Nintendo Land is reminiscent of another famous launch title
called Wiisports in that it showcases the amazing innovative
controls of the new Nintendo Wii U. Using just about every feature
of the GamePad, Nintendo Land is a collection of awesomely
good mini-games based on some highly popular titles from this
company such as Donkey Kong and the Legend of Zelda.
Best of all, most of the games are actually quite fun to play but
where the game does shine is through its multiplayer experience that
allows up to 5 players to join in. You can play the game
single-player but unfortunately it is a little limiting with 3 of
the games.
The game also uses your Mii character to interact with the park in
Nintendo Land and you have a scary voiced yet amusing robot helper
called Monita to assist you on your fun journey.
There are a total of 12 different attractions in Nintendo Land that
link elements from a variety of Nintendo franchises to create some
witty and fun mini-games that really showcase what the GamePad is
truly capable of.
Unlike other third party titles on launch day which only briefly
touch upon the GamePad controller, Nintendo Land fully utilises this
new control system. More importantly, it works very very
well!
The main hub in Nintendo Land is called the Plaza which serves as
the crux and link with your Mii to this gaming universe. As you
explore Nintendo Land, you simply just walk up to a ride which then
gives you the option of the playing the game, including how many
friends you want to join in.
It
definitely makes the experience quite interactive. With 12
attractions, only three games cannot be played solo which is a shame
as these games are quite cool. I would have preferred some AI
characters to assist but alas this was not the case.
In
terms of multiplayer, one gamer uses the GamePad, whereas the other
players use the Wiimotes with games allowing up to five players to
join in the fun. Interestingly enough, whether you are using the
Wiimote or the GamePad, Nintendo have ensured that the gameplay is
on an equal setting.
However Nintendo are quite crafty game developers which do make the
control systems slightly different. For example in Luigi’s Ghost
Mansion, the gamer with the GamePad plays an invisible ghost with
players using flashlights to navigate the maze. It's quite
innovative and a blast to play with shades of Pac-Man!
Then you get something totally different like The Legend of Zelda
Battle Quest with the gamer with the GamePad using this device to
shoot arrows and the other players with the Wiimotes using their
gaming peripherals as virtual swords to defeat the enemies.
I
love using the gyroscope ability of the GamePad to shoot arrows or
even the blowing onto the microphone for Donkey Kong’s Crash Course.
Impressive to say the least. Whether you're playing Metroid Blast or
Pikmin Adventures, Nintendo should be commended on how great these
mini-games are.
The gameplay, control system are just about perfect and these are
not just some collection of poorly designed mini-games because
almost every aspect has specifically tailored in some gaming fashion
and offers players endless hours of fun.
From cooperative to competitive play, Nintendo Land is truly one of
the most diverse and varied games for Nintendo Wii U that will
hopefully serve as a benchmark for things to come. My only fear is
that some third party developers will continue their slush of Grade
D mini-games titles for the Wii U which is not something I'm looking
forward too, especially after playing Nintendo Land.
Graphics / Audio
Graphically, Nintendo Land looks crystal clear on a FULL HD TV
thanks to the HD graphics used by the Wii U. Although it's quite
plain, it's great to see to a Nintendo game boasting high resolution
graphics. The various games that you play also mimic the worlds that
they have been taken from like Metroid, Donkey Kong and Pikmin which
are great examples of how Nintendo have successfully combines these
worlds with the mini-games.
The musical score is cheerily Nintendo and are reminiscent of the
various franchises featured in this game. Sound effects are quite
bouncy and voice acting of Monita is creepy, although quite amusing.
All in all, great gameplay, graphics and audio!
Final Level
Nintendo Land highlights the potential of the Wii U console,
especially when it comes to the capabilities of the GamePad that is
definitely a very impressive gaming controller. By combining
elements of the 3DS and a Tablet with streamlined Nintendo controls,
this game not only plays well but gives the player and players some
great single and multiplayer excitement. Add in high scores,
trophies and lots of unlockables and this may be the future of
gaming! Brilliant!
Key Features
• Twelve Attractions:
Many of Nintendo's most
famous characters and game
worlds have been recreated
in charming and delightful
new ways within the Plaza.
Patchwork backdrops, wooden
and metallic replicas of
classic foes, and unique new
gameplay experiences will
put a smile on the face of
everyone from long-time
Nintendo fans to players
just discovering video
games.
› Donkey Kong’s
Crash Course: Using
the GamePad’s motion
control, players tilt the
controller to guide a
fragile rolling cart through
an obstacle course that
resembles the original
Donkey Kong arcade game.
This single-player game lets
other spectators watch the
action on the TV and offer
advice about how to pass the
next obstacle.
› Luigi’s Ghost
Mansion: The player
with the GamePad is a ghost
(invisible to others) who is
trying to capture up to four
humans armed with
flashlights. The ghost must
sneak around the environment
by staying in the shadows
and try to catch them one by
one. The humans can work
together to revive fallen
comrades before the ghost
catches everyone. If all
four humans are caught
before they are revived, the
ghost wins. But if they are
successful at shining their
flashlights on the ghost
long enough to reduce its
hit points to zero, the
humans win.
› Animal Crossing™:
Sweet Day: The
player holding the Wii U
GamePad controls two guards
who are in charge of
safeguarding a candy orchard
from a group of candy-loving
animals. Up to fourother
players, using the Wii
Remote controllers to
control these animals, must
work together to outwit –
and outrun – the guards. The
game ends when a combined
total of 50 pieces of candy
are collected, or when the
guards catch any one of the
animals three times.
› The Legend of
Zelda™:
Battle Quest: The
player with the GamePad is
an archer who can aim and
shoot arrows using the
screen as a view finder.
That player is joined by up
to three others who wield
Wii Remote Plus controllers
like swords. Players work
together to take on a
variety of enemies in a
world that looks like a
cloth version of a game from
The Legend of Zelda series.
› Takamaru’s Ninja
Castle: Based on an
early Famicom game available
only in Japan, this
single-player game turns the
GamePad into a launcher for
ninja stars. Players swipe
the controller’s touch
screen to take out an
ever-growing army of ninja
attackers, earning more
points for consecutive hits.
Moving the GamePad around at
different angles enables the
player to take aim in an
intuitive fashion.
