wii u — Page 28

Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)

Posted on 26/01/2014 Written by deKay

After a mammoth effort this weekend, I get all the stars, stamps and flags from the rest of the remaining levels. It wasn’t hard, it just took a fair while as most of the levels had at least something left to collect.

My reward? World Crown. I was slightly disappointed to find there were just three levels on this world, but as you can see – one of them is pretty much a monster. Look at all them stars!

Edge: clunky rolling

Posted on 20/01/2014 Written by Xexyz

Edge is a game that really benefits from physical controls. I tried it on a friend's iPhone and found that it was tricky to control, and I felt I was always fighting against the game to get the block where I wanted it to go. On top of the control issues, it felt clunky and unresponsive. It wasn't fun.

With a proper control stick, though, it's a joy. It still feels clunky, but with the veil of control issues stripped away it's clear that this is a design decision, with the cube having its own momentum issues as it rolls from one side to another. It takes time to move the cube, and you have to consider this when playing.

I bought this initially for the Wii U, but because it was cheap at the time I have bought it again for the 3DS, since it's not the most taxing of games (although I have noticed a few framerate problems on the handheld). I'm far more likely to make progress on the 3DS; each of the levels may only take a few minutes to complete, but it looks as if there are over a hundred of them, and I think later levels may get much larger.

The game relies more on spatial puzzle solving than reflexes and speed, which suits me well. However, there are occasions where you need to be quick and accurate - one section in particular in an early level sees you traversing a section full of collapsing tiles, and you need to follow the exact path in order to not paint yourself into a corner. That relies on precise movements and timing - and took me several attempts even using proper controls. The below level had a conveyor belt section in it, with tiles disappearing from the back and moving to the front - again requiring precision.

I suspect some of the later levels might get tricky - some of the last levels I played (around level 25) were getting difficult, with a need to balance the cube on the edge of a moving block - but it's a solid game which was a bargain at under £2 for each format.

If the game had been £5 for both in the first place, I'd have paid that immediately. It makes no sense to have to buy things twice, once on the Wii U and once on the 3DS. A conversion fee, maybe - charge an extra £1 to have it on one format if you have it on the other. It's one of my main complaints about the Virtual Console service; I'd have spent a huge amount in there if I could have the games both on the Wii U and the 3DS.

Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)

Posted on 19/01/2014 Written by deKay

That picture there is all the flags, stars and stamps for all of the worlds from 1-8. Or 1-Bowser, if you’re using Nintendo’s eclectic numbering system. Surprisingly, although the hardest level up until then when playing normally and for the first run through, was Grumblump Inferno (the one with the blocks you have to stand on as they roll over lava), and I’d failed to get anything but a finish on it, this time I found it incredibly easy and breezed through getting everything. Time is such a healer.

Or, in the case of Mario games, time is a great provider of awesome Mario skills. With much play comes great power. Or something.

After that, it was onto the special worlds to clean up the remaining collectables there. I’m not far in yet, but no real difficulties yet. Aside from on Rainbow Run, where although I didn’t die, getting to the second star with a Fire Flower intact was a challenge. After several attempts (restarting if I lost it), I realised there was a Fire Flower just to the left of the area you need one for. Gah.

The reward? DAH DAH DAH DAAAAAH!!

FIFA 13: loss after loss

Posted on 17/01/2014 Written by Xexyz

I'm rubbish at this. I'm rubbish at most football games (with the possible exception of International Sensible Soccer on the Mega Drive), but this is harder than most. As well as the standard controls to battle with - in particular, I can never remember which is shoot and which is a high pass - EA have included a number of touch-screen controls on this. You can tap a player to pass to him, except by the time you've tapped there he's probably moved and you'd be better off passing with the B button. You can tap on an area of the screen to shoot in the goal (tap top-left to shoot top-left), but by the time you've looked down at the pad to accurately aim, you've missed your chance.

I do like playing football games, but that enjoyment mostly comes in the five seconds of the match when I manage to score a goal. That happened only once.

The thing is, as hopeless as I am at this, and as much as I find real-life football boring, there's an attraction about videogame football that I can't ignore. This is one of the better versions I've played, and I'm sure I'll get used to the touch controls at some point.

Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)

Posted on 12/01/2014 Written by deKay

The post-game mop-up continues apace. I’ve played through all of Star, Mushroom and Flower worlds (although not collected everything in each level), finishing at Boss Blitz.

It’s not that the level is especially hard, because it isn’t. In fact, most of the bosses in this – which technically classifies as a SuckySuck(TM) Bit – are the same as earlier in the game. The main issue is beating them in the time allowed. Actually, the main issues is beating the Hisstocrats in a short enough time to fit everything else in, as all the other bosses are really easy.

It took about 30 attempts, but not 30 lives as I quit if the Hisstrocrats (the bosses I attempted first) fight was taking too long, but finally:

Woo!

Then nothing. That was it. Surely not! Of course not. I “simply” hadn’t collected all the stars, stamps and gold flags in the rest of the game. Ooops.

So off I set to correct that. I’ve now 100%ed all of worlds 1-5, and almost done all of world 6. This is where the challenge is, I suspect!