, new areas, and new points of interest open up, allowing even more longevity to this already content-rich game. Bandai Namco recently announced a sequel to Disney Magical World, and this one will feature a Frozen world with a scenario written by crew members of the movie. It's SuperPhillip Central's hope that Nintendo will localize this sequel for those of us who enjoyed the original game.

Mercenaries Saga 2: Order of the Silver Eagle

For those craving a tactical RPG on a system with no Final Fantasy Tactics game to speak of, unlike the Nintendo 3DS's predecessors, the Game Boy Advance and the Nintendo DS, Mercenaries Saga 2: Order of the Silver Eagle is a highly competent and most importantly, very inexpensive 3DS eShop title. Don't confuse affordability with cheapness, nor think the game's quality is similar to its price. Mercenaries Saga 2 is an engaging RPG with a compelling story, excellent, though unoriginal tactical gameplay, and plenty of maps, strategy, and character types to partake in. It blows me away how a game similar to this would have been sixty dollars back in the Super Nintendo era, and now such a title is but a handful of dollars. We've come a long way, for certain.

Most Overlooked Nintendo 3DS Games - Part Five

It's been over a year since my last entry of the Most Overlooked Nintendo 3DS Games (which scares me to death at how fast time seems to go). However, this popular segment's back with five new games, and for the first time, a digital game appears, the first of no doubt many! All of the games featured on this edition are sequels or spin-offs of a preexisting property, which shows that even established series can have their black sheep sales-wise. After perusing this edition of the Most Overlooked Nintendo 3DS Games, please post what games you think deserve more time in the proverbial sun.

If you missed a past part of my Most Overlooked Nintendo 3DS Games, no worries. Just click on one of the following links!

Nintendo 3DS - Part One
Nintendo 3DS - Part Two 
Nintendo 3DS - Part Three
Nintendo 3DS - Part Four

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call 

While the original Theatrhythm Final Fantasy did well enough in sales in the West to have a sequel localized, Curtain Call, the sequel in question, did not live up to its predecessor's amount of copies sold. This is highly disheartening and disappointing, as Curtain Call is a much more content-packed and upgraded game compared to the original, which wasn't relaxed on content to begin with. Containing over 200 songs, continued DLC support, a myriad of Final Fantasy all-stars to add to a player's party, multiple modes including online battles and an engaging Quest Mode, and altered mechanics to make for a superior experience, it's unfortunate that Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call did not perform as well as it should have. Well, at least in the West! Japan happily had a much different result.

Batman: Arkham Origins - Blackgate

From Armature Studios, a collection of mostly former Retro Studios employees (the folks who made Metroid Prime, only one of my top ten games of all time), Batman: Arkham Origins - Blackgate released on both dedicated handheld systems of this generation, the Nintendo 3DS and the PlayStation Vita. We'll obviously be looking at the former version, but both SKUs failed to light the sales charts on fire, despite being smartly executed games. In Blackgate, Armature successfully created a 2-1/2D Metroid-style world to explore and implemented the combat system of the console Arkham games. Sadly, as stated, both the 3DS and the Vita versions of Blackgate did not do well sales-wise, making WB Games launch digital versions of the game on numerous HD storefronts. It didn't do too well there either, which stinks as Blackgate is a worthy addition to the Batman: Arkham saga.

Fluidity: Spin Cycle

In the past I have dedicated these Most Overlooked segments to retail games exclusively. However, I would be an old fossil if I continued to do so, as digital is widely considered the future of gaming. That, and a game being digital does not discredit it whatsoever. Anyhow, Fluidity: Spin Cycle is the first of many digital-only games that will be featured on my Most Overlooked lists in the future. It had players guiding a collection of water through a series of levels, tilting and rotating the Nintendo 3DS system to influence the direction of the hydro-heavy player character. To be honest, Spin Cycle would have been better served for another platform of Nintendo's, as rotating the Nintendo 3DS in one's hands was rather uncomfortable. In addition to that, the 3D effect was automatically shut off for the entirety of the game because of this. Perhaps those are reasons why many didn't make the jump to Fluidity: Spin Cycle, despite it being a clever, creative, and engaging game.

Samurai Warriors: Chronicles

A launch title in many territories, Samurai Warriors: Chronicles was released in a period where the fatigue of Musou-styled games was very much real. This was despite the new additions implemented to this Nintendo 3DS version of the game, such as the top screen displaying the in-game action while the bottom screen cleverly showed the level map, HUD information, and mission updates. A big addition was on-the-fly switching between multiple characters in any given battle. The Nintendo 3DS launch was indeed weak, at least here in North America, but Samurai Warriors: Chronicles offered an immense amount of content that most Nintendo 3DS owners sadly passed on for various reasons.

Shinobi

In the Nintendo 3DS edition of Shinobi, players controlled the highly capable Jiro Musashi as he hacked, slashed, jumped, climbed, and chucked throwing stars through a myriad of challenging levels. No doubt the steep challenge that Shinobi possessed turned off a lot of potential players, and to be fair, Shinobi was indeed a difficult game to beat much more get 100% in. However, for those players who took the challenge (and there weren't that many, or obviously this game wouldn't be on a Most Overlooked list), Shinobi delivered high thrills, action-packed gameplay, and twitch-based combat. Just don't think that the story will make a lick of coherent sense, and you'll be okay!