With the launch of Miitomo today on the Apple and Android app stores, Nintendo has officially ventured into the mobile game market! Promising to release content exclusive to the mobile…
A well known fact around these parts is that I love me some Skylanders. Sure, they’re targeted for younger gamers, but the games and the toys have done nothing but capture my attention (and wallet) since they first came out back in 2011. What started out as a fun way to incorporate real world toys into a video game has become a genre all in itself. And, what’s better, each game has subsequently added more depth to the core gameplay, something I was honestly quite shocked to find in a game for kids. The prior entry, Trap Team, was by far the best game in the entire series, with tons to do, lots of cool new Skylanders to play, and a legitimately entertaining storyline and gameplay. The latest model, Superchargers, adds vehicles for the Skylanders to use in their quest to stop Kaos. While it’s not the strongest entry in the series, Superchargers represents the biggest departure from the series’ core gameplay to date. And the results…
Without question I consider myself a Nintendo fan. Compared to any other developer, I spend most of my time playing and/or getting excited for what I will soon be playing on my Nintendo Wii U or 3DS. Some experiences can only be on PS4 and what not like last year’s Fallout 4, but with Nintendo I have always felt they’ve done something special with their games… they’ve remained fun! Throughout the years and even during the short time I’ve been on this blog I’ve seen a handful of Marios, Zeldas, Pokemons, and many other Nintendo greats come and go. They’ve consistently been what I expect and then some, but nothing has been wholly “new” (with the exception of last year’s Splatoon.). After seeing Thursday’s Nintendo Direct, I’m excited for what the future holds: more of the same great faces Nintendo has always offered. But is that enough? Should Nintendo be focusing on something new rather than giving the fans more of the same? Hmm… (more…)
The burning question after the release of Fire Emblem Fates was certainly which version to buy, Conquest or Birthright. Playing through the game’s first couple chapters it was clear to see the Nohr of the Conquest game were more in line with the “bad guy” mentality, and the Hoshido of Birthright were the “good guys”, but neither side was a paragon of either. You’ll have to play both games to fully understand and experience the entire story of Fire Emblem Fates. At first thought this seems like a gimmick for Nintendo to make more money of its loyal fanbase, but seeing how the game has played out so far from just one side of the tale, I’m aching to even get a glimpse of what would have occured had I chosen the other! And before you click to read any more, yes, the game is great and wholly worth your time! (more…)
Crossovers are noteworthy for bringing together two unlikely universes into one. Normally you wouldn’t find the likes of Spider-Man teaming up with Ryu, but that’s what has been happening in Capcom’s acclaimed Marvel vs. Capcom series for years. It makes for a game that appeals to two target audiences at once. So what happens when a game crosses over with pretty much the same game only made of paper? Well, you get Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam on the Nintendo 3DS. Combining Nintendo’s two RPG series’ headlined by the famous Mario, Paper Jam still appeals to the two target audiences by successfully capturing what made the Mario & Luigi series noteworthy and what made the Paper Mario games standout for all this time. It’s also a fun, and surprisingly challenging, game!
One of the best things video games can do is bring people together. Multiplayer has been around for decades, and with a general shift toward online multiplayer being the only way to play with others, local multiplayer and party games have been declining. Despite this, some of the greatest video games created were made specifically with local multiplayer in mind. Recently Nintendo seems to be the only publisher making games to fit in this genre, but there have been dozens of games released over the past years that exemplify the party genre. Here is my list of the ten greatest party games ever! (more…)
It's been months since I was able to get behind my desktop, record some voiceover, edit a heck of a lot of video, and make a new review, but here…
By now the formula for a Skylanders game shouldn’t surprise anyone: you purchase/use toys in the real world to use the digital version in the game world. Gameplay is your standard action RPG blend of combat, level progression, light puzzles, and boss battles capping off each stage and world. I was pretty happy with the very first game, but thought after Giants came out the following year that the fad was done. Surprisingly, Swap Force released and it was somehow the best game in the series. Well surely after three games Activision and Toys For Bob have put all they could into the game and couldn’t possibly make it any better, right? Hmmm… (more…)
Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion XL Wii Release Date: November 15th, 2011 Purchased at: GameStop (Cupertino, CA - $5) While looking at games on the shelf, sometimes I have to…
I’m happy Nintendo keeps revisiting the idea of multiplayer Zelda games. If you haven’t played any of the Four Swords games before (which I can totally believe, because getting together four people with a Game Boy Advance and Link Cable each, and a copy of the Gamecube game is challenging) then you’re actually missing out on something special. When there are multiple Link’s on the screen, vying for the same items, rupees, and points, things get chaotic. And it’s not like any other Zelda game, because the puzzles are totally different, the gameplay can take interesting twists not seen in other games, and it still remains Zelda and it is still fun!
Coming later this year is The Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes for the Nintendo 3DS. A multiplayer focused portable Zelda game isn’t anything new, but the way this game feels and the odd-yet-familiar approach to gameplay and puzzles certainly is. I was able to get a hands-on with the game during PAX Prime 2015 and have some thoughts to share with you on the newest entry in the classic series. (more…)