Platinum Games' The Wonderful 101 Remastered was supposed to launch digitally and physically May 19, with backers getting digital copies starting May 7. However, Platinum updated the game's Kickstarter page today with a backers-only post, saying COVID-19 distribution issues mean — you guessed it — physical versions of The Wonderful 101 Remastered are delayed.

U.S. backers can expect their physical The Wonderful 101 Remastered to release June 30. Potential distribution complications mean some backers might not receive their game or rewards until after release date, though.

As compensation, Platinum will distribute Steam codes to those who purchased the physical Wonderful 101 Remastered, so they can still experience the game when it releases digitally.

Backers meant to get the digital version on May 7 are unaffected. Platinum said those codes will still go out as planned and noted that the volume of codes means some might not receive theirs immediately. However, they should still be distributed before the May 19 release date.

Kickstarter smash-hit or not, we can't say we're too surprised with The Wonderful 101 Remastered delay. Not when The Last of Us Part 2 was (temporarily) delayed, E3 2020 was cancelled, and even films like the Uncharted movie are being affected by the coronavirus. With the amount of work that's gone into making this remaster something special, we also can't wait to get our hands on it, no matter how long it takes.

The original post is Kickstarter, but non-backers can read it over at Nintendo Everything. Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more The Wonderful 101 Remastered news as it develops.

Platinum Games just released a new trailer for The Wonderful 101: Remastered. It's a wild one-minute ride showing off some of the hero-team action game's vibrant and frenetic action, alongside its updated visuals.

We're re-introduced to a handful of the legendary heroes and their special Unite Attacks. There's Wonder Red, a.k.a. The Crimson Fist, and his Unite Fist attack. Wonder Blue is next, the Supersonic Blade packing the Unite Sword attack. Finally is Wonder Green, Le Sniper Superieur, and their Unite Gun attack.

These Unite Attacks are a key part of The Wonderful 101's action and gameplay. Each character's Unite Attack unleashes a powerful Unite Morph, which combines the Hero's followers into a living weapon to vanquish their evil foes. Each hero has one, and they're flashy and cool as heck.

Aside from using Unite Attacks in combat against massive enemies, you'll take advantage of each hero's abilities to overcome obstacles as you explore.

The Wonderful 101: Remastered is part 1:1 remake and part expansion. The Platinum team was able to go further than they'd originally hoped thanks to the game's unbelievably successful Kickstarter campaign from last month.

Of particular note are two brand-new campaigns starring Luca the Wonder Goggles.

The Wonderful 101: Remastered launches May 19 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC for $39.99. Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more The Wonderful 101: Remastered news as it develops.

Crowdfunding always carries risks, but you get the rare campaigns that smash expectations and generate crazy amounts of funding. The Wonderful 101 Remastered's Kickstarter is firmly situated in the second category now.

The Wii U underdog's total pledge amount is now well over $2 million, sitting at $2,142,521. The exact number is pretty pointless, though, because it's changed four times already in the short time it took to write this.

It seems impressive, but spread out over the 32,000 backers, it's basically as if 32,000 people bought the game once. Considering only 30,000 copies were originally allocated for sale in Japan when The Wonderful 101 first launched, it's actually quite modest in terms of overall numbers.

The Wonderful 101 Remastered's $2 mil stretch goal was Luca's Second Mission, an extra bit of DLC Platinum Games will add starring Luca. Luca, also known as Wonder Goggles, was a side character The Wonderful 101 eventually brought on board to join the hero team.

Luca's First Mission, the $1.5 mil goal, is billed as a 2D side-scrolling adventure, though there's no detailed description for what the second mission will be like.

Four hours still remain in the campaign as well, which means it's highly possible The Wonderful 101 Remastered might still reach its $2.25 mil goal of orchestral recordings for a couple key tracks from the game's soundtrack.

With all this in mind, you might be surprised to learn The Wonderful 101 Remastered is already set for a May 19 release date on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC. The crowdfunding campaign was, as Platinum said, basically a way to gauge interest and see whether Platinum could stand on its own and publish its IPs like Project G.G. in the future.

Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more The Wonderful 101 Remastered news as it develops. Meanwhile, check out some of the trials and triumphs involved in making The Wonderful 101 fit for modern consoles.

The Wonderful 101 Remastered launches May 19 for PlayStation 4, PC via Steam, and Nintendo Switch. Ahead of that date, the game's lead environment artist, Yasutaka Maeki, spoke about the challenges involved in bringing the superhero drama to life in a dev diary video.

The team's overall aesthetic goal for TW101 was to make it look like a diorama, where all the action takes place with a handful of miniatures. Maeki said in theory, that's easy; it just involves tilt-photography effects and blurring the background a bit. However, it also puts a heap of strain on the processor, so the team had to find other ways to optimize the look.

Maeki's job as environment artist was, thus, basically to harmonize the concept artist's vision with the direction team's goals outlined in the production document. The big task was making sure both goals were something the team could realistically create and achieve the graphical and technical goals set out for the game as well.

However, it's not just the level design and their unique gimmicks and requirements that take up the environment art team's focus. Maeki mentioned they give an equal, if not greater, amount of attention to lighting for cutscenes and making sure everything's just right for character interactions and expressions in general.

In fact, Maeki said that's one thing he really hopes players notice this time around with The Wonderful 101 Remastered: everything involved in making the character interactions so unique and special.

The Wonderful 101 Remastered's insanely successful Kickstarter is technically still ongoing — nearing $2 million — even though development seems complete on the port. However, we don't know whether optimization is still ongoing or if it's just a way to help pave the road for future Platinum Games independent projects, like the mysterious Project G.G.

Either way, there's still one more Platinum Games announcement left for this year, so stay tuned to GameSkinny for more Platinum and The Wonderful 101 Remastered news as it develops.

Following a hugely successful Kickstarter funding campaign, Platinum Games' hero game salvaged from the Wii U's wreckage finally has a release date.

The Wonderful 101 Remastered will release for PlayStation 4, PC, and Nintendo Switch on May 19 in North America.

Platinum released a brief trailer showing off some of the action you can expect, with a more cartoonish take on Viewtiful Joe's comic-book action.

In a press release, courtesy of Gematsu, Platinum's Hideki Kamiya also talked about the studio's hopes for the game and why they wanted to give it a second chance it life. Despite low sales on the Wii U after it released in 2013, the studio never regarded it as a failure.

In fact, Kamiya says it's because of the low sales they wanted to give it a new chance at life, saying:

a game is only a failure if it disappoints the gamers who play it. From the start, The Wonderful 101 didn’t quite reach a large enough audience for me to clearly call it either way. 

TW101 isn't a straight-up port either. Platinum has fine-tuned the controls and adjusted gameplay so it's easier to adapt to right away, and the framerate and visual quality were upgraded to suit modern consoles.

We're looking forward to another chance at experiencing this chapter in Platinum's saga, especially now that it has a spiritual follow-up in Platinum's newly announced Project G.G.

Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more The Wonderful 101 Remastered news as it flies our way.

Platinum Games promised four big announcements this year. One of those was The Wonderful 101 Remastered, complete with ludicrously successful Kickstarter. The others were more nebulous — until now.

The studio just lifted the lid on the second of the four games: Project G.G. The final name will probably be different, though, as director Hideki Kamiya said it's just a working title.

Either way, it's Platinum's very first self-funded IP, meaning the studio owns the game entirely and can do with it what it likes. That's not a complete surprise, given the rationale Platinum provided for TW101's crowdfunding campaign, and it likely means we'll see Project G.G. on multiple platforms.

What Project G.G. will be, well... that's pretty much anyone's guess still. It's billed as the final chapter in the Hideki Kamiya superhero saga, and the company's penchant for metropolitan apocalypses is on full display in the Project G.G. reveal trailer.

Where Viewtiful Joe was a "transformative hero" and The Wonderful 101 focuses on hero squads, G.G. is all about being a big hero, Kamiya said. There will also be kaiju — big, scary-ass monsters that usually try to destroy the world.

Whatever it ends up being, the hero saves a terrified Shiba Inu, which means he has my full loyalty forever.

There are two more brand-new announcements on the way from Platinum, so stay tuned to GameSkinny for more Platinum Games and Project G.G. news as it transforms.

Get ready, superhero fans. The Kickstarter for The Wonderful 101 remaster has absolutely shattered it's $49,337 goal. Sitting at more than $1.4 million as of writing, the fundraiser has achieved four of its six stretch goals, including versions for Switch, PC (Steam), and PS4. 

Now, according to Destructoid, the game's technical specs have shown up on the game's Kickstarter page. It will run at 1080p, 60fps on the Switch docked and 720p, 60fps on the Switch in handheld mode.

What's more, it will run at 1080p, 60fps on the PS4 and (surprisingly) 2160p, 60fps on a PS4 Pro. For Steam, the game is locked at 1080p, 60fps "with super wide monitor support planned."

It's not clear why the game will not run at a higher-than-1080p resolution on the PC when it can reportedly hit 2K on the PS4 Pro. 

Originally announced earlier this week, the game's Kickstarter stretch goals were met less than four hours after going live.

At the $1.5 million mark, an all-new adventure, "Luka's First Mission," will be unlocked. All DLC unlocked by stretch rewards will be free for backers.

Currently, backers still have another 29 days to support the game and nab a slew of backer rewards depending on how much money they're willing to spend. Packages go up to $5,000, though that highest package is almost all sold out.

The Wonderful 101 was originally released in 2013 for the Wii U, a console not many people bought, so it's great to see a beloved title making its return on current-gen platforms.

Though nothing's official, Platinum has penciled in April as a tentative release date for The Wonderful 101, but we'll let you know when we know for sure. Stay tuned to GameSkinny. 

Social media buzzed all weekend about Platinum Games' erstwhile Wii U exclusive The Wonderful 101 being ported to additional platforms as The Wonderful 101: Remastered. As fate would have it, Platinum has officially confirmed a port is in the works, and it's launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund it.

The Wonderful 101's Kickstarter has a $50,000 initial goal so Platinum can self-publish the game on Nintendo Switch. $250,000 will fund it for PC on Steam, and a whopping $500,000 will see The Wonderful 101 on PlayStation 4.

That might seem like a lot. However, in the eight minutes since I first opened the Kickstarter page, I've watched the backing total climb from roughly $3,000 to $33,000. Now it's at $144,000. So it's highly possible we'll actually see The Wonderful 101 ported to PS4 or to PC at the very least.

According to Gematsu, Platinum is also considering an Xbox One port if the backing gets high enough.

Platinum is running a few special Kickstarter promotions to encourage backers as well. There's a Twitter-based minigame where backers join and send a tweet, then the hero Wonder Red progresses towards saving the citizens of Blossom City for every 500 new backers.

And at a very special funding tier, Platinum's Hideki Kamiya will actually block you on Twitter if you want.

For those who missed out on The Wonderful 101 back in the Wii U days — which, let's face it, is most of us — it's a superhero game focused on heroes called The Wonderful 101. Surprising, we know. Their goal is using their special powers to rid Blossom City of the villainous Gacha invaders trying to destroy the human world.

We'll be watching this closely, so stay tuned to GameSkinny for more The Wonderful 101: Remastered port news as it crashes in.

The first set of Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch games has been released. Some of us were happy for new titles like Arms and Splatoon 2, while others cringed at the release of classics like Monopoly or RPG Maker Fes.

Either way, we all have games that we can't wait to see on the Switch. Heck, need to see on the Switch.

So, in order from least to most wanted, here are 5 Wii and Wii U Games that Need to be Ported to the Nintendo Switch!

5. Ping Pong

Ping Pong is a game that has been around for as long as I can remember, and for good reason. Ping Pong is a mix of physical work and strategy. It's the game of games (like pool, but less complicated). Ping Pong was popular enough to appear as a mini-game on Wii-Sports Resort. Now, I think it should be on the Nintendo Switch.

You have a confused look on your face now. Don't worry, I'll tell you why. It's simple: Ping Pong is fun, whether playing it in real life or on a console. And, since the Switch allows you to play with up to seven other people, Ping Pong would be a killer addition to the family -- both yours and the Nintendo's.

4. Xenoblade

Xenoblade Chronicles has a well-written story with graphics that are to die for. It tells the story of a character named Shulk (from the Bionis race), who is on a quest to find a sword known as a Monado in order to defeat a rival force of people known as the Mechonis.

If you want to get serious for a second, the game could be a comment on social injustices in general. I mean, if you think about it, there a million and one stories about one region, race, or culture dominating another all throughout history.

I think Xenoblade tries to explore that in a way. Although, I haven't played the game long enough to know for sure. The struggle between the Bionis race and the Mechonis is also fascinating because we live in the Digital Age, and might not be too far from a similar future. The point is, social commentary in video games is always a good reason to port it over to another system.

Other reasons that make this game great for the Switch is that the current version has a relationship-building system called Affinity.

The Switch is marketed as a console meant for creating interactions between people, and since Xenoblade is a multi-player game it makes sense to make a version for the Switch.

3. The Wonderful 101

Everyone loves a superhero, and The Wonderful 101 gives its audience a large selection of them.

The game has an interesting story mode, but it's essentially a classic alien versus humans invasion story where the "Uni-Morphs" fight against a space pirate named Prince Vorkken, and his first mate Chewgi, as well as a group of aliens called Geathjerks.

The protagonists of The Wonderful 101 all have corny names, I mean they're colors for god sakes, but their job descriptions are pretty cool. Will Wedgewood (Wonder-Red) is an elementary school teacher and the leader (why does red always get to lead?), Eliot Hooker -- whose name I'm sure some parent complained about -- is a police detective (he's Wonder-Blue, as if that's not obvious), Jean-Sebastain (Wonder-Green) is a guns expert, Mariana Kretzulesco (Wonder-Pink) is a fashion modeler, Ivan Istochinkov (Wonder-Yellow) is a Russian soldier, Momoe Byakkoin (Wonder-White) is a Samurai... I wonder how that works... and Krishna Ramanujan (Wonder-Black) is a video game player -- they must be the youngest in the group.

Essentially, these characters are the Power Rangers, but with adult jobs -- no offense Tommy.

Luckily, there's only one main villain whose name is Jergingha. He's the "supreme overlord of the GEATHJERK Federation" and "attempts to use Chi-Q to take back the galactic peace from humanity" (The Wonderful 101 Wikia said it, not me).

The original game, made exclusively for the Wii U, has a cooperative mode that supports up to five players. Considering people can connect their Switch's for extra gameplay, The Wonderful 101 is a perfect choice for a port.

2. Bayonetta 2

Bayonetta 2 is a jaw-dropping, hack-n-slash game that takes place on a fictional mountain called Fimbulventr and in the town of Noatun -- both located in the Middle East.

The story is fairly simple to catch onto -- Bayonetta and Enzo are Christmas shopping when angels attack. In the middle of all the chaos, Jeanne, Bayonetta's friend, loses her soul. It is up to Bayonetta to find the Gates of Hell in order to save her.

Bayonetta 2 has a resurgence of characters from Bayonetta, as well as several new members. It also has a two player mode, which makes it a great fit for the Nintendo Switch. Just imagine for a second if you and your friends could team up on this journey while riding in an airplane! And, better yet, what if you could enjoy all that Bayonetta 2 has to offer without having to worry about using extra cables?

Sounds good right? This is why Bayonetta 2 should be ported to the Switch!

1. Injustice: Gods Among Us

With Injustice 2 coming out this month it's no wonder that people would want to see Injustice: Gods Among Us on the Nintendo Switch.

It would serve two purposes. First, if Injustice 2 were released on the Switch, then it would serve as a precursor game for those who decide that the Switch is the console for them. Having both games on the Switch would be a major play for Nintendo, and it would make fans of the game excited. The fan base for Injustice: Gods Among Us is HUGE and people LOVE it! By putting it on the Switch fans will flock to the console faster than you can say Superman.

The second reason to port Injustice: Gods Among Us to the Switch is because of its awesome game play mechanics. Players get an option between story mode (which makes it compelling) and combat mode (which makes it exciting).

In story mode you get to play as one of 45 DC Comic characters in an attempt to either conquer or aide evil Superman in his plans to take over the world. In combat mode, you are able to face off against your friends to see who deserves the title of baddest B**** in town. Both are good for the Switch as it could encourage a modern day version of a LAN party.

How's that for "Switching" it up?

Now You Have It...

These are the five top choices for games that should be ported to the Nintendo Switch (except Ping Pong, that was all me). With the most recent release of this years Nintendo Switch titles, there's no telling what we'll get next year. Let's hope it includes at least the most popular choices!

What games do you want to see ported to the Nintendo Switch?

With the state of the economy, paying $60 for a game with a full, retail release isn't a small matter. As such, it's good to know exactly what you're purchasing before you buy it.

In the days of the 5th and 6th generations of gaming, the eras where consoles such as the Sony Playstation and Nintendo Gamecube were taking gamers to new lands, companies would frequently release demo disks. On these disks were lengthy demos, usually consisting of at least one complete level, for usually two to four games.

These demos, usually for major releases, served a dual purpose: to get people excited for the games and to let gamers decide there and then if they were interested in purchasing the games. It saved a lot of people a lot of many, and helped many games that would have probably never found a loyal following to do so. 

In more recent times, demo disks have been replaced with downloadable demos. While not all of them have been up to snuff with the superb demos available on yesteryear's disks, there have been some truly marvelous ones.

Can anyone say Bayonetta 2 on the Wii U?

Prior to playing this demo, I had little to no interest in the Bayonetta games. However, the developers included the entire first chapter of the game in this demo: cut scenes, bosses, everything. And, as it happens, the first level of Bayonetta 2 is one of the greatest openings to any game I've ever played.

It taught you how to play the game, it gave you a good time, it perfectly displayed the over the top, cheesy nature of the series, and, most importantly, it made me want to buy the game.

In essence, it was a perfect demo.

However, in the past several years, one of two things has happened. The market has been 1.) flooded with an abundance of demos for mediocre games and 2.) flooded with an abudance of demos that fail to do any of the things I just described above.

For the sake of easy comparison, let's look at the demo for another excellent Wii U title, The Wonderful 101.

Unlike the actual game, the demo has many major flaws, from the whole thing being a giant tutorial (meaning you don't really get to experience the game) to it just being very, very short. However, its biggest crime against gaming is the lack of explanation the demo gives you.

Several times throughout my first playing of the demo, I got stuck, having no idea what I was supposed to do because, despite the demo being a glorified tutorial, it fails to explain how to perform key actions and understand pivotal mechanics. 

So, what's left as one of the main methods of marketing for the game is a poorly executed tutorial with no replay value, something that fails to make the player interested in the game. In fact, it may have turned off many gamers ... 

And that compounds an industry problem: When demos aren't poorly made, they're non-existent. Be they indie games or AAA titles, there are numerous games of varying quality that do not release demos.

The reason for why developers wouldn't release demos is actually quite obvious: Demos give players a reason NOT to buy a game. For devs, the risks typically outweigh the overall benefits and while many would be potentially correct about this assertion, this is still a rather shady business practice. 

With digital distribution making demos cheaper than ever to release, there's no reason why every game shouldn't have a demo in the digital age. Gamers have the right to know what they're buying before they buy it, and demos allow us to know just that.

Releasing a demo for every game would create greater transparency between developers and customers. In the crowdsourcing world, it would help developers better gauge their audience's expectations and potentially course-correct when things aren't going well. 

And demos would save gamers money. Today, with many games coming with extensive (and expensive) season passes and numerous buying options, gamers would be better educated on the games they're most excited about -- and potentially be more willing to dish out for that "Super XL Fancy Collector's Bundle Edition." 

Do you think every game should get a demo? Why should they or shouldn't they? Sound off in the comments below! 

And That's The List!

Thank you all very much for reading we hope you enjoyed it. If you have a superhero game that you felt belonged in the list, or could help to fill out a potential list in the future, feel free to tell us in the comments!

We know there were a fair few other games we could have mentioned, but we couldn't fit them all into one list. So recommend some more and we may do a follow-up in the future!

The Wonderful 101 (Wii U)

The Wonderful 101 is a like a childhood dream of being a superhero brought to life. While it isn't the most tightly designed title from action game experts Platinum Games, it is one of the most fun they've made, and without a shadow of a doubt the most impressive and ambitious. 

The Wonderful 101 takes Hideki Kamiya's trademarked style of character-action gameplay displayed in impressive past titles like Devil May Cry and Bayonetta. It simplifies it slightly, lightens the tone a bit -- It makes up for it's lessened depth by cramming the game with more color and organic variety than a farmer's market. 

You play as The Wonderful 100, a group of colorful masked heroes all armed with super-powered suits. Their task is to defend the Earth in the wake of it's third invasion by the evil alien organization, Geathjerk. You must control them all at once in an isometric environment as you hack, slash, punch and more through the alien menace. 

The gameplay of The Wonderul 101 is what truly sets it apart, as it is consistently fun and extremely creative.

It's unlike any other game out there, and that starts with it's very controls. Using either control scheme, you must draw specific shapes in order to have large numbers of Wonderful 100 members join up to form giant objects. Ranging from fists, whips, bombs, and more each object has its own unique property.

Fists can be set on fire and be used to throw fireballs, swords can conduct electricity and deflect laser attacks, and whips can rip spiked armor off of enemies, these are a few of many dynamic options within the title. 

These objects are also used for intense combat against savage alien forces that only get bigger and more impressive as the game goes on. Alongside battle, there's also creative puzzles which involve the use of several different powers, which keeps the pace constant.

In addition, the game also manages to include many different 2D shooter segments, all of high quality, and even a boss fight modeled after an NES classic, which I dare not spoil -- There is creativity and variety at every single turn.

With all that said, however, the game is far from flawless. The fixed camera and perspective can make combat and platforming frustrating and confusing at times, which is unfortunate in a game so heavy in both.

The combat and spectacle of the game also doesn't get truly interesting until after a few hours. This is after you've gotten used to the unorthodox controls and have purchased a few key upgrades. 

Most of all, the sections where the main focus is on the game pad screen, while creative and mostly functional, can be pretty finicky. Here, the camera is at it's absolute worst but it can be adjusted. 

But despite all the negatives, do not let that stop you from trying this game out if you can, because the positives far outweigh the negatives. The game is worth it for it's uniqueness and constant jaw-dropping high-points alone.

There just isn't any other game quite like The Wonderful 101. It has its flaws like all games, and if they stop some people from giving it a shot, that's totally understandable, if unfortunate.

There is no game that makes you feel more like a proper, tight-wearing, crime-fighting, and good-natured superhero. If you own a Wii U, you owe it to yourself to buy this game or, at the very least, try the free demo on the Wii U eShop.

Without the player, there is only a Wonderful 100, and the last one, is you. If the director's cut trailer below doesn't convince you, then nothing will: 

Viewtiful Joe (1&2) (Gamecube/PS2)

We live in an age where many video games are trying to be more cinematic, and attempt to evoke the feeling of a tightly-directed film. Unfortunately this occasional comes at the cost of gameplay. There have been few games in recent memory that have succeeded in making themselves feel cinematic without heavily compromising their gameplay. Among those few is Viewtiful Joe, and its one of the best. 

Viewtiful Joe's unique presentation is reminiscent of both American comic books as well as Japanese sentai heroes. With the combination of its fluid combat and unique time-manipulation mechanics it resulted in a game like no other. This game loves slow-mo sequences in action movies, as well as any shot that makes the good guy look cool. It succeeds at implementing shots like this into both its narrative and gameplay.

Viewtiful Joe does have a story and characters in addition to it's great gameplay. Now, while neither are by any means deep, the characters are all distinct and memorable. The story is also surprisingly poignant in a simple yet effective way.

Joe himself is one of the best kinds of heroes in gaming, and one that is all too rare today -- being the kind of protagonist that loves being a hero more than anything.  

Viewtiful Joe is a game that proudly trumpets the moral that old-fashioned heroes will never go out of style and manages to reflect this in both it's gameplay and plot. It is a classic cheesy action flick in playable form and it loves being what it is.

Hey, if you don't believe us, just ask Tom from Toonami:

Saints Row IV (Various Platforms)

Saints Row IV bids farewell to whatever remaining sense of restraint that the series had after Saints Row the Third, and gives way completely to scattershot, ridiculous, video-gamey fun.

Saints Row IV takes the player through the destruction of Earth and the extinction of most of humanity, and the leader of the Saints -- the now president of the former United States -- must stop the evil Zin empire and their foppish leader Zinyak.

The story is over-the-top and full of surprises, all of them good, and it's topped off by a surprisingly strong character focus and witty, often intelligent dialogue. It's a game that does a great job of looking childish and stupid when it's actually pretty smart.

Throughout the course of it's robust campaign, Saints Row IV gives the player piles of creative guns, effective superpowers, and kooky appearance customization options to mess around with.  The sandbox city, while reused from Saints Row the Third, feels new and fresh. This is thanks to new content accessible via the new super-speedy running and jumping somewhat similar to Prototype, but done with more fluid and smoother controls.

The story is comedic and loaded with memorable moments, high-quality comedic banter, and a truckload of fantastic gameplay set-pieces. Some set-pieces are so fleshed-out that they could have come from a completely different game. 

With all of these different mechanics coming and going, some may say that the game lacks discipline, and that's somewhat true -- but that's a big part of the game's main appeal and charm.

To quote Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw in reference to the game:

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It's a mess, but it's a fun mess.

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Saints Row IV is the epitome of power fantasy.

It's bite-sized sort-of-sequel Saints Row: Gat out of Hell is also a blast, and built directly on the foundation of IV, so if you end up liking four, jump straight onto Gat out of Hell and enjoy another couple of hours on the fun-train. 

Prototype Series (Various Platforms)

Both Prototype and it's sequel Prototype 2 gave their players excellent murder playgrounds to frolic around in. Which isn't that surprising, as you'd probably expect the same developer as The Simpsons: Hit & Run, to understand chaotic gameplay pretty well.

There isn't much to say about the gameplay of the Prototype series, as the two games are very similar, and the gameplay is pretty simple, but just deep enough to be involving and challenging.

Both Prototype games are highly visceral murder-centric sandboxes that guide the player through a sinister conspiracy plot unfolding in New York City. The protagonist becomes unwillingly involved and is turned into a super-powered mutant with killer superpowers.

The story isn't the best in either installment, although that isn't for a lack of trying. It's mostly because it's too difficult to rationalize all of the horrible things that the protagonists do to really call them heroes.

Both Alex Mercer and James Heller are more villains or anti-heroes than traditional heroes. But if this was necessary in order to allow the player the previously mentioned freedom in gameplay, I'd call it a fair sacrifice.

You are free to kill, maim, and cause property damage in a number of wonderfully creative, and most importantly -DESTRUCTIVE ways- Everything from disguising yourself as a soldier by eating one alive, to hijacking tanks and helicopters with your tentacle arm, to even turning human enemies into bombs and throwing them into a huge crowd to watch everything get pulled into them before exploding.

Prototype 2 improved on a lot of the minor flaws found in the first game, by improving on the slightly frustrating controls, changing the upgrade system, and making the sandbox a great deal larger with much more colorful and high-end graphics. Despite these obvious improvements, both games are different enough from each other to be worth playing, and are both easily recommendable.

It's a true shame that Activision closed Radical Entertainment's doors even after Prototype 2's excellent sales, but if nothing else, Prototype 2 was a great game and a great swan song for an overall great developer.

Take a peek below at how fun it can be to murder your maker:  

Batman Arkham Series (Various Platforms)

Alright, let's get the really obvious one out of the way.

Yes, the Batman Arkham games are almost all excellent. In an industry full of competitors, they stand out as grand examples of both how to handle a license. They're also great examples of how to immerse a player in a fictional world, and really get inside the head of the main character.

From the original Arkham Asylum to the fairly recent Arkham Knight, everything in these games allow you to really feel like Batman. From the colorful rogue's gallery, the utility belt, and to the Batmobile itself.

Each Installment in the series is similar in gameplay and controls, but all distinct enough from each other to be sold on their own merits. All of the titles (except possibly Arkham Origins) can be easily recommended. 

Video games allow us to make believe in so many different ways. There are video games that let us escape from reality to become; space marines, cartoon animals, and even futuristic bartenders serving drinks to robots.

But of all the escapist alter egos that gaming provides us with, none are quite as popular, or immediately gratifying, as the superhero.

There are loads of classic superhero comics and graphic novels, and we're now in the middle of a renaissance for superhero films.

But video games actually let you become a superhero. Watching Spider-Man swing between buildings and smack The Green Goblin around is all well and good, but it can't compare to actually getting the chance to do it yourself.

There have been a number of good games where you can be a superhero. Unfortunately, most fall victim to be tie-in shovel-ware. This list is dedicated to those few games that go above and beyond and actually manage to make the player believe-- even if just for a moment -- that they are a true hero themselves.

Also, for the sake of representing some more original games, the number of games with licensed superheroes like Spider-Man or Superman (pfft, yeah right) has been kept low. With all that said, let's put on our tights and capes, and answer the cry for justice!

Nintendo contends that its Wii U console now has plenty of games, and it's using social media to make its case.

In a recent tweet on the Nintendo UK Twitter handle, Nintendo has attempted to face head-on the claim that the Wii U lacks a library of decent titles to choose from. The tweet includes the hastage #TheTimeisNow and a link to cheeky "logic" flow chart.

Nintendo reviews some of its best-selling Wii U titles and franchises with the flow chart, including Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart 8, and Hyrule Warrirors. It also makes a point of mentioning its titles available on Virtual Console, recent high review scores of its newer games, and special bundle offers for some titles.

(For a larger view, click on the chart below to open in a new tab.)

Nintendo has been trying for some time to dispel the notion that its game selection is inadequate compared to the likes of the Xbox One and PS4. That was one of the main critqiues of the Wii U early on in its run, but it seems that more and more consumers are deciding to take a chance on the console. Back in October, Nintendo reported that it had reached 7 million sold units. It also finally turned a profit this autumn due to Wii U and 3DS sales, the release of Mario Kart 8 and the continued success of older titles.

The Nintendo UK tweet also linked to a YouTube video showcasing some cutscenes and gameplay from popular Wii U titles (see below).

For more on the Wii U, check out the Top 10 Wii U Games and our gift guide for Nintendo fans.

I remember the reveal of the Wii U and Nintendo showing off a very quick clip of The Wonderful 101. I immediately thought it appeared to be a clone of Pikmin with superheroes. Up to the demo launching on the Nintendo Wii U eShop I admit I had the same misconception about the game, this is nothing like Pikmin.

Sitting down with the demo as enemies beat me up, sent me flying across the screen and the other 100 followers didn't seem to even care... I got extremely frustrated quickly and thought this game is not for me!

I then watched a video on the game.... and I caught sight of a developer playing a level; he was attacking and swiping at the Wii U game pad quickly connecting Unite morphs one after the other and then I realised I hadn't even considered doing that.

101 % Crazy Fun

If you have played a Platinum Games title before you will know that they are experts in fighting mechanics, what I have come to love about The Wonderful 101 is that the game rewards your experimentation allowing you to pull off extreme combos as your men and women morph into giant fists and then swords in seconds.

Usage of the game pad is really well implemented. For example, when The Wonderful 101 enter buildings the TV view stays outside but the game pad view switches and follows them about but you will need to use both TV and game pad to solve some puzzles. The game pad screen is also used for the entry of the Unite morphs or you can use the right control stick (this is difficult), drawing a cycle and hitting A commits the morph. The secret to this game is to make sure that while you complete a morph and start your unite attacks you then need to enter a new morph command and setup your next unite attacks, this chaining is vital in scoring the ludicrous high scores and gaining those platinum medals.

My thoughts and Experience

If you own a Wii U and want to experiment with something a little different to the typical game on the market then this really is something that action fans would love, not to mention the cut scenes with over the top humor that had me giggling like a little kid again. Platinum Games have delivered the near perfect experience in The Wonderful 101. 

There is a down side that is why it has not got full marks from me it's no game breaker but all the same it does spoil the overall experience and there are two issues here that bug me at times, some of the unite morphs are near the same shape and if u choose not to use the touch screen can leave u trying multiple times to get these right. Also while you progress in the game there is a lot of trial and error when it comes to items and power-ups. Giving you little to no explanation what, why, or when, to use them. So if you are new to the style of many of Platinum Games titles you will probably be left with a bunch of stuff by the end Unless you experiment. But like I said this is no game breaker and still a solid performance from Platinum Games just be sure to try stuff out don't be scared to experiment a little. Il let u find out for yourselves and not spoil anything.

Nintendo has always been a company that takes risks.

Sometime, that risk pays off, like going with a Brooklyn Plumber or a group of Pocket Monsters. However for every diamond in the rough, there is also that rough patch that you just can't fix, like the Virtual Boy. Now, It's usually more hit than miss with the Big N, but it's no secret that lately they've been struggling. That's okay - with my help Ninty should be alright when Donkey Kong Country and Mario Kart 8 come out to the masses.

Ready Nintendo? Put these ideas in your "break-in-case-everything's-terrible" glass case. Then find a hammer. 

First: Learn To Launch

Let's look at how Nintendo does business.

They have good first party titles, they have decent marketing, and they have the nostalgia factor. However the Wii U, like several other recent Nintendo systems, didn't have the greatest launch window, game-wise.

That's not uncommon in this day and age, but how the company comes out of that early slow period can show the fans if the company has a plan. The 3DS didn't have the best launch window, but most buyers could hold out for the  Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D even though that didn't come along right away.

For the Wii U launch, it looked like Nintendo was trying to get the audience that the Wii didn't appeal to and hook them. Games like ZombiU and Ninja Gaiden were made for the "hardcore" (and I use that term lightly) gamer that wouldn't even look at a Wii. However, the games weren't the good enough to entice hardcore gamers to make the switch, and those titles scared away the casual player that the Wii grabbed and didn't let go.

This minor history lesson just serves as a reminder of what the Wii U was before the likes of Mario 3D World, and The Legend of Zelda: Windwaker brought the system to "just getting by."

In Theory, the Wii U is an Easy Fix

Step one is to fix/modify the eShop

The eShop should have more classic games on it from the likes of the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and the N64. It should also have more obscure games as well as classic games from Japan. I know the eShop already has imported games but the classic games would be a welcome addition. Nintendo is always trying to bank on the nostalgia factor and bringing back more classic games is the best way to do that. Nintendo could also do what they have done for quite some time, re-release a game again and again. Pokémon with old school Game Boy graphics and Wi-Fi trading sounds too perfect not to do.

Another idea that could work is an Ambassador-type program for the Wii U

Being creative like this is what Nintendo was known for in the old days

This would work a little differently than the 3DS one. You could have Wii U owners from the beginning/certain period be able to download 5 free games of their choosing and that would be it. It would say on their Miiverse profile that they're Ambassadors or they could have access to special Miiverse/Ambassador stamps that only Ambassadors would have. Being creative like this is what Nintendo was known for in the old days. If they didn't, who knows what games we would/wouldn't have? New intellectual properties are tough to master and rarely are giving the time needed to succeed in the market. A prime example of this is the Wonderful 101, new I.P. that was good but wasn't giving the time since it was "different."

Finally: Fix the Marketing

The marketing for the Wii U was terrible.

If people have no idea that the system isn't just a Wii and a tablet, then the marketing department failed miserably. The main idea should have been that the Wii U is totally different from the Wii. The holiday ad campaign did a little better that people could tell that the Wii U was 'different' and the sales were better but you can hang that on the better games that were available during the holiday season.

The launch window, like I mentioned before wasn't the best for the Wii U but it didn't have that one breakout game. New Super Mario Brothers U was a great game but it wasn't different enough to get people to say, I need a Wii U for that game. It also hurt Nintendo that they wanted the system to just be for games and didn't put a DVD player in it, like the other systems. It kept the price down but it could have brought in more business.

How would you fix Nintendo?

There's no use denying it, Nintendo isn't in a great place right now. But gamers have a special place in their hearts for the company, and no one wants to see them on the rocks. 

North Americans rejoice! Nintendo has started a new promotion just for you guys, offering up to $10 worth of credit to their Wii U eShop if you spend $100 or more by 28th of July 2013.

So heres how Nintendo describes the process.

And there you go: 'Twas pretty simple, wouldn't you say?

If you spend anywhere between $50-$99.99, you receive a $5 credit towards your account. And if you spend more than $100, Nintendo adds another $5, bumping it up to $10. Awesome! And you don't have to wait long either as Nintendo promises the delivery of your free credit by August 2.

But beware, the offer is only valid till midnight PT on July 28 (3AM, July 29 ET), so hurry up if you don't want to miss on the free dough that Nintendo is giving.

Nintendo helpfully also suggests some of the upcoming hot titles for the Wii U like Pikmin 3 (August 4th), Rayman Legends (September 3rd), and The Wonderful 101 (September 15th).

So what are you going to spend your free credit on? These new upcoming games or some of the Wii U classics? Comment away.