Max & the Magic Marker - review

You'll love
Charming presentation
Nice difficulty curve
Lets you be creative

You'll hate
Playing too long will lead to boredom
Kids will find it too hard
Only four hours of gameplay

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Rage of the Gladiator - NL review

Rage of the Gladiator is the kind of WiiWare game we'd like to see more often, with excellent control, great design and bags of fun. All three control schemes are perfectly usable and whilst we're sure there are many traditionalists who will stick to the digital controls, we highly rate the MotionPlus implementation which features one-time calibration (no pointer clicking required between matches) and a pretty good workout besides. There's clearly been a lot of care put into this game; not only in making sure it plays well, but in making the characters come to life in a fashion that encourages replays just to experience them again.

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ExciteBike World Challenge - ONM review

A pleasant update to an NES classic, and one that's well worth a download.
+ Full online multiplayer
+ Addictive gameplay
+ Takes a while to complete
+ Track creator
- No local multiplayer

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Blaster Master - NintendoLife review 9/10

The unique blend of platforming and shooting, not to mention two different perspectives, give Blaster Master: Overdrive everything fans of original game could possibly want. Toss in some amazing gameplay tweaks and give the game a smoother difficulty curve and what you have is easily one of the best WiiWare games on the service and a fitting update to one of the all-time NES classics. If you can appreciate a truly unique and engaging retro gaming experience, not to mention what is one of the best games available on WiiWare, look no further because you've just found it.

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Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers - ONM review

The story might be long-winded, but the gameplay genuinely nudges at Final Fantasy's well established envelope. There's much to see and do, with the standard story being 15 to 20 hours long and an Awards mechanic that takes many more to exhaust.

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Tatsunoko vs. Capcom GT review

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom GT review
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No More Heroes 2 - Destructoid review 9,5/10

From No More Heroes

No More Heroes 2 differs a little from the original in terms of overall tone. I'd say this game is brighter and more palatable on the whole, even with blood splattering everywhere as Travis splits his enemies in two. Part of that comes from the fact that the graphics, music, and writing are just better this time around, but that's not all. It also has to do with Travis, and how he's changed. If the first No More Heroes was Travis proving to himself that he was worth something while severing connections to his previous ideals, this game is about him learning who he is now and who he's connected to.

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No More Heroes 2 - reviews

The game really goes for its "M" rating this time around, with a greater emphasis on blood, vulgarity, and, uh, jiggly parts. In fact, dismemberment becomes the de facto way to put the cap on boss battles. It arguably ties into Travis' newfound sense of vengeance; a man whose view of honor has been clouded by the desire to find his friend's killer. Nevertheless, sensitive souls will find plenty to scoff at.

1up - A-

Grasshopper’s vision for Travis’s tale goes uncompromised at the expense of refinement, but one could argue that the cracks and fuzz are an intentional part of the overall punk aesthetic (given the developer’s track record, it’d be tough to argue they’re not intentional). This may sound excusing on paper, but after spending a dozen hours in Santa Destroy it's tough to care about the style-over-polish disconnect when the overall package is this dementedly fun. Desperate Struggle is required play for action fans, broken mirrors and all.

NintendoLife - 9/10

Endless Ocean 2 - review

Endless Ocean was as much an diving simulator as it was a video game. The sequel retains it's realistic credentials, but expands things to include a adventure experience, multiple locations and more varied interactions.

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Max & the Magic Marker - review

Max & the Magic Marker has slick presentation for a WiiWare title. The graphics are really appealing, mixing cel shaded characters with a soft, painted look. Although for some reason the frame rate tends to stutter at the strangest moments. It won't drop enough to affect your pen, but the slowdown is noticeable. Another nice touch is when you pause the game, the graphics will instantly shift to crude drawings – just like something out of a kid's sketchbook!

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Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars - IGN video review

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars - IGN review

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom is an amazing win for not only Wii, but the worldwide audience overall. As I consider it to be the true successor of Marvel vs. Capcom 2, TVC melds a few classic Capcom characters with an otherwise totally unknown roster and still manages to make a fighter that can pull anyone in within a matter of moments. The gameplay is simple enough for a fighting game newbie, but deep enough for seasoned brawlers to really sink their teeth into and enjoy.

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No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle - IGN review

This isn't a game that begs you play it. It's a game that knocks on your front door, waits for you to answer in a towel and your favorite pair of slippers, rips your head off, and shoves itself down your throat.

But in a good way.

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video review

Sands of Destruction - IGN review

Sands of Destruction is a solid RPG with a good battle system that is fun to use – once you get it all figured out. The upgrade system also takes a while to get your head around, but you’ll appreciate how it allows you to guide the evolution of your party. But those random battles have got to go. They just make the game feel old, even while it tries to innovate in other areas. The story unfolds too slowly for my tastes (especially at the poorly paced beginning), but the narrative is interesting and the strong voice work draws you in deeper than you might expect. While not the strongest JRPG on the DS, Sands of Destruction is still a decent play and I hope that some of its ideas turn up in other adventures.

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The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces - NWR review

The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces is an absolute blast. The presentation is great, the gameplay is fun, the story is interesting, and the unique control scheme really does add to the experience. Even the most tepid fans of aerial combat titles should be able to enjoy themselves.

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Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces - IGN review

After years of waiting for a truly standout flight game on Wii, XSEED has really delivered with Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces. Mixing in dozens of different mission types within the game's 18 stages, the Project Aces team puts a more arcade-inspired anime spin on its typical flight engine, and the result is a truly rewarding one.

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Silent Hill: Shattered Memories - AtomicGamer review

Shattered Memories is in some ways a true return to form for the series, although with recent news of Akira Yamaoka—whose music and vision has consistently defined the series—leaving Konami, it may be the last true Silent Hill game, period.

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Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers - review

Final Verdict - 8/10
One of the most refreshing and innovative Square Enix games in many years. While it doesn't do everything perfect, its attempts at branching out are admirable. Its cast of characters and lighter tone help make this game stand out from the rest of the pack and its experimental nature encourage replayability. A great addition to the Wii library.

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PES 2010 Playmaker vs. FIFA 10 - Eurogamer

Thanks to their divergent approaches to the beautiful game, deciding which of these leviathan franchises is for you should be a fairly simple process. Want a challenging, tactical experience with long-term rewards? Then PES 2010 is the game for you, though if you bought last year's version you may want to give the outlay some serious thought as this year's nuances are few and far between. Want instant pick-up-and-play entertainment from a game that doesn't take itself too seriously? Then FIFA 10's Wii waggling action is the way to go, so long as you're prepared for the novelty to wane fairly quickly.

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Sin & Punishment 2 - EG review 8/10

Sin and Punishment is bold and testing and completely mad; like so many Japanese favourites of previous decades, it often seems to have arrived with us from a different planet. Treasure has crammed unbelievable variety into four-to-six hours of blistering action, never giving you more than five seconds to think before throwing the next insane, bullet-spewing child of its bizarre imagination into your path. It's inventive within a quite traditional template and weirdly anachronistic, at once comfortingly familiar and modern. It's greatly comforting that there's still a platform for it in this world.

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