Berlin - The Vita and the 3DS might be relatively new entrants to the world of gaming, but steadily improving graphics and controls mean they have nothing about which to be ashamed.
As if to prove their acceptance, game companies are responding to the gadgets with new versions of old familiar games like Metal Gear and Kid Icarus, plus a homage to games like Diablo. But there are also new ideas in the form of Little Deviants.
Dungeon Hunter - Alliance is part of the pack released to take advantage of the new Vita's debut. The action role-playing game from Ubisoft, in the style of the Diablo games, can allow up to four players at a time to fight monsters.
The game also proves that the story can sometimes be almost incidental, since players are just looking for characteristics like those found in Diablo. That means every successful battle yields experience points that can be used to buy new skills. Players get to choose between three different character classes.
Dungeon Hunter also appeals to players' need to gather items, since its 30 levels are full of countless magical items and powerful weapons. Only certain players are allowed to open each treasure chest, meaning there never has to be fights over them. The game takes advantage of both the Vita's touchscreen and its touch-sensitive backside: for example, for sorting out the inventory or using magic. Dungeon Hunter - Alliance costs about 35 euros (about R350).
Little Deviants is another launch title for the new Vita. This mini-game collection from Sony focuses on a clutch of cuddly aliens stranded upon a strange world. It takes full advantage of the abilities of the new console, making use of the integrated camera to allow players to turn their homes into the setting of an alien invasion. Players are called upon to dispatch them, 3D-shooter style.
Elsewhere, players can guide the cuddly aliens through a labyrinth using the tilt sensor or engage in boxing matches thanks to the touchscreen. The colourful collection sells for about 30 euros.
Sony's Unit 13 involves the player taking on the role of one of six elite soldiers in a covert unit that operates globally. The choice of character influences the possible ways to win the game:
the technician can open sealed doors, but the spy can creep by opponents unnoticed. Soldiers rely on brute force.
The missions are as different as the six characters. They range from secret observation to sneaky spying to heated firefights. A cooperation mode allows two players to work together via an internet connection. Unit 13 should cost about 50 euros.
Meanwhile, on the Nintendo 3DS, an 80s classic is celebrating its comeback. Kid Icarus: Uprising from Nintendo is a sequel to an NES title. But the old game has little to do with this modern version. This time, players look over the shoulder of Pit, the hero, guiding him through the sky. Hosts of enemies are fought off with both long-distance and up-close fighting. Every level ends with a major opponent.
Up to six players may compete online in Kid Icarus. It will sell for 45 euros and come with a stand for the 3DS, which is supposed to help gameplay, but will limit mobility.
Another old favourite is Snake, the hero of the Metal Gear series. Metal Gear Solid 3 - Snake Eater enjoys a revival on the 3DS with true 3D graphics. But the story has stayed the same. In the midst of the Cold War, Snake fights his way through jungles and forests to bring a defector to safety and reveal the secret of the new Soviet atomic weapon.
Since the third part of this series is technically a prequel, even newcomers to the series should be able to follow the story without too much trouble. The differences to the original Playstation 2 version are slim. But a lot of attention has been paid to the graphics, which seem even sharper and convey more depth, even on the tiny 3DS screen.
Game controls are handled by Circle Pad Pro, which supplies an extra button and a second analog stick. Metal Gear Solid 3 - Snake Eater can be played without those extensions and should sell for about 40 euros in stores. - Sapa-dpa