TearsMacabre

Both Fates games improved on or matched Awakening in the best ways possible. The gameplay was fun - I personally prefer the challenge Conquest provides, but all three routes were enjoyable by themselves. If you're new to the series, Birthright is probably better to wade into. The story and characters are what really hit it home for me. I got so attached to many of them, and the story was great. I played through Conquest first, and when I played through Birthright, I felt so guilty for betraying the Nohrians. There weren't quite as many choices as Nintendo was implying, but honestly, I didn't mind. I was too preoccupied by the game itself to notice until I was done playing.

Pokken Tournament was a major success, in my opinion. The gameplay is fun, the roster is somewhat small but has a lot of variety, and seeing Pokemon in these graphics is a dream come true. It isn't overly complex or tedious, but it also isn't oversimplified. This game is accessible to players of all skill levels, and will keep you playing "Just one more battle...".

I'll start with the good parts of the game: The graphics are really nice, and the new sticker mechanic was interesting at first. Unfortunately, that was about it for me. There was no story whatsoever, and the characters were all incredibly bland and one-note. The stickers soon became very tedious, as did combat, as well as the constant, confusing backtracking. Bowser, once again, is the generic annoying villain - not an amazing, well rounded character as in the previous games. The paper theme was also way overdone. Overall, if you loved The Thousand Year Door or even Super Paper Mario, steer clear of this one. If not, maybe you'll find something you'll like - but there are a lot of gameplay flaws to deal with, so be careful.

This game is so entirely amazing, I don't know where to start. It is everything I was hoping for in a Pikmin game, and a perfect improvement on its already great predecessors. The graphics, put plainly, are beautiful. The story is interesting, and they've finally got the time limit perfected. It's not the stressful, breakneck pace of Pikmin 1 nor the lazy, numbing pace of Pikmin 2, but rather a mellow pace that still pushes you to complete your goal. Using the GamePad for planning and strategizing is a great addition to the series. Pikmin finally found the right console! The Winged Pikmin are also a great addition to the lineup, and having three captains encourages multitasking and efficiency. It would've been nice if the White and Purple Pikmin hadn't been pushed off to the side, sure. The game could've had a few more items to collect for a really hard challenge. But overall, I couldn't be more happy with this game. If you have a Wii U, you should have this game. If you don't have a Wii U, you should have a Wii U and this game. Oh, and did I mention that the Pikmin are absolutely, positively adorable? Well, they are.

As the first Pokemon Mystery Dungeon game I've played, this game has gotten me interested in the series as a whole. It was surprisingly difficult; I was expecting a pushover, beaten-in-10-hours type game, but I definitely got a challenge out of it. The story line was actually quite good, and a little darker than I would expect from a Pokemon game. On top of that, the music is absolutely beautiful. I think many people will get a great experience out of this game. The reason I gave it a 9 and not an 10 was that the startup of the game was pretty slow. Not boring, just slow. You'll have to play it through to get the best out of it. I absolutely recommend this game. A success for the Pokemon franchise for sure.

I constantly replay this game all the time: it's incredibly fun. The characters are all unique, there are challenges for all levels of players, and I love the strategy element. For those of you expecting a Legend of Zelda game: it isn't one, and it isn't meant to be. This is distinctly Dynasty Warriors, using an excellent Zelda storyline and unique Zelda characters. That doesn't make it a bad "unoriginal" game. I find endless hours of enjoyment in it. The only thing keeping me from giving this game a 10 is the fact that it's FPS drops during co-op noticibly. However, it's still a great game and a fantastic purchase.

The core of this game is very solid: it's a fluid tennis game. I don't think many can argue with that. The character roster was acceptable, if not a little small. Novice players can easily jump in with the automatic shot feature, and more experienced gamers have the depth of shot selection. So, yes, the core is very strong. However, that's the only thing it has. It's like Nintendo baked an excellent cake, but then forgot to frost it. The game modes are shallow at best, and there could have been one or two more characters at the least. The lack of motion controls is frankly baffling, as well. The Mega Mushrooms are interesting for a little while, but soon become fairly dull. If you're going to use power-ups, there should be some variety. As a stand-alone game, it's a decent (though not excellent) purchase. As a Mario Tennis game, it lacks some of the fun of previous titles.

Yet another Nintendo game I thoroughly enjoy. The graphics are beautiful and the roster is excellent. Unlike Melee, which favored competitive players, and Brawl, which favored casual ones, Smash 4 strikes a perfect balance between the two. With practice, an amateur player like me can do decently during online play... for you super-dedicated players out there, there are so many advanced techniques to learn with every character out there. I'm not sure anyone can get bored playing this game, be he/she a completely casual newcomer or a diehard video game fan. Oh, and did I mention the music? THE MUSIC!!! Oh, it was so, so amazing. I would've bought the game if all it did was play music. I am truly enamored with it. My ONLY complaint about the game- and I mean only - is the lack of a story mode. Classic and All-Star work fine, and the new Master/Crazy Orders modes are fun, but they just don't live up to Brawl's Subspace Emissary. That's the only reason I'd ever play Brawl again after playing this game. A top-notch success for Nintendo. Definitely worth buying a Wii U for; if you have one already, this game is a must.

Wow, excellent game. It was beautifully nostalgic, and merits purchase from all you sentimental folks just based on the old-time yet gorgeous graphics and memorable gameplay. However, speaking as someone too young to really be nostalgic at all, this is NOT the only thing Shovel Knight has going for it. It was undeniably fun to play. I've never really been into the older games that much, but this game makes me want to give them a second look. Of all the games I got over the holidays, this one was hands-down my favorite. I especially liked the Relics and Armor/Weapon upgrades. Not to mention the game's sheer uniqueness. In a world where everything's already been done, Shovel Knight managed to give me a genuinely new experience, despite its old-school style. On top of everything else, the difficulty is perfectly balanced - You won't be able to blow through it your first try, but it isn't impossible to beat either. An excellent Wii U purchase. Oh, and a note... Use the D-pad, not the joystick. You'll find things so much easier.

Sigh... I wasn't too excited about this game, but my brother got it as a gift, so I thought I'd try it. I was even less impressed after playing it. I've loved almost all of my Wii U purchases so far, but this fell short for me. The problem is that the game is entirely luck-based. Literally. There is practically no skill required whatsoever. So much so, in fact, that I considered playing it with my 2-year-old cousin. That's the main mode, anyway. Here's what saved me from giving this game a 2: For one, just the general charm of the Animal Crossing theme. I won't deny the game was nice visually for what it was, and it was slightly entertaining to see the journals of the characters as they land on each space. Second, the minigames. One in particular actually requires strategy during play and during teambuilding, and I actually enjoy playing it. The problem is that it's a minigame; the main mode of the game itself I found dreadfully boring. Overall, I unfortunately cannot recommend this game unless you have small children. Even then, beware: The very first game, there is absolutely nothing to do. You'll have to play a few times before you get the good stuff.

This game is so beautiful and adorable... I don't know where to start. Those little yarn Yoshi's are just impossibly cute. It's a great game for kids just on the great graphics and cuteness alone - I feel I could almost walk into the TV and hug all those plushy Yoshi's. I can't, unfortunately, though I have hugged the Yarn Yoshi amiibo that came with mine. Besides the adorableness, the game is also fun to play. For younger kids who have trouble with tough games, playing through won't frustrate them. If you're older and want a good challenge, getting all the collectibles will satisfy a lot of you. The most hardcore gamers might find this a touch too easy, but this game will still appeal to most people. I definitely recommend it.