Review No. 6 Nintendo Land - Wii U (7+)

Strong Points:

Lots of minigames
Solo, team and competitive attractions
Collectibles
Fun for all ages

Weak Points:
Solo attractions aren't as good
Needs more attractions
If you can't do multiplayer play is limited

In-depth Review:

Release Dates:

North America: November 18, 2012

Europe: November 30, 2012

Australia: November 30, 2012

Japan: December 8, 2012

Controls:

Different for each attraction to show off the Gamepad

This game was released as a bundle with the Wii U in the Premium Pack and features 12 different attractions (three competitive, three team and six solo attractions) and a pachinko style minigame which uses coins saved up from playing attractions and gives you trophies which are placed around the central area. There are 200 trophies in total ranging from the Mighty Deku Tree to the Humble Pear. There is also an attraction tour which comprises a selection of the attractions to play with friends (you can change the difficulty and length of this attraction tour in-game.) 

The attractions: source - Wikipedia

Team attractions:

Number of players: 1–5

The Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest:

Based upon The Legend of Zelda series. Up to three players (In red, blue, and yellow) use their swords to fight enemies. One more player uses their GamePad (in green) to control a character in the rear of the pack using a bow and arrow. The player with the GamePad can also lift their controller to spy for sniping enemies. To reload their bow and arrow, the player aims the GamePad down. Great mode, if a bit uneven in terms of difficulty.

Metroid Blast:

Based upon the Metroid series and the "Battle Mii" tech demo from E3 2011. The player using the Wii U GamePad controls Samus's Gunship, while up to four players with Wii Remotes and Nunchuks control Mii characters on foot, wearing Varia Suits. There are three modes, "Assault Mission", "Surface-Air Combat", and "Ground Battle". In "Assault Mission", the players cooperate to defeat waves of enemies and complete missions. In "Surface-Air Combat", the players with Wii Remotes and Nunchuks try to shoot down the player with the GamePad. In "Ground Battle" all players use Wii Remotes and Nunchuks in a battle for tokens. The best co-op mode, with lots of levels, great gameplay and use of the gamepad.

Pikmin Adventure:

Based on the Pikmin series. One player controls Olimar who can command tiny Pikmin using the Wii U GamePad, whilst four additional players (As red, blue, yellow and white Pikmin.) can control larger Pikmin using the Wii Remotes. Players must work together to help navigate levels and defeat enemies, including a boss at the end of the stage. When the boss is defeated, the players board Olimar's ship. There is also a Versus Mode where the players compete for green candy. Nice mode especially with the different characters for gamepad and Wii remote.

Competitive attractions:

Number of players: 2–5

Mario Chase:

Based on the Super Mario series and the "Chase Mii" tech demo from E3 2011, four players (in Toad costumes) with Wii Remotes have to chase down a fifth player (who's in a Mario costume) with the GamePad in the Mushroom Kingdom. The player with the GamePad is given a map of the entire stage, allowing him/her to see the location of all of the players. The players with the Wii Remotes, on the other hand, are given their distance from Mario in yards. Awesome fun with friends, although a full team will be needed to get rid of the Yoshi helpers.

Luigi's Ghost Mansion:

Based upon the Luigi's Mansion series, up to four players (in Mario, Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi costumes) must try to find a ghost in a maze, and weaken it by shining their flashlight towards it. The ghost is controlled by a player using the GamePad's screen on the controller. The ghost remains invisible to the remaining players (unless provoked by a player's flashlight, lightning-illuminated hallways, or if the player uses the ghost's dash or battery draining magic attack), but their respective controller will vibrate if the ghost is near them, requiring cooperation in order to catch the ghost. Another great mode and can get really tense.

Animal Crossing: Sweet Day:

Based on the Animal Crossing series, four players control animals trying to collect candy as a team before they get caught 3 times by the guards, controlled by another player using the GamePad. As players collect more candies, their movement becomes slower, making it easier for them to be caught. The weaker of the three multiplayer games but still fun to play.

Solo attractions:

Number of players: 1

Takamaru's Ninja Castle:

Based on the 1986 Family Computer Disk System game Nazo no Murasame Jō, the player uses the GamePad's touchscreen to launch paper shuriken at waves of enemy ninjas. The controller can be tilted in order to change the trajectory of the throws. On boss ninjas or ninjas who are at close range, the player uses a katana. Difficult to control and can suddenly lose. Not the best one.

Donkey Kong's Crash Course:

The player uses the GamePad to tilt a trolley through a platform-based obstacle course, influenced by the original Donkey Kong arcade game. The analogue sticks and L and R shoulder buttons can be manipulated to activate various levers, elevators, and pathways to advance the player throughout the course. My personal favourite, great art style and lots of secrets to find.

Captain Falcon's Twister Race:

A single-player game based on Nintendo's futuristic racing game F-Zero, where the player must race down a track while avoiding obstacles in 12 different areas. The GamePad is held vertically and the gyroscope is used to steer the vehicle. The GamePad provides an aerial view (a more strategical view) of the track while the TV provides a third-person view on the track. Nice idea, but the controls aren't that responsive and for such a quick game, it is a bit of a let-down.

Balloon Trip Breeze:

In this single-player game, based on Nintendo's Balloon Fight, the player will control their Mii on a play-field similar to the Balloon Trip mode. The player does this by swiping the stylus on the GamePad's touch screen to create gusts of wind that will move the Mii around. The GamePad will offer a zoomed-in view whereas the TV will offer a zoomed-out view. The levels are divided into morning, afternoon, evening and night, which are all ended by landing on an island. Occasionally, there are packages on islands that the player can pick up to protect and deliver to the next island. Hard to learn, relatively easy to master once you get the hang of it.

Yoshi's Fruit Cart:

This attraction is based on the Yoshi series. The player has to guide Yoshi to the finish by collecting all the fruit in the level, by making a trail on the GamePad using the stylus. The fruit is only visible on the TV screen, so the player must use reference points in the background to draw the path on the GamePad. A real pain if you get it wrong, amazing if you don't.

Octopus Dance:

This attraction is based on Game & Watch Octopus. Octopus Dance is a rhythm game which plays by using the GamePad's Control Sticks and Gyro Sensor. Players must memorize and replicate the actions performed by the diver on screen. Repetitive and frustrating. Probably the worst of the bunch.

Conclusion: this game is a wonderful addition to the Wii U premium pack. Its multiplayer game will keep you interested for hours on end although the solo games have much to be desired. Overall a very good party game.

Rating: 90%

Thanks for reading, Satamer.