Most Overlooked Wii U Games - Part Three

SuperPhillip Central continues its look at the wondrous world of overlooked games with Part Three of the Most Overlooked Wii U Games. Despite being a poor seller in the grand scheme of things, the Wii U library is full of plenty of variety. Some titles do well, while some do not. This series of articles talks about the latter. If you missed the previous two parts of Most Overlooked Wii U Games, you can check them out here and here.

Batman: Arkham Origins: Blackgate - Deluxe Edition 

Someone got Batman in our Metroid! Or is it Metroid in our Batman? Regardless, the original Batman: Arkham Origins: Blackgate was a fun enough Metroid-style Batman game from former Retro Studios developers, the minds behind Metroid Prime. However, the key opponent from making the game truly great was its incredibly confusing map system. With the Deluxe Edition's release on the Wii U eShop, among other platforms, the map was made 3D-- great since the entire game's areas feature different heights, lengths, and depths that the vanilla version's 2D map just didn't help in navigating. In addition to the big mapping improvement were new areas of the game, new Batsuits, difficulty levels, and improved visuals, really putting the console's horsepower to good use.

Wind-up Knight 2

Taking the success that was the mobile version of Wind-up Knight 2 and putting it on a home console, developer Robot Invader could have simply phoned in its collective effort on the Wii U port. Fortunately, that wasn't the case with the Wii U's version of Wind-up Knight 2. Instead, the game supports off-TV play, much more satisfying button controls, and the same collection of over 30 auto-running levels to make a game that will go Medieval on anyone bold enough to try out the game. The idea that mobile games cannot be worth the price of admission or are inferior products is one that permeates in the minds of many gamers, sadly. However, giving Wind-up Knight 2 a chance, they will find addicting gameplay, marvelously crafted levels, and lots of content for the relatively small price.

Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2

The original Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures was an inoffensive game, but at the same time, that's pretty much all it had going for it. Sure, there were nice ideas here and there, but it was overall a pretty rote 3D platformer. Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2 takes the foundation of what its predecessor had, and adds a wealth of improvements, notably much more well crafted and well made levels. The fact that there's reason to explore each level for one of three special fruits is also a wonderful aspect of this highly underrated and overlooked sequel. Don't write off Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2 as just another licensed game based off of a cartoon. It has plenty to like, whether it is its humor, its well done level design, its variety, its ideas, and much more.

Legend of Kay Anniversary

An overlooked remastering of a game that was overlooked already the first time around when it released on the PlayStation 2, Legend of Kay Anniversary takes players on a journey across a Far Eastern world as the precocious warrior cat, Kay, as he goes on an adventure to oust the nefarious rats and gorillas that threaten his village and people. Along the way he encounters characters, enemies, and bosses of all shapes and sizes, solves environmental puzzles, completes tasks and objectives, and explores mysterious areas. While Legend of Kay Anniversary very much feels like a product of its time, the PS2 era of game consoles, its modest price for a retail release means that even if you don't fall in love with the game, you don't have to regret buying it that much.

Kung Fu Rabbit

Also available on smartphones, tablets, the Nintendo 3DS, and the PlayStation Vita, Kung Fu Rabbit casts players in the role of the eponymous rabbit as they collect carrots, defeat enemies, wall jump, avoid hazards, and rescue the baby bunny at the end of the game's 50+ levels. Heavily inspired by Super Meat Boy, Kung Fun Rabbit's gameplay is more accessible and less frustrating, but still offers a nice challenge. In each level, you can go through it normally and rescue the rabbit awaiting you at the end of the level, but there is also a side task of collecting all of the carrots to further expand the replay value and longevity of this already level-packed game. The best part about Kung Fu Rabbit is its price-- a modest five bucks or so. Throw in off-TV play to enjoy the game as you drown out the repetitive music with your own sounds, and you have a fun platformer deserving of praise.

Review Round-Up - February 2014

The Kong crew is on top of the review
mountain this month with Tropical Freeze.

Even though there were only 28 days for February, SuperPhillip Central managed to put together a fair amount of reviews in such a limited period of time. We kicked off our eight review month with a retro review of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, whose caravan was worthy of an 8.0. How we dream of a return to the dungeon crawling gameplay of the series... Following that was a look at two different Nintendo 3DS titles, Shinobi (7.5) and Cave Story 3D (7.0). We let the good times roll with Pac n' Roll, which bowled us over for a 7.0. Then, we continued with Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus. While not their greatest adventure together, Ratchet and Clank's latest scored a great 8.0. Kung Fu Rabbit stealthily slipped into this month of reviews, hopping and wall climbing to a 7.0. Finally, we capped off the month with two Wii U games, Wii Party U (8.0) and our game of the month, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (9.5).

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (GCN) - 8.0
Shinobi (3DS) - 7.5
Cave Story 3D (3DS) - 7.0
Pac 'n Roll (DS) - 7.0
Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus (PS3) - 8.0
Kung Fu Rabbit (Wii U, 3DS, Vita) - 7.0
Wii Party U (Wii U) - 8.0
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U) - 9.5

Another platforming icon traveled far
and wide to earn a really nice score.

Kung Fu Rabbit (Wii U, 3DS, Vita) Review

Moving away from retail releases, Kung Fu Rabbit released on iOS and Android devices originally. Last spring it released on the Wii U eShop. The following summer it showed up on the PlayStation Store. Now, it comes hopping along with onto the 3DS. With three different chances to wow gamers, is Kung Fu Rabbit worth looking into? Here's our review.

This Bunny Gets a Black Belt in Being Competent

Kung Fu Rabbit is the latest in iOS and Android games making its appearance onto dedicated home console and handheld marketplaces, notably the Wii U and 3DS eShops and the PlayStation Store. With obvious inspiration from the super successful Super Meat Boy, Kung Fun Rabbit remains its own entity with clever level design and a less agonizing difficulty. That said, will Kung Fu Rabbit need a lucky rabbit's foot to get a passable score?

Told through comic book style panels, the simple story of Kung Fu Rabbit shows rabbits being kidnapped by some kind of evil force. This force leaves behind two things: 1) black goo that comes in the form of enemies, spikes, and other hazards, and 2) the rabbit master. The latter is one thing these nefarious do-badders will regret, as this rabbit wants revenge.. and carrots. Lots and lots of carrots.

Hmm. Daffy Duck was right.
It IS rabbit season.

Kung Fu Rabbit has you controlling the titular hero through individual, short 2D levels with the goal of rescuing the trapped bunny that is held at the end of each level to progress to the next. On the way there, there's plenty of obstacles to make your task much more interesting. From black pools of goo to moving enemies that can only be defeated through making contact with their weak points, this rapid moving rabbit has a lot to contend with. Seeing as all it takes is one hit to send your bunny into the next world, precision jumping, Mega Man X-esque wall climbing, and timing are of the utmost importance. The improved load times compared to the original mobile versions offer an instant return to the action upon failure.

These enemies can only be
defeated with an attack from behind.

Although the rabbit's leaps are a bit floaty, he controls well otherwise. The addition of buttons grants the console and handheld versions of Kung Fu Rabbit superiority over their mobile counterparts. This is immediately apparent in the more troublesome levels, where precise controls are necessary. The touch screen isn't too friendly for precision platforming, especially if you have to act quickly.

Aside from saving each rabbit from its purple bubble prison, there are optional carrots to obtain. There are three small carrots and a larger golden carrot. Collecting all of these in a level makes it completely beaten. If you're one who likes a challenge, as many of these carrots take some death-defying platforming to pull off, putting you in hazard's way, collecting everything in a level is sure to bring you some replay value.

Mega Man X would be proud, master.

These carrots aren't just meant for hoarding, either. The iOS and Android versions of Kung Fu Rabbit used in-app purchases as opposed to the Wii U, 3DS, and Vita versions' carrot currency. These can be used in the shop to purchased helpful items to make levels less daunting. You can also use carrots to simply purchase new worlds, as opposed to unlocking them through the usual means of beating levels. However, as a wise ninja once said, "The road to greatness never has shortcuts." ...Okay, I made that up, but it does sound thoughtful, does it not?

That trapped bunny is close
yet so far away.

Kung Fu Rabbit consists of three starting worlds, each possessing 20 levels to them, each lasting 30-60 seconds, not counting retries. Starting off, levels are a breeze, almost insultingly so, but with continued progression, the challenge becomes far greater with new takes on familiar obstacles. There's even a fourth bonus world that contains the most challenging of levels with no carrots to collect, just the goal of making it to the end in a platforming fight for survival. If that's not enough, remixed levels open up after the initial three worlds are completed. Thus, Kung Fu Rabbit definitely has the content to it.

One of many bonus levels
in Kung Fu Rabbit.

The game has a charming cartoon-y art style to it, but the game overuses the same small spattering of level locales that things eventually get boring. Deja vu is a common occurrence when so many levels have the same background and assets to them. There's not just repetitiveness in the scenery, either. The music of the game features extremely short loops of audio that fast become offensive to the ears. The sound effects don't fare much better, only offering the abundance of bubbling goop and little else. It is this part of Kung Fu Rabbit that doesn't do much to excite.

For which version is the best, all perform well. Although the 3DS version does not feature stereoscopic 3D at all, which is a shame because the game's backgrounds would look way more interesting with the effect. The Vita version has optional touch and back touch screen controls, but buttons are really the way to go. Finally, the Wii U version supports the ability to play the game solely on the GamePad screen. It's all a matter of platform preference, really.

Jeez. Not even a simple "thank you"?

Kung Fu Rabbit is a terrific pick-up-and-play-for-five-minutes game. It's not the most original game around, nor does it feature the most variety. It does, however, bring the player a reasonable challenge (not so much in the early going), cute visuals, an admirable amount of levels, fun achievements, and competent platforming. If you enjoy skillful platformers, then by all means jump down the rabbit hole. Otherwise, the lack of visual and sound variety, and some cheap level design will most likely frustrate you.

[SPC Says: 7.0/10]