Holiday Gift Guide - Gravity Falls Legend of the Gnome Gemulets for 3DS

Gravity Falls: Legend of the Gnome Gemulets is adapted from Disney XD’s #1 series, "Gravity Falls.” In collaboration with the show’s creator and executive producer Alex Hirsh, a brand new and original adventure was created for the game and places players in a mysterious adventure to help Jeff the Gnome retrieve the ancient Gnome Gemulets and restore magic to the Gnome forest.

Players will play as both Dipper and Mabel Pines in dual character gameplay switching between characters at any time to use their unique powers and abilities given through the power of Gnome magic. Dipper is bestowed with Gnome Battle Cuffs which deliver powerful punches at close range, and keeps his trusty flashlight by his side to shed light on the many mysteries in Gravity Falls. Mabel wields the Fleece of Bezazzlementthat lets her whip her sweater sleeves to attack monsters from afar, and her grappling hook is at the ready to help access areas otherwise out of reach. Dipper and Mabel will complement one another as they will unravel a mystery to learn more about the inhabitants of Gravity Falls and unlock secrets of the town’s past.

Gravity Falls: Legend of the Gnome Gemulets is powered by the UbiArt Framework game engine and allows players to experience lush backgrounds and beautiful graphics. Players will explore favorite places from the show, such as the Mystery Shack and the Gnome Forest like never before.

For the latest information on Gravity Falls: Legend of the Gnome Gemulets, please visit: https://www.ubisoft.com/en-US/game/gravity-falls/

My Thoughts  


My kids really love the Gravity Falls television show, so they were super excited to test out the 3DS game. Legend of the Gnome Gemulets takes you on a adventure through Mystery Shack, the Gnome Forest, and lots of other mystical places. You can play as both Dipper and Mabel, which makes my kids happy, as you search for the clues to unlock the mysteries of Gravity Falls. The pair wander around the town asking the townspeople questions and trying to find the flying gnome. The 3D effects are cool, but my children do say that it hurts their eyes after a while (but this is true of all 3D games.) 

 While the game is very clever and fun, it was a little easy to beat. My tween finished the whole game in about three hours, and it's not too exciting to play again. For the price of the game, I'd like to see them be able to get a little more out of it. Nevertheless, fans of the show will still love to play.  It looks just like the cartoon and the mystery is interesting to solve. It just moves a little too fast.

JUMP INTO A BRAND-NEW SMURFING QUEST WITH THE SMURFS™ VIDEO GAME

The Smurfs™ is a brand-new video game featuring the famed blue creatures from the original comics beloved by children worldwide. Dive into the Smurfs’ universe and meet some of the most famous Smurfs, including Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Hefty Smurf and many more. Plus, encounter and defeat notorious villain Gargamel and his cat Azrael. Exclusively for Nintendo 3DS™, The Smurfs will be available on October 13 and will retail for $29.99 suggested retail price.

Chaos has erupted in the Smurfs’ village and Papa Smurf is counting on you to save the day. Upon returning from a walk in the woods, the Smurfs find their home mysteriously destroyed. Players must embark on a journey to help solve the mystery of who damaged their village, and help to rebuild it.

In The Smurfs, players are challenged in a variety of 12 mini-games and must collect resources such as wood, rocks and bricks from iconic locations such as Gargamel’s Laboratory to the deep forest surrounding the village. By sawing logs, nailing planks and piling bricks, players will have the ability to get creative and customize the Smurfs’ houses and village, creating the greatest village ever seen for Papa Smurf, Smurfette and all their friends.

Developed by Magic Pockets, all of the game’s mini-games are tailored for Nintendo 3DS. Taking full advantage of its features, players will play hide-and-seek using the Nintendo 3DS Stylus, pilot a plane through the woodland, organize music contests and create their very own recipes by tilting the Nintendo 3DS to mix ingredients and blow into the microphone to cool their preparations.

For more information about The Smurfs, please visit thesmurfsgame.com.

My Thoughts

 The Smurfs come alive for kids everywhere with this exciting new video game. My family received the 3DS version to try out, and they absolutely loved it. There are twelve different mini games to play and players can meet popular characters including, Hefty, Jokey, Brainey, Smurfette, and Papa Smurf. Throughout the game you get to build your own mushroom houses and create your own Smurf village.  In order to do this you have to collect your supplies from dangerous locations like Gargamel's Lab.

All my children had a great time with this game. The game is challenging without being overwhelming for grade school kids and the violence level is minimal, so it's a great choice for kids between the ages of five and ten. Any older than that, and they may find it too easy. Younger children will get frustrated. The graphics were fabulous. Watching them play from my seat was like watching a movie. The characters are adorable and very interactive. If your kids love The Smurfs, this video game is definitely worth the investment. 

 
If you are interested in purchasing The Smurfs for 3DS for your own family, it is available now in stores nationwide. You can also find the game on Amazon  in all formats for various prices.

Review: Gardening Mama 2 - Forest Friends for 3DS

In Gardening Mama 2: Forest Friends, players will grow 50+ sun-kissed flowers, fruits and vegetables that Mama’s animal pals can sell in their woodland shops. Help Bear’s Restaurant, Rabbit’s Flower Shop, Cat’s Beauty Shop and Squirrel’s Cake Shop thrive by fulfilling their requests and earning garden points. Trade in points for more than 100 fun decorations like fountains, pergolas and sculptures to create a lush paradise. Your forest friends will also reward you with shop tickets so you can buy new plant varieties to expand your garden. Use the stylus as your master gardening tool to plant these “living gifts,” then harvest beautiful hydrangeas, juicy watermelons and sizzling hot peppers! What’s more, players will also experience fun new activities that star Mama’s friends and family featured throughout franchise games.

Developed by Cooking Mama Limited, Gardening Mama 2: Forest Friends is rated E and available for the suggested retail price of $29.99.  A playable demo will be available for download soon from the Nintendo eShop. For additional information please visit the Mama franchise site at www.CookingMamaUS.com.





 Where to Buy

You can find Gardening Mama 2: Forest Friends at stores nationwide. Its also available on Amazon.

My Thoughts

Gardening Mama: Forest Friends is a great game for little girls with no violence and even some educational value. The game teaches kids all about gardening. Mama grows plants, vegetables, and flowers. Using the stylus, you water the plants, harvest them and even sell them at a virtual forest shop which is like a garden market. There are also lots of cute friends to visit, like Chef Bear and Florist Bunny. The more you play, the bigger your garden gets, with more decorations to make it your own.

There are lots of activities in the game. The ability to grow over fifty different plants is only the beginning. You can also create shrub art and bathe the animals.  The more you work, the more rewards you earn so you can buy even more fun things.

What I really love about this game is that it teaches my daughter about gardening. Since she started playing, she developed a serious interest in real gardening and has been helping with planting our spring seedlings. She's also showed more interest in supporting our local farmer's market. I think this makes this game a great choice for little girls and even tweens.

Holiday Gift Guide - Moshi Monsters: Katsuma Unleased for 3DS #KatsumaUnleashed

 ***Complimentary product received in exchange for an honest review***

It’s time for Katsuma to take the spotlight! We’re very excited to announce that Moshi Monsters^™: Katsuma Unleashed^™ – the newest game in the best-selling series for Nintendo 3DS^™ and Nintendo DS^™ – hits shelves nationwide on November 5, just in time for the holiday season! The new game is based on Moshi Monsters^™, the popular interactive online world with 70 million registered users worldwide!

A vibrant, side-scrolling, action-adventure platform game, Moshi Monsters: Katsuma Unleashed (3DS SRP $29.99; DS SRP $24.99) will bring fans of all ages into the Moshi Monsters world like never before. The non-stop action begins when Dr. Strangeglove, intent on his evil mission to learn the secret of Moshi Picchu, captures Elder Furi and all of the innocent Moshi Monsters – except Katsuma! As the most popular Moshi Monsters character, players embark on a far-reaching voyage, traveling through six new worlds packed with mini arcade challenges and epic boss battles. Katsuma must work to rescue his Moshi Monsters friends, so he can gain their unique powers – from Furi’s “Smash” to Diavlo’s “Flight” – to help him combat the enemies and keep the secret of Moshi Picchu safe! 

Moshi Monsters: Katsuma Unleashed is jam-packed with bonus content and includes hidden areas for players to unlock, plus exclusive codes that they can redeem to earn virtual items at www.MoshiMonsters.com. In addition, Nintendo 3DS Streetpass^™ users can search for interactive maps and special monster attack games that allow them to play as each Moshi Monsters character and enjoy their distinct set of “moves”! Here’s a special sneak peek trailer, so you can check out the new game in action!: http://www.katsumaunleashed.com/us/

Developed by UK-based studio Sumo Digital, Moshi Monsters: Katsuma Unleashed, follows on the “tail” of the first two hit Moshi Monsters Nintendo games, Moshling Zoo and Moshlings Theme Park. The game is rated E (Everyone) by the ESRB for Nintendo 3DS.

Where to Buy

You can find Moshi Monsters: Katsuma Unleased in stores nationwide an on Amazon.

My Thoughts

My son loved the original Moshi Monsters 3DS game, so he was really excited about trying this one out. We received limited edition collector's box that came with two action figures and some pretty cool pop up graphics. This is certainly an awesome way to make a presentation!

Katsuma Unleashed is a family friendly game that's rated E for everyone, but its geared toward children seven and older. It's playable in both 2D and 3D modes. The plot of the game revolves around fighting off Dr. Strangelove's evil robot moshlings. Katsuma must travel through six action packed worlds before the final standoff with the doctor himself. You'll travel through underground fortresses and fancy landscapes, fighting off bad guys and gathering diamonds. My son plays a lot of games but this game is one of my favorites because it reminds me a lot of Super Mario Brothers. There is minimal violence and it's challenging but not impossible for grade school kids. The characters are fun and engaging, the levels are interactive and the 3D graphics are really cool. The only downside is that its only single player. My son would've liked it even more if he could have played along with friends, but all in all, its still a great game.

 ***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***