pink_clemonade
2024
I don't need further updates to solidify my feelings on this game, it's a straight-up masterpiece of both inventory management games and auto-battlers. The aesthetic of the game is pleasing without ever being overbearing; visual polish speaks for itself and the sound design is immensely satisfying. The amount of content the devs are committed to adding, weekly, is commendable simply because of how clearly this game came from passion and nothing else.
Every item is creative and exciting to build around -- the amount of cute pop culture references both within gameplay and within the snappy writing leaves the dev-logs feeling incredibly relatable. I understand the types of gamers these devs are, purely based off of the creativity in item selection and gameplay choices.
Incredibly communicative balance logs and frequent patches that are in-sound with community ideas. An all-star title that I simply have issues finding critique with.
Every item is creative and exciting to build around -- the amount of cute pop culture references both within gameplay and within the snappy writing leaves the dev-logs feeling incredibly relatable. I understand the types of gamers these devs are, purely based off of the creativity in item selection and gameplay choices.
Incredibly communicative balance logs and frequent patches that are in-sound with community ideas. An all-star title that I simply have issues finding critique with.
2001
BANGER simple puzzle(ish) game with tons of play time for the relatively small content. classic nintendo simple-cute premise with gameplay first attitude - every adventure level teaches you more about how the spinner can be moved and operated in complex and precise ways, all culminating in a final world requiring confidence, speed, and precision comfortably hugging walls alongside kururin's circular pod as the only way to save your final sibling!
the challenge levels provide a lovely, quick minded break to the sometimes frustrating monotanaity of the main story. quick paced, speed emphasized challenge runs that push the limits of your precise finger movement and knowledge of game mechanics. incredibly addictive and hard to leave uncompleted.
unfortunately unable to complete the vs mode. maybe ill return to finish this review! for now - im more than happy with my full-star completion of all 11 challenge worlds, and gathering every single costume!! the customization in this game is a surprise and a treat UGH such a cute game -- from soundtrack to visual aesthetic the game oozes notable charm.
the challenge levels provide a lovely, quick minded break to the sometimes frustrating monotanaity of the main story. quick paced, speed emphasized challenge runs that push the limits of your precise finger movement and knowledge of game mechanics. incredibly addictive and hard to leave uncompleted.
unfortunately unable to complete the vs mode. maybe ill return to finish this review! for now - im more than happy with my full-star completion of all 11 challenge worlds, and gathering every single costume!! the customization in this game is a surprise and a treat UGH such a cute game -- from soundtrack to visual aesthetic the game oozes notable charm.
2022
Perfectly fun, cute, and charming 3D platformer - it’s cheap price point and simple premise, as well as tight controls and short completion time (I 100%’d the game in 45 minutes) make it a swell go-around for newcomers to 3D platformers, especially young children.
Level design is really surface level, and while it is certainly engaging to the extent that it’s fun to move around, it’s clear the design elements were a tad restrained for simplicities sake. Soundtrack is cute but unmemorable, unfortunately. Same with aesthetics and design, it’s a clean and effective yet all-too-pristine emulation of early 3D graphics yet the slight visual uncanny jank can lend itself to a confusing visual situation for an explorer type.
Level design is really surface level, and while it is certainly engaging to the extent that it’s fun to move around, it’s clear the design elements were a tad restrained for simplicities sake. Soundtrack is cute but unmemorable, unfortunately. Same with aesthetics and design, it’s a clean and effective yet all-too-pristine emulation of early 3D graphics yet the slight visual uncanny jank can lend itself to a confusing visual situation for an explorer type.
2018
GOD THIS GAME IS SO CUTE. Short and sweet, very simple puzzle and character/style focused lil game. The main 2 characters have an adorable, cute-irony coded relationship which feels delightfully campy, the gameplay loop is simple and punctuated with an endlessly listenable soundtrack by Daniel Koestner. Super simple recommendation to anyone. A great way to spend an hour or two.
SUPER MARIO BROS. WONDER is the best game to give to a young child. That’s not to offend any lover of the game in any capacity - - it’s a fantastically fun and engagingly quirky platforming romp that perfectly evaluates the current 2D Mario status quo and pushes it forward in nearly every conceivable way.
In terms of design: the game moves beautifully like every Mario game, the UI is simple and practical, and the world map is actually fun (!!), including swaths of cute secrets to uncover. It’s no wonder a seasoned industry veteran like Takashi Tezuka came up with the Wonder Flower concept, as the game’s subtitle namesake is a consistent WOW!-factor in every single level. Tezuka’s love of fantasy is apparent in many design concepts that the wonder flower expands on, adding a storybook fairy-tale aesthetic that the NewSup games seemed to be going towards but never find genuinely. Beyond this, the added badge mechanics solve many age old 2D Mario nitpicks and expand on basic platforming game theory in simple and amazingly creative ways. Yasuhisa Yamamura and Shigefumi Hino stand out among this games stacked designer roster as experienced and practiced level designers with decades of work at Nintendo developing flagship games that taught the industry we know today - - their influence in this game as a teaching tool for platformers cannot be understated. Hence my comment at the beginning of this review: the platforming design throughout this game is perfect for beginners, with a design curve that balances forgiving and engaging with nuance. Despite only including 69 regular levels, by the final pseudo-Kaizo badge test, the player will be a skilled, experienced 2D platforming gamer. This game achieves this with efficiency, style, and room for player expression through the accessible, sensory bliss of the presentation.
The presentation of the game makes it shine especially strong; Naoki Mineta’s team banged out adorable new designs for all of our Mario cast, and the titular Jumpman himself alongside the princesses and Yoshi look particularly fresh and full of emotion with the new overhaul. In contrast to the programming, design, and visual team, a relatively fledgling composing squad of lead Shiho Fujii (MK8/Oddysey fame), Sayako Doi, and Chisaki Shimazu (of which this is the latter’s first game composition credit) worked to thread the game’s stellar soundtrack. The new themes are charming, cheerful, and perfectly ‘Mario’ with a fun natural edge full of woodwinds and light drums to accentuate the nature aesthetic that permeates the game. This soundtrack comes alongside the smartest, most effective sound design I’ve seen in years led by Sanae Uchiha. Music and sound plays an important role in this game (many levels play out as a song, not simply a game level!) and often the player can be considered an instrument in the arrangement. The kinetic factor of the Joy-Cons 3D-rumble is an important factor in this feeling including the player.
This game is unequivocally special, Nintendo certainly has done it again. (I can’t give it 5 stars because half of these improvements shoulda been made at least 3 NewSup games ago :/ )
In terms of design: the game moves beautifully like every Mario game, the UI is simple and practical, and the world map is actually fun (!!), including swaths of cute secrets to uncover. It’s no wonder a seasoned industry veteran like Takashi Tezuka came up with the Wonder Flower concept, as the game’s subtitle namesake is a consistent WOW!-factor in every single level. Tezuka’s love of fantasy is apparent in many design concepts that the wonder flower expands on, adding a storybook fairy-tale aesthetic that the NewSup games seemed to be going towards but never find genuinely. Beyond this, the added badge mechanics solve many age old 2D Mario nitpicks and expand on basic platforming game theory in simple and amazingly creative ways. Yasuhisa Yamamura and Shigefumi Hino stand out among this games stacked designer roster as experienced and practiced level designers with decades of work at Nintendo developing flagship games that taught the industry we know today - - their influence in this game as a teaching tool for platformers cannot be understated. Hence my comment at the beginning of this review: the platforming design throughout this game is perfect for beginners, with a design curve that balances forgiving and engaging with nuance. Despite only including 69 regular levels, by the final pseudo-Kaizo badge test, the player will be a skilled, experienced 2D platforming gamer. This game achieves this with efficiency, style, and room for player expression through the accessible, sensory bliss of the presentation.
The presentation of the game makes it shine especially strong; Naoki Mineta’s team banged out adorable new designs for all of our Mario cast, and the titular Jumpman himself alongside the princesses and Yoshi look particularly fresh and full of emotion with the new overhaul. In contrast to the programming, design, and visual team, a relatively fledgling composing squad of lead Shiho Fujii (MK8/Oddysey fame), Sayako Doi, and Chisaki Shimazu (of which this is the latter’s first game composition credit) worked to thread the game’s stellar soundtrack. The new themes are charming, cheerful, and perfectly ‘Mario’ with a fun natural edge full of woodwinds and light drums to accentuate the nature aesthetic that permeates the game. This soundtrack comes alongside the smartest, most effective sound design I’ve seen in years led by Sanae Uchiha. Music and sound plays an important role in this game (many levels play out as a song, not simply a game level!) and often the player can be considered an instrument in the arrangement. The kinetic factor of the Joy-Cons 3D-rumble is an important factor in this feeling including the player.
This game is unequivocally special, Nintendo certainly has done it again. (I can’t give it 5 stars because half of these improvements shoulda been made at least 3 NewSup games ago :/ )