Category Archives: Game Reviews
Trine 2: Director’s Cut (Wii U) review: A lesson to third party developers
If you haven’t played Trine 2 already and you’ve got Nintendo’s new home console hooked up to your HDTV then you’re in luck. Arguable the best version of Trine 2 is available on the Wii U, with all the DLC from the PC version and some new bells and whistles.
Trine 2 is a solid game filled with physics based puzzles that will wreck your brain with a dash of simple but fun combat. Not to mention the well crafted, devilishly difficult levels that are expertly designed for your platforming pleasure.
You play as three different heroes, a Thief, a Magician and a Warrior. Each of them have their own unique abilities, strengths and weaknesses. They fit together as a group because of a mystical artifact called the Trine. If you haven’t played previous games in the serious you won’t be missing out on too much story. All you really need to know about the Trine is that it brings our three heroes together and sometimes gets them out of tight situations.
Nano Assault Neo review
After years of making the best of the limited selection of shmups on the Game Boy Advance (Iridion series) and Nintendo DS (Nano Stray series), German game developer Shin’en is at it again with Nano Assault Neo on Nintendo’s shiny new home console. This is a much prettier, more well presented game adaptation of last year’s release on Nintendo 3DS. You can trust Shin’en when it comes to shmups and they don’t disappoint with their first title on the Wii U.
You control a nanite ship as you vanquish bacteria and other viruses on spherical worlds, planet-like levels. Imagine the stage design of the Mario Galaxy series combined with Super Stardust Delta. This twin stick shooter does what many other games have done over the past few years, but it does it better and with a more interesting setting.
Each stage plays out on a living cell as if you were viewing it under a microscope. This is a refreshing setting for a shmup to say the least. All shots fired follow the shape of the living cell you’re playing on which is something new to the shmup genre. You can move your nanite ship with the left analog stick while firing with (you guessed it) the right analog stick. The right trigger will fire a limited use weapon.
New Super Mario Bros U review: Not all that new
Is New Super Mario Bros U really “new”? We set out to find that answer as it laid captive in a castle, caged by Bowser and company. There is a lot of nice things in New Super Mario Bros U, a few of them entirely new. A majority of this package is content you’ve probably experienced before on the Wii, DS, or 3DS though this Wii U version sports a very nice coat of paint.
Mario and his crew (Luigi, two Toads and your Mii depending on the mode) are determined to get back to Peach’s castle to rescue her from Bowser yet again. I appreciate that the game goes about the way Peach is kidnapped in a slightly different way as Bowser doesn’t take Peach anywhere, he takes over her castle instead.
You probably play 2D Mario games for the level design and I can tell you that you won’t be disappointed. Some of the levels are the most cleverly crafted stages I’ve seen in recent Mario platformers. The stage design puts New Super Mario Bros 2 to shame and occasionally challenges the classics like Super Mario Bros 3.
Worms Revolution review: More Evolution than Revolution
Some video game series in particular are criticized for being stagnant more than others. These series consist of many including Super Mario Bros, Legend of Zelda and Call of Duty. Big game franchises that no matter what they’re guaranteed to upset loads of fans with each installment for not changing up their formula enough.
Worms has been lucky and has a pretty level-headed fan base. The 2D and 3D Worms games are really all we need from the IP. We don’t need a gritty dudebro Worms FPS or a Worms RPG that lets you choose whether you have a romantic relationship with the nerdy alien worm or the strong humanoid worm. Maybe a Worm’s platformer in the vein of Conker’s Bad Fur Day would be acceptable but I’d rather not run the risk.
Worms fans know what the series does right and I don’t think anyone wants it to change, at least not dramatically. The title of the game, Worms Revolution, may imply some sort of table up-ending changes but rest assured this is the same game you already know and love.
Cave Story 3D review
You’re probably familiar with Cave Story. You may have played it before, possibly a free version on PC. This timeless, stellar game from Pixel has been released on many platforms. It just received it’s second release on the Nintendo 3DS when Cave Story hit the eShop in all of it’s 8-bit 2D glory.
But do you remember Cave Story 3D? The game that was suppose to make the original even better with overhauled graphics and exciting new content? I don’t blame if you missed it because it got lost in the shuffle during the holiday shopping season last year. Games like Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7 and Sonic Generations were getting the attention of 3DS gamers so you may have missed this 3D remake of the classic game.
You could opt for the $10 eShop version but don’t scoff at Cave Story 3D. It’s quite possibly the best version of the game that you can buy. I know Cave Story purists will detest the absence of the original 2D graphics but as a whole Cave Story 3D is still the same great game just with 3D environments, characters and some new music.
I won’t bore you with the details about Cave Story’s mechanics or story. You probably already know those if you’re reading this review. Cave Story 3D (obviously) retains the same amazing, mysterious story and is a great spin on the classic Metroid-vania formula. Boss fights are difficult but engaging, and the multiple twists in the plot keep you guessing.
The real struggle with Cave Story 3D is whether it is worth the extra money over the eShop version.
Sonic Adventure 2 HD review
There was a time when 3D Sonic games weren’t terrible all the time. Fans have debated over where Sonic games started going downhill for years, and I’m of the belief that once the Dreamcast died the franchise took a turn for the worse. The hedgehog’s games have improved recently with Colors, Generations, and the Rush series, and Adventure 2 stands the test of time as the last really good 3D Sonic.
But back in 2001 Sonic Adventure 2 was a big deal. It was a great swan song for the dying Dreamcast and received an exceptional GameCube port a year later. But did it age as well as other SEGA classics like Jet Set Radio and NiGHTS?
Sonic Adventure 2 HD has an average story mode that is split into two distinct sides. One side has you playing as the Heroes, aka Sonic, Knuckles and Tails. The other has you playing the “Dark” side as Shadow, Rouge, and Eggman. There are dozens of levels in the game and the overall hubworld from Sonic Adventure is gone.
While it is a very nice touch that the game allows you to play through it’s campaign from the perspectives of the villains as well as the good guys the execution is flawed. The dark story missions are somewhat remixed versions of levels from the Hero story.
Jet Set Radio HD review
Playing Jet Set Radio in 2012 makes you think of all the things you dislike about the video game industry today. That isn’t to say the HD version of this Dreamcast classic provokes angry feelings, though you will throw your controller down in frustration during some of the more difficult missions.
What Jet Set Radio HD represents is a time that gaming was more open to experimental, wacky games. Unique concepts like Seaman and inventive takes on established genres like Typing of the Dead were pouring out of SEGA’s last home console when Jet Set Radio originally released. Playing Jet Set Radio makes you wish there was as much creativity in the industry today as there was then.
If you somehow missed the original game and it’s Xbox sequel ten years ago then shame on you but that isn’t much of a surprise. The game was overlooked by many when it was a brand new series.
Tokyo-to’s got numerous gangs called rudies who use magnetic inline skates to travel to the craziest locations in the city to spread their graffiti. You play as the GG’s, and there are other gangs trying to dominant Tokyo-to with their tagging skills so you’ve got some stiff competition. In addition to this there is a mysterious group kidnapping members of your rival gangs and the police are hot on your tail at all times.
