WiiU launch game serving as GamePad showcase. Well-crafted themed Nintendo mini-games. Excellent as a party game with 5 players for some modes. Less interesting solo. Good onboarding for WiiU and its quirks.
Your verdict
Category
Party / Minigame4 players7+
Co-op
Description
Twelve interactive attractions inspired by Nintendo franchises let the whole family discover the GamePad through augmented reality and asymmetric gaming experiences. Published by Nintendo, released in 2012 in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Flagship Wii U showcase demonstrating the GamePad's capabilities, featuring Luigi's Ghost Mansion, Donkey Kong's Crash Course, Zelda Battle Quest, and other mini-games.
Nintendo Land review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Reimagining Nintendo heroes as a dozen attractions, where the GamePad player sees and does things hidden from the others: this clever asymmetry creates hilarious situations. Hunting ghosts, fleeing a Mii or shooting arrows in a group triggers shouts and laughter. Colourful, clever and fiercely convivial, a showcase of living-room gaming built for the party.
A showcase bundled with some Wii U units, Nintendo Land gathers twelve attractions inspired by Nintendo's great licences, designed to demonstrate the GamePad and asymmetric play. The best, like Mario Chase or Luigi's Ghost Mansion, shine in local multiplayer where one player on the touch screen faces the others on the television. The unevenness between the minigames and a limited solo cap the interest. A good party game for families and the curious about the console's own asymmetric concept.
