[REVIEW] Fantasy Life

Fantasy Life
Platform: 3DS
Genre: Action-RPG, life simulation
Developer: Level-5 / Brownie Brown / h.a.n.d.
Publisher: Nintendo

As a fan of deep, customizable role-playing games, I’ve always been enamored with the MMORPG concept. Alas, the “online” part of the genre brings with it something I just can’t stand when it comes to gaming: social obligations. As much as I love extended sessions of Smash Bros. and Mario Kart with friends on my living room couch, I prefer to experience my RPGs on my own pace, playing whenever I feel like and not having to hastily log on after work to join a guild raid. With Fantasy Life, Level-5 gave me the best of both worlds, providing a sizeable MMO-like adventure with an almost intimidating number of things to do, and allowing me to play it entirely on my own if I so choose.

[REVIEW] Paper Monsters Recut (Wii U)

Paper Monsters Recut
Platform: Wii U (e-Shop)
Genre: 2D Platformer
Developer and publisher: Mobot Studios / Crescent Moon Games

Originally released for mobile platforms, Paper Monsters has received a new coat of paint and several new features to make its console debut. The result is Paper Monsters Recut, a game that boasts a lot of charm and, a few problems aside, makes for a fun little adventure.

VGM: Top 20 Donkey Kong Country 1/2/3 tracks

My two favorite hobbies are music and games (with, as a good Brazilian, football/soccer coming in third). As such, it stands to reason that music plays a really big part on my gaming experiences.

This is a video I made a while ago, listing my 20 favorite tracks from the original SNES Donkey Kong Country games. I love listening to stuff like this to chill out while I work, for example. Give it a listen and see if you agree with my picks.

[REVIEW] Lego Marvel Super Heroes (Wii U)

Lego Marvel Super Heroes
Platform: Wii U
Genre: Open-world action-adventure
Developer: TT Games
Publisher: Warner Bros.

I've always seen Lego video games as inoffensive little diversions that didn't really deserve my attention in a big way. Last year, everything changed when I played the fantastic Wii U exclusive Lego City Undercover, which is not only the epitome of the Lego series in my opinion, but also one of my favorite titles on the console's entire library. Of course, this also means that Undercover will forever be a point of comparison for newer Lego games I play, and in the case of Marvel Super Heroes, the comparison isn't flattering.

[REVIEW] Pokémon Trading Card Game (3DS / Game Boy Color)

Pokémon Trading Card Game
Platform: 3DS (Virtual Console) / Game Boy Color
Genre: Card game, RPG
Developer: Hudson Soft
Publisher: Nintendo

Considering the larger Pokémon continuity, Game Boy Color's Pokémon Trading Card Game is a bit of an oddball. It's clearly a spinoff, with game mechanics that are significantly different from the main series. On the other hand, it retains the "one kid trying to catch 'em all" vibe that tends to be absent from other spinoffs, making it a much easier sell if you're a fan of the gameplay found on regular Pokémon games.

[REVIEW] Bayonetta 2 (Wii U)

Bayonetta 2
Platform: Wii U
Genre: Action, hack 'n' slash
Developer: Platinum Games
Publisher: Nintendo

The sequel to a much beloved Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 game, Bayonetta 2 arrived as a Wii U exclusive amidst huge expectations. And for good reason, too: fans of hack-and-slash gameplay will undoubtedly be impressed by the title's breathtaking action and unflinching sense of style.

Walkthrough: How to Get Everything in Yo! Noid

Doing walkthroughs is definitely not one of the reasons why I started this blog. This is a special case for two reasons: 1) I was a bit obsessed about this game back in the good old 8-bit days, and as such spent a LOT of time trying to find everything, and 2) there is simply no thorough online guide that teaches you how to get every last secret as of November, 2014 - and definitely not one filled with pictures to provide better guidance. Let's fix that!

Wishlist: Top 5 NES/SNES/GBA Games I'd Like to See in the Wii U Virtual Console

No one can argue against the fact that Nintendo was keen to try new things during the Wii generation. Some of those ideas didn't really sit right with me; I was never really a fan of motion controls, for example, especially when they were shoehorned into games that didn't need them (such as Donkey Kong Country Returns). On the other hand, one of their other innovations of that period was mind-blowing for me: the Virtual Console.

[REVIEW] Costume Quest 2 (Wii U)

Costume Quest 2
Platform: Wii U (e-Shop)
Genre: RPG
Developer: Double Fine
Publisher: Midnight City

One of the things I miss the most about the golden age of the SNES is the abundance of great RPGs available for Nintendo players. With the absence of AAA titles in that genre for the Wii U, we turn our hopes to the system's increasingly excellent array of e-Shop offerings. And when it comes to bite-sized RPGs, Costume Quest 2 is at the top of the class.

First post, yay!

Welcome to my blog about video gaming. Enjoy your stay.