Tag: First Impressions - Page 4
First Impressions Rayman Legends
An absolute jaw-dropper
Ubisoft's Rayman Origins was praised for its amazing 2D visuals, lush environments and solid platforming. So when word leaked out that Ubisoft was working on a possible sequel, fans of the limbless one sat up and took notice. After finding out the game would be shown at E3 on Nintendo's upcoming Wii U console, the thought of...
Monkey + bombs = puzzler fun
When you mention developer Renegade Kid's name, some gamers' minds immediately gravitate towards the spine-chilling first-person shooters the developer has created like Dementium and Moon. So when the group released its retro platformer Mutant Mudds, most were fairly caught by surprise. There's another surprise as...
First Impressions ATV Wild Ride 3D
ATV racer goes 3D
When the original ATV Wild Ride was released on Nintendo DS last year, it was praised for its impressive play controls and solid track designs. Unfortunately the game's limited release made it difficult to find at retail outlets, thus keeping it from reaching a wider audience. Now developer Renegade Kid has decided to give the DS...
First Impressions Art of Balance TOUCH! (3DS eShop)
Small scale
Art of Balance on WiiWare is one of the service's best puzzlers — the second highest-rated puzzler on Wii, according to Metacritic — so an enhanced, portable version for 3DS sounds like a winner. Surprise! It is. Art of Balance TOUCH! follows the same format as previous Shin'en WiiWare-to-eShop transition
First Impressions Mario Tennis Open
Nintendo serves up another winner
The mustachioed plumber’s handheld tennis and golf outings have an RPG history able to trigger warm and fuzzy feelings of nostalgia in all who earned hand cramps from them at one point or another. Those feelings won’t be triggered by Mario Tennis Open on 3DS as it eschews levelling up solo in favour of...
First Impressions Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH! (3DS eShop)
Shin'en star?
Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH! might lay it on a bit thick with its overly exclamatory title, but it does a decent job of summing up the first 3DS eShop game from long-time Nintendo supporter Shin'en Multimedia. It's worth saying right off the bat this isn't a portable version of WiiWare original Fun! Fun! Minigolf: while that was intended...
First Impressions Block Factory (3DS eShop)
Bricking it
Upcoming 3DS eShop title Block Factory — from the makers of Pyramids — is trying to do something a little different with the puzzle genre. Instead of sticking resolutely to one kind of block-dropper, you can create your own take on the genre with its built-in creative tools. While the game comes with four preset games that ape famous...
First Impressions Flipper 2: Flush the Goldfish
Don't forget to flush!
Flipper was an engaging and imaginative DSiWare release: not only did it feature one of the more unique visual styles seen on the service, it had simple and addictive gameplay too. Rather than merely take that idea and run with it for the follow-up, developer Hugo Smits decided to mix things up and create a completely...
First Impressions Nano Assault
Shin'en knows shmups
Shin'en is certainly no stranger to the shoot 'em up genre, having already developed games in the Iridion and Nanostray series for Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS respectively, but after taking a few years to work on other projects, many shooter fans were beginning to wonder if the developer would ever get back to its shmup...
First Impressions Fishing Resort
Is there a catch?
Yuji Naka's Prope studio has been responsible for some interesting Wii titles over the past few years, including Ivy the Kiwi and the upcoming Rodea the Sky Soldier. So when the developer announced Fishing Resort, many gamers were left wondering just exactly how a game like this would turn out. And while its cute look and feel is...
First Impressions Mighty Switch Force
The Mighty series just got a lot mightier
While Shantae will probably always be the series WayForward is best known for, it's also been quite successful on Nintendo's download services, especially with its two previous Mighty releases, Mighty Flip Champs and Mighty Milky Way. Now the developer is looking to continue that success with its first 3DS...
First Impressions Gnomz (WiiWare)
WiiWare gets weirder
QubicGames' Gnomz isn't much like other fighting games. There are no punches, no blocks and no health bars — instead it has gnomes, rainbow socks and reindeer with lights on. We recently grappled with a preview version of the game and came out (mostly) mentally unscathed. Played with the Wii Remote sideways, Gnomz is a...
First Impressions Zen Pinball 3D
We take the game for a spin
Zen Studios has become quite well-known for its pinball simulations released across several gaming platforms in recent years, but now the company is looking to jump into the 3DS eShop pool with the upcoming Zen Pinball 3D. The folks at Zen Studios were kind enough to send over a preview build of the game, which we...
First Impressions MotoHeroz (WiiWare)
We take the Trials-style game for a quick spin
It's always tough to tell what you're going to get when developers decide to combine two separate genres into one new gaming experience. Sometimes it works and offers up something fresh and unique, whereas other times it can be a complete and utter disaster. With their upcoming WiiWare release...
Piping hot
Nintendo could have gone in any number of directions with its first Mario outing on 3DS: an enhanced remake of a previous game a la Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, an extension of the Super Mario Galaxy series or a sequel to the mega-selling New Super Mario Bros.. It's done none of these, or possibly all of them at once. For a start,...
First Impressions Kirby: Mass Attack
Kirby rides again!
The DS is nearing the end of its life now; there are very few big games planned as everybody's making the move to the 3DS. Still, Nintendo's got another title coming out in the form of Kirby: Mass Attack, which takes the traditional Kirby platforming and gives it another unique twist. We had a chance to sit down with a still...
First Impressions Rayman Origins (Wii)
Back to his best?
Rayman Origins is the long awaited return to 2D platforming for Ubisoft's chopper-haired hero. While the version we played at a recent preview event was running on Xbox 360, we were told the team is aiming to make the Wii version as similar as possible. Running on Ubisoft's new UbiArt framework, the game is extremely beautiful —...
First Impressions Sonic Generations
Making us blue
June was Sonic's 20th anniversary, and later this year Sega celebrates with Sonic Generations, a project that aims to combine the hedgehog's best and, admittedly, worst moments. 3DS owners get a very different version to PS3 and 360 fans, both for better and worse. Sonic Generations on 3DS joins traditional 16-bit style platforming...
First Impressions Heroes of Ruin
To arms!
There haven't been many new franchises so far in 3DS's short life so far, but RPG masters Square Enix and handheld specialists n-Space are busy preparing a very promising new IP for release in 2012: Heroes of Ruin. We recently went hands-on with the game, and from our early impressions it's one that should hit your radar. From the off it's...
First Impressions Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D
Snake returns to Nintendo
It's odd that, despite Hideo Kojima requesting Solid Snake to be put in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, there haven't exactly been many games from the Metal Gear series on Nintendo systems, and none since that crossover happened. Thankfully, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D is due to change that later this year. An enhanced port...
First Impressions Rhythm Heaven (Wii)
Tapping never felt so good
At last week's Nintendo press event in the Netherlands, we played several games, but one which has oddly not seen much coverage around the web yet is the latest entry in the Rhythm Heaven series. Scheduled for release in Japan next week, the demo Nintendo had on offer was completely untouched by translators, and was thus...
We go one-on-one with popcorn in one hand and a stylus in the other
In many cities across North America you can still find them: all-but-deserted video rental stores trying every special deal and coupon in their cap to reclaim business from the rampantly successful postal-based Netflix service. But for many, getting movies in the mail isn't its best...
First Impressions Resident Evil Revelations
A return to survival horror
Although Capcom originally coined the term "survival horror" to describe the first Resident Evil, one can't say that the franchise has been very much about that as of late. Resident Evil 4 and its sequel were far more heavily focused on action rather than suspense, with almost no scares to be found. Of course,...
Kirby sucks once again
Although Kirby's Epic Yarn was a wonderful experience, there were a lot of diehard Kirby fans who we're a bit put off by its radically-different visual style and gameplay scheme. Now Nintendo is sending Kirby back to his roots and bringing back not only the familiar visual stylings fans have grown to love over the years, but...
First Impressions Nintendo Wii U
Taking Nintendo's new console for a spin
After seeing the Wii U and its touchpad controller revealed at Nintendo's E3 Press Conference, it was difficult to get an idea of what the system would hold from a gaming perspective. Sure, the visual power looked good and the controller itself featured a wide array of control functionality, but getting a...
First Impressions Aya and the Cubes of Light
It'll make your head spin
There may not be the huge numbers of incoming WiiWare titles we've seen in the past, but we'll take quality over quantity any day. One of the more interesting titles coming to WiiWare is Object Vision's Aya and the Cubes of Light, a puzzle platformer that's quite unlike anything on the service so far. As you might expect,...
First Impressions Spirit Hunters Inc. Light/Shadow (DSiWare)
The thrill of the hunt
After the success of their pOp release on both the WiiWare and DSiWare services, Nnooo took a little time to create some unique applications for DSiWare before getting the urge to create another game. Spirit Hunters Inc. Light/Shadow represents not only a return to gaming for the studio, but also their first dip into the...
First Impressions BIT.TRIP SAGA (3DS)
BIT.TRIP goes 3D!
To say that the BIT.TRIP series has been a highlight of the WiiWare service would be a gross understatement. Their simplistic design and wildly playable nature have made for some of the most engaging gaming experiences on the service and continue to be among the most popular titles in the catalog. Now, the folks at Gaijin Games are...
First Impressions Cave Story (3DS)
A truly stunning upgrade
After enjoying years of success as an indie PC release, Cave Story finally made the transition to the dedicated game systems on both the WiiWare and DSiWare services thanks to the good folks at Nicalis. Now the game is getting a rather thorough 3D makeover on Nintendo's new 3DS system and while the game has taken a rather...
First Impressions Mario Kart (3DS)
Mario Kart goes 3D!
The Mario Kart titles have become a staple of Nintendo's consoles and handheld systems over the past 19 years, so the fact that a new game is being released for Nintendo's new 3DS system comes as no real surprise. What does come as a surprise is how many new ideas the developers have injected into this newest rendition and the...
First Impressions Mutant Mudds (3DSWare)
Something old and something new
There are some games that just grab you right from the moment you begin playing them and that was exactly the case when I began making my way through the levels of Renegade Kid's upcoming 3DSWare title Mutant Mudds. For those of you not familiar with the game, it actually began life as a free-roaming 3D retail title...
First Impressions Luigi's Mansion 2 (3DS)
Busting makes Luigi feel good
It's hard to believe that it's been almost a decade since the release of the original Luigi's Mansion, but fans of the game can certainly attest to the lengthy wait. Now, with the announcement of Luigi's Mansion 2, Nintendo is bringing back Mario's spooked brother and this time with a wealth of new gameplay touches and...
First Impressions Super Mario 3D (3DS)
Super Mario comes to life in full 3D
After the mammoth success of the two Super Mario Galaxy titles on the Wii, we had to know that a new Super Mario title was in the works for Nintendo's new 3DS system. While we received very little in the way of information when the game was first announced, Nintendo wasn't the least bit shy when it came time to...
First Impressions FAST - Racing League
Taking Shin'en's latest for a spin
Plenty of Nintendo fan ire has been drawn by the lack of an F-Zero game for the Wii, and with Wipeout exclusive to Sony consoles there's a huge gap in the market for sleek-looking futuristic racers. WiiWare developer Shin'en Multimedia is hoping to fill that with its upcoming WiiWare title FAST – Racing League,...
First Impressions BurgerTime HD - MonkeyPaw Games
Time to build some burgers!
If you spent any significant amount of time at arcades during the early 80's, chances are you played BurgerTime at one point. While not as blisteringly popular as Pac-Man or Donkey Kong, the game did gain quite a following and even became a staple in many grocery stores. We've seen quite a few of these classic 80's arcade...
First Impressions escapeVektor: Chapter 1
We take Nnooo's trippy arcade title for a spin
It's now been almost three long years since Nnooo released its first WiiWare title Pop, and now after having turned its attention to DSiWare and its rather unique set of myLifeCollected applications, the company has decided to make a surprising return to WiiWare with the brand new title escapeVektor:...
First Impressions Kid Icarus: Uprising
Our Big N hearts go Pit-ter patter
As its sequel itself is keen to point out in a tongue-in-cheek manner, it's been 24 years since Pit flapped his wings up, up and away in his nail-biting platform debut Kid Icarus. The NES original cribbed the best bits of franchises like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda and Metroid and crafted an ambitious,...
First Impressions 3DS Operating System and Built-In Software
What to expect from the included channels, augmented reality games and multitasking
There are a ton of unknowns still left for Nintendo to address when it comes to the upcoming 3DS handheld, and the hardware's operating system itself it was one of the least-accessible aspects of our time with the device in New York and Amsterdam on Jan. 19. While...
First Impressions PilotWings Resort
PilotWings returns after a billion years
Another long-abandoned fan-favorite series, PilotWings debuted on SNES but hasn't seen the flight of day since the N64 launched way back in the mid-90's with the lovely PilotWings 64. But despite the series' rarity, the third installment, PilotWings Resort, which we were able to go hands-on with in Amsterdam...
First Impressions 3DS Video Round-Up
Eyes-on with a whole lot of titles
Regrettably not all the best-looking titles at the Discover 3DS event were available to play, with many games only visible in rolling footage. We spent plenty of time touring the cinematic areas of the events in Europe and New York to see how some of the non-playable games were shaping up. One of the best-looking...
First Impressions The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
The Hero of Time, now in three dee's
Few games are as hotly anticipated for Nintendo's upcoming handheld as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, and with good reason: when the game originally hit the N64 in 1998 it was quickly hailed by gaming's vox populi as the greatest game ever. That's a title that many still bestow upon it after 13 years...
First Impressions Ridge Racer 3D
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiidge Raceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer
Namco's Ridge Racer series has been around the block a few times on Nintendo platforms, starting out with Ridge Racer 64 all the way up to Ridge Racer DS with a pit stop on Gamecube in between. Now the franchise is drifting on over to 3DS with the appropriately named Ridge...
First Impressions 3DS Virtual Console
Time travel meets blur-o-vision
Virtually nothing is known about how the 3DS will handle its new eShop apart from that it will eventually offer a Virtual Console for Game Boy and Game Boy Color software, and in New York City and Amsterdam this past Wednesday Nintendo Life was able to test out a couple of games confirmed for Shop shelves: Super Mario...
First Impressions Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D
The franchise's first 3DS outing is familiar territory for fans
Of the two games in the horror series slated for 3DS, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D is at first blush the least interesting. Where Resident Evil: Revelations looks to be taking the atmosphere back to the series’ spooky roots, Mercenaries is a complete embracement of the...
First Impressions Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D
The beautiful game goes 3D
The revelation that Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D would find a home in Europe during the 3DS's launch period was no surprise to some, but the major part it played in Nintendo's conference showed the two companies obviously have big plans for the game's role in the 3DS launch. Our hands-on time with the world's...
First Impressions Dead or Alive: Dimensions
A contender?
Capcom's Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition may have been many attendee's standout game of the show, but Tecmo Koei's first portable Dead or Alive title had its fair share of admirers throughout the Discover 3DS event. We put the fighter through its paces and attended Team Ninja's developer roundtable to bring you all the information...
First Impressions Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition
Indestructible
You have to go back a long time to find the last time a Street Fighter title appeared on a Nintendo console – Street Fighter Alpha 3 on the GameBoy Advance in 2002, in fact. Now Capcom is once again giving Nintendo fans a portable port of its famous fighter with Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition. We went toe-to-toe with the title...
More Impressions Super Meat Boy
A game with a lot of Meat on its bone!
For anyone that's followed the independent gaming scene over the years, you know all too well how much talent and creativity many of these games feature. And now with digital download services like Nintendo's WiiWare and Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade, many of these indie developers are finally getting the chance...
First Impressions Lost in Shadow
We take Hudson's new platformer for a spin
It doesn't take a genius to see that Hudson's upcoming Lost in Shadow release isn't your typical run-of-the-mill platformer. Not only does the game feature a protagonist that's not even a real person, rather his shadow, it also features some absolutely mesmerizing audio and visuals to further make it stand...
First Impressions Surinuke Anatōsu
Thrill-seeking for puzzler fans
One doesn't often think of thrills and puzzles as belonging in the same sentence. You can get a bit of excitement from kicking off a combo in a fast-paced game, but to actually get a rush in the same sense as riding a rollercoaster is something else entirely. Whilst it might be an exaggeration to say Surinuke Anatōsu...
