Stephen LaGioia
Bard’s Gold comes off largely as a homage to tricky hardcore dungeon crawlers. But it is solid enough in its own right, proving to be fun, addictive, and rewarding, despite its somewhat simplistic concept and the often grueling gameplay that can lead to some frustrating moments.
Yoshi's Woolly World is a fun and amusing platformer in its own right, though the quirky art style and gameplay gimmicks seem to take center stage here. Tries a bit too hard to emulate its predecessors.
Super Mario Maker provides endless fun, heavy doses of nostalgia, and a superb level creator that makes it easy to play the role of amateur game designer. A must have for any Wii U owner who is even mildly interested in Mario games and/or likes to create.
Castlestorm is an addictive and charming tower defense title that, despite a few minor faults, stands out from many of its ilk. With surprisingly deep and plentiful content, and easy to learn mechanics, this one is worth checking out.
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is a fun little title that doesn't bring a ton to the table, but what it does offer, it executes quite well. A good game if you're looking for short bursts of platforming fun, just don't expect anything epic in scope.