Game Review – Trine 2: Director’s Cut (Wii U)

Tags

action, Atlus, eShop, Frozenbyte, Platformer, Sidescroller, Trine 2: Director's Cut, Wii U

One thing I’ve long regretted about being too poor to afford a PS3 or 360 is not having access to the rich and exciting range of low-priced download only software the HD consoles have enjoyed over the years. It’s not that the Wii hasn’t had an alternative but the games on WiiWare never enticed me in the same way. With the Wii U here I’ve been anxious to catch up with what I’ve been missing and the darling of the Wii U eShop’s early days is this dazzling puzzle platformer from developer Frozenbyte and it’s easy to see why.

Game Review: Sonic 3 & Knuckles (MD)

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Dr Robotnik, Knuckles, Mega Drive, Platformer, Sega, Sidescroller, Sonic, Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic 3, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Sonic the Hedgehog, Tails

A game too awesome for one cartridge.

Game Review: Sonic the Hedgehog (MD)

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Dr Robotnik, Mega Drive, Platformer, Sega, Sidescroller, Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog

In the early nineties Sega needed a mascot to rival Mario but Alex Kidd wasn’t good enough…

Game Review: New Super Mario Bros. 2 (3DS)

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3DS, Bowser, Luigi, Mario, New Super Mario Bros. 2, Nintendo, Platformer, Princess Peach, Sidescroller

The release of the Wii U is fast approaching and with it New Super Mario Bros. U the first brand new Mario platformer to launch alongside a new console since Super Mario 64. While the prospect of a new 2D Mario platformer might not be quite as exciting as something with the innovation and originality of the Super Mario Galaxy games after the botched launch of the 3DS whatever Nintendo can offer us on day one is very welcome. In the meantime we have the not insignificant matter of New Super Mario Bros. 2, another iteration of the venerable series that feels like a dry run for the main event.

Game Review: Yoshi’s Island – Super Mario World 2 (SNES)

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Baby Mario, Kamek, Mario, Nintendo, Platformer, Sidescroller, SNES, Yoshi, Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island - Super Mario World 2

A game about a sidekick can’t possibly be as good as the most popular sidescrolling platformers ever made, right?

Game Review: Warioland 4 (GBA)

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Game Boy Advance, Nintendo, Platformer, Sidescroller, Wario, Warioland 4

Who would have guessed that a gluttonous, money-grabbing cad with personal hygiene issues would become the poster boy for handheld platformers? Wario’s pinched a fair amount of coin in his time but perhaps the theft he’d be most proud of is Mario’s thunder. Created as a sort of alter-ego for gaming’s greatest icon and the final boss of Super Mario Land 2 – 6 Golden Coins, Wario made his playable debut in that game’s follow-up Warioland – Super Mario Land 3 and since then he has gone from strength to strength. The Warioland series is a shining example of consistency, four superbly playable handheld games each of which boasts its own strong identity and Warioland 4 for the Game Boy Advance is arguably the best of them.

Game Review: Metroid Fusion (GBA)

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action, Adam Malkovich, Game Boy Advance, Metroid, Metroid Fusion, Nintendo, SA-X, Samus Aran, science fiction, Shooter, Sidescroller

Planet Zebes is no more and the Metroid threat has been neutralised but Samus Aran is about to discover why the Metroids were created by the Chozo in the first place.

Game Review: Super Metroid (SNES)

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adventure, Metroid, Mother Brain, Nintendo, Ridley, Samus Aran, science fiction, Shooter, Sidescroller, SNES, Super Metroid

The last Metroid is in captivity. The galaxy is at peace.