Gameplay rules this experience, and every puzzle serves to remind the player of that. That said, a greater variety of enemies would have been welcome, and maybe even crazier level layouts just to see what the design team could really do when they stretched their wings, but overall this is a fine game that every Wii U owner should consider downloading.
Budding game designers would do well to take advantage of Mario Maker's suite of tools, but even the most uncreative of players will be able to mine hours of playtime and fun from the work of others. Now stop reading this and go buy the thing, already. It's a keeper.
Vicarious Visions really shocked me with the quality of SuperChargers, and has taken this franchise to new heights. Young or old, this a game everyone should enjoy.
Happy Home Designer is a different kind of Animal Crossing. From its pacing to its objectives, the game will delight fans with its new take on the series' longstanding gameplay. It's not the life-sim of years past, but Happy Home Designer's successful re-imagining of what makes Animal Crossing tick is a lovely departure that I sincerely hope Nintendo explores again in the future. Go and snag yourself a copy today!
It's fun in spurts, but overall a disappointment that hopefully doesn't consign this series to years in limbo.
Woolly World was a delight to play, and one that I think any platformer fan will enjoy. It's reminiscent of Yoshi Story with its fabric-focused art design, but the addition of yarn has almost reinvented what a Yoshi game can be. The new puzzle types and mechanics that the thread has allowed for are among the best that I've ever experienced in any Yoshi title, and that includes Yoshi's Island. The difficulty level is hovering right in that Goldilocks-zone of "just right," leaning enough toward the hard end of the spectrum that experienced players don't have to depend on item-gathering to feel challenged, while offering safety nets for newer players who might otherwise be intimidated away. Wii U's library continues to grow and be populated by top-tier, AAA games, and Woolly World is the latest gem added to the pile.
It's such a shame that Tri Force Heroes falls as short as it does.
Those small issues aside, Maiden of Black Water is a premium title on Wii U that left me very impressed. The use of the GamePad here is a rare example of what Wii U's controller can bring to a game that other consoles can't. The familiar Fatal Frame combat takes on a whole new dimension because of the GamePad. Koei Tecmo clearly pulled from some of the mechanics introduced in Spirit Camera on 3DS (a Fatal Frame spin-off), but improves upon them greatly. Solid presentation and a gripping storyline will keep players glued to their seats, no matter how scared they might be throughout. The biggest (pun intended!) downside for some fans will be the large install for the game; Maiden of Black Water is over ten gigabytes in size, so make sure to have space available before hitting download. It'll be worth it, though, as this is a can't-miss title on a system that has been relatively light on releases of late. Maiden of Black Water needs to be on everyone's wish list.
There's plenty to see and do in Amiibo Festival, so long as players have the time to invest in unlocking it all. This isn't a challenging title, but that's fine because it's not meant to be one; this is the Animal Crossing version of a party, meaning everyone can come, have fun, and soak in the game's positive and uplifting attitude. Some fans will be irritated by the need to buy so many Amiibo products to get the most out of Amiibo Festival, which is disappointing. Nintendo's previous efforts with the toys have been less demanding, so I guess it was only inevitable that the company would take a more aggressive approach with the line. If Amiibo Festival had more playable animal neighbors right out of the box, even if they weren't the marquee characters like K.K. and Tom Nook, I'd be less agitated, but as it stands Nintendo made a mistake in leaning so heavily on the figurines and cards. It shouldn't take multiple additional purchases to see and enjoy all the familiar characters who define Animal Crossing; it's like playing a Zelda game where Link doesn't show up until his Amiibo is purchased and scanned in later. Not cool. Despite this glaring shortcoming, Amiibo Festival is good, relaxed fun that will be perfect during the holidays and parties with friends.
It's hilarious to me that this version of the game feels the most natural, when it's treated as nothing more than bonus material! The Wii iteration of Rodea comes packed with the first run copies of the game, and Naka himself actually announced on Twitter that he'd like fans to play it, specifically. Was that a subtle indictment of the other two versions of Rodea? Hopefully not, especially because (as you've seen in my reviews of both games) neither is terrible by any stretch of the imagination. That said, playing Rodea on Wii it becomes clear that the system was the true destination for the game. The controls here feel the most natural (though still, sadly, imperfect), taking full advantage of the Wii Remote's excellent motion-sensing capabilities. The Wii version of Rodea feels more unique than either of the other takes, and though it's nowhere near as pretty to look at as the Wii U iteration, it's also packing a respectable presentation. Why the motion controls couldn't have at least been an option for the Wii U Rodea is confusing, and I walked away wishing Naka and company would have given that proposition some more thought before moving forward with the control scheme they ultimately settled upon. I'm pleased that all three Rodea games are available to experience, however, and this bonus disc should act as some compelling frosting for those who choose to buy the game for Wii U.
It's a stunning title that any F-Zero or hyper-fast racing fan will want to play. Shin'en continues to be a developer that delivers the goods almost each and every single time it goes up to the plate, and I really hope that this is a series fans can continue to see more installments of in the future.
Overall, I was shocked by how fun Minecraft is and quickly grew to understand why millions of people around the world have taken to it so strongly. It won't be for everyone, but I highly recommend that anyone looking for something new give it a look.
The best way to sum up Paper Jam as a game: safe. Too safe for its own good.
Had Square not played it so safe, Explorers would be a much better game than it is; as it stands, I'd definitely recommend this one for those who feel the Monster Hunter series is a bit too inaccessible and/or those who love Final Fantasy, but for everyone else, they might be safe to pass on this one in favor of greener pastures elsewhere.
Alphadia isn’t in the same league as a game like Chrono Trigger, but it gets the job done and will scratch the old-school RPG itch in a way that some players will enjoy. For anyone else, it’s likely that Alphadia will feel too archaic and rough to maintain their interest for the duration of the game.
Return to PopoloCrois is one of many excellent RPGs available for 3DS, but please don’t let this wealth of options allow it to get lost in the shuffle.
Twilight Princess HD reaffirms everything that made this game great the first time around. Every element of the title has been refined and improved upon, making it the ultimate version of Twilight Princess.
It's worth a peek, but probably not until it's on sale
Generations is a real gem at this late point in 3DS’s life cycle.
The love and care that Next Level Games put into Federation Force is evident throughout. It’s lush with detail, offering gameplay that is evocative of the Prime series while still establishing its own identity. The game makes no attempt to pretend it isn’t a spin-off of the Metroid series, and I think that if fans can look beyond their own desire for another Samus outing and embrace Federation Force for what it is, they’ll find a very respectful new take on a beloved formula.