Nintendo

WarGroove – Review

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WarGroove

If you have been looking for a turn-based strategy game that looks to fill the void left by Advance Wars, look no more. WarGroove improves on the turn-based strategy of Advance Wars in a way that makes it feel familiar and yet like a completely new game.

The campaign set to default is difficult, making each 3-star victory that much more satisfying. Of course, if you find it too challenging you can turn down the difficulty.

If the campaign isn’t enough (did I mention there are units that are dogs?), there is a whole multiplayer mode as well as a map editor. The map editor is more than just a basic layout some mountains and villages, but also lets you make multi-level mini campaigns complete with cut scenes. I haven’t used the editor so I can’t comment on how well the tools are, but the fast they exist with such depth available should help the game last much longer.

WarGroove is another hit from ChuckleFish, and easily worth the $20.

WarGroove

Game title: WarGroove

Game description: Take to the battlefield with WarGroove, a strategy game for up to 4 players! Choose your Commander and wage turn-based war on battling factions. Design and share maps, cut-scenes and campaigns with easy-to-use editors and in-depth customization tools!

Overall
4.5
User Review
0 (0 votes)

Retro Sega Games and a Mini Mega Drive

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Sonic the Hedgehog Title Screen

This week Sega announced that a bunch of old Master System and Sega Genesis games are being re-released for the Nintendo Switch. The only confirmed games are Sonic the Hedgehog, Phantasy Star, and Thunder Force 4, but they’ve said there will be more than 15 titles being released under Sega Ages (that’s what they are calling the re-release of these games). Now, I’ve played Sonic the Hedgehog, but when I read the announcement about the retro Sega games being released on Switch I was glad to have those games join the Nintendo Switch’s ever growing library. Especially Phantasy Star.

Phantasy Star Title Screen

Sega also announced that they are going to release a mini version of the Mega Drive to celebrate it’s upcoming 30th anniversary. AtGames, who has made previous retro consoles for Sega and Atari has said they are involved, but that they are leaving all the announcements about features to Sega; which I assume includes game announcements. I was surprised that after being happy to have more retro games on the Switch that I wasn’t thrilled about the idea of a mini Mega Drive. I don’t know if it’s because I just don’t have as much nostalgia for the Sega consoles or if it’s because pervious retro Sega consoles haven’t been so great, but I do know a big part of it is because I just want those games on the Nintendo Switch.

Mega Drive Mini

I know, Sega used to be a big player in hardware, I still have my Game Gear, but I’ve really enjoyed their software more since they stopped making hardware and focused on making games. And that is why I want them to release those retro games on Switch, but I don’t really care about the Mega Drive mini, at least not right now. Maybe they’ll announce some really cool features, or the North America release will include some games that never got released over here, but unless that happens, I’ll gladly buy the retro games being released on Switch and pass on a mini Mega Drive.

What are your thoughts on Sega Ages and a mini Mega Drive?

Animal Crossing Pocket Camp is Animal Crossing

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Animal Crossing Pocket Camp is here, and I can’t stop playing it. There isn’t a great way to check how much time one has spent on an Android app, but I’ve easily put in 6 hours over the last few days (maybe it is a good thing there is no timer for how long you’ve played).

If after playing Super Mario Run and Miitomo you were worried that Nintendo would not figure out how to make Animal Crossing work on a mobile device, you’ll be happy to know that from the moment you launch Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp you’ll feel right at home if you are familiar with the Animal Crossing series. For everyone else, the game does a good job of getting you in the game and quickly explaining that you’ll be spending your time collecting furniture and helping the visiting animals. The tutorial is short, explains everything you need to know about the game, and has the right amount of direction without feeling overbearing or slow.

But I’m not here to tell you about the game. Instead, I’m here to tell you that I can’t stop playing the game. It is exactly what I wanted when Nintendo announced a free-to-play Animal Crossing was coming. The game has the right balance of letting you do everything without spending any real money, but always reminds you that you could speed up the time it takes to craft by using some leaf tickets (which are reward for leveling up or you can purchase). The fruit from the trees can only be harvested every 3 hours, but if you need more, you can always check if any of your friends have some fruit for sale.

2017 has turned out to be a great year for Nintendo with the release of the Switch, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, a steady stream of 3rd party support from AAA and indie developers, and now the release of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. Here’s to hoping that they can keep this pace going next year.