Review: Super Smash Bros. Wii U (Wii U)

The Smash Bros. franchise has always been one of the better party games to play when you've got a mixed group of people over. It's never too challenging for even the most novice of players to pick up and play. Every character move set is distilled into about four actions and can be done even on the Wii-motes 2 buttons without any challenge and you can figure out on the fly without any real handicap. With the online and multi-platform options it has become even more accessible than ever before.

Review: Watch Dogs (Wii U)

Starting a new franchise is never an easy task. Some games make it, and some don't.

When you have a big developer like Ubisoft behind you there is more at stake but there are also more resources to draw upon to create the game. Watch Dogs is one of those new franchises that had some new elements embedded into it that made it interesting enough to look forward to. It came out on most of the video game systems in the Spring but took around 6 extra months to come out on the Wii U. So, here it is.

Review: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U)

The Donkey Kong Country franchise has produced some of the best platforming titles in the Nintendo catalogue and the latest is no different. Compared to the venerable Mario games, Donkey Kong Country has always aimed to be more difficult and the designers have certainly done an excellent job of achieving that goal this time. Tropical Freeze will test your reflexes and muscle memory to a level approaching Super Meat Boy or even, wait for it, Battletoads.

Review: Need for Speed:Most Wanted U (Wii U)

An actual reason to dust off my Wii U controller? Sweet! The Need for Speed franchise is like crack for true gearheads or any car aficionado, and Most Wanted U is no different. Taking a sandbox approach, you are given keys to a sweet ride and told to go acquire cars, race, modify your rides or pretty much just tool around causing mayhem. No two drivers will have the same experience.

Review: Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge (Wii U)

Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge could have also been subtitled “Don’t Blink!” or “Mash Button, Make Body Parts Fly!” because each is a more apt description of the gameplay than what Tecmo Koei came up with.

Review: Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition (Wii U)

Even though Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition on Wii U covers up Catwoman’s cleavage with a kind of all-over-body chastity suit and some of the Wii U controller features take a little practice, it’s still the solid game it was when it released in 2011.

Review: Mass Effect 3 (Wii U)

Being an Edmontonian, I have a special place in my heart for BioWare. I love the crap out of the Mass Effect franchise and Knights of the Old Republic, but there's also a bit of "home town" pride thrown in there as well.

The Mass Effect games, while not perfect, were some of the most entertaining games of the past 5 years in my mind. New consoles need strong launch titles, and while I agree that Mass Effect 3 is a strong title it's the final part of the trilogy and you're starting off with a pretty significant story handicap. As anyone who has played these games knows, this franchise is all about choices and their consequences (whether they are intentional or not).