Review: SteamWorld Dig

Admittedly, I don’t delve too deep into the Indie scene. Not for a lack of interest: there are plenty of games that interest me, but for this reason or that, I never seem to play any of them. Maybe it’s because my time is taken up by the big budget titles that seem to be coming out in steady succession these past few months. And then there is SteamWorld Dig: A Fistful of Dirt on the 3DS. Combining the best elements of Metroid and, umm… digging (?), SteamWorld Dig has forever changed my outlook on the Indie game.

 

Stages I Want to See Most in the New Super Smash Bros. Games

With E3 nearly upon us and information about the new Super Smash Bros. trickling out in steady succession, my mind has been stirring with thoughts of what may come to be. You can browse just about any gaming blog and find a most wanted character list, or even now some of the confirmed characters for the game. But the game isn’t just about the combatants: the stages you play on are just as important and memorable as the fighters! Any Smash fan will have their favorite stage, or a special moment thanks to some background element being thrown into the fray. While many stages have already been announced, here are a few of the stages I want to see in each version of the game.

It’s also worth nothing that the 3DS version of the game will be slightly different than the Wii U version. Some of the stages in the 3DS game are going to come from exclusively portable games, opening up a whole barrel of awesome, unique ideas for stages!

 

Sunday Roundup: 5/18/14

Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON’T KNOW! 3DS Release Date: November 19th, 2013 Purchased at: Online (Amazon – $15) Oh man, what a deal! $15 for a brand new collector’s edition of a game I actually want to play? That doesn’t usually happen to often. Better yet, it’s a sequel to the first Adventure Time game on the 3DS! Strangely I do have the game on Xbox 360, but haven’t played it yet (being a Christmas present this past year). Regardless of how good the game is, for just $15 this isn’t a bad deal at all. This collector’s edition, which is a 3DS exclusive, by the way, comes with a special metal case, bonus interviews with series/game personalities, as well as a color guide book! And I mean, come on, it’s Adventure Time!

Laters,
Jsick

 

Pro Tips For Playing Mario Golf: World Tour

Now that we’ve been hitting the greens for just over two weeks with Mario and pals, it’s time to up your game. I’m not talking about Toad’s practice sessions, which can be helpful for sure: I’m talking about hardened tips that only the pros get from experience. Advice on how to putt to perfection (most of the time); how to unlock every secret in the game; and how to deck out your Mii with the best gear. But mostly, it’s just how to play the game better. Here are some useful tips for playing Mario Golf: World Tour on 3DS!

 

Review: Mario Golf: World Tour

Mario Golf: World Tour is a perfect example of how a game in real life can be boring, slow-paced, and difficult to master, but a video version of said sport can be incredibly entertaining, fast, addictive, and easy to pick up and play. I’m beginning to believe Nintendo just needs to throw Mario into anything mundane and it’ll become a best seller. Mario Knitting could be the next big hit. Perhaps even Super Mario House Chores would be a parent’s dream come true for their Nintendo loving children. But let’s be real: Mario’s best non-Bowser-thwarting outings are always on the links. Or the tennis courts. Or the race track. Or the fighting arena.

 

The Rise of the Wii U?

Nintendo has been around for awhile. They’ve weathered many storms and come out, for the most part, better for it. Not everyone was on board with the Wii, thinking motion controls were going to flop big time, but here we are in 2014 with the Wii selling near 100 million units, which is more than both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. And let’s not forget the 3DS’ rocky launch. It was plagued by poor sales and lack of software, but fast forward three years after its release and its arguably the best system on the market. I won’t mention the Virtual Boy, but it was a think that Nintendo persevered through, too!

So where does the Wii U stand? The follow-up to the insanely popular Wii features HD graphics, a nifty game pad, motion controls, a better online community and support, as well as a much lower price point than its competitors. But much like the 3DS before it (even worse, in fact), the system has failed to be commercially successful, selling less than 10 million units in 1 1/2 years on the market.

There’s one rule I’ve heard floating around the gaming world that I have to agree with: never count Nintendo out. The Wii U looks dismal now, but maybe this is the year for the Wii U. As an owner of the console myself, I must say that I am indeed having fun with the system. Even better though, I’m looking forward to the future and am actually getting excited to own a Wii U. Nintendo needs to sell this console to gamers, and it’s looking like 2014 could be it.

Last year was definitely the Year of Luigi.

2014 is the Year of the Wii U.

 

Sunday Roundup: 5/4/14

Sadly there aren’t any Star Wars games adorning this May 4th Sunday Roundup, but there are plenty of brand new Nintendo games to enjoy! This is the second time that Nintendo has released two, what I would consider, big releases on the same day: Kirby Triple Deluxe and Mario Golf: World Tour. They did something similar in November of last year with The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds on 3DS and Super Mario 3D World on Wii U. While Kirby and golf aren’t nearly as high profile as Zelda and 3D Mario, it’s still two games that probably could have been spread out for Nintendo’s summer lineup. Regardless, I bought them both.