PixlBit

You guys haven't heard from me in awhile, and that's because I went back to college this past fall in order to get my Master's. So I've been pretty busy. Still, I was able to beat a bunch of great games this past year. I was able to beat 16 total games. Some of these are retro games, others are new, and most of them are Nintendo games. That's me! So let's get into it. 

Paper Mario: Sticker Star (3DS)

This is certainly not my favorite Mario RPG, but it's still fun, and I loved the colorful characters and story. Also, the sticker mechanic is not the best, but props to them for really running with it and sticking to the theme. Honestly, though, I'm not interested in the new Paper Mario on Wii U. I did enjoy this game for what it was. 

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse (Wii U eShop)

Now this game was great! WayForward has refined this series to a T. This is some great Metroidvania stuff right here. The game was a ton of fun and the graphics are very colorful and detailed. Also, the soundtrack is super catchy! They just nailed everything. 

Mega Man X (SNES)

I surprised myself; I didn't expect to beat this game because it's a MM game, and those games are really hard. But I started making good progress, so I though, "Maybe I can beat this." I hunkered down and made sure to get all the power-ups, which actually make the game much easier. Anyways, this is one of the best MM games out there. Great level design, cool bosses, and just really fun. 

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (3DS)

I actually really enjoyed this game. Having Mario and Luigi meet Paper Mario is genius! The battle system was unique and fun. The characters and dialogue are both great. The only thing I didn't like was the story, which had both Bowsers trying to take over the kingdom...that's it, very shallow plot. However, everything else was great, and I enjoyed making it to the end. 

Splatoon (Wii U)

I finally got this game because I had been hearing nothing but praise for it. Well, all the praise is justified! Splatoon is super fun, charming, and addicting. I enjoyed the one player mode, but the online multiplayer is where's it at. Playing others online is super fun, whether you're doing turf war or ranked battles. I can't wait to see how Nintendo improves on this game in the future. 

Marvel Superheroes: War of the Gems (SNES)

I picked this up at a game store and discovered it to be pretty great. It was developed by Capcom and is most similar to X-men: Mutant Apocalypse, which I also have (and love). Unlike X-men, in this game you can play as Spider-Man, Captain America, the Hulk, Iron Man, and Wolverine. Each character is very distinct in his moves and abilities. And the game is also a decent length for a beat 'em up. 

Star Fox Zero (Wii U)

It's unfortunate that the controls hinder this game from being truly great because I would say it's the best SF game after SF64. Yes, the controls are tricky, but once you get used to them, the game becomes very immersive! The Zoness level is a pain, but the rest of the game is great. Beating the game was actually a challenge as some of the levels are tough. Overall, I enjoyed it, and it was good to have SF back! 

Bust-a-Move (SNES)

I picked this up while at a game store and I tried it out. Wow! This puzzler by Taito is very fun and addicting! The gameplay is very simple, yet can be quite challenging. I found myself playing through the one player mode bent on finishing it. Beating all 100 levels felt like a real accomplishment. Great game! 

Metroid Fusion (Wii U Virtual Console)

I had played this game before, but I never finished it. So I downloaded it and played it all the way through. Fusion is more linear than other Metroid games, but it's still fun. Nintendo nailed the atmosphere, which is very creepy most the time. The game also has some great moments, and overall the gameplay is spot-on. This one's not as good as Super Metroid or Metroid Zero Mission, but it's hard to compete with those gems! 

Pokken Tournament (Wii U)

I bought this game simply because my nephews are really into Pokemon, but I was pleasantly surprised. The gameplay can be pretty deep for hardcore fighting game fans, but it's also easy to learn for more casual gamers. It was fun playing through the main game, even though at times it got repetitive. The best part is seeing your Pokemon dish out a huge epic attack which is just devastating. Awesome! 

Rhythm Heaven Megamix (3DS eShop)

I got Rhythm Heaven on DS back when it first came out here in NA and loved it, so I certainly wanted this game which combined all three RH games into one big game. Well, I wasn't disappointed. Most the rhythm games were addicting and fun, and all of them were overflowing with charm. This game also had a story, and just when you thought it was over, the story kept going! Really enjoyed this one. 

Star Fox Guard (Wii U)

I wasn't anticipating this game, but I got it as a bonus game with Star Fox Zero. So after beating Zero, I gave this a try. It's actually very fun and creative. I love the fact that this is a Star Fox spin-off game, using the world and characters of the SF universe. The concept is simple enough to understand, but they also add plenty of things to make it interesting. I would say this was the most unique Nintendo game of 2016 and that it needs more attention. 

Kirby: Planet Robobot (3DS)

I LOVED this game! I bought it because it looked fun, but wow, this is a really great Kirby game. They ran with the whole "tech" theme: everything in the game is mechanized, even familiar locations and bosses. Playing as Kirby in a mech is a blast! Also, the game has a lot of content. The main game is a good length with plenty of extras to find, but after you beat it, you unlock an entire new game in which you play as Meta Knight--and this new game is pretty lengthy, consisting of six 20-minute-plus levels. There are also some mini games which are really fun. And the soundtrack is awesome, composed by the original Kirby composer, Jun Ishikawa. Not only does he do great original tunes, but he rearranges a ton of great Kirby themes from past games. Overall, this is one of the best Kirby games I've played. 

Kirby's Adventure (NES)

Speaking of Kirby, I beat this classic on an emulator on my computer. This one is quite straight forward, but it's also Kirby's first game on a home console. It was actually a little tough, but I made it through, and I'm glad I did. This is a really colorful NES game! 

Super Mario Run (iOS)

This game surprised me. I expected just a standard Mario game, but the developers actually added new mechanics here. Mario will automatically vault over enemies, and you get points for style by jumping off them right when he's on top of them. When Mario lands from a high jump, he will roll, and here again you can do flips for points. The main game is short, but another mode--Toad Rally--allows you to compete against other players by doing stunts! It's really fun, and Nintendo did a great job with this first Mario iOS game. I'm sure we'll be seeing more. 

Phoenix Wright: Spirit of Justice (3DS eShop) 

I'm a huge Phoenix Wright fan, so I was excited for this game. As usual, it was awesome! Most of the game takes place in a foreign country, the kingdom of Khura'in. The murders which happen are ridiculous and there are plenty of twists to keep you on your toes. This is also the ultimate fan service game in the series, featuring most of the characters from other games such as Maya Fey, Ema Skye, and Edgeworth. You get to play as Phoenix, Apollo, and Athena, and you get to utilize each one's special abilities. The variety of protagonists keeps the game fresh. The game is also noteworthy for fleshing out Apollo's background more. Also, my favorite part of the game is when Apollo actually faces Phoenix in court! I could go on, guys, this game was just stellar. 

And that's it for 2016. Looking forward to see what 2017 has in store!