If there’s a Wii U game that’s been exciting to core fans and basically no one else, it’s The Wonderful 101, the Platinum Games project that looks a bit like if Viewtiful Joe got a Pikmin-like spinoff. It’s not quite like that (which is good, because we’ve seen enough of a resurgence in that genre lately), as it’s basically an arena action game that just happens to use people as projectiles and a measure of strength. READ MORE
Of the Wii U’s intriguing launch titles, New Super Mario Bros. U could be the easiest to understand. Building off the success of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the game’s relying on its level design to carry it, and that vocabulary is one in which players are fluent at this point. The GamePad functionality and additional modes seem to be adding a layer specifically for the “core” player, as while they’re fun if you want fun, the true magic comes with some serious skill and cooperation to chase high scores.
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Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, while a fine game in its own right, certainly had elements that felt like a first effort. After all, it was. With time to iterate and polish mechanics, as well as infuse it with new outside talent and the ideas brought with them, the sequel, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, is definitely one to watch.
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When it was initially announced, Nintendo Land was almost a punchline. Billed as a “one more thing” in an unnecessarily-stretched E3 press event, it seemed it was a half-baked stand-in for a proper launch title. This game was supposed to carry a holiday season?
Yeah, maybe. The more we see and play the game’s events, the better it gets. READ MORE
Namco Bandai’s Tank! Tank! Tank! has a silly name. Our issue with it, though, is that it’s inaccurate. There are four tanks, you know? And the Wii U version adds a mode in which a player can also control a big monster. But we guess Tank! Tank! Tank! Tank! Sometimes Monster! isn’t quite as catchy. READ MORE
