Liam Doolan

Liam Doolan

Staff Writer

Author Profile

Liam is a news writer and reviewer across Hookshot Media. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of many iconic video game characters.

My interest in Nintendo and Xbox (and all-things related to video games) is what got me into video games journalism. It all started when I reached out to some Nintendo websites during my senior years in school and the rest is history. I love the ever-evolving nature of the games industry.

Experience

Prior to joining Nintendo Life, Liam contributed to a number of Nintendo fan sites, as well as a handful of multi-platform video game websites.

As a News Reporter on both Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox, Liam’s day-to-day work is focused almost exclusively on covering the latest developments coming out of Kyoto and Redmond.

The community has always been a huge part of what I love about my work. It's great to break news and share the excitement globally with fans.

Timeline

  • 2013: Joins the Nintendo Life community as a Contributor, covering news and reviews.
  • 2018: Begins full-time work at Nintendo Life as a News Reporter, while also contributing reviews, features and interviews.
  • 2020: Joins Pure Xbox as a News Writer to help relaunch the site whilst continuing his role on Nintendo Life

Expertise

The first console Liam owned was the NES, followed by the OG brick Game Boy. Since then he’s owned many of the consoles released by the likes of SEGA, Nintendo, Xbox and PlayStation.

His favourite console of all-time is the Nintendo 64, thanks largely to those amazing multiplayer memories from the likes of GoldenEye 007, Perfect Dark and Mario Kart.

I love a good platformer (easy to learn, hard to master), but it depends on the day of the week! I also love a good action-adventure, an RPG, FPS, racing game or a fighter.

Liam’s Favourite Games

From the Archive

We asked Liam to pick out his three favourite pieces of work from across his personal archive, and tell us why he picked them!

Rumour: Nintendo Will Expand Its Switch Online Service With Game Boy And Game Boy Color Titles

This was a rumour that was corroborated, and then eventually confirmed by Nintendo!

Feature: Game Of The Decade Staff Picks - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3 - such a great game and I also covered the Witcher 3 Switch rumours early on.

Flashback The Real Story Behind Rare's Cancelled GoldenEye 007 Xbox 360 Remaster

My investigation into a rumour which was - in time - officially confirmed.

Username
Liam_Doolan
Articles
11,930 (95 reviews)
First Article
Wed 30th, October 2013
Avg. Review Score
6.1
Find Them On
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  • Quest of Dungeons (Wii U eShop)

    24

    Review Quest of Dungeons (Wii U eShop)

    Isn't it dangerous to go alone?

    For some individuals, roguelike games are a lifestyle. For others, it may be a case of playing one and ignoring the rest. Either way you look at it, this genre is as popular as ever on the indie development scene, with these types of games released on a regular basis across multiple platforms. While the Wii U eShop...

  • Gear Gauntlet (Wii U eShop)

    7

    Review Gear Gauntlet (Wii U eShop)

    Is this the gears game we've been waiting for?

    Too often, spinning cogs are portrayed as a danger in video games. Consider a lot of platform levels in the earlier Mario and Sonic titles, and dangerous spiky gears would normally make an appearance a few levels in - ready to slice the famous mascots to shreds. So how about a game where gears are for...

  • Aenigma Os (Wii U eShop)

    11

    Review Aenigma Os (Wii U eShop)

    Far from a perfect match

    Indie tile-match games normally feature a unique twist in order to stand out among well known competition. Aenigma Os by Akies Games tries to deliver on this expectation - the problem is, it's nothing we haven't already seen before. After selecting from one of the many game modes, you are presented with a grid filled with...

  • Rorrim (Wii U eShop)

    17

    Review Rorrim (Wii U eShop)

    Save yourself, princess

    Damsels in distress are becoming less of a common theme in video games nowadays. Instead we see plenty of titles with independent women who are more than capable of solving their own problems and even saving the day. Not every princess needs someone to come to their aid - as Rorrim illustrates. Players take control of the...

  • Citadale (Wii U eShop)

    18

    Review Citadale (Wii U eShop)

    "For evil to win all that is required are good people doing nothing"

    The original Castlevania game released on the Famicom in 1986 offered a dark and challenging action-platform adventure, the likes of which had not previously been seen before; to this day, Konami's classic continues to inspire developers. Citadale, by Ezekiel Rage and Nitrolic...

  • TOUCH SELECTIONS (Wii U eShop)

    19

    Review TOUCH SELECTIONS (Wii U eShop)

    You might want to AVOID[ER] this one

    Hot off the heels of TAP TAP ARCADE 2, RCMADIAX has released TOUCH SELECTIONS; this title is a two-in-one game purchase, much like the existing ARCADE series. The games on offer this time are PEG SOLITAIRE and AVOIDER - which have been previously reviewed by other writers. The first offers a basic puzzle...

  • 140 (Wii U eShop)

    10

    Review 140 (Wii U eShop)

    What is art?

    140 - created by Jeppe Carlsen (lead puzzle designer, LIMBO) with music by Jakob Schmid - is a minimalistic rhythm-based puzzle-platform game that has clearly been inspired by the Bauhaus artistic movement. For those who aren't great lovers of art, Bauhaus was a school of art located in Germany that combined crafts with fine arts, and...

  • TAP TAP ARCADE 2 (Wii U eShop)

    78

    Review TAP TAP ARCADE 2 (Wii U eShop)

    Double tapped

    RCMADIAX returns, this time with TAP TAP ARCADE 2 for the Wii U eShop. Don't let the name fool you, as promising as it may sound this one doesn't quite live up to the name. With such a title naturally one would expect a compilation of games. Oddly, though, TAP TAP ARCADE 2 only includes two - just like the original TAP TAP ARCADE. The...

  • Tetraminos (Wii U eShop)

    18

    Review Tetraminos (Wii U eShop)

    Now with new shapes

    Tetris was created by Russian game designer Alexey Pajitnov and originally released in 1984. It wasn't until the title's debut on the Nintendo Game Boy in 1989 that the tile-matching puzzle game became a truly global sensation and established itself as one of the most popular video games of all time. To date, Tetris and more...

  • Demo Of Yo-Kai Watch 2 Arrives On The North American eShop Soon

    15

    News Demo Of Yo-Kai Watch 2 Arrives On The North American eShop Soon

    Try before you buy

    If you live in North America and were a fan of the original Yo-Kai Watch game on the 3DS, you'll probably already be aware the dual release sequel launches later this month on the 30th September. In the latest Nintendo Direct it was also revealed a free demo for Yo-Kai Watch 2: Bony Spirits & Fleshy Souls will arrive on the...

  • TANK TROOPERS Reporting For Duty On 3DS This Winter

    20

    News TANK TROOPERS Reporting For Duty On 3DS This Winter

    Everyone loves tanks

    The latest Nintendo Direct - focused primarily on the 3DS - delivered a number of expected announcements and updates, but TANK TROOPERS came as a surprise in between Pokémon and Mario. This newly announced game for the 3DS will allow players to customise their very own tank via special characteristics of tank-pilot troopers...

  • Mario Sports Superstars Is A Collection Of Five Games In One

    74

    News Mario Sports Superstars Is A Collection Of Five Games In One

    Arrives Spring 2017

    Mario sports titles have been a staple of Nintendo gaming since the days of the NES. From Mario Golf to Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games in more recent times, these titles are known to provide fun for the whole family. It appears the house of Mario is raising the bar for this specific genre in Spring 2017, with the...

  • PANDA LOVE (Wii U eShop)

    20

    Review PANDA LOVE (Wii U eShop)

    A short-lived romance

    Nintendo's eShop has become a home for aspiring indie developers; admittedly, the situation on the Wii U and 3DS is not much different on any other rival digital platform. Since the inception of mobile app stores, Valve's Early Access & Greenlight programs on its Steam platform as well as the likes of Kickstarter, releasing...

  • Letter Quest Remastered (Wii U eShop)

    15

    Review Letter Quest Remastered (Wii U eShop)

    Words are your weapon

    It's not uncommon to detest the idea of a video game designed to educate. This may sound like a huge generalisation, but take a moment to consider a time when you played even a mildly educational computer game. Maybe it was a complete mistake on your behalf, or somehow was a sense of relief from your regular schedule. Either...

  • Poncho (Wii U eShop)

    31

    Review Poncho (Wii U eShop)

    Can one robot bring humanity back to life?

    Poncho is a puzzle platform game by Delve Interactive (published by Rising Star Games) that explores what life would be like without the existence of humanity. Players take on the role of Poncho, a robot wearing a poncho (naturally), who wakes up to discover humanity has been extinct for several centuries...

  • SEGA 3D Classics Collection Arrives in Australia on 4th November

    11

    News SEGA 3D Classics Collection Arrives in Australia on 4th November

    Relive the glory days

    Following last week's European announcement, distributor Five Star Games has confirmed the SEGA 3D Classics Collection will also be released in Australia on 4th November. This is a chance for SEGA fans and 3DS owners down under to finally get their hands on the entire collection of remastered classics in a single transaction...

  • Dragon Skills (Wii U eShop)

    3

    Review Dragon Skills (Wii U eShop)

    A brick break game like no other?

    Brick break games aren't all that common nowadays. One of the modern standouts with a fantastic twist is PopCap Games' long-running Peggle series, which is exceptionally addictive and sets a considerably high standard for the classic genre. Like Peggle, Dragon Skills draws on arcade gameplay inspired by well-known...

  • 3Souls (Wii U eShop)

    41

    Review 3Souls (Wii U eShop)

    Welcome to the world of Mustland

    One of the biggest criticisms the Wii U has faced during its lifespan is that not enough games released on the system have utilised the full potential of Nintendo's unique GamePad controller. Red Column's three-part episodic game 3Souls aims to fill the void, providing an inquisitive 2D puzzle platform experience...

  • Hot Rod Racer (Wii U eShop)

    22

    Review Hot Rod Racer (Wii U eShop)

    A complete write-off

    In Hot Rod Racer you take on the role of a reckless driver with the need for speed. Selecting from a car or a motorbike as your main mode of transport, you put the key in the ignition of your vehicle of choice and take to the track with the intention of speeding along until you run out of gas. Hot Rod Racer seemingly aims to...

  • Buddy & Me: Dream Edition (Wii U eShop)

    24

    Review Buddy & Me: Dream Edition (Wii U eShop)

    Is this endless runner a dream to play?

    Imagine as you're nodding off to sleep one night, you realise there is a big furry creature with long ears outside your bedroom window staring at you. Why didn't you purchase curtains? This is pretty much the premise of Buddy & Me: Dream Edition. The "Dream Edition" part of the title is derived from the...

  • Dracula's Legacy (Wii U eShop)

    33

    Review Dracula's Legacy (Wii U eShop)

    This one' s got bite

    Dracula's Legacy doesn't waste any time in getting on with proceedings - thrusting the player straight into a spooky hidden object adventure. The story focuses on a young woman named Isabella who is haunted by frightening dreams about her forgotten past. With an eagerness to find a solution to her problems, she travels to an old...

  • Hurry Up! Bird Hunter (Wii U eShop)

    13

    Review Hurry Up! Bird Hunter (Wii U eShop)

    One dead duck

    Let's be upfront about this, Duck Hunt knock-offs never do very well. Hurry Up! Bird Hunter is disappointingly no different from the rest. The title by EnjoyUp Games aims to recreate the practice in a fun arcade manner, and all it does is fall flat on its face. It's hard to tolerate what is presented in this game, because every aspect...

  • Bit Dungeon+ (Wii U eShop)

    18

    Review Bit Dungeon+ (Wii U eShop)

    Devilish fun

    As fast as video games have developed over the past few decades, when it comes to value for money the amount of replay value within a title remains an important factor when deciding whether or not to make a purchase. This is where Bit Dungeon+ excels, offering a one to two player roguelike endless adventure. Starting out as a free web...

  • Twin Robots (Wii U eShop)

    7

    Review Twin Robots (Wii U eShop)

    Definitely not scrap metal

    At first glance you would be forgiven for thinking Twin Robots was a copycat of Nintendo's very own Chibi-Robo!: Zip-Lash on the 3DS. This is not the case. Originally developed and released by Thinice for the Ouya game system in 2013 and later made available on multiple other digital platforms including Android and Steam,...