Nintendojo's Reviews
SteamWorld Heist might be small, yet it can compete with heavy weights like Fire Emblem in terms of overall quality. SteamWorld Heist is one of the most well thought-out and fully realized gaming experiences I've had throughout this year. If you're itching for a fantastic turn-based space adventure, look no further.
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.
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.
Guitar Hero Live doesn't want to be your disposable videogame anymore, and it's fine with being in the background. Because like any good song, it knows how to get your attention– even if you thought you weren't listening.
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.
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.
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.
Succinctly summarizing Stella Glow has proven surprisingly difficult. In many ways it feels like your average JRPG strategy game, and in some places it even stumbles over itself with attempts at being cute or sexy. However, there are also enough strong points that really shine through and make the game stand out from the crowd, even if its best features are reminiscent of ideas from more noteworthy titles.
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.
It's such a shame that Tri Force Heroes falls as short as it does.
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 fun in spurts, but overall a disappointment that hopefully doesn't consign this series to years in limbo.
Putting all these aspects together leaves us with a game that strangely feels almost like it is less than the sum of its parts. The gameplay features some unique concepts that are frequently fun, but at the same time weapons made to further enhance the combat just let it down. The game's aesthetic is also very well done and yet another example of great retro inspired design, but it is betrayed by the color selection of all things. These might seem like small complaints, but together they contributed to a general lack of interest on my part. Even with everything Extreme Exorcism does right, I never really felt the need or desire to come back; I played it, I kind of enjoyed it, but nothing makes me want to hop back in. Maybe others will feel different, but ultimately Extreme Exorcism is a game with some good ideas, a few noticeable flaws, and the absence of that one thing that can make a good game great.
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!
Devil's Third is not a complete disaster, but the troubled development process left us with a phantom of what this game truly was supposed to be. With that being said, I've had a lot of fun with what we got. Devil's Third is a rough experience with a lot of faults, but yet fun enough for a couple of sittings. This sword is unpolished, but it gets the job done.
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.
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.
An enjoyable game with some great ideas, unfortunately marred by some unforgivable glitches and gameplay physics that don't give it that final polish needed to keep up with the big boys.
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.
With 100 single-player levels, Badland: Game of the Year Edition is a worthy single-player romp on the Wii U, if you don't mind a little frustration every now and then. But with 100 co-op levels—not to mention 27 multiplayer deathmatch stages—it's a perfect addition to your multiplayer arsenal. So long as you're okay with senseless clone death.