If you or your kids love dinosaurs and have a Nintendo 3DS, you may want to read this review and check out this game. First, you pick a species of dinosaur, from ferocious meat-eaters to territorial herbivores. Then choose their scale colors and pick a name for your new reptile. Then tromp around primordial Earth and battle any other dinosaur that gets in your way.

In the main story mode, you’ll lumber around 3D areas in search of items and dinos to battle. Collect bones to unlock fun facts about your favorite giant lizards, and by searching around and defeating opponents, you can collect special claws and scales that you can equip to your dino to boost your attack, defense, and health. You can equip up to three at a time.

Battles are fought one-on-one, and have simple, easy to learn controls. You can whittle down opponents’ health bars with the attack button, or push them off the edge of the area for a ring out. Press left or right to dodge an attack. Dodging is very important because if done successfully, it’ll confuse and stun the other dino for a second, giving you an opening to strike. Watch how the other attacker changes color, too. If he turns red, it’s going to attack so you need to dodge. If it turns blue, quickly attack for a Dino Strike!

You can also battle other players and trade items locally or through StreetPass. Controls feel a little slow sometimes, but if steering around a lumbering dinosaur is what they were going for, then they succeeded with that. Only other problem is the game can be a little repetitive sometimes. But if you love dinosaurs, you’ll probably enjoy this game anyway.

Kid Factor:

Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D is rated E-10 with an ESRB descriptor of Mild Fantasy Violence. For a game about dinosaurs battling each other, the game is surprisingly tame with the violence. While you do hit other dinosaurs with horns, claws, and spiky tails, there is no blood or grisly deaths, and defeated enemies just fall over. The game could be considered educational as you play as real dinosaur species and can unlock and learn facts about them. Reading skill is a must, and younger players may need help with some of the tougher battles.

Tags: Game Reviews