By combining classic platforming with Wii U specific features like Off-TV play and beautiful graphics, Paper Monsters Recut manages to shake up the somewhat stagnant platforming scene by being just plain fun. The variety of the game is fantastic, and Mobot Studios did a great job with this title. Paper Monsters Recut deserves a spot on your Wii U hard-drive.
With the launch of the Nintendo Switch, FAST RMX debuts as a launch title, which is sort of a 'definitive' version of FAST Racing NEO with some fantastic tweaks.
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is a fantastic addition to the 3DS, and easily one of the best games on the system. Everything is well crafted and highly polished, and there is enough new content and variations that even if you played the PS2 version to death, you will still find lots of surprises and nuances. With high presentation values, a charming story, tons of depth, and traditional but fun JRPG battle system, Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is a must own for 3DS RPG lovers, and an easy early contender for game of the year.
As much as the first hour or so of the game frustrated me, I really grew to love Majora's Mask 3D. The best way to describe the game is to think of the change between Zelda and Zelda II: both are great games, but both play very differently. Although the transition from Ocarina of Time to Majora\'s Mask isn\'t as drastic, at first it really doesn\'t feel like a traditional Zelda game. Maybe that\'s the charm of it though. It's so outside of the box that you don't expect it to flow together at first, but a couple hours in, you come to the realization that not only is this a great Zelda game, it is easily one of the best. Great dungeons, a deep and intricate story, and excellent side quests due to the 3 Day window make for a Zelda game that every 3DS owner should pick up, whether they played the original or not.
At the end of the day though, Twilight Princess HD is yet another must-have for the Wii U library.
With all this said, Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water is easily one of my favorite Wii U games to date. It feels like an old-school horror game but has the modern twists such as GamePad use and HD graphics to make it stand out in the gaming world today. It's a shame that this game didn't get a physical release, because I fear that it might hurt sales for this game. Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water is a must own title for Wii U owners, and horror fans in general might want to pick up a Wii U just for this game – it's that good.
Minor quirks aside, NES Remix is a real treat that came out of nowhere. It always amazes me how Nintendo can keep things so secretive and, in this case, make no mention of it until the release day.
Affordable Space Adventures is an indie title with a $20 price tag, and that may make some would-be purchasers leery of the investment. I can say with full confidence that the price tag is not only justified, but might even be too low. Big studios never took the time to flesh out the GamePad and see what it was possible of doing, but Affordable Space Adventures shows why the Wii U GamePad exists: to provide an experience that can only be done on the console. Take the plunge, spend the $20, and get lost in the world of Spectaculon to play one of the finest Wii U titles to date.
Overall, Chariot is another top-tier indie game on the Wii U. A lot of love and care went into this game, and it shows in both the excellent mechanics and audio/visual package.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia really surprised me. What I thought would be a simple spin-off game ended up being arguably the best Fire Emblem game I've played.
Besides the personal preference on the story telling comic-book style, the only real concern with the game is that there is a heavy emphasis on trial and error, which could turn those less patient off. However, those with even just a little bit of patience are advised to pick up Stealth Inc. 2: A Game of Clones. With tons of content, top-notch graphics and audio, and pin point controls, Stealth Inc. 2 is an easy consideration for one of the best eShop games of 2014. Couple that with amazing local co-op that uses the GamePad in an excellent manner, and you have possibly one of the best overall Wii U games of 2014.