December Haul

In this blog entry, I’m going to discuss the games (and other gaming-related items) I got in December. Most of these were Christmas gifts, but the first two things mentioned are games I bought myself earlier in December.

Yooka-Laylee (Switch)

I pre-ordered the physical version of Yooka-Laylee in September, and it finally arrived in December. This 3D platformer is the spiritual successor to Rare’s N64 games, and it really shows. From the graphics to the jumbled “voice” noises spoken by the characters, everything just screams Banjo-Kazooie. Some of the music and sound effects sound a lot like Donkey Kong 64 as well.

While I’m still in the first world, I am enjoying the game so far. I’ve always loved a good collect-a-thon, and this seems right up my alley. I do already have a minor complaint, though. The frame rate sometimes stutters, and it’s very noticeable. Hopefully it won’t become a bigger problem later in the game.

Katamari Damacy Reroll (Switch)

Katamari Damacy was originally a PlayStation 2 game, which was very unique. You play as the son of the King of All Cosmos, and you roll around a sticky ball called a katamari. Any objects that are small enough will stick to the katamari as you roll, gradually making the katamari larger and larger (and thus, able to pick up bigger items). You start out picking up things like paper clips and erasers, but eventually you’ll be picking up people, cars, and buildings. It’s a bizarre game that’s a pure joy to play.

Katamari Damacy Reroll is an HD remake, and I bought the Switch version in December. The physical version is sadly exclusive to Gamestop, otherwise you can buy the digital version in the eShop.

The graphics have been improved, and yet they retain the blocky look of the original. The great tunes from the original have also returned.

But the controls were my biggest complaint with the PS2 game, and they are also my biggest complaint with Reroll. To move around, you must push both sticks in the same direction. Rotating the camera requires pushing the sticks in opposite directions. It’s not very intuitive, and the controls hold you back at times. I really wish they would’ve used one stick for movement and one for the camera. (Note: There is an optional “simple” control method which only requires one stick for movement, but it still requires both sticks to turn the camera.)

Even though the controls are a bit wonky, you do get used to them after a while. And picking things up with your katamari is an inexplicably enjoyable thing to do. The game isn’t super long, but Katamari Damacy is just pure fun while it lasts. This is a game that I highly recommend.

Buy Katamari Damacy Reroll digital code at Amazon

Super Mario Maker (Wii U)

Super Mario Maker allows you to create, play, and share your own Mario levels. It’s definitely a cool concept, and I’m sure I’ll have a lot of fun with it in the long run. But I’m disappointed by how limited the game is at the beginning.

You start with just a handful of level elements (blocks, enemies, etc.) you can use to create your levels. A few more elements are unlocked each day that you play, but the pace is far too slow for my liking. Since I haven’t been playing it daily, I haven’t even unlocked half of the available elements so far. I think I’ll get into the game more once I’ve unlocked everything. And it will help me make some scenes for future episodes of my Mario Plays ACCF series.

Super Mario Maker hasn’t been ported to Switch (so far, at least), but even if it had been, I still would have preferred the Wii U version. That’s because Wii U allows you to use the touch screen for editing and display the game on a TV set. If it was on Switch, you couldn’t do both of those things…at least not at the same time. So it really takes advantage of the Wii U hardware features in that respect.

Buy Super Mario Maker at Amazon

Worms W.M.D. (Switch)

The original Worms (I have the Jaguar version) was a 2D, turn-based strategy game, though it’s definitely not your typical strategy game. You control a team of four heavily-armed worms, and the object is defeat the opposing team of worms (either computer-controlled or another player). Each worm moves slowly and has a limited time to move around and get off a shot, and the terrain of each level can make things tricky. But the last worm standing wins the game.

Worms W.M.D. expands on the concept with more weapons, new levels, and online play. While I haven’t tried the online play yet, I have gone through most of the training levels and I’ve completed a few of the regular campaign levels as well. It’s a slow-paced game, so it’s not for everyone, but I’m really enjoying it so far.

Space Channel 5 (Dreamcast)

This is a unique (read: bizarre) music game in which you play as a reporter named Ulala. Aliens have invaded and hypnotized people, forcing them to dance. The object of the game is to mimic the aliens’ dance moves to defeat them and rescue the hostages. For example, you may have to press “up, down, up, down, shoot shoot shoot” in time with the music. It’s an interesting game, but it’s probably my least favorite of my five December games…at least to this point.

Not Games, But Gaming Related

I also received a few other gaming-related gifts that aren’t gifts. It includes a three-pack of Animal Crossing Amiibo figures (Reese, Cyrus, and K.K. Slider), a separate Blathers Amiibo, a controller-shaped Christmas tree ornament, a $20 Nintendo eShop card, and a tin of Zelda mints.

Amazon links to buy: Amiibo 3-Pack – Blathers Amiibo – Zelda Mints – eShop Card

In the coming weeks, I’ll test out the Amiibos in Animal Crossing: New Leaf and Happy Home Designer. Admittedly, Reese and Cyrus aren’t my favorite characters, but Blathers and especially K.K. Slider are cool. As for the eShop card, I’m not sure what I’ll use it on just yet.

Get any good gaming gifts this past holiday season? Feel free to post a comment below!