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If you are a Wii U only owner, Watch Dogs is a decent buy if you want a GTA-like experience, but I'd wait for a used copy or a price drop. Although the driving hinders the game, good graphics and a decent amount of content make this a good, but uninspired game.
After only fourteen hours playing through Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, I was stunned to see the credits rolling down the screen. After all, the Hoenn region had always been my favorite, and I recalled spending at least thirty hours reaching the end of Emerald the last time I had played it. I figured that since I was tasked to review the newest Pokémon title, I would want to get the review out in a timely manner. As such, I sped through the game trying to get the review up as fast as possible. I was stalled in my mission, however, as after completing the game I began engaging in all the extra content hidden within the Generation III remakes. This is where the Pokémon games have always shined, and continue to shine: Not the content on the surface of the game, although that too is still incredibly addicting, but all the extra content layered underneath.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a game no one asked for. There aren\'t many out there who thought, \"You know what Nintendo should do? They should make a Mario spin-off puzzle game filled with tiny levels where you can\'t jump. You would, of course, control the mushroom guy who tells you the princess is in another castle. He\'s everybody\'s favorite character, after all!\" So naturally, despite the odd concept, the team at EAD Tokyo made something absolutely magnificent out of it anyways.
At the end of the day, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is a very enjoyable game.
Overall, Chariot is another top-tier indie game on the Wii U. A lot of love and care went into this game, and it shows in both the excellent mechanics and audio/visual package.
Throughout my playthrough of Citizens of Earth, I was continually enthralled by all the ideas that went into creating the title. I fell in love with the characters, dialogue, and world. The battle system, meanwhile, captivated me, as it was so perfectly orchestrated. In theory, Citizens of Earth should have been an amazing game, and to a certain extent the game accomplished everything it set out to complete. Unfortunately, however, a few technical errors, along with a few design errors, turned what could have been an amazing experience into one that did not live up to its full potential.
Looking at Underground without knowing anything about its basic concept will probably leave you unimpressed. It does not have great graphics or a great story, but Grendel Games came up with a very cool idea in matters of controls and puzzle game mechanics, hoping that Underground can develop into something bigger than a simple eShop release on Wii U.
Much as we may not like to admit it, Flappy Bird was a legitimately clever game. Taking its extraordinarily simple premise, it wrapped the challenging gameplay in a coat of exceedingly charming paint, masking the constant frustration it ought to have elicited and instead gave players the drive to do better. Within the confines of cheap, too-close-to-Mario sprites and one-note gameplay, it garnered a massive following as people joined together to play with – and against – their friends. Flappy Bird worked because it was simple. It did exactly what it needed to do; had it been any more fancy, any more complicated, any more detailed, it would not have become the phenomenon that it was.
As much as the first hour or so of the game frustrated me, I really grew to love Majora's Mask 3D. The best way to describe the game is to think of the change between Zelda and Zelda II: both are great games, but both play very differently. Although the transition from Ocarina of Time to Majora\'s Mask isn\'t as drastic, at first it really doesn\'t feel like a traditional Zelda game. Maybe that\'s the charm of it though. It's so outside of the box that you don't expect it to flow together at first, but a couple hours in, you come to the realization that not only is this a great Zelda game, it is easily one of the best. Great dungeons, a deep and intricate story, and excellent side quests due to the 3 Day window make for a Zelda game that every 3DS owner should pick up, whether they played the original or not.
At the end of the day, we give Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate our highest recommendation based on our experience, which has been thoroughly outstanding in the short time we\'ve played it. Will it be for you? Who knows, it\'s a niche game if we\'ve ever seen one. But it\'s living proof that niche games can be masterpieces when they are unapologetically designed and crafted around their core gameplay, with little regard for attracting others games\' audience.
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse isn't going to be a game that is mentioned in Game of the Year conversations at the end of the year, but it is a great way to kill some time in a beautifully created world.
Maybe Stick It To The Man is just a simple platformer with only slightly challenging puzzle elements that can be finished in a couple of hours, but thanks to its quantity and quality of humor and jokes, to me it was one of the best eShop experiences I've played on my Wii U.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars insures us that this series is still just fun and addictive as ever. Its new online 'tipping' system is original, and gives gamers more incentive to keep building. While Cross-Platform functionality is limited, you can't argue with getting two games for the price of one.
The Wii U version also supports Off-TV play on the fly, or will show you your sub-missions much like the touch screen does on the 3DS version of the game. While the 3DS version of OlliOlli is very solid, if I had to choose between the two, the Wii U is the clear winner. With (to me) more responsive controls, better graphics and colors, and higher audio quality, the Wii U version manages to outshine the 3DS slightly. All of the other slight frustrations from the 3DS version remain (no cross-save data, some poorly placed obstacles), but as a whole OlliOlli is a great addition to both the Wii U and 3DS library. The Wii U one is just slightly better.
Overall, Code Name Steam is an excellent attempt at a new franchise. The premise of the title itself is promising and unique, while the story and characters, no matter how ridiculous and convoluted, can easily be built upon. Code Name Steam is no Fire Emblem; it lacks the character development, RPG elements, and difficulty variation. Code Name Steam is a good game though, one which can be nurtured into a masterpiece when its sequel is inevitably released.
Trine 2: The Director's Cut was the first time the series appeared on a Nintendo platform, way back at the Wii U\'s launch. Over two years later, we finally get to see the first adventure the three heroes shared – and now we get that tale with significant visual improvements. So how does the game fare? Well, it's not as good as the sequel. Of course it isn't – the sequel improved on practically everything about the original. Even so, that doesn't mean it doesn't share the same beautiful visuals, stunning music, fantastical world, and clever gameplay as its follow up – and that means that it is most certainly worth checking out all the same, and is a great place for newcomers to start.
Mario Party 10 isn't a bad game, but it's not a great game that it should have been for the anniversary of the series.
In the end, Elliot Quest is nowhere near perfect and falls short of the classics it's inspired from. However, it would be unfair to call it a bad game. It's more a mixed bag; you're either going to enjoy the game, or be annoyed with it.
At its core, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is just as good as the original release. Those that missed out on the chance to play through the Wii version will love the incredible world of Xenoblade, the masterfully told story, and the engaging combat system.
BOXBOY! is a solid puzzle game with touches of platforming mixed in that puzzle game fans should check out. It doesn't reinvent the wheel of the genre or leave a lasting impression, but it's a fun way to tease your brain and enjoy some clever puzzle designs. If you don't find yourself enjoying puzzle games, BOXBOY! will probably be a pass for you, but for those of us who enjoy a good challenge, BOXBOY! is a worthy addition to your 3DS eShop library.