Captain Toad is an unlikely hero that seems out-of-place in the Mushroom Kingdom. In a world where it seems like everyone can jump at least 20 feet in the air and hover there for a few seconds, you?d think that Captain Toad not being able to jump would put him at a great disadvantage, but this Toad has heart.
Unlike the usual Nintendo game, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker doesn?t ask you to jump around the level to reach the star at the end, but rather to outthink, and outmaneuver it. And this leads to the thing that Treasure Tracker does the best, the level design. Captain Toads limited range of movement never seems to get in the way and stop him from collecting as much gold as his little backpack can hold and, most importantly, reaching the star. At the start of each level I would spin the camera around to get an idea of what I was up against, what enemies were present, where the gems were, and most importantly where the star is located. Then I sit, processing the level, what platforms I need to rotate using the gamepad touchscreen, which button I need to press, or which hidden passages I need to find. This goes on for just the right amount of time before everything clicks and I get an idea of what I need to do to beat the level. Thinking back, I can?t remember a single level where I was frustrated and stumped as to how I beat it. Each puzzle?s simple and clear design led to the level feeling rewarding when I reached the end, without making me sit for minutes, confused about what to do next.
This game may sound like a cake walk, but Nintendo does add some challenge in the form of gems and hidden objectives. While simply completing a level isn?t the hardest thing to do in the world, finding the three gems you need to 100% a level, and unlock some future levels, can leave you scratching your head. Like before, frustration never set in while trying to find a gem, but it does make you sit there and think for a minute before a light goes off and you realize what to do. Captain Toad also offers some replayability in the form of hidden objectives. After you complete a level an objective is unveiled to you that entices you to jump back in and play it again. This can be anything from finding the golden mushroom, sneaking past all the shy guys in a level, or collecting a certain amount of coins. It?s not much, but it does entice me to play each level at least twice, which is more than welcomed seeing as this is one of the nicest looking games not only on the Wii U, but that I?ve played in recent memory.
Just about every one of it?s 64 main levels is unique and memorable. On one level you might be climbing your way up a tower while Kamek shoots magic beams at you. The next level could be one of the games minecart levels, where you ride on a minecart track shooting turnips at enemies. Then the game might lead you to a level where you play as Captain Toads companion, Toadette while you navigate to the front of a moving train. The settings are so varied that I never felt like the game was getting dull or repetitive, despite it?s simple objectives. The two bosses however, a dragon and a giant bird, are repeated a few times throughout the game, and it would have been nice to see more boss variety. None the less, this game oozes charm and detail that makes me want to sit back and just look at it. I would happily live in the world of Captain Toad.
While I?ve done nothing but praise Captain Toad so far, there was one feature that frustrated me a good amount over my 11 hours of playtime. The motion controlled camera. I personally had no need for the motion controlled camera, which moves the camera when you tilt the gamepad, and instead preferred to use the analog stick. However, every time I would move my wrist, or accidentally tilt the gamepad the camera would go out-of-place. This wouldn?t necessarily be a big deal if the camera placement in this game wasn?t so important. Seeing as Toad is not the most agile of creatures, you need to know where you are going, and where the enemies, spikes, and ledges are so you can avoid them, because it?s very hard to run away from danger like in other platformers. There were also times where the motion controlled camera would get in the way of other features in the game. Whenever I?d have to lift the gamepad up to my face to blow into the microphone, the camera would swing up. Instances like this led to me readjusting the camera placement more times than I would have liked to. All this could be avoided if the motion controlled camera could simply be turned off, but it can?t. It?s a small oversight that led to unnecessary frustration.
When my time with Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker came to an end, I was sad to see it go. The world was such a joy to be in. Its calm, charming atmosphere was a nice escape, and I looked forward to seeing what unique level lies ahead. Although its scope and length is closer to what you might find in a mobile game, it?s great level design, beautiful environments and replayability made it feet worthy of its $40 price tag, and is most certainly a game that well worth your time.
https://colorbypixel.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/captain-toad-treasure-tracker-review/
Unlike the usual Nintendo game, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker doesn?t ask you to jump around the level to reach the star at the end, but rather to outthink, and outmaneuver it. And this leads to the thing that Treasure Tracker does the best, the level design. Captain Toads limited range of movement never seems to get in the way and stop him from collecting as much gold as his little backpack can hold and, most importantly, reaching the star. At the start of each level I would spin the camera around to get an idea of what I was up against, what enemies were present, where the gems were, and most importantly where the star is located. Then I sit, processing the level, what platforms I need to rotate using the gamepad touchscreen, which button I need to press, or which hidden passages I need to find. This goes on for just the right amount of time before everything clicks and I get an idea of what I need to do to beat the level. Thinking back, I can?t remember a single level where I was frustrated and stumped as to how I beat it. Each puzzle?s simple and clear design led to the level feeling rewarding when I reached the end, without making me sit for minutes, confused about what to do next.
This game may sound like a cake walk, but Nintendo does add some challenge in the form of gems and hidden objectives. While simply completing a level isn?t the hardest thing to do in the world, finding the three gems you need to 100% a level, and unlock some future levels, can leave you scratching your head. Like before, frustration never set in while trying to find a gem, but it does make you sit there and think for a minute before a light goes off and you realize what to do. Captain Toad also offers some replayability in the form of hidden objectives. After you complete a level an objective is unveiled to you that entices you to jump back in and play it again. This can be anything from finding the golden mushroom, sneaking past all the shy guys in a level, or collecting a certain amount of coins. It?s not much, but it does entice me to play each level at least twice, which is more than welcomed seeing as this is one of the nicest looking games not only on the Wii U, but that I?ve played in recent memory.
Just about every one of it?s 64 main levels is unique and memorable. On one level you might be climbing your way up a tower while Kamek shoots magic beams at you. The next level could be one of the games minecart levels, where you ride on a minecart track shooting turnips at enemies. Then the game might lead you to a level where you play as Captain Toads companion, Toadette while you navigate to the front of a moving train. The settings are so varied that I never felt like the game was getting dull or repetitive, despite it?s simple objectives. The two bosses however, a dragon and a giant bird, are repeated a few times throughout the game, and it would have been nice to see more boss variety. None the less, this game oozes charm and detail that makes me want to sit back and just look at it. I would happily live in the world of Captain Toad.
While I?ve done nothing but praise Captain Toad so far, there was one feature that frustrated me a good amount over my 11 hours of playtime. The motion controlled camera. I personally had no need for the motion controlled camera, which moves the camera when you tilt the gamepad, and instead preferred to use the analog stick. However, every time I would move my wrist, or accidentally tilt the gamepad the camera would go out-of-place. This wouldn?t necessarily be a big deal if the camera placement in this game wasn?t so important. Seeing as Toad is not the most agile of creatures, you need to know where you are going, and where the enemies, spikes, and ledges are so you can avoid them, because it?s very hard to run away from danger like in other platformers. There were also times where the motion controlled camera would get in the way of other features in the game. Whenever I?d have to lift the gamepad up to my face to blow into the microphone, the camera would swing up. Instances like this led to me readjusting the camera placement more times than I would have liked to. All this could be avoided if the motion controlled camera could simply be turned off, but it can?t. It?s a small oversight that led to unnecessary frustration.
When my time with Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker came to an end, I was sad to see it go. The world was such a joy to be in. Its calm, charming atmosphere was a nice escape, and I looked forward to seeing what unique level lies ahead. Although its scope and length is closer to what you might find in a mobile game, it?s great level design, beautiful environments and replayability made it feet worthy of its $40 price tag, and is most certainly a game that well worth your time.
https://colorbypixel.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/captain-toad-treasure-tracker-review/