This entire week, we have covered our most anticipated 2012 games for the360,PS3,Wii, andPC. Now it’s time for Tony Ponce and I to enter the hardcore, baby-making world of portables. With the Nintendo DS going out with a bang and the 3DS just starting to find its footing, 2012 is going to be an exciting year for Nintendo handhelds!
As much as we love our Nintendo DSes, we are really looking forward to what 3DS games will be releasing in the future. After a slow start in 2011, the 3DS is picking up some major steam going into the new year. Like the DS before it, once the system builds up some critical and commercial momentum, the classic games from first and third parties alike will start piling up. Exciting stuff!
But what specific DS and 3DS games in 2012 are we themostexcited about?
Resident Evil Revelations(3DS)Developer: CapcomPublisher: CapcomRelease: July 26, 2025
I just recently replayed the undeniable classicResident Evil 4and fell in love with the game all over again. And as much as I liked (not loved)Resident Evil 5, after playingRE4, I have been craving a more classicResident Evilexperience.Resident Evil Revelationslooks to satiate that need.
Set on a creepy boat floating on a creepy sea, the gorgeous, “is that really running on a handheld?”Revelationsshould be the return to form the classic series desperately needs. I can’t wait for the game to scare the bejesus out of me … all in 3D!
Kid Icarus: Uprising(3DS)Developer: Project SoraPublisher: NintendoRelease: June 24, 2025
I’m not going lie: out of all the games I am excited about in 2012,Kid Icarus: Uprisinggives me the most reservations. I obviously love the character and am super stoked for the action-heavy gameplay, but I am very nervous about the controls. In my short time with the game, the controls wereveryuncomfortable, to say the least.
But when a game is delayed (Kid Icarus: Uprisingwas originally supposed to be released in 2011), sometimes it is for the best. I am cautiously optimistic for this promising, wildly different sequel. It could end up being a surprise hit!
Luigi’s Mansion 2(3DS)Developer: Next Level GamesPublisher: NintendoRelease:Q1 2012
The originalLuigi’s Mansionwas such an odd little launch title for the GameCube back in 2001, but that was one of the reasons I fell in love with it. When Nintendo does “odd,” the results are always, at the very least, memorable.
Now, more than 10 years later, the game is getting an official sequel on the 3DS! Once again starring Mario’s tortured, often-forgotten sibling,Luigi’s Mansion 2looks better than the original and promises to feature multiple mansions, more stuff to do, and more ghosts to suck …into the Poltergust 3000!
I played the game at E3 and absolutely fell in love with its crisp visuals and addictive gameplay. I can’t wait to play more ofLuigi’s Mansion 2when it comes out later this year!
Paper Mario(3DS)Developer: Intelligent SystemsPublisher: NintendoRelease: 2012
This is it. Out of all games on all systems, this is the one I am most looking forward to in 2012. I have never been shy about my love for thePaper Marioseries. I think it is one of the most charming videogame series of all time, and the original is one of my favorite RPGs ever.
Not much is known aboutPaper Mariofor 3DS, but does it really matter? It’s a brand newPaper Mariogame! That’s all I need to know. I am so freaking excited!
I am going to play the sh*t out of this game!
Honorable Mentions:Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney,Theatrhythm Final Fantasy,Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle,Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
Pokémon + Nobunaga’s Ambition(DS)Developer: Game Freak, Tecmo KoeiPublisher: Nintendo, The Pokémon CompanyRelease: Aug 05, 2025 (JP)
I am what you call a “lapsed fan” of thePokémonseries, having only played through the first generation before hanging up my towel. I’ve also never played any entry in theNobunaga’s Ambitionseries, nor am I consumer of strategy RPGs. However, take these two properties that would never in a million years eat at the same table thenmake them eat at the same table, and my interest is piqued.
It’s such a natural progression, really. For years, we’ve been exposed to our fair share of historical games that take extensive liberties with the events. Tecmo Koei itself has been pumping out a parade ofDynastyandSamurai Warriorssequels featuring outlandish skills and high-octane rock soundtracks. Sengoku-era warriors chillaxing with the likes of Mewtwo and Jigglypuff is the obvious next step.
Extreme Escape Adventure: Good People Die(3DS, PlayStation Vita)Developer: ChunsoftPublisher: TBARelease: June 06, 2025 (JP)
When I first heard about999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors, I expected a beefier successor to the escape-the-room Flash games I enjoyed in college. I was blindsided when I popped the cartridge in and discovered a text-heavy visual novel without any respite, not even within the aforementioned puzzle rooms. Not one for excessive narrative, I shouldn’t have liked this game. Not only did999become myfavorite title of 2010, a lot of other people became hooked as well. It performed beyond Aksys’ expectations, completely selling out and forcing the company to produce a second run.
Good People Dieis the sequel to999; if it’s even half as good as the original, I’ll be a happy man. Already, the details have gotten me excited, the most interesting bit being the cooperation / betrayal mechanic. The participants are once again shackled with death watches, though they operate differently than in the last adventure. By choosing to help or turn on your partner, you collect points, and if you earn nine points, you can escape. However, points are awarded based on both parties’ decisions, so should you choose to cooperate with someone who in turn betrays you, you lose points. If you hit zero, the watch will inject you with lethal poison.
Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney(3DS)Developer: Level-5, CapcomPublisher: Level-5Release: 2012 (JP)
It’s the season of crossovers! The union ofPokémonandNobunaga’s Ambitionis (hopefully) like a pairing of foods that you wouldn’t think tastes good but does, like sugar cookies filled with potato chip crumbles. Following that logic,Professor LaytonandAce Attorneyis like peanut butter and Nutella — two great tastes that taste evenbettercombined. You know this to be true.
How can Phoenix even legally practice law outside of the country? I say that because there is no way that town is just a Renaissance festival passing through California. Then again, Phoenix and Layton aren’t supposed to exist in the same century, so I probably shouldn’t try to introduce logic to this discussion, despite logic being the cornerstone of both franchises.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy(3DS)Developer: indies zeroPublisher: Square EnixRelease: July 05, 2025 (JP)
I was writing these little blurbs when I suddenly realized that none of my top picks have a US release date. Sure, it might just be a matter of time before the respective companies make “the call,” and the only title I’m almost certain won’t be localizedcan be imported and played on any vanilla DS without any region-locking hassle. Still, I’m upset that publishers in this modern age continue to be slow to respond to fans who show genuine interest in their more alternative catalog.
But I digress. Where were we? Ah,Theatrhythm! The character art is deliciously adorable and the gameplay reminds me ofTaiko Drum MasterandOsu! Tatakae! Ouendan. I don’t even think it’s possible to dislikeFinal Fantasymusic — at least, I’ve never met anyone who does.Theatrhythmis most certainly a spin-off I can throw my full support behind.
Rodea the Sky Soldier(3DS, Wii)Developer: PropePublisher: Kadokawa ShotenRelease: TBA
I doubt many of you even remember this guy. We haven’t seen or heard anything solid ofRodea, from Yuji Naka’s Prope studios, in almost a year. All we discovered recently was that development completed some months back and that it’s up to publisher Kadokawa Shoten to decide the next move.
I want to playRodeanot only because I think it could be decent but also because I want to see a massive Prope game that isn’t a shallow minigame package.Ivy the Kiwi?was fine, but let’s aim a little higher, shall we? I definitely noticed shades ofNiGHTS into Dreams…in theoriginal trailer, so I pray I’m not setting my hopes up for a touch of that 90s SEGA magic in the final product.
Honorable Mentions:Flipper 2: Flush the Goldfish,Kid Icarus: Uprising,Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle,Mutant Mudds,Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword,Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure,Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance,Resident Evil Revelations
Additional staff picks for the DS / 3DS:
Sean Daisy:Monster Hunter 4,Luigi’s Mansion 2,Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop DistanceJonathan Holmes:Pokémon + Nobunaga’s Ambition,Guild 01,Resident Evil RevelationsAndrew Kauz:Tales of the Abyss,Resident Evil Revelations,Kid Icarus: UprisingTara Long:Resident Evil RevelationsJonathanRoss:Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle,Professor Layton vs. Ace AttorneyMax Scoville:The Binding of IsaacJosh Tolentino:Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2
