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Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (Wii U)
by Lulzaroonie
I previously reviewed Monster Hunter Tri, the previous western release before Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate.
Having been a monster hunter fanatic for a few years now, I eagerly anticipated this game.
Anyone that is familiar with Monster Hunter Tri will find much has changed with this game.
With a smashing SEVENTY ... monsters to hunt, and new areas to discover, this is not only Tri, but an additional game entirely.
Players may find the use of the gamepad as the controller somewhat clunky and unmanageable, but fear not, the WiiU also supports Wii U Controller Pro and Wii Controller Pro, making gaming much more comfortable.
If you chose to hunt this way, the gamepad can be used as a map, and when hunting in multiplayer the mic in the gamepad will enable you to communicate in real time with your team mates, and hear their replies via the gamepad speaker. If you choose not to use the mic functionality, you can use the on screen gamepad keyboard.
However, if this still doesn't cut it for you, it also supports blue-tooth keyboards.
Most of the monsters which are new to Wii U are taken from the Japanese release Monster Hunter Portable 3rd which came out on PS3/PSP. However, the HD rescaling of all the monsters and areas you hunt in gives the game a fantastic refresh. You will see monsters in detail never seen before. Everything is much more crisp, and sharp, colours much brighter.
Not only are there more monsters to hunt, but hundreds more weapons and armour choices with new skills to assist you and your team in taking down some of the most colossal beasts in gaming.
Never played Monster Hunter before? That's not an issue. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is a game in and of itself.
If the fancy really takes you, you can also get Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate on 3DS, giving a much freer gaming experience. A save data transfer tool allows you to transfer your save file between consoles, so you can continue to play after you've been told to vacate the TV, or are at work, commuting to college...
Multiplayer on WiiU is free, and open to hunters across EU, AUS and USA, with a recent update merging previously locked multiplayer regions.
Multiplayer on 3DS is possible, via DS to DS link up, or when a game is being hosted on a WiiU and you connect locally.
The only downside I have encountered when playing online is that rather than guest rooms being hosted on a main server, the person who creates the hunt room is now the host of that server room. If the host leaves (and that host isn't you!) then you are all immediately disbanded, and you back to network select screen rather than back to the lobby.
Online play, as I keep talking about, is something that really makes this game enjoyable.
The monsters are so diverse, its very rare that you would get bored, and even if you do the same hunt over and over again in search of that one elusive material, no hunt is ever the same.
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Nintendo Land (Wii U)
by Thebaker50
This game is a new game to the new console the nintendo wii, and is the "wii sports" to the wii u, featuring lots of multiplayer games all rolled into one. They all make use of the specific game pad which I will come onto in a second.
Ok to start off with, this game is basically a selection of smaller games, from a ... haunted house game, to a metroid shooter, to a zelda walk through game. Each game is pretty small, but tons of fun, and most can be played in a variety of ways (alone, with friends or against friends is a general theme).
However, this utilised the game pad. I just want to explain what this is first of all. Basically its the new controller for the wii u, and is basically similar to a tablet (e.g. Ipad) but it doubles as the controller, has a touch screen, and a motion sensor. However, its in some of these games it really comes into its own. For example, in the haunted mansion game, one person is the "ghost" and everyone else is someone out of the super mario series, and has to try and "catch" the ghost using torches. The person being the ghost has to use the gamepad, and only he can "see" himself on the game pad. This is ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT, because those of you who have ever played say shooter games two player, know how annoying it is when you can just look at the other persons screen and see where they are, and vice versa, you can't do that on this system!
Anyway, some (but not all the games) on this game include:
-Catch, pad holder is toad, everyone else is mario, catch the toad! (as he is on the pad, he can hide sneakily)
-Zelda- pad holder is an archer, everyone else (old wii remotes) is a sword and shield swinging hero
-Metroid- Game pad holder commands flying ship, everyone else is on foot, either free for all, air vs ground, or all together vs computer
-Ghost house. pad player is ghost, everyone else is luigi, try to catch the ghost without being eaten!
- A ninja star game? Can't remember the name but its a one player shuriken flinging adventure.
There are many more, but I have not played them all yet.
Also, I just want to say once again, how good the pad makes gameplay. Take Metroid for example. If player pad holder vs land troops, it means no team knows where the other team is, adding something you can't get in a normal split screen mode. Also it gives more tv space for the ground troops. Trust me it makes sense when you play it.
Anyway, this game is a sort of show case of what is possible with the wii u system. I like the pad (which I thought I would not) as you get over the age old problem of stopping people cheating. I just find it a shame that as yet only 1 pad can be used at a time (there is currently no game that can take more than 1, but I guess with pads costing around £120 or so, that might be a good thing!).
overall I give this a 4/5. I don't think this is a brilliant game to play alone, look at other titles (assassins creed anyone?), but for a two player experience, this is one you have to have a look at. And I found it to be the game to "understand" what the whole wii u system is about.
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Disney Epic Mickey 2 (Wii U)
by B-justice
The Wii U brought more power and a shiny new controller type to the table, Epic mickey 1 brought innovative game play and beautiful enviroments that was hampered by horrid framerate and graphical bugs.
Sadly epic mickey : The power of two doesn't improve on this very much. beautiful and interesting visuals are once again ... hampered by a terrible frame rate and this just the beginning. This time round you have an interesting ally from the old game, Oswald. now if you happen to have another person around then great, co-op fun for all. but if your intending on a single player experience then i'm sorry playing this will feel like an over extended escort mission as you wait at the puzzles for Oswald to catch up (yes the puzzles need both characters). The last big bug ive got with is the insistence to use the gamepad for mickey. In epic mickey 1 you pointed with the wiimote and painted. Simple, Intutituve, Fun. Instead your using your thumbstick for what can be considered a big step backward.
All that said the game is pretty as you tour the wasteland, the land of forgotten disney characters and lost rides from the theme parks. There are periodic songs that liven up the tone in that typical disney musical manner. its just a shame that the gameplay lets it down so much.
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