Throwback Thursday - Punch-Out!! (Wii)

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia.  Entering the ring this week: The game of maneuvering blocks and landing knock-outs that is Nintendo Wii's Punch-Out!!

Released in the US on May 18th, 2009, Punch-Out!! for the Wii is the fifth installment in the series, the last of which was Super Punch-Out!! for the SNES released in the US roughly 15 years prior.  Despite this lengthy lapse in time, this latest entry was able to retain the fundamental gameplay elements that inspired the originals so long ago.  Players still control the underdog tiny boxer known as Little Mac as he fights to move up the ranks in various circuits, facing off against a colorful and eccentric cast of characters.  With each match, players must pick up on patterns to dodge attacks and exploit opportunities for counters.  This involves distinguishing when to use left or right dodges, ducking, and when to use left or right upper and lower-cuts.  As you move up the ranks, the difficulty in which detecting these cues and landing the timing increases exponentially.  But the sense of accomplishment from overcoming these increasingly challenging foes is all the more satisfying.

Tabletop Tuesday - Settlers of Catan

Welcome to another edition of Tabletop Tuesday - Your weekly exploration into games of dice, cards, luck and more of the Tabletop world.

This week's game...the cult favorite of sheep and wheat that is Settlers of Catan.

Players: 3-4
Time: 45-90 minutes
Genre: Strategy

An Explosive Diet

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Throwback Thursday - Castle Crashers

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia.  Leading the siege this week: The game of collectible critters and heavy hitters that is Castle Crashers.

Released in the US on August 27th, 2008, Castle Crashers is a delightfully silly and captivating cooperative Beat 'em up game with RPG elements.  Developed by The Behemoth, the makers of Alien Hominid, Castle Crashers features that signature Flash art style and music created by members of Newgrounds.  The game follows four starting playable knights who must stop a dark wizard, rescue various princesses, and recover the king's magical gem.  To do so, players will slay countless barbarians, bears, ninjas, skeletons, and more (most all of which can later be unlocked as playable characters).  Sandwiches will be eaten for Hulk-like power growths.  Mounted crocodiles will be ridden by friends and foes alike.  Terrified critters will run away in flatulent fear.  The sense of humor and variance in this game knows no bounds, which is most welcome due to the repetitive nature that comes from Beat 'em up brawlers.  Even the cooperative elements take a side seat occasionally for some quick competitive fun, as players compete in volleyball matches or some PvP combat for the honor of making out with a rescued princess, which builds up to a most comical final bout for this amorous reward and memorable ending to the game.

Tabletop Tuesday - A Fake Artist Goes to New York

Welcome to another edition of Tabletop Tuesday - Your weekly exploration into games of dice, cards, luck, and more of the Tabletop world.

This week's game...the game of suspicious strokes from artistic folks that is A Fake Artist Goes to New York.

A Fake Artist Goes to New York

Players: 5-10*
Time: 5 minutes per round
Genre: Social / Party Game

One Gift Per Hero

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ARMS Review

Genre: Fighting / Party Game
Players: 1-4
Playtime: 15 hours (Includes clearing up to Rank 4 with most characters, some Party and Ranked matches, and unlocking over 100 arms so far -- Note this review is posted as of the Version 2 update)

What happens when you suddenly wake up with extendable appendages for no explicable reason?  You of course create a national sports league to fight against other stretchy combatants and be crowned champion, or so is the overall concept that is Nintendo's new IP and fighting game that is ARMS.  Taking on a cast of colorful and varied characters, players will throw far-reaching fisticuffs, boomerangs, and more as they fight, smash targets, shoot hoops, and spike explosive volleyballs.  It's bold, refreshing, and has a lot to prove as a new IP with a full price tag.  So does this new game pack a powerful punch, or leave more than a passing bruise?  Let's step into the ring and take a look at the positive and negative throws that come our way.