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Paper Mario: Color Splash isn't just painting by the numbers. The series still straddles that awkward middle ground between pure RPG and adventure title, but this most recent entry has successfully found a comfortable niche that has silenced many of our prior gripes. Almost everything has been polished to a papery sheen - showcasing some of the series' best writing and presentation to date. Both the battle system and the overall plot are still some of the weaker aspects of the experience unfortunately, though they're moving slowly in the right direction.Simply put, even when we were left unsatisfied by enemy encounters, Prism Island was always a joy to explore, with diverse environments and an endless amount of catchy tunes to keep you engaged from start to finish. It's a game of memorable moments that we would love to share but wouldn't dream of spoiling on you. Take Color Splash for what it is, and you might just find it to be a messy work of art.
Instead of evolving, Yo-kai Watch 2 plays it safe by fusing new content – some good, some trivial, and some bad – onto a recycled frame, and the result is what we refer to as a sophomore slump. There's still a lot here to like, but we can't help but feel that this is an entry only diehard Yo-kai fans will be comfortable purchasing at full price. Some players will love it despite its issues, while others will feel cheated by the flagrant and numerous similarities to its predecessor, as well as become frustrated by its traversal-related blunders. Whichever is the case, it's obvious that this sequel could have been so much more. Now we wait and hope that Yo-kai Watch 3, which is already out in Japan and looks to feature drastic changes, gets localized and steers this incredibly promising series back on track.
Mario Party: Star Rush achieves its goals. It's entertaining, charming and offers some easy-going minigame fun. The main modes have a nice variety and sense of purpose, and aside from two duds the overall offering includes a mix of longer-form and quickfire gameplay options. The free 'Guest' download is a brilliant touch for quick and easy local multiplayer with only one full copy on hand, and even though the minigame collection isn't Nintendo's finest we've enjoyed some light-hearted - and occasionally feisty - games with family and friends.Mario Party: Star Rush may not excel in many ways, but it addresses some complaints from past entries and delivers some harmless entertainment. We're not sure you should rush out to buy it, but it still shows that Mario and company can be stars of a party.
SteamWorld Heist on Wii U is exactly what we expected - a high quality Wii U iteration of a game that was already fantastic on 3DS. The wider field of view and sharper graphics are certainly appealing, and this remains a game that can easily keep players engaged for hour after hour. Image & Form struck gold with its blend of turn-based strategy and skill-based combat, and it's stolen our affections all over again now that it's arrived on Nintendo's home console.
River City: Tokyo Rumble is the epitome of a 'safe' game. While the core mechanics of the gameplay are solid and the graphics are unintrusive, there's little here that stands out as being particularly exceptional. This is the kind of game that's fun to play every once in a while, but doesn't have any characteristics or memorable traits that'll keep you coming back again and again. We certainly give River City: Tokyo Rumble a modest recommendation, but only to fans of the genre or franchise that are looking to get a nostalgic fix. If you're new or indifferent towards brawlers, perhaps less expensive options like the excellent 3D Streets of Rage 2 might be a more fitting purchase.
Drinkbox Studios has another masterpiece to add to its portfolio. With a fantastic atmosphere, a unique combat system that never gets tedious and a perfect difficulty curve, SEVERED is a must-play for Wii U owners. Unlike so many titles where touch controls are shoehorned in, this game makes using the stylus feel perfectly natural. A few frustrating elements are only slight scratches on this feverishly enjoyable experience. This should be fun for anyone, unless you dislike Metroidvania games, corridor action-adventure, and excellent combat.
Word Logic is a very good game for those who enjoy word puzzles; there is plenty of content on offer and the controls are easy to pick up. Unfortunately, a lack of tutorial mode and some difficult puzzles means it may not be suitable for beginners. For those who aren't wordy there isn't much else here, but that's to be expected in a genre like this one. For its target audience, however, and especially with cross-buy included, this is a solid option.
Wind-up Knight 2 is a noble effort with a lovely, whimsical look and tight, reactive gameplay. While it can sink into feelings of repetitiveness at times, there are other moments when stages really click and a grand romp can be had. Fans of runners who don't mind the occasional "gotcha" trap or difficulty spike may very well enjoy this one - most likely in short bursts. Remember: New 3DS only, but if you don't own one the Wii U option is always there.
It's become harder for roguelike games to stand out over the years due to an overpopulated market. As predictable as Quest for Dungeons may be, it is easily one of the superior ones now available on the Wii U eShop. Its quality design makes it easy to pick up and play, and can entertain players for minutes or hours at a time thanks to the unique simultaneous turn-based combat and procedurally generated dungeons. If you're in the mood for yet another roguelike adventure, Quest of Dungeons is a game you should consider.
Gear Gauntlet is based on a very simple premise, and the content that is there is captivating enough to justify playing each level multiple times over. The fast-paced nature of the title and rapid decision making that comes with each movement or action is satisfying when you finally nail a run, though it's certainly challenging. If you enjoy fun but punishing games that can be enjoyed in short bursts, this may be one to take a look at.
Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice is - rather like its predecessor - a solid effort and worth consideration on 3DS. The core campaign blends a variety of styles, with the main stages employing an enjoyable mix of exploration and puzzle solving with moments of satisfying momentum and speed. There are some slightly disappointing downsides, and it's a game that occasionally feels constrained rather than supported by its source material. Overall, however, it deserves credit for what it does well, and should certainly be tempting to fans of the show and also broader Sonic enthusiasts willing to accept its limitations.
All told, Gotta Protectors is a fantastic tower defense / action hybrid that you shouldn't miss out on. There are dozens of maps to conquer, a fully featured level editor, co-op play, stellar presentation and witty writing. If you're looking to get plenty of bang for your buck and want to play something a little different, give this a shot. We'd absolutely recommend you go and download this game, it's infuriatingly addictive and you're sure to have a good time.
Overall, Polara is easily recommended. The game doesn't do anything particularly innovative to attract those who aren't fans of the genre, but anyone willing to give it a try will find a fun core mechanic, accessible gameplay thanks to the controls and checkpoints, and a good bit of replayability. Some minor frustrations and muddy graphics don't detract much from the overall package here. Give it a try if you're looking for an endless runner that does things a bit differently, as it's perfect for quick gaming sessions.
Aenigma Os operates as one would expect a tile-matching game to, but realistically does nothing to set itself apart from the pack. There are many other games available elsewhere that offer this type of experience, and are not half as generic. While there is plenty of content on offer, it should have been condensed into a couple of modes, considering most of them are essentially the same. This isn't a game that grows on you over time, and it's hard to respect the developer's decision to not allow the game to be played on the television screen - not to mention seemingly false promotion of a multiplayer game mode.
As an RPG sequel, Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse is just about perfect. It lets players revisit a familiar world from a new perspective, keeps what made the original so special, and adds in several small but significant mechanical improvements that make for a smoother, better game throughout. We recommend playing through SMTIV first if possible, both to get the most out of Apocalypse and to experience one of the 3DS' finest JRPGs, but however you arrive at it, this is a game that begs to be played. It's a delightfully dark adventure that's dripping with dystopian charm, and between the personable demons, deeply satisfying combat and killer aesthetic, we couldn't get enough — the end times have never been so good.
All told, Ninja Smasher! is a remarkably well put together game; it's very clear that the developers spent a lot of time ensuring that its various elements were carefully tuned. The difficulty curve is almost perfectly judged, the controls are tight, the graphics are simple and effective, and the map is enjoyable to explore. It may be a little on the short side, but we'd highly suggest that you go and pick up Ninja Smasher!. It's an excellent microcosm of how to do a 2D action platformer the right way, and it's quite a steal considering the asking price.
LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens is certainly worth strong consideration for Wii U gamers. It's the most fun we've had with a LEGO game in quite some time, as a matter of fact - smart design, some gameplay variety and a surprisingly impressive amount of content all weigh heavily in its favour. It strikes us as a game that had one of the more experienced and imaginative TT Games teams at the helm, and it charmed and entertained us over a number of hours.Though it's one of the most enjoyable LEGO games we've played recently, it loses a point or two from us simply due to performance issues on Wii U. It struggles to maintain a tolerable framerate in co-op, and even has some tough moments in single player. That's a pity, but we still recommend it overall. This one fails to fully complete its Jedi training on Wii U, ultimately, but it's still strong in the Force.
Picross 3D Round 2 is a gem of a game that's chock full of charm in its presentation. From its music to the reveals in puzzle solutions, the game is an audio and visual delight. As a puzzle game, it's wonderfully challenging with options to tone down the difficulty and tailor the experience. There may still be moments of frustration for some in the larger puzzles, but that's primarily the nature of the game and its requirement of patience. Overall, it's a beautifully crafted and pleasant experience - whether that involves solving plenty of puzzles over a long play period, or shorter sessions for enticing brain exercises.
What hurts Rorrim the most is the lack of imagination and design ideas on the developer's behalf. A game such as this has a lot of potential, but simply creating level after level isn't always enough. It still feels like an unfinished game due to the basic presentation, and has no allure as a result. Functional - but incomplete. If more details and twists were added this game might have been a tad more likable. If you're truly desperate for a new Wii U eShop puzzle or problem-solving game, this might be for you - otherwise it's best to avoid this one.
With an additional patch or two, this title could be a lot better. If there are a few changes to hit detection, the level design and the art assets, Citadale may be able to step out of the shadow of the game series it has been inspired by. In its current state, however, Citadale mimisc the iconic long-running Castlevania series while not reaching those standards. There's nothing terribly wrong with this game, as short-lived as it may be, but the full experience doesn't quite reach its potential - it's worth consideration, nevertheless.