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Dual Core is proof positive that a game should not be judged by its price tag. A satisfyingly long story mode, which takes about five or six hours to complete, coupled with an incredibly addictive arcade mode and a fun - if a bit underwhelming - versus mode make this one a must-have for Wii U owners.If you're a fan of twin-stick shooters you should absolutely give Dual Core a look.
ASH is an RPG that gives a minimal experience into the genre. Its character interactions with each other and its world are slightly entertaining. The story, as tried and true a formula as it presents, is intriguing in its own way thanks in part to its characters. That said, unfortunately, its gameplay and overall presentation, including its narrative, are not unique enough to warrant spending time with. The game breaking glitch that happens some hours into the experience ensures that too.
Like most RPGs in the Kemco stables, Justice Chronicles does just what it sets out to: recreate the glory days of console JRPGs filtered through a modern, mobile-inspired lens. And while there's no masterful writing or great innovation at play here, an interesting battle system and tried-and-true gameplay loop means that Justice Chronicles succeeds as a slice of low-priced comfort gaming. It doesn't do much to stand out in the 3DS' library of JRPGs — already flooded with some of the finest examples of the genre in recent history — but if you've played the best and are still left with the need to save the world in a turn-based fashion, this is a thoroughly decent choice.
The concept of B3: Game Expo for Bees is imaginative, but it leaves a sting of disappointment. What's there can be amusing while it lasts, but the sum total doesn't really feel like a full game. Developer Famous Gamous definitely shows a healthy spark of creativity and potential, but there's a want for more rooms, more items, more puzzles, and more varied goals and challenges. Still, it's better to want more than less, and it might be worth it to pick this title up sometime on a sale or whim.
WordsUp! Academy will please those who are savvy and quick with words; for others, however, it can be frustrating. It's recommended for those who want to build up their skills in this area, though a few glances at a dictionary will certainly be needed when this one shows off its vocabulary.
Run Run and Die may look deceptively cute, but with a title like that we suppose we've only got ourselves to blame for underestimating its difficulty. It doles out death by the bucket-load, but its major flaw is that it rarely makes it feel like the player's fault. The windows of timing are too narrow, the camera angles work against you, obstacles pop up out of nowhere and it all piles up into an extremely frustrating experience with little else to show for it. It's cheap, fast, and designed to make you angry. Sounds fun? Well, it's your funeral...
Digger Dan DX is a good game for those who want something non-committal to fill a few moments. You can play a level or two at a time, which serves well for occasions when you want something light to play. Despite its simple exterior, there is a surprisingly amount of gameplay to be had thanks to the 100 levels and the replayability factor of finding all the gold stars. Digger Dan DX is well worth its price tag, and recommended for puzzle gamers especially.
Kick & Fennick has an appealing concept to getting around that is backed up with terrific physics. At its best, the game is quite fun in a way that must be felt to believe. Bouts of repetitive level design and a lack of motivating plot can bog it down at times, but fans of Portal-style gameplay can still find a good deal to enjoy.
We give this game a recommendation - 16-bit RPGs don't get much better than this and it's one that RPG fans won't want to miss out on.
Super Strike Beach Volleyball does well to bring together engaging gameplay and charming visuals to provide a family-friendly experience on the digital beaches of the 3DS. While the gameplay may be limited to several modes of what is essentially the same game, there is enough challenge and strategy involved to make it worth pursuing and returning to for repeat plays through. It's not without its faults, but Super Strike Beach Volleyball is a fun and worthy addition to any family of games.
Having been ported from mobile devices, Dan McFox: Head Hunter is understandably simple, straightforward, and best suited to shorter play sessions, but there's fun to be had just as long as you like the core concept. Using an expanded version of 'Guess Who?' to hunt down wacky criminals is a suitably light-hearted way to pass a few moments, with online leaderboards and SpotPass challenges bulking things up a little with a competitive slant. What you see is pretty much what you get, so as long as you aren't expecting a real spy thriller then the price is just about right on this one.
8Bit Hero is a workable game on a technical level, with only a few control and rule choices holding it back. What may be the bigger problem for it, though, is finding the spark in it that gets one to keep playing.
Kirby: Planet Robobot takes a lot of the good work of Kirby: Triple Deluxe and adds a mechanised spark to proceedings. The addition of Kirby in a mech is good, silly fun, and there's pleasing variety to stage designs - HAL is on good form here, with puzzles and vehicular sections in particular that enhance the overall experience. The Story Mode itself is excellent, and the extra minigames then give players more to do, not to mention the task of finding and unlocking all of the items (and stickers) in the campaign to get that 100% completion statistic.There's a lot of Kirby for your money here, and the pink fluffball is at the top of his game.
Ultimately, 6-Hand Video Poker is a poor attempt at bringing the video poker experience to the home. The game makes absolutely no attempt to motivate the player to continue playing, so mileage is entirely dependent upon how much you enjoy winning meaningless hands of cards against a few randomly generated opponents. Couple that with the barebones presentation and you have a game that has little to no appeal. Unless you absolutely must play poker on your Wii U, we'd recommend you skip this one. You can probably easily find a free equivalent online, and it wouldn't have to do much to be more feature heavy and exciting than this.
Although Color Symphony 2 introduces an original idea, it needs to work on some aspects in order to draw the player in. The story needs to be fleshed out more, and extra variation in graphics and audio would work wonders to stop the game feeling repetitive. Those who enjoy puzzle platformers will enjoy the premise (at least for a little while), but this could do much more to reel in a wider audience.
As a free app that provides an incentive to explore amiibo, Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge is a good effort. It offers a nice taster for those with non-Mario-themed toys, with 12 levels to tackle, and adds enjoyable twists and extra content for those with the correct figures. It's a fun if not premium experience, with some rather uninspired level designs mixed in with moments of greater quality - for amiibo fans it's well worth a look.
Without its problems, Escape from Flare Industries would likely feel much too short for some, but still has the potential to be a fine little title for anyone seeking a quick and retro-feeling jaunt. It's pleasant when it works; it's just a shame Splat suffers from more than one frustrating bug. Even with its bright eyes and squishy smile, we can't recommend this to anyone until it's recalled and patched.
Sweetest Thing leaves a lot to be desired. Fans of the time management genre may find a modicum of enjoyment, but it just seems like 'My Kingdom for the Princess' reskinned to include candy. The game gives it all away upfront, so once you have played the first couple of levels there isn't much more to discover; it proves to be mundane after a while. Approach this one with caution.
On one level Tachyon Project is quite a cruel game, making old writers with slowing reflexes question their gaming abilities. More importantly, though, it's enjoyable and represents the work of a development team committed to producing a quality download title. From solid mechanics and smart gameplay to online leaderboards and neat touches like stat tracking, it immediately sets its stall as a game worth investing in.Though there are a few flaws and the difficulty level makes it a game for those with fast thumbs, Tachyon Project is well worth consideration on Wii U. For fast-paced twin-stick shooting action there aren't many better options on the eShop.
The Deer God is beautiful. Sadly, that beauty is only skin deep. Poor design choices take away from fantastic visuals that really have to be seen. With the right level of polish, this could have been one of our favourite indie games on Wii U.Instead, clumsy quest design, repetitive environments and poor performance ensure The Deer God will be remembered as little more than eye candy.