ZTGD

I love seeing Nintendo re-imagining classic franchises, especially ones like Dr. Mario that don’t get enough love, but this small package does more to whet my appetite than satiate it. Still, for $15 fans of the formula cannot go wrong. This is as close as we are going to get to a proper Dr. Mario sequel for a while, so while the prescription doesn’t cure all woes; it does help dull the pain.

NES Remix is a fun time waster that had me reliving the memories of my childhood once again. For $15 though it feels like a bit overpriced for what I got out of it. Still, with the Wii U library needing a bit more diversity it is a fun purchase and one that will entertain fans of NES era games enough to warrant picking it up. Just don’t expect a lot of modern design to make its way into the experience.

This is a pen and paper/table top game that is not afraid to kill you if you are not careful. It has its moments of brilliance, and those really overpower the frustrations if you allow yourself to be patient. Hardcore RPG fans and pen and paper purists will get their fill with Blackguards both in combat and story. Just be prepared to do a lot of planning and possibly losing in order to succeed.

Clocking in at around twenty hours, there is little reason to play through a second time but as is the case with a great book, once picked up it’ll be difficult to put down and when this abearrant tale has finished bearing it all, you’ll put it down with a smile on your face.

The visuals are certainly compelling and the animation is the most captivating aspect of the game. In the end though, this says as much about the content as anything else. The presentation promises much and is highly polished but it lies at the surface, working to conceal the more problematic aspects of the actual game itself.

If you enjoy pinball in any shape or form, Zen Pinball 2 is a must download. Even casual fans should at least download the hub and try out some of the tables, and since it comes with one free, there really is no reason not to give it a try. Who knows? You may find yourself addicted to it as much as I am. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a friend’s score to beat.

It says something when I usually skip a developer’s games and end up really loving one of them after playing it through. With a full package including the game and all the DLC priced at $30, this is a steal. Even if you’re not a Metal Gear fan, if you enjoy lots of action and some fast-paced combat, you should really pick up Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. You’ll have a really fun time.

Halo: Spartan Assault isn’t a terrible game, but more of a disappointing one. It is great that console players can finally play this once mobile-only title, and it is great the team added in the new co-op mode. For $15 it is hard not to recommend it, if only because the drought for new games on these machines is in full force. Just remember before going in where this game originated, and set expectations accordingly.

There are costumes to unlock and a great wealth of content in the DLC for those who feel the main campaign wasn’t enough to sate their puzzle hunger, but all in all, it’s a good value for the amount of content offered. While it didn’t blow my mind or redefine just exactly what puzzle games meant to me, it was solid, albeit unspectacular puzzle experience that I’m sure the fans of the genre will enjoy.

It’s not that newcomers can’t enjoy it, but the game almost deliberately stacks the deck against them. As a piece of RPG history, it holds up reasonably well, and gives players another opportunity to enjoy this deep game. However, those experiencing it for the first time will be well served to do some research before diving in.