Games on the go: the best of the 3DS

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Author: Will Westwater

These last few weeks have been crushing for the gamer side of me. I have been in rehearsals for hours and haven’t had the chance to play many games in the comfort of my dorm. In times like these I have my portable consoles to…console me. That way, be it backstage or in the dressing room, I find gaming solace in the midst of rehearsals and performances for “The Drowsy Chaperone” in Keck theater.

Disclosure: part of today’s column is an obvious ploy to get you all to come to the musical, and the other part to inform you of my current go-to Nintendo 3DS games.

1. “BOXBOY!”

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In this title I played as Qbby, a cute, little black and white box with dots for eyes and stick legs who multiplies his boxy self to solve puzzles and traverse obstacles. “BOXBOY!” is easy to learn quickly. Unfortunately, “BOXBOY!” is not as challenging as I would have liked, but it is a well designed puzzle game for only $4.99 on the Nintendo eShop.

Generous checkpoints and short levels keep “BOXBOY!” easy to play in quick bursts—perfect for waiting in line to buy tickets for your favorite musical.

2. “Fire Emblem: Awakening”

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Intelligent Systems’ award-winning turn-based strategy game is a handheld must-have. Strategic gameplay coupled with a focus on story and character development sets “Fire Emblem” apart from other turn-based games. You and your group of heroes fight to protect the kingdom of Ylisse against the risen and soldiers from the enemy nation Plegia. The game is like chess, if each piece was an individual character with a backstory, skill sets and gear.

“Fire Emblem” is more complicated than “BOXBOY!” but still grants plenty of save points allowing you to stop playing when it is your turn to be seated at your favorite musical.

3. “Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon”

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Downtime in a dark theater is perfectly complemented by ghost hunting, and that is just what you can do in “Luigi’s Mansion.” Stunning and vacuuming multiple ghosts with Luigi’s upgradable flashlight/vacuum the “Poltergust 5000” while dodging the random books or punches they throw makes me look forward to every interaction with the paranormal. The incredibly detailed and interactive mansion makes it a joy to explore multiple times as your newfound gear and upgrades unlock more sections of the game world. In addition, it is one of the best looking games (2D or 3D) on the 3DS.

Not as stop-and-play friendly as “Fire Emblem” or “BOXBOY!,” “Luigi’s Mansion” saves only at the end of the chapter, but the 3DS’s sleep feature allows you to close your console for long enough to enjoy your favorite musical, “The Drowsy Chaperone.”

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