As the next few years of games are shaping up, the main thing the Wii U has going for it over the PS4 and Xbox One is its focus on fun local multiplayer experiences. While nothing truly noteworthy has really made an appearance at the other two systems’ launch, a year of Wii U releases has resulted in a nice batch of games well suited for three to five players. Here’s the best of the bunch, at least to this point!
When it comes to reminding us of our gaming pasts, in particular the games we grew up with, no one does it better (or more frequently) than Nintendo. It is often considered the Disney of the gaming industry, and for good reason. While this trend of relying on nostalgia isn’t exclusively a Nintendo idea, one of its most recent releases, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, is exemplary of its desire to remain in touch with its past. It signifies both its struggles as a company over the past decade and how it can easily overcome those struggles: by continuing to look forward.
In Hunter’s Notes, Chris Ingersoll aims to provide the insight and advice needed to understand the ins and outs of Monster Hunter and become immersed in its world. This is the first installment.
So you’ve decided you want to hunt monsters, eh? Well, welcome to the Guild! You’ll find yourself in good company before long, although like any entry-level position you will have to first prove that you have what it takes to face down the big boys. Which brings me to this document. You see, not that long ago I was a fresh-off-the-boat hunter like yourself and I know what you’re going through. There’s a lot to take in here, and although the villagers mean well they’re not really hunters like we are. So I’m here to help you get your footing as best I can. READ MORE
One-on-one fighting games have been a mainstay of gaming culture ever since Street Fighter II dragon-punched its way into arcades. The intricate dance of move and counter-move has played out for decades, and in 2010 Level 99 Games designer (and one-time Snackbar contributor) Brad Talton managed to translate that into a deceptively-simple card game system. Dubbed BattleCON (“Battle Connection”) due to the way players play pairs of styles and bases, the system made its debut in War of Indines after a successful Kickstarter campaign.
To say that the game won over a few fans might be considered an understatement, when you look at what happened with the campaign to fund the follow-up, Devastation of Indines. Blowing past its original goal to the tune of being over 500% funded, a truly mind-boggling final product was created. Everything about Devastation is bigger and better. READ MORE
There’s a lot to look forward to in the coming year! Members of the Snackbar Games staff gathered to share which title each is most eagerly awaiting in 2014.
I never played the original Witcher and didn’t get into The Witcher 2 until a year after it originally released, yet it quickly became one of the best RPGs I’ve played in quite some time. The Witcher 3 looks to continue the bold traditions from the first game, complete with exciting choices that completely alter the story and rewarding combat, but this time with a gigantic open-world to explore. Finally having the opportunity to traverse the endlessly impressive fantasy world of The Witcher is more than enough to make it a game I can’t wait to get my hands on. – Andrew Passafiume READ MORE
