Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is still that same gorgeous game filled with great courses, characters, and karts. There are a few new game elements that augment the game slightly, and an awesome battle mode that is instantly addicting, but on the whole, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is almost too similar to the game we fell in love with on the Wii U.
Mr. Shifty reminded me a whole lot of Hotline Miami when I first played it. I came away from my E3 demo amazed. Developer Team Shifty took the exemplary gameplay from Hotline Miami, tweaked a few things, added a new warping ability to the character to make the game unique, and ported the game to Nintendo Switch. Surely, this would be an excellent indie release on Nintendo's newest platform?
As a package, Treasure Trove is an excellent way to expand a newly-formed Switch library with a wonderful 8-bit platforming package.
Overall, Pokemon Sun and Moon take two generational steps forward, but also take one step back. Small new intricacies like battle enhancements and a refined presentation vastly improve the moment-to-moment experience of playing Pokemon. However, a sparse catalog of new Pokemon, shallow end game, and lack of launch Pokemon Bank support hold the titles back from being truly exceptional.
If you’re waiting for a monster-collecting RPG to play this fall, it will likely be best to wait until Pokemon Sun and Moon release next month.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed playing through Noitu Love: Devolution, even though I would have preferred to have more of it. The levels were varied and the boss battles were spectacular. It is such a shame that the game does not have more meat on it, because in the current form I can only recommend Noitu Love: Devolution to the biggest arcade fans.
Those that are looking to dive back into an SMT title with an expanded story and don’t mind retreading familiar ground will surely find a lot of recognizable fun in Apocalypse. For those that never played the original title, Apocalypse isn’t a bad place to start. However, considering how good of a game SMT IV is, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go back and play the original release instead.
With gameplay mechanics that are so riveting, it is a shame that the game’s title and localization will leave it forever left out of the mainstream. However, those that decide to pick up the latest Shin Megami Tensei title will be pleasantly delighted by its gameplay and dungeon deisgn. With a near barren summer release schedule this year, Tokyo Mirage Session is the perfect game to sink hours and hours into.
In conclusion, Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest is an absolute must buy for all those that are previous fans of the franchise. The game builds upon everything that came before it, and presents an experience that is truly challenging. New players may struggle through Conquest, and they may find a better experience within Birthright. However, for all those players that have been craving a truly classic Fire Emblem title, Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest is the game for you!
Overall, Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon is an excellent spin-off title for the Pokemon franchise, one that proves that "children's" games do not always have to be incredibly easy, do not have to always contain a terrible story, and can have an excellent soundtrack (yes, the music is really, really good). Sure, the main campaign might be a little too linear for my liking, but the game vastly opens up after its completion. Truly, the lack of marketing and promotion for Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon is appalling to me, as it is easily one of the best games in the spin-off series, and one of the best 3DS games released this year.
Overall, Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival is an embarrassment of a game. I was already disappointed with Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer, the other AC spin-off title that released this fall, but Amiibo Festival far overshoots its predecessor in terrible design and gameplay. The only reason to even look at this game on a store shelf would be for the amiibo inside. But then, I would implore you to import the amiibo rather than give Nintendo money for this terribly made title. Nintendo fans need to speak with their wallet, and I beg of them to make a statement that terrible cash-ins, such as Amiibo Festival, will not be tolerated.
Though Yo-Kai Watch does borrow a lot from the Pokemon franchise, the game does strike out a spot for itself in the monster-collecting market. The game is still really fun to play, and the feeling of collecting and discovering new Yo-Kai is exhilarating. The game has tons upon tons of cut-scenes, and does not have random enemy encounters, which makes it so much easier to get through dungeons without facing the same exact Yo-Kai again and again. Sure, Yo-Kai Watch definitely has places to improve, like its multiplayer and depth, but overall Yo-Kai Watch is more than worthy of a purchase.
Overall, Yoshi's Woolly World is a "Nintendo" game at its finest. The game not only draws in gamers with a captivating art-style and excellent soundtrack, but it also keeps them engaged with spectacular and diverse gameplay elements. Fortunately, Yoshi's Woolly World packs in a wealth of options too, which accommodate new players as well as Nintendo veterans alike. While it may seem that Nintendo has a relatively sparse Wii U lineup for this fall, Yoshi's Woolly World is a pristine example that sometimes quality should be valued over quantity.
Overall, Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer proves to be a substantial disappointment for the franchise. Yes, the game does make large strides in the designing element of Animal Crossing, but it fails to create any sort of experience that is even remotely engaging or captivating. Sure, the series' charm, wit, and quirky dialogue is still all there; though, unfortunately at the end of the day (yes, many will probably finish off the game within a day), manyy players will be left scratching their heads wondering why they ever spent $40 on this cash-in Animal Crossing title.
Overall, Runbow is easily one of the best indie titles currently available on the Wii U, and the single best local multiplayer game I have played on the console. What really sets Runbow apart though isn't just its multiplayer gameplay, but its plethora of modes, innovative level design, charm, and overall gaming excellence.
Overall, Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight is everything I could ask for from a new EO title. The game features gameplay options that could truly fit any sort of gameplay style. Moreover, the mission and side-content depth means that playing through the game could take anywhere from 30 to even 100 hours, a truly versatile figure for such an expansive dungeon-crawling RPG experience. For those that have played Etrian Odyssey games before, and those that have yet to experience a game in the franchise, Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight is absolutely worth picking up!
At its core, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is just as good as the original release. Those that missed out on the chance to play through the Wii version will love the incredible world of Xenoblade, the masterfully told story, and the engaging combat system.
Overall, Code Name Steam is an excellent attempt at a new franchise. The premise of the title itself is promising and unique, while the story and characters, no matter how ridiculous and convoluted, can easily be built upon. Code Name Steam is no Fire Emblem; it lacks the character development, RPG elements, and difficulty variation. Code Name Steam is a good game though, one which can be nurtured into a masterpiece when its sequel is inevitably released.
Throughout my playthrough of Citizens of Earth, I was continually enthralled by all the ideas that went into creating the title. I fell in love with the characters, dialogue, and world. The battle system, meanwhile, captivated me, as it was so perfectly orchestrated. In theory, Citizens of Earth should have been an amazing game, and to a certain extent the game accomplished everything it set out to complete. Unfortunately, however, a few technical errors, along with a few design errors, turned what could have been an amazing experience into one that did not live up to its full potential.
After only fourteen hours playing through Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, I was stunned to see the credits rolling down the screen. After all, the Hoenn region had always been my favorite, and I recalled spending at least thirty hours reaching the end of Emerald the last time I had played it. I figured that since I was tasked to review the newest Pokémon title, I would want to get the review out in a timely manner. As such, I sped through the game trying to get the review up as fast as possible. I was stalled in my mission, however, as after completing the game I began engaging in all the extra content hidden within the Generation III remakes. This is where the Pokémon games have always shined, and continue to shine: Not the content on the surface of the game, although that too is still incredibly addicting, but all the extra content layered underneath.