DIGITAL EDITION
September/October 2017 $6.99 USA $8.99 CANADA
Super Mario Odyssey and characters represented are © & ™ of Nintendo.
Table of Contents 12 4
15
16
17
18
20
22
24
Our Mission Statement
Little Player Magazine’s mission is to provide a safe, fun and advertising-free reading experience that parents can feel good about giving to their kids. We also want to inspire and teach kids to make good gaming choices and play what is appropriate for their age group. We only cover and review games that are rated EC, E, and E10+ to ensure that young children are not exposed to content meant for teens or mature audiences. 2 Little Player Magazine
DIGITAL EDITION
Why I will never stop playing Super Mario games... It all began in 1986 when I found a Nintendo VS. arcade game featuring the original Super Mario Bros. at the mall near my dad’s house. I put in a quarter simply because I recognized Mario from Donkey Kong and Mario Bros. I was instantly hooked! That summer I spent my entire allowance on beating the game that had become my favorite past time. Super Mario Bros. was actually the main reason I begged my parents for an NES when they finally became available later that year! Fast forward to 2017 and I’ve played every single Super Mario game released on a Nintendo system to date. There is an unmatched charm and a real magic to the Super Mario series. Young players can enjoy these games as much as older players. I am happy to say that Super Mario Odyssey is following in the footsteps of its predecesors. The game is an absolute joy to play or even just watch someone else play! I am so excited about the potential of this game to ignite the passion of playing console games in younger players! If you have a Switch, Super Mario Odyssey is a must have. If you don’t have a Switch yet, this is the best reason to get one this Holiday season!
Martin Alessi Publisher / EIC
little player
®
Video Game Magazine for Kids A Massive Impact, Inc. Periodical ISSN 2572-6145 (Print) ISSN 2572-6153 (Online)
Sept./Oct. 2017, Issue 9 1st Printing
Publishers Martin Alessi & Shelly Alessi Editor-in-Chief / Creative Director Martin Alessi Managing Editor Shelly Alessi Senior Editor / Content Director Jason Kaplan Associate Editor Nathan Alessi Junior Editors Isabella Ocampo, Brody Patterson Hannah Friedman, Aiden Friedman Contributing Editors Todd Friedman, Tim Wilkus Copy Editor Jenny Kaplan Industry Correspondant Patrick Scott Patterson Art Director / 3D Artist Allen Forbes Illustration Artist Thor Thorvaldson Video Capture Technician Pete Hahn Creative Consultant David Ray Siller Legal Counsel Erich G. Monzon
__________________________ © Copyright 2017, Massive Impact, Inc. All rights reserved. Little Player is published bi-monthly by Massive Impact, Inc., P.O. Box 512, Wheeling IL 60090. Subscriptions are 6 issues for $24.99. Please allow 6-8 weeks before receiving your first issue as well as any subscription changes on an existing account. Little Player is a registered trademark of Massive Impact, Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means without express written permission of Massive Impact, Inc. Trademark and copyright for all other products and characters contained therein are owned by the respective trademark and copyright owners. For permisson to reuse material from our publication or to use our logo contact martin@littleplayermag.com. DIGITAL EDITION
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Little Player is published bi-monthly. Domestic rate is $24.99 for 6 issues. NEW SUBS: www.shoplittleplayer.com Subscription Inquiries: 312-574-0499 subs@littleplayermag.com Please send letters and artwork to: letters@littleplayermag.com or Little Player Magazine P.O. Box 512 Wheeling IL 60090 Little Player Magazine 3
FEATURE STORY
Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Nintendo Systems: Switch Players: Single-player, Multiplayer Release Date: 10/27/2017 ESRB Rating: E10+ Content Descriptors: Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief
Power up your airship and rescue Peach from Bowser! By Martin Alessi
Get ready to join Mario on his biggest and most incredible adventure! Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach once again and now he plans to marry her! Packed with secrets and surprises, this time the game is played sandbox style which means you can practically go anywhere and do anything! Mario has a new friend named Cappy and he can now throw his cap to attack enemies, use it to jump over obstacles, or even take control of enemies and objects.
4 Little Player Magazine
DIGITAL EDITION
Master Mario’s awesome new moves! These are just a few!
Run
Jump
Wall Jump
Climb
Swim
Cap Throw
Cap Jump! Throw your Cap to help you get across!
The sandbox style gameplay lets you do almost anything!
Drive a Scooter!
Jump rope! DIGITAL EDITION
Ride a Lion Statue! Little Player Magazine 5
Use your Cap to capture and control enemies and objects!
One of the coolest things in the game is controlling the T-Rex!
Goomba
Bullet Bill 6 Little Player Magazine
Koopa
Cheep Cheep
Frog
Moe Eye DIGITAL EDITION
Chomper Using your special Cap you can capture enemies and take control of them. These are just a sampling of the enemies you can capture. Something we found really funny is that when you capture an enemy they will wear a mustache in addition to your Cap!
Many Kingdoms to explore!
Metro Kingdom
Cascade Kingdom
Sand Kingdom
Wooded Kingdom
Luncheon Kingdom
Cap Kingdom
Taxi
Rocket DIGITAL EDITION
At the moment we know of seven different Kingdoms in Super Mario Odyssey. They are all different and have their own challenges and secrets to discover. From a busy city modeled after New York to the Woods to the Desert and even a Prehistoric world, there is so much variety and detail you could explore each one for hours. Just about everything in these worlds is interactive and the amount of exploration you can do is unmatched in a Mario game! Nintendo has stated there are even more worlds to explore but they are keeping them a secret for now.
Spaside Kingdom During the game you can also take control of many different objects such as the Taxis in Metro City. You can use these objects to get to special areas and also fight enemies more effectively. It’s fun to see what you can and can’t capture in this game! Little Player Magazine 7
Mario will face the baddest bunch of bosses yet!
8 Little Player Magazine
DIGITAL EDITION
Mario can even put on cool new outfits! Can you find them all?
Do you have what it takes to save the Princess? There is no way Mario can let Bowser go through with his dastardly plans to marry Princess Peach! It’s going to be Mario’s biggest challenge but he can do it with the help of Cappy and of course you at the controls!
There are five special Super Mario Odyssey amiibo being released along side the game in October. Each one will unlock special features like bonus costumes and possibly gameplay enhancements!
Mario
Peach
Bowser DIGITAL EDITION
Goomba
Koopa Troopa Little Player Magazine 9
BLAST.FROM.THE.PAST! Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Nintendo Systems: Nintendo 64 Players: Single-player Release Date: 9/29/1996 ESRB Rating: E Content Descriptors: N/A
Mario’s first 3D adventure is considered one of best video games ever made!
By Todd Friedman
In celebration of the upcoming Super Mario Odyssey, we look back at the game that transformed Super Mario and gaming itself into a whole new category. Super Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64 console was the first time to see Mario in a 3D open world. The graphics and sound for this Mario title were groundbreaking and made this one of the most popular Mario games to date. The setting for this game takes place inside Peach’s Castle and each doorway has a new challenge and many enemies to confront. Clearing each room will get you Power Stars and this will eventually lead you to Bowser. In addition to the main courses, there are secret levels that can be found in your journey to get Secret Stars. Super Mario 64 sure did pave the way for what Super Mario Odyssey will look and play like on the Switch. 10 Little Player Magazine
On the title screen you could have fun pinching and pulling Mario’s face with the cursor! DIGITAL EDITION
DIGITAL EDITION
Little Player Magazine 11
PREVIEWS
Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Bandai Namco Systems: Switch Players: Single-player, Multiplayer Release Date: 9/22/2017 ESRB Rating: E10+ Content Descriptors: Fantasy Violence
Battle furiously to become the champion of the Ferum region!
By Nathan Alessi
Standing as the first Pokemon title to come to the Nintendo Switch, Pokken Tournament DX is jam-packed full of new and amazing game modes, characters, and ways to battle with friends as you fight your way to become champion of the Ferrum Region. Play as one of 21 fearsome Pokemon fighters as you battle other Pokemon in intense arena fights. If your opponent is starting to overwhelm you, you can call upon a Support Pokemon to help assist you in the fight, or you can unleash a power move specialized for each Pokemon known as a Burst Attack. Pokken Tournament DX releases on September 22nd.
12 Little Player Magazine
DIGITAL EDITION
Be sure to look for the exclusive Pokken DX Pro Pad from HORI when the game releases!
PREVIEWS
Publisher: Ubisoft Developer: Ubisoft Paris Studios Systems: Switch Players: Single-player, Multiplayer Release Date: 8/29/2017 ESRB Rating: E10+ Content Descriptors: Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief, Mild Language
Join Mario and the Rabbids for some strategy filled fun! By Tim Wilkus
If there was ever an unlikely pairing between two worlds, it would have to be the Mushroom Kingdom and the underground world that the Rabbids call home. You might be wondering what exactly is a Rabbid? They are tiny, rabbit-like creatures who like to create mischief and yell a lot. Nintendo and Ubisoft have combined their efforts to give us this brand new turn-based game set in the Mushroom Kingdom featuring some of its most famous locations. The areas are split into multiple levels with varying heights and cover, as well as enemies. This is a very deep game featuring weapon upgrades, unique character skills, and will require quite a bit of strategy and thought. Areas will feature cover from enemies, surroundings that explode, and even the classic pipes from the Mario series to flank enemies!
DIGITAL EDITION
Little Player Magazine 13
PREVIEWS
Publisher: Psyonix Developer: Psyonix Systems: Switch Players: Single-player, Multiplayer Release Date: Winter 2017 ESRB Rating: E Content Descriptors: Mild Lyrics
Mario, Luigi and Samus join the Rocket League fun! By Todd Friedman
Rocket League has made a huge impact on the PlayStation and Xbox platforms. Now it will join forces with Nintendo and be playable on the Switch. This game will be similar to the previous versions, however Nintendo will add some exclusive extra content such as new customized cars and playable vehicles such as Mario NSR, Luigi NSR and Samus’ Gunship! You will be able to play locally or online and use the tabletop version of the switch system to play on the go. Rocket League is a cross between car racing and sporting events. You can battle on the soccer field as well as a basketball court. There is head to head action and team battles up to 8 players. The object in each is to score on your opponent and the highest score when time runs out wins. Earn rewards for victory and upgrade your vehicles as well as get new accessories to enhance your abilities.
14 Little Player Magazine
DIGITAL EDITION
PREVIEWS
Publisher: SEGA Developer: Sonic Team Systems: Switch, PS4, XO Players: Single-player Release Date: Winter 2017 ESRB Rating: RP Content Descriptors: N/A
Sonic and the gang are back in full force! By Todd Friedman
Sonic Forces is the new Sonic game that can be played on all three modern console platforms. This game is similar to the previous game, Sonic Generations, where you can play as the Modern Sonic or the Classic Sonic. Modern Sonic plays like the current games of today with 3-D stages and the Classic Sonic will be played as the 2-D side scrolling adventure. In addition to the two playable Sonic characters, this game introduces a third character known as Avatar. Avatar is a customizable character you design and can play during the adventures. Just like the other Sonic adventures, Dr. Eggman is the evil enemy who you will need to defeat to win the game. You can use many different weapons in Sonic Forces such as a flamethrower, grappling hook, and many other jumping abilities. This will be a must have game for all Sonic fans young and old.
Play as Modern Sonic in 3D stages or choose Classic Sonic and go totally old school in all new 2D stages!
DIGITAL EDITION
Little Player Magazine 15
PREVIEWS
Publisher: Warner Bros. Developer: TT Games Systems: Switch, PS4, XO Players: Single-player, Multiplayer Release Date: 11/14/2017 ESRB Rating: RP Content Descriptors: N/A
Marvel’s super heroes are back for more fun than ever! By Nathan Alessi
Standing as a sequel to the critically acclaimed LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 mashes together iconic heroes and villains from across the Marvel Universe in this brand new adventure. Taking place in the amazing open hub world of Chronopolis, this epic tale transports players into an intergalactic battle that spans through a multitude of Marvel locations ripped from time and space itself. Introducing new gameplay features such as the ability for characters to manipulate time, an array of new playable characters, and a four player co-op competitive Super Hero battling mode, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is guaranteed to be a thrill for fans of the original game, as well as newcomers to the series. Releasing first on Xbox One and PS4, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 will be available on November 17th. The game will also be available for the Nintendo Switch this upcoming Christmas. 16 Little Player Magazine
While game play details are not yet released, we do know that most of your favorite Marvel Super Heroes are here! DIGITAL EDITION
PREVIEWS
Rev your engines! Another Forza is on the way! By Tim Wilkus
Publisher: Microsoft Studios Developer: Turn 10 Studios Systems: XO, XOS, XOX Players: Single-player, Multiplayer Release Date: 10/3/2017 ESRB Rating: E Content Descriptors: N/A
Racing fans can start getting excited! This October is the release of the next installment of the Forza series titled Forza Motorsport 7. It is truly every car enthusiast’s dream come true. Featuring over 700 cars, there is surely a ride to fit everybody’s taste. Not only will Forza Motorsport 7 feature an unbelievable amount of cars, but also dynamic weather that will change mid-race! You can even see rain approaching as the clouds shift in the distance. When driving in the cockpit view, mirrors will even rattle in response to bumps in the road. Speaking of the tracks, 30 tracks are planned with over 200 different variations of them for players to choose from including weather effects and night mode. Puddles on the ground will even change in real-time when it pours. The realism that the developers are trying to achieve is staggering. Pick from 700 cars and race on 30 different tracks with weather and night mode!
The amount of realism is incredible! From the cars themselves to the tracks they race on... this game is filled with detailed sounds and sights of real racing! DIGITAL EDITION
Little Player Magazine 17
SPORTS SPECIAL PREVIEWS
Publisher: EA Sports Developer: EA Tiburon Systems: PS4, XO Players: Single-player, Multiplayer Release Date: 8/25/2017 ESRB Rating: E Content Descriptors: N/A
Madden 18
By Tim Wilkus
With each version of the Madden series, EA Sports has introduced new features, and this year’s edition is no different. New to Madden 18 is a mode called MUT Squad. It’s a 3 vs. 3 online team play in Madden Ultimate Team. Another new feature that sounds really exciting are the new game styles being introduced: arcade (fast-paced and high scoring), simulation (true to life where team ratings matter), and competitive (head-to-head and tournament play). We can’t wait for Football season!
Publisher: EA Sports Developer: EA Canada Systems: PS4, XO Players: Single-player, Multiplayer Release Date: 9/15/2017 ESRB Rating: E10+ Content Descriptors: N/A
NHL 18
By Tim Wilkus
18 Little Player Magazine
For all you hockey fans out there, you will be happy to know a ton of new features are being added to this year’s version of NHL 18! One of the coolest new features is the ability to combine moves to create highlight reel plays on offense. There is also an arcade 3-on-3 mode which is easy to pick up and play if high scoring suits your style of play. If that wasn’t enough you can actually draft your own expansion team to the NHL! Needless to say, we are very excited about this year’s version of NHL 18. DIGITAL EDITION
SPORTS SPECIAL PREVIEWS
Publisher: 2K Sports Developer: Visual Concepts Systems: Switch, PS4, XO, PS3, X360 Players: Single-player, Multiplayer Release Date: 9/19/2017 ESRB Rating: E Content Descriptors: Mild Lyrics
NBA 2K18
By Tim Wilkus
Basketball fans should be excited about this year’s NBA 2K18 releasing this fall. The series has always had excellent gameplay and graphics, but this year the graphics are approaching photorealism. You really have to see this game in action to believe it. It’s biggest gameplay addition this year is a story-driven general manager mode and a jump shot creator mode where you can design your own jump shot! NBA 2K18 is set to release on September 19th.
Publisher: EA Sports Developer: EA Canada Systems: Switch, PS4, XO, PS3, X360 Players: Single-player, Multiplayer Release Date: 9/29/2017 ESRB Rating: E Content Descriptors: N/A
FIFA 18
By Tim Wilkus
Soccer fans (or football fans as they’re known across the ocean) are very excited about FIFA 18. A ton of new features were announced. One is the new varied team style approach where teams will actually have different on-field tactics and positioning of players. Another is the improved presentation of the stadiums which include the crowds and lighting thanks to a new graphics engine. FIFA 18 is looking to take the series to a whole new level this year! DIGITAL EDITION
Little Player Magazine 19
SPECIAL HARDWARE PREVIEW
Relive the golden age of 16-bit gaming with the Super NES Classic! By Todd Friedman
Due to the success of the NES Classic, it was only a matter of time before Nintendo came out with the Super Nintendo Classic. Super Nintendo is one of the most popular game systems of any generation. This is the perfect item for gamers of all ages. The system will come with 21 playable games built in. Some of the titles include Super Metroid, Street Fighter II Turbo and Super Mario World. It will also come with a never before released version of Starfox 2. New features include Suspend Points just like the NES Classic. A new function called Rewind let’s you go back in time while you play making it easier to finish harder games. There is also a Frame mode that allows you to customize the borders. This system will have much longer cords for the controllers. You can hook it up to an HDTV using HDMI. The Super Nintendo Classic will be hard to find so make sure you reserve yours today. It will retail for $79.99 and releases September 29th, 2017! 20 Little Player Magazine
Features 21 of the greatest Super NES games ever made! Contra III: The Alien Wars Donkey Kong Country EarthBound Final Fantasy III F-ZERO Kirby Super Star Kirby’s Dream Course The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Mega Man X Secret of Mana Star Fox
DIGITAL EDITION
Star Fox 2 Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting Super Castlevania IV Super Ghouls ’n Ghosts Super Mario Kart Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars Super Mario World Super Metroid Super Punch-Out!! Yoshi’s Island
SPECIAL CONTEST! You could win a copy of Super Mario Odyssey! (Switch console not included)
We want your Reviews! Get your very own game review printed in the pages of Little Player Magazine! Here’s how you do it... Write a small review (60 words or less) about your favorite EC, E, or E10+ rated game and be sure to give us the number score and what system you play it on. Make sure to ask a parent first. A winner will be randomly selected from submissions and their review will be printed in the next issue. Good luck everyone!
We have a Winner!
Cade C. who is 10 years old submitted their review for Zelda: Breath of the Wild and won a copy of Splatoon 2!
Send your reviews to: letters@littleplayermag.com or Little Player Magazine P.O Box 512, Wheeling IL 60090
little REVIEW CADE C. (10yo)
10
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is my favorite game on the Nintendo Switch. The map is huge and you can fight monsters and do side quests. The weapons do different damage to monsters and all look different. You can beat the game at anytime you want. It’s my favorite game and I really recommend it.
DIGITAL EDITION
Little Player Magazine 21
Collector’s Corner
By Jason Kaplan
Collecting “Toys-to-Life” figures is really fun! Here is a guide to some of the newest figures that are coming out soon. You can use the check boxes to keep track of your collection.
Mario
(3 or 6-inch)
Series: Mario Rabbids Release date: Aug. 2017
Peach
Luigi
(3 or 6-inch)
Series: Mario Rabbids Release date: Aug. 2017
Yoshi
(3 or 6-inch)
Series: Mario Rabbids Release date: Aug. 2017
22 Little Player Magazine
Another Collector’s Corner is here and there’s still no Skylanders news for you gals and guys. We’re all anxiously hoping for good news sometime soon. We also don’t have any new amiibo news either. It’s not actually Toys-to-Life but there are some pretty sweet Mario Rabbids figures out this September. There will be Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Yoshi. They’ll be in two sizes, 3-inch and 6-inch!
(3 or 6-inch)
Series: Mario Rabbids Release date: Aug. 2017
DIGITAL EDITION
We have some cool stuff for Lego Dimensions to show you. The Ninth Wave of Lego Dimensions will release on September 12th, 2017! There are 3 Fun Packs and 2 Team Packs coming out. The Fun Packs feature Beetlejuice, Powerpuff Girls (which has Buttercup), and Teen Titans GO (which has Starfire).
Teen Titans Go! Fun Pack Series: Teen Titans Go! Release date: Sept. 2017
Teen Titans Go! Team Pack Series: Teen Titans Go! Release date: Sept. 2017
The Team Packs are Powerpuff Girls (which has both Blossom and Bubbles) and Teen Titans GO (which has Raven and Beastboy).
The Powerpuff Girls Fun Pack
Series: The Powerpuff Girls Release date: Sept. 2017
Beetlejuice Fun Pack
Series: Beetlejuice Release date: Sept. 2017
The Powerpuff Girls Team Pack Series: The Powerpuff Girls Release date: Sept. 2017
DIGITAL EDITION
Little Player Magazine 23
BIG & little Reviews Meet the Crew
BIG Players
little Players
SHELLY ALESSI
ISABELLA OCAMPO
JASON KAPLAN
HANNAH FRIEDMAN
NATHAN ALESSI
BRODY PATTERSON
MARTIN ALESSI
AIDEN FRIEDMAN
Shelly is looking forward to fall and bringing cooler weather. She has been playing a lot of 3DS and mobile games lately. She is waiting for Super Mario Odyssey to be released with much anticipation! Jason has spent considerable time playing the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy on PS4. He’s is also getting hyped for the Xbox One X and looking forward to playing Ori: Will of the Wisps.
Nate has been enjoying playing Oceanhorn and Slime Rancher on Xbox One. He is really excited for the upcoming holiday release of The Champion’s Ballad DLC for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Martin has been super busy playing retro Neo Geo titles like Last Resort on the Switch. He thinks Splatoon 2 is loads of fun too! He’s totally into all things related to Super Mario Odyssey and Metroid Returns on 3DS!
24 Little Player Magazine
DIGITAL EDITION
As summer comes to an end, Isabella continues the fun with new hits such as Splatoon 2 and Hey Pikmin. She is still making time for mellower activities like writing and walks in the rain. Hannah has had a busy summer. She is getting ready to start 6th grade and is excited to see her friends. She has been playing a lot of Splatoon 2 and loves Minecraft for the Nintendo Switch.
Brody’s made the leap to middle school, and is excited about his new adventure. He hopes he can decorate the inside of his locker with old video game pictures so he can find new friends with similar interests.
Aiden spent this summer playing Tennis. He is looking forward to starting 6th grade. Aiden has been playing a lot of games this summer and his favorite are Splatoon 2 for Switch and Miitopia for 3DS.
BIG & little Reviews Splatoon 2
Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Nintendo Systems: Switch Players: Single-player, Multiplayer Release Date: 7/21/2017 ESRB Rating: E10+ Content Descriptors: Cartoon Violence
8.5 BIG REVIEW MARTIN
8.5
little REVIEW
9.0
little REVIEW
Splatoon 2 offers a fun, nonviolent alternative to the typical First Person Shooter. The graphics are super colofrul and the action is as fast and chaotic as it gets. Even if you never played the first Splatoon, this game is a blast and easy to pick up. Look for even more multi-player fun with upcoming DLC packs!
little REVIEW ISABELLA
In a fresh, new battalion of rip-roaring fun comes the sequel to Splatoon! The graphics pop with brightness and fluid color in either an exciting Story Mode or a chaotic Turf War! Unique characters, attractions new and familiar are brought to the game. Playing with splatters is easier and more fun than ever!
HANNAH
Average Score
9.0
Splatoon 2 is where you have some type of painting tool and you try to paint the most turf. Your character can choose between a boy and girl and you can customize your clothes. If you win you get a certain amount of points to level up and get new supplies. I suggest this game for all ages
AIDEN
7.5
Splatoon 2 is cool because you can paint the most ink on the map to win. I like the cartoon-like graphics, it makes the game fun to look at. When you reach level 10, you can do a ranked battle and when you win you can get a higher ranking. There is a secret tutorial next to the weapon shop, make sure you check it out!
DIGITAL EDITION
Little Player Magazine 25
BIG & little Reviews
Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy Publisher: Activision Developer: Vicarious Visions Systems: PS4 Players: Single-player Release Date: 6/30/2017 ESRB Rating: E10+ Content Descriptors: Comic Mischief, Cartoon Violence
7.9 BIG REVIEW JASON
9.5
little REVIEW
7.0
little REVIEW
When I was a child I spent a ton of time playing all three of the games in this collection. They were games that I’d go back to from time to time to play again. This is almost everything I remember. The controls are a little looser than they used to be but these games were always a challenge. Crash is easily my second favorite game this year behind Zelda.
BIG REVIEW NATHAN
While I never played the original games as a kid, I found this remaster rather enjoyable. Playing as Crash and running through the different levels was entertaining, but at times the field of view made it difficult to complete certain jumps. Overall it was fun, but I can’t necessarily see myself picking it up ever again. It might even be a little more frustrating than fun for younger players. 26 Little Player Magazine
HANNAH
Average Score
8.5
This new version of Crash Bandicoot has better graphics and sound. My favorite is the level when Coco rides the tiger through the level. I like how you can choose between the different games of Crash. Try to collect boxes and apples. If you collect all the boxes you receive a gem. This is one of my favorite games.
AIDEN
6.5
I like how this game has all three Crash games on one disk. The new remade graphics are interesting to me because the first Crash Bandicoot had 32-bit graphics and now it is HD quality. I like the different types of levels in each game. I like the music, but my favorite music is from Crash 3: Warped.
DIGITAL EDITION
BIG & little Reviews Miitopia
Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Nintendo Systems: 3DS Players: Single-player Release Date: 7/28/2017 ESRB Rating: E Content Descriptors: Crude Humor, Mild Cartoon Violence
7.0 BIG REVIEW SHELLY
6.0
little REVIEW
8.5
little REVIEW
This is an RPG type game in the world of Miitopia. I really enjoy RPG’s but this one was difficult to get in to. I like to just jump into battles and fight monsters, but this game has a lot of dialogue. While I can appreciate the game getting you involved in the Mii world, it just wasn’t fun or interesting for me.
little REVIEW AIDEN
I like this game because you can explore different places. When you are done you can sleep overnight at an Inn. You can feed your Mii some grub in the Inn. Choose your own Mii or pick one from Mii Central to help you on your adventure. The graphics are like any other Mii game and the music is calming.
ISABELLA
Average Score
7.5
A simplistic story with the unique element of character customization, Miitopia allows you to put your own Miis in an RPG-adventure. A light-hearted quest awaits, with a simple system for battle and compassion among your teammates. Many clever references are sprinkled within. It’s charm and ease of play calls for a younger audience.
HANNAH
6.0
Miitopia is similar to Mario but with lots of text to read. There are bosses at the end of each level. You can pick your type of Mii take care of them and feed them and take them on adventures. When you defeat the boss, you get food to give to your Mii. I am not the biggest fan of this game but it can be fun at times.
DIGITAL EDITION
Little Player Magazine 27
BIG & little Reviews Hey! Pikmin
Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Arzest Systems: 3DS Players: Single-player Release Date: 7/28/2017 ESRB Rating: E10+ Content Descriptors: Mild Cartoon Violence
8.0 BIG REVIEW SHELLY
8.0
This was my first time playing a Pikmin title and I had a lot of fun with it! I’m a huge fan of platformer games and this one was up my alley. Your character becomes stranded on an alien world and relies on Pikmin to help you gather the resources you need. Lots of bonus areas make this game a fun challenge.
BIG REVIEW NATHAN
28 Little Player Magazine
ISABELLA
7.0
Hey! Pikmin is peaceful, quiet and rather atmospheric experience, with a floaty soundtrack and artsy atmosphere with hand-painted backgrounds and rich environments to explore and collect treasures in. It has a rather simple style in terms of gameplay, and the mechanic of throwing varied Pikmin is greatly explored in the diverse world. Overall a very calming experience.
8.0
Hey! Pikmin was my first time ever playing a pikmin game and it was surprisingly enjoyable. I was honestly expecting to not like it, but after playing for a couple hours I found it hard to put down. Though the game is quite fun, I can only see myself playing it as a way to pass the time.
little REVIEW
Average Score
little REVIEW BRODY
9.0
Hey! Pikmin is a really great game. I really like the mix of side scrolling and puzzle game stuff. I really enjoy the different abilities in the game and how it is all measured. The game might be a little more challenging than I’d like at times, but overall it is a really fun and solid game that I will come back to.
DIGITAL EDITION
BIG & little Reviews Hot Wheels: Race Off Publisher: Hutch Games Developer: Hutch Games Systems: Android, iOS Players: Single-player, Multiplayer Release Date: 7/25/2017 Updated ESRB Rating: E Content Descriptors: N/A
6.5 BIG REVIEW MARTIN
6.0
In this average Hot Wheels themed racing game you control you car much like you do in Hill Climb Racing. The graphics are rendered in 3D and very good but I just can’t seem to get past the game play. The controls are so touchy and it’s nearly impossible to accurately control your car as you upgrade and go faster.
BIG REVIEW JASON
7.5
This is a fun little racing game if you’re just looking to kill a little time. There’s a bunch of cars to collect and upgrade in addition to racing on over fifty tracks. You can even play your friends in multiplayer too. My only gripe is that later in the game it gets incredibly difficult to control your car and it’s very frustrating.
Average Score
little REVIEW AIDEN
6.5
I enjoy this game because you can race through courses and when you finish you can try to beat your best time. When you get a certain amount of coins, you can level up the abilities of the car. I like the background graphics in the game, they are interesting and use a lot of detail.
little REVIEW BRODY
6.0
Hot Wheels: Race Off is simple to pick up but challenging, too. It isn’t what I expected or hoped it would be and I found parts of it a bit confusing. You have to upgrade more than I would have liked to. I would prefer to just get to the racing part like I can with my real Hot Wheels cars.
DIGITAL EDITION
Little Player Magazine 29
30 Little Player Magazine
DIGITAL EDITION
DIGITAL EDITION
Little Player Magazine 31
Never miss an issue! Subscribe to Little Player and you’ll get six colorful, fun-filled print issues delivered right to your mailbox!
BONUS!
You also get free access to digital editions of each magazine to use on your computer, tablet or phone!
Image for mockup purposes only. Actual viewing experience may vary depending on hardware and operating system. Hardware not included.
Get 6 issues for $24.99!
Have your parents go to:
www.shoplittleplayer.com Little Player is published bi-monthly by Massive Impact, Inc., P.O. Box 512, Wheeling, IL 60090. Subscriptions are 6 issues for $24.99. Please allow 6-8 weeks before receiving your first issue as well as any subscription changes on an existing account. DIGITAL EDITION