Super Mario Bros. Wonder

9.5/10

In the newest Super Mario 2D platformer, Mario, Luigi and friends are visiting the Flower Kingdom. The wicked Bowser swoops in, steals one of the realm's Wonder Flowers and uses it to merge with the castle of Prince Florian to become a giant, floating castle being. It is up to the heroes to stop him.

The creators of this clearly heard the criticism about the last four 2D Mario platformers, the New Super Mario Bros. series. The games were all fun (yes, in my opinion even NSMB2; I liked the focus on coins, what can I say), but they'd gotten repetitive and for a franchise known for creativity and reinventing itself had played it a little too safe. (I like the Koopalings as much as the next person, but their attacks have gotten a bit repetitive.) I'm pleased to say that wonder brings us back to the days when the Mario games would take a wild new swing. 

Gameplay feels innovative with multiple new game mechanics ideas that are fun and addictive. The biggest innovation in this are the wonder flowers. They appear or are hidden in all regular levels; touch one and the level radically changes in constantly new weird and wonderful ways. Unfortunately, the game still uses the flag pole goal. I remember when Super Mario Brothers 3 and Super Mario World had different styles of goals, and I'm so tired of being stuck with the same boring goal over and over and over.

Super Mario World has always been knoen for how interconnected the entire map was and the various hidden routes. Sadly after that, Nintendo was never that ambitious with the game maps. Finally, we've got a game that tries to recapture that magic. It's still second to SMW, but Wonder really tries to shake things up. There are various and hidden levels and different ways for accessing them.  

Never before have we been able to play so many Mario characters in one game (twelve if I'm remembering correctly). One can play Princess Daisy for the first time in a main Mario game (previously she's only been available in the Mario Party and sports games). For younger kids (or people who are fed up with the harder special levels), you can play a Yoshi or Nabbit, who don't take any damage. However, they can't use power-ups either.

The game comes up with multiple inventive new villain ideas while breathing new life into old villains, such as Koopa Troopas on roller blades. Unfortunately, one of the games' few weaknesses is the sheer lack of boss battles and variations of said battles. Some worlds don't have any boss battles at all and the ones that do exist with the exception of the final battle with Bowser are all Bowser Jr. To the BJ battles' credit, the Wonder Flower powers make all of them different and a breath of fresh air from all old school shelled Koopa boss/mini-boss fights, but I still wanted more variety. There is also one mini-boss in this and it may be the easiest, most lackluster one in Mario history.

The game's other weak spot is the power ups. None of them are bad, but they don't have the special zing that some previous types did. The elephant power-up has been the new big power up associated with this game that's in all the advertising. However, though a fun design that feels unique for the series, it feels like a retread of the rhino and elephant from the Donkey Kong Country games. Being able to whack bad guys and shoot water (which has limited range) isn't as involving as you'd think. Also, this is the first Mario 2D platformer in a while where you don't have the ability to fly. On the other, hand I wasn't much impressed with the bubble power up at first, because I wondered why we needed another projectile power when we already have the fire flower power up. I was pleased to be proven wrong as its range and damage amount was surprisingly different.

Ironically, the better powers don't come from the regular power-ups. Wonder Flowers may temporarily change Mario and company's shapes in brief game segments that are more fun to play and control. For the first time, we got a Mario game with an equipment feature. You can earn or purchase various badges which grant special enhancements like the ability to float or jump higher. You can only use one at a time, and I like the strategy aspect this gives you. I also found some of the badges to be very helpful. However, there are clearly a few that are truly useful and many that aren't so much. There are several badges that force you to be constantly in motion. How is that useful unless you want to challenge yourself?

Visually, there was an obvious effort to reinvent the look of Mario. Flower Land has a unique look to it with charming and colorful backgrounds. I've never seen a Mario game with such personality to it either. The game has a cartoony feel with a greater emphasis on animation details, like Mario grabbing his hat when entering a pipe or the expressions on Goomba's faces.

Highly recommended. The best 2D Mario platformer in decades and a very fun time.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection

 

8/10

This collection contains ALL thirteen TMNT games from Konami during the 80's/90's TMNT craze.

This is a nice collection. I appreciate how comprehensive it is. As you may or may not know, games were harder back then and a lot of these can be pretty challenging especially for today's generation having grown accustomed to instant saving and not knowing the frustration of having been sent back to the beginning of the game. Not that I'm complaining about the way things are now. I don't want to go back. I can't go back, man! I don't have the patience anymore! Which, is why I'm happy to say that this game has enhancements. You can save any game whenever you like and rewind your gameplay. Most importantly, the collection allows you to automatically unlock any bonus options that were available for the game before, but now you don't have to input codes to do it. This makes a lot of games easier with such options as easy or god modes, extra lives, etc. Remember, you usually only get what was already in the system. The original TMNT game for the NES is still hard as all get out and there were no codes to make it easier. (Though the developers for this collection were nice enough to add an option to remove flickering and slow down for what it's worth.) 

The game also includes aesthetically pleasing strategy guides you can pull up and a ton of bonus material, including box art, game music and concept art, and screenshots from ALL the cartoon shows. Unfortunately, you don't get the opening themes for any of the shows.

Not loving the main menu. When you toggle between games the background moves, and I can see it causing motion sickness for some. Also, the backgrounds use artwork from the very original black-and-white comics. I don't think that this was the right choice, since the majority of the games are themed around the first cartoon.

Individual game reviews:

(NOTE: The three Tournament Fighters games are all completely different with different rosters.)

Arcade:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles- 8/10

The one that invented the TMNT beat 'em up formula, this is one of the best ones. Colorful with a specific visual personality. Complete with fun villains.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time- 8/10

Improves upon the gameplay of the first game and the time travel theme adds some new level ideas to a series that was already beginning to repeat itself. Though this looks better, I admit it doesn't have quite as many of the special little details that the original had.

NES:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles- 4/10 

This is one of the few games I didn't beat, because of its difficulty. (I didn't even bother getting to the infamous dam level that many a child remembers.) It's too bad, since there was genuine creativity and good ideas in this. I also liked the fact that the villains look different and more intimidating. (Apparently, the game developers based the look off of the original comics.) One wonders what the future home consoles games could've been if they stuck to platformers instead of beat 'em ups.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game- 7/10

Since this version of the arcade game is on an 8-bit system, it's a massive visual downgrade that can't match the original and the fights take a lot longer. On the plus side, the game does a surprising job of being as detailed as it can and was definitely doing its best when replicating the visuals. This has two additional levels featuring some clever new villains.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project- 7/10

Number 3 has the reputation of being the overlooked and unappreciated one due to its being released so close to Turtles in Time. And yeah, it does deserve the reputation of also being a good game. Free of having to replicate a source, this game is able to work with what suits the functions of the NES best. Gameplay is stronger here. Backgrounds may not be as detailed, but there are some nice thematic-style moments in this. The developers were aware of the potential fatigue of the games, and they provided genuine effort when coming up with new level areas and ways to freshen up battles with previously appearing bosses.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters- 5/10

Fun fact: this one of the very few tournament fighters made for the NES. The fighting works better than expected, plus there's a fun Smash Bros.-esque weapon that's appears, but as a whole the gameplay isn't that fun. Unsurprisingly, it has the smallest roster.

Game Boy:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of the Foot Clan- 6/10

Nice to see at least a few other platformers on the list. Unfortunately, way too many enemies are thrown at you. It's exhausting. That being said, gameplay and graphics aren't half bad ,and I still beat it in a short amount of time. I'm especially pleased that you can knock the bosses' projectiles back at them, and you can just automatically select which level you want from the get go.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Back from the Sewers- 6.5/10

They still throw enemies at you in some points, but gameplay and graphics are improved in this. Though, this has the worst Foot Soldier designs of all the games. They look like aliens.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Radical Rescue- 8/10

One of the most unique of the games. This has Metroidvania level design, in that it's one big interconnected map. This also has the strongest visuals and fairest difficulty of the GB titles. The game's still hard, but it doesn't feel unfair. This is the only game where you start with only one turtle and have to free the others or where each turtle has special abilities. I didn't complete this one, since I don't have the patience for the exploration being interrupted by constant death, but I admire it for what it accomplished.

SNES:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time- 8/10

A lot of people say this is stronger than the arcade version, and I agree, though I don't think it's by as wide a margin as some people say. Though they had cut a lot of the spoken dialogue, the game looks and plays practically as well as the original. Plus, you get several new bosses, including the very unique Shredder fight where you have to throw your opponents at the screen, and a more interesting-looking hoverboard level. The one con in this is that the final boss is fairly weak and so much less of a challenge than the arcade one. (The level select option doesn't appear to be working. Hopefully this will be fixed in a patch.)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournamet Fighters- 6.5

Definitely the strongest of the three with the best character selection, graphics and moves. However, the gameplay still doesn't excel.

Sega Genesis:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist- 7/10

This is sort of an alternative version of Turtles in Time, which incorporates various elements from the game. This has fewer, but longer levels. The graphic aren't as good as found in arcade or SNES, and the fighting takes longer (you'll learn to hate the white Foot Soldiers which take forever to destroy.) However, the game is still entertaining to play, and it is only the only Turtles game to have a boss gauntlet or to feature Tatsu from the first two movies.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournamet Fighters- 5.5

Okay, I guess. This has some decent character and background design, but the gameplay, character roster, and graphics don't compare to the SNES. I do like that this is the only game where you can play as April and she has a different design than the yellow jumpsuit.

Overall, recommended. Yeah, the games are dated, but they're a fun glimpse into a past and a treasure trove for fans of the original TMNT cartoon. You might want to pace yourself playing these, though. Bad guys are reused A TON, and one can only take so many Foot Soldiers and Rock Soldiers.

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

 

10/10

This contains 2 games, the previously released Super Mario 3D World and the brand new supplemental game Bowser's Fury.

Super Mario 3D World: 

In this follow-up to Super Mario 3D Land for the Nintendo 3DS, Mario, his brother Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad go to rescue six Sprixies who have been kidnapped by the evil Bowser.

I never had the opportunity to play the original version on the Wii U. I'm glad I finally got the chance. This has probably made my top 5 Mario games list. The Mario series has always been known for it's quality and managing to stay fresh, but the game developers really went all out this time. The level design is some of the best. It's impressive how fresh each stage is. 3D Land was a great game, but even it never reached the levels of creativity this one does. (I get the feeling that the creators were able to fulfill ideas for Land they had that the limitations of the device wouldn't allow them to put into practice.)  

A lot of levels are relatively short when compared to other traditional Mario games. That's actually a good call. This allows the developers to cram a ton of them. Plus, it makes it simpler to retrieve items you missed the first time around without taking forever to finish the stage again. The game is accommodating to both children/causuals and more hardcore gamers who like a challenge. After beating the main game, which isn't too hard at least from an adult's perspective, you get a few more bonus worlds where the difficulty is really ramped up (and the game continues to be creative, no rehashing.) There are also some pretty fun optional challenge stages that the series hasn't tried before.

I also like how the game got a little inventive with the maps No, they don't reach the ambitiousness of Super Mario World, but they do something different and become a little interactive. Mario and company can straight up walk wherever they want all over the level maps, plus they can do things like break blocks or find hidden coins or other things. (Though if you liked the games where you can find hidden exits in levels, this one doesn't do that.) 

The levels look great, too; colorful and creative. Like the level design, the appearances are distinctive without a lot of repetition. The music may be up their with some of the series' best.

As much as I love this game, there are a few parts that could've been improved upon. Most of the stages are suspended in air and you can die by falling off the sides. This wouldn't be an issue so much if it wasn't for the fact that the camera angle sometimes make it easy to point your character at the wrong angle and have him or her fall off the edge. Luckily, this issue doesn't pop up too much. 

The game requires you to collect stars hidden in each level in order to get past points. I find it unfair when they force you collect things in a basic platformer, if you aren't into the extra stuff and just want to play through. Plus, I just think it makes things harder for the kids.

The mushroom houses, where you can get bonus items, are the most uninspired, basic ones I've encountered in this series. They just lack the fun found in previous entries.

Although there are a lot of differences between this and 3D Land, I do think they were parts that were too reminiscent of the previous game. The mini-bosses Boom-Boom and Pom-Pom are brought back, and though they are fun designs, they don't really add anything new. The timer, in which you have to complete the level before the clock runs out or you die, returns, and I still don't see the point of using it out of nostalgia for the classic games. It doesn't make sense when you're also encouraged take the time to find hidden stars and other items. I'm also tired of each stage ending with the flagpole as a goal. I remember back when they would come up with a new goal for each game, and I miss the innovation.

Bowser's Fury:

Bowser's Fury takes the game play of 3D Land but puts in in an open collectathon world. The story involves Bowser being transformed by magic black paint into a giant rage monster. Mario teams up with Bowser Jr. in order to collect enough cat shines from the various islands in Lake Lapcat in order to free Bowser from the curse.

The game isn't too long. (I beat it in three or four hours.) But A LOT of of diverse gameplay is squeezed into this. 

What makes this game distinct is that it that it incorporates the old-school platformer format for power-ups into the open world. In the past, the power-ups were frequently intended to be used for specific tasks in limited capacities. Here, you can use fire or flying powers all over the place. Plus, I loved what they did with the item system. In 3D world, you can hold one power-up in reserve. Here, you can hold a whopping total of five items in reserve for EACH DIFFERENT TYPE OF ITEM!

Understand that this is only two players, unlike the four player availability in 3D World. Mario is player one and Bowser Jr. is two. I haven't played the latter, but he's a good assisting, computer-controlled character for single players. The best part is that you can make him very helpful when it comes to attacking bad guys, or if you don't want the handicap, you can have him let you do all the work.

Loved the design for Bowser in this. Though the idea of him becoming giant-sized has been done before, fury-mode Bowser is one of the more visually interesting versions. He's more menacing than he has ever been. (Plus, who doesn't like fire hair.) You fight him several times in this. These are definitely some of the easier battles with him in the series, but they're also some of the most fun. Throughout the game, Bowser will appear (separately from the boss fights) and rain fire destruction on the island for a brief period of time. It's an interesting idea that shakes things up and add a dramatic flair to the game. However, this can be a real pain since a lot of the gameplay is focused on precise movement and having Bowser show up and causing you to fall off a platform and have to start all over again is pretty frustrating. Also when you get really close to finishing the game, the attacks become unrelenting, which is  just a pain.

There are a couple weak spots in this. When you obtain one cat shine on an island, another challenge usually becomes available. However, the game doesn't always automatically set up the next one. You have to walk around a little before it comes. The game gives hints as to the next task, but they only show up when you enter an island's gate. This is frustrating since you have to walk back to it if you can't remember what to do next.

This is a visually distinctive Mario game. I'm not quite sure whether I like the look or not. You've got a blue lake surrounded by blue sky and blue . And there are stark grey or white color schemes in a lot of areas. It gives the game a weirdly sterile feel, but it does leave an impression.

Conclusion:

This is just a great collection. Both games are a lot of fun. Recommended to all ages.

Little Hope

 

7/10

This is the second entry in the Dark Pictures anthology, a series of short horror, interactive story games from Supermassive Games, which themselves are a spiritual successor to the hit Until Dawn. In this story, a group of five passengers in a bus crash find themselves stranded in the abandoned Massachusetts ghost town of Little Hope. Soon, spooky stuff related to the town's witch trial history starts happening. Though I found the game generally fun, I didn't like this as much as its predecessors. 

Gameplay:

To it's credit, the game finally is the first to have completely polished controls. There is no hypersensitive motion sensor like in Until Dawn (many of you may not have had an issue, but I've got slightly shaky hands), or uber-hard and possibly buggy heart rate monitor segment from Dark Pictures' Man of Medan where you've got to press buttons in rhythm with your heart rate. The monitor is back, but now it's fair and beatable. Admittedly, I think Supermassive made several of the QTE segments too easy. I never found those unreasonable in the past games, I just wanted the game to be fair, not to remove the challenge.

One of the biggest complaints about Man of Medan was that you're pottering around an abandoned ship for quite some time. Here the game is better paced with various changes in set pieces. Unfortunately, there is a lot of walking around darkly lit roads and forest areas that aren't that much more exciting than ship corridors. 

Of course, what makes the game is your decisions and how they affect the story and the anticipation of whether you made the right choices. However, one of the ways your characters died felt a little like a cheat. Didn't feel like it was something anyone could figure out or see coming. 

Also,  this is the third game in which the "run" button just makes you walks slightly, and I do mean slightly, quicker. I wished Supermassive either actually let us run or gave up on the button altogether.

Graphics:

Game looks pretty good. (Though I can't say the face work is the best for the PS4). Little Hope is an appropriately creepy-looking place. The cinematic quality is strong with a slick way of panning between characters when the game requires you to immediately switch them. There is some impressively nightmarish creature design.

However, like Man of Medan, this game is too darkly lit. It's such a pain to see where you're going half the time.

Story:

I think the story might be the biggest issue I had with this. I started off really liking it, but my appreciation diminished as the game went on. It has a great opening and the story seemed promising. Though the subject of witch trials has gotten a little predictable in how they play out by now (think The Crucible, kinda), I appreciated that the delivery was well done. However, I soon realized the plot had a very cyclical nature. It'd put you through one type of similar scenario followed by the other type of similar scenario. The ending was kind of disappointing. I felt like it cheated you out of your investment in the story. 

I think Supermassive is starting to suffer from character fatigue, as the characters aren't quite as interesting in the last two games. The couple in the not-yet-defined relationship felt particularly basic.

Cast:

As is the course, the game has a fine cast, who did the motion capture as well as voice acting. My favorite was Alex Ivanovici as a slightly controlling college professor.

I originally wasn't the biggest fan of Dark Pictures' host Pip Torrens (from Preacher). However, his character The Curator has grown on me. I guess I initially wanted someone more sinister, but I grew to appreciate his wry playfulness.

Music:

I really liked the music in this. Sets the mood. No complaints.

Conclusion:

I've seen a lot of people online say this was better than Man of Medan. I guess I'm in the minority. I felt that the game, especially the characters, left more of an impression. (LH has the better gameplay, though, no argument.) I really wanted more out of the story. That having been said, I still recommend this. It's not as strong as the previous games, but it's still an interesting playthrough and still scratches that itch if you need more of these type of games.

Pokemon Sword- Isle of Armor expansion

8/10

NOTE: I have only played this expansion using Pokemon Sword version. From what I understand,the major difference between playing this on Sword or Shield is the rival you fight and probably some differing Pokemon available as is usually the case with these games.

This new expansion, part of Pokemon Sword/Shield's season pass, gives you a new area to explore. I'm pleased to say this is one of the better DLCs I've played. (Admittedly, I don't purchase DLC that often.) 

I'm pleased to say that the Isle of Armor offers a lot to do. It is a pretty wide area, larger than any other in the main game. It takes the concept of the wild open area to a much grander scale. It is smack dab full of Dynamax battle points and Pokemon to fight and capture. This includes a buttload of Pokemon that weren't available in the main game. 

The Isle has a lot of room for exploring. There are plenty of nooks and crannies you can check, including several tiny islands located to the side of it. Once your bike can travel on water, you can actually travel into the ocean, which adds a little sense of epicness to the whole thing. 

Visually this is the best looking of Sword/Shield. Though the main game looks nice, I've always thought it wasn't as visually arresting as Sun/Moon. The designers and concept artists really kicked things up a notch. (Might be my imagination, but the sky is prettier here.) Feels like there is a lot more visual detail, especially due to the how the island merges from one area to the next.

As for the story and missions, it is basic side story fare. You join a Pokemon dojo and participate in it's various trials and fights. This may not sound the most ambitious, but you do get some pretty varied things to do. The most unique thing you get to do here is that there is emphasis on training one specific Pokemon, Kubfu, as part of the story. You do kind of develop an attachment to the guy as you go through a journey and several steps to power up and evolve him. However, this element does feel too stretched out. In order to reach Kubfu's main challenge, the game recommends you to raise his experience to a pretty high number. (At least, at the end of the game (level 70),. The level of the Pokemon you face depends on what level yours are on.) Though the Dynamax fights are quick sources of EXP items and you are given places to visit, so as to not make it you just walking around randomly looking to level up, this can feel a little tedious.

The game also has some sidequests you can handle. There are some fun ideas here. However, completing a couple of them will take some time and not everyone will have the patience for them.  

Besides offering more Pokemon and the brand new Kubfu, the game also makes it easier for you to access Gigantamax Pokemon.

Overall, I had a good time. The Isle alone felt substantive (unlike some DLC that are way too short and insubstantive; looking at you Kingdom Hearts III: ReMind.) and considering that this is only the first half of the season pass (the second area is coming in November) I think you are getting your thirty bucks worth.