User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 55 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 55
  2. Negative: 8 out of 55
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  1. Jun 27, 2015
    4
    I don't know what Nintendo is trying to do here but it does not work at all. the game gets so boring so darn fast. The game play from the SMB's side is solid, but the puzzle and dragons side is just so dull and boring as hell. I would have to say its puzzle game play aspect is spot on as it does work well, but man it just feels like a game that would be free 2 play and does not match theI don't know what Nintendo is trying to do here but it does not work at all. the game gets so boring so darn fast. The game play from the SMB's side is solid, but the puzzle and dragons side is just so dull and boring as hell. I would have to say its puzzle game play aspect is spot on as it does work well, but man it just feels like a game that would be free 2 play and does not match the price tag at all. I returned this title and never looked back. Expand
  2. Jun 24, 2015
    4
    At least on the mario side, this gets a 4. I beat the mario version, but I haven't played the PAD Z side. The puzzle mechanic itself actually makes for fun gameplay, but it's everything else that brings the game down. It gets very repetitive and even grindy as you progress. Enemies seem to become ridiculously strong, so even if you are matching things really well, you still can fail. Not aAt least on the mario side, this gets a 4. I beat the mario version, but I haven't played the PAD Z side. The puzzle mechanic itself actually makes for fun gameplay, but it's everything else that brings the game down. It gets very repetitive and even grindy as you progress. Enemies seem to become ridiculously strong, so even if you are matching things really well, you still can fail. Not a good design for a puzzle game. The only way I was able to progress was by using boo mario and boo luigi, which give a huge multiplier when you match 3 different colors in one combo. Other strategies I tried just weren't viable. It just gets so boring that, towards the end, you'll find yourself wishing it would just be done so you can call it finished and move on with something more enjoyable. There's so many other titles on the 3ds that manage to be enjoyable throughout their length. Expand
  3. May 27, 2021
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I had high hopes for this one, I really did. But this game is the equivalent of someone dangling pictures of dragons in your face.Sure, the dragons look really cool, but you can't keep me entertained forever. My main focus is on the Puzzles & Dragons Z part of this 2 for 1 deal. Since it has a story. Your objective is to collect the world pieces with your dragon partner Pokemon Syrup, in order to save the world from the evil Paradox organization led by Lord Dogma.Its nice story formula and all, colorful anime characters, exquisite backdrops, a lovely array of sound effects between each cutscene.But when all is said and done, I just feel empty inside, even after beating the final battle on the first try.Don't get me wrong, I think this is a good game, but no amount of shiny colors will change my opinion of this game. Big problem 1, the only point of wireless connection is exchange items and compare high scores. This unfortunately, is the real focus of the game. Unlike most monster training games, your only opponent here is the computer. Even Yo-Kai Watch 1 had this option, giving you a reason to get better at the game. Big problem 2, earning experience in this game is a chore.Its not the worst thing in the game seeing how you can feed your monsters Jewel Dragon eggs every once and awhile, but that would make the game too easy. So here's the tip of the iceberg, Monsters have LEVEL LIMITS! Meaning stage one creatures can only go up to level 30 until they evolve. That doesn't sound so bad, but you need to collect chips from defeated monsters. And these luck-based mechanics are just as bad as the ones in Yo-Kai Watch 2! It can take 5 minutes or 5 hours just get the stuff you need in order to raise your team's level. And guess what? The highest level a monster can reach is level 99 and all of your monsters need to be about level 90 on average just to stand a chance against the final boss. Furthermore, THE GAME TAKES FLIPPING FOREVER TO COMPLETE! And there's a long post game to go with it. I...I just don't care. The game brags about all of the rare dragons you can collect and use in battle. But all I see is 6 pictures shooting elemental balls. Sure, each monster has their own sound effect and animation attack. Again, good job on those designs GungHo Online Entertainment, it just gets old fast. Seeing them over and over and over again...it just slows things down. Thankfully, you can turn them off though. But the game just gets slower when you run into enemies that stun your monsters for a couple turns. Even in those easy 3 or 4 color dungeons, their mere existence really ticks me off. Well, they may be just pictures, but at least I can build a team of my favorite monsters to make this journey more comfortable. I've spent 3 hours trying to get this Naga creature, I sure hope one of them drops an egg pretty soon...EXCEPT THATS IMPOSSIBLE!!! I can understand why legendary monsters can't be obtained by random drops, but Naga looks like common monster! They're even mentioned in the dungeon monster info. Am I just supposed to just magically know which monsters I can and can't obtain? It's gets worse where in order to evolve my monsters to the highest stage, I have to see if those super rare monsters will drop chips or not in battle. And fighting these guys over and over again is just a pain. It's best that you just use the free rare chips and eggs you get from completing side quests and work with that. The last thing you want to do is make this game go any longer. As for the story, their's some decent characters here and there. But the more interesting genius characters, I'm pronouncing dead, because they don't appear anywhere else in the game after you've cleared all of their levels. And Dogma creates some kind of rivalry with the player that consist of 3 showdowns. An automatic loss that inspires the player to get stronger, a pretty dang easy level in the final world, and one where he uses the Sky Dragon of Death. Why does he wish to recreate the world? Why does he hate humans? Whatever his backstory is I somehow missed it.A well designed villain who lacks a decent backstory as far as I'm aware.And we also have this Enigma character, he has potential to be one of those interesting characters that is neither good or evil. Asking the player questions like, "Is darkness evil?", it breaks the game like Sarah and Nick's introversions and help keeps things fresh. However, I can't deny my feelings for the final battle in the Avalon Temple. It just...sucks. Enigma is revealed to be the real villain and possesses Dogma's body while he's fusing with Arkvelza. And just for fun, he instantly absorbs all of the other Sky Dragons.This final boss looks awesome, but even with 8 animations its gets old fast. Syrup is reveled to be the Sky Dragon of Life and we use the power of friendship to save the day. After he's freed, Dogma vows to return one day and claim vengeance.I've seen this type of climax too many times, I feel nothing:( Expand
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 59 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 59
  2. Negative: 1 out of 59
  1. Jun 30, 2015
    88
    GungHo Entertainment knew perfectly well how to make a match-three that was different from its predecessors, it added depth by using RPG elements and took advantage from tactile technology that, obviously, adapted greatly in the Nintendo 3DS.
  2. Jun 27, 2015
    50
    It provides a bit of fan fare and not much else. [Issue#162, p.103]
  3. Edge Magazine
    Jun 21, 2015
    50
    A whole lot better on phones than it is on 3DS. [July 2015, p.115]