Game Review - Mario Party 10 + Mario amiibo Bundle

About the Game
Mario Party 10 + Mario amiibo - WithiiU. Mario Party 10 has tons of fun neWith Withays to play challenge and triumph over your friends Withith neWith modes and a Withealth of other exciting goodies. Strategize your Withay around a variety of unique boards to gather coins and stars and best your buddies. In BoWithser Party mode you can take the role of bad guy BoWithser to mess Withith your friends' game. Need to let off some steam" Challenge your friends to a bunch of exciting mini-games unlock bonus content and more.

• For a limited time, the only way to play with the Mario Party Mario amiibo included! 
• Bowser is crashing the party! 
• Playfully tease your friends as bad guy Bowser (additional accessories required for multiplayer mode; sold separately.) 
• Challenge your buddies in tons of fun minigames (additional accessories required for multiplayer mode; sold separately.)

My Take on the Game
I had heard some great things about this new possibility for my WII U but I had not tried it until recently. When I did get the opportunity I was so amazed at how easily this system integrates with your existing Game system, or at least it did for me. That being said, the Mario character is easily activated by simply tapping the character to the game pad. If you have multiple characters you can swap back and forth in the game too. Playing the game in this way is so much fun, and Nintendo has been rolling out more and more characters too. So I encourage you to go and check out some of the other characters that you can hook into the system!


This was a great family game that my daughters and I loved! You will fall in love with the Amiibo characters and will want to add on to the characters you may of may not have already!


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Game Review - LEGO The Hobbit (WII U)

About the Game
From the makers of the immensely popular LEGO The Lord of the Rings, comes LEGO The Hobbit, inspired by the first two films in The Hobbit Trilogy: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and the upcoming The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, productions of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM) as well as the collection of LEGO The Hobbit constructions sets. The interactive game of LEGO The Hobbit allows gamers to play along their favorite scenes from the films and follows the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins as he is recruited by the Wizard Gandalf to aid Thorin Oakenshield and his Company of Dwarves. Bilbo leaves the comforts of the Shire on a journey through Middle-earth to help the Dwarves reclaim their lost Kingdom of Erebor within the Lonely Mountain. Along the way, he is introduced to ravenous Trolls, dangerous Orcs and, of course, Gollum and his precious Ring. Players will utilize and combine the Dwarves' unique abilities - often with hilarious results - to solve the most diverse Quests of any LEGO videogame to date.

Features

• Explore Middle-earth and visit key locations from the films, including Bag End, and trek through the treacherous High Pass over The Misty Mountains
• Partake in Treasure Quests, mine for gems, discover loot from enemies, and craft powerful magical items or build immense new LEGO structures.
• Play as your favorite characters from The Hobbit films, including Bilbo, Gandalf, and the Dwarves: Thorin, Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin, Dwalin, Balin Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Dori, Nori and Ori.
• Collect, combine and forge new items in the Blacksmith Shop using Mithril, the most precious metal in Middle-earth.
• Triumph in a game of riddles and learn to wield the power of The One Ring.

My Take on the Game
I love LEGO games almost as much as I love building with LEGO bricks. I am always excited when I see a new LEGO movie game coming out as the animators/game developers do an admirable job at bringing together the best parts of the movie and transforming them into LEGO moments which is always awesome!

This game is connected to the first two parts of The Hobbit and I have to say that in my opinion and experience thus far, the game has definitely lived up to my expectations and did a great job at portraying the movie well. You not only get to see and experience dialogue from the movie but you also get to have multi-player fun too as you move through the realms.

The game has great graphics and the integration of movie and game make it fun for all!


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Game Review - Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze

About the Game
Donkey Kong’s ultimate platforming adventure barrel-blasts onto Wii U! Team up with buddies to master their moves, from Diddy Kong and his jetpack to the fresh additions of Dixie Kong with her spinning ponytail and Cranky Kong with his pogo-cane jump. Journey across 6 distinct islands filled with dynamic levels and non-stop action.

Reclaim the now-frozen DK Island from the invading Snowmads. Master Donkey Kong’s ground pound and each of his buddy’s unique abilities to navigate diverse island environments like Mangrove swamps, Savannah storms, ocean depths, and the frozen lands of DK Island. The barrel-blasting, mine-carting action of Donkey Kong Country is back, along with a bushel of new features like upgraded underwater swimming, a new “plucking” system, dynamic viewing angles from a rotating camera, and collectables galore. Team up with friends in local 2-player multiplayer* to share in the adventure and reclaim DK Island from a host of wintery baddies and bosses.

Key Features

• Journey through all-new levels that twist, turn and transform in consistently fresh ways. Plus, enjoy spectacular views thanks to the dynamic, rotating camera.
• Dixie Kong and Cranky Kong join in the adventure as a playable character alongside Diddy Kong. Any of them can buddy up with Donkey Kong to shake up the action.
• Fight off the arctic invading Snowmads as you run, jump, roll, “pluck” and swim across six distinctly themed islands, each packed with lively levels of non-stop action and surprises.
• Team up with friends in local, cooperative multiplayer that lets two players share in the adventure*.
• Discover hidden areas and gather numerous collectibles to unlock additional content, use life-saving items, or catch a ride on diverse vehicles.
• Enjoy new music from the original composer of the Donkey Kong Country series.

*Additional accessory required, sold separately.

My Take on the Game
In this game you get to have a ton of fun with Donkey Kong and his entire family. Each of the characters has special abilities that can help you to accomplish more. I found the game to be a lot of fun, and reminded me a bit of Super Mario Brothers with the bananas that you collect as well as the some of the other tasks that you are required to accomplish while you are working on each level.

The game is challenging and you may find yourself playing and replaying levels to try and accomplish more or to reach new areas within the game itself so in the end you are able to finish the level completing the most that you can complete.

All-in-all, the game was solid, the graphics just popped off the screen. It was challenging and not a game that you will fully complete quickly, which is great for the gamer at heart.

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Game Review - The Lego Movie Videogame (WII U)

About the Game
Transform the ordinary into the extraordinary and experience the ultimate LEGO building experience in the all new The LEGO® Movie Videogame. Step into the world of Emmet, an ordinary, rules-following, perfectly average citizen who is mistakenly identified as the most extraordinary person and the key to saving the world. Players guide him as he is drafted into a fellowship of strangers on an epic quest to stop an evil tyrant, a journey for which Emmet is hopelessly and hilariously underprepared.

GENERAL GAME FEATURES SHARED ACROSS ALL PLATFORMS:

• Enjoy a delightful and surprising mix of over 90 characters as seen from the film including Batman, Superman, the Green Ninja, Gandalf and more.
• Smash more bricks in a fascinating environment made of LEGO bricks.
• Collect and use LEGO instruction pages to build in a new way.
• Journey through fantastical worlds like Flatbush Gulch, Cloud Cuckoo Land and more!
• Harness the awesome power of the Master Builders to virtually build extraordinary LEGO creations.
• Enjoy a brand new animation style as seen in the film that replicates the movement of actual LEGO toy sets.

My Take on the Game
This game does the movie justice! You have great graphics and a storyline that follows the movie at least somewhat. I have played a number of other LEGO games in the past and this one follows suit with similar fun, puzzles and zany antics (but for me that;s part of the fun). The game is for one player, and from beginning to end you are drawn into the action, and I for one did not want to stop. I do wish that there was a two player option so that I could play this with my kids, but alas, I still had a ton of fun. You also get the same voice actors that you have form the movie, which adds a cool connection from the movie as well!

I also was impressed with the depth of the game, as you can definitely beat the game while you are not too far in, but then there are a ton of add-ons and other things that you can unlock that will let you keep playing on and on into the future which makes the game even more fun!

Even my six year old daughter got into the action and was able to control this and have a blast, so young players can enjoy this too!

All-in-all this was an excellent game with great graphics, plot and game play and I highly recommend this to all!

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Game Review - Angry Birds Trilogy

About the Book
Fluff your feathers and reach for the sky! We are excited to announce that Activision Publishing, Inc. and Rovio Entertainment’s Angry Birds Trilogy is now available for Nintendo’s Wii U™ and Wii™ systems. Encompassing three award-winning, best-selling titles - Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons and Angry Birds Rio - Angry Birds Trilogy delivers well over 100 hours of avian adventure and brings one of gaming’s most popular franchises to nest on Nintendo’s home consoles for the first time.

As an added bonus, the Wii U and Wii editions of Angry Birds Trilogy come loaded with the original versions’ Anger Management and Fowl-Tempered Packs, previously available only as downloadable content, adding 11 episodes of holiday and seasonally themed stages to the party for a grand total of 30 episodes on one disc. Complete with TV/Wii U GamePad swap support, online leaderboards, and easy-to-learn controls like accurate touchscreen mechanics for the Wii U GamePad, Angry Birds Trilogy will keep players of all ages happy as they blast their favorite birds into the wild blue yonder.

Angry Birds™ Trilogy is now available for Wii U for $49.99 and Wii for $39.99. This game is rated E (Everyone) by the ESRB. It is currently available for the Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system, the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft with Kinect™ for Xbox 360 compatibility, and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system with full PlayStation®Move support. Please visit www.activision.com for more information.

My Take on the Book
We were excited to try out this game! Seeing that my whole family are BIG angry bird fans. The graphics were ok. I felt that they held true to the Angry Bird mobile games, but I thought that they could have done more. On top of this I thought they might have been able to offer a bit more in regards to allowing multiple players to play against each other, however the game is only geared toward one player which was a bit disappointing. My girls and I did like the game play though and it brought the mobile game to the big screen which was definitely fun. I would say that if you are a fan, you will enjoy this, but don't be expecting the same things I was and you won't be disappointed. I would give this about a 3.5 out of 5 in my book for the game play and graphics itself!


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Game Review - Turbo: Super Stunt Squad

About the Game
Turbo: Super Stunt Squad is a high-velocity action racing game featuring the super-charged crew of characters from the film. Each playable character has their own signature street style and tricked-out skills which will come in handy when showing-off and earning respect with jumps, drifts, grinds, flips, and other stunt moves.

Expert skills will also prove useful to earn power-ups, customize your character, discover shortcuts, and win the race in the larger-than-life environments of Turbo.Turbo: Super Stunt Squad is a high-velocity action racing game featuring the super-charged crew of characters from the film.

Each playable character has their own signature street style and tricked-out skills which will come in handy when showing-off and earning respect with jumps, drifts, grinds, flips, and other stunt moves.

Expert skills will also prove useful to earn power-ups, customize your character, discover shortcuts, and win the race in the larger-than-life environments of Turbo.

Key Features

• Speed, jump, drift, grind, and flip through various levels with your favorite characters from the film including Turbo, Whiplash, Smoove Move, Skidmark, and Burn.
• Use the environment to perform one-of-a-kind Turbo-ized stunts to get you ahead in the race.
• Unique levels based on locations from the film let you catch speed and perform stunts in locations like the Dos Bros Taco Stand and Starlight Plaza, all from a snail's point of view.
• Design, upgrade, and unlock highly-customizable shells and abilities for each of your favorite Turbo characters.
• Race with up to four of your friends in a Turbo-ized race for the finish line.

My Take on the Game
My daughters loved this movie and they were excited to try this as well. I was lucky to have the chance to try this game out for WII, WII U and Nintendo 3DS. In getting these I was excited to see how close the game was to the movie. In playing the three systems I have to say that there are some similarities to the movie, but also some differences, but all-in-all the graphics of the characters form the movie were great.

In playing this though I tried playing with my five year old first and then my nine year old and have to say that it was a bit challenging. My five year old on each of the systems had difficulty figuring out controls and then being able to control the character and how much they slide when racing. My nine year old fared a bit better, but it took time and practice. Even for me, I found the controls to challenging as well.

Also, when playing in tournament mode, I found it hard at times seeing where the track was going and there were times when I actually got lost a bit and had to keep going around (in circles it seemed) until I was able to find the way that I was supposed to be going. That meant though that I usually came in toward the bottom of the pack in regards to the race itself. Not that I am complaining about where I ended the race, but it would seem in my perspective that it would have made more sense to have the track better marked on all of the levels (as some were definitely better than others).

I was not as disappointed in the graphics as some that I read, but there were parts of the game that I thought could have been more defined and much deeper in overall graphic quality.

All-in-all I was a bit disappointed in the controls for the game, and wish that there had been some ability for the players to control the difficulty of the game, allowing for people at differing abilities to play too.


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Game Review - Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

About the Game
Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade brings home wacky and wild competitions for kids of all ages. Exclusively for the Wii U system from Nintendo, Obstacle Arcade lets players participate in over 30 all-new party games specifically designed for multiplayer. Delivering an unmatched combination of variety and value, it features dozens of hysterical obstacle courses, popular sporting events, and arcade and brain challenges.

Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade takes players to "Family Party Land," a magical island loaded with a combination of familiar games and over-the-top challenges. Dodge barrels, ride horses, skydive, shoot rockets, kick goals, and more. Rule the island by earning medals and high scores, and unlocking new games.

Game Features

• Over 30 unique party games that highlight the all-new Wii U system!

• Use the all-new Wii U GamePad in special 1-on-3 multiplayer challenges

• Aim and shoot with the Wii U GamePad to kick soccer balls or to act as a game master in hidden card games and obstacle course challenges.

• Tilt the Wii U GamePad to roll giant balls, to fly through space in zero gravity, or to block projectiles as a shield

• Track high scores and game progress on the Wii U GamePad's display

• Loaded with fun games custom made for family play, including tons of extreme obstacle courses, sports, and arcade game challenges

• Over the top obstacles: Giant bouncing balls, alligator jumping, crazy hurdles, jetpacks vs. rocket launchers, and other thrills!

• Sports: Everything from air hockey to eating contests to rodeo

• Fun for the whole family: Arcade games, card games, and more

• An unmatched combination of variety and value!

• All games designed for 4-player multiplayer and all-ages family competition

• Win trophies and achieve high scores to unlock new games and characters

• Less than $1 a game for over 30 fun party games that showcase the all-new Wii U system.

My Take on the Game
I was lucky enough to try this game out with my kids. The initial concept of having 30 games in one is definitely intriguing and seems very cost effective. I was very impressed at first with this concept and was surprised to initially find that you did not have access to all 30 until you play for a while. Also, the graphics were ok but definitely not to the same standard of some of some of the other WII U games that we have played in the past. Once you do play for a while there are definitely some fun games that you can get into that are both engaging and entertaining. Also, the games were usually easy enough for even my five year old to play which is always a positive thing. I was also a bit surprised that you do not get to use the gamepad much, but instead the controllers, and sometimes you do have to keep both close as you have to switch back and forth at times. All-in-all, once you open up all 30 games you have a ton to choose from. You will have to be patient while working through the games to unlock other games, but one thing that is nice is that you have the opportunity to play this with up to four players in all at once.  So...some good, some bad, but entertaining in the long run.


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Game Review - ESPN Sports Connection (WII U)

About the Game
It's Game Time! Welcome to ESPN Sports Connection, the ultimate multi-sport gaming experience. Developed from the ground up to fully leverage the Nintendo’s Wii U system, ESPN Sports Connection lets you play the most popular sports from a new perspective. Play solo, team up in co-op to experience new gameplay possibilities or compete in multiplayer!

• Play six of the most popular sports: soccer, football, baseball, tennis, golf, and karting

• Customize your avatars with ESPN gear: Unlock over 250 achievements and get original and custom ESPN outfits for your character

• Touch controls: Use the Wii U Gamepad to control a blitz in football to sack the quarterback or curve a penalty kick in soccer and score

• Use the Wii U Gamepad as a window into your environments. Scan in 360 degrees to analyze the golf course and get hints for your next swing

• Play with Wii MotionPlus using real sports gestures: Swing with precision in golf or hit a home run in baseball

My Take on the Game
My family has loved playing these type of sports games in the past as they allow us to compete against each other in a family friendly way while getting us on our feet and active. What I liked about this game was the integration of the gamepad. It took a little time to get used to this, but once I did I found the gamepad to be a ton of fun and it allowed me as a parent to contol all of the game play so easily. At the same time, I had the option to get on my feet with a Wii Remote Plus and get active with my kids too. So far in playing these games Karting seems to be our favorite, but all have been a ton of fun and my kids keep asking me when we can play the game again (which is a great sign). Overall, this game was a lot of fun and will encourage your family to play together and you definitely will have a great time doing it!


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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