anti-gaming

My save data was erased. Apparently the game does not allow more than one save file per Xbox Live account, and I was sharing with another person. Sucks.

But I persevere!

I must know how it ends.

You know, I don’t think first person shooters are very good vehicles for art games.

This may be the best use of stereoscopic 3-D on the 3DS.

Previously, in my mind, there was only Super Mario 3D Land. Kid Icarus: Uprising was pretty great in its use of 3-D, too, but the 3-D in 3D Land actually enhanced the gameplay. That experience could not have been had on any other system. Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon pushes that envelope even further. This isn’t just a unique 3-D experience. This is Nintendo’s equivalent of Martin Scorsese’s film Hugo. That is to say, 3-D isn’t just a cheap gimmick or novelty. It’s simply another vehicle for storytelling.

That’s what really strikes me about Dark Moon so far. It uses every color in its palette to paint a picture that draws the player deep into its world. Traditional tricks like art direction, sound design, music, cut-scenes… no detail is glossed over in the creation of its mansions. These are living, breathing, lived-in places. Stereoscopic 3-D is the newest color in that palette. The game brilliantly uses the 3-D effect to give its world a thick atmosphere, inviting the player to peer a little closer into these cozy, cramped spaces. The 3-D also makes each weathered piece of furniture, suit of armor, possessed book, or any member of its population of inanimate objects stand out. In a game that’s essentially all about poking around with the environment and interacting with objects, that’s a big plus. Inquiring minds will wonder, “Can I pull that curtain? Can I roll up that rug? Can I flush that toilet?”

I love it when games do that—offer responses when a player asks “I wonder if…” That’s the game designer meeting player expectations at every corner. It’s difficult to do.

In summation, I’m impressed with Dark Moon so far. I can’t wait to delve more deeply into its world.