New Super Mario Bros. U Review

New Super Mario Bros. U

Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Nintendo Platform: Wii U Players 1-4 (Story), 1 (Challenge Mode) Release: 2012 Genre: 2D Platformer Rating: 9.2 \ 10.0: Excellent

Above is Squirrel Mario and Squirrel Luigi gliding through a secret room
 

Ever since Minecraft became mega-popular last year, I almost lost my love of the Super Mario series. But after playing this, I know Minecraft will never exceed this amazing franchise. Even after owning this game for months, I never played it enough to review it, but now I have, and New Super Mario Bros. U is one of the first and finest Wii U games available. The plot has, not at all surprisingly, Bowser capture Peach from her castle, but this time in a clever way that looks amazing in HD. Bowser and his Koopalings (whom Bowser Jr. has rejoined, thankfully) fly airships over to the Mushroom Castle while Mario, Luigi, Peach, and the Yellow and Blue Toads are eating together when suddenly a giant arm extends from Bowser's ship and snatches the Mario Bros. The arm hurls them away into a tree full of acorns, which are scattered across the land. Bowser seizes the castle, and the Bros. rush to save the princess. These acorns are the game's new power-up-- the Super Acorn. This nut is similar to the Super Leaf from Super Mario Bros. 3 and New Super Mario Bros. 2 (it was also featured in Super Mario 3D Land, but it functions differently). It grants you the suit of a flying squirrel, allowing you to glide and burst upwards when you shake the Wii Remote (or Wii U GamePad, depending on which one you're using). Like SMB3's P-Wing, which gives you infinite flight for the duration of one stage, there is a P-Acorn. I have a small quip about the control features-- you can play with the Wii Remote and control the game just as you would in NSMB Wii, but the Nunchuck in no longer compatible. I've gotten accustomed to holding the Wii Remote sideways, but it still bothers me a little. Also, when playing solo, Boost Mode is activated on the GamePad. This allows a friend to jump in and tap the GamePad's touchscreen to create colorful platforms. When you jump on these platforms while a symbol is on them, coins will pop up, and a fraction of a star-shaped meter will appear on the GamePad screen. When filled, a large magenta star will appear on the touchscreen. Touch it, and it will temporarily allow you to dispatch enemies by touching them, which somehow encourages my friends to also create a bunch of useless platforms when I play. Furthermore, this game marks the return of the baby Yoshis, which haven't been seen since the 16-bit classic Super Mario World, which was the Super NES's launch title, as this is for the Wii U. In that game, as well as this one, you must hold down a button to carry the reptilian infant, and it will eat any small enemy you dash into. But this time around,  there are three types of baby Yoshis, and they cannot grow into adults by eating foes. They can be found on the world map, and each have a special ability that is triggered by shaking the Wii Remote. The first type is the blue baby Yoshi, which can burp bubbles that transform enemies into coins. The second type is pink, which inflates and lets you momentarily take to the skies. And the third type is yellow, which glows and can illuminate the whole screen for several seconds. Additionally, baby Yoshis add amusing humming to  the music. In a nostalgic twist, all the worlds named after deserts and are connected by a trail (ring a bell, Super Mario World players?), and stages once again have names. As I just mentioned, the worlds, amusingly, are all named after various foods-- Acorn Plains and Layer Cake Dessert, for example. When you want to take a break from story mode, you can head on down to Challenge mode. Here, you can race through levels as your Mii and play fun mini-missions, such as clearing a level in the Squirrel Suit without touching the ground, acquiring a many coins as you can in a small amount of time, racking up 1-Ups by jumping on enemies without touching the ground, and more. There's also a Boost Rush mode, in which you have a short amount of time to clear a stage with Boost Mode is activated. The screen automatically scrolls, and it is sped up when you collect coins. Improving upon the Coin Battle mode from New Super Mario Bros. Wii, you can now customize the coin placement in the stages you play in that mode. However, the game can be difficult at times, causing frustration, up to the point where I can keep my dignity even when I allow an AI Luigi flawlessly complete a level for me. Even so, New Super Mario Bros. U is another outstanding Mario title, and I can't wait for the next New Super Mario Bros. game.

Ups
New power-up
Super Mario World references
Return of baby Yoshis
GamePad-based Boost Mode
Fun extra modes

Downs
Frustrating at times

ESRB: E Content: Comic Mischief Price: $29.99 (Retail)

1st Anniversary Post

It's Told You So Review's 1st Birthday!

I'm publishing this post in celebration of my blog's first anniversary! Since the day I created this blog, I've published  39 posts, received 2,757 pageviews, received 76 comments (my replies among them), and been followed by 6 people! Be sure to keep commenting and checking out my blog, and maybe become a follower! Thanks!

Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition Review

Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition

Publisher: Microsoft Developer: Mojang / 4J Studios Platform: Microsoft Xbox 360 Players: 1-4 (Local), 2-8 (Online) Release: 2012 Genre: Sandbox / Adventure Rating: 9.3 \ 10.0: Excellent



Above are several people playing together through Xbox Live

I've said it twice before, and I'll say it one last time-- for those of you I don't know, Minecraft is a popular 3D sandbox game for PC (which I reviewed and gave an incredible score of 9.7) with retro-style graphics. In it, you "mine" various types of blocks and use them to build whatever you desire. It was ported from PC to portable phones as Minecraft: Pocket Edition (which I have reviewed as well and gave a still-exceptional 8.3), and later to the Xbox 360 as Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition (which I am currently reviewing and gave an 9.3). The edition I'm explaining in this review, Xbox 360, has most of the content of the computer edition, but not all of it. It's mostly the same-- when you create a world, you can choose from three modes-- Survival, in which you must use the world's resources to build a shelter and survive waves of monsters that appear at nighttime, such as zombies, skeletons equipped with bows, and exploding green Creepers; Creative mode, in which you're given unlimited of every block and item to create whatever you desire; and Adventure Mode, a variant of Survival in which you can only break block with the proper tool. Also, they're are world settings. You can make a normal world or make the world Super Flat world, which is, as the title implies, is entirely flat aside from pre-generated structures. But now you can control options such as whether or not TNT can explode, for example. There's also a tutorial for newcomers, in which you can learn about many of the game's features and also go on a fun hunt for 14 music discs, which are stored away in hidden chests. To find them all, you'll have to explore an elaborate village, a large tower, a mossy dungeon, and more creative locales which I have yet to discover. Also, you can invite up to seven Xbox Live friends to your game, or join theirs, making it much easier to play with pals privately. Or, if you please,  if you have an HD TV, you can just invite up to three of your (present) friends to join in and play all in the same room. Additionally, the game comes with a free default skin pack, which allows you to change the appearance of your character, and you can download more. These skins include original skins as well as ones based on characters from other video games. There are also downloadable texture packs which change the look of the game. But sadly, unlike the PC / Mac version, there are no online multiplayer servers. like Pocket Edition as well. There are even some version-exclusive features, such as Host Options, which allow the creator of the world you're playing in to fly or become invisible, among other things. There's also an online leaderboard that allows you and your friends to compare stats. I have only a couple complaints. First of all, you may experience some lag issues when playing online. I could care less, but I will mention that those seeking to play on multiplayer servers will have nothing to look forward to. Also, while the game does have a good deal of the original version's content, it's still hard not to notice when you want to place a fancy spruce door at the entrance of your exquisite manor but can't. These items will hopefully be added at some point. These are small flaws, and Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition delivers a very enjoyable Minecraft experience on a console, and it may keep those that don't own this must-have sandbox hit on their computer hooked for a long time.

Ups
Multiplayer
Xbox Live multiplayer
Downloadable skin / texture packs
Most of the content of the computer version

Downs
Multiplayer lag issues
No servers
Missing content is noticeable

Also available on Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita

ESRB: E 10+ Content: Fantasy Violence Price: $19.99 (Retail / Download)

Minecraft Review

Minecraft

Publisher: Mojang Developer: Mojang Platform: PC Players: 1-100 (LAN / Online) Release: 2011 Genre:  Sandbox / Adventure Rating: 9.7 \ 10.0: Masterful

Above is gameplay from Survival mode

I've played the Pocket Edition. I've played the Xbox 360 Edition. But of all the versions of Minecraft, I think that the best, although there are some who don't agree, is the computer version. As I mentioned in my Minecraft: Pocket Edition review, Minecraft is a popular 3D sandbox game with retro-style graphics in which you 'mine' various blocks and use them to create whatever you desire. This edition features more content than any other version of Minecraft, being the first version. But Minecraft is more than it sounds-- far more. It's become a cultural phenomenon! It's about exploring lush valleys, dry desserts, snow-capped forests, dense jungles, and dank, dark caves, all in a world where the only limit is your imagination, in a game with no goal but the one you set for yourself. Minecraft can be difficult, but it has something for every player. In Survival mode, you must gather resources and build a shelter, then craft tools and armor to mine ores and slay to hordes of monsters that come out at night. And if you feel as if you're a pro, you can play Hardcore mode, in which the difficulty is locked on Hard, and as soon as you die, the world is deleted. In Creative mode, you're given an unlimited supply of every block and item, invincibility (although you can die by digging past the bottom layer of bedrock in the world and falling out), and the abilities to fly and break blocks instantly to build whatever you want. And in case you still want to collect items, you can access a Survival-style inventory (with no crafting interface) to store loot. But once you Survival inventory is full, you can still collect items without storing them-- not so good for collecting strategists. The procedurally generated worlds modes create suspenseful scenarios that make your heart race when playing Survival. Hearing the moaning and growling of zombies or the clicking of skeleton's bones in a cave is frightening no matter how prepared you are, even more so if you discover a spawner. My most memorable situation is when I was double-checking a cave I had discovered for minerals. I hadn't made the cavern bright enough to prevent monsters from spawning, and a Creeper had came our from around the corner. I should have brought along my strong, durable iron armor in case of this, but I foolishly decided to wear out my weak leather gear. I was unable to kill the Creeper, and it exploded. I was fine, but the explosion destroyed a stone cube that held a silverfish egg, and I was assaulted by a swarm of the pesky pests. My iron sword was able to kill them in several hits, but not before they tore through 75% of my health. When only one silverfish remained, I accidentally pressed F5 and changed my perspective, but was still able to slay the monster that was obscured by my body in third-person. It's moments like this that make Minecraft stand out above action games littered with setpiece moments. There are also other dimensions to explore: the Nether, a underworld-like cavern full of fire, lava lakes, and evil beasts; and the End, where you face the mighty Ender Dragon and armies of tall, slender Endermen. Slaying the dragon is completely optional, but those that wish to "beat" Minecraft can undertake this difficult quest. There are even adjustable world settings-- you can have a standard world, a Super Flat world, a Large Biomes world, or an Amplified world (for "beefy" computers only). Another great feature is the game's quirky sense of humor. There may be no storyline to show it, but the game has a quirky sense of humor. For example, the title screen displays one of countless messages that always make me chuckle. "Fat free"? "Colormatic" (in rainbow lettering)? "Totally forgot about Dre"? "Kind of dragon free?" (The latter references the totally real Ender Dragon) Additionally, the calming blend of piano and techno music by indie artist C418 is great and suits the game perfectly-- except when battling demonic monstrosities in the MC equivalent of the underworld, in which case the serene sounds are hilariously ironic. One of the best things about this game is how much user-generated content is available to you if you wish to alter your experience. Don't like the plain old Steve look? Get a new skin made by a player, or create your own! Tired of standard Minecraft? Download or create a mod or a server (or a modified server)! Don't even like how the game looks?! Get a texture pack! Want a world just for you and your friends? Host a private LAN game! The greatest part of Minecraft is that it's constantly expanding! Every once in a while, the game will be updated. This isn't like some MMO expansion pack-- updating Minecraft is 100% free! The only problem with Minecraft is that there's more the game could have, and that's really saying something given that there's been an more than acceptable amount of content even since I began playing at Version 1.4.5. But hey, players hoped for ages that the game would eventually add horses, because it is fun to ride a pig, but not very productive. Version 1.6.0 added not only horses, but donkeys as well! Minecraft is one of the greatest, but not best, things that has ever happened in the world of gaming, and at just $26.95, I highly suggest you download it for yourself!

Ups
Tons of freedom
Endless possibilities
Modes for every player
Charming retro graphics
Quirky sense of humor
Great, calming soundtrack

Downs
Some items are desired but not present

Also available on mobile devices, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita.

ESRB: E 10+ Content: Fantasy Violence Price: $26.95 (Download)

Paper Mario: Sticker Star Review

Paper Mario: Sticker Star

Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Intelligent Systems Platform: 3DS Players: 1 Release: 2012 Genre: RPG /Adventure Rating: 8.3 \ 10.0: Great

Above is Mario stomping on a pack of Goombas with Jump stickers
 

Before I talk about this game, I'm gonna give some advice. If you've never played a Paper Mario game or are planning on doing so, do not play Super Paper Mario first. I thought playing that game would prepare me for Sticker Star, but it didn't. Why? You'll find out.

 

After five years, a new Paper Mario game has arrived! And this time, Mario's in his stickiest (literally) situation yet! It all begins on the night of the Sticker Fest, an event that celebrates the falling of the Sticker Comet, celestial rock that, according to legend, any wish made upon it is likely to come true. As the star descends to the festival grounds, Bowser arrives to make a wish upon the comet. He than touches the celestial stone, and it explodes! Bowser then transforms into a giant, sparkly sticker, snatches Peach and knocks Mario out. When Mario awakens, he's crumpled up, and you must mash the A button until he's un-crumpled. You must than track a voice that's calling Mario's name. When you find the source of the voice, you'll see that it's Kertsi, a crown-shaped sticker. She tells Mario that the pieces of the Sticker Comet have been scattered about the land, and that he must recover them. Along the way, you'll countless stickers, that can be used it combat. Turn-based combat as a result of simply touching an enemy (but the Mario & Luigi series prepared me for that, unlike Super Paper Mario). You'll also find real life objects, such as scissors and a fan, referred to as "Things". These can be brought back to Decalburg (get it-- "Decal Burg"?), the game's hub, and turned into stickers at the Sling-a-Thing platform. From Decalburg, you can also purchase and sell stickers at a shop (although a couple of stages contain sticker shops as well), and  view all the stickers you've collected throughout the game in a museum. Among other new features is the ability to "paperize". By pressing the Y button, the entire scene is frozen, and there may be outlines on the screen that you can place equally-sized stickers or things to make them appear in the environment. This entry manages to maintain the quirky sense of humor found in all Mario role-playing games. What's wrong with Sticker Star? Not much-- it's just that I prefer Mario platformers over RPGs, although there's a tiny hint of platforming in this game. In World 3-1, for example, you must jump roll across spinning cylinders to cross a pond of poisonous purple goop while Boomerang Bros toss boomerangs at you   from the background. Some stages can be notoriously difficult, and you don't receive much aid and get very poor hints. It's also disappointing that there's no new unique villain as in other Mario RPGs, like Fawful form Mario & Luigi, or Count Bleck from Super Paper Mario. One of the best aspects of the game is its graphics. The characters look truly papery, and the environments look as if they were made of cardboard, giving the game an endlessly charming feel of a diorama come to life. Although, as I said before, I prefer Mario platformers over Mario RPGs, Paper Mario: Sticker Star is a fine addition to the Mario series.

Ups
Awesome stickers
Quirky humor
Some platforming
Charming papery graphics

Downs
Poor hints
No unique villain

ESRB: E Content: Comic Mischief and Mild Cartoon Violence Price: $39.99 (Retail / Download)

Nintendo Land Review

Nintendo Land

 Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Nintendo Platform: Nintendo Wii U Players: (Depends on Game) Release: 2012 Genre: Action / Party Rating: 8.7 \ 10.0: Fantastic

Above is the top-down view of your park

Nintendo Land celebrates the release of the Wii U by providing a collection of fun Nintendo-themed games. It's all about friendly rivalry and cooperation at times, but most of all, having a blast! I underestimated this game, but it's incredible! But now I'll get back on track and explain this game at a better pace. Nintendo Land is set at a virtual Mii-filled theme park that features attractions that come in the form of games, each one based on a specific Nintendo series. When you play them, you can earn coins that are used to earn "prizes" to spruce up your park in a retro-looking minigame in which you must drop your coins into holes. The prizes are too Nintendo themed, and range from the Great Deku Tree to a Bulborb. There are three types of attractions: Solo attractions,  Competitive attractions, and Team attractions. In Mario Chase, a Competitive attraction based on the Super Mario series, one Mii, dressed as Mario, uses the Wii U GamePad to view a map on the course, while running away from up to 4four other Miis dressed as Toads, who  are controlled by Wii Remotes  and try catch "Mario" before time expires. In Luigi's Ghost Mansion, a Competitive attraction based on the 2001 GameCube classic, Luigi's Mansion, one Mii, dressed as a ghost and controlled by the GamePad, must track down and knock out up to four other Miis-- ghost hunters-- who must drain the ghost's health, a difficult task, considering the ghost is invisible on the TV screen. In Donkey Kong's Crash Course, a Solo Attraction based on the Donkey Kong series, you must tilt the GamePad to navigate a cart with a Mii face through  a hazardous maze. In Takamuru's Ninja Castle, a Solo attraction based on a 1986 Japanese game called Namo So Murasame Jo, you use the GamePad's touchscreen to fling paper shuriken at cardboard ninja cutouts. In Balloon Trip Breeze, a Solo attraction based on the classic, Balloon Fight, you swipe your stylus across the GamePad's touchscreen to blow your Mii, hoisted up by a balloon, through an aerial obstacle course. In The Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest, based on the Legend of Zelda series, up to four Miis dressed as multi-colored Links, three with swords controlled by Wii MotionPlus Remotes, and one with a bow controlled by the GamePad, hack and shoot there way through action-packed quests. In Metroid Blast, based on the Metroid series, up to five Miis, one controlled by the GamePad, battle alien robots on foot or in gunships in Assault  Missions, and in Surface-Air Combat, one Mii flies around in a gunship trying to gun down the other Miis, who fight on foot and try to take out the gunner. In Pikmin Adventure, a Team attraction based on the Pikmin series, one Mii, dressed as the iconic Captain Olimar, battles the robotic forces of Dark Monita with the help of up to four others dressed as a large Pikmin in Challenges, collecting nectar to level up and power-ups to beat up mechanical Beebs, Bulborbs, and more. And in Versus, Olimar and the Pik-Miis (get it?) battle each other for candy, obtained by destroying blocks, enemies, and each other. Octopus Dance, a Solo Attraction based on the game Game & Watch Octopus, you move the GamePad's analog sticks to the rhythm of a dance instructor. In Yoshi's Fruit Cart, a Solo Attraction based on the Yoshi series, you draw a path on the GamePad's touchscreen to navigate a Yoshi-like cart to a door, picking up fruits along the way. the twist is that you must collect every fruit in a certain order, and they're only visible on the TV screen. Additionally, if the path is too long, the cart will run out of gas. In Captain Falcon's Twister Race, based on the F-Zero series, you tilt and turn the GamePad to navigate the Blue Falcon through a raceway under a time limit. In Animal Crossing: Sweet Day, based upon the Animal Crossing series, has up to four players with Wii Remotes assume the roles of Miis dressed as elephants attempting to gather pieces of candy and drop them into holes while being pursued by a pair of Miis dressed as wolves brandishing kitchen utensils, both of which are controlled by the player with the GamePad. If the wolves catch three elephants before they collect the specified number of pieces of candy, they win, but the elephants win otherwise. The game has an element of strategy-- the more candy an elephant collects, the slower they move, but they can drop candy to regain speed and avoid the wolves, and the wolves must find a way to corner their foes. A hindrance is that in some events, the odds are stacked against you (especially Luigi's Ghost Mansion), and others can be frustrating. Nintendo Land is an excellent system launch title, and a Nintendo fan could hardly asked for more!

Ups
Plenty of fun games
Multiplayer games
Tons of prizes to unlock
Games take advantage of the GamePad

Downs
Some unfair and frustrating games

ESRB: E 10+ Content: Cartoon Violence and Crude Humor Price: $29.99 (Retail)

Kirby's Dream Land Review

Kirby's Dream Land

Publisher: Nintendo Developer: HAL Laboratory Platform: Nintendo Game Boy Players: 1 Release: 1992 Genre: 2D Platformer Rating: 7.4 \ 10.0: Good

Above is a scene from early in the game

This is the game that started the Kirby series. Kirby's Dream Land illustrates the exploits of Kirby, a pink puffball (who looks white on the game's box art, and appears white in the game due to the Game Boy's black-and-white 8-bit graphics processor) who seeks to defeat the evil and oversized King Dedede and return Dream Land's food to the land. This game was designed to be as easy as Kirby's cutesy appearance makes it seem, so don't expect much challenge before your confrontation with Dedede. But it's still a decent platformer. The soundtrack is catchy, the varied enemies are creative, and the 8-bit graphics are impressive. K'SDR is relatively short-- only five stages long. The stages each begin with a short, humorous cut scene you can skip through in which the stage's name is displayed. In the final stage, Mt. Dedede, you must play through short versions of each stage and have a rematch with each boss, and then battle King Dedede. When you defeat Dedede, Kirby uses the power of Warp Stars to inflate and lift Castle Dedede away. As the credits play, you can see Kirby floating in the background. Then Kirby dumps the stolen food down on Dream Land, and the game is over-- and I'm amused at the "Bye-bye" sign Kirby lifts up. You are then taught how to unlock the challenging Extra mode-- hold down Up, A, and Select all at once on the title screen. When you beat Extra mode, you can view the enemy credits after the staff credits. And then you can reset the game and enter Config mode-- hold down Up, B, and Select, on the title screen. You can then listen to all the game's music and sound effects. Since a vintage copy of the game is probably very expensive, I recommend downloading this game via the Nintendo 3DS eShop for just a few dollars. As an added bonus, the handheld's Circle Pad allows for much more maneuverability in the air.  Kirby's Dream Land, although a brief and hardly difficult quest, is a fine platformer. I recommend it, especially to fans eager to experience the series' beginning.

Ups
Catchy soundtrack
Impressive 8-bit graphics
Secret modes

Downs
Very short
Hardly challenging

ESRB: E Content: Mild Cartoon Violence Price: $3.99 (Download)