Game Room: November Roundup

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Dec 6, 2012

Game Room: November Roundup

Wii U

In 2006, the Wii's motion controls were a revolution to video gaming, but its standard-def graphics were a real turnoff to plenty of consumers wanting to get the most out of their HDTVs. Nintendo finally got the message and is now launching the Wii U, its first console capable of 1080p HD video. Nintendo is again attempting to innovate past the current HD consoles by launching the Wii U with a unique primary controller, the GamePad. There's a lot functionality baked into the 1.1 pound wireless GamePad, including a 6.2 inch 854x480 LCD screen, a front-facing camera, accelerometer, gyroscope, rumble support, speakers, mic, two control sticks, a d-pad, two shoulder buttons, two rear trigger buttons, and six face buttons. The screen doesn't look as nice as most tablets on the market, but it gets the job done. Depending on the game, the GamePad sometimes serves a second screen with supplemental functionality, but it can also be the primary screen with your TV in use and the Wii U unit powered on. When playing a game only on the GamePad -- in detached mode -- you have to stay within 20-25 feet of the console. All the features and functionality of the GamePad come at a price paid in battery life, which averages below four hours per charge. The GamePad controller has a glossy finish, which serves as magnet for finger-prints and smudges. Wii U will be backwards compatible with Wii games, but none of them will work with the GamePad. You'll have to use Wii Remotes, which you'll need anyway for most multiplayer games. Be sure to pay attention when buying games to see which controllers are compatible. In addition to the GamePad, Nintendo has released a Pro controller (sold separately for $50), that's similar to the Xbox 360 and PS3 controller. Wii U review continued next page...

The Wii U has built-in Wi-Fi and features apps for video streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon), as well as apps for YouTube and video chatting. The video services had not launched as of the writing of this review. An eShop will also be available so consumers can purchase digital versions of new and existing games. Nintendo TVii, a second screen service designed to interact with live programming, is set to launch in December. From the Wii U home screen there's also a proprietary Internet browser and a social hub, the Miiverse, where gamers can connect to share messages centered around games. The Wii U outputs a six-channel PCM linear audio. And speaking of sound, the Wii U console runs a little loud, but it's not a big deal. It's tough to say just how capable the Wii U is at rendering graphics compared to the Xbox and PS3. Several of the launch titles are ports and didn't look that impressive, but it's important to remember those titles weren't originally developed for the Wii. The question is how long we'll have to wait before a Wii U original game delivers wow-level visuals. The Wii U is sold in two bundles. The basic, white unit, costs $299 with comes 8 GB memory. The deluxe is black, costs $349 and comes with 32 GB memory, a charging dock for the GamePad and Nintendo Land (see review next page). Both come with one GamePad, the console, a sensor bar, power cables and an HDMI cable. The Wii U is a huge upgrade over the Wii in terms of graphics and functionality. The potential of the GamePad is very strong, so it's a matter of when and how often developers will take advantage of the Wii U's strongest feature. Either way, we'd like to see more must-own titles arrive for the Wii U before the end of the year. Keep reading for a roundup of several of the Wii U launch titles. Score: 8.5 out of 10

Nintendo Land

Nintendo Land is a collection of mini-games designed to show off the diverse functionality of the Wii U's GamePad. The game's hub, a theme park, provides access to 12 games. The games are all modeled after iconic Nintendo franchises like Mario Chase, Donkey Kong's Crash Course and The Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest. You can play nine of them alone but the rest are strictly multiplayer. Many games allow up to five players, with four using Wii Remotes and one using the GamePad. The GamePad typically offers a different perspective or gameplay advantage. Some games utilize the gyroscope for titling, others use the stylus and touch capabilities. Nintendo Land is ideal for having friends over, but solo gamers might not get the same level of engagement. Nintendo Land is offered as a pack-in game with the Deluxe version of the Wii U, but it can be purchased separately as well. Score: 8 out of 10

New Super Mario Bros U

The Wii launched without a Mario Bros. game, but thankfully Nintendo isn't making that mistake again. New Super Mario Bros. U finally delivers our favorite Italian plumber into the promised land of HD gaming. The game offers up the traditional side-scrolling platform goodness you've come to expect with crisp, sharp graphics. Many gamers will prefer to play Mario solo, but the GamePad offers an intriguing multiplayer option in which one player uses the Wii Remote to control Mario on the TV, and the second person uses the GamePad touch screen to drop blocks that the other player can jump on to get to tough to reach spots or to keep Mario from falling. It requires a fair amount of communication and intuition, but it's less chaotic than multiple players on screen (you can play up to four on screen). Super Mario U can be played in detached mode on the GamePad with the TV off. In addition to the story mode there are three more multiplayer game types -- Challenge, Boost and Coin Rush -- that add a lot of replay depth and will appeal to skilled players looking to prove it. Super Mario U is the first must-own title on the Wii U. Score: 10 out of 10

Madden NFL 13

Madden 13 was one of the best sports games when it was released on the Xbox 360 and PS3 back In August . So, it was a no-brainer for Electronic Arts to port this game over to the Wii U. Unfortunately, some key features -- like the Infinity Engine that elevated player movement and tackling animations -- aren't in the Wii U version. The graphics of the Wii U version also don't look quite as good as the Xbox 360, but hopefully this is a result of the game being a port. The Wii U version stands apart as the GamePad controller is used to call plays and to make offensive and defensive adjustments on the fly. This is accomplished in an Xs and Os view pre-snap. Being able to drag your finger across the screen for a custom quick route is pretty cool, but the play calling screens are clunky and ultimately not faster than the traditional method of using buttons on a standard controller. Veteran Madden players will quickly gravitate to using the Wii U pro controller -- which is better suited for quick reactions and comfort -- so the benefits of the GamePad aren't very substantial. But as a boon to the GamePad, Madden 13 utilizes the detached more function allowing you to play an entire game if your TV is in use. This isn't the best version Madden, but if it's your only Madden, it's not that bad. Score: 7.5 out of 10

FIFA Soccer 13

Like this year's Madden on the Xbox 360 and PS3, FIFA 13 was a great iteration of EA's annual franchise. But also like Madden on Wii U, FIFA is missing several features that elevated the game, including the Player Impact Engine, tactical defending and precision dribbling. Once again, the visuals don't seem as polished as the previous releases of FIFA 13. FIFA 13 attempts to take advantage of the Wii U by using the GamePad for on-the-fly-functionality. While a game is going on you can use the GamePad to mark players on defense, change formations, and to make passes. However, taking your eyes of the TV while possessing the ball is almost always fatal. Similarly, when shooting on goal you can use the GamePad to aim to a specific spot on the net, but it's also very distracting and counter intuitive to look away. FIFA 13 works in detach mode as well. We're hopeful EA can do more with the GamePad when it has a full cycle of development. Score: 7 out of 10

Mass Effect 3

Mass Effect 3 was also one of the year's best games . We already reviewed this epic sci-fi adventure, so it again boils down to how this game differs when played on the Wii U. In Mass Effect 3, the GamePad is used during exploration as a map, and during combat it's used to control your squad position and attacks. The integrations are effective without being distracting. The graphics at times seemed a little choppier than the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, but the game runs smoothly throughout. Part of the Mass Effect appeal is the ability to upload save files from Mass Effect 1 and 2, such that decisions you made in those games impact the storyline of Mass Effect 3. Because those games don't exist on the Wii, the developers created a digital comic that has some decisions baked in that are used to help customize the plot in Mass Effect 3. Mass Effect 3 stands as one of the more successful ports for the Wii U launch, and is recommended for anyone that hasn't played the game. Score: 9 out of 10

Batman: Arkham City -- Armored Edition

Arkham City, also one of 2011's best games , is yet another port for the Wii U. In looking at what makes the Wii U version different, look no further than the GamePad integration. It's a mixed bag: at times it's cool, like when you get that Batman gadget vibe when checking your radar or looking at your inventory. Other times it's annoying when you have to physically aim the GamePad around the room to scan an environment for clues. The Wii U version of Arkham City features all the additional supplemental content previously released as downloadable content on the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions. This allows you to play as different characters, in different costumes, and gives you access to additional game levels. The Armored Edition refers to a "BAT mode" unique to the Wii U, that allows you to unleash some extra damage to enemies for a brief amount of time. The Arkham City graphics are comparable to the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, and you can play the game in detached mode. If you've never played Arkham City, this game is a worthy addition to your Wii U collection, and is among the best ports we've played so far. Score: 9 out of 10

ZombiU

Ah, zombie games. Can't die with them. Can't die without them. ZombiU answers the call for a survival horror game, bringing some cool concepts to the table like seeing how far you can get in the game before you die. When you finally fall to the zombies, you restart at the last save point, but as a different character. Your previous character -- they all have names -- will await you as a zombie. ZombiU does an OK job of utilizing the GamePad controller, using it mostly as a map and a basic system to manage your inventory of looted items. Unfortunately, the scary atmosphere attempted in the game is lost when you're forced to frequently look away from the TV. A great deal of the game focuses on combat, but in ZombiU it's repetitive and not particularly satisfying. Smashing zombies with a cricket paddle should be faster and lot more fun, or at least that's what we're expecting when the zombie apocalypse finally arrives! Anyway, there's a decent amount of weapons in the game, but ammo is always limited. So, most of time you'll be using a melee weapon requiring multiple strikes to down a single zombie. ZombiU was developed exclusively for the Wii U, so it's disappointing to see underwhelming visuals manifested in dark, murky environments that lack detail and visual pop. There's a good game in here somewhere, but perhaps the developers needed more braaaaaaaains! Score: 6 out of 10

Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge

It's kind of strange playing an adult game -- filled with lots of blood and gore -- on a Nintendo console. But it's also a necessity if Nintendo wants to win back hardcore games that aren't very interested in party games and motion-based gaming. The campaign in Razor's Edge features frenetic action, and the combat requires quick reactions. Ninja Gaiden isn't an easy game and you will die a lot. Fortunately, there's a good array of weapons, so you'll be able to choose which ones you like and power them up as you progress. Razor's Edge does a solid job utilizing the GamePad touch screen, making it easy to unleash power attacks or change weapons on the fly. Razor's Edge is a port, but fortunately it fixes several gameplay mechanics that plagued the Xbox 360 and PS3 releases. That said, the camera perspectives can still be wonky at times, especially in smaller rooms or when you're fighting larger bosses. The game runs smoothly with a solid framerate, but that seems to be at the expense of some very pronounced jagged edges. Despite the graphics issues, this is the best version of Ninja Gaiden 3 on the market. Score: 7 out of 10

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wii U

Tekken Tag Tournament is also a port, but it manages to deliver some unique game modes that you can't get anywhere else. Tekken is a deep and technical fighting game that rewards you for learning its nuisances. The game features a vast amount of fighters, so you'll be able to find one that suits your play style, and through customization you'll be able to craft a unique look for your fighter of choice. There's plenty of single and multiplayer game modes to keep you busy, but Tekken also takes advantage of the Nintendo license in offering classic Nintendo-themed costumes for the fighters -- including options for the Mario Bros, StarFox and Zelda. There's also a Mushroom Battle mode in which the fighters can strategically use the mushroom power ups to grow or shrink during battles. The GamePad is used to pull off combos with a single touch, which is a big advantage if you're playing someone using a Wii Remote. Otherwise, the best controller for the game is probably the Pro. Score: 7 out of 10

Assassins Creed III

Assassins Creed III is another entry in the growing array of Wii U ports. Assassins Creed III, originally released in October on the Xbox 360 and PS3 ( review here ), is the adventure of a master assassin, Connor, making his way from Europe to the New World around the time of the American Revolutionary War. Fortunately, the Wii U game plays nearly identically to the previously released versions. The GamePad controller is used as a map showing you objectives and enemy locations, and is used to change and organize weapons. Unfortunately, the graphics of the Wii U version aren't as clear and crisp as the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, but it's still a very good game. Score: 8 out of 10

Tank! Tank! Tank!

Right off the bat Tank! Tank! Tank! is hampered by wonky and imprecise controls that you'll fight more than enjoy. As you progress in the game you'll unlock more powerful weapons, but unfortunately the levels are generic and repetitive, and the graphics really feel a generation behind. The game is probably best during multiplayer outings in which you can play with up to four players in split-screen local matches. The most notable multiplayer mode, My Kong, allows the player holding the GamePad to control a giant mechanical gorilla. Tank! Tank! Tank! probably should've been called "tank". It's not really worthy of three exclamation marks or your time. Score: 3 out of 10

Call of Duty Black OPS II

For years, Treyarch served as Activision's Call of Duty b-team while Infinity Ward worked on the next major release of the militaristic cash cow. That all changed two years ago when the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops, which brought a real Hollywood action-movie sheen to a new Cold War-era suite of characters. Black Ops 2 carries on that mantle, upping the production values even more in a sequel that takes some of the characters from the previous game, flashing backwards and forwards in time to tell a surprisingly rich narrative of a third World War. The gameplay will be familiar by now to seasoned CoD players: you assume the role of one of several soldiers, show up in a locale and have a brief, profanity-laden conversation with a few other characters who outline the mission, then you follow them into combat against hundreds of enemy opponents who are little more than bullet fodder. You get shot, your vision gets bloody, you hide, you heal, you continue on. Weapons are plentiful, as is ammo, so you can usually lay down fire with impunity. Multiplayer is, as always, top-notch, with a dizzying array of modes, maps and weapons. There are new perks and unlockables aplenty to keep players going on into the night, racking up precious XP. The fan-favorite Zombies mode makes its return as well, and is sure to be popular. Another new mission type that shows up periodically plays more like an RTS game - albeit one where you can take on the role of any soldier at any time. It's a little jarring at first, but it's a welcome new experience. The main strike against the game is that many missions feel more like a rail shooter, with only one real way to win. The CoD series lives and dies by its set pieces, and there are some doozies here, but the game often seems to focused on telling you where to go and what to do that it feels more like an interactive movie. A little more freedom to guide your own fate would have made the game truly amazing - maybe next time. If you want a game that loves you for your brain, this isn't

Little Big Planet Karting

It seems like every franchise inevitably finds its way to a karting sequel (although it must be said that Halo Kart would be pretty epic...), but LittleBigPlanet lends itself better to the format than most. The unflappable Sackboy is back again in yet another Stephen Fry-voiced, bonkers plot about having to remove meanies from his paper cutout world - this time, though, through the power of go-karts. Look, just ignore the plot and go with it, okay? LBP Karting retains pretty much everything fans of the series will expect: the cutesy characters, the bizarre environs and the focus on creativity, and it all actually lends itself really well. The controls are, in classic LBP fashion, floatier than what you'd find in the Mario variant, but they feel appropriate for the game. Players have the usual kart racer powerups that can instantly upend the balance of a race (woe be unto the player in first place), and there's a huge variety of options for track creation and a great marketplace in which to share them. The kart racer crown still belongs to Mario, but PS3 owners will have a lot to like in LBP Karting. Score: 8 out of 10

PlayStation Move Racing Wheel

A particularly peculiar peripheral, the Playstation Move Racing Wheel works in concert with an inserted Move controller to allow motion tracking steering in supported racing games. The wheel has grips that can swivel out for a motorcycle-style function, as well as a full set of PS3 face buttons and a pair of paddles that can be used for gear shifting or, in the case of LittleBigPlanet Karting, slapping your opponents. The whole apparatus feels a bit Frankensteinian, with the Move controller's colorful ball poking out of the top of what looks like a plastic Batarang, but it's hard to argue with the results: it works pretty darned well. Hardcore Gran Turismo players will almost definitely want to stick with a more precise Logitech wheel or DualShock 3 controller, but for kart-style games or casual racers, the Move Wheel can add some fun. Fair warning, though, that it's sizable, and smaller hands might have trouble reaching the paddles. Score: 7 out of 10

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale

Sony fans finally have a fighting game that embraces the PlayStation universe of characters in the same way Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. Melee did when it first launched in 2001 on the GameCube. All-Stars Battle Royale features 20 playable characters including fan favorites Kratos (God of War), Nathan Drake (Uncharted), SackBoy (LittleBigPlanet) and Cole (Infamous). Whether you like to keep your distance or bang it out up close, there are significant differences between the characters and their attacks. There's some balance issues with the characters, but a skilled player can hold it down with any character. The game has a good tutorial mode to teach you the basics, but spending time figuring out which characters suit your play style is a lot of fun. Within each match you'll fill up a meter used to unleash three levels of increasingly powerful attacks. Learning when to use those attacks and how to avoid them is the key to the game. The visuals are solid, set against 14 stages that mash up the native environments of the characters. Battle Royale shines in multiplayer modes playing locally or online. The PS3 version of Battle Royale gives you free access to the PS Vita version, so if you have both units it's a great value add. Progress between the two versions is shared, which is also very cool. Score: 8.5 out of 10

Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault

Fans of the successful Ratchet & Clank franchise might be surprised to learn that Full Frontal Assault is a tower defense game. In the game you're charged with defending six generators at your base, taking control of weapon nodes out in the field, and ultimately destroying the generators of your opponent. In each battle you'll collect bolts, which are the currency used to purchase base defense elements (turrets, mines and barriers) and used to acquire attacking troops for the final assault round. The PS3 version of Full Frontal Assault includes the PS Vita version for free and features shared saves. You can play the game cooperatively online or locally with another player or play head-to-head or 2-on-2 online. The single player campaign is short and not nearly as fun as multiplayer, but considering the game is $20, if you like the base defense genre it's not a bad deal at all. Score: 7 out of 10

LEGO Lord of the Rings

Big movie franchises getting the LEGO treatment has become routine. So, when the fan favorite Lord of the Rings trilogy got the LEGO nod, plenty of people assumed it would be the same old thing. And it is. However, LEGO LOTR does a great job using the source material, so all the memorable and moving dialogue and music from the movies is in the game. You'll get to fight your way through Middle-Earth and all the iconic moments of the trilogy, playing with all the familiar characters from Frodo to Gandolf to Aragorn. The level design is pretty linear and the puzzles are mostly mundane and familiar if you've played a LEGO game before. Despite the rote nature of the LEGO gaming engine, "You Shall Not Pass" on this one if you're a diehard LOTR fan. Score: 7 out of 10

Sports Champions 2

Sports Champions 2 is the sequel to Sony's flagship launch title for the PlayStation Move motion controller, and it treads similar ground both to its predecessor as well as similar games like Wii Sports and Kinect Sports. The selection of games feels a little spartan, with only boxing, tennis, bowling, skiing, golf and archery. Sound familiar? The main problem with Sports Champions 2 is that we've played many of these games before, and the treatment here isn't sufficiently advanced to make them feel genuinely novel. Bowling and tennis are shockingly easy, with archery - a repeat performance from the first Sports Champions - a standout. None of the games are explicitly broken, and the Move controls work well enough, but the generic presentation and uninspired selection of events make it only fun for party players or families. Score: 6 out of 10

F1 Race Stars

F1 Race Stars is a good example of a game in search of an audience. There's nothing inherently broken or awful about it, but the kart racing genre has several innovative, top-tier franchises - including this month's LittleBigPlanet Karting, so it's difficult to understand the audience for whom this game is intended. In F1 Race Stars, players assume the personality of one of a sizable group of real-life F1 drivers (and a couple of fictitious ones) rendered in bobblehead form with race karts styled after F1 cars racing through versions of major F1 tracks that look like something out of "It's a Small World" crossed with a Hot Wheels set. There's no drift mechanic to speak of - this is F1, so you'll be braking and following racing lines - and the ever-present power-ups are mostly pedestrian. There's online play, but the folks who will get the most enjoyment out of the game are the ones playing against friends on the same couch. That said, they'd almost definitely have more fun with one of the game's competitors. CodeMasters is known for creating some of the richest, most realistic racing simulations on the market, but this one just doesn't work. There's just not enough new here to make the game worthwhile. Score: 5 out of 10

Paper Mario: Sticker Star

It's an understatement to describe Paper Mario: Sticker Star as "cute." The Paper Mario series, which places a flat, 2D Mario into an even-more-whimsical version of the Mushroom Kingdom has always been known for its silly, goofy humor and simplified RPG-style combat. Sticker Star is more of the same, with Mario out to rescue (surprise, surprise) Princess Peach from the clutches of (wait for it...) Bowser, using the power of... stickers. Stickers have been scattered across the various worlds and each one gives Mario different powers he can use in the game's turn-based combat against both classic and new villains and bosses. There's a fair amount of reading in the game, though most of the dialogue is simple enough for younger children to comprehend, though some of the puzzles and bosses can get frustrating if you haven't collected the right combinations of stickers. Your glowing companion, Kersti - this is typical of the game's sense of humor - is usually on hand to offer hints, though when she's not, you might not always be able to figure out what to do next. That said, it's a great little RPG for beginners and for Mario fans. Score: 8 out of 10

Game Room: November Roundup