Added: 12.11.2014 21:52 | 1 views | 0 comments


Peter and Alexa set off on an adventure to try and track down the gold stars in this maze-like world of wonder. Live stream at 2pm Pacific Time today!

Added: 12.11.2014 17:11 | 10 views | 0 comments


NWR: "Level 18. Battle against Wingo. This is from the Japanese version of Captain Toad."

Added: 12.11.2014 1:00 | 14 views | 0 comments


[gallery=897]
Radish for the win!

After playing a short demo for Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker at PAX this year, the title still fell below my radar due to the hype for Super Smash Bros. and Hyrule Warriors. That the game is essentially a glorified mini-game from Super Mario 3D World expanded into a full retail title didn't help bolster my interest. So I wasn't particularly energized to preview Captain Toad in my appointment with Nintendo, but after a more guided tour with Erik Peterson through the game, I'm far more convinced of its design.

Where a traditional Mario title is about timing jumps and running across the level with speed, Toad is far more fragile and needs to rely on his wits. Each level works less like an open world for acrobatics and more like a puzzle, where Toad must figure out how to collect the star at the end of the stage while grabbing three large coins along the way. These coins may be optional, but you can only say you've completed the level if you've grabbed them all.

Just to prove a point on the difficulty, Erik started me off with Level 15 called Drop-Road Dash, a level suspended in air with conveyor belts and small platforms that will descend in only a few seconds after being touched. It was difficult getting a grasp of Toad's slower speed and getting the timing just right to avoid the various obstacles while zipping on one of the conveyor belts. Nabbing the three coins took a few more tries on top of that, and if that wasn't enough, completing a level opens a new challenge specific to that level like beating it again without defeating any enemies.

The other stages I was shown showcased the variety of imaginative ideas in Captain Toad. Drift-Along Canyon challenges you to maneuver around poisonous pools while throwing radishes, a la Super Mario Bros. 2, at piranha plants. Up 'N Down Terrace features gates in a garden controlled by switches where collecting all of the coins is trickier than you might think at first. I found Beep Block Deep Plaza to be the most inspiring, where in a touch of Rhythm Heaven, blocks would flicker on and off at a fixed beat. One large coin was spinning far out in the distance, but I was able to collect it by throwing a well-placed radish at it!

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker releases next month on December 5, 2014 exclusively for Wii U.

Added: 10.11.2014 13:11 | 5 views | 0 comments


NWR: "We got to check out a few new levels in next month's Wii U release. The more I play Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, the more I want to order a Japanese Wii U and get it a month early. Treasure Tracker takes the Captain Toad stages, which were just about my favorite part of last year's Super Mario 3D World, and builds an entire game around them, adding in tons of new mechanics and twists."

Added: 07.11.2014 19:16 | 5 views | 0 comments


IGN's Jose Otero and Mitch Dyer walkthrough a new Captain Toad stage dedicated to Mario Galaxy.

Added: 07.11.2014 5:11 | 2 views | 0 comments


GodisaGeek: "Given that its the time of year where the weather turns sour, and the darkness draws in, its great that I have been able to play such a colourful, bright game as Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, and here weve got a video showing around ten minutes of the game, while Colm quizzes me over what Ive played so far. Now, we can only talk about around 16 courses, so all the impressions you hear are based on those levels."

Added: 06.11.2014 17:05 | 3 views | 0 comments

Cuteness overload

Added: 06.11.2014 17:00 | 2 views | 0 comments

Family Gamer TV checks out Toad's latest adventure

Added: 06.11.2014 16:09 | 0 views | 0 comments

The Mushroom Kingdom's diminutive Toad may not be as popular as Mario or Yoshi, but he's finally getting his turn the spotlight in , where you have to navigate small levels in search of a golden star. For Treasure Tracker, the game's been expanded to over 70 levels, and Toad's no longer exploring alone; he's now accompanied by his female counterpart, Toadette.

Unlike their friends, the Toads lack the ability to jump, which may seem limiting given the task at hand, but every level is outfitted with clever conveyances that make up for your lack of vertical mobility. Moving platforms, pipes, stairs, and ramps, get you to where you're going, but even with all of that assistance, you're going to run into some perplexing situations now and again. This is especially true if you're chasing special challenges and the three gems hidden in every level.

Each stage is a complex environment that needs to be heavily scrutinizes in order to uncover all of its secrets. By rotating the world and zooming in, you can get a good idea of where most secrets lie, but discovering the path to glory is sometimes easier said than done. You'll have to rotate every platform, destroy every block, and analyze every obstacle to uncover all of the game's riches. That said, there are some scenarios where you have to be thorough rather than clever, making sure to defeat every enemy, just in case they possess the gem that you need to complete your collection.

Collecting gems is largely optional, but you eventually reach a point in the game when you need a certain amount in order to proceed. At that point, you may find yourself backtracking, and while returning to earlier levels may not sound like fun, they're so chock full of character and thematic variety that making repeated trips is less of a bore than you might think. The bright and colorful worlds in Captain Toad reek of innocence and childlike charm, but the puzzles within are anything but easy or simple. However, as you progress through the game, improving your awareness and understanding of the game's mechanics, you begin to see things in earlier stages that you may have missed during your first trip, and the sense of accomplishment sinks in as you find every gem, and check off every stage's special challenge.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is an adorable little game, but it's also deviously challenging. Thankfully, it subtly ramps the complexity of its puzzles, keeping you engaged and curious at every turn. It may have a simple premise, but it will no doubt surprise you, and if you're anything like me, it will make you question your puzzle solving skills more often than you'd like. Puzzle lovers and Mario fanatics beware: Captain Toad means business.