ericwithcheese

The GameCube remake of Resident Evil was amazing, and this HD remaster is fantastic eye candy for this fan of the franchise. While Resident Evil Zero was a fine game as well, the real star is the REmake. Both games look and play great, and is well worth the asking price if you are a fan of how the series used to be before it became more action focused and less survival horror based.

As a fan of board game video games, this title hits the sweet spot. This collects four games that are also individually available and puts them in a nice package. Scrabble may be challenging for same-room multiplayer for obvious reasons, but it's online component makes up for it. Trivial Pursuit is remixed into a game show format that is more fun that I initially thought, but I miss having the original board game variation included. Monopoly and Clue are also present and their presentations are sleek and flashy. All in all, a great collection for families and board game fans.

Great bowling physics, but very bland presentation. There are multiple lanes to choose from, but character customization is at a bare minimum and little variety in atmospheric sound or music.

Playable only on the New 3DS models, this RPG shooter is every bit as addictive and innovative (and controversial) as you've heard. Be sure to have the latest version downloaded (or a patch) from the Nintendo eShop as its initial release was quite buggy.

Questions are reasonable and challenging, but the game's presentation is horrific. No voice acting by anyone, including the host Jeff Foxworthy, and annoying generic public domain-sounding music plays throughout the entire game no matter the question, stage or mode. Functionally works fine, but anyone looking for a real game show experience should look elsewhere.

Being a fan of survival horror, I was a big fan of the original Dementium on the Nintendo DS. But it had a few annoying problem that this 3DS "Remaster" have thankfully worked out. Gone are the annoying and unrelenting enemy respawning, which makes this remake much more appealing. But don't be looking for a complete remake and overhaul of the graphics... the 3D is smooth and frame rate smoother, but there is not a noticeable difference outside of that. Still, highly recommended for fans of the franchise or for horror games.

The basic problem with Wii Sports Club is the same that many Wii U games like this one and Wii Party U and Wii Fit U have encountered: its just more of the same in a slightly prettier package. Whereas Wii Sports was groundbreaking on the original Wii, this one is more of a "me, too" on the Wii U with only HD graphics and online play added to a basically untouched game engine. The most disturbing is that while Wii Sports was a pack in game for much of the Wii's lifespan, Wii Sports Club is $39,99 (at time of launch and of this writing), or $5-$10 per sport as a download. That's a pretty hefty asking price when the original does basically the same thing and for much less.

City Folk's biggest drawback is that it is not different enough from Wild World, the DS portable entry that came less than two years before this Wii title. It's a fine game, but just light on content that makes it stand out... many musical cues and dialogue are the same, the items are the same, and the objectives are the same. You could say this about any Animal Crossing mainline game, but I expected more out of a home console title. On the upside, it still is Animal Crossing, and it also introduced the Wii Speak accessory, which allowed for online communication to be easier than typing one letter at a time.

As a longtime fan of AVGN, this game is a wealth of jokes and throwbacks. It plays like an old school NES 8-bit game, and that includes the difficulty level of most action games of that era - which is off the charts hard. The level of obscenity in this title may be shocking at it is appearing on a Nintendo console, but don't let that put you off... its a blast, even if you become overly familiar with the Game Over screen.

Really wanted to like this game as I love the Mario sports titles, but this version is strictly a bare bones, phoned-in stopgag so there is something new on the shelves for Christmas. Basic core gameplay is solid, graphics are beautiful, but a severe lack of gameplay modes, courts, character variety and even basic online friend matchmaking hinders this title before it even gets out of the gate.

Lazy copy and paste port of the last two FIFA games for 3DS with minor roster and kit changes only. Back in 2012, this was pretty solid. Two years year, not so much.

While everything points to this being a Nintendogs clone, Vita Pets aims to be much more. Part pet sim/part adventure, you not only feed and pet your dog, but he or she also begs you to take them out on an adventure based on books you find on your bookshelf. Its neat, but the dogs actually talk - of which the voices can be turned off and subtitles on, but still - and there is a pretty steep learning curve of what to do and what does what considering this game is marketed as a simple pet sim.

Despite the inclusion of Dr. Luigi, this quick game literally does nothing to add to the tried and true formula of thr Dr. Mario franchise we have come to know and love. Challenges are split up into bite-sized pieces and levels you keep track up by charts, and they get more difficult as you go along - predictably. It's nothing new, but it's still pretty fun. And that's never a bad thing.

Believe it or not, Reel Fishing is a long running and successful franchise that dates back to the days of the original PlayStation. This portable version feels more like it was designed for smartphones than the Vita, but it plays well, and there are neat references for longime fans of the series in the text. But, it is a fishing game, and you can only make them so exciting and keep the realism. Overall, a fine addition to the series if you are a fan.

I love Monopoly, and the first Monopoly game on the Wii was great. This version, which attempts to give properties a personality and life of its own in a quasi-3D environments, is a complete bust. The boards are loud, the characters are completely obnoxious and the game runs super slow with no option to speed up. You can play as your Mii, but that consolation is blunted when you also realize that this game repeats half of the boards from the original game. As a side note, later versions of this game, bundled with Monopoly (2008) in "Monopoly Collection" (2011) adds the DLC from the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions.

Disappointing final chapter in the Family Game Night series as the franchise has run out of real games to emulate and instead recreates challenges from the TV game show of the same name. The games, such as Connect Four Basketball, are decent enough, while others like Bop-It are just downright confusing. The game show itself changed games shortly after its first season, so finding the real life versions of these to see how they are supposed to be played will be a challenge in and of itself.

The "long awaited" follow up to the surprisingly addictive puzzle game Peggle makes a good effect but never quite recaptures the magic that made the original a breakout hit. Level designs are serviceable but the new characters and power ups are forgettable. Still a decent game, and the HD visuals look great, but nowhere near the level of fun of the original.

I have loved You Don't Know Jack since the beginning, and this collection of fun minigames - including a fresh version of said YDKJ - is sure to be a fun party favorite. Breaking the traditional mold of standard controllers, this allows players in the same room or across the world to play online using a variety of smart devices, which is vital in Drawful where you literally draw pictures as challenges. Some games are more fun than others - Fibbage XL is particularly a blast with friends, but all are dependent on knowing friends to play with as the fun quota goes way down against random players. Its a great collection and worth breaking out at any get together for a bunch of laughs.

Super Smash Bros has long been a staple in any "Best of" list for a Nintendo console, but this version is, in my opinion, the best one yet. From is eye popping gorgeous visuals, to its fun and innovative level designs, to its endless cast of characters and constantly updated DLC, this is one Smash Bros that takes upon a beloved franchise and builds upon it. A must have in any Wii U gamer's library.

Nintendo knows how to do quality DLC with very reasonable prices. The first pack with the Legend of Zelda track was great, but the second pack with Animal Crossing is off the charts fun. Of course, being an Animal Crossing fan, I would naturally gravitate towards this set, but it really is visually stunning with its changing seasons and graphics as well as original music compositions to match them. The other tracks, including another one based on F-Zero, are good but its the AC stuff that I keep going back to.

Broken Age is an indie game with lush, beautiful art design and a story that is both humorous and memorable. There is a slight learning curve, however, no matter which character story you choose, and the point-and-click style of gameplay can be both its hook and its drawback.

Atmospheric and haunting, Lone Survivor is a game that gets under your skin in all the right ways. Boasting an old-school, it is genuinely unsettling and best played wearing headphones. The sound design is awesome and makes this game stand out.

Eternal Darkness is a game so dark and twisted that you are shocked it came from Nintendo. Not your standard horror game, this one has a deeply disturbing storyline and messes with the sanity of the character as well as the player as it actively messes with the gamer using unique visual tricks and fake outs. A technical marvel at time of release, Eternal Darkness is one of the most innovative games in the horror genre that deserves another look.

I have always loved Animal Crossing, but New Leaf is where I feel the franchise really came into its own. Giving you the additional power as Mayor where you can create ordinances and unique items and designs for your town is an ingenious twist, while characters like Isabelle have quickly become among my favorite in the series. As with any AC game, you do eventually run out of things to do when played long enough, but it is an endearing journey, and one of my favorite games of all time.

A few years ago, the New Super Mario series was fresh and fun: the Nintendo DS version was a great throwback while the Wii edition introduced four player madness. But this Wii U title just feels like a "Me, too!" add on that is just routine, more of the same stuff. Not that it doesn't get fun, but there is nothing here that makes this game stand out.

One of Nintendo's most innovative game in years is Splatoon - a shooter that is hard to describe but impossible to hate. A little light on content initially as this felt rushed out the door to make a release date, free DLC has helped fill in some of the holes. Still doesn't feel like a complete game, but what is here is a lot of fun as long as you have a robust online connection.

Near platforming perfection, Tropical Freeze is both a fun throwback to the original DKC series on the Super Nintendo and a jump forward with its silky smooth HD graphics and excellent music design. Fantastic co-op mode make this the Wii U's most well-rounded and fun platformer to date.

What at first seems like a cheap cash-in on one of the best RPGs of all time, Dancing All Night proves to be worthy of the Persona name, expanding its universe, enriching its story and throwing in a bunch of fantastic catchy tunes as the icing on this delicious cake.

All joking aside, the Farming Simulator series has been reliably a solid sim franchise that accurately represents farming. But with that goes a steep learning curve as this installment features no tutorial and bare bones instructions, being basically a port from smartphones to the Vita. That said, FS16 is a step up from last year's versions with additional tools and challenges, and on a handheld that is starved for actual simulation games, this one will do the trick - if farming is what you are into.

From the creators of LittleBigPlanet comes one of the most original games I've played in recent memory. Is this a platformer? Is this an adventure? Is this a fantasy? It's all of the above with outstanding art and sound design in a game that makes actual good use of all of the Vita's innovative features. The only drawback is the game can be completed pretty quickly, but the replay value is high with the need to want to see ever nook and cranny this game has to offer. Highly recommended.

Super Mario 3D World has all the hallmarks of a fantastic Mario platformer: new endearing characters, fantastic level design, outstanding music and top drawer visuals. What's missing though is originality as this is not much more than an slightly upgraded port to the 3DS's Super Mario 3D Land that was released just two years prior. Luckily for us, 3D Land was a great 2.5D adventure, and 3D World follows in its footsteps as a quality title. But it just misses the mark from being a definitive Wii U Mario title.

This game is like a love letter to us SEGA fans. Building upon the original Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing, this sequel is better in every aspect and even escapes from that long shadow that Mario Kart can cast. The Vita version is near perfect with PS3-like graphic quality and sound, although a bit of frame rate slowdown occurs on occasion, but nothing that breaks the game and not nearly as bad as it is on the 3DS. One of the racers on the Vita and one of the best character cart racers out there, period.

As the first spinoff of the popular Animal Crossing series, Happy Home Designer is a mixed bag. In theory, it feels like an Animal Crossing game, stripped down to the interior decorating aspect - which is actually my favorite part of the franchise. But the fatal flaw is the complete lack of challenge in the grading system... no matter what you do as long as there is one item to match their desired theme, they will compliment you. The use of amiibo cards, though, is pretty neat, and the music is outstanding. Worth it in small doses but won't have the lasting appeal of New Leaf.

Mario Party is still fun, but annoying aspects from previous entries carry over to this incarnation. There are a lot of mini games that are purely chance, and the lack of any online multiplayer whatsoever is also a major drawback. However, it is still fun with other people if they have their own systems, but it is just more of the same - cheerful but mundane.