Strong female character that turns into an egg and rolls around?! And that soundtrack! Gameboy Ruled the 90's but I still my prized possession nearly 25 years on!
Alice Hinde - Online
I love Mario Kart, I'm sure it has destroyed friendships for me, but then again, there is nothing more satisfying than blowing up the person in 1st place. It's one of those games you can pick up after any length of time away and have the greatest time playing again. It's addictive nature has cemented it in video game history as one of the greatest games ever.
Steph Lord - Online
Available on:
Put me down for Rhythm Paradise Megamix on 3DS then please!
You can tap dance, translate an alien language, and even interview a wrestler to awesome tunes!
WUBADUBADUBA THAT TRUE?!
Lauren Newman - Commercial
Available on:
The Legend of Zelda is a staple series in the Nintendo franchise... and rightfully so. Ocarina of Time has the perfect balance of charming story, gripping gameplay and mind-boggling puzzles. You'll find yourself hiking up treacherous volcanoes, hack through dense forests and even enjoy brief rests at a homely ranch when you’re feeling a little tired from being Hyrule's ultimate Hero. Just try not to murder your fairy.
During a particularly busy year for holidays (and a major quest for 'bikini body abs') back in 2013
This game was used every evening after the gym! To the point where I knew all the instructors names and 'motivational words of wisdom' before each routine... and probably knew a lot of routines well enough to attempt to bust out in a club when the song came on... the shame!!
#ZumboPro Just saying!!
Jade Armitage - Reception
The story of Tiz, Agnes, Edea and Ringabel is one for the Nintendo 3DS history books. Bravely Default brought the look and feel of original Final Fantasy games - it even began development as a sequel to Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light - in to the spotlight once more with its gameplay, mechanics and aesthetic all harking back to yesteryear JRPG titles. The job system was one of the best the genre has seen, and the rich story was so flippin' great that I was hooked each time a new twist or turn reared its head. Oh, and the music was just brilliant. Joyous.
Tom Dent - Social Team
Available on:
I feel like this game has never got the recognition it deserves, JFG was the first platformer I personally played and I've always held such fond memories of it. The game is fantastic, well balanced and full of loveable characters. Although, nothing is more brutal than seeing the Tribal's get killed by the swarms of Drones that have enslaved their planet. What could be better vengeance than shooting them all to bits as a dog with a jetpack?!?
Great level design, challenging combat an engaging story, and its made by RAREWARE - making this my Staff Pick, one to remember very fondly.
Christian Sturgess - Design
The year was 1999. Nothing fills me with such sweet nostalgia as the memories of 10th June as I popped to my local toy store to pick-up a copy of Pokemon Red. The launch of Red & Blue not only began a Pokemon whirlwind inside of me, but across the world. The first trip to Kanto to catch 'em all, then only 151 of the little 'mons, was a fantastical journey. From leaving Pallet Town to trialling my battle skills in the renown Pokemon Gyms across the region, it all fills me with smiles. If you fancy diving back in on this gem, Pokemon Red for Nintendo 3DS includes classic graphics and music, whilst taking advantage of the 3DS capabilities that allow you to trade and battle using local wireless! Gotta Catch 'em All!
Logan Harrington - Social Team
Available on:
My favourite Nintendo game has to be Pokemon Snap, it bought the world of Pokemon alive and showed a whole new possible side to the Poke-World other than stuff cute and scary creatures into your Pokeballs.
The level designs were amazing with hidden paths and evolutions like Charizard and only being able to access them through creative means as well as being able to take photos of all the Pokemon was such a fun experience. That and being able to donk a Scyther on the head with an apple was hilarious to young me (OK and current me as well).
Toby Barham - Marketplace
Sound finally getting really involved in gameplay, drawing you into the game for some serious immersion beyond the cute pixely graphics. Meh, it was 1991.
Neil Bell - IT
People kinda forget about Yoshi's Story on the N64.
Whether it was the sheer cuteness of the Yoshi's or how bright the game was, Yoshi's Story is quite close to my heart. I always used to choose the Green Yoshi (my favourite colour) and would explore the levels for ages trying to get Lucky Fruit. Saving the Super Happy Tree was one thing, but eating Shy Guys, defeating Baby Bowser and singing the theme made my summer holiday much more fun.
Favourite part? Finding an umbrella and drifting down to the ground safely. Yoshi sings a little tune which was seriously adorable.
Chaz Conopo - Online Team
Last weekend some friends and I had a retro Nintendo weekend and we played classics like Mario Kart, Street Fighter II and Super Mario 64. However the game that stood out the most for me was Bomberman on SNES. Playing 4-player, struggling to understand the changing mechanics on each map, and gloriously blowing myself up over and over, I had a fantastic time. I think there's a place for games with deep stories, incredible graphics and intricate systems, but I also think sometimes games should just be a blast - which undeniably Bomberman is. Playing the classic version on SNES has got me beyond excited to think about what Super Bomberman R on the switch will be like!
David Hackman - IT
From the first reveal trailer of Metroid Prime I was sold. Being a big FPS gamer, I was super keen to experience the Metroid Universe through Samus' Visor and take on the Space Pirates in a fully realised 3D world. I had dabbled with previous entries but never stuck to them.
This changed with Metroid Prime. At first, the lock on mechanic for shooting, felt alien to me however it eventually clicked and felt right. Scanning the environments to solve the puzzles and open up more of the intricately woven game world was both a joy and pleasure to do. Unlocking new abilities for Samus' suit meant I could backtrack to areas previously unaccessible and navigate the wonderfully realised level design and feel like a true explorer.
I really do hope Nintendo bring this to the Virtual Console for the Switch and PLEASE nintendo, give us a new Metroid Prime!
Lee Clarke - Design
Zelda Twlight Princess. By far my favourite of all the Zelda's (pending Breath of the Wild!)
First played on that beautiful purple Gamecube, then I got to relive some fantastic younger memories of running through Hyrule as a wolf on the Wii. THEN AGAIN on the WII U in HD with added stunning Mida and Link Wolf Amiibo.
There was nothing quite like howling the tunes of Hyrule into the wind as Wolf Link, and seeing the relationship develop between Link and Midna (whatever would Princesses Zelda think?!) Throw in galloping across the grassy plains on Epona and this beautiful game pieces together everything I love about the Legend of Zelda Franchise: Puzzles, Mystery, Story and Beauty.
Lizzie Rose - Commercial
Available on:
I was recommended eternal darkness by a friend a good number of years after its release. I was extremely dubious but all the same I dug out my GameCube and fired it up. I started playing Friday evening and ended up doing nothing else all weekend (other than the bare minimum of sleep & eating a rather unhealthy amount of snacks).
It was captivating, all my favourite elements of a game: great story, horror, magic, puzzles, creepy monsters and an attention to detail that just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to remember (despite making me jump out of my skin at the time!).
If you have not tried it, I strongly recommend it - despite its age - I honestly cannot think of anything to compare it to, even now.
Roni Dunn - IT
For me it's got to be my favourite Zelda game, Wind Waker!
I know this is a hard choice for some but for me it captured everything I want in an adventure and more.
The first time you set off on the King of Red Lions you can practically feel ocean air against you, this games visuals, music and sound design truly have a magical effect.
Link had a great blend of humour and bravery, Zelda felt like a true warrior who battled alongside you and Ganondorf earned my sympathy but still posed himself as an enemy who must be defeated at all costs.
I get goose bumps thinking about every plot twist, boss battle & piggy chase... where's my HD edition, I need to play it now!
Andrew Clancy - Commercial
Available on:
I was a bit late to the game when it came to Fire Emblem and started with Awakening. I mostly played it when I had a long commute to and from work, and it made a great time killer. So needless to say I was incredibly excited for Fire Emblem Fates. One of the biggest weaknesses of Fire Emblem Awakening was the storyline and the difficulty level (it was a bit too easy). This is remedied in Fire Emblem Fates, which offers three very distinct storylines, one that has you side with your birth family of Hoshido, the other has you side with your adopted family (you're more of a hostage) of Nohr. The last has you deciding not to pick a side at all.
Birthright serves as more of an introduction to Fire Emblem, it's very similar to Awakening in that it's easy to level-up characters and relationships because you are given a lot more opportunities to engage in side missions. It's a great entry point to the series, and an entertaining play.
Conquest is the most challenging game of the collection, it doesn't offer you any room to train up your characters outside of the main campaign. Wrong decisions can mean your characters are severely under-levelled. The storyline is a much darker affair, the Nohr family are painted as the bad guys but you are offered a more sympathetic view of the characters.
The last part is Revelations, this offers a mixture of both gameplay styles and give a bit more background on the events that transpire in both games. Overall, Fire Emblem Fates is a rich experience with a lot of depth that will keep you entertained for a long time.
Jon Davison - Online
Available on:
The Legend of Zelda is series that has been around for 31 years. The first of the series titled solely "The Legend of Zelda" was released on the NES in 1986 in a gold cartridge! The first of many to be released in a gold cartridge. Several games followed over the years with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time being released on the N64 which was the first 3D Zelda game to be made and set quite the precedent for future Zelda games. It still has the highest rated Meta critic score of 99 out of 100 to date. The last game in the main series to be released was Skyward Sword which was released on the Wii in 2011. The Wii U however never saw a new Zelda title from the main series until now. All previously released titles are playable on the Wii U via the eshop with Wind Waker and Twilight Princess receiving HD remasters on the Wii U.
With over 18 Zelda games released across of Nintendo's platforms and more, the newest title in the series Breath of the Wild is set to release on the 3rd of March 2017 on both the Wii U and Switch. This is the first game that follows the main series to be released in 5 years and looks to incorporate everything from all the previous games and add even more, making it the most ambitious game to date.
Whilst we don't know a great deal about the story, we know it's still set in Hyrule and the world is completely open allowing us to go anywhere at any time. The title also now incorporates various survival elements such as resource gathering to make food which replenishes health and gives various boosts, the weather and environmental conditions such as snow now make it too cold for the hero. With DLC confirmed on launch alongside Breath of the Wild, this will be the biggest Zelda game ever and hopefully the best.
Tom Cottrel - IT
