REVIEW: Nintendo 3DS Circle Pad Pro

Earlier today, after several months since its release, I finally picked up the Nintendo 3DS Circle Pad Pro at GameStop after a new shipment was sent out to stores nationwide. The original shipment was sold out quickly and second-hand units were being re-sold for a higher mark-up online until just recently. Currently, they are (to my knowledge) back in stock at select GameStop stores around the country and in Nintendo's online store for $20.

For anyone who doesn't own a Nintendo 3DS, you may ask what is a Circle Pad Pro?

Last year, this peripheral was released in Japan along with the release of Capcom's "Monster Hunter Tri-G" as an alternative method to control the game. The unit is essentially an add-on to the main unit, adding a second analog circle pad, extra rear trigger buttons, and a grip similar to console controllers. Upon its release, it's gotten mixed reactions, namely why Nintendo neglected to add a 2nd circle pad in the first place and whether the eventual revision of the 3DS will have the 2nd circle pad built in.

Despite it looking like a tumor on my 3DS, the Circle Pad Pro actually feels like I'm holding a "real" controller with the contoured grips and triggers. It's not as big as the pictures make it out to be nor is it heavy. But yeah, it does look unsightly and there's no other color for this thing other than black, so if you have a blue, red, pink or purple 3DS, then colors are going to clash. If that sort of thing bothers you, then I wouldn't recommend the CPP. Also, I wouldn't recommend carrying a 3DS with the CPP attached if you wear skinny jeans; it sticks out of pockets noticeably.

Aesthetics aside, the reason people bought this thing was for the games. I have three games available that are CPP-compatible. I'll list my thoughts on each game's controls with and without the CPP below:

Resident Evil: Revelations

The game controls fine on its own without the CPP, but the extra circle pad makes for a good camera control and makes shooting easier. Recommended with or without the CPP.


Metal Gear Solid 3D: Snake Eater

The game controls poorly without the CPP and while the CPP finally offers more option to control the game, it's still poor. Stick to the console version of MGS3.

Kid Icarus: Uprising

It only leaves the game accesible to left-handed folks. I'm not very coordinated with this style, but it does work. Recommended with the CPP if it works for you.


Final thought: It's something that Nintendo should have incorporated in their initial design, but it was also created after much badgering from third-party developers like Capcom, so it's something that can be either necessary or unnecessary, depending on how you look at it. There's not much use for this thing and Nintendo did say that a small minority of games will use it (neither of those are required to play with the CPP, only supported, and remember to check the back of the game's packaging for a compatibility seal), so the entire experience just feels optional.

Recommended? Not really, since the touch screen is used for input and camera control, a second circle pad blurs between the line of necessity and redundancy. It's cheap though, so it's not a bad investment if you're looking for an alternate style of play. Just don't buy it second-hand with ridiculous markup.


Have a fun weekend,



Image source: GameStop

Pushmo

Lately I've been playing a game on my 3DS called "Pushmo". Pushmo (or "Pullblox" if you're of the European persuasion) is a puzzle-platformer with a simple premise: push and pull blocks in order to climb to the top and reach the goal. With about 200 puzzles, it's one of those games where it's easy to pick up and play but difficult to master. Priced at $6.99 in the Nintendo eShop, Pushmo contains colorful graphics, 3D that is actually HELPFUL to gameplay and best of all, endless replay value.

As you play, you'll unlock "Pushmo Studio", a level editor that lets you create your own puzzles and share them with others via QR codes. Below are five puzzles I've created that you can try out. Don't worry, they're quite easy to solve:

Raphael (TMNT)


Doraemon (Doraemon)


Nukesaku Aida (Tsuide ni Tonchinkan)


Sonichu (Sonichu)


Yawning Squirtle (Sonichu)


If you have a copy of the game, feel free to tweet me your levels and I'll probably make a follow-up post with your levels.

I hope you all have a happy new year's eve--and try not to drink too much.



PS: The game itself is rated E for Everyone, but there's some online communities dedicated to making elaborate Pushmo puzzles and quite a few of them are NSFW. Browse at your own risk.

HIKU-OSU (Pushmo/Pullblox) © Nintendo. Developed by Intelligent Systems.

I'll Give It My All... Tomorrow

I've been reading this manga online for quite a while now, and last week I finally bought a copy of the first volume at the bookstore. Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed.

"I'll Give It My All... Tomorrow" is a seinen (young men's) manga by Shunju Aono. It is serialized every month in Monthly IKKI magazine in Japan, and the English online magazine equivalent in the West.

The story is about Shizuo Oguro, a 40 year-old man who decides to quit his job as a salaryman in order to find himself, much to the dismay of his aging father and simultaneously inconveniencing his teenage daughter. As the story goes on, he decides to become a manga artist, although his drawing and storytelling are quite poor, and in order to pay the bills he works at a hamburger joint where he is subordinate to men half his age. It's a series of slice-of-life tales concerning Shizuo and his musings and mishaps as he struggles to get published and fighting off mid-life crises.

The subject matter, although highly depressing, is actually quite refreshing, seeing how it's much different compared to most other manga. Many people will hate the art, although I personally like it, but it complements the writing style of this manga, and in turn produces a more natural look when reading it. I doubt kids and teenagers would like this series, since they might find the story boring or would call the art ugly, but it's pretty good for the older set, especially for people who are going through their own mid-life crises. I recommend this manga to anyone who wants to read something different in a manga and prizes writing over art.

The first volume is out right now online and in bookstores, with volume two going on sale this December. The series can also be read in monthly installments online for free here.


Overall recommend? Yes. Especially since the newest chapters can be read for free online, you won't have to worry about investing money on a book you may not like.




"ORE WA MADA HONKI DASHITENAI DAKE" ©2007 Shunju Aono/Shogakukan. English version © Viz Media.

FOOD REVIEW: Spicy Chick Fil A Sandwich

FIRST-EVER FOOD REVIEW: Spicy Chick Fil A Sandwich, $2.99 plus tax, Chick Fil A.

DISCLAIMER: This review is not endorsed by nor affiliated with Chick Fil A. All my opinions are belong to me.

I'm not going to be pretentious or verbose here. I'm going to write how I honestly feel about this product in my own words. If you want a detailed essay about how food tastes, then go read the newspaper. Thank you.

REVIEW: On Monday, June 7, Chick Fil A released their new spicy variant of their flagship sandwich, the Chick Fil A chicken sandwich, to the public. I decided to try it out of sheer curiosity, and because of earlier reviews that praised the sandwich (it was given out to select people the week before the sandwich publicly came out).

The packaging was similar to the original sandwich, and as I opened it up, the sandwich was nice and hot. Two buns, a spicy boneless chicken breast, lightly breaded and cooked in peanut oil, and two pickles probably won't sound impressive in writing, but damn, when put together and eaten, the result is delicious.

Upon first bite, a rush of spice has filled my mouth and I start coughing. It isn't a tongue burner, but it will leave a good burn inside you. The taste is actually genuine and reminds me of Texas Pete or Tabasco. What's even more amazing is that the chicken must've been marinated well, because the spice isn't limited to the crunchy outside, but is also found on the juicy white meat inside as well. The pickle just adds that slight 'ting' that completes the bite. In short, three words: SO. FUCKING. DELICIOUS.

PROS: The spice makes a great addition to an already great sandwich.
CONS: The spice may either be too spicy for some, or not spicy enough for others.

GRADE: A.

FINAL WORD: For three bucks, this is a good deal. It's basically the original sandwich, but with some added spice. Highly recommended.