Underrated Games With Even More Underrated Soundtracks - Part Five

SuperPhillip Central habitually checks out underrated and overlooked games throughout the year, and every Monday we post music from various video games. So the idea came years ago to combine these idea into one new series of articles: Underrated Games With Even More Underrated Soundtracks! We're now on our fifth installment since beginning some time ago. Part five of this series looks at underrated gems like the recently released Gravity Rush 2, Paper Mario: Color Splash, and a Wii U launch title, Nintendo Land.

To check out past parts of this article series, here are some convenient links for you:

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four

Gravity Rush 2 (PS4)

We begin with a game that if I hadn't already owned it, the soundtrack would have pushed me to do so. That's how fantastic Gravity Rush 2's soundtrack truly is. The music of this very overlooked early 2017 PS4 exclusive is composed by Kohei Tanaka, whose resume is as long as it is impressive. Such composition credits include his work on the PS1 cult classic Alundra, as well as working on anime like a little known title called One Piece. Tanaka-san brings his embarrassment of composition riches to Gravity Rush 2 with a lot of playful themes on top of more rock and jazz focused numbers. Gravity Rush 2 itself is a much improved sequel to the PlayStation Vita original, offering better gameplay and control. If you're looking for a game with lots of charm and personality for your PS4, Gravity Rush 2 is that game.

Title Menu

Storm and Triumph

Fire-Bound Lions

Combat II

Pleasure Quarter

Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U)

Speaking of charm and personality, you get that sevenfold with Paper Mario: Color Splash. You also get one of the funniest games on the Wii U and recently released in general. Color Splash is a marked improvement over the base gameplay found in the Nintendo 3DS's less than well received Sticker Star. It brings forth a reason to participate in battles, it offers more direction with its puzzles, and you'll seldom be frustrated as to what you need to do next. Then there's the music, which like Sticker Star is quite catchy and memorable. Color Splash has one of my favorite soundtracks of last year, taking familiar themes and giving them a clever twist, as well as wholly original compositions that stand up to any other pieces in the game. By virtue of releasing near the end of the struggling Wii U's life, Paper Mario: Color Splash didn't receive much fanfare from the gaming community, but don't be mistaken-- the game is well worth checking out if at least not listening to its stellar soundtrack.

Ruddy Road

Cherry Lake

Onstage at Oceanfest

Sunglow Ridge

Chateau Chanterelle 

Nintendo Land (Wii U)

Nintendo Land didn't exactly have the greatest reveal. With a lackluster appearance of gameplay and no fireworks to speak of, Nintendo Land and consequently the Wii U in retrospect were doomed from the start. Nevertheless, Nintendo Land itself is a really entertaining party game with 12 attractions all based around Nintendo franchises, such as Mario, Zelda, Pikmin, and more. Many of these have multiplayer components to them, and they showcase the Wii U's asymmetric gameplay where one player uses the Wii U GamePad while other players use the Wii Remotes. Each side is doing a different gameplay task, hence the term "asymmetric gameplay." If it's still not clear, don't worry. It's hard to explain perfectly, and that's part of the reason why the Wii U itself was hard to market. Regardless, Nintendo Land isn't just special as a party game; its soundtrack is a collection of familiar remixes of Nintendo franchise music.

Main Plaza

Gerudo Valley (The Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest)

Mission 10: Battle Kraid (Metroid Blast)

Stage 1 (Mario Chase)

Stage 1 (Animal Crossing: Sweet Day)

Rayman Legends (Multi)

Rayman Legends is a similar game like Rayman 2 before it in the case that Ubisoft just can't help but port it to every system under the sun. The Wii U was the original, and that was ported to the PS4 and Xbox One. Then, the Vita got its own version. Now, the Nintendo Switch is due up for what Ubisoft is calling the "definition edition." Whether or not the version of Rayman Legends is the definitive one or not, what you're going to get is platforming nirvana with a side of charm, humor, and gorgeous art using the Ubi Art game engine. The music is also quite nice, offering a boisterous orchestra to accentuate all the action. Pretty much everything about Rayman Legends is well crafted and makes for an engaging experience, particularly in multiplayer and particularly if you own the Wii U version which delivers some of that asymmetric multiplayer I was talking about in the Nintendo Land blurb.

Mysterious Swamps

Babel Tower

Storming the Castle

Enchanted Forest

Luchador

MadWorld (Wii)

MadWorld was quite the interesting game. It was unapologetic in its violence and crude humor, and it was the Wii of all consoles, a platform known for its more family friendly content compared to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Despite this, Platinum Games' MadWorld ended up being a really fun game even with its somewhat repetitive gameplay. That wasn't what players jumped on first, however. No, it was the game's showcase black and white art style which accentuated all the red blood that would pour from enemies. The soundtrack is all original rap and rock music, and damn awesome ones at that. Sure, songs like "come with it" are a bit too vivid and detailed with their violent imagery and wording, but it's all catchy and it all fits the game really well. It says something when I can enjoy a game's soundtrack despite not having a major love for rap music. Whatever the case, MadWorld was an underrated gem in the underrated library of the Wii.

come with it

Survival

ain't that funny

Let's Go!

You Don't Know Me

Mega Man X8 (PS2, PC)

After some stumbles in the Mega Man X franchise with Mega Man X6 and then the failed attempt for the X sub-series to enter 3D with Mega Man X7, it was a greatly pleasant surprise to discover that Mega Man X8 was a winner of a game. Sure, it had its own problems like two of the eight Maverick stages being vehicle-based and not traditional platforming stages, but overall, Mega Man X8 was a good game. Like X7, Mega Man X8 used fully 3D polygonal models instead of 2D sprites, and this was used to nice effect with some levels wrapping around themselves, fully using 3D depth and the like. The soundtrack continues the Mega Man X sub-series' penchant for excellent music. Most of X8 is hard rock, as you can see-- er... hear-- by these examples provided below.

Main Theme

Middle Boss Battle

Booster Forest

Boss Battle

Lumine 2nd

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - Leap Day with Nintendo Edition

Welcome to a rare, every-four-years occasion. No, I'm not referring to the presidential election season. It's best we leave politics off the table here at SuperPhillip Central. I'm talking about Leap Day! Not only that, but what's even rarer is an edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs on Leap Day!

This special edition is all Nintendo-themed this week. We start off with the Wii U launch title Nintendo Land. Then we have some cooperative action with The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes. Following up with that is a retro title, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. Finally, we trek through a winter wonderland with Yoshi in Yoshi's Woolly World and do battle in Splatoon.

As it's a tradition to mention the VGM Database, be sure to check it out for over 1,000 past VGM songs!

v1086. Nintendo Land (Wii U) - Metroid Blast - Infestation

Starting off with this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, we have Metroid Blast, an attraction from the Wii U launch title Nintendo Land. It's such a delight to hear themes from the Metroid series given rousing orchestral versions, such as this particular theme. It makes shooting down enemies as Samus's dropship or as your Mii a much more thrilling experience.

v1087. The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (3DS) - Main Theme

Overall, this next game was satisfactory. The online was quite uneven, especially if you were paired with jerks as teammates. However, the actual sum of The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes' parts was pretty good. The soundtrack remains excellent like many Zelda games before it. Even if Tri Force Heroes was more of a spin-off title, it is well worth playing.

v1088. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES) - Fight Against Monsters

We go a bit retro with the 1,088th VGM volume here with the normal battle theme, Fight Against Monsters, from Mario's first ever RPG. It was none other than Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, a then-historic partnership between Nintendo and Squaresoft. Yoko Shimomura contributed the majority of songs to the soundtrack while famed Nintendo composer Koji Kondo and even Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu contributed some tracks.

v1089. Yoshi's Woolly World (Wii U) - Fluffy Snow, Here We Go!

With winter wrapping up, I feel this song for one of the snow levels in the superb (dare I say better than the original Yoshi's Island!) Yoshi's Woolly World for the Wii U is posted at an optimal time. Fluffy Snow, Here We Go! is an uptempo track that is both cheery and playful, perfect for a romp in the snow with Yoshi.

v1090. Splatoon (Wii U) - Now or Never!

We wrap up this Nintendo-centric edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs with some music from Splatoon, Nintendo's wildly popular third-person squadron shooter. Now or Never! plays during the climax of battle, when time is just about to run out. Splatoon has such an eccentric soundtrack to it that only adds to the wacky and zany aesthetic of the game.

Top Five Wii U Games That Best Use the GamePad

It's no secret that many developers, including those within Nintendo, have been clueless as to how to incorporate the Wii U GamePad successfully into their games. It doesn't say much for the controller when the recently released Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze only used it for off TV play. Otherwise it simply showed a black screen. Still, there are a selection of titles that do make fine and even highly creative uses of the Wii U's special controller. These five games are what SuperPhillip Central's staff deems the ones that implement the GamePad best and in a variety of ways.

5) Rayman Legends

We start our top five countdown with a game that was originally scheduled to be a Wii U exclusive. Rayman Legends was set to release in the February following the Wii U's launch in November 2012. Unfortunately, Ubisoft's launch offerings failed to reach their sales expectations and resulted in Legends being delayed in order to be ported to other systems. Despite all this, we proclaim that the Wii U version of Rayman Legends is still the one to get. It was built for the Wii U GamePad, and it works remarkably well.

Rayman Legends has particular levels where the GamePad player controls a flying insect named Murfy. Either with the AI controlling the character doing all of the platforming or a human doing that work, the GamePad player uses their finger or stylus to interact with the environment. From sliding platforms for the player to climb aboard or moving obstructions out of the way, the Wii U GamePad is utilized in creative ways that make for an innovative gaming experience. A subgroup of Rayman Legends fans prefer to simply press a button to make Murfy do things (this is only possible in the ports, apart from the Vita version), but for the freshest and most fun take (obviously subjective) on this excellent platformer, the GamePad is the way to go.

4) Wii Party U

Nintendo has really struggled to show compelling reasons for the Wii U GamePad's existence in its own games. However, Wii Party U is a title that showcases many ingenious uses for the tablet-like controller. While the majority of mini-games are played simply with the Wii Remote, the 1 vs 3 mini-games have the sole player using the GamePad while the others use the Wii Remotes. This asymmetrical gameplay isn't just limited to the mini-games of Wii Party U.

Alternative modes that aren't board game related present great examples of how the Wii U GamePad can be utilized in many different ways. Name That Face has the GamePad user snapping a photo of their face that matches the clue given to them. Then the other players have to solve what the GamePad user's expression actually means. Lost-and-Found Square has three Wii Remote players scrambling to find the GamePad player, who assists the others in finding them by describing landmarks and places of interest around them. Sketchy Situation involves passing around the GamePad. Each player draws the item listed on the screen. However, one player has a slightly different item to draw than everyone else. The players that identify which player's item is different from the others earn points.

Alongside fun games for group sessions, there are an admirable amount of tabletop games. These games are played solely on the Wii U GamePad, having two players share it. One player is on one side, another player is on the other. Such simple to pick-up-and-play games include foosball and baseball. The point is that Wii Party U shows an incredible amount of inventive ways to use the Wii U GamePad.

3) Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Director's Cut

It's easy to implement a wide range of uses for the Wii U GamePad into many short, independent mini-games, but what about a single full-length, narrative-based, action/stealth game? One is more limited in the ways they can apply the controller to this type of game without it feeling shoehorned in. Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Director's Cut is such a game that uses the GamePad and uses it well.

There's of course a convenient means to play the entire game on the GamePad's screen exclusively, but there are several in-game applications that are more original in concept. Such things include using the screen as a radar, map, and infolog; looting downed enemies as well as hacking with a touch of the screen,; accessing inventory; sniping enemies; and much more. These applications perfectly show the Wii U GamePad as an enhancement of the gameplay of Human Revolution. It exhibits how the controller can be implemented into things other than mini-games, off-TV play, and a screen for the game's map.

2) Nintendo Land

Many will scoff and turn their noses up to Nintendo Land, believing it is just another mini-game collection. However, Nintendo Land is made up of twelve unique attractions, each with an impressive amount of content, stages, and challenges to them. Some more than others. Regardless, the majority of games create enough novel practices for the Wii U GamePad that makes us confused why Nintendo didn't just further experiment with these applications in fuller games.

Take Mario Chase, for instance. That game has a Mii dressed up as Mario being chased by several Miis in Toad costumes. The Mario Mii is controlled by the GamePad player, who gets to use the map on the screen to show where his Toad pursuers are at. This allows the Mario Mii to plan out the appropriate path to avoid the other players. The chasers do not get the luxury of a map. Instead, they must find the GamePad player, call out where that player is, and tag him before time runs out.

Then there's Yoshi's Fruit Cart. The TV screen shows where all of the fruit the player driving a Yoshi-shaped vehicle must devour, the goal that the player must drive through once all of the fruit in a stage has been eaten, as well as the holes and other obstacles they must avoid. With the Wii U GamePad, the player must draw a path to get all of the fruit, avoid any hazards, and reach the goal before their amount of juice runs out. The catch is that the GamePad screen only shows the playing field and not any fruit, goals, or obstacles. Through carefully examining the patterns of the ground, the player can deduce where different objects are located to either get or avoid them in order to draw an appropriate path.

Finally, we have The Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest, an attraction that has the GamePad player donning the familiar Zelda staple the bow, shooting arrows at incoming enemies as they go along an on-rails adventure. Through using the gyro controls and accelerometer of the GamePad, players can get a 360 degree view of impending danger, upcoming enemies, and vantage points to pick off foes from. Certain boss battles have the GamePad player needing to turn the GamePad on its side to dodge an enemy's attack.

That's just a fourth of the amount of activities in Nintendo Land that utilize the Wii U GamePad in an innovative way. We've just scratched the surface. When you factor in that the majority of attractions show off the capabilities of the controller in unique ways, and that most attractions have a healthy heaping of content to them, it's shocking that Nintendo Land didn't take off better than it did. It truly is a special game, and one that puts the Wii U GamePad to terrific use.

1) ZombiU

Still, in our collective opinion, the single most spectacular use of the Wii U's GamePad comes from Ubisoft's poor selling launch title ZombiU. Many shrugged off this game as a throwaway first-person shooter, but ZombiU is much more than just a first-person experience. It's true survival horror with an emphasis on surviving. Every time the player loses a survivor of the zombie apocalypse to a member of the undead, that survivor becomes a zombie. That character is no longer available for the player, nor is what they had in their backpack. The player assumes another survivor's body, with the ability to pick up their lost loot. Of course they have to deal with the zombie that is their last survivor.

ZombiU's intense gameplay is something that could only be done on the Wii U, and it would only be effective with the Wii U GamePad. You see, in order to manage the limited space of each survivor's backpack, the player needs to have the survivor set the backpack down and rummage through it. However, unlike most other games, the gameplay does not pause. The player's character is still vulnerable to becoming infected by a zombie that can show up on a moment's notice. It's this level of uncertainty and fright that wouldn't be anywhere near as executed as well as it is on the Wii U and its unique controller.

Outside of this major gameplay element and GamePad use, the controller's touch screen serves the purpose of a mini-map, as well as being employed for hacking and inputting passwords into computers. What ZombiU does with the Wii U GamePad is astounding, and what is even more amazing is that the game that best showcases the possibilities and potential of the Wii U GamePad is a title not even from Nintendo, the creator of this device in the first place! Bravo, Ubisoft. Bravo.

Top Ten Wii U Retail Games of the System's First Year

Today is Monday, November 18. A year ago on this very same day, Nintendo's Wii U launched here in North America. (It's also the 12-year anniversary of the GameCube, as well, but that's for another day.) To celebrate, we are taking a look back at some of the most engaging, entertaining, and enjoyable Wii U retail titles released from the Wii U's launch to now. Will your favorites be listed? It certainly hasn't been an easy first year for the Wii U, but despite its sales problems, the system has entertained us on many occasions with the following list of games.

10) The Wonderful 101

The criminally underrated first project from Platinum Games on the Wii U, The Wonderful 101 featured a rather steep learning curve to get used to the controls. We think it is something that many reviewers did not take the time to do, which is understandable, as they have many games on their proverbial plate to play. Regardless, for those who stuck with the game, they found an increasingly crazier, action-packed, depth-filled mass hero game that did not take itself seriously whatsoever. Taking on huge GEATHJERK enemies with your 100 heroes, using the GamePad's touch screen and right analog stick to transform your group into different forms, and participating in an ever-escalating campaign were all events The Wonderful 101 presented players with. There's a reason many people who have played the game recommend it as one of the Wii U's best.

9) ZombiU

One of the few games to get us legitimately fearful, ZombiU comes across as just another first-person shooter at first, but shooting isn't as commonplace (or as smart) as you might think. Shooting makes noise. Noise brings zombies. Zombies want to kill you. You want to survive. ZombiU was all about surviving the horror that hit England, requiring players to be resourceful like MacGyver during the zombie apocalypse. (Okay, we don't think that was an episode, but we sort of stopped caring after he quit being a cool action hero who ventured the world.) ZombiU is still one of the few games that make sensational use of the Wii U GamePad, one that lends itself well to the gameplay. Fumbling through your backpack in real time, not knowing if a zombie will come and attack during is one seriously scary proposition for one seriously scary game.

8) Need for Speed: Most Wanted U

The Wii U cannot say it has the definitive version of many games. Whether that is due to the hardware's power or the effort of third-parties is a question that we aren't capable of answering ourselves. Regardless, one of the terrific third-party ports for the Wii U (albeit really late and at full price while the other versions were very cheap) was from EA of all publishers. Criterion, the developer, put a lot of love and effort into Need for Speed: Most Wanted U, and it shows. The game runs well, possesses plenty of Wii U-exclusive features, such as switching between cars, time of day, and traffic conditions via the GamePad screen, and the online is well done, too. For speed demons and connoisseurs of cars alike, Need for Speed: Most Wanted U is worth taking a test drive with.

7) Rayman Legends

The former Wii U exclusive was delayed to release at the same time as the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PlayStation Vita ports. The initial news stung for Wii U owners like us who were dying for something new to play. Regardless, the nine month wait was definitely worth it. The level of creativity and imagination exhibited by Michel Ancel and his team knows no bounds in Rayman Legends, whether it be in the enjoyable musical levels, the best-on-Wii-U Murfy segments, or the Invasion levels. The addition of past haunts from Rayman Origins made for a package that was immensely enjoyable.

6) New Super Mario Bros. U

While Rayman Legends showcased a lot of new ideas and great use of the Wii U GamePad, on a purely design level, New Super Mario Bros. U surpasses it in quality. Everything feels tighter, more polished, and better in multiplayer. Including a Challenge mode and Boost mode added some variety to the game, so that beginners and veterans alike could enjoy the game together. We're certain that if New Super Mario Bros. U had incorporated a better art style as opposed to its plastic toy look and better quality music (see: something new), many would have a higher opinion of this game.

5) Nintendo Land

We were very hesitant to get excited for yet another mini-game collection, but after playing Nintendo Land we feel that the term "mini-game collection" does a disservice to Nintendo's creative package showcasing the many talents of the Wii U GamePad. In fact, each of Nintendo Land's twelve games could be called mega-games, as they have a lot of content. From chasing a Mii decked out in Mario's clothing as a brigade of Toads pursue him in Mario Chase, to oh-so-carefully tilting the GamePad in order to not break the egg laying within the cart in Donkey Kong's Crash Course, there was a lot of content to enjoy either alone or with friends/family. The icing on this enticing cake was the various nods to Nintendo's history via prizes and remixed music.

4) Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

Similar to The Wonderful 101 in that this game has a steep learning curve that once conquered, players will be given a highly rewarding experience, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate was an updated port of the Wii's vanilla Monster Hunter 3, giving hunters around the world more content in the form of new monsters to take down. The improved high-definition visuals might not be the best on the Wii U (nowhere close actually), but they certainly did not hurt the eyes. The single player story mode was interesting enough, but hopping into an online lobby and battling creatures like Lagiacrus and Rathalos with up to three other buddies or total strangers made for an even more exciting time. With Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, the thrill of the hunt was taken into the HD era.

3) LEGO City Undercover

Beneath its meager difficulty and accessible appearance there lies in LEGO City Undercover one of the most entertaining open world sandbox settings in quite a long time. LEGO City was absolutely loaded with activities to do on every street corner, with new character and vehicle tokens to unlock, sections of the city for each of protagonist Chase McCain's various disguises to take advantage of, and cars to... uh... "borrow." Add all of that to the game's charming characters (Frank Honey, yes?) and humorous story, filled with plenty of references to pop culture, and you have a game that came from out of nowhere to be loved by the entire SuperPhillip Central crew.

2) The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD

We were going to place The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD as number one on our list today, but we figured we'd give a wholly new game that honor rather than a remake. That said, The Wind Waker HD is one heck of a remake, fixing many issues players had with the GameCube original. Such fixes included adding an unlockable Swift Sail to make sailing less tedious and problematic, as well as retooling the infamous Triforce Quest to make it more enjoyable and less of a hassle. Then there's those visuals, which are some of the most impressive on any platform. The characters display a plethora of emotions, the world is richly detailed, and the entire package could easily be misconstrued for a cartoon. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker was a phenomenal game, but this Wii U HD remake makes it even better.

1) Pikmin 3

Nintendo fans had been waiting a long time for the third installment in Shigeru Miyamoto's Pikmin franchise. The end result was most certainly worth waiting for. Pikmin 3 introduced the concept of having three different captains, able to be split up and assigned different tasks for maximum efficiency. Proficient players could divvy up the tasks to play through the game in as few game days as possible. The goal of the game was to have your Pikmin army defeat enemies, solve environmental puzzles, proceed through the various areas of the game, and collect fruit as a team. The addition of Mission Mode and Challenge Mode meant more content for Pikmin 3 players to enjoy, and subsequent DLC has done that, too. Pikmin 3 is a modern masterpiece, and showcases just how much talent Nintendo still possesses.

One-Sentence Reviews - Volume Four

We have gotten a lot of good feedback regarding this segment. You'd wonder why it's been over a year since we've last done it, then, wouldn't you! It's One-Sentence Reviews, where we take thirty games and try to summarize our thoughts about them and criticize them in one sentence. Sure, we occasionally do a run-on sentence here and there, but that's all right. Some of these games listed have already had in-depth reviews, and many of the games will be reviewed with more detail later. Regardless, let's jump right into this and enjoy ourselves, shall we?

"While nowhere near the game of the generation, The Last of Us is an epic thrill ride from beginning to end." The Last of Us (PS3)

"Columbia is such an awesome place to explore, and the gameplay of BioShock Infinite is a step up from so many others of the competition." BioShock Infinite (PS3, 360, PC)

"Featuring some pretty sensational set pieces, puzzles, and action, this prequel to the God of War trilogy is an adrenaline rush most of the time." God of War: Ascension (PS3)

"Questionable Dante design change aside, DmC: Devil May Cry is an uptempo action game that will get the player's palms sweaty for sure." DmC: Devil May Cry (PS3, 360, PC)

"Forget Resident Evil 6, Revelations is the game that deserves that name and the accolades." Resident Evil: Revelations (Wii U, PS3, 360, PC)

"The inclusion of a casual mode allows the latest Fire Emblem to be accessible to all player skill levels, making it one of our favorite installments." Fire Emblem: Awakening (3DS)

"Most mini-game collections lack depth, but Nintendo Land not has depth, but it is an excellent showcase of both the Wii U GamePad and the asymmetrical gameplay of the system." Nintendo Land (Wii U)

"Our favorite Wii U game, LEGO City Undercover is packed with content, things to do on every street corner, and a story with humor that branches all ages." LEGO City Undercover (Wii U)

"We hesitate to say how incredibly great Xenoblade Chronicles is because it will just make those without the game feel bad (and have to pay through the nose to get a copy)." Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii)

"Featuring some great track design, terrific retro track choices, kart customization, and all-new gliding and underwater sections, the latest Mario Kart is a tour de force for kart racers." Mario Kart 7 (3DS)

"Containing ultra-repetitive gameplay and missions that really outwear their welcome, Project X Zone isn't the dream crossover game we were hoping for." Project X Zone (3DS)

"Shooting and loot makes for a marvelously addicting time, and Borderlands 2 is just that." Borderlands 2 (PS3, 360, PC)

"While Grand Theft Auto IV moved more towards realism to a detriment of that game, Saints Row: The Third simply got even more off the wall and crazy, and that was a truly good thing." Saints Row: The Third (PS3, 360, PC)

"Platinum Games makes dicing and slicing through enemies (and watermelons) an absolute blast in this high octane action game." Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (PS3, 360, PC)

"Perhaps the only strong points of Final Fantasy XIII are the excellent soundtrack and graphics." Final Fantasy XIII (PS3, 360)

"Taking the franchise from Bungie and making it their own was no easy task, but 343 Industries managed to create a stellar entry in the Halo franchise." Halo 4 (360)

"A great kart racer that is only marred by technical issues and certain tracks being difficult to ascertain where you need to go." Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (Wii U, PS3, 360, PC, 3DS, PSV)

"It took 300 hours of gameplay before we got a little burned out on this game, so that should tell you exactly how great and addicting Animal Crossing: New Leaf really is." Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS)

"Possessing RPG elements, a wonderful selection of some of the greatest video game music ever, and addicting gameplay, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy is one of our favorite rhythm games of all time." Theatrhythm Final Fantasy (3DS)

"Showcasing the greatness of the Wii MotionPlus, Wii Sports Resort features excellent motion controls and fun for the whole family." Wii Sports Resort (Wii)

"A game that starts out really slowly, Harvest Moon 3D eventually peps up and creates for the player one of the grandest Harvest Moon experiences to date on any platform." Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning (3DS)

"A great collector's item and a fun interpretation of the classic Cave Story, Cave Story 3D is not a necessity to play, as the cheaper versions are just as fun." Cave Story 3D (3DS)

"The Wii U version of the game is the definitive version, due to it being the one that was cancelled." Aliens: Colonial Marines (PS3, 360, PC)

"The mission to create a competent Call of Duty game on the PlayStation Vita is an utter failure." Call of Duty: Black Ops - Declassified (PSV)

"This enhanced version of the overlooked Wii game, Muramasa: The Demon Blade, plays great, looks sensational, and has a good amount of content for solo players." Muramasa Rebirth (PSV)

"While this game started Dimps' fetish with throwing as many bottomless pits as possible into levels, Sonic Rush is a fast-paced platformer with great music." Sonic Rush (DS)

"A bigger and better game than its predecessor, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 introduced more zones, more challenge, and the addition of Tails." Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (GEN)

"It is nice seeing Mega Man in the 32-bit era, and he looks absolutely sensational (plays well, too)." Mega Man 8 (PS1, SAT)

"See the origins of the Metroid series in this game where the hallways are so similar it makes exploration incredibly challenging, and not in the good way." Metroid (NES)

"While no one can replace Mike Tyson, Mr. Dream's iteration of Punch-Out!! is just as difficult, engaging, and entertaining to play." Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream (NES)

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If you'd like to take a look at past installments of One-Sentence Reviews, look no further than the following links:

Volume One

Volume Two

Volume Three