Recently, with the exception of some very well done indie titles, the survival-horror genre has slowly but surely gravitated towards the action-shooter, in the hopes of appealing to a wider audience. While some games made the shift well, others have found themselves trapped in between, and left the true survival-horror niche tragically unfilled. The typical zombie has been relegated to a bit role, with many designers focusing more on the combat than the survival aspects of their games. Due to that necessity, the shambling undead zombie has been cast aside, in favor of faster enemies that better fit a faster-paced game. READ MORE
Is it possible to iterate too often? It certainly is, but this is the question I asked myself several times when playing New Super Mario Bros. U, the fourth entry in Nintendo’s successful New Super Mario Bros. franchise. To call it a different franchise entirely might be a stretch, but the entire series has had such a specific feel that combines the 2D Mario games of old with some very interesting ideas that are new to those games. This is another one of those, although it is most reminiscent of what I consider the best game in the series, making it a step up from what you might normally expect. READ MORE
Like many of the Wii U’s launch titles, Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper is an enhanced version of an existing game, relying heavily on the original’s charms and adding a few trinkets here and there to make the port worthwhile. Hyper actually doesn’t do anything particularly novel or gimmicky, focusing on adding characters and a two-player fighting mode. READ MORE
The action racing genre has seen all sorts of variations and attempts over the years, though very few of the experimental ideas in the rougher games have found their way to more polished experiences. These were good ideas, though, and eventually a team was going to pick a lot of the best ones and make them a cohesive whole.
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is exactly that: a polished game with cars, planes, boats, tricks, changing tracks, mods, campaigns, battles and impressive online play. READ MORE
The Wii U has a lot of potential for new game concepts, and we’re starting to see some of them from system-exclusive titles. Third-party games, though, are generally quicker ports, or sporting ideas that could use a second draft. EA has really put a lot of thought into its port of FIFA 13, though, and the result is a suite of new modes, interfaces and mechanics that really is impressive. READ MORE
