PSIBO - Game Review

Release Date: October 6, 2016
Developer/Publisher: Toxijuice/Nami Tentou 
Platforms: Wii U, Steam (Pending Greenlight)
MSRP: $4.99

A recipe for chaos: Add 1-part Pong, 2-parts Breakout, and a helping of Space Invaders for good measure.

Following behind Nami Tentou’s title Ping 1.5+ comes another arcade-inspired android game ported to Wii U.  In PSIBO (I’m assuming it’s rhymes with psycho), you’re met with gameplay that combines parts of the 3 games above to create a challenging, chaotic and retro-feeling title.

Gameplay

PSIBO features two game modes. Endless mode is the essence of its arcade ancestry with the goal of achieving a high score. The game also features 36 original levels ported directly from the android version. In both cases, gameplay and controls are the same.

You control a blue paddle that can launch and bounce balls (much like in Breakout) and the goal is to break all of the hexagons at the top. Opposing you is an AI controlled enemy paddle that tries to block your shot back at you (ala Pong). If you miss the ball bounced back at you, it’s returned to your supply, however an alien also spawns and begins firing lasers at you. Taking hits lowers your health (cue Space Invaders) and reaching 0 health ends the game. If you can follow that, good. If not, check out the image below.

READ MORE>>

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Episode #274: Overwatch Mii Speedrun - The Geek Generation Podcast

This episode features myself Co-Hosting with Rob regarding upcoming video games, changes to Super Girl's network, and a whole bunch of other topics!

Show Notes

Game Reivew: Pixel Slime U

Release Date: August 27, 2015
Developer/Publisher: RCMADIAX
Platforms: Wii U
MSRP: $2.99
Players: Single Player

The fourth game produced by Nintendo indie developer RCMADIAX comes in the form of Pixel Slime U – an auto-scrolling platformer that challenges the player to make it through 40 levels with as few deaths as possible.

GamePlay

The goal of the game is to get the green Slime character across small levels while avoiding spikes and pitfalls in order to reach the goal.  Pixel Slime U tries to be make things simple and addicting by having the character move on its own and reducing controls to just 1 button (starting to sound like their previous title: Don’t Crash). The command button will cause the slime to either jump to the next platform or invert to the other side depending on what the level calls for.

READ MORE>>

Pokken Tournament for Wii U in 2016!!

At the commencement of the Pokémon World Championships, attendees and online viewers were presented with an announcement trailer declaring that Japanese arcade fighting game Pokkén Tournament will be heading to Wii U worldwide in the spring of 2016.

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Game Review: ZaciSa’s Last Stand (Wii U)

Release Date: July 3rd, 2014
Developer/Publisher: ZeNfA Productions
Platforms: Wii U
MSRP: $3.99
Players: Single player with option for up to 4 player assistance

The first game created from ZeNfA Productions, ZaciSa’s Last Stand is a simple Tower Defense game set in space featuring 12 maps and 4 different game modes. Since launch, game has seen a handful of much needed updates creating a more appealing game play. The goal of the game is to survive as long as possible defending your bases with bots from an onslaught of aliens.

READ THE FULL REVIEW @ THE GEEK GENERATION

Game Review - Roving Rogue (Wii U)

Release Date: July 2, 2015
Developer/Publisher: Padone Games
Platforms: Wii U
MSRP: $7.99
Players: 1-4 Player Local Co-Op

Developed by Padaone Games, an indie developer out of Spain, Roving Rogue is a retro-inspired platformer with a twist – it begins immediately after the protagonist has defeated the “final boss”.  The game attempts to pay homage to “the golden age” of video games with sprite graphics, a heavy focus on platforming, and simple controls. Roving Rogue is also very self-aware and occasionally breaks the forth wall.

Worth mentioning is that the prototype of this game won first prize at iDÉAME U 2013 -“a contest where the best game would be released to the Wii U”.

READ MORE @ THE GEEK GENERATION

Game Review - Don't Crash (Wii U)

Release Date: July 9, 2015
Developer/Publisher: RCMADIAX
Platforms: Wii U
MSRP: $1.49
Players: Single Player

Don’t Crash is the next entry to indie developer RCMADIAX’s list of Wii U titles. Much like other titles in the family,Don’t Crash is a is an incredibly tiny game with simple controls and to be frank, not much to do. The is simply a remaster of a simple and already existing mobile title.

Read the Full Review @ The Geek Generation

Teslagrad - game review

Release Date: September 11, 2014 (Wii U)

Developer/Publisher: Rain Games
Platforms: Steam, Wii U, PS3, PS4, PS Vita (Pending)
MSRP: $9.99 (Steam) $14.99 (Wii U) TBA (Playstation Store)
Players: Single Player Only

Teslagrad is a 2D platforming adventure where the main focus is platforming and puzzle solving while using the of powers of electricity and magnetism. The game is the first release for Norwegian developer Rain Games and utilizes the Unity game engine allowing for multiple system ports. For this review I will be using the Wii U port of the game.

I'll tell you right now, this game rocks!  It's definitely worth playing if you get the chance. See my full review over at The Geek Generation.

See The Full Review At The Geek Generation.com

Paper Monsters Recut – game review

Release Date: October 16, 2014
Developer/Publisher: Mobot Studios/Crescent Moon Games
Platforms: Wii U, Steam, Amazon Fire TV
MSRP: $7.99
Players: Single Player Only

Paper Monsters Recut is an adorable platformer that loosely combines the pace and feel of Little Big Planet with some inspiration from the Donkey Kong Country series and Yoshi’s Island games. Originally a mobile device game, Mobot Studios “recut” (pun intended I’m sure) and upscaled the game for Wii U. The game opens as Paperland is overrun by evil monsters and it’s up to the hero character to transverse Paperland and defeat monsters and bosses along the way.

Read The Full Review At The Geek Generation

The Letter - Wii U Indie Game Review

Release Date: July 10, 2014
Developer/Publisher: TreeFall Studios/Eli Brewer
Platforms: Wii U
MSRP: $1.99
Players: Single Player Only

The Letter preys upon the human response to suspense, darkness, and the unknown. Spoiler alert – there’s nothing there. Like literally, nothing there. Nothing. Nothing at all. Trust me, I looked. Nothing.

Story

Taking generous inspiration from the  psychological horror genre of games (think Slender),  and mixing in a story, The Letter takes a great idea… and doesn’t do very much at all. Story-wise, you take control of Michael Kennedy – the son of Taylor James Kennedy – who finds a letter from his father who is on the verge of death. He informs him of shady happenings at the construction site where Michael works. Despite his father’s plea that he stay away from his job site, Michael proceeds anyway finding more clues suggesting his father was murdered.

Gameplay

READ MORE @ The Geek Generation!

Ping 1.5 + – game review

Release Date: October 16, 2014
Publisher/Developer: Nami Tentou Mushi
Platforms: Nintendo Wii U, Desura, Steam (Pending Greenlight)
MSRP: $4.99
Players: Single Player only

From the moment you turn the game on, it can be plainly seen that Ping 1.5 + takes heavy inspiration from classic arcade games, particularly Pong. It is a puzzle game and the object is to get a cube-shaped “ball” (like in Pong) through a maze-like level by bouncing it off of walls and reaching the goal.

Ping 1.5 + is the first game developed and published by the independent developer Nami Tentou Mushi – a three person design team lead by Christopher Arnold and headquartered in Oregon. Ping 1.5 + is a sequel to the android game Ping (see my review here) and is the aftermath of a failed Kickstarter campaign for what would have been Ping 2.

Read More at The Geek Generation

Review: Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart 8 hit stores at the end of May and, as expected, contributed to a notable increase in Nintendo Wii U hardware sales. The ever popular Mario Kart franchise has seen many new additions in features and it seems that Mario Kart 8 does its best to take a little bit from each as well as add a few new elements. For insight on all of those features, see the preview that was written for it.

Game Play

Not unlike other games in the series, MK8 is a fun racer that anyone can pick up that balances skill with luck. The 30 character roster is a good number of characters allowing for varying line-ups without feeling like the developers were scraping the bottom of the barrel. The game can be played with all available controllers and the Game Pad can support off TV play or act as a secondary map screen.

One thing I noticed while playing is that everything seems streamlined. While racing, the only thing stat on the screen is the racer’s position; things like lap times and course maps have either been removed or reside solely on the gamepad. Recovery from falling out of bounds take only a couple of seconds and puts you back into the action almost instantly.

There are 32 courses to choose from – 16 new and 16 remade from previous games. The game’s biggest new feature, “Zero Gravity Racing”, makes its was into many courses but without feeling forced. The new items: The Super Horn, Boomerang Flower, Piranha Flower and the Crazy 8, all fit in nicely and item distribution has been modified to take distance from the leader as well as position in determining what kind of items a racer will get.

Mario Kart 8 builds upon the great pillars of the franchise and with small tweaks here and there nicely brings together a refreshing experience.

Multiplayer

MK8 features both local and online multiplayer. Local multiplayer allows for 2 player Grand Prix racing and up to 4 players for VS and Battle modes. Battle mode has been changed from this game and has recieved a little bit of negativity. Rather than featuring battles on specially designed courses, balloon battles take place on one of 8 regular courses where score is kept based on the amount of ballons you have ramming and the amount of your opponents that you have popped. A novel thing about MK8 is the use of vertical split-screen as opposed to the outdated horizontal split. I find that I prefer this display on wide-screen TVs.

Up to 2 players from 1 system can go online together to race against other players from around the world. Custom rules and Tournament modes allow you to create rooms that other racers can join and race under very specific conditions (Karts only, Shells only, No items, etc…).

One bummer about multiplayer is that the Wii U Game Pad will mirror what is on the TV instead of acting as a separate screen. This means that the Game Pad will show the split screen as well unlike other multiplayer games such as Sonic and All-Star Racing Transformed where each player gets the luxury of their own full screen.

Graphics/Sound

Mario Kart 8 has some of the best graphics the Wii U has to offer so far. Gameplay runs at 60 fps for 1 and 2 player races and at 30 for 3 and 4 player matches. The colors are incredibly vibrant and the environments are very smooth.

The game has small details that really make things pop. Courses look more realistic instead of cartoony and are very detailed. Tires have visible treads and leave skidmarks that stay throughout the race. Each vehicle has headlights that turn on in cave and on night courses. Kart drivers are expressively animated – characters that find themselves neck in neck will look at each other. Most notably would be the newly popularized meme “ The Luigi Death Stare”. I’ll let the images speak for themselves.

The soundtrack of the game has been well acclaimed by players. Most songs feature real instruments that were recorded in real time. Songs from classic stages have found new life with expressive remixes and modernized renditions. Each track has its own theme and no two courses have the same tune. Character voicing is very clear and polished (although I could do without Mario screaming “Mario Kart 8!” every time the game starts).

Mario Kart TV

Mario Kart TV is a feature that allows you to upload highlights from a race directly to Miiverse and Youtube. Check out my video below as it outlines some of the features I’ve outlined. Also the ending is a super close photo-finish.

Verdict – 9.5

After playing for a few weeks now and really exploring Mario Kart 8, I’ve come to realize that this title will be in my Wii U for a long time. Overall, this game is just as enjoyable for veterans looking for something new as it is for newcomers unfamiliar with Mario Kart. While there are a few minor things that would have been desired, there were so many more things that I didn’t even know I wanted in a Mario Kart game. Well done!

Mario Kart retails for $59.99 in stores but can be found on Amazon for about $10 less.

The Gamecube Controller Adapter for Wii U!!!!

Today, Nintendo announced information regarding the Super Smash Bros. Invitational that will be going on at E3 in June. The competitors and commentators were announced as well as characters that will be available for them to choose.

The biggest bit of news, however, was the announcement of a new Wii U accessory: The Gamecube Controller Adapter. Hardcore fans of Melee and Brawl who were very upset with the Wii U's lack of GameCube controller ports will be happy to discover this solution to their Smash Bros. concerns. It's just a teaser so far, but one can predict that the adapter will plug into a Wii U USB port and all for wired gaming (and as a result reduce any input lag).

Whether or not Nintendo will be selling any sort of official "Limited Edition" Gamecube controllers that resemble the one in the video is yet to be seen but wouldn't that be cool! The adapter, as you can see, will have 4 ports so everyone can play with the older controllers.

To see the full video, check out below:

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Mario Kart 8 - preview

*Article originally posted on The Geek Generation.com *

Mario Kart is the biggest spin-off franchise in Nintendo’s collection with titles spanning across 7 different platforms, with the eighth one on its way for the Nintendo Wii U. With a release date of May 30, 2014, Mario Kart 8 is looking to combine the best traits from each game in the series and will be the first of many big first party titles that could potentially give the Wii U the momentum that it certainly needs.

Game Play

The most anticipated detail that will be appearing in Mario Kart 8 is the introduction of anti-gravity racing. When approaching specific sections of a course, the wheels of the karts will glow blue and turn in under the vehicle activating anti-gravity mode. This allows racers to drive up walls, vertical slopes, and even on sections where the course loops completely upside down. Instead of slowing each other down, collisions between racers in these areas will instead cause small increases in speed that can quickly turn the tide. This new game mechanic will allow for alternate racing paths, new strategies and even crazier race tracks than ever before.

READ MORE >>

Review: New Super Mario Bros. U

New Super Mario Bros. U. was released as a launch title for the Nintendo Wii U.  The game continues the newly-revived side-scrolling series with new power-ups, enemies and levels. Picking up where its predecessor left off, the game features all new levels for up to 4 players to simultaneously make their way through 8 worlds in order to once again, rescue Princess Peach. The game is the 4th installment of the New Super Mario Bros. series and the second one released on a console.

Story and Gameplay (10/10)

The gameplay of all linear Mario games is a tried and true scheme that has held up over the years. Bowser is after the Princess once again, only this time he takes her hostage in her own castle while casting out Mario and Co. The object of the game is no different from traditional Mario side-scrollers. Mario and the gang must make it to the end of the level before the time limit while running and jumping over platforms and facing enemies along the way.

Mario starts his journey in Acorn Plains and must travel through 8 worlds in total to return to Peach’s Castle and take on Bowser. The game feels deeply inspired from hit titles such as Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES) and Super Mario World (SNES). The Koopalings again act as the bosses of each world's final level, while fortresses are guarded by an orange spikey koopa. These were first seen in SMB3.

Influences from Super Mario World are more prominent in this game. Rather than focusing on one world at a time, the level select screen has a seamless map showing all of the levels and how the worlds connect.  Through many secret exits, one can unlock many different routes that connect the worlds in unexpected ways making the game a lot less linear if the player so chooses. The game also brings back baby Yoshi's that can lend their powers to the players depending on their color.

The game has a total of 9 power-ups and a total of 10 can be held in inventory. The new featured power-up, the Super Acorn, transforms the character into a “Flying Squirrel” form which allows the user to glide through levels.

The game also features a "Challenge Mode" which drops the player into a level with an objective. These range from completing a level with a short time limit to reaching the goal without touching the ground.

Controls (9/10)

New Super Mario Bros. U offers support for 3 different controllers – The Wiimote, the GamePad, and the Wii U Pro Controller. The game can be played solo on the Wii U Game Pad and supports off-TV mode. Co-op is played using any combination of Wiimotes or Pro controllers for up to 4 players. The layout of Wiimote buttons give the feeling of playing this game on an NES controller which has always worked well for a Mario platformer.

In multiplayer co-op, the Game Pad can be used by an additional 5th player to stun enemies and spawn temporary platforms to aid others by using its touch screen. This is referred to as "Boost Mode" and can also be used as a second screen if too many people are crowding the TV. It is worth noting that regardless of the number of players, the GamePad can only control a character in 1 player mode therefore it cannot be used to control a character in multiplayer; it will always be the "Boost Mode" controller which is a let down.

Graphics (9/10)

NSMBU is Mario’s first adventure rendered in full HD (When played through an HDMI cable). The game looks sharp and polished and does a pretty good job considering the game is a 2D sidescroller with 3D models. Each level is full of color and the landscape has a lot of detail The levels are fresh and creative and everything can be seen even if the screen is zoomed all the way out. The game looks just as good on the GamePad as it does on the TV, save for the minor change in resolution.

Sound (8/10)

One thing that stands out about the New Super Mario Bros. series is that there is a similarity of music style across each game, unlike in other Mario series. And although like any Mario game the music is good, it sounds almost too similar to that of New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Save for some retro inspired remixes, most of the level themes seem to be copied over from the last game with only slight alterations to melodies. The voicing on the other hand, while minimal is very clear and properly executed.

New Super Luigi U Expansion (10/10)

The expansion to this game puts Luigi in the driver's seat as Mario is totally absent from New Super Luigi U. Available as DLC or in some retail stores as a stand-alone disc, the game features completely redesigned levels all with the goal of making the game much more difficult. Many of the stages start off at 100 seconds with the "Hurry Up" sound ringing the moment the level begins. Moving platforms, long gaps, and more enemies make the game challenging and the addition of many references will delight any seasoned Mario fan.

Cooperative Play (8/10)

The Co-Op multiplayer can be as chaotic as it is fun; as long as those playing don't mind losing a copious amount of lives in the fray. I have found that playing with 2 players, either 1 as Mario and the second using the GamePad to manipulate the levels or both controlling characters is the easiest way to complete the game allowing for the benefits of Co-Op without the chaos of four characters all trying to jump for the same platform.

Rating: 

Mario Kart 8 Direct - April 30, 2014

Nintendo surprised us all this morning with a new Nintendo Direct dedicated specifically to Mario Kart 8. With release date of May 30 of this year, it is a good move by Nintendo to get already excited fans even more pumped for the next game in the series.

Starting up with a rather humorous infomercial skit, the broadcast jumps straight into the presentation. But rather than doing the traditional presentation, they made this into a compilation of "TV channels" ranging from infomercials, commercials,  news, and documentaries all providing their own information on the game as well as plenty of clips.

Recap of Details

Spin Boosting - Bumping into other karts/objects during zero-gravity mode will give you a spin boost. Collisions will allow for risky speed boosts.

Mario Kart Customization

*Customize Kart body, Tires, Glides etc...

Allows for customization of karts which will effect stats of karts and bikes.

New Challengers

*The 7 Koopalings

*Baby Rosalina

*Metal Mario

*Pink Gold Peach

30 different racers total including Miis

New Items

*Boomerang Flower - Throws fowards up to 3 times. Can hit going forward or back.

*Piranha Plant - Bites at nearby racers and items on the ground.

*Crazy Eight - Give you 8 times at once!!

*Super Horn - Sound shockwave that affects all racers around you. Breaks items EVEN BLUE SHELLS

Karts Vs Bikes

*Bikes were faster than Karts in Mario Kart Wii

*In Mario Kart 8, Karts are faster on straightaways while bikes are faster on corners. Depends on the course.

  

Online Racing Details

*4 Online modes

*Race up to 12 players

*Worldwide, Regional, friends, tournaments

*Text and voice chat available in lobby

*Players can hold their own tournaments - specific rules

*Tournament specific ranking

*Ghosts data from around the world.

*Receive stamps for beating developer ghosts

*Mario Kart TV - Lets you watch your own racing highlight reels.

*Upload best ones and download others

*See most popular

*Highlight reels from Mario Kart 8 directly to YouTube!!

Music

*Sound tracks were recorded by live instruments

Offer

*If you buy it between May 30th and June 21st, you can get a free download code for a free Wii U game.

*Mario Kart 8 Wii U Bundle - Black Wii U Deluxe, Game, Wii Remote Plus, Wii Wheel, $329.99

New Trailer

For more Mario Kart 8 information, keep an eye out for my Mario Kart 8 Preview!

Rant: Nintendo didn't "Forget" to announce some smashers

This one goes out to all of you guys freaking out that characters like Jigglypuff, Captain Falcon and Ness were not announced in last week's Smash Bros. Direct.

CALM DOWN

So far, 23 veterans (21 considering the split of Samus and Zero Suit as well as Sheik and Zelda) have been confirmed as well as 6 newcomers. With a total of 29 characters, that is still 6 characters less than the roster seen in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. And who's to say that Smash Bros. 4 won't have an even bigger roster? With at least 2 months before we can expect the 3DS version to be released, that is still plenty of time for future reveals of characters.

But here's another idea: What if, for once, a modern videogame is NOT trying to spoil every single detail before players have a chance to play the game? Looking back at SSB and Melee, there were plenty of newcomers and veterans alike who were unlock-able hidden characters.

I do agree, there are some characters whose return is questionable or unlikely, but I feel that the majority of characters will make a return:

Very Likely:
N64 Veterans

• Jigglypuff, Captain Falcon, and Ness are all veterans who were unlockable characters along with Luigi since the beginning (Except for Ness and Falcon in Melee).

Melee Veterans

• Falco: Fox is currently the only representative of his universe.
• Ice Climbers: Despite some similarity to Rosalina, the Ice Climbers are veterans that have quite a following.
• Ganondorf: Currently Bowser and DeDeDe are the only antagonistic characters in the roster and I doubt they would leave out a 3rd bad guy. 

Somewhat Likely:

• Lucas: Lucas was a well received character and gave an alternate to Ness. 
• Wario: With Waluigi returning as an assist trophy and Ashley added as a new assist trophy, Wario could return although the number of primary and secondary Mario characters is getting very large.
• Fire Emblem character: Perhaps Ike with return, perhaps another character will get his turn to stand in rotation next to Marth

No Guarantee:

• Snake: As a 3rd party character, one would have expected his return to have be announced along with Sonic and Mega Man. Also, Metal Gear Solid creator, Hideo Kojima, was quoted saying "I'm not working on that game so I don't know, but I don't think that's likely," said Kojima. "Well, if Mr. Sakurai is watching this, please use Snake."
• Mr. Game & Watch: While a classic Nintendo Icon, he's a bit of an awkward character. It is also worth noting that a lot of his fighting mechanics can be seen in the newcomer Villager.
• R.O.B: A more obscure fighter that was moderately received but was not super popular either.
• Meta Knight: Between his "banning" in major tournaments and unbalanced criticisms, he may not be included just to avoid having to heavily nerf him.
• Wolf: Fox, Falco, and Wolf are all pretty similar characters and I feel that he may not be the most important character to return if Nintendo had to cap the number of characters.

Whelp, those are my 2 cents. Let me know what you think!

Smash Bros Direct Coming Next Week!

Hey there readers, I just got wind of some awesome news. Nintendo has announced that on Tuesday, April 8th at 6pm eastern/3pm pacific time, they will be broadcasting a Nintendo Direct dedicated solely to the newest Super Smash Bros. title.

The broadcast will be live on Youtube, Nintendo.com and various other news and fan sites. Those rumors will get put to rest as I'm sure we can expect an official release date, perhaps a new official game title and more announcements regarding characters, stages, and gameplay.

I'll post a reminder on Twitter and I'm sure you'll be hearing all about it from various news sites. Get Your Body Ready!!!

Nintendo Direct February 13, 2014 - Recap

*Yes I'm aware that this recap is about a month late and I apologize for that. Regardless, enjoy!*

Nintendo went the first month of 2014 without a Nintendo Direct broadcast and hadn't made any big announcements since December. February's Nintendo Direct revealed a new Super Smash Bros. fighter, brand new racers for Mario Kart 8, and lots of other updates for games coming out this spring. Check out the recap below for analysis.

Super Smash Bros. 4 - Trailer (Wii U/3DS, 2014)

"Little Mac Punches In"

The Nintendo Direct started off with a bang, or rather a "smash" as they introduced a new playable fighter that will be available in the next installation of the Super Smash Bros. series. Previously an assist trophy in Brawl, Little Mac, the protagonist of Punch-Out will be a full-fledged fighter specializing in quick, hard hitting punches and will likely be quick on his feet. His announcement uncovers the mystery behind the boxing/wrestling stage that has been seen since the first trailer. Little Mac's character is based off of the Punch-Out remake for the Nintendo Wii. His small stature and iconic green punching gloves are incorporated into his design. He will also have an ability that after taking a certain amount of damage and filling up a "K.O. Meter", he will be able to unleash a powerful upper-cut attack similar to the finisher moves of other fighting games. His final smash doubles his size and turns him into a hulking, shirt-less form (I'm  rooting on "Big Mac" as its name).

New Nintendo Direct Today

Originally announced via their Facebook page, Nintendo will be hosting a new Nintendo Direct. It's been since December since we saw one of these so expect lots of new updates and announcements for both the 3DS and Wii U.

Check back here afterwards for my recap and analysis!