6.0

Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D

Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D is the perfect game for boys! I mean... which boy doesn't enjoy dinosaurs and even some grown men? Even if you have not enjoyed playing with dinosaurs toys for quite some time, there might be something strangely interesting about this game as you control your very own dinosaur. Best of all, this game uses the innovative 3D technology of the Nintendo 3DS  that almost makes these ancient dinosaurs come to life from Tyrannosaurus to Triceratops and my favourite, the Stegosaurus... a plant eater who could hold their own.

The developers have even added a few interesting scientific facts into the game but that's where the realism ends because the story of Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D revolves around the overwhelming power of the Arkosaurus, the most powerful predator to every walk the lands. Unfortunately for the dinosaurs, their time of extinction is near and as the Arkosaurus has freed itself from the four ancient guardians and it's up to a dinosaur hero to liberate the world from this menace.

The story of this game harkens back to an almost Saturday morning cartoon and is actually quite interesting or is it some childhood subliminal memory getting fulfilled? The goal of Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D is to get from point A to point B but along the way you collect a variety of items and weapons to make your way to the final boss. Unfortunately the gameplay becomes too repetitive as you go from point A to point B because in the first few hours of the games, you've pretty much seen it all before.

Combat however plays a key part to his game as you control one dinosaur from one of four different categories that include predator, hunters, defenders and chargers. Depending on which dinosaur you select, they will have their pros and cons but overall, the balance is quite similar. With that said, the dinosaurs included in the game are as follows;

• Tyrannosaurus

• Carnotaurus

• Baryonyx

• Allosaurus

• Ceratosaurus

• Velociraptor

• Oviraptor

• Ornitholestes

• Troodon

• Ankylosaurus

• Euoplocephalus

• Stegosaurus

• Edmontia

• Triceratops

• Styracosaurus

• Einiosaurus

• Chasmosaurus

That's quite a few dinosaurs to fulfil any Dinosaur fanboy or fanboy dream. Lots to choose from. Combat is quite simplistic by pressing B to attack or A to push/charge your foe. You also have a dodge option as well. Although its nothing like Tekken, the dinosaurs do have the ability to equip "weapons" such for additional power-ups like claws etc.

The premise is basically attack, attack, dodge or a combination of these. If your enemy flashes blue, you can launch a dinostrike which is basically a super attack. If the dinosaur turns red, they are about to attack you so you need to time your dodge perfectly or take damage. Once you have depleted their health bar to zero, you will win.

Another addition is the frenzy attack that allows you focus more power on your enemy and to add a few other elements into the game, there are earthquakes and lava eruptions that add a new strategy which not only knocks you out of the ring but can lead to damage. Once again as you progress, the gameplay remains rather static. Although no real multiplayer per se, the game does support 3DS Street Pass that allows your dinosaurs to have encounters during the street or local play to trade items with friends.

Graphically, Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D makes good use of the 3D technology of the 3DS from its 3D type environments to realistic dinosaurs that almost float off your screen or more particularly float behind the screen. Best of all the animations are decent as are the realistic textures on these extinct creatures. The backgrounds change as you progress and there's some great use of depth with the backgrounds such as foliage and other items that almost stick out of your screen. Music is a little average but the sound effects are kind of cool when the battles commence.

In end, Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D is an interesting game for kids but unfortunately once you have played the game, there's very little replay value. It's also a shame that the multiplayer aspect is quite limited but if you have a boy in your family who loves dinosaurs, I'm sure they'll get their fair share of play from Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D. Needless to say, this game is definitely targetted to the under 10's!