Mario Hoops 3 On 3

by Nintendo

Product Features

• Includes Square Enix characters: White Mage, Cactuar, Moogle
• White Mage - a character from the first Final Fantasy game, she uses restorative and support magic
• Cactuar - a small mobile cactus, Cactuars are known for high speed and evasiveness.
• Moogle - Essentially a small white teddy bear with a single antenne, Moogles generally serve as merchants and postmen in Final Fantasy games

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000GHG9V6
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches ; 3.2 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: September 11, 2006
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,859 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #32 in Video Games > Nintendo DS > Action

Product Description

Mario Hoops 3 on 3 DS

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Slam Dunk, September 12, 2006

By 

Michael Kerner "Michael Kerner" (Brooklyn, New York U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mario Hoops 3 On 3 (Video Game)

Since Nintendo created their Nintendo DS system, they've absolutely maintained and and defined a whole new way of playing video games to the next degree. Not only that, they've also shown that in the element of their games with Mario. Since Super Mario 64 DS was developed, they've maintained so many DS titles with the Mario name that've delivered from Mario Kart DS, to the return of the classic 2-D days with New Super Mario Brothers. Now, with the success of their sports titles from other systems such as Super Mario Strikers from their Gamecube system, many skeptics are wondering if that kind of a Mario sports title can deliver on the DS. Here is the result.

Mario Hoops 3 On 3 for the Nintendo DS, brings the element of basketball, through Mario and company as if they've made the slam dunk. The object of the game is like most other basketball games, score the highest. You have so many differnt characters to choose from such as Mario and Yoshi, as well as clever unlockables Moogle and company from the Final Fantasy franchise. The courts all have unique Mario details that gave a whole unique way of playing basketball, from slam dunking on a airship, to the depths of the Blooper Sea. The graphics in the game are amazing, and absolutely deliver in detail from each character and move to score. The control, sadly misses a bit of the beat. Although you can control each of the characters well through the regular controls, but with the stylus, that is another story. The stylus controls miss out a little, and take a bit to get used to. Not only that, but it is the only way your character can actually execute their specialty shot from a Mario fireball, to a rainbow swoosh from Yoshi.

Despite a few flaws, Mario Hoops 3 On 3 is a solid sports title for the Nintendo DS. Although there may be other basketball titles down the road for the system, this is a really fun game to play for solo players, as well as muliplayer slam dunk action. I absolutely recommend this as addition to your DS library, and that is worth the slam dunk.

Graphics: B+

Sound: B

Control: B-

Fun & Enjoyment: B+ for solo players: A- for multiplayer action

Overall: B 1/2+

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun, fun game, October 28, 2006

By 

Mojo Jojo - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Mario Hoops 3 On 3 (Video Game)

Normally, I don't offer direct rebuttals to other reviews, but in this case I'll make an exception. Some have said the controls for this game are "fiddly" and "unreliable". Not so for me. I find them simple and intuitive and very fun. It's cool to actually play a basketball game where there is actual ball control. Furthermore, shooting, blocking, passing, and stealing are all very easy to use. As for the complaints that the game is all about coin collecting, I'll have to disagree a bit on that, too. Sure, the more coins you collect, the more points you score when you make a basket. But here's the catch, if your opponent makes a basket before you, then all those coins you collected are worth squat. I don't concentrate on coinage at all, merely collecting what I can when it's convenient, and I don't have a problem with winning. Except on the more difficult tournaments, and that's because my opponents are so skilled that they keep me from scoring at all.

Onto the game itself. I love it. However, let me admit a few things. I'm not a sports game guy. I generally find them repetative and dull. The last great sports game I enjoyed was Tiny Toons Sports for Sega Genesis. So if you're a hardcore sports guy, this probably isn't the game for you. On the other hand, if you're like me and want a game with lively animation, great theme, fun gameplay, and fast-paced knucklebiting games, this is a good choice.

The music, graphics, etc. are all top notch, and I love the theme courts. The Luigi's Mansion court, for instance, has ghosts hovering overhead. Sometimes, they catch the ball and float around until someone jumps up and steals it back. The Flower court has giant venus flytraps for baskets. Don't try and dunk because they'll knock you out every time. These schticks are well balanced. They affect the gameplay, but don't dominate it.

Solo play is either Tourney or Exhibition. There's four tournaments consisting of 3 games (or 4 in the last tourney), and each is progressively harder opponents. After you beat them all, a Hard mode is unlocked. And it is definitely hard. But that adjustable difficulty means that you can play at whatever level suits you.

The more I play this game, the better I get and the more I appreciate the level of character interraction. While obviously not everyone will agree with me, this is a very cool little game.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars FUN, BUT IT DOESN'T LAST FOREVER., December 1, 2006

A Kid's Review

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Mario Hoops 3 On 3 (Video Game)

Reviewer:Adriel Rahman

This game is very fun as soon as you pick it up but after a while, it gets repetitive. Your teamates know nothing about basketball. They don't help you out in any way. You are the one who has to do everything. So when you play against tougher teams, they will knock you into the year 3000. Also the controls don't always work properly. After you beat single player theres only
multiplayer to look foward to. If this didn't have single card multiplayer this would get a very low rating.

GRAPHICS - 10/10
SOUND - 7/10
GAMEPLAY - 6/10
CONTROL - 6/10
OVERALL - 6.8/10

Its better to borrow it from a friend. This game is worth 20 bucks not 30.
Too bad nintendo couldn't put lots of minigames and game modes like tennis
and Super Smash Bros Melee. Its just too repetitive