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
    • 32 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric is a worrying misstep for Sega. While we applaud the idea of refreshing the characters for newer audiences, Rise of Lyric feels like a mishmash of ideas that never got to fully develop.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The Wii U eShop has a number of top-notch download games produced with care and passion; this belongs right up there in that elite group.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Putting it simply, at the end of the day it’s Tetris — but that's just fine.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Safari Quest will scratch your Match 3 itch, but it could have used a little more polish in the gameplay department.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Frantic, fast-paced fun, cool features like GamePad announcing and a good deal of variety will have groups of gamers playing for hours on end. And don't forget to read the manual!
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    It's almost entirely the same game as the first, only with new areas to pick apart and a few slight alterations to the formula. So having said that; if you liked the first then this provides more of the same, and if you didn't then this won't change your mind.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    Steer far clear of this one; there's absolutely no reason to drop money on a game that fails to get even the most basic elements right — elements that were perfected three decades ago on far lesser technology.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Castle Conqueror EX is a good enough game to stand on its own, but to state that it has been significantly expanded or improved over the original is a bit of an overstatement.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Persona Q has something for everyone. If you’re a Persona fan, you’ll get a huge kick out of seeing your old Gekkoukan and Yasogami classmates in an all-new adventure, and Etrian Odyssey fans open to a change will love it — this is the story-driven experiment of Etrian Odyssey Untold taken to the next level, with a stylistic overhaul to match.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    There’s plenty of frantic platforming in Shuttle Rush, but the way it also encourages taking a deep breath and forming a plan makes it stand out somewhat.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Unpolished, uninteresting, and unenjoyable, Football Up Online isn’t a game for anyone to get excited over.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Overall, Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire seem very similar to Pokémon X & Y, as you might expect, but the story and the environments you encounter feel – despite the fact that they are remakes – very fresh and unique.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Overall, Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire seem very similar to Pokémon X & Y, as you might expect, but the story and the environments you encounter feel – despite the fact that they are remakes – very fresh and unique.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Fans of the genre who enjoyed City Mysteries will find a safe pickup here, but others might find more interest perusing old issues of National Geographic.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Ping 1.5+ is a very hit and miss experience, but at least it's a noble one.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    I've Got to Run! Complete Edition does exactly what it sets out to achieve — put forth a more complete version of the game that got its first shot on Wii U.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Price aside, this is definitely a game you should experience in some form or another, even if the only way for you to play it is on Nintendo’s home system.
    • 33 Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Angry Bunnies: Colossal Carrot Crusade is still an unoriginal waste of time and money, with the minor technical improvements and online leaderboards doing little to help the experience.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    If you have a child of elementary school age that has developed basic reading and writing skills, they might still be able to have some fun with what's on offer here, even if it's just to express themselves creatively with a few stickers and emoticons. Anyone else, however, should stick to smartphones or computers for their personal writing needs.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Even though it’s a little on the short side considering the asking price, it would be a shame to miss out on the rich experience it offers.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    If you're in the market for something focused it's probably best to look elsewhere, but this former homebrew application may offer enough functionality and affordability — for the least picky among us — for simple doodling and sharing on Miiverse.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    With its unique mashup of matching and math, Chests O’ Booty could be just the thing for puzzle gamers looking for a new experience, but a mediocre presentation, design issues, and a lack of polish keep it from truly delivering on that promise.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Costume Quest 2 is an enjoyable romp through an appealing story of fun and sugary treats.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 10 Critic Score
    Flapp & Zegeta is a cynical attempt to cash in on the success of Flappy Bird, and it doesn't even attempt to disguise its intentions. The presentation is beyond lazy, the graphics are atrocious, and the game would have had to make a concentrated effort to be less fun than it already is.
    • 50 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    It's not the most technically refined gameplay experience you'll ever have, and a lot of the elements just don't add up, but it's campy enough to make you believe it was trying to be epic — and that might just rope you into trying its cheesy brand of arcade action.
    • 39 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Even through mimicking XCOM's tactical gameplay and utilizing the setting of the popular TNT series as a reference point for the campaign, Falling Skies: The Game feels about ten years too late to impress.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Pixel Paint is an immensely useful tool for creating pixel art on Wii U.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tetrobot and Co. is a beautiful, charming puzzle game with a very fair and calculated approach to difficulty.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Trap Team continues the Skylanders legacy in style, serving up an excellent adventure with fun gameplay, lots of variety and top-notch production values both on-screen and off.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    If you can ignore the slow battle system, vapid story, and abysmal dialogue, Pier Solar's efforts may win your heart. If you've got no love for this genre, steer clear — this is one for enthusiasts only.

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