KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID

So, today I finally broke down and bought Super Mario 3D Land, despite how much I dislike paying full MSRP for game software (especially $40 for a handheld game). I figured there must still be SOME reason to own a 3DS, because after getting one during the holiday season, I’m still looking for that reason. It’s been awhile since I’ve last played a proper Mario game, I think the last time I played one was Super Mario Galaxy on the Wii a few years back. But there was something I had forgotten about how Nintendo designs their Mario platformers: they’re simple and easy to get into. It was refreshing change of pace to play a game that wasn’t inundated in pop-up tutorials, or worse, a training session. Mario 3D Land is a reminder that games can still be simple, and still be fun to play.

FLASHBACK: ZOOP

Welcome to Flashback, where we take a look at games from the past that may have not gotten as much love as they may have deserved. Today we’re going back to 1995 and visiting a little puzzle game called Zoop. Published by Viacom New Media (which has been defunct for over a decade and a half), Zoop was developed for every possible game system available at the time. I think the only consoles it never made it to were the Virtual Boy and the 3DO.