Learn the Origins of Rayman | Review

In what will likely be Mashbuttons final 2011 game review, Ubisoft has sent us one of the final games of this Holiday season.  Enter Rayman: Origins, a "Next-Gen", beautiful piece of platforming art.  I've always maintained that if developers really went back to their roots, and created a side-scroller (a'la Shadow Complex) reminiscent of our early gaming years (at least my generation), it'd be gold.  Could you imagine a TRUE next-gen Mario, with a little less cartoony, but more of the depth found in something like...something like...well; something like Rayman: Origins.



Check out the above image from the 1995 original that debuted on the Sony PlayStation.  The game was cartoony, sure, but it was very colorful, and had a humor that was welcome for the time.  Fast forward about 16 years, 5 games, and a few game-iterations (3D, etc) later, and we've come back to the beginning.  The origin, if you will, and back to the same side-scrolling platforming that so many of us grew up on.



Yeah, now that's what I'm talking about.  Pure hand-drawn animated game-play, with several levels deep, providing more than just the single-planed platforms from the past.  A lot of graphics always strive to look like a Disney movie, or at least the caliber animation, and this game truly has it in spades.



Okay, now that I've gushed over the graphics, (still screens won't do seeing it in action justice, btw) lets talk about the all important part of the game...how does it play?  Like some older games in the genre, you begin in an over-world hub of sorts, and as you progress through each level, you'll unlock new powers/abilities, collect "lums", and overall progress towards rescuing your friends and Electoons.  Initially, you can only jump and attack enemies from stomping on them, but as you break free your friends, you gain new abilities.  Firstly, you'll be able to punch/kick, but pretty soon you'll be able to shrink yourself, run up walls, and glide across long chasms.  Like other current titles, you can do this just by yourself, or bring up to 3 others for some 4-play co-op drop-in/drop-out gameplay.  It's really quite awesome.  As you progress through the levels, you'll collect the obligatory item, in this case, "lums" and after you collect so many, you'll free Electoons.  Really, just a carrot to keep you going.  There are time-trial modes as well once you beat a level, wherein you can go back and try for more lums and a faster time and unlock more and more. 



Story is typical fare for the aforementioned progress, everyone's just out minding their business when an unspeakable evil imprisons your friends and the Electoons.  This unspeakable evil so happens to be an old woman who just doesn't like the rhythm of your life.  Again, not much here, but there really doesn't need to be.  There hasn't been a platformer like this since the 16-bit heyday my generation hails from.  Mario purists may disagree, but if you need any other reason to go out and pick up this title, knowing this is the best of the genre in many years, let alone of this year, you owe it to yourself to play Rayman Origins.  It's fun, wacky sense of humor, incredibly beautiful hand-drawn animation and tight controls will have you enjoying each and every new delight waiting around the corner.



Mashbuttons gives Rayman Origins 9 out of 10.  It's available now for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, 3DS, and the upcoming PlayStation Vita

MashButtons Reviews Thor For Nintendo's Wii and DS

Here we are, hot on the heels of Marvel's blockbuster movie release of Thor and here we go with reviews of not just the Wii version of the game, but the DS as well. Those that are not familiar with Norse mythology, the comic superhero, and big screen hunk, Thor is being brought back to life and thrown into our faces via just about any media outlet out there. Of course Sega has made sure to hold true to the comic series with the appearance of 12 ton frost giants and trolls in which you get to gleefully battle waves and waves of these beasts with your legendary hammer, Mjolnir, as Thor, the god of thunder. So here we go for the first time ever, multiple platform reviews for Nintendo’s iterations of Thor: God of Thunder, so on with the DS version’s hand on impressions.

Thor for the DS does not give away the spoiler of the movie, so you will not spoil the movie if you have not seen it yet. This title is a side scrolling hack and slash that features characters from the movie and comic book such as Thor, Odin, and Loki. Though it comes off as rather simplistic, the gameplay is what makes it entertaining. The action is fast and with numerous moves, it is easy to string along combos, but throughout the story, you will find equipable runes to boost speed, strength, special moves, and defense to help take down the onslaught of enemies thrown at you and the larger than life bosses at the end of each chapter. Unfortunately, there is not much in the way of variety between level designs and enemies, as even some of the bosses look alike. The graphics do not stand out to me, mainly because it has been a while since reviewing a DS title over the 3DS titles which just look so much better for a portable gaming system, and if Thor were developed for the 3DS I feel it would have been a better visual experience. The hardest parts of my playthrough were against the bosses as they often took multiple attempts due to the amount of health they have in comparison to Thor. The story of both the DS and the Wii renditions of Sega’s Thor comes down to the story as it is entertaining and adds a substantial amount to story behind the movie and this can quite possibly be due to the fact that the story was written by none other than the Thor comic book author himself, Matt Fraction.

Now for the Wii’s version to the god of thunder, full of remote and nunchuk shaking action. You all know I am not a fan of motion controls, but in this situation it works really well when trying to rack up large combos, as your basic moves are with buttons but you can then shake your controllers to really drive the attacks home. The action is fast and fluid, making the gameplay fun and what keeps you going from start to finish. The graphics are rather meh while still being able to deliver that comic book feel, and I though at one point I was playing Space Harrier when it goes to an on rails shooter. The voice acting was a good touch with Chris Hemsworth playing the voice of Thor. Like the portable version, the story does not follow the movie line so it doesn’t spoil anything if you haven’t seen it yet, but it you have seen the movie; the game provides an entertaining addition. Unfortunately like the latter, the levels and enemies look the same with small variations and battle tends to get repetitive because of this, but leveling up and unlocking new skills and abilities helps keep your mind off the monotony, and the boss battles are large and epic almost resembling a cross between God of War with quick time events and Shadow of the Colossus with the grappling system to climb and find weak point.

So all in all, there is some fun to be had with the two versions of Thor. Though it gets repetitive and lacks variation in character and level design, the gameplay is what carries the experience. Fans of Thor, either comic or movie, can enjoy as it is not a movie game but more of a substantial tie in. I felt like I enjoyed playing on the Wii as it looked and played better but the action on the go of the DS has me playing about an hour at a time before realizing the sun was shining and I should be out doing something more productive, but the Wii version had me flailing frantically while still having fun, despite how ridiculous I looked.

Centipede resurected in the third dimension

Atari recently announce this morning that Centipede, the age old arcade game is making a comeback, not for the arcade, but on the Nintendo 3DS and Wii. The reboot is to feature not only infestation in the name but also run and gun shooting, tower defense objects and including some of the same gameplay elements that made the original so addicting through seven environments and 40 stages.

Top Spin 4 | Review

If you like Tennis, you're going to love this!

2K has sent us their latest Tennis offering with the new Top Spin 4.  I haven't played a Top Spin title before, and I haven't even played a Tennis game (Table Tennis doesn't count) since the Dreamcast days when it was called Virtua Tennis.  That being said, how does the newest entry stack up?  Quite well actually.

Tennis as a video game, is going to have a niche appeal.  It's not going to draw the Madden crowd or the MLB fans; like it's real-life counterpart, Top Spin 4 is for Tennis lovers.  For those that love the sport, the skill and strategy is all here.  For those like me, who haven't played in a while, I swiftly jumped into the Top Spin Academy (training) feature first.  There's a variety of training, from the basics, to more advanced techniques.  I had to get my racket wet a bit before starting any real games.  Once I completed the training, I created a player (there are numerous amounts of customization, or if you're like me, you can just randomize yourself to get started).

Career mode is where the meat of the game is at.  You begin at the bottom of the latter, participating in a series of small tournaments and special training matches.  You earn XP as you play, as well as if you meet certain objectives of a match, you'll get bonus XP.  This allows you to level-up your player.  Like a good RPG, you can't take on the likes of Agassi, or Federer as a first-timer, you need to build your reputation, boost your skills, and use every move in your arsenal to take down the best.  (This is sounding like a lot of fun!).  It's akin to your leveling up in the Tiger Woods series, or the leveling up found in racing titles like Forza 3; as you get better, more events, and tournaments open up for you to conquer, and there's something quite satisfying about that slow, methodical approach to playing. 

The gaming atmosphere is great as well.  In the first few spars, you're playing at a local tennis club, with a few onlookers; but once you make it into tournaments, the crowd reaction keeps is pitch perfect.  Control is great as one would expect from a game that requires the finesse as this one.  Timing has to be just right to pull off the more advanced moves, but the tight controls allow for a natural evolution of one's skills.

Outside of the career mode, there are a few other modes worth mentioning; of course there's straight up exhibition play, when you want to just jump right in with pre-set characters, and not worry about the long process of career mode.  You can play singles or doubles against the computer, or even take on some online opponents.  Speaking of online, there's a wealth of options there as well.  There's the full-on career mode also, where you play against actual human opponents; the skill is harder, but the rewards are that much sweeter.  You can also play exhibition modes of online if that's your thing.

All in all - Top Spin 4 is really the best Tennis game out there; I know there's not much competition, but this one will have you playing for hours.  Graphics are great, controls are superb, atmosphere is recreated perfectly, to give you the best experience available.  Highly Recommended!

Mashbuttons.com gives Top Spin 4 an 8 out of 10

Gamers Digital to release Zombii Attack

I get an email this morning from someone that handles the 2K titles, you know Duke, Spec Ops and other AAA titles. However, this was not about a big release, more so about a WiiWare game, called Zombii Attack, which only costs 500 points.

So what is it? Well you play as a survivor in an infected city full of zombies, but how do you defend yourself I must ask. Well, that is easy, with a slingshot that launches anvils, tires, z-bombs, and of course zombies using the Wii remote.

How much Mario can you get in the All Stars Limited Edition?

Apparently a full 25 years worth in one small package. To celebrate the huge anniversary, Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition will contain four classic games, playable on the Wii along with a soundtrack CD and commemorative booklet. What will this must have purchase set you back, well an affordable $29.99 while supplies last.

Disney Epic Mickey | Review

Synopsis: One of the year’s most anticipated games is finally here, toting the Disney name and a number of characters and environments almost forgotten; Disney Epic Mickey is an action platformer for gamers of all ages exclusively available on the Nintendo Wii. You will play as Mickey Mouse on a journey of creativity and discovery, armed with a brush, some paint, and thinner which is used to change environments, solve puzzles, and interact with your friends and enemies, in a play style described as “Playstyle Matters”, where there will be consequences for your decisions and actions. All characters, both friends and enemies, and environments are inspired from Disney’s vault of films and shorts, some newer and some older, such as the ruler of the alternative Disney universe, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Will this title from the mastermind behind Deus Ex, Thief, and Wing Commander, Warren Spector live up to its hype?

Praise: To start off, the characters and environments in this title make me feel like I am looking at Disneyland through the eyes of Tim Burton. The graphics and music that accompany the game are beautiful, memorable, and keep players hooked to see what they will encounter next. The “Playstyle Matters” element of gameplay is the standout feature which also provides the games replay value, as the story and character interactions are based on your previous actions, whether heroic or mischievous. The levels are a pretty good length, taking between a half hour to an hour depending on how much you are looking to complete and explore. I really liked how the developers made the world from Disneyland and provided their own twist on how the park would look in their eyes should an evil blot run rampant through it.

Gripes: I really wanted to like this game more but there were a few issues that really affected the gameplay for me. The camera, yes I know this is commonly a complaint from me on adventure games, you cannot manually control it but press a button to bring the camera behind Mickey, unfortunately sometimes that doesn’t work or help. The paint/thinner does get old at times as this is your main means for playing through the story, however, when you have to decide on what to use on each enemy along with challenges, it grows tiresome. I have a love/hate relationship with the controls as I understand why this was made for the Wii, using the remote to aim your brush, but half of the time you aim at something and are unable to hit the target without having to move around trying to find the right angle.

Overall, I had a lot of fun with this title, all gripes aside, the good outweighs the bad. Sure it was very frustrating at times trying to complete quests where the boss seems to be the camera, but once you best the camera, it is very fulfilling and entertaining, until your next fight with the camera. Unfortunately, I do feel that this game was oversold as I had higher expectations, and with a little extra polish to the gameplay it could have been a truly epic title.

Mashbuttons.com gives Disney Epic Mickey a 7 out of 10.

Disney Epic Mickey is available now for the Nintendo Wii.

Sonic Colors | Review

Synopsis: The blue blur is back in Sonic Colors, and what do you know, Sega has sent us a review copy of the Wii version to get a review out to our Sonic the Hedgehog fans and Nintendo gamers alike. Sonic Colors is exclusive to the Wii and DS unlike Sonic 4, which is available on any handheld or console you may have. The premise this time around is that Dr. Eggman has erected an amusement park and Sonic and Tails decide to check it out knowing Eggman’s devious nature. Low and behold that troublesome villain is holding wisps captive for their energy and it is Sonic’s duty to thwart the madman and use the wisp’s energy to do so. So how will Sonic fare this time around?

Praise: Do you remember Sonic Adventures, well this feels a lot like that but much faster with amazingly fast gameplay. The environments are a blast to play and many times I had to go back and play them a second time just to see things I may have missed the first time. The story is something you would find in any typical Saturday morning cartoon, but I miss Saturday morning cartoons with their simple humor and conflicts. Though this game does have a 3D look and feel, it does not have full 3D gameplay, which I prefer with the sonic titles, it is still more of a 2.5D platformer. The addition of the wisps to the gameplay help to complete levels, and once acquired, you can go back to previous levels and use the wisps abilities to help find unlockables and create a different experience after the first level playthrough depending on the colored wisp’s ability.

Gripes: Who needs instruction manuals?!?! You will for this one as when you start, there is no tutorial, you are just thrown into the action and there is more buttons that they old school jump and spin boost you’re used to. On top of the typical jump and spin, you now have slide and a button for the wisp’s ability and I actually found gameplay easier with the remote and nunchuk over the classic remote. The controls are also not so forgiving as previous games being that you can double jump and if an enemy is targeted, you can hit jump and Sonic will take out that nearby baddy. Well the issue lies within the double jump and targeting because if you are trying to double jump on a platform and there is a targeted enemy nearby, then you will have to change your plan of action on the fly.

Overall, this is a classic Sonic game through and through, like a mashup of all the Sonic title with the addition of wisps and a deliberate exclusion of werehog, thankfully. Fans of the iconic blue hedgehog will enjoy this bright multidimensional platformer, while those unfamiliar to Sonic’s roots will enjoy this for the well put together beautiful game that it is. Thanks Sega for giving me a reason to put Hot Pursuit down to go just as fast with the blue rodent that I grew up to.

Mashbuttons.com gives Sonic Colors an 8 out of 10.

Sonic Colors is available now for the Nintendo Wii and DS.

Goldeneye 007 | Review

Synopsis: The original multiplayer FPS is back, with Goldeneye 007 exclusively for the Nintendo Wii. Though it may not be developed by Rare, the makers of the original entry, however, it is released by a little company that knows a little something about multiplayer games, Activision. This Goldeneye however features a new Bond, Daniel Craig, and while it does feature the old couch competitive multiplayer, it will now include online multiplayer…Thank you!!! As far as the numbers go, here is the breakdown, deep breath…4 player split screen multiplayer, 50 total characters, 8 of which are classic Bonds, 10 maps, 3 standard modes, and 17 special modifiers, which equals hundreds of game combinations.

Praise: It’s Goldeneye, though I wish I could say I’m not a fan of recycled titles and franchises, but Nintendo has yet to disappoint. This is the Goldeneye you remember playing for hours with friends, in which, it has the similar look and gameplay to the original, it even has the same writer as the original movie, Bruce Feirstein. New to this title is online multiplayer, which I feel is where the replay value is at, as it is quick to find matches, has a large community playing, and uses many of the online FPS elements seen in the Call of Duty multiplayer that makes it more engaging. I played through this with the classic remote as I try to shy away from the motion controls and it handled very smoothly, I even consistently played better online with this over Call of Duty, which for those that have played online with me know that I suck.

Gripes: It has to be some sort of sacrilege to put the voice and characteristics of Daniel Craig as Bond in Golden Eye as Pierce Brosnan was the Bond of Goldeneye, but hey I may be the only one that feels this way about the decision. Though it does play really smoothly and is a fun shooter, but it feel that the storyline behind this title was a little flat and didn’t really stand out as anything memorable aside from a tutorial to the multiplayer gameplay. Also, one thing in which I wish was in this title that was in the N64 versions is the multiplayer gameplay where you have to race for you gun as opposed to starting with your choice load out.

Overall, as a huge fan of Goldeneye on the N64, I feel that this is a sufficient remake for the current gen console. Those new to the series may not appreciate this as much as other FPS shooters out there but the die hards should find this to be the go to shooter for the Wii. As far as replay value is concerned, I see this being my go to shooter for multiplayer action whether it is 4 player split screen or online multiplayer, this is something us older gaming generation needed to take us back to our high school years.

Mashbuttons.com gives Goldeneye 007 an 8 out of 10.

Goldeneye 007 is available now for the Nintendo Wii.

New epic mickey trailer shows off the epic environment.

The friendly folks at Disney Interactive sent over a five minute featurette showing off the Disneyland-scape behind Epic Mickey. With these featurettes, I have learned that they can be hit or miss, but with this, it surely was interesting to see the development team take as much as they can from the park and put their own dark little twist on it. November 20th cannot come soon enough for this release.

Epic trailer for what looks to be an epic Wii title

What better way to show off a potentially epic title like Epic Mickey than to release an epic trailer for the title. Okay, enough word play, but really this game looks like it will live up to it's title. In the trailer you will get a glimpse of characters and worlds your little friend Mickey will encounter. Expect to see Epic Mickey for the Wii on store shelves November 30th.

Lost in Shadow dev diary reveals the mysteries

In probably the most clever dev diary I have seen, the new Lost in Shadow diary is pretty cool. With questions fielded and answered by shadows, revealing the reasoning the behind how the main character was made and the perspective size of the castle. After my hands on with this title's demo, and hearing more about it from the dev diaries, I can't wait to get my hands on Hudson's upcoming release.

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions | Review

Activision threw us another title for review, this time it's in the form of a Beenox-developed new Spidey title.  Beenox has mainly been responsible for Windows/Mac ports, and a few original titles, most recently, the Activision Franchise, Guitar Hero: Smash Hits.  Tasked with reinventing the aging super-hero franchise, they've changed up the formula enough to prove this isn't just your usual friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.  In fact, this isn't even you friendly same-world Spider-Man, as Shattered Dimensions follows 4 different Spidey incarnations, in a parallel-universe bending storyline as they try to contain the power of the broken Tablet of Order and Chaos.

Madame Webb, acts as your "mission control", as she brings all 4 Spider-Men together to fulfill the destiny of tracking down the pieces of the just broken Tablet of Order and Chaos (Thanks Mysterio).  Control Amazing Spider-Man, Spider-Man Noir, Ultimate Spider-Man, and lastly, Spider-Man 2099 in parallel universes all driven by the same goal.

Each universe pulled directly from the different comics of the same name have unique game-play elements to them.  The Amazing Spider-Man is very run-of-the mill (though the clever comments from Spidey, are voiced by one Neil Patrick Harris, so that's always a plus).  Spider-Man Noir takes a more stealth approach, as you navigate "Solid Snake-style" (or even more topical, Batman AA-style) through each level, taking out baddies one at a time in the shadows.  Very cool stuff here.  Next up is Spider-Man 2099, in which you spend the majority of the levels "free-falling" as one level feels like one long boss-battle.  Lastly is Ultimate Spider-Man, who uses the power of the mysterious black suit, that adds a unique element of gameplay with tendrils available to shoot out all around him.

As you take on each dimensions levels (each dimension has 4 acts) you'll unlock challenge points, (like mini Achievements), that will allow you to bank and buy upgrades, both of the offensive and defensive variety.  Focus on challenges to really build up your skill set to help you through the later, more difficult levels.

Many of your favorite villains are here in full-effect!  From Hobgoblin, Deadpool, Doc Oc, Sand man, Carnage, and on and on.  Fans of the series will find a lot to love here.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed myself playing, and Mashbuttons gives Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions an 8 out of 10.

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions is available now for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii

Those pesky rabbids are up to no good again in new travel in time trailer

Nothing like starting the weekend with some mischief, well with that I give you the new Raving Rabbids: Travel in Time trailer that shows you how exactly Billy the Kid was arrested. The upcoming Wii party game is expected to hit store shelves on November 9th.

Metroid: Other M | Review

Synopsis: The day is finally upon us that Metroid for the Nintendo Wii is out. Many thanks to Nintendo for providing us with a review copy to get our hand on time with their latest version of one of Nintendo’s most popular franchises. Samus is back, but in Other M, fans will finally get an inside look behind her past that led her to become a bounty hunter, through her failings, flaws, and motivations. One of the most exciting features to this resurrection is the gameplay as it uses just the Wii remote held sideways to play in a form of the classic Metroid I’m used to but point the remote at the screen and see the orientation go to first person to search for hints and kill some baddies. Without further ado, let’s see what happens when Team Ninja, developer of Ninja Gaiden, collaborates with Nintendo, in Metroid: Other M.

Praise: My background with the Metroid titles was mostly with Super Metroid, Fusion, and Zero Mission. This isn’t a 2d side scroller like Metroids past, but more of a 3d environment, which does a great job making the levels feel much bigger. The controls and gameplay are definitely reminiscent to their Ninja Gaiden titles, with fast fluid action, button mashing, last minute dodging, and frequent deaths at times. Voice acting does a great job at placing emphasis and emotion into the deep story of Other M, while the weapons, enemies, and sounds make if feel genuine to its roots. One thing I feel that needs a shout out is the use of just the remote, as not having to plug in a nunchuk or classic controller is rather convenient, and personally I like the feel of playing games with the remote held sideways.

Gripes: Being someone that was not terribly fond of the Prime titles, I was rather skeptical of the use of the first person point of view. The first person view is mostly used in empty rooms when trying to find secret power ups, doors, and hatches to move forward in the game, but in my opinion it was still used too much and takes away from the fast gameplay action of when the controller is held sideways. You can definitely tell Team Ninja had their hands on the gameplay aspect of this Metroid as I have never died so many times in a Metroid title. Lastly, at times it can be
difficult and borderline frustrating trying to find out where you need to go next.

Overall, Other M is a lot of fun and provides a good story into the history of Samus. From the gameplay, to the old Metroid feel we have grown to love over the last couple decades, it is definitely worth the time spent playing through. Though, there wasn’t too much in the way of replay value for Metroid fans, but Team Ninja fans will most likely go back to playthrough on the harder difficulties.

Mashbuttons.com gives Metroid: Other M a 7 out of 10.

Metroid: Other M is available now for the Nintendo Wii

Survey Says...Family Feud to come for the Wii

Ubisoft will be releasing Family Feud Decades for the Wii this November, just in time to get some practice in before going head to head with in-laws after Thanksgiving dinner and in between watching football games. Decades will be packed with thousands of questions from the 70's to current. Sounds like there is no better time to get two families together for some friendly competition over the holidays that does not consist of beating up fake guitars, drums, and mics.

Arc Rise Fantasia | Review

Synopsis: The latest JRPG for the Nintendo Wii has released and we have received a review copy to let you all know our impressions of time spent with Arc Rise Fantasia. A little background to the game before you get into the review is that this title is set in the Meridian Empire while dragons are passing over the Empire in flocks. If these dragons are killed, they explode poisons that contaminate the area, and this is where you, the mercenary L’Arc are tasked to fight these creatures with your longtime friend, Prince Alf. Arc Rise Fantasia is brought to us from the developers that created the Luminous Arc titles and features turn based gameplay, where the player strategically queues up actions to eventually execute huge attacks. Wii gamers, is this your next JRPG must have?

Praise: After losing faith in Final Fantasy XIII, I have been jonesing for a RPG to immerse myself in, and I think I may have found something to fill that void. As a fan of Luminous Arc, I was more than eager to try Arc Rise Fantasia, and so far it has been worth the wait. To start, the story is engaging, full of twists and characters that have their own unique personality that you will either grow to love or hate. The environment has a bright anime inspired world full of bright colors, unique enemies, and attacks that are definitely over the top, and with the vast character development, the attacks only get bigger and better as the game progresses. The gameplay in my opinion is where this title really shines, as it does require some grinding to progress through the story, and as your characters grow in levels, as do your abilities, making it necessary to think a couple moves ahead, and completely destroy the enemies. Lastly, this title allows multiple control types which is a huge selling point for me as I love using the classic remote over the remote and nunchuk combination.

Gripes: Though it sounds like there isn’t anything wrong with this game, there are a few things I would like to address with the 20 plus hours spent with this game. After the first couple hours, the voice acting was driving me nuts, hearing the same thing repeatedly whenever I command my party members to attack. Getting into the story and game does take some time as the story progresses slowly at first and the learning curve takes some time to get the hang of before really getting into what is going on and mastering each party member’s abilities. Lastly, navigation is something I had trouble with as it can be hard at times trying to locate what you have to do next especially if you if you have to locate a specific individual within a large city before having the option to move on.

Overall, Arc Rise Fantasia is a fun game that starts to feel more rewarding for sticking through the learning curve and introduction of characters after the first five hours or so, depending on how much grinding you do. Though it does not stand out and introduce anything beyond the typical JRPG’s we have played before, but it does stick to the basics on what makes the genre entertaining and addictive, making it a RPG in which had me striving to finish to see the story unravel, while providing a challenge at the same time.

Mashbuttons.com gives Arc Rise Fantasia a 7 out of 10.

Arc Rise Fantasia is available now for the Nintendo Wii.