My thoughts on the latest bout of Japanese 3DS demos…

One Piece: Unlimited World R

• What is it? The big budget One Piece ‘Monster Hunting’ game. Two stages on the demo – the first being a burning town with the huge red dragon (pictured) as boss, and the second more open-world Dragon Quest X style before moving into a castle.
• How good is it? First of all the graphics are astounding, using cel-shading with some of the best graphics on the 3DS although the 3D effect is non-existent. Not my favoured genre but the game seems totally solid with some good combat, awesome special moves and amazing characters although the camera isn’t perfect.
• Keeping the demo? Yes.
• Buying the game? I got them backlog blues but would pick up from the bomba bin without thinking twice.

Gaist Crusher

• What is it? Capcom’s huge new IP and hoping to be Monster Hunter X Skylanders for Japanese boys.
• How good is it? Probably not for everyone since Treasure have clearly developed a game for kids and not hardcore gamers, although that’s hardly a concern for me! The demo breaks you into the mechanics without ever crossing the annoying line (Nintendo take note), graphically super solid, plays somewhat like EX Troopers without the guns, loads of customisation and awesome transformation (think Star Fleet Dai-X X Twilight Princess Wolf Link). My only concern is potential repetition, but a great fun-filled demo.
• Keeping the demo? Until my game arrives.
• Buying the game? Pre-ordered after playing.

Aikatsu! My 2 Princesses

• What is it? The sequel to a six-figure selling 3DS girl game and a popular arcade franchise. I expected Style Savvy but got a rhythm game.
• How good is it? Disappointed I couldn’t create a boy character but choose a girl and decide upon hairstyle and eye colour etc and the rhythm game is on. Surprisingly rather solid and awesome old-school Konami-esque sound effects when you fuck up!
• Keeping the demo? Yes.
• Buying the game? Another bomba bin buy but otherwise no.

Cooking Mama 5

• What is it? Do you honestly need to know what Cooking Mama is?!
• How good is it? Everything you expect from a Cooking Mama game although graphically, sonically and gameplay-ly solid. The two highlights being a couple of non-cooking mini-games: one an English text game (surprisingly frantic fun) and the other an amazing fish feeding game.
• Keeping the demo? Yes.
• Buying the game? I would easily pay ¥500 for the fish feeding game but ¥5,040? No.