Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker Reviews
Perhaps aiming to satisfy a younger audience, Treasure Tracker prefers to drop in a colourful boss-fight or format-breaking set-piece than to push the puzzle designs as hard as they can go. Solving most of these levels is more a matter of following your nose than exercising your brain. Captain Toad also doesn't achieve as reliably perfect a synthesis of puzzle and platforming as Game Boy Donkey Kong did, occasionally failing to fully scratch either itch - though at other times it finds something truly original in the space between them. And there is always that moment when you load up a new level and spin it, beholding another perfect microcosm, made just for you. 18 years on from Super Mario 64, Nintendo's designers are still going further in their exploration of the third dimension than almost anyone else.
Utterly charming on (literally) every level, it may not offer much in terms of fast action but this is just as imaginative and engrossing as any Super Mario game.
Utterly charming on (literally) every level, it may not offer much in terms of fast action but this is just as imaginative and engrossing as any Super Mario game.
Captain Toad's treasure laden levels are bite-sized, stress-free puzzles packed with surprises.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker's clever puzzles and creative take on platforming remain great on Nintendo Switch.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is bound to warm your heart and challenge your intellect.
Everything about Captain Toad is overwhelmingly charming. The soundtrack is solid, with plenty of levels having their own unique themes, as well as a few with familiar tunes from previous games in the Mario franchise thrown in for good measure
Captain Toad is an experience that doesn't attempt to really wow you, but instead delivers consistent puzzle experiences at a rapid pace. There's more Nintendo could have done with it, but it is a puzzler in its purest form, and that will be more than enough for people who wanted more of the titular hero after playing the bonus games in 3D World.
A game that challenges the mind like Treasure Tracker doesn't come around all that often and for that the Wii U console carves out another experience with childlike wonder as the objective, rather than the aesthetic.
Captain Toad returns with his first adventure starring alone for Wii U with a version for 3DS that, although graphically suffer remarkably, proves that it's still a fantastic platforms and puzzles proposal.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Nintendo's continued run of Wii U ports has to have a finite end, but while Switch players are getting games like Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker then its best just to bask in it. Gloriously cheerful, charming and enthralling, it's only diminishing features are its slightly short length and lack of difficulty for seasoned players.
Porting Captain Toad to 3DS might have been a surprise from Nintendo, but it's a very pleasant one. There's naturally some compromises to the game's looks and the 3DS's camera controls aren't always the best, but Captain Toad's adventure holds up really well on the handheld. If you don't own a Wii U or Switch, you won't feel shortchanged by playing on Nintendo's elder statesman of a handheld.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is every bit as charming on Switch as it was on Wii U.
A sweet and relaxing experience based on the Super Mario universe with Toad as our main character. Each level is a puzzle by itself and it needs tons of patience and to be able to play with prospective.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The usual high quality Nintendo level design and charm makes up for the lack of challenge and longevity.
If you own a Switch then there's no real decision to be made here: Captain Toad is still far and away better on Nintendo's latest system. That's not to say the 3DS version is a write-off, though, because that's far from the case. As seemingly one of the final few big-name releases for the system, Captain Toad pushes it to its limits to produce easily one of the best-looking 3DS games ever made. The 3DS may be preparing for retirement, but games like this are ensuring it's going out in a blaze of glory.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a hidden gem from the Wii U era that's been given a new lease of life on the Nintendo Switch, and rightly so. New levels and fresh multiplayer are welcome inclusions but it's a bit of a shame that we've lost four levels as a result – and for no apparent reason. Still, all being said, this is a wonderful and gorgeous puzzler fit for all ages, and one which you should definitely experience if you're yet to.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a rare case of a game that feels truly designed — from the ground up — with the Wii U in mind. The GamePad is utilised just enough to be worthwhile without being a nuisance, and the only mis-step is that the difficulty later in the game can't be eased by assistance from a friend, parent or game-savvy son or daughter. That aside, it's relentlessly charming and joyous, and is another example of Nintendo's developers flexing their creative muscles along with game-making skill. There's nothing else like this on Wii U, and it's a welcome addition to the system's growing library.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a faithful port of the Wii U puzzle game — one that makes no compromises for the entirely handheld experience. Despite some missed opportunities that Nintendo could have latched onto, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a game that shouldn't be missed for anyone looking for a relaxed mental challenge.
I highly recommend this game for casual players and Nintendo fans alike. It's a title that shouldn't be brushed over this holiday season. My only real qualm here is that it feels more like a $30 game than a $40 one, so for those who are on the fence you may want to wait for a price drop.
