CGR Undertow - PUZZLE & DRAGONS Z AND SUPER MARIO BROS. EDITION review for Nintendo 3DS

Puzzle & Dragons: Z and Super Mario Bros. Edition video review. http://www.ClassicGameRoom.com
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Puzzle & Dragons: Z and Super Mario Bros. Edition video review. Classic Game Room presents a CGR Undertow video review of Puzzle & Dragons: Z and Super Mario Bros. Edition for the Nintendo 3DS developed by GungHo Online Entertainment and published by Nintendo.

Two Puzzle & Dragons games come together in this puzzle-packed Nintendo 3DS compilation. Puzzle & Dragons Z and Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Edition both feature the same unique puzzle/RPG gameplay, but each has its own style and pacing. Z is the more story-heavy of the two, featuring a very JRPG feel in terms of its presentation, while Super Mario Edition has the to-the-point gameplay focus Nintendo’s flagship series is known for. Each provides a fantastic puzzle-gaming experience, providing gamers two different ways to enjoy the same great Puzzle & Dragons gameplay. Puzzle & Dragons: Z and Super Mario Bros. Edition is a single-player game with online sharing elements on the Nintendo 3DS.

This video review features video gameplay footage of Puzzle & Dragons: Z and Super Mario Bros. Edition for the Nintendo 3DS and audio commentary from Classic Game Room's Derek.

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Closed Caption:

It’s not easy being a lackey.
You’re not allowed to touch the radio…you
never get the front seat, that’s not even
up for debate. And you don’t even get mentioned
sometimes. It’s like, “Hey, it’s the
Batman!”
“Look out, dudes! Here comes the Shredder!”
No mention of Robin. Or Bebop, and Rocksteady.
But they’re there. It’s like you’re
a package deal. Or breakfast cereal. Your
pal is the box of Fruity Pebbles, you’re
the crappy free prize.
That’s the life of a lackey, you need six
box tops just to six up front.
Don’t worry, Puzzle & Dragons Z. If you
have a hard time with it, talk to Luigi—he’s
been where you are his entire life. It’s
Puzzle & Dragons Z and Super Mario Edition,
for the Nintendo 3DS.
So this is a tale of two games. Even though
they’re largely the same game. See, it’s
actually a compilation. It’s Puzzle & Dragons
Z, and Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Edition.
Thing is, the gameplay’s identical. They’re
basically the exact same game, but each one
also has a whole different coat of paint.
Not to mention their own structure, and presentation.
One uses memorable characters and simple design…
And the other…
Well, it better not touch Mario’s radio.
It’s not just about star power, or brand
name, or recognizability. It’s about focus.
One focuses on the gameplay, and is better
off for it.
The other takes 20 minutes to explain what
Mario took 20 seconds to.
But hey, I should probably do the same thing,
let’s explain. So the concept is…you’ve
got a match-three puzzle game, built within
the framework of a surprisingly deep, surprisingly
complex RPG. You move from level to level,
fighting enemies and taking on bosses…but
you do that by solving puzzles. Match three
or more orbs of the same color, your team
attacks.
See, you have this team with you, that you
have to assemble. And all the team members
are a certain color, too. Match their colors,
and they’re the ones who attack. And of
course, this entire process is packed with
strategy. Some enemies are vulnerable to certain
colors, some team members work better in certain
levels, you can create new team members…
It’s one of those games where the mechanics
are pretty simple, but the challenge comes
in taking the right strategy. Without it,
you don’t have a Blooper’s chance in…Dry
Dry Desert.
‘Cause there’s no water.
That was a really nerdy thing to say.
Hey, speaking of Bloopers, though…what makes
the Mario half better than the other half?
What’s the difference, if they’re basically
the same game? Well…like I said, it’s
about focus. In the Mario game, it’s all
about the gameplay. Toad gives you a little
bit of advice, but it’s not a whole lot.
You’re into the levels super fast, you’re
battling, and solving puzzles…
The game gets out of the way, basically.
So the opposite, in the other game. It seriously
took me almost half an hour just to get to
the gameplay, in the other game. There’s
so much talking, and talking, and talking…and
if you’re going to do that, fine—if the
story’s interesting. But it’s not, it’s
just some generic story, with generic characters,
and it’s a total drag to read through.
Or, frantically tap, through.
I’ll just switch to the plumber, thanks.
And you know, that’s the other difference.
The Mario game has an identity. The Z game
is so derivative, it’s crazy. This could
be any RPG; these could be any characters;
and, also, this could be any Pokemon. It just
makes no impression, and especially when it’s
sitting next to some of the most colorful
and well-known characters ever…
I mean, it’s almost not even fair.
And the one thing it could have in its favor
is that…it could be the more complex of
the two, right? It could add a lot more complexity
to the gameplay. But it doesn’t, really.
And when you have two games that similar,
and one has Mario, and Luigi, and that whole
crew…
I’m sorry, but Fokemon’s not gonna cut
it.
This is half awesome puzzle game that’s
gonna have you playing for hours, and half
awesome puzzle game that you’re probably
gonna forget about and go play the other half,
which is gonna have you playing for hours.
That’s the thing, they’re both awesome
puzzle games. It’s just a matter of taste,
and your preference in games. But I think
it’s about focus, too.
Well, that and character appeal.
And simplicity, that too.
Oh, and Bowser, Bowser makes everything cooler.
This one has a rabbit.
Oh, whatever. It’s Puzzle & Dragons Z and
Super Mario Edition.
You’ll like them both. You’ll probably
only play one of them.