Tag: wii u

Games by Evan TognottiNov 22, 20126:09 pm

ZombiU Review: Judging A Book By Its Cover

ZombiU probably isn’t the game you think it is.

I predict this for a number of reasons. It’s a launch title for a new system, and one developed by Ubisoft, a developer with a pretty spotty launch title record (Red Steel, anyone?). Every piece of information regarding the game before release has naturally focused on the Wii U’s GamePad, which could easily be read as a warning sign about the game itself. Also, the name of this goddamn game is ZombiU, like we’re living in some odd, Nintendo 64-esque era where such a title is acceptable. The whole thing reeks of a kind of disaster.

In reality, ZombiU is anything but. It’s a smart, scary, slow game marred by some predictable launch window woes.

Games by Clint PrenticeNov 21, 20123:58 pm

Scribblenauts Unlimited Review: Imagination Engine

As a kid, I always enjoyed using my imagination in crazy and inventive ways. I had this castle play set that I would use as a backdrop for an entire story. Then I’d bring in my Transformers or the different LEGO objects I had made that day. What followed was the blending of imagination and fun in this really unorthodox fashion. Scribblenauts games have tried to scratch that same itch of crafting anything your imagination can think up. I’ve tried playing Scribblenauts games before but they never really grabbed me. The original release on the DS was buggy and had an incredibly limited scope for an idea that seemed full of infinite possibilities. Scribblenauts Unlimited evolves on the core concepts of the past Scibblenauts games and very closely recreates the feelings I had as a kid armed only with a toybox and my imagination.

Games by Clint PrenticeNov 20, 20126:48 am

Nintendo Land Review: The Happiest Virtual Space on Earth

In 2007, the Wii launched with Wii Sports as a pack in game. That series of mini-games became ubiquitous to the Wii and defined motion control gaming for a generation. With the Wii U, Nintendo changed their controller drastically and Nintendo Land is their attempt at defining what this controller means to a new generation. I decided the best way to really understand what Nintendo hoped to achieve with Nintendo Land was to gather my family together and spend an entire day playing the various “attractions” of Nintendo Land. What followed was the most fun my family has had playing video games with me since Wii Sports, and that is exactly what Nintendo was hoping for.

Games by Evan TognottiNov 19, 201212:50 pm

New Super Mario Bros. U Review: Higher Definition, But Not Highly Different

Nintendo’s flagship franchise faces a problem that so many series’ this late in their game are susceptible to: fatigue. There have been five “New” games in about as many years, and we haven’t had a proper 3D Mario since 2010’s Super Mario Galaxy 2. Just earlier this year we had New Super Mario Bros. 2 on the 3DS, which was received in a decidedly mixed fashion. I think most people agree that Mario needs a jump-start, or a break, or anything that could mitigate what’s fast becoming over-saturation. New Super Mario Bros. U is an immaculate and pretty game that relieves none of that dread or tension.

Podcasts by Clint PrenticeNov 19, 201210:28 am

Error! Report #060

The Wii U launch is upon us, so half the stuff we talk about doesn’t really matter anymore! No, I’m joking, but we do speculate on the state of the Wii U this holiday season.

Games by Clint PrenticeNov 18, 20123:25 pm

Editorial: The Wii U Launch Market

As I sit here watching my Wii U download a system update that arguably shouldn’t be necessary for a console launch, day one, I recall the long journey I’ve taken to get to this point.

Error! Report by Clint PrenticeOct 1, 20129:06 am

Error! Report #053

In this episode of Error! Report we continue our Call of Cthulhu game after all the zany, whatever-the-hell stuff we do before that. You know, after Evan talks about Persona, Matthew talks about movies, Ryan talks about actual video games, and I talk about terrible TV shows like Terra Nova.