Scott Romeyn
Ask me what the best experience is on the Wii U and I would tell you Smash Bros. in a heartbeat. After a long winter of Nintendo titles that didn't quite hit the high note that people expected, Smash Bros. makes up for any shortcomings Nintendo has had in recent years. You don't even have to be a fan of fighting games to love Super Smash Bros. because it's a genre of its own. Its Nintendo's finest hour and I'll still be enjoying this game long after %100 completion.
I have to admit that this is arguably the best game on Wii U. Mario Kart 8 brings all the frustrating fun and friendly chaos that has been expected from the series, but this iteration is much more refined and well-toned. The controls feel really great, no matter what configuration you use. If there is any reason to buy a Wii U, let Mario Kart 8 be it.
Old tracks, new tracks, more characters, more vehicles. This new Mario Kart expansion has it all!
While you're reading this, I'm probably playing Super Mario Maker. I'm hooked. You could be too.
I tried to play the original Majora's Mask a long time ago- but never made it through the swamp area at the beginning of the game due to a lack of inspiration and uncertainty with the time travel system. In reviewing this remake- I made it all the way to the end of the game and had a blast from start to finish. The point being- even though you may be uncertain about Majora's Mask 3D, if you keep pushing through you'll see what makes it such a highly-rated classic.
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is a fantastic game. It’s a celebration of platformer and role-playing games but it doesn’t particularly attempt to copy other games of either genre. I especially enjoyed how Sequin Land has a sense of connectedness, containing large environments brimming with secrets. It makes the world feel real. It’s certainly a unique experience in gameplay and it is packed with quality content. Once you make it through the first dungeon, you’ll be hooked until the end.
If there’s anything I’d critique about the core gameplay, it’d be that the multiple objectives that occasionally each require immediate attention are straining. Dividing your attention across large maps, especially when you’re alone in battle is a wee bit stressful.
Ever Oasis exceeded my expectations. I've never been that much into Monster Hunter or Animal Crossing but Ever Oasis strikes a chord between them that bizarrely- works. Amazingly well. I can easily see myself continuing to play this game for a long time to come. Get yourself a copy now!
A strategy based game that's challenging and well-designed enough, it might just have you shrieking "BWAAAAH!"
New Super Lucky's Tale is the kind of laid-back easy going game that can be enjoyed by anyone.
Prepare to set sail in this bundle of a really good Assassin's Creed game and its overshadowed sequel.
I always remember Twilight Princess being my favourite Zelda game. Replaying the game in HD, I still feel the same way about it. No other Zelda game is yet to match the free-roaming world, the intense story or the magnificent dungeon design. Nothing beats taking Epona on a run through Hyrule Field, slashing at moblins on horseback. I expected more from the graphics upgrade after comparing Twilight Princess HD to 2013's Wind Waker HD, but this version of the game stands to prove that even ten years on, the game holds up well. I'd absolutely recommend picking this up for newcomers and veterans.
The experience that this game provides has been long overdue, and I praise it for doing such a terrific job. Considering the series currently contains 720 Pokémon, it's understandable that about 80% of them don't even appear as background scenery. Even with the presence of dozens of support Pokémon I can't help but think it could have been even better if the playable cast was larger.
It might not be Resident Evil 7, but this is nonetheless a great addition to the Switch's growing library of ports. Revelations is a real console horror experience, with the benefits of a handheld, at a great price point. There's not much to fault!
Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled proves that Crash can still keep up with other mascot kart racers, even twenty years on.
Overwatch has come to the Switch with a solid port, but it may not be the ideal game for the console.
Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 comes to Switch in all of it's glory, but with the trade-off being a less than desirable control scheme.
Captain Toad is a fun adventure and an enjoyable little break from Mario's typical adventures. Will it hold the world over until the next big Mario game? Definitely. It's easy enough for anyone to complete but complex enough to feel kind of smart playing through it. It's a nice change to Mario gameplay without making it unrecognizable.
To get the best experience out of this game, you've got to have some good friends who'll play the game with you, which works best when everyone has their own copy of the game so everyone has a reason to play. If you can't manage that, online play will still get the job done, but if you're a go-it-alone kind of person then this is not the game for you. This is easily the best multiplayer Zelda game yet and it's a ton of fun, so I would recommend giving it a chance. Just don't expect a thrilling, complex story out of this one.
Just like Katrielle, this game has a reputation to live up to. And it is indeed a Layton game, just with different strengths and weaknesses.