Nintendo consistently develop high quality first party titles that our both exceptionally fun and becoming more and more inclusive with new ways to play that helps break the entry barrier for all ages. The following 5 games are some of nintendo’s best from the past year or so that are great fun for all over Christmas.
Super Mario 3D World
Platform: Wii U
Mario smashes his way onto Nintendo’s newest home console in superb form. The fully 3D Mario title that many have been waiting for showcases both innovation and renovation of the classic Mario formula pulling heavily from the recent and excellent Super Mario 3D World on 3DS, the game’s fun, fast and challenging. With many great new additions including some wonderfully vibrant visuals that pop and a fully inclusive and excessively enjoyable competitive/cooperative multiplayer mode, this isn’t just a great Mario game, it’s one of the best the series has ever seen.
Mario smashes his way onto Nintendo’s newest home console in superb form. The fully 3D Mario title that many have been waiting for showcases both innovation and renovation of the classic Mario formula pulling heavily from the recent and excellent Super Mario 3D World on 3DS, the game’s fun, fast and challenging. With many great new additions including some wonderfully vibrant visuals that pop and a fully inclusive and excessively enjoyable competitive/cooperative multiplayer mode, this isn’t just a great Mario game, it’s one of the best the series has ever seen.
9/10
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD
Platform: Wii U
The Legend of Zelda: Wind waker, was originally expected by many to be a low point in the series when it launched back on the GameCube due to its cutesy art style moving away from the more mature graphical tone of N64 entries that had propelled the series to the too if everyone’s must play list. But much to the surprise of many, it was one of the smartest, most well crafted and stunning games of its generation. Set across a sprawling ocean littered with Islands of monster and treasure it felt like one of the biggest and best adventures you could imagine. Therefore the chance to play the game again in crisp and refreshing HD is a real treat and one I’d recommend especially if you’ve not played the game before.
10/10
Nintendo Land
Platform: Wii U
Nintendo Land is not only an excellent showcase for what can be done with the Wii U’s second screen but indeed a genuinely brilliant and fun game. It’s a game that is at it’s best when played with others as it’s both humorous and more challenging when your working with or against your friends and family. The title is broken down into a range of exciting mini games all with different gameplay elements and unique uses for the Wii U gamepad. It’s excellent fun, well presented and perhaps as long as your not a sore loser a great way to have some competitive and cooperative fun with the family this Christmas.
Nintendo Land is not only an excellent showcase for what can be done with the Wii U’s second screen but indeed a genuinely brilliant and fun game. It’s a game that is at it’s best when played with others as it’s both humorous and more challenging when your working with or against your friends and family. The title is broken down into a range of exciting mini games all with different gameplay elements and unique uses for the Wii U gamepad. It’s excellent fun, well presented and perhaps as long as your not a sore loser a great way to have some competitive and cooperative fun with the family this Christmas.
8/10
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Platform: 3DS/2DS
A wonderfully fresh and exciting take on one of Nintendo’s most classic Zelda games ‘A Link to the Past’ this new game whilst based in the nostalgia inducing Hyrule of the classic game it plays homage to, it’s full of fresh ideas and real innovations to the series that feel potent and needed. A great game full of classic Zelda charm, yet with the inclusion of fresh ideas like alternating between 3d link and 2d drawn link to traverse different environments really enhances the series in an unexpected way. The new item system of the game pulls away from the traditional dungeon hunting stagnant system of old and allows you to explore the world in whatever order you wish, with no real linearity in dungeons the game feels like a true adventure. Thanks to this and the aforementioned dimensional abilities of Link the game is host to some of the most unique, exciting and challenging puzzles to ever have grazed a Zelda title. A fantastic game to be thoroughly enjoyed and one that will both intrigue and challenge you.
A wonderfully fresh and exciting take on one of Nintendo’s most classic Zelda games ‘A Link to the Past’ this new game whilst based in the nostalgia inducing Hyrule of the classic game it plays homage to, it’s full of fresh ideas and real innovations to the series that feel potent and needed. A great game full of classic Zelda charm, yet with the inclusion of fresh ideas like alternating between 3d link and 2d drawn link to traverse different environments really enhances the series in an unexpected way. The new item system of the game pulls away from the traditional dungeon hunting stagnant system of old and allows you to explore the world in whatever order you wish, with no real linearity in dungeons the game feels like a true adventure. Thanks to this and the aforementioned dimensional abilities of Link the game is host to some of the most unique, exciting and challenging puzzles to ever have grazed a Zelda title. A fantastic game to be thoroughly enjoyed and one that will both intrigue and challenge you.
9/10
Pokemon X & Y
Platform: 3DS/2DS
Nintendo’s insanely popular pokemon series has always been brilliant. Since it’s inception there have been slight alterations to what is one of the best RPG gameplay systems creates, tied in with the effortless ease of being able to play on the go. But when it came to Polemon X & Y That Game Company developers and creators of the Pokemon games decided it was time to truly innovate. What a title they have made, keeping true to everything that has made the series wonderful over the years but with a fantastic and long awaited 3D graphical overhaul, alongside a host of new exciting features this is the Pokemon game everyone needs to play.
9/10
Ben Corbett-Mills / @benleopards
