VIDEO GAME: Wii Sports (2006)

by benmweilertNo Comments
Wii Sports Year: 2006 Rating: E Time Played: ~20 hours Few games have had the immense cultural impact quite like Wii Sports. As the game included with new Wii systems, Nintendo knocked it out of the park for a game that not only was simple to pick up and play but that also was accessible to anyone who could move their arms. While previous generations of launch titles highlighted the graphical capabilities of the system, Wii Sports sold many on the motion controls that were essential to the console itself. With five different sports included in the game, Nintendo chose sports that were simple and common enough that most people just understood how to play them without much need for explanation or tutorial. Kids, adults, and grandparents could all bond over the fun experience of virtual bowling, baseball, or tennis while more serious gamers could perfect their handling of the Wii Remote to master virtual golf or boxing. Of course, the issue here being that...
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VIDEO GAME: Kirby’s Return to Dream Land (2011)

by benmweilertNo Comments
Kirby's Return to Dream LandYear: 2011Rating: E10+Time Played: ~6.50 hours While I'm all for franchises trying out new things, there's something about returning to the core mechanic that makes a great game. Kirby's Return to Dream Land took the fundamentals of a Kirby game and amped up the cool factor while still maintaining that classic Kirby feel. Granted, as Nintendo delved further into gimmicks on their consoles, their franchises had to adapt as well. Return to Dream Land is no exception, but at least the base game is the standard Kirby formula. Admittedly, one of the more "fun" aspects of this game is the super-powered abilities Kirby can use. While they do often require shaking the Wiimote to use, their increased power put a smile on my face. As far as couch co-op goes, this game is better than most. My daughter played a lot of this game with me as Meta Knight, and there wasn't much of an issue where she...
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