Typically, it’s hard to evaluate early review scores for games because they come from mid to low level publications, and are usually passed on through a secondary medium. Nevertheless, when the games are highly anticipated or they are the flagship launch titles for a new console – like Nintendo‘s Wii U – the reviews are worth checking out.
The reviews in question are for two of Nintendo’s major Wii U launch titles, New Super Mario Bros. U and Nintendo Land. Both are promised to be major system movers for the hot new console — that is if they are worth playing.
Thankfully, at least according to the magazine Games Master (yeah, take this with a grain of salt), the two games show off the console’s features well and are fun to play.
Words like “surprised” and phrases like “bodes well for Mario’s future Wii U outings” are thrown around in the New Super Mario Bros. U review, which ended up earning an 82% from the publication. Our hands-on time with the game at E3 2012 helped better illuminate how the Wii U’s touchpad comes into play for an additional player – helping the group cross large chasms or creating platforms to new heights – but ultimately it was more fun to use the touch controls for griefing purposes, impeding friend’s progress.
Games Master also mentions that NSMBU is a much easier entry in this relatively new franchise when compared to its Wii counterpart. As a major showpiece for the Wii U it’s probably for the best that the difficulty doesn’t border on insane just yet.
Nintendo Land fared a little better in its review and ended up earning an 86% from the publication. The review says the game, which features a large collection of Nintendo franchise-centric mini-games, is more than just a glorified tech demo, and is “party-fuelling fun.” We’re still a bit skeptical, as it still seems like watered down version of Wii Sports, but there’s no denying lots of gamers are going to eat this game up.
Unfortunately, though Games Master has early reviews of Nintendo Land and NSMBU they have not rendered a verdict on the Wii U, or at least it has not made its way online. Games are the all important determining factor when it comes to picking up a console at launch, but when it boasts a lot of new and interesting bells and whistles like the Wii U it’s also worth hearing how the console functions.
Are you picking up a Wii U and if so are either Nintendo Land or New Super Mario Bros. U on your radar?
The Nintendo Wii U, along with launch titles Nintendo Land and New Super Mario Bros. U will be available on November 18, 2012.
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Source: CVG
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Not really interested in the Wii-U.
One of the few things I enjoyed about the Wii is playing with people in the same location, and with it seeming that there can only be one ‘good’ controller, then that pretty much nullifies that aspect of Wii gaming.
The Wii-U will be successful, but I just don’t see anything about it that is interesting to myself.
Don’t look at it that way. The Wii U has 4 good controllers, and one great one. It gives you different ways to play. To be honest, your reason doesn’t really make much sense. Not that it’s not a good reason, it’s just that I’m not sure what you’re trying to say.
Wii…U? What’s Wii U? It can’t be more important than Halo 4, whatever it is.
Okay, Halo 4 is the most epic game I’ve played recently, but what is the point of this comment?
I’ll be getting one this year if I got on the waiting list early enough xD
“We’re still a bit skeptical, as it still seems like watered down version of Wii Sports”
This is the most asinine thing I’ve read all week, and I’ve been following the election coverage pretty closely.
How do you get the impression that Nintendo Land is like a watered down Wii Sports when it has more than double the amount of mini-games and much more gaming content packed into each one? The statement is even more ridiculous when you consider that the games are nothing alike. One is a motion simulation sports compilation, and the other is an arcade style mini-game collection. Other than the party game nature of both titles, there’s no basis for comparison.
Nintendo Land and Wii Sport share one very shallow similarity. Visual style.
They both use the Mii Avatar system, so on a quick casual glance they appear to be in the same vein. Since Wii Sports was the Wii Launch title that used Mii’s some people are going to instantly assume it’s some variation of that like Wii Sports Resort, Wii Fit, Wii Play, and (shudder) Wii Music.
I agree with your comment, that the game collection in Nintendo Land is far larger and more varied than Wii Sports. The games seem to contain far more depth of character than any of the Wii Sports games ever did.
The other similarity they share is that they are the games built from the ground up to showcase a new play style that can be difficult to describe. Wii Sports really showed people how motion gaming could work. Nintendo Land (hopefully) will do the same thing for the gamepad’s asymmetrical gaming.