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Dream Trigger 3D
Common Sense says
- Nintendo 3DS
- $35.99
- 2011
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Dream Trigger 3D is an overly complicated and incredibly difficult space shooter game. It will undoubtedly be frustrating for younger children. There is no objectionable content outside of the difficulty and the inscrutable control system. The 3D effects are deep and powerful, but remember that Nintendo does not recommend 3D play for anyone under the age of seven.
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What's it about?
DREAM TRIGGER 3D is an abstract, surreal shooting game in which you are a spaceship using sonar to locate unseen enemies. Once you find them, the goal is to trying to blast them before they blast you. If we understand the story correctly, this is all supposed to be happening in your dreams. And the enemies are some sort of nightmares. But it's really unclear.
Is it any good?
To start off with the good points, Dream Trigger 3D has unique and artistically interesting visuals, and the 3D effects certainly impress -- if you can manage to stay alive for more than 30 seconds. The controls don't sound like they should be too tough to figure out -- you tap the bottom screen to create sonar pings, and if your ping reveals an enemy, it appears on the top screen and you shoot it. But once you see how fast everything moves and how many enemies there are and how many projectiles they're shooting at you, you quickly realize you can use any kind of strategy in placing those sonar pings. You'll end up tapping madly and trying to perform some of the most precise flying of your life. And that's just the first level. If you're left-handed, you have to control flight with the A,B,X, and Y buttons, which is far more difficult than using the control stick. There may have been an interesting idea here, but the execution leaves much to be desired.
Online interaction: You can post your high scores to an online leaderboard.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about art vs. function in video games. Dream Trigger is a beautiful-looking game, but is not user-friendly at all. Can you enjoy a game for its artistic merits, even if it's too difficult or complicated?
Game details
- Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
- Price: $35.99
- Available online? Not available online
- Developer: D3Publisher of America
- Release date: May 3, 2011
- Genre: Third-Person Shooter
- ESRB rating: E for Mild Fantasy Violence
For kids who love action
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.