The next big 3DS RPG?
Ever Oasis is the latest from Majora’s Mask 3D developers GREZZO. It’s essentially about starting your own oasis town in the desert with shops and new residents who either stay or visit to trade. The story shows that the previous Oasis being destroyed by a dark force, then you are forced to rebuild from scratch by fulfilling quests in and out of the oasis.
The open world is vast, even for a 3DS game and lets you battle all sorts of enemies in real-time combat. It does feel a bit like Zelda’s combat in the way it lets you lock on to the enemy with the left shoulder button, but you can also run away if you wish. Other areas in the desert such as ruins and the like contain puzzles to solve and all in all, is very well presented. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first started playing Ever Oasis, but I came away more than happy with the end result.
The quests vary from the usual pattern of either collecting and returning items, some of which allow residents to stay and set up shops and so on throughout the oasis. The town building element is really great, sometimes the game feels like a mixture of Animal Crossing meets Monster Hunter…and that’s no bad thing. What’s also great is that while it’s easily accessible, it’s not shallow in the slightest.
Visually, the game uses the typical cutesy Japanese anime characters to appeal to the younger crowd, but don’t let it put you off if you’re an older gamer or simply, not into anime. The game is surprisingly deep and without a doubt, the best 3DS game this year so far.
The Verdict
Ever Oasis is a triumph for GREZZO and shows they can do more than just add a very, very nice layer of polish to Majora’s Mask for the 3DS version. The game is simple, yet deep and highly addictive. Simply put, this is a must for any 3DS owner.