Wii U

injustice2

Injustice is exciting; it’s one of those games that a lot of people are hyped up for, but also one they weren’t sure they wanted or thought would even happen before it did. One would think that after the historic tragedy of Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, DC Comics would have been spooked and snatched away its license before you could say, “get over here!” Nevertheless, here it is! It’s a thing, you can buy it, and even play it. Here’s the kicker: it’s actually pretty good! Unfortunately, this is a NetherRealm game, and it’s still running on the usual Mortal Kombat framework. You should know by now what that means. READ MORE

tokitori2d

Done correctly, minimalist game design works extremely well at immersing the player in the game and enhancing their sense of accomplishment. Perhaps the genre that best exemplifies the benefits of minimalist design is puzzle platformer. In that respect, Toki Tori 2 shines as an example of how to do it correctly. READ MORE

legocityundercover1

And so, a mere four months after the system’s launch, a new major retail-release title has finally been delivered for the Wii U (no thanks to Ubisoft). Is Lego City: Undercover worth the interminable wait? Fortunately, yes. READ MORE

runner2a

Bit.Trip Runner is a throwback to rhythm games of yesterday. In today’s world of plastic guitars and drum kits, Runner used the music as a gameplay element rather than a goal unto itself. It started by realizing that player actions enhanced the soundtrack, and it culminated in playing a new level just as much by ear as by eye. Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien continues that tradition, and improves upon its predecessor in every way. READ MORE

kensrage2a

The coolest thing about Koei’s Dynasty Warriors (or Musou) series in the past few years has been the occasional branching away from the same old Three Kingdoms song and dance and exploration of really great, classic anime franchises. It started with Mobile Suit Gundam, followed that up with Fist of the North Star and most recently tackled Eiichiro Oda’s insurmountable cash cow One PieceThe first game based upon Buronson and Tetsuo Hara’s classic post-apocalyptic martial arts saga, Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage was a bit of a divisive game; some found it sluggish and limited in scope, but others (including myself) enjoyed it as a hard-hitting, accurate tribute to the classic manga (and anime) that made a few interesting changes to the typical Musou formula. READ MORE