Nintendo Life's Scores

  • Games
For 5,880 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 Shantae: Risky's Revenge
Lowest review score: 10 Hockey Allstar Shootout
Score distribution:
5888 game reviews
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Darts Up 3D is an extremely simple game, and a bit off the mark with its presentation, but fun gameplay, satisfying motion controls, and a bevy of multiplayer modes for single- and multi-system play nudge it much closer to the centre of the board than the edge.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Take this adventure at your own discretion.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Iron Galaxy may have run into some trouble porting Chronicles of Mystara to the Wii U, but it certainly doesn’t show in the final product. This is a title not to be missed.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    If you’re looking for family-friendly fun, addictive pick-up-and-play action, or something that provides a surprising challenge, you’d be remiss to let this one fly under your radar.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Spot the Differences: Party! isn’t worth time or money unless you're an enthusiast that adores these kinds of experiences. It performs one trick and one trick only, but that trick isn’t very good in the first place; even for its simplistic genre, it does little to liven up proceedings.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    From what we’ve seen so far, Disney Infinity intends to live up to its name, constantly expanding its universe through the release of new figures and Play Sets, but only time will tell how long the trend will last. For our money, we hope that the franchise continues thriving for years to come.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The difficulty level and technical issues aside, the game triumphs in what it aims to do; the Giana Sisters franchise may have started out as an uninspired rip-off of Super Mario Bros., but this latest effort very much proves that it has become a unique, fascinating and rewarding experience in its own right.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    If you enjoy looking at and landing bass, and don't mind the rough edges, Fish On 3D is a decent catch.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    We appreciate Funfair Party Games' wholehearted attempt to inject motion controls into classic carnival games, and while when they work well the games can be quite fun, in most cases, the controls are either too unresponsive or too confusing to use effectively.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    We struggle to see how any version can be better than this, as it's a game that feels like it was designed solely for the system. It's stunning platforming, with a move-set and dynamism unique to this fresh new series for the Rayman character, and it's memorable. It deserves to be enjoyed by all platforming fans that own a Wii U; it should not be missed.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Heavy Fire: Black Arms 3D is some of the most unimaginative shooting gallery action that $5 can buy. Sure, there are quantifiable improvements over its WiiWare blueprint, but minor improvements to the skeleton do nothing for the heart. When challenged by a squad of inane mechanics, rote encounters, choppy framerates and soulless stages, the only way to win is to not play at all.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    There's simply no other game on the market with such a focus on ridiculous fun - this really is a must-have title for the Wii U.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    This is a noble effort from developer Monkey Bar Games, who shouldn't be penalized for using the Tony Hawk template; after all, games of that genre have become few and far between in recent years. So if you've been burned by the 3DS game, give Turbo: Super Stunt Squad for Wii U a try.
    • 49 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Pokémon Rumble U is straightforward fun that's a far cry away from the main Pokémon titles, but it does pair some key strategic elements of the series with the button bashing – though there are definitely moments where there's too much going on to keep real track of, which does lead to more reliance on the latter than the former.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Are you a fan of the original DuckTales game or the animated series? Download this game immediately. Have you never played, watched, or even heard of DuckTales? Download this game immediately, and then tell all of your friends to do the same. They’ll thank you for it later.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    If you’re looking for an affordable and fun game to pull out during a party, then Spin The Bottle: Bumpie’s Party will definitely provide a great deal of laughter and fun.
    • 54 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Solid production values aside, Tangram Style feels like your average smartphone game bundled with all the micro transactions pre-purchased, whether you need a kid-friendly mode and 600 puzzles or not. In truth you’re bound to find products on other formats that rival this 3DS download, and probably for a fraction of the price. That doesn’t make Tangram Style bad; merely irrelevant.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Beginners may find the current lack of in-game lessons disappointing, but if you're already a budding artist — or just love to create colourful pictures — then there's little reason not to give Art Academy: SketchPad a try.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    SteamWorld Dig represents a strong coming together of concept and execution, with relatively simple mechanics impeccably layered to coax the gamer through its story.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Smash Bowling 3D is not a bad game; there's just not much to it. With deeper gameplay and more attention to detail this could be a very successful franchise. Players will have fun collecting trophies and unlocking balls and alleys, but the experience is over too soon.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    There’s simply not enough value present, and for the most part, the only difference between The Smurfs 2 and the abundance of shovelware already available for the DS is the inclusion of the Smurfs themselves. Just stay the smurf away.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The fifty stages are challenging without being frustrating, and collectables, an endless mode, and achievements will keep you coming back for more. For fans of simple platformers — and endless runners, too — this is a fantastic little joyride.
    • 51 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Planes isn't a terrible game by any means, but it's hardly spectacular — and irrespective of how hungry you are for Wii U software, it might not fill you up unless you're a novice player with a passionate love for the movie itself.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Unless you’re a fan of hidden object games, there’s little to be found at Ravenhearst Manor that will draw you in to the genre. Being brutally honest, even if you are a fan of this type of game, this entry in the Mystery Case Files series contains more than its fair share of issues and well-intentioned, yet poorly thought out sections to push it to the top of the genre’s tree.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Cloudberry Kingdom has a simple structure and piles up hundreds of 30-second stages to blast through. And yet, the various iterations of Bob keep things fresh, and its a momentum-focused experience that urges players to always play one more level.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    When licensed titles are developed with more love and care — see the potential of Disney Infinity and some others from studios such as WayForward — it's difficult to play a rushed and dull product like this one. It's destined for the bargain bin once the movie is out of theaters, and there are simply too many good racing titles out there to warrant a purchase. Players are advised to steer clear and spend their time and money elsewhere.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Chain Blaster may be flawed in that its campaign is short and not entirely difficult, but it’s still a whole lot of fun. It’s the type of game that reflects both the advantages and flaws of an arcade-based genre, but it does so with an irresistible style. Fans of shoot ‘em ups, especially of the bullet hell variety, should definitely give this one a shot.
    • 42 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Don’t let the fact that the game is developed by WayForward fool you; The Smurfs 2 is mostly lackluster licensed fluff. While it is nice that it isn't as disjointed as other games of its type, it’s hard to recommend something this uninspired. If you’re thirsting for a kid-friendly platformer, you’d probably be better off keeping your smurfberries in your wallet and waiting for alternatives in the coming weeks and months.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Cute Witch! Runner takes the best part of Dress to Play: Cute Witches! and downsizes it to DSiWare in a refreshingly thoughtful way.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Even though this zombie may be lacking a few limbs, that doesn’t mean it’s not capable of feasting on many hours of your life.

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