Paper Mario Color Splash for the Wii U

paper mario color splash

Today we are looking at the newest entry in the beloved Paper Mario series, Paper Mario Color Splash.  This game takes Mario to the formerly, colorful Prism Island where someone is draining the land of all its paint and color.  As the hero we all know and love, Paper Mario comes along to save the day with his paint hammer. When used, the hammer splashes color on formerly uncolored portions of land, flowers, characters, houses, and even water.  This game plays like other Paper Mario games in the series, where combat is turn based, but also includes cards which describe what moves can be used next. Some cards have to be colored before you can use them, and some are found already colored.

As you progress through the game, more powerful cards are found which can give super fun moves and leave the enemy flapping in the wind (like the paper that they are).  Combat is not simply about picking the right cards and hoping for the best as with the previous Paper Mario games- in this edition, when playing a move and using the proper button combinations, it is possible to power up your moves to sometimes even double the damage or give you multiple hits with one card.

What is nice about this game is the paper craft feel and physics which are used in everything from waves of water to the flat 2 dimensions in a 3 dimension world Mario and friends have. This game is a blast to play for RPG fans or Mario fans in general and should not be missed.  It is a perfect jump on point for the Paper Mario series giving players an interactive role playing experience which will keep you wanting more and itching to paint smash some dull areas of your own life.

Paper Mario Color Splash is available for the Wii U on October 7th for $59.99 only on the Nintendo Wii U.

Preview the new #DisneyMagicalWorld2 by @NintendoAmerica #nintendo

This past weekend, we visited the Nintendo Store in NYC for the preview of Disney Magical World 2 Video Game. “Nintendo and Hollywood Records Recording Artist Olivia Holt Celebrate the Upcoming Launch of the Disney Magical World 2 Game, Launching Exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS Family of Systems.

Live your dream life alongside classic Disney characters in six Disney-themed worlds! Anyone who pre-purchases the title in Nintendo eShop or at select retailers will receive three in-game Frozen outfits free for characters like Elsa, Anna and Olaf. The game launches Oct. 14.”

disney video games

We were able to be among the first to try out the game, and there was a Disney costume party as well as jewelry, hair, and makeup stations.

disney magical world 2

Here is a video of a demo- we will give you our review soon! (Sorry about the dude that kept walking in front of my camera- what can you do, manners are a lost art, LOL). Make sure you pre-purchace the title so you can get your freebies!

Nintendo Select

Nintendo has made some incredible games for the Wii U, but which ones are best? Since they aren’t cheap, you might wonder how you can get more then one game for the $60 price tag.  Nintendo helps people figure that out with the Nintendo Select line of games, which are specially packaged and branded as the best of the best in Nintendo titles. With titles like Super Mario 3D World, you can tell you aren’t getting the just the least popular games.  Also, there is the benefit of the lower price tag- the ability to get at least 2 games for $60.

We are going to take a look at the newest releases in the line which includes Super Mario 3D World, Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, and Pikmin 3- all for the Wii U.  There are also titles for the award winning hand held the Nintendo 3DS, including Zelda Ocarina of Time 3D, Donkey Kong Country 3D Returns, and Mario Party Island Tour.

First up is Super Mario 3D World, with the familiar plumber powering up and saving the world one flying turtle as a time.  This time with glorious 3D environments and  varied levels, they are easy to play but difficult to master.  Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze follows the familiar primate in a not so familiar environment of a frozen tropical paradise.  Pikmin 3 is a 3d puzzle/ RPG game where players toss about little plant/animal creatures called Pikmin, who do your bidding in a dangerous world full of harmful critters and obstacles all while trying to fix your space ship and find your friends.  (My son loves this game beyond reason, LOL.)

The 3DS includes two 3D remakes of incredible games; Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time and Donkey Kong Country 3D Returns.  Ocarina follows our hero Link in his adventures to save the princess and the world with new items, new game play, and shiny new graphics.  Last but not least is the action party game Mario Party Island Tour, which is a plethora of fun mini games to pit you against your friends or other characters in a race around a board game world.

As of now, there is also a special promotion going on where each of the mentioned titles are actually retailing for $19.99, so this is the perfect time to get some stellar games for an incredibly good price.

 

 

Kirby Planet Robobot

planet robobot

Kirby and his pals have been in a plethora of games for many different Nintendo system, each time a new adventure with the same fun Kirby flavor. In his newest adventure, Kirby sports some kick butt robot armor to save his world from a resource-eating robot-based enemy.

The game Kirby Planet Robobot is a side scrolling platforming game where you control the cute pink fan-favorite Kirby. In this game, he has the ability to suck up and eat his enemies and absorb their powers or shoot them out as stars at others.

The game play is simple to master and makes for some fun puzzles and level designs which change Kirby into a fire wielding robot, a blade and saw slicing robot, and even a car or rocket ship.

Each level introduces a new play dynamic while keeping the player in a light hearted, fun adventure.  The game itself is easy to play, but there are tons of collectibles to grab along the way. These include stickers to customize your robot and digital cubes which open up secret levels in each land.  Each land has a general theme like water or desert, and take Kirby on a whirl-wind adventure culminating in a boss battle.  The boss battles can be difficult, but of course once the boss’s pattern is figured out they become easier.

Personally, Kirby has always been a favorite in our house, and with this game is no different. It is fun for the little guy and a challenge to collect all the perks for dad.  Included in the game are 5 game modes including the main story, Meta Knightmare Returns, The Arena, Team Kirby Clash, and Kirby 3D Rumble.  Each a separate and different game, the main story is a blast to play through.  Meta Knightmare lets you take on the role of one of Kirby nemesis Mata Knight, The Arena is a rush game where scores can be shared via street pass, Team Kirby is a light RPG game which is unsurprisingly a blast, while Kirby 3D Rumble brings Kirby game play into a 3D arena.

Kirby Planet Robobot also supports amiibo power ups which are activated when the amiibo is tapped on the 3DS. According to Nintendo, “Four new amiibo figures will be available in stores at a suggested retail price of $12.99 each. These include fun new models for Kirby, King Dedede and Meta Knight, as well as the lovable Waddle Dee, who makes his amiibo debut. While playing, tapping these new amiibo figures gives Kirby new looks and/or abilities. In fact, players can tap any amiibo figure to trigger something in the game. When using the Kirby, King Dedede or Meta Knight amiibo from the Super Smash Bros. series, Kirby will receive the Smash Bros., Hammer and Sword abilities, respectively, as well as a special body color. When tapping any nonKirby character amiibo like Mario, Kirby will receive a random Copy Ability that is already in the game. Some of these abilities even relate to the amiibo itself, such as earning the Sword ability when tapping Link or the Poison ability when tapping Ganondorf.”

Kirby Planet Robobot is available now on both the eShop, retail stores nationwide, and at Nintendo.com at a suggested retail price of $39.99. For more information about the game, visit http://kirby.nintendo.com/planet-robobot/.

 

Silly Aquatic Fun in Flip Diving

diving app

If your kids aren’t playing Flip Diving yet, they’ll probably start soon. Flip Diving is an over-the-top sports game with wild characters, tricks, and locations. It has one-button controls that are easy enough for very young children to understand. The difficulty increases as you progress, challenging older kids and adult players, too. Let’s look at the best aspects of this #1 app, now available on Poki.

From the very beginning, it’s clear that Flip Diving is kid-friendly. When playing for the first time, a warning message appears, educating gamers not to try any of the dangerous diving stunts. The only way to start the game is by reading and acknowledging the disclaimer. As a parent, this tells me that the developers aren’t showcasing reckless violence. Instead, they’re cautioning players before allowing them to enjoy a fun game that includes dangerous activities (e.g. cliff-diving into a lake).

The first round includes a walkthrough tutorial, which teaches players how to dive. Thanks to the simplicity of this tutorial, my children were able to grasp the controls instantly. All you have to do is click your mouse button to leap off of the cliff. Then, click and hold to flip mid-air. Release the button to straighten out your diver and enter the water with grace. It sounds simple because it is simple. But, just knowing how to dive is hardly half the battle.

The real challenge lies within timing. In Flip Diving, timing is absolutely everything. The moment you choose to jump will determine the initial angle and power. Then, when and how long you flip (or perform another trick) affects your momentum. If you straighten out at a less-than-perfect time, you could bellyflop or backflop, and lose points. Knowing how to time each move is what makes one player better than another. My oldest learned pretty quickly, and he mastered the Backflip Pike. Different moves require different timing, so it’s important to keep learning and adjusting while you play.

My kids truly enjoy Flip Diving because of its many characters and locations. There are really funny divers, like Big Dave and Teddy. There are also serious characters with unique attributes, such as Girl Diver and Basketball Diver. Every character looks and moves differently, which makes players want to unlock every single one. The environments are also wildly unique, ranging from a towering cliff to an ominous cave. Additional levels include special diving locations. How would you like to leap into the water from a hot air balloon? Or perhaps you’d like to perform amazing flips after swinging from a rope in the sky? These outlandish levels are super fun for everyone in our family.

In addition to the multitude of divers and environments, Flip Diving also includes over 22 tricks. These range from simple moves (e.g. Cannonball!) to advanced (e.g. Gainer Backflip Pike). Even if you didn’t watch the Summer Olympics, I bet you’ll have fun playing Flip Diving. Go ahead and compete with your young ones in the greatest arcade-sports title of 2016!

Dominate the Fashion World in Style Savvy: Fashion Forward

video game

There is so much more to Style Savvy: Fashion Forward than just playing dress up. The refreshingly deep Nintendo 3DS game, which launches on Aug. 19, teaches fashionistas of all ages about creativity, fashion and management skills. The game lets you enjoy an incredibly fun lifestyle, while also learning the ins and outs of the fashion world! By taking on five different professions with their own game mechanics and challenges, you can help customers look and feel glamorous, while also shaping fashion trends all around town. Think you know fashion? Put your sense of style to the test!

“There’s a reason fans have fallen in love with the Style Savvy series,” said Cindy Gordon, Nintendo of America’s Vice President of Corporate Affairs. “The games are a pleasant surprise for anyone that plays them, and the feeling of nailing your looks and pleasing customers in the game is as satisfying as ever in Style Savvy: Fashion Forward.”

Style Savvy: Fashion Forward features five different professions that you can master: boutique manager, designer, hair stylist, makeup artist and model. Each one has unique gameplay and can be switched on the fly. That means you can play the game while focusing on the one job you really want, or mix it up and dip your feet into everything.

As a boutique manager, you recommend clothing based on customers’ requests and personal styles. By selecting from an eventual collection of more than 19,000 pieces of clothing and accessories, you can gain your customers’ trust, which, in turn, will make them want to purchase more items at your store. But make sure you keep your shop well stocked! Stop by the Exhibition Hall’s wholesale outlets to stock up on fashion items that are constantly changing. Play your fashion cards right and everyone will be wearing your clothes and following your style trends.

A wide variety of different amiibo figures like Mario, Peach, Rosalina, Samus and Isabelle can also be used in the game. Each different character provides a new, exclusive clothing item or accessory related to that character. For example, tap the Kirby amiibo while playing to get a stylish (and adorable) pink Kirby purse. Discovering the fashion items that each amiibo provides and putting them to good use is a big part of the fun. For a full list of compatible amiibo, visit http://www.nintendo.com/amiibo/games/detail/style-savvy-fashion-forward-3ds.

Style Savvy: Fashion Forward launches exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems on Aug. 19, and can be purchased in stores, in Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS and at Nintendo.com at a suggested retail price of $29.99. That’s an especially good deal when paired with the newly priced Nintendo 2DS system, which is available at a suggested retail price of just $79.99. If you want to try Style Savvy: Fashion Forward before you buy, head to Nintendo eShop right now to download a free demo for the game. Additionally, a new Style Savvy: My Room Theme is also available in the Nintendo 3DS Theme Shop for $1.99.

For more information about Style Savvy: Fashion Forward, visit http://stylesavvy.nintendo.com/.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess on the Wii U

zelda game

Every so often a gem of a game comes along for a console.  The biggest problem is, that console will eventually be replaced by a newer better one, so how does one share a great game with a younger generation?  With a remake, of course.  Shinier graphics, updated character designs, improved game play, throw in a few extras and you have yourself a fun new-ish game to share with everyone.  This is exactly what The Twilight Princess is.  A great game from the beginning of the Wii now remastered for the Wii U.

Twilight Princess has the familiar Link hero character in an action adventure game where he must fight, solve puzzles, and explore his way through his adventure.  This time, the story line and art is a bit darker, but this doesn’t distract from the same Legend of Zelda formula we all know and love.  Link must find a way to save his world from the Twilight dimension and its evil king, Zant.  In order to do this, we meed some new characters like Midna, who teaches Link to change into his Twilight Wolf form as well as familiar ones like Zelda and Ganondorf.

As this is a remaster, you may be wondering what was added to make this a must buy.  Well, there is added Amiibo support which opens up a new Wii U exclusive dungeon as well as power up abilities with other Legend of Zelda Amiibos.  Your Amiibo also has the ability to carry over data into the next Legend of Zelda release planned for later this year.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD is available now for the price of $59.99 and includes an exclusive Wolf Link / Midna Amiibo.  It is also available for download from the eShop for $49.99 but this version obviously will not include the Amiibo.

Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Wii U

Disclosure- this item was sent for review. Have Sippy Will Travel is a Nintendo Kid Ambassador. All opinions are our own and honest. For more, see “I Disclose”.

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Have you ever wondered who was faster?  Sonic the Hedgehog or Super Mario with star power? How about who is better at table tennis Yoshi or Eggman?  These questions and more could be answered with your won quick wits and faster thumbs in the new Wii U version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.  This game pits familiar Nintendo and Sega characters against each other in Summer Olympic events.  There are 17 events available, including full team sports: like soccer,  Beach Volleyball, and  Rugby Sevens.  This game was also released for the Nintendo 3DS but this version includes 4 x 100m Relay, Rhythmic Gymnastics (Clubs), Triple Jump and Rugby Sevens.

We like how each event is a separate event, with a ton of details and attention put into it.  This is less a series of mini games and more of a series of different events.  Each event is polished and fun to play, especially the Duel Events with add in themed obstacles and items from the Mario™ and Sonic universes for even more fun.

This game is great fun for gamers of all ages and bridges the gap nicely between younger players and older ones.  There is one draw back to this game.  The laughter and fun will keep going and the day will melt away into a giggling, competitive afternoon.

As a small tid bit, this is the first time the console version of a Mario Olympics game is available the same year as the Olympics games themselves.

Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games for the Wii Uis available now across the country and retails for $59.99.