Nintendojo's Reviews
I could go on and on with praises for Outer Wilds. The atmosphere, the sound design, the score, the overwhelmingly amazing attention to detail, clever puzzle design, the story. It is magical. Outer Wilds is a must on Switch. Yūgen is a Japanese concept that doesn’t have a direct English translation. It varies, but I particularly like this definition: “an awareness of the universe that triggers an emotional response too deep and powerful for words.” After looking away from my Switch screen once the final credits of the (main) ending finished only to find myself back on Earth in a room that felt too small to contain something intangible, I took a quiet moment to pause and reorient myself in this reality. I think I need some time on the roof to stargaze for a while.
Whether you played the 2004 version of Mario vs. Donkey Kong or are just stepping into the series, I recommend giving this remake a go. It’s a fun game that feels great to play and offers a good challenge, and because it was a game initially made for GBA, it’s good for pick-up-and-play bursts. It’s also a nice change of pace from typical Mario games, and a great example of the sort of creative, unique titles that came out of the GBA era (and have aged well).
Palia is a wonderful game with so much potential. It does almost everything I wish other similar games had done, and really well. It’s easy to get lost for hours, so definitely make sure it’s your day off or something before picking this up. Also, make sure you have a stable internet connection. Since it is an MMO it unfortunately does not offer offline play, which is probably the only bad part of the title. I’m eager to continue the storyline as well as increase my skill levels and friendships with the NPCs. I highly recommend Palia to anyone looking for a new cozy game.
It's rare that a developer can not only capture the magic of 8-bit classics, but improve upon them, but Shovel Knight does exactly that. This game is a true classic, and hopefully the first of many more to come from Yacht Club Games. Bravo.
If you never had the chance to play Grim Fandango when it first released or are due for a return visit, give Remastered a download.
Resident Evil’s flaws are every bit as glaring today as they were back in 2002. The controls, the awkward camera and the game’s item management are all sources of irritation. And yet, despite these issues, Resident Evil HD is still an undeniable classic. No other survival horror game has managed to channel the same compelling level of tension.
Terraria is at its best as a single-player experience, and in that regard the Switch version is a great port of that most important part. If you’ve never played the game before- or you have and you’d like it on your Nintendo console- this is definitely worth a look. Just keep in mind that, for now at least, it’s pricier here than you’ll find it on mobile or PC.
The only real flaw of Stick it to the Man is that it's too short. While I don't usually mind short experiences, I was a bit disappointed to finish such a fantastic game in three hours and have absolutely no incentive to replay any level.
Buying the Skylanders Trap Team Starter Set probably won't be enough for you. Again and again, you'll run into times when you wish you had just a little more cash to buy that colored trap, or that Skylander. But more than any Skylanders game before it, Trap Team makes you feel good about your purchases– even if it's your kid that gets to enjoy them.
Velocity 2X has online leaderboards to keep players coming back for more, and with the inclusion of all previously released DLC as part of this Switch iteration of the game, this represents the most complete version of the title to date. It’s not an especially long experience, but length isn’t always the objective of a given game, nor is it always an indicator of quality. Velocity 2X is a delightful addition to the eShop exactly as is.
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.
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.
This game needs to be in every Wii U owner's collection. The replay value, from playing to collecting and unlocking everything, is almost endless. And it's going to be pretty hard to not want to play this game endlessly. This is a title that players will keep coming back to for years to come.
Overall, Treasure Tracker is a real gem of a game.
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.
MK8 is easily a top three contender for best Wii U game. Outside of a few niggling oddities and small blemishes, the pure bliss of soaring across MK8's wonderful courses is as close to gaming perfection as it gets.
EDGE is truly something special. The game oozes creativity and constantly introduces awesome concepts that keep you entertained. The whole experience lends itself perfectly to a pick up and play format, and can be highly addicting when trying to set the best time possible. EDGE's innovative gameplay, coupled with its fantastic level design, easily makes it one of my favorite games on the eShop thus far.
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.
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.
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.