Nintendo Life's Scores

  • Games
For 5,854 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 45% higher than the average critic
  • 18% same as the average critic
  • 37% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 8 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 67
Highest review score: 100 Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Lowest review score: 10 153 Hand Video Poker
Score distribution:
5862 game reviews
    • tbd Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    The experience is shallow, the gameplay is unrewarding and, believe it or not, a child is perceptive enough to know when they're being disillusioned by a bad product.
    • 46 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    If you like retro-styled graphics and old-school FPS games, you'll find plenty to like here; if neither of those appeal to you then you may be out of luck. If you like the concept and can overlook the technical problems here you may have an unexpectedly good time.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Super Robo Mouse doesn't deliver the goods. There are other challenging, twitchy action titles on the Wii U eShop that provide a stronger presentation and are more fun to play. Save yourself a broken window and lost controller and spend your money on something else.
    • 24 Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    If Chasing Dead was a more polished product with all its issues ironed out, you might find a decent sci-fi zombie romp underneath all the mess. Perhaps the developer will go back and patch out all the issues one day, but as it stands Chasing Dead is best left on the shelves of the Nintendo eShop. Not recommended.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    As it stands now, however, Draw 2 Survive does not offer much more than the occasional waster of a few minutes' time. What it could provide, however, might make it worth keeping an eye on for when its content crosses the finish line.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Olympia Rising is a good platformer, but in such a saturated genre it needs to impress more than in does. The characters, story and visuals contribute to the positives, but more care needed to be taken with controls and hit points to make the game less frustrating. There is much to be enjoyed if you are able to look past the negatives, and if that's the case with you it is a worthy addition to your library.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    A grim example of a sequel that doesn't do enough to improve on the flaws of the original, Witch & Hero 2 mirrors far more than it should without bringing anything truly exciting to the table.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    If you're a lifelong Nintendo fan, you owe it to yourself to see what those on the other side of the console wars enjoyed. You're in for a treat.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Leave this train in the station.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Nintendo set out to build an experience centered around the GamePad with Star Fox Guard, and the result is a great little experiment — if a wee bit overwhelming.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The additions made to the Wii U title are generous, with the Walker, enhanced Landmaster and Gyrowing each bringing with them different tactics, strengths and gameplay possibilities. The only issue is that while these alternative modes of transport are fun to use in short bursts, the Arwing is much more fun to pilot - especially when you're dashing through enemy armadas or engaging in thrilling dogfights using the game's all-range mode.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Overall this is still worth consideration despite its flaws, even if they deprive this one of its full potential.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Ultimately, we wouldn't recommend you pick this one up as both the footage and gameplay are severely lacking, which gives one little reason to invest a significant chunk of time into this. It's best you just let this train roll by.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Grab some friends, grab some controllers and give this colourful, chompy craziness a try.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Players who live for training, repetition, memory and self-achievement will find a quite solid and refreshingly different-looking shooter here, even if it's not completely perfect.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    It's a robust little gem that makes excellent use of the GamePad, while championing an accessible party experience that can be adapted to fit almost any crowd.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Toy Defence is, in simple terms, yet another tower defence game. It doesn't try anything fancy to reinvent the genre, it simply sticks to what has been proven to work and rolls with it. There's a decent amount of content here for the relatively low price, so if you're just itching for another tower defence game you can't really go wrong with this one - just don't expect anything mindblowing.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Moco Moco Friends is a sweet, snappy, and engaging game that does what few of its ilk manage to: craft a genuinely high-quality experience that's tailor-made for younger players.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Do yourself a favour and don't get on this train.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The Beggar's Ride is a cool little game to play if you just fancy a few hours of escapism.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Electronic Keyboard is an interesting curiosity, but not something worth sticking with when there are better options on the platform.
    • 55 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    In conclusion, The Grumpy Reaper isn't going to win any awards for originality; there's a distinct 'Rare'-esq feel to the cartoony graphical presentation and the fuzzy nostalgia feeling that comes with the basic gameplay is initially quite endearing - the simplicity feels refreshing.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    PixlCross is a simple but entertaining game. If you like Picross you'll instantly know if this one is for you. It doesn't add any innovations to the genre, but the simplicity with which users can create and download new puzzles is great.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympics for the 3DS is not exactly a bad game - especially if you liked previous entries in the franchise - but it could be so much more.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Yet ultimately we're looking at well over a hundred puzzles (including the Micross panels) that are nicely structured and tie into Twilight Princess, with a stylish presentation and plenty of charm. As the first ever My Nintendo exclusive game it delivers, and sets the bar high for its likely successor.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Cutie Clash is a missed opportunity by Yazar Media Group. There is a skeleton of a fun experience here, but without any single player options or any other content besides the main game, along with poor controls, it feels rushed and unfinished. Cutie Clash has a big personality; it's a shame the scope is so small.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Cutie Pets Go Fishing is an unremarkable little game that should either have been released on mobile or as a compilation with the other Cutie Pets titles.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Bird Mania Party is essentially the same game that we saw in 2012 on 3DS, albeit with the very welcome additions of multiplayer action and with online leaderboards for those with a competitive streak. Despite this game arguably being better suited to a handheld device thanks to its time-filler nature, this Wii U title stands out as being the best of the series so far thanks to the extra content.
    • 50 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    While Excave II made some nice quality of life improvements to the original formula, it inexplicably seems like most of Excave III's changes are for the worse.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    There isn't enough within the story or characters to keep the player interested beyond that however, so make sure you're up for a challenge and want a simple little distraction before diving in.

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