This is what I’ve spent all of my free time on for the past week. After playing the first run, you’ll get the basic idea of SpeedX 3D for the N3DS eShop. In fact, the levels are so similar that you could probably decide whether or not you enjoy the game just from this first level. There’s no need for lengthy tutorials; All you need to know is how to dodge the oncoming obstacles that race towards your screen. You can either move with the Circle Pad, or with the system’s motion sensor (accessible under options). The motion controls are impressively responsive and fun to use when showing a friend, but if you are more focused on actually beating all 48 runs, I’d recommend the (more accurate) Circle Pad. Read on for the full review!
On top of the main 48 runs in the Stages mode, you also get 3 more modes with this game. If you want a mode that never ends (literally), try Endless mode. Any game with an endless mode frustrates me, because that means I can never win. I only played this mode for few minutes before wanting to punch a hole in the wall. Survival mode adds to the insanity of Endless mode by disabling the use of shields. If you thought it couldn’t possibly get worse, guess again; There’s another mode.
Zones mode is the ultimate challenge (in which you can NEVER complete). The mode gives you a fuel gauge, which will quickly deplete as you progress. This means you have to pick up your fuel as you go, while you are dodging all the obstacles and avoiding the track edge. With all the crazy obstacles, endless corridors, and extra vulnerability, it’s safe to say that this is the game’s hardest mode. Zones mode is a true challenge, and also an insane headache if you’re like me. I actually did end up punching a hole in a wall after a few minutes of Zones.
The frame-rate holds up very well for a 3DS Download game with such blistering speeds, but the high-speed itself can actually be pretty hard on your eyes during extended play times. Because of the game’s fast-paced gameplay, you can only play for so long before getting a blistering headache. Considering that this game is a port of an Android app, it’s really made for bite size intervals of gameplay, so this shouldn’t be too much of a problem if you play in bite-size chunks.
As for the rest of the presentation, it’s great for an eShop game. The menus are easy to navigate, the glasses-free 3D effect is great, and for such a fast-paced game, the graphics are pretty decent. My only complaint in regards to presentation is the music. The music is extremely repetitive and never changes, but since the game is an app port, I won’t waste my time complaining about it.
Conclusion
I showed this game to many people since I started playing it last week, and all said pretty much the same thing: “Woah, this is so cool! …But what am I doing again?” It didn’t exactly make sense to me why I enjoyed SpeedX 3D, but I didn’t really need to know. In all, this game is pure eShop greatness, and the developers at Gamelion did a superb job at turning this Android app into a 3DS Download. If you have a 3DS and are willing to spend $3.99, check out this wonderful game. Great job, Gamelion!!
