Pikmin 3 Review

(WiiU)

by Jez (Bleeding Fingers NZ)

November 10, 2013 at 5:25pm

What can I say – this is the best game available for the WiiU. Now some people might scoff cynically, but let me elaborate before launching into the non-believers.

Okay – it is number three in the series and is hardly original – but as the previous incarnations are excellent games in themselves – and as the series has remained a constant reminder of how Nintendo makes gaming fun – I strongly recommend this game with my hand firmly on my heart.

It has enough graphical polish to stand with the current competition, has dollops of child-like charm and game-play in spades – and this unique childish quality is what Nintendo is all about. The gamepad takes a while to warm-up to - but at least they offer alternative controls (nun-chuks, classic controller) so that you can at least cater for your taste - but I have stuck doggedly to the pad as that is what the makes the WiiU different to other consoles.

And the actual gametime is generous - with incentives on returning to the planet to complete collecting various fruits.

Now, back to scoffers – whereas most gamers either forget or ignore this childish trait as they pummel individuals to a bloody pulp with their bare hands, or run pedestrians over in their stolen cars, Nintendo brings out the child in me, and I love them for it.

Let me frolic amongst the overgrown scrubs like a lost hippie having a serious acid flash-back, let me struggle to work out a way of picking that slightly out-of-reach strawberry so I can live for one more day, let me mourn the loss of stranded Pikmin I failed to bring home.

This is why I have remained a staunch Nintendo advocate (the older I get – the younger they make me feel) and this is why I love Pikmin 3.

The handling with the WiiU gamepad takes some getting use to, but the option to play with the Wii Nunchuk set-up is most-welcome (I have doggedly stuck with the pad and am now confidently proficient).

I encourage you to step away from reality for a while, re-ignite the child-like inner spark and embrace the wonder that is Pikmin.

And so Sez Jez!

Nintendo Magic!

The Legend Of Zelda - The Wind Waker HD Review

(WiiU)

by Jez (Bleeding Fingers NZ)

October 11, 2013 at 12:16am

A friend of mine once scorned Nintendo for wrecking his most cherished franchise in 2003 - the game was "The Legend Of Zelda - The Wind Waker" on the Nintendo Gamecube - and the reason was the cel-shaded cartoon-like image the series had now adopted.

I must admit - after the twin strike of "The Ocarina Of Time" and "Majora's Mask" on the Nintendo 64 - coming to grips with this new graphical approach certainly deflated my lofty expectations - but I had faith in Shigeru Miyamoto and, most of all, I had faith in Nintendo (as much as I do today) - and after playing it through to the stunning and brutal finale (go ahead and play it to find out) I felt totally vindicated.

My friend, however, has never forgiven Nintendo nor has he returned to the series - which is his loss really, because there is one thing Nintendo does best, and that's making great playable games.

Now, the newly ported game comes with all the excellent game-play that made this series stand head and shoulders above most games - even in this generation - and now boasts a High Definition makeover that certainly pops on my TV. There is enough spit and polish to turn heads, but not too much to detract from the original cel-shading that made this turn in the series unique. The use of the game-pad is great, but we also have the option of using the classic controller, which is nice for those still coming to grips with the hefty accessory.

Everything is intact and exactly how I remembered it (yes, even the lengthy trips across vast ocean - but I still have fun searching for treasure, pirates and fish gifted in the way of the brush), with a few new twists and turns to make older experienced Zelda fans feel engrossed on familiar turf.

In the end, I am just chuffed to be home in Hyrule, moving Link from one adventure to the next - rekindling fond memories and creating new experiences - this should get me through to the next adventure that awaits me in November on the 3DS. All I can say is - if you have a WiiU and crave adventure - don't wait another moment - get out and purchase this game NOW!

And so Sez Jez!

Yeah - I still shine...

Duck Tales (Remastered) Review

(WiiU Digital Download)

by Jez (Bleeding Fingers NZ)

October 6, 2013 at 1:09am

OK – when it comes to games I have my rose-tinted glasses on most the time – but my memory does not always serve me well.

That was case when Capcom announced the revival of Duck Tales – a classic game for its day, and that was to be expected from the great game company that would blaze a trail of success across multiple platforms.

So what do you get? It’s a straight-forward platformer with a quaint story – a graphically robust 2-D game that proves to be easier than I remember – and at the very least, a mild distraction for a rainy day.

It was certainly compelling to play but – in its day it might have ruled the roost, but it will never win over the next-gen gamers whom did not experience the original game in all its 8-bit glory. For the older generation, this is a brisk walk down memory lane, where a mild fog has descended to cover over finer details, such as how short memory lane is.

There is nothing wrong with the game – in fact, I enjoyed re-living my younger years – but unless you are a student of old school, there would be little to recommend for its current cover charge.

And so Sez Jez!

Such fond memories...