Toronto Thumbs

Reviews
The Black Eyed Peas Experience

Let’s get it started.

Earlier in the year, the gaming community was treated to The Michael Jackson Experience, a great dancing game chock full of fantastic music and a style of presentation that fit MJ. Both the Kinect and Wii versions were a lot of fun to play. Now, Ubisoft has released the next title in the “Experience” series: The Black Eyed Peas Experience. We take a look at the Kinect and Wii versions to see if they have the Boom Boom Pow that one would expect from a series where the bar has been set high from the get-go*.

• Introduction
• Wii Version
• Kinect version

Posted in Kinect, Reviews, Wii, Xbox 360 | No Comments »

Review
Rayman Origins

Rayman is back you guys! Before the Raving Rabbids took over the series for some reason, Rayman games were solid 3D platformers that provided a great alternative to Mario. Rayman’s strange design and overall art direction was always a draw for people in the past; and it turns out that in Rayman’s return, things have not changed at all. Rayman Origins is developed and published by Ubisoft for the three major consoles and tells the tale of Rayman’s first adventures. You know, I’ve never done LSD before, but I’m pretty sure that after playing this game I know what it feels like.

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Posted in PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360 | 1 Comment »

Review
Driver: San Francisco

There are a number of factors that I consider when choosing a driving game: realism, car selection, course variety; these are all somewhat important. The biggest draw for me is the presence of replays. I have no idea why I place such emphasis on what many people consider to be a frill. In my opinion, There is something magical about watching a race that displays both driver skill and crazy luck. I am convinced that Driver: San Francisco* is a game that was made specifically for me.

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Posted in PlayStation 3, Reviews, Wii, Xbox 360 | 1 Comment »

Let’s Get this Party Started
Nintendo E3 2011 Fall Preview

Let’s face it, with fall quickly approaching, there’s more than our fair share of Nintendo games being released. Whether it be The Legend of Zelda: The Skyward Sword, Starfox 64 3D, Kirby Wii or Kid Icarus: Uprising, there’s certainly something for everyone!

On July 21st, Nintendo of Canada held an event in Toronto showcasing these E3 2011 titles. Sure, the Wii U was not available for review, but the slew of titles that were available are sure to whet any gamer’s appetite. If there is one thing that Nintendo does well, it’s harnessing nostalgia from old titles and packing them into the new.

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Posted in 3DS, Events, Nintendo, Wii | 3 Comments »

Review
Wii Play Motion

It’s almost hard to imagine that Wii Play was released over four years ago, isn’t it? One of the best-selling games of all time, Wii Play didn’t exactly offer gamers the best mini-game experience (that one goes to WarioWare: Smooth Moves, duh) but it did offer endless hours of laser hockey, table tennis and, my favourite: tank battles. On top of that (and probably the main reason why people picked up this game in the first place), the game came bundled with an extra Wii-mote – smart means for the quirky new console that had so much potential.

Since then, Nintendo has released Wii Play Motion, a direct sequel to the bestseller. With it comes some new additions and improvements: better mini-games, better controls and -most importantly- a glossy new Wii-mote with a built-in Wii Motion Plus. Funny how the accessory has become the hot topic once again; but it shows in sales and Nintendo clearly knows how to grab a hold of its audience.

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Posted in Reviews, Wii | No Comments »

Review
Cars 2

Movie-based games (particularly ones based on animated films) can be hit-and-miss. One of the greatest hits came in the form of Toy Story 3 by Avalanche Software. It was plain to see that they worked very closely with Pixar to create a game that gave the same feeling as the movie. The same can be said for Cars 2, which is a great kart-style racing game starring everyone’s favourite anthropomorphic cars; this title is something the whole family can enjoy.

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Posted in DS, Mac, PC, PlayStation 3, Reviews, Wii, Xbox 360 | No Comments »

Review
Mystery Case Files: The Malgrave Incident

Mystery Case Files: The Malgrave Incident is, as you would expect from the title, a whodunit-style game for the Nintendo Wii. The title puts you in the shoes of a pseudo-detective called to a mysterious island by a reclusive industrialist named Winston Malgrave. He claims to have discovered a possible cure for all illnesses, but he needs help gathering it to heal his ailing wife. When you arrive on the island, you observe what appears to have been a once-thriving community – now abandoned. Indeed, the only sign of human life is the steady stream of messages that you receive from Malgrave. As you make your way across the island, gathering the substance that Malgrave seeks, you start to unravel the history of the island and inevitably: Malgrave.

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Posted in Reviews, Wii | No Comments »