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Valve shook up the puzzle genre with the critically acclaimed Portal and its even better sequel Portal 2. With that precedent set, Toxic Games did their homework in an effort to capture a similar feel with their literally out-of-this-world puzzle-title, Q.U.B.E Director's Cut. With this newly-released version, the game has finally made its way to the Wii U. With a new-story elements and various other improvements, how does this interstellar brain-twister hold up?
Year Walk is a game I thought I was going to love, but I just merely like it. It's not a bad game by any means, and I think some fans of both dark art and horror will enjoy this game much more than I did, but for me, I have to hark back to that abstract art analogy I used earlier. You either "get it" or you don't, and for me, Year Walk was just not the game for me.
Overall, Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer proves to be a substantial disappointment for the franchise. Yes, the game does make large strides in the designing element of Animal Crossing, but it fails to create any sort of experience that is even remotely engaging or captivating. Sure, the series' charm, wit, and quirky dialogue is still all there; though, unfortunately at the end of the day (yes, many will probably finish off the game within a day), manyy players will be left scratching their heads wondering why they ever spent $40 on this cash-in Animal Crossing title.
It is difficult to get across just what Extreme Exorcism is; the mix of different genres makes it hard to explain the basics. Perhaps the best explanation is that it plays like an arcade version of a brawl game, yet is controlled like a platformer game with shooting elements. It is quite complex to explain, yet so easy to grasp.
So should you buy The Swindle? Absolutely; the game is, quite simply, fun. It has real stakes, and that makes every jump, every break in, every move all the more intense. With great gameplay, great visuals, and great music, it's hard not to suggest The Swindle; just keep in mind that it has got some issues, and it is not for the faint of heart.
Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash is a solid game that was a very entertaining experience. It's not a ground breaking revolution in gaming, but not every game has to be. It's fun, easy on the eyes, and the gameplay is very well crafted. It's a shame that Nintendo said this could be Chibi's last adventure if this game doesn't sell well, because I think this is the most enjoyable Chibi-Robo game yet. If you plan on picking it up, do yourself a favor and get the amiibo bundle. Even though I'm not the biggest amiibo fan, the quality on the Chibi-Robo amiibo figurine is outstanding. If you are looking for a quality 2D adventure, and enjoy being a completionist, Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash should be on your radar. Chibi whips it, and he whips it good!
Indie games are certainly very unique. Since the majority of the studios behind these titles are very small, the developers are free to come up with any idea and execute it as they see fit. After all, it is their creation. With that in mind, I'm not one to knock anyone's creative ability; however, I will say that there are some things that are better left as more of an inside joke than an actual public release, and that's exactly how I feel about STARWHAL .
Overall, Yoshi's Woolly World is a "Nintendo" game at its finest. The game not only draws in gamers with a captivating art-style and excellent soundtrack, but it also keeps them engaged with spectacular and diverse gameplay elements. Fortunately, Yoshi's Woolly World packs in a wealth of options too, which accommodate new players as well as Nintendo veterans alike. While it may seem that Nintendo has a relatively sparse Wii U lineup for this fall, Yoshi's Woolly World is a pristine example that sometimes quality should be valued over quantity.
With all this said, Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water is easily one of my favorite Wii U games to date. It feels like an old-school horror game but has the modern twists such as GamePad use and HD graphics to make it stand out in the gaming world today. It's a shame that this game didn't get a physical release, because I fear that it might hurt sales for this game. Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water is a must own title for Wii U owners, and horror fans in general might want to pick up a Wii U just for this game – it's that good.
Understandably Triforce Heroes was designed for 3-player play and the fact that Nintendo still managed to deliver a single player mode is quite welcomed. However, traditional fans of the series going into Triforce Heroes expecting a single player experience as satisfying as past games will find themselves disappointed. The game isn't meant to be a traditional Zelda experience, it's a fresh new formula designed for those on the go or who are seeking a more social experience with the Zelda franchise. If you're looking for some fun and hectic gaming moments with your friends then Triforce Heroes along with its clever puzzles, fun visuals and beautiful soundtrack is sure to please. For those interested in the game because of its Zelda association just be prepared for a less fulfilling experience than you're used to.
In the end, Race the Sun is definitely a title that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the infinite-runner genre.
Whispering Willows is by no means a masterpiece, but it is a beautiful world and an engaging atmosphere that unfortunately is wrapped in undeveloped gameplay and a not very compelling story. Still; it's an experience with a lot to offer for those with a love of eerie and beautiful games.
All in all, I had a decent time with Slender: The Arrival. It won't go down as one of my favorite horror games, but the experience was a fun one while it lasted. It's a bit short and there's not a ton of replay value, but Slender: The Arrival offers enough scares and at a budget price, is a no brainer for horror fans.
Though Yo-Kai Watch does borrow a lot from the Pokemon franchise, the game does strike out a spot for itself in the monster-collecting market. The game is still really fun to play, and the feeling of collecting and discovering new Yo-Kai is exhilarating. The game has tons upon tons of cut-scenes, and does not have random enemy encounters, which makes it so much easier to get through dungeons without facing the same exact Yo-Kai again and again. Sure, Yo-Kai Watch definitely has places to improve, like its multiplayer and depth, but overall Yo-Kai Watch is more than worthy of a purchase.
Human Resource Machine is great. The gameplay is superb, finding the perfect middle ground between complex riddles/simple solutions wrapped in an stellar set of gameplay systems. The visuals are expectedly gorgeous, clever, and unique. The music is stellar, and the story, world, and characters are engaging. There's even some well done humor thrown in. The puzzles may get too complex at times, but Human Resource Machine is a game anyone with an interest in challenging puzzlers should play.
Stella Glow is a good strategy game for the 3DS that I can easily recommend for those whose enjoy the genre or are fans of the game's developer. However, it is far from a perfect experience. The frequent use of cliches, the lack of speed, and few difficulty options alongside other flaws keep Imageepoch's latest work from being a memorable experience.
In closing, Typoman does offer a fresh idea and experience to the puzzle-platforming genre. It succeeds in striking a dark, cold and lonely atmosphere that even made me feel uncomfortable at times thanks to its visuals and audio. Players who love puzzles will be rewarded with stimulating and fulfilling challenges but may struggle with the sections that demand high precision platforming and timing. With a bit more polish to the difficulty curve, cheap deaths and controls I would love to see Typoman return in another adventure.
While the cinematics and storyline are fairly eyebrow raising and interesting, the rest of the game is a broken platter of inedible stale pastries.
Overall, Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival is an embarrassment of a game. I was already disappointed with Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer, the other AC spin-off title that released this fall, but Amiibo Festival far overshoots its predecessor in terrible design and gameplay. The only reason to even look at this game on a store shelf would be for the amiibo inside. But then, I would implore you to import the amiibo rather than give Nintendo money for this terribly made title. Nintendo fans need to speak with their wallet, and I beg of them to make a statement that terrible cash-ins, such as Amiibo Festival, will not be tolerated.
Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash is a wonderful looking game with very little substance.