Splendor and Pandemic: The Cure are both awesome games that came out in 2014. The former is an awesome game mechanically with an odd theme bolted onto it, while the other is a great re-imagining of a modern classic. Should you choose to play either, I’m fairly certain that you’ll have a blast. Check these games out in more detail, as well as many other great board games, on the Awesome List of Board Games You Should Play!
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The Emperor of China has recently given the Emperor of Japan a giant panda as a gift. In order to take care his new pet, you and the other players must take care of the panda by tending to the Japanese Imperial garden. This is the crux of Takenoko by Antoine Bauza and Asmodee. I can’t speak for everyone, but the idea of playing a board game about creating a garden and feeding a panda doesn’t do much for me. Thankfully, I put that preconceived notion aside to give this one a chance. To my surprise, it’s actually an accessible and interesting strategy game. Continue reading
On paper, Dhalsim should be at an inherent disadvantage against Decapre. However, I got the sense that this is his main character, and in this video I’m still learning the ropes. This was one of the first major tests for my Decapre. Can she hang against this seasoned opponent?
I’ve been told on many occasions that I’m horrible to shop for. Ever since I joined the workforce, I would go out of my way to purchase everything I ever wanted as soon as humanly possible. It’s part of the reason why I’ve been able to generate so much content for this site over the years.
This year’s a bit different. While I am not broke or unemployed, my financial situation is such that I can no longer maintain that lifestyle. As such, my wish list is a country mile long. I won’t share the whole thing in this post, but here are a few choice items from my wish list this year!
Dan was originally designed to be a joke character in the Street Fighter series, but he’s actually quite dangerous in the right hands. I may be the #1 ranked Rose on PSN, but that wasn’t enough to carry me through this match against Mars312XD.
Capcom recently released a teaser trailer for Street Fighter V. The YouTube video has been made private, but for the time being, you can check it out here on Daily Motion. Besides showing a few fleeting glimpses of Ryu and Chun-Li in action, the end of the trailer states that the game is exclusive to PlayStation 4 and PC.
What separates the two besides the obvious thematic differences is that Fire Emblem is much more of a role-playing game. Instead of managing an army of disposable units, each of the characters in your party has a name and story arc. You equip them with weapons and other gear. Best (or worst) of all, if they die in the game, they die forever. The strategic joy from Advance Wars is certainly here, though it’s only amplified by how high the stakes are when you’re managing a team of characters you care about that could die if you screw up.
Intelligent Systems and Nintendo have improved on the formula over time, though this first international release is still a masterpiece that is as fun to play now as it was in 2003. For die-hard fans of the series like me, owning this new version on the Wii U Virtual Console gives me a way to play the game again on a modern platform. If you haven’t played any in the series yet, this is a relatively affordable entry-point, since the game is under $10 on the eShop. If you’re ever going to give the series an honest try, this is a great place to start!
Meeple City will never be the same by the time players are done with Terror in Meeple City (formerly known as Rampage). Two-to-four players will take turns smashing buildings and eating people until the city is nothing but rubble. The civilians may be on borrowed time, but they will fight back if enough of them escape. When they do, they’ll knock out your teeth or find other ways to slow you down.
I love the concept of Terror in Meeple City. The thought of it kind of makes me think of reverse Jenga, where the point of it is to generate mass destruction. While it certainly is a game that lets you break stuff, the actual fun that comes from toppling buildings isn’t as fulfilling as I thought it would be.
It’s easy to dismiss the Wii U. Compared to the Xbox One or the PlayStation 4, the Wii U lacks horsepower to pump out the best graphics. It also featuring an unusual tablet controller. On top of that, Nintendo has a myriad of perception problems to fight in terms of hardcore gamers who still write off Nintendo as a company that produces products for kids, to the casual crowd who doesn’t know what a Wii U is, to the scorned Nintendo fan who thought that the Wii was a disappointment.
I don’t blame anyone for having grievances with Nintendo or concerns with the Wii U. However, while the world continues to buzz about its competition, I think the Wii U currently delivers the best bang for your buck. It’s placing on the totem pole will likely change with time, though the benefits that come with owning one are already well worth it and should pay dividends in the future. Here’s 6 reasons why you should buy a Wii U today!
In Third Person 