First Impressions: Kid Icarus Uprising

I'm going to skip any pointless retrospectives regarding the Kid Icarus series' past this time around and instead cut straight to what they call the chase: Kid Icarus Uprising is without a shadow of a doubt single greatest game to see release on 3DS in the system's current one-year . This retro revival is witty, sharp, fast-paced, and most of all an absolutely gorgeous spectacle to behold. Angelic protagonist Pit's not-so-humble apologies seem just about unnecessary after experiencing the first set of chapters as well as the expansive multiplayer modes and extra content found jammed within what is without a hitch the biggest release on 3DS thus far. Quite simply, if you own Nintendo's latest handheld then one truth is clear: You need this game. And even though I've praised it thoroughly in this opening, I'm going to go into even more detail as to why 3DS owners should definitely purchase Pit's cartridge-based return to glory. Before that, though, I'd just like to announce something: I'm sorry to keep you waiting. I had a preview of the Kid Icarus Uprising well underway and set to be posted the day before the game's release, but that didn't happen by the time I received my copy and became absorbed in the enthralling experience it offered. So, I've decided to write a short but sweet First Impressions post to warm up your cockles for the main event: the review. Before that, though, let's begin with a quick look at Uprising's solo modes...

The main menu found in Uprising's small but mighty cartridge is drastically similar to that of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, giving off a feeling of pure Sakurai charm, and it's on this menu that you'll find two distinct modes: Solo and Together. Both are self-explanatory, but each house a lot more than you'd bargain for. The main bulk of Solo is Pit's quest, which in layman's terms sees the angel returning after 25 years to take down the revived lord of the Underworld Medusa, but a dash of complexity here and a heap of amazing plot twists there the plotline becomes much more than that, without spoiling anything. Pit's not on his own, however, as the Goddess of Light, Palutena, acts as his guide throughout most of the game. Throughout every single chapter there's a large amount of dialogue that can't be described as anything other than absolutely hilarious, without being to cheesy or at all annoying. This bickering and other forms of vocal exchange (including sexual innuendo, bad jokes, jaw-dropping puns, references to other Nintendo titles and some incredible fourth-wall breaking) could've partially broken the game, because it's heard the majority of the time throughout the nine chapters I've played so far. Luckily, Sakurai's crew at Project Sora picked the perfect voice cast, with Pit himself being likeable but rather clueless with his voice reflecting that. Despite the humour, the game still continues to retain a sense of epic scale, marking a fitting return for the original NES game's heroes and villains alike. The visuals are also reflect this epic scale - I won't go into detail until the review, but I can say that while it may not be the most detailed graphically, Kid Icarus: Uprising might just be the most beautiful game to have ever sprouted from any of Nintendo's branches, especially when you flick that 3D slider up. Oh, and the music - Words can't even describe the catchyness of some of tunes I've heard so far, and this incredible tunage looks to sound even better from here onwards.

Of course, the immense production values and ridiculous amount of content found within Kid Icarus: Uprising is only the icing on a very delicious cake - the gameplay itself used to bake the main bulk of which. One big aspect of the game you lot who haven't yet played the game probably want to hear about is the controls, of which many reviewers have been doing anything other than praising. Despite all the effort put into the game, despite all the content, all the gorgeous art and tremendous production values, review scores as low as 4/10 have been 'awarded' to this release because of one reason - you guessed it: the controls. However, you've got to keep one thing in mind about so-called professional games journalists, and that happens to be the fact they're very busy people. They don't have time to go into options screens to adjust controls to their liking, and instead judge games based off the default settings, which even I will admit are fairly poor. However, with some adjustments (namely, an increase in horizontal reticule speed on both Land and Air Battles as well as an increase in stopping speed on the former) they worked perfectly. It is a fundamental flaw that they got the default settings wrong, at least from my and many others' perspectives, but with the adjustments I mentioned they work like an absolute charm, and many who own the game seem to agree with yours truly more than a lot of the press. Don't expect me to be giving this game anything less than a great score when it comes to the reviewing process. As for the gameplay of Pit's quest, I'll also leave that for the review. Got to have something to write when the time comes, right?

Finally, we're brought to the multiplayer aspect of Kid Icarus: Uprising. Of course, the development of this game has been lead by none other than a certain Mr. Sakurai, the same guy who created Super Smash Bros. That alone is enough to say that Uprising is great fun with your friends, or even with computer-controlled bots (all of which have randomised names based on characters and creations from Nintendo lore, which is pretty awesome to say the least). Action is fast-paced and frantic, packed with Dragonball-style action (that means enormous explosions and mega lasers all over the place, folks) that never holds up, while still being perfectly playable. The framerate does indeed play up on odd occassions while playing with other players across the world, but never enough to halt your experience. There's two game modes found in Uprising's multiplayer: Light vs. Dark and an every man for himself Free-for-All. The latter is self-explanatory but still extremely enjoyable, while the former is a lot more interesting. Two teams of three players are tasked with defeating the opposing team's angel, who appears when a team's life gauge is fully depleted through a number of defeats (the life gauge decreases more rapidly depending on the value of a defeated player's weapon, but more on that in the review). The team who defeats the opposing team's angel achieves victory - It couldn't be simpler, but it's still very fun. Overall, the multiplayer mode is even more icing on the aforementioned delectable cake that is Kid Icarus: Uprising. For now, you lot can look forward to my review of the game which will be posted here on the blog in the coming months, but for now please take my word that this is an absolutely amazing achievement in more ways than one for Sakurai, Sora and Nintendo. Next up on the blog is my oh-so special 100th post, so be sure to look forward to that, drop some comments here if you wish and stay tuned in for more on Kid Icarus: Uprising!

Update: The Big 100th Post and Other Incoming Pieces

Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come. No, the world hasn't come to an end just yet, please continue to write off all that silly speculation as insanity for the time being. Anyway, the purpose of this update post is to divert your attention in the direction of an oncoming storm. A very positive oncoming storm, that is. While every post on this blog is a celebration (apologies for the grating cheesyness of the latter nine words) there's little that could be more important than the big 100. As it stands, this is the 98th published post here on the blog, so in little time you'll be seeing the post-count of this one-man publication reaching triple digits, in turn answering the question: What could possibly be the 100th post here on the blog? I'll let out some clues for now to leave you readers guessing until the piece is finally posted later on in the month, shall I? First off, it'll be a review, as per usual of a game. A very important and rather massive game, to say the least. No, it's not the latest Legend of Zelda epic, Skyward Sword, as that wouldn't really be a surprise considering the fact I've already announced that in a previous update. It's a game that I've referenced many a time in quite a few pieces since I first started up this site, just as the game itself references a lot of other source material. If I've still left you guessing at this point, please take my apologies - I won't be dropping any more clue bombs until the review itself is posted. What I will be revealing is other, less secretive posts I'm working on at the moment, many of which are almost finished. Now that's some good news after the decrease in a post count the past three months...

I'll admit it here and now: Countdowns have taken a long while to finish of late. I promised I'd have my Top Ten Most Anticipated Games of 2012 posted before January ended, and frustratingly I couldn't find the time to finish it until the latter days of February almost a month later. Not only that, but the piece was so unexpectedly lengthy that it took two posts to be neatly packed up and published. I guess I've just got too good at writing, right guys? Exactly. Anyway, the point I'm trying to make here is that, if I don't want to burn myself out too much, I should take time on longer posts like that and several other countdowns I've promised of late if I want to keep producing shorter, sweeter pieces and a faster pace. The last two months are more than a good excuse to do this, and if you want even more evidence then let's put things into perspective for a moment: the Tekken 3D Prime Edition Preview, posted last month, took under a day to write and proof-read, and that was a pretty high quality piece if I do say so myself. With that in mind, surely you'd like to see a higher rate of posting here on the blog, as would I. So, as of now, the Top Ten Personal Favourite Games list that I promised in the last update I wrote will not have any kind of deadline. Hopefully by doing this, I'll be back to finishing four or five sweet pieces of journalism posted every month, some of which will indeed be bigger than others. Moving onwards, I'll reveal the upcoming posts you probably don't know about that I mentioned earlier before writing about a completely different subject. Thankfully my more important posts aren't this convoluted.

Naked Snake likes to describe his food as 'tasty'. I like to describe his game as more than that: absolutely friggin' incredible. Expect a review sometime in the future

In the last update I wrote up, I mentioned that I've got a number of reviews in the works that haven't yet been posted. Well, those reviews are still very much in the works, or haven't been started yet. Aside from the top secret piece mentioned at the start of this update, I've oddly and surprisingly not got many other reviews planned. You'll still be seeing the likes of Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7, Kingdom Hearts 2 and Persona 4 reviewed in the next set of months, but other than the possibility of a few surprises thrown in for good measure, not a whole lot else. However, before I forget, I have been playing through the fantastic Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (the original PS2 version, not the recent 3DS re-hash) and I'll definitely be writing a review of that at some point in the future, albeit not before the aforementioned posts I've got in the works. The main bulk of any new announcements this month enters this update in the form of general gaming-related pieces; Previews, my opinion of some demos, and various other things. Tomorrow, you'll be seeing a preview/rant based around Kid Icarus: Uprising, the re-incarnation of the classic 80's series left long in the shadows, only to be brought back to life by Masahiro Sakurai twice over (the first time in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and second with this stellar-looking 3DS release). So, what could I possibly be ranting about? I think it's quite obvious: the critics' general response to the control system of the game. I'll leave anything about that until the actual post, mind. Moving on, following my 100th post I've also got a journalistic look at the seemingly excellent Rhythm Thief and the Emperor's Treasure, a rather fun demo of which was recently released on the 3DS' eShop free of charge. I'm sure everyone else who has tried out the demo will agree that this rhythm action-meets-Professor Layton experience will be a strong 3DS title when it's released. Other than that, you can also expect the usual straight off the top of my head gaming banter, hopefully keeping that dipping post count up for once. Like the last update, I'll also be signing off with a quick list of what's to come for all you lazy people out there. Later, readers!

Upcoming Posts Round-Up (Post-22/03/2012)
Mystery Review (100th Post)
Preview: Kid Icarus: Uprising
Preview: Rhythm Thief and the Emperor's Treasure
Review: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Feature: My Top Ten Most Anticipated Games of 2012 [Part 2: 5-1]

Continuing on from part one, we've now reached the top five in this list of my most anticipated games to see release in the to-be great year for gaming that is 2012. Without further delay, let's get down to business, shall we?

5. Resident Evil: Revelations
If you read my massive preview of Resident Evil: Revelations last month, you'll most certainly be aware of the fact that I'm looking forward to the title with piqued interest. By now, of course, the game will have been released for quite a while and I'm probably blasting T-Abyss virus infected mutants as you read this. Damn these posts and how painstakingly long they take to write! Still, at the time of writing at least, the game is yet to be released and I'm still essentially still looking forward to it, and if you don't know why, you should probably read my aforementioned preview! I won't leave this section of this post at that, of course. Revelations, as I've mentioned time and time again, is set to be less of a spin-off and more of a rival to the rest of the main series instalments, despite the fact that it is to be released on the dinky little handheld we know as the 3DS, and not its beefier home console cousins. Baffling as the prospect of what is essentially the next big Resident Evil release being showcased on the 3DS only is, it still looks absolutely fantastic.

I'm not saying Resident Evil: Revelations rival Capcom's crowning achievement, that being the series' fourth main installment, or even the next big release after Revelations that will enter shop shelves in the form of Resident Evil 6 this November, but keeping an open mind this game looks to be one of the best to hit the 3DS yet. It's received many stellar reviews, more often than not over the 90/100 or 9/10 mark depending on the publication. A much less convoluted plot is said to be found in the title, making it a more engaging experience than past Resident Evil games. I'd note that this story-line has been conceived by none other than the creator of popular anime Bleach, which may have apparently gone down the gutter lately, but if reviews are anything to go by the man certainly hasn't messed Resident Evil lore up with this release. Obviously though, story isn't everything. The gameplay aspects of Revelations are also apparently great, building on last year's The Mercenaries 3D and refining it so the experience is much less... broken, let's say, than that title. Before I waffle on for too much longer, I'm going to wrap up this segment by saying once again that you should check out my preview of Resident Evil: Revelations, as there's not really anything to say about this release here that hasn't been said in that post. Call me lazy, but this is how I roll. Moving on, swiftly...

4. Kid Icarus: Uprising

As crazy as the prospect is, the spectacular 3D return of Pit, the angelic hero of Kid Icarus fame, was the first thing we ever saw related to the Nintendo 3DS. Not to mention the fact that, when it was first unveiled alongside the glorious new system back at E3 2010, it looked pretty far into the development process. Yet here we are, almost two years later, and the game still hasn't seen release. Thankfully, that fact will have changed soon, as Kid Icarus: Uprising will be available to buy here in the UK on the 23rd of March, and I can happily inform you readers that I'm pretty damn excited for it. So excited, in fact, that the game has risen up to number 4 spot on this list. It's clear that the head of Uprising's development, Masahiro Sakurai of Super Smash Bros. fame, has put a lot of time and effort into making the game that marks the return of an age-old Nintendo superstar (yet a rather young one in truth) the best it can possibly be, and we'll find out very soon if his efforts have been successful. After hiding in the shadows since the NES and Game Boy era, Kid Icarus himself, the childish albeit brash Pit, is set to make his return in the form of what has looked like Sin and Punishment with on-foot sections this past year and a half-or-so. Despite these initial impressions, however, Uprising looks to be much more than many of us will have expected. It's become clear over the past few weeks that this game is very Sakurai, and if you don't know what I mean by that, please allow me to explain further...

From a content perspective, Kid Icarus' spectacular-looking reboot has been described as jam packed with things to do, much like the Smash Bros. games before it. It's not difficult to see that Nintendo's next big 3DS release has been curated by the head of development of the most content-stuffed game ever created thus far (Smash Bros. Brawl, in case you're wondering). In Uprising you'll find a single-player campaign mode which has you soaring through the skies in on-rails shooter meets third-person action segments and beating the pulp out of Medusa's army on-foot, more so than the time you'll be spending above-ground. With this in mind, no player should mistake Pit's modern debut for a Sin and Punishment game in a Kid Icarus shell, because the main bulk of the game is apparently anything but (I'm not having a go at Sin and Punishment, by the way). More exciting is the fact that the solo mode is apparently rather expansive, not only due to the welcome longevity of it (something many have had doubts about until this point) but also the clever Fiend's Cauldron, which has you increasing the 'intensity' of the game's difficulty on the fly when replaying sections of the game you've already conquered. The more intense you make your session, the more valuable the rewards you receive afterwards; and this is where Uprising's weapons system comes into play. Nine catagories of weapons house countless tools for use in both the game's single-player mode and multiplayer, each of which has a unique design and its own statistics. Throw in weapon fusion, achievements, the aforementioned multiplayer options which I haven't had the space to talk about alongside many other things, and we've certainly got a sky-high winner on our hands with Kid Icarus: Uprising. What could I possibly be more excited about?

3. Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle

I'll admit it here and now: Professor Layton and the Spectre's Call, the top-hatted gentleman's most recent release here in the UK, was a total disappointment after the awe-inspiring Lost Future. It's not to say it was a bad game by any means, but the lack of anything new, a slightly less clever story than past series instalments as well as the exclusion of the 100+ hour bonus mode that Japanese and American gamers got their hands on with their versions of the release, made for what was far from the best game in the series (although not the worst). However, the frustrating lack of anything new found in the fourth Layton release certainly isn't going to be what we'll be seeing with Mask of Miracle, the fifth instalment in the much-loved puzzling series of handheld adventures. The reason why this game will be undeniably fresh is rather obvious; This will be the first Layton game we'll ever see on a system other than the DS where the series began to grow its roots and up until this point has housed every game in the series. Improved graphics, more possibilities for puzzle solving thanks to the features of the hardware as well as many other things look to make Mask of Miracle anything but a disappointment.

Of course, one main factor none of us can be sure about that could either make or break a Layton title is the plot, which was the main setback for the fourth instalment in my opinion. As ever, Mask of Miracle has already been released in Japan, so gamers over in that region should already be familiar with what happens in the game story-wise, but here in English-speaking regions, that knowledge is once again absent for now. All we know is that the plot is based around a mysterious mask with the ability to turn others into stone, possibly among other powers. Naturally, there should be a perfectly logical reason behind everything, and it's up to the Professor to uncover the mystery with his two companions; a slightly more experienced Luke Triton than his first chronological appearance, as well as Emmy Altava who also gratefully returns from The Spectre's Call. Mask of Miracle will also feature flashbacks into the Professor's past, a-la Lost Future, albeit much earlier on than when the man met the love of his life. The game is set to explore Layton's college years, in which he explores an ancient cavern with his mate Lando (no, not the backstabbing guy from Star Wars). Surely, these flashbacks will be plot-relevant as they were in the current best game in the series, and it'll be nothing but enthralling to see even more character development for the gentlemanly Professor. Also, did I mention the younger Layton has an afro-esque cut? This will be perfection in the form of a cartridge, folks. Moving on to the penultimate game on this list...

Feature: My Top Ten Most Anticipated Games of 2012 [Part 1: 10-6]

It's already been established that 2012 is going to be a massive year for gaming, at least from a Nintendo fan's point of view. After ranting on about last year rather ridiculously in a recent update post, you'll probably know that I thought of 2011 as a slight disappointment when it comes to the medium I write about. While my comments were of a slightly over-emphasised nature, I still stand by them despite a number of potentially celebratory gaming-related events such as the launch of the 3DS and the Electronic Entertainment Expo taking place in those twelve months, and we all know how well those went. In case you couldn't tell, that last sentence consisted mainly of sarcasm. Let's not dwell on the past, though, back to the present and the oh-so bright future. Well, after I reminisce a section of my blog's past at least. Back in 2010, the year I launched this so-called writing career or whatever you want to call it, one of the first posts I ever worked on as well as my first ever post under the label 'Feature' was unleashed from my pre-experienced journalistic mind. This feature took a look at the top ten games I was anticipating a fair bit set to be released sometime that year, hence the title of the post: My Top Ten Most Anticipated Games of 2010. Of course, that was two years ago. What made that post ever so special (aside from the factors I mentioned a few sentences back) was the fact that 2010 marked a new decade of gaming. The beginning 2012, while not the start of anything other than a new year, happens to be exactly what I established it to be at the start of this post: A massive year for gaming.

Naturally, after repeating the same feature one year later back in 2011, I've decided that it would be nothing but compulsary to write a 2012 edition of the games I'm most looking forward to that are scheduled for or are likely to be released within the next twelve months. Before I begin I should note that a number of rules apply to this list. First off, I've been thinking a lot about incorporating journalism based around gaming outside of Nintendo onto the blog, but that will not start here, meaning that this post is based solely around games found on Nintendo consoles (multiplatform titles still count, mind). The second rule is rather obvious, but I'll still point it out regardless; Games confirmed to be in the works such as No More Heroes 3 and Pikmin 3 that haven't had any footage or screenshots related to the game shown-off are excluded from this list, however much I am looking forward to Suda's next masterpiece and Nintendo's upcoming greats. Now that these two rules are out of the way, I can hardly wait to begin. Welcome to the 2012 edition of My Top Ten Most Anticipated Games of the year. Some sacrifices had to be made (Tekken 3D Prime Edition and MH3G in case you're wondering), but ultimately these are then ten games I'm most looking forward to that are set to be released in the next 12 months. Let's get started, shall we?

10. Luigi's Mansion 2
We begin this list with the 3DS follow-up to a Gamecube title that I'm to this day rather disappointed at myself for missing out on. Countless games, new and old, have left Luigi's Mansion in the shadows where it surely won't be purchased by yours truly for a while, which is a shame because it's a game that has mostly received a fair amount of praise from those who have played it. Based around the interesting gameplay quirk of Mario's less chubby brother Luigi being scared out of his dungarees (not literally, that would be disgusting), the Gamecube's undeniable ultimate launch title involved the scaredy-cat plumber setting out on a short but sweet mission to rescue his brother from a mansion with the help of a titular device known as the Poltergust 3000. Why would he need this ridiculous excuse for a modified vacuum cleaner, you ask? Quite simply, because the mansion is filled with dastardly ghosts and other such 'horrors' that Luigi had to face up to and engage in some professional ghost bustin'. The quirky gameplay mechanics were undeniably original and some of the most celebrated aspects of Luigi's Mansion, but despite the game being liked by many, praise isn't the only form of feedback the title received. Sub-par graphics and a disappointingly short story with next to no incentive to be replayed held the game back, and if you're not a fan of its gameplay you're undeniably not going to like the Luigi's Mansion at all.

Luckily, with the help of a small Canadian development team, Nintendo are set to impress with the totally unexpected and superior-sounding sequel to the title that kick-started the Gamecube with a mediocre bang, which we saw announced at last years E3 conference. We haven't seen much of Luigi's Mansion 2 since that event, but when Reggie Fils-Aime talked of a much-increased quantity of game time before the player will reach the end credits, after conquering not one, but several mansions, not forgetting apparently astounding 3D visuals that seem perfectly suited to the new 3DS sequel, Nintendo and their Canadian chums look to right the supposed wrongs that the original game set in stone. I may not have played Luigi's Mansion, but I'm definitely looking forward to Luigi's Mansion 2 with high levels of anticipation.

9. Beyond the Labyrinth
At the number 9 spot on this list of piqued anticipation, we find what is most definitely the quirkiest and most obscure game of all ten of these titles, and you'll discover why in a moment. At its core, this game is a dungeon crawler. You know, those boring games in which you trawl around a generic, block-based dungeon and fight un-animated baddies for general RPG-style reward reaping? The DS had a fair few of these titles released for only a select few; those who are fans of randomly generated, albeit rather unexciting dungeon exploration. I seem to be wailing on dungeon crawlers a lot, despite my RPG loving roots, but there's no denying that most of the time these games aren't exactly masterpieces. The game that takes the numero nueve spot on this list, however, looks to change that sad but true fact. Some might say it even goes 'Beyond' what we've ever seen before in a dungeon-crawling game. Beyond the Labyrinth is a 3DS game in which you explore a floor-based dungeon doing the usual levelling-up, fighting enemies and discovering hidden treasure chests and other such standardised malarkey found in most other games of this ilk. However, this game has a fair few tricks up its sleeve - the first of which being the fact that, quite simply, it looks absolutely gorgeous. The locales you find yourself in while delving deeper into the labyrinth are far away from ordinary dungeon-crawler fare, and instead opt for some truly beautiful areas in both a graphical and artistic sense. And of course, there's no need to mention that the game is fully 3D, which can only make things even more immersive.

Also unique about Beyond the Labyrinth aside from its amazing visuals is the character that accompanies your seemingly invisible, and personality-lacking party of four: A young girl called, well, whatever you want to call her. Naming isn't the only element of customisation surrounding this character, either, as you can also fully customise her clothing to an incredible extent through drawing on the touch screen. The biggest push to make Beyond the Labyrinth more enjoyable than its predecessors, however, is the girl's personality. She accompanies your party with truly brilliant animations displaying her sheer amazement at the locations you find yourself in, as well as voice acting, another key thing your team lacks. This alone looks to inject oh-so much more human characterisation into the game, making it much more interesting than text-based RPGs of the past. There's no denying that Beyond the Labyrinth could change the dying face of dungeon-crawlers, and it'd be a real shame if the game wasn't released here in the UK.

8. Animal Crossing 3DS
Moving onwards, we find ourselves arriving at the number eight spot with a game that is undeniably going to see release in the UK, unlike the title you just read about. And, much like the game at the number ten spot on this list, I've never played any of its predecessors. It looks like Animal Crossing's 3DS debut will be the first game I buy from the acclaimed, yet boycotted life-sim series. Every time a new Animal Crossing game is released, people do little other than complain because apparently they tend to suffer from a lack of changes from past titles. The series' most recent instalment, Wii's Let's Go to the City, seemed to receive the most complaints as it was described as virtually identical to its predecessors, with the only new additions being the universally hated Animal Tracks mode and a minuscule city location. Luckily, the Animal Crossing title we'll see on 3DS later this year looks to actually make some drastic changes from previous releases, while still keeping the same core structure the series is known for.

For those who aren't aware, Animal Crossing is usually based around the idea of moving into a small village populated by numerous crazy personalities portrayed by cartoony humanoid animals. It sounds mad, but the main thing that sucks people into these games is just how plain addictive they are. If you don't check up on your town everyone once in a while, flowers will die out, your neighbours will get frustrated with you, you'll need to catch up on paying the rent, and so on and so forth. This basic concept is retained in Animal Crossing 3DS, but a bunch of new elements and refinements have been introduced in the process. This game was pretty much made for SpotPass and StreetPass, and it seems Nintendo have realised that fact and have implemented various features making use of these tools. Naturally, with SpotPass, downloadable content will be downloaded straight to your 3DS as long as you have your system connected to the Internet. On the StreetPass side of things, other 3DS users who play the game that you come across via the feature will appear in a number of special households in your game, so you can check out their fancy items and such, which is a neat addition. Throw in the standardised Nintendo-based items and easter eggs, life-stealing gameplay and righteous customisation options of past Animal Crossing games, and this release will surely be a bite-size winner - not to mention an opportunity for me to finally get into the series.