Review

Review: Can a remake qualify as one of Nintendo’s best-ever releases? Yes!

The return of a classic title on a new platform rarely causes amazement. But this is no ordinary updating or simple port. It’s a complete rebuild, aimed at keeping a great game–possibly the best game Nintendo’s ever made–entertaining and relevant for a new generation, as well as Zelda’s ever-growing fan base. Nintendo did this right. The result is spectacular. It̵...

Pokedex 3D review: It’s a guide…it’s an AR funhouse…it’s free!

3DS hasn’t yet become a gaming powerhouse (give it four more days), but as a portable, spectacular little science expo, it’s flat-out amazing. And Pokedex 3D is one polished, impressive freebie. Raise your hand if you’ve been ignoring Pokedex 3D since last week’s update. Yeah, I thought so. Go on, play with it…even though it’s not a game. Check out the sleek atm...

Review: Nintendogs + cats = Strange, lovable and amazing

If you’re looking for a cartridge that includes Samus Cat, classical music, 3D dog poop, birds flying at your face, Elvis hairdos, RC helicopters and an entire house themed around Super Mario Brothers…boy, have I got a game for you! Or, non-game, I should say. Though it contains excellent competition events, Nintendogs + cats’like its predecessor’is not really a game at all. It’s...

Review: Face Raiders is almost reason enough to buy a 3DS

One of the 3DS’s best surprises is its sense of humor. A lighthearted, playful atmosphere runs through all the built-in software, from Mii Plaza to the Music Player to all the AR games–but it reaches new heights in its Ace-Up-the-Sleeve, Face Raiders. This is an odd one to review; if you’ve bought a 3DS, you already own the game. If you haven’t made the jump yet, then Face ...

Okamiden review: A pint-sized, simplified extra cute helping of Okami

When Okami debuted on the PS2, it garnered plenty of critical acclaim and eventually saw a version released for the Wii in 2008. Though it couldn’t quite rack up the impressive sales figures of a Zelda release (and actually holds a Guinness World Record as the “least commercially successful winner of a game of the year award”), reviews universally praised the gameplay, music and ...

Review: Black & White represent Pokemon at its best

You’ve crossed the desert to find the Vegas-like city of Nimbasa in turmoil as the Pokemon-rights thugs wreak havoc. They’re hiding in the amusement park. You really should take action right now, but”¦You have a chance to feature your Pokemon in that stage musical across the street, and you want to see how your Krokorok looks in a top hat. Saving the world can wait. Welcome to the weir...

Review: Fast-paced and fun, Kingdom Hearts Re:coded is one of 2011’s first great DS games

If you’ve never played a Kingdom Hearts game, here’s all you really need to know: Disney heroes help a boy save the universe from evil. The boy wields a keyblade to bash thousands of pop-up minions called the Heartless. You’ll find melodrama, endless backstories, and’beginning in part 2’a very bad idea called Organization Thirteen, but the soul of Kingdom Hearts is, and always ha...

WiiWare Review: In Jellycar 2, Disney serves up simple graphics and deep gameplay

I smile anytime Disney and Nintendo do business together, mainly because I’d still love to see a Mario themed land at a Disney park someday. Today’s reality is a lot more basic, but it’s nice to see Disney finally contribute to WiiWare with a solid port of Jellycar 2. For the second week in a row, we’re offered a $5 port of a $1 iPhone game. While both conversions are solid...

Review: Sneezies infects Wiiware

Despite its annoying title, Sneezies attracted me with two elements I like in a Wiiware game: It’s five bucks and only requires pointing and clicking the Wiimote’Perfect for quick gameplay direct from the home screen. Based solely on the Nintendo Channel promo video, I downloaded Sneezies expecting an experience similar to Fantavision, the old PS2 fireworks matching game that would be awesom...

chick chick BOOM – WiiWare review

Some very angry birds have appeared on the Wii, but they’re not the iVariety many of us have sent flying into a porcine stronghold.  Originally appearing as a flash game in 2007, chick chick BOOM was released for WiiWare in the US on December 27, 2010. It is a turn-based artillery title along the lines of Worms or Scorched Earth, supports 1 – 4 players, and is available for 800 Wii Po...

Review: Golden Sun Dark Dawn a beautifully-produced adventure

Your DS is sulking: it knows you’ve got your eye on its 2011 successor. Why not indulge in some first-class RPG action to wrap up your DS’s 2010 on a high note? Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is a beautiful, finely-tuned, classic-style adventure”¦and I use the term “classic” here in the best sense of the word. This is video game comfort food’a perfect choice for relaxing winter evenings by the...

Epic Mickey Review: It eventually lives up to its name

If you stick with it, Epic Mickey’s flawed-but-amazing journey leads to a spectacular gauntlet of boss battles and platform challenges where all the pieces finally fall together for a satisfying and (big sigh of relief) epic finale. If you’ve bought the game and find yourself stuck in the fetch-quest quagmire that plagues its midsection, keep going; Epic Mickey gets far better in its s...