The best retro throwbacks rise above their influences to become something endearing of their own accord. Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse does just that, with quality and production values that rival many AAA releases.
With level breakdowns that make the long console levels more manageable, strong use of 3D, and some creative additions, the 3DS version of The Force Awakens delivers in a way that just barely edges out its console brethren.
Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens feels designed to quell even the loudest detractors of the Lego games. With increased level variety, new gameplay additions and excellent, original dialogue, the title gives Star Wars fans plenty of reasons to revisit the franchise.
Lego Marvel's Avengers is a wonderful recreation of the source material. Fans of the Marvel Studios films will be happy to know that the trademark humor they've come to expect from both Marvel and Lego remains intact. Unfortunately, the game never quite reaches the same heights as its predecessor, Lego Marvel Super Heroes. Still, the title is fun to play, and for Marvel fans aren't sick of the Lego formula at this point, there's quite a bit to enjoy.
Kirby: Planet Robobot delivers, with a wonderful experience for Kirby fans of all ages. The game’s controls, sound, and visuals are pitch perfect, and the gameplay is classic Kirby. It’s over a little too quickly, but the pink puffball’s adventures have never overstayed their welcome. It’s a small gripe for an otherwise fantastic game.
Pokkén Tournament is a very solid Pokémon spin-off. Giving players the chance to actually control the pocket monsters themselves in battle has long been something fans have wanted to see, and this title certainly provides.
There are plenty of nitpicks that can be made about Mega Man Legacy Collection, but at its core, the title is a compilation of some of the best games of the 8-bit era. While there have been plenty of other ways to acquire these games in the past, it's impossible not to give the game a high recommendation. There's a reason the Blue Bomber has proven so enduring. Fans new to the series and those that have yet to experience the games will find a lot to love.
Lego Marvel's Avengers is a wonderful recreation of the source material, it's fun to play and the trademark humor fans have come to expect from the series remains intact. Unfortunately, the game's short length makes it a little difficult to recommend for most seasoned gamers.
Yo-Kai Watch might not be Pokémon, but it doesn't have to be. Level-5 and Nintendo have delivered a world filled with enough humor and charm that it stands more than well enough on its own. The game has some minor issues, but nothing is ever significant enough to trump what Yo-Kai Watch does so well. RPG veterans won't find the journey all that difficult, but younger fans and the young at heart will find plenty to love.
The negatives never hurt Whispering Willows enough to outshine the positives. The title is a perfect match for gamers looking for the kind of survival horror title that the genre was founded on. The game might not offer the same kind of jump scares as titles like Resident Evil, but with a story inspired by the real-life cruelty of history, Whispering Willows might actually be scarier.
If you're a fan of the Jurassic Park films and you aren't sick of the Lego formula, Lego Jurassic World is a great title.
Gunman Clive 2 is everything a fan of the original game could want: it improves on an already strong framework, without feeling like a rehash. For the price, this is simply one of the best platformers available on the Nintendo 3DS. Gunman Clive 2 proves that Hörberg Productions' first game was no fluke. The first title felt like an homage to some of the better games from yesteryear, but the sequel proves that the developer has established a unique voice for the franchise moving forward. I truly hope we'll get to see this franchise continue to grow in the near future.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is fun, but flawed. It doesn't deliver a very unique experience, nor does it at all deliver a faithful adaptation of the film it's supposed to be based on. But as a longtime Spider-Man fan, I still had a really good time with it.
Everything about LEGO Marvel Super Heroes feels like a labor of love from TT Games. While it could have easily cut down on the amount of content and created just as successful a title, it instead built something far bigger. The result is a game filled with diverse playable characters, a New York City that feels ripped out of the comics and sights and sounds that bring the whole thing to life.
If you were a fan of the NES original, DuckTales: Remastered is the definition of a must-own title. The game faithfully recreates the NES original while sprucing up the visuals, modernizing the music quality and even adding a couple new levels.