Mario Hoops 3-on-3
Mario and Final Fantasy characters team up on the court.
Mario Hoops 3-on-3, released in Europe as Mario Slam Basketball, is a 2006 sports game for the Nintendo DS. Developed by Square Enix and published by Nintendo, it is notable as the first game to feature both Mario and Final Fantasy characters as playable together. It is the only dedicated basketball game in the Mario series and the second Mario game developed by Square Enix, following Super Mario RPG (1996).
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Square Enix
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Director
- Shin Azuma
- Producer
- Toyokazu Nonaka; Hiroyuki Miura
- Composer
- Masayoshi Soken
- Genre
- Sports
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Series
- Mario, Final Fantasy
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Gameplay revolves around three-on-three basketball matches organized into tournaments. Each tournament consists of three games, each split into two halves of two and a half minutes, except for an extra game against the Final Fantasy team at the end of the final tournament. Winning a tournament requires winning all three games; the margin of victory determines the cup awarded: gold for a cumulative lead of over 200 points, silver for over 100 points, and bronze for simply winning all three games. The player controls movement with the directional pad or directly via the touch screen, while all other actions—dribbling, stealing, passing, and shooting—are performed through touch gestures. Dribbling occurs automatically but slows if the touch screen is not actively used. Shooting is done by drawing a line forward on the touchscreen, producing a normal shot, special shot, or slam dunk depending on position and movement. Coins collected from pads on the court are added to the team's score when a shot is made. Items from the Mario series appear and grant special moves. Two difficulty modes are available: normal and hard, with hard unlocked after completing normal. Exhibition mode allows customization of playing time, number of periods, and item use. Multiplayer is limited to local play, requiring each player to own a copy; full basketball games are only possible between two players locally. The game does not support online multiplayer, and the single-cartridge download-play option only permits select minigames.
Reception
The game received mixed or average reviews according to Metacritic. Critics praised the controls, graphics, and variety, but criticized the AI balance, limited multiplayer options, overpowered skills of the Final Fantasy characters, and the lack of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection support. 411Mania rated it 7.5 out of 10, stating that Wi-Fi connectivity, smarter AI, and a richer single-card download-play option would have raised the score, and recommended it for DS owners. The Sydney Morning Herald gave it three stars out of five, describing it as fast-paced stylus-swiping basketball best suited for short matches against friends. The Times also gave three stars out of five, noting that the combination of touch-pad and direction key controls made it less suitable for public transport and that it lacked the charm of previous Mario-themed games. Nintendo World Report observed that the tournament mode swings from very easy to nearly impossible, calling it possibly the hardest Mario sports game at the time. As of July 25, 2007, the game had sold 1.5 million copies worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed Mario Hoops 3-on-3?
Mario Hoops 3-on-3 was directed by Shin Azuma.
Who composed the music for Mario Hoops 3-on-3?
The music for Mario Hoops 3-on-3 was composed by Masayoshi Soken.
More in Square Enix Games of the 2000s
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