REVIEW: Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart 8
Wii U
Racing, Multiplayer

One of Nintendo's flagship games returns to the Wii U. While the game itself hasn't changed much the graphics are (much) improved. As with previous incarnations of the game, you play as one of Nintendo's famous characters racing around various tracks while using power ups to either enhance your way around the track or to hinder the competitors.

making a return to the game are motorcycles, underwater racing and gliders. While anti-graving racing is new to this installment. When you drive over electric blue platforms, you have the ability to transform your go-cart into a hovering cart allowing you to race on the walls of the racetrack. A carefully timed bump as you hit another racer gives you a quick speed boost. There are also a few new characters and items: Pink Gold Peach, Koopalings, Baby Rosalina. New items include a boomarang flower allowing you to throw at other players, a piranha plant that eats racers, coins and power ups, the crazy eight, which allows the racer to have eight different items, and the super horn, which knocks racers off their game and allows you to get disrupt and pass anyone in the immediate area. The best part of Mario Kart 8 is that up to 12 players can play together in a various tracks. Games can be set up for world wide play or privately.



It has been a while since I have played anything on a major Nintendo console and this was the first game that I picked up and I haven't regretted the purchase as it is great fun and something that even my spouse enjoys playing. The controls are simple and easy to learn so that someone like my wife can sit down and instantly feel comfortable. She is not a video game person and to be able to play with her and have her feel as if she is just as good as I am means that we are both happy and entertained.

If you have played a previous installments of the game then you know what to expect, Mario Kart 8 is just the latest and greatest incarnation of the series.

Overall 9.5/10

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REVIEW: Conception II PS Vita

Conception II
Role-playing, Dungeon Crawler
Platforms: 3DS, Vita

In a world where the populace is under constant threat from monsters are formed from Dark Circles, a young man learns that he has the mark of the Star God on his hand, which allows him to attend a special school for people bearing the mark that gives them the ability to fight the monsters and defend humanity.

The protagonist, upon arriving at the school is tested and we quickly learn that he has a larger than average amount of Star Energy (the power to fight the monsters) and that he is the foretold "God's Gift." This title makes him an instant celebrity and elevates him to the elite branch of warriors. His power grants him the ability to fight inside the Dark Circles and bring a female companion. The female companions when "classmating" with God's gift can create Star Children, which can also go into the Dark Circles and fight the monsters.

Gameplay

Conception II is a dungeon crawler that uses a combination of turned based attacks and a 360 degree battlefield, split into four sections. Depending upon where you place your fighters around the monster, they may or may not be in harms way when it is the monster's turn to attack. Some attacks affect more than one of the four quadrants. The team can take on one monster at a time or you can split them up and take on up to three monsters at once. There are direct attacks and area of effect attacks.

When you are not in a battle you work your way through the various levels of the dungeon and can either evade them or attempt to take them unaware and gain an advantage in combat by attacking first.

When you are not in a dungeon, the game switches over to the academy where you can shop for items, change your Star Children teams (two teams of three), take on new quests, and interact with the various female companions in an attempt to increase your relationship status and conceive new Star Children.

The controls work rather intuitively. The right stick moves the camera and the left moves the hero. The buttons are clearly marked as you play through the game for each of the actions.

One complaint that I have is that as you work your way through each dungeon the first time, once you reach the final boss, the academy pulls you out forcing you to work your way through the dungeon again. The second play through has you now possessing an item that allows you to contain the boss and close the circle. While you can skip floors after working yourself to the next level upon your return, in order to level up your characters, it is best to start at the beginning of the dungeon and work your way back to the boss.



Graphics

While I am relatively new to the PS Vita (slim model), the graphics do look outstanding. The colors are bright and the characters are drawn well. The "classmating" portion of the game may be a concern for some but there isn't any nudity just glowing outline of the female's body, imply that the act may not just be holding hands. A rating of PG at best.

Audio

The music is what you would expect for a dungeon crawler and plays on an endless loop. It isn't great but it isn't bad.

Verdict

Conception II is a decent role playing game that has a interesting storyline but isn't as dramatic as Persona 4 Golden, a game that is considered the best RPG for the system, which is well deserved. Conception II offers a more light-hearted experience that combines the dating sim and dungeon crawler well. While there are many floors that you need to fight through in order to close them, the game goes by quickly and is a decent game if you are looking for something to fill in the gap P4G has left you after completing it. I for one, enjoyed all of the games aspects and while it doesn't break any new ground like it.

Overall   7/10

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