Poochy And Yoshi’s Woolly World for 3DS

yoshi and poochy

Yarn Yoshi is back, and this time he has brought his woolly buddy Poochy, in Poochy and Yoshi’s Woolly World.  Kamek the magikoopa has changed everyone into wool, Yoshi and Poochy are here to save the day.  This game is a retelling of Yoshi Woolly World on the Wii U, which includes over 55 levels of fun and also adds some new Poochy levels.  Every level has a craft feel, where enemies are yarn-abes and each texture and item is also craft based.

There is also an ability to enter Mellow Mode, where Yoshi sports his signature wings and can float about, and adds Poochy’s 3 little puppies to help find secrets and hidden passages.  This game is great for players of all ages, where experienced players will try to collect all the items available while beginners will be happy to beat each level.  New to this version are collectable pencil stamps which add materials to use in craft mode.  Craft mode is where you can create your own Yoshi patterns using various colors and materials gathered during game play.  You can make any pattern you like from a favorite sports team to a super hero costume design.  These Yoshi can then be shared as well.  Another neat feature is Yoshi feature, where you can watch animated shorts based on Yoshi and Poochy’s adventures.

The game also supports amiibos.  Yarn Yoshi unlocks a double Yoshi to make levels even more fun.  Taping the new Yarn Poochy lets you add Poochy to a regular level while tapping Poochy during Poochy Dash unlock extra challenges and thus bonus Poochy designs as well.  Poochy and Yoshi’s Woolly World is available only on the Nintendo 3DS and is available for download from the eShop or at retail locations.  In addition to the regular edition, there is also an amiibo bundle where the game includes a Poochy amiibo packaged with it.

Fun New Video Games for Families

Nicer weather is on the way, but what to do while you are still trapped indoors? Check out these new video games and devices you can play with the kids.

 

Skylanders Imaginators is the newest in the proud Skylanders line of games.  Each game further expands on the previous, and lets real life toy-like figures meet and battle on the portal (game) and inside the game itself. Each character is unique and can be brought into the game with the included portal by simply placing the toy on the portal.  This newest iteration brings in a character creation element which makes for great fun and increased interactivity in a unique way.  The story follows the Skylanders as they try to defeat Kaos in his newest plan to destroy Skyland.  Kaos has found a new power called the Mind Magic and is creating an army of Doomlanders.  The leader of the good guys is Eon, and he calls upon Portal Masters to battle Kaos and his army.  But this time there are Sensei’s as well.  These sensei’s give you new powers for your Imaginators to use and be built with.  The new Nintendo system Switch has received its own version of this fun game, and now includes further mobility. You can also save your Skylanders’ figure stats and abilities to the system so you can play Skylanders on the go with your characters but without a portal or figures in tow.  This is a great new addition (and kind of a big deal)  and makes Skylanders able to be an “on the go” game as well.

Skylanders Imaginators

If you haven’t yet, you can also create your own Skylander that will be mailed to you in real life. My son flipped his lid over this, and your Skylanders fan will as well. It’s easy to do, just download the Skylanders Creator app from the iOS or Android store, and using the app, create an Imaginator character or transfer one from the Skylanders Imaginators console game to the app. Follow the directions, it takes just a few minutes once downloaded from start to finish. Any Skylander you created can be yours in real life- one of the cooler things we’ve seen in a while.  Highly recommend.

Nintendo Switch

Speaking of the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo has finally given us what we have been frothing at the mouth for, a new system!  Their newest console is the Switch.  It is both a portable as well as a use at home console, which I think is very neat.  It is easy to switch between the two, even in the middle of your current game.  The first thing you will notice upon opening up the Switch is there is not much in the box, a tablet and a stand, controllers, a few various controller accessories and cables.  This is exactly the point of the system- portability.  The tablet portion of the Switch is quite a powerhouse, with a crisp, gorgeous display.  The controllers are very responsive and are solidly built as well.  They do feel a bit small in Dad’s monster size hands, but are definitely still playable for long periods of time (especially when used in conjunction with the joy con grip, which turns the two small controllers into one bigger one for a more classic gaming feel).  It’s actually kind of telling of current gaming, all the different ways the Switch is played in our house.  My son loves playing portable, anywhere, from the kitchen to the bedroom, while dad loves the classic gaming feel with controller in hand on the TV.  The Switch’ s joy con controller can also act as two separate controllers for two players, which make for fun for all with the accessibility of a small controller with fewer buttons.  Non gamers will be easily  drawn into multiplayer games with the small controller making for a more fun multi-player experience.  The Switch is available now in stores and online retailing for $299.99.

breath of the wild
The Legend of Zelda has always been a fun franchise, ever expanding and growing with each entry.  The newest, Breath of the Wild, takes the player places they have never been in a Zelda game.  As Link, you will explore the vast area of Hyrule full of shrines, villages, friends, and foes, with fights being less of a button mashing event and more of a strategic battle.  What will strike the player in some of your earliest encounters will be how difficult this game actually is.  Do not expect to run into a fight, slash some baddies and hop out.  Each encounter is a lesson in sneaking, dodging, attacking, magic, and of course the ever important strategic get away (which does not always succeed).  As you progress through the game, your armor, weapons, and shields get damaged and break, needing to be replaced. Link himself learns new powers, abilities, and and gains friends.  This game also supports amiibos which can be a huge help.  The Breath of Wind series amiibos are all compatible as well as Wolf Link, and the Zelda 30th Anniversary amiibo to name a few.  When you use Wolf Link, you get a companion who will assist in battle and travel along side you.   Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is avilable now for $59.99 in stores and online as well as from the Nintendo eShop retailing for $59.99

yoshi and poochy

Yarn Yoshi is back and this time he has brought his woolly buddy Poochy in Poochy and Yoshi’s Woolly World.  Kamek the magikoopa has changed everyone into wool, and Yoshi and Poochy are here to save the day.  This game is a retelling of Yoshi Woolly World on the Wii U, by including over 55 levels of fun while also adding some new Poochy levels.  Every level has a craft feel where enemies are yarn and each texture and item is also craft based. There is also an ability to enter Mellow Mode where Yoshi sporty his signature wings and can float about, and adds Poochy’s 3 little puppies to help find secrets and hidden passages.  This game is great for players of all ages, where experienced players will try to collect all the items available while beginners will be happy to beat each level.  Poochy and Yoshi’s Woolly World is available only on the Nintendo 3DS and is available for download from the eShop or at retail locations.  In addition to the regular edition there is also an amiibo bundle where the game includes a Poochy amiibo packaged with it.

How to Choose the Best Computer to Play Minecraft

Technically, you can play Minecraft on any computer. However, this game is based on the programming language Java. So you will need a computer capable of running Java programs. All new computers can do this. However, Java takes up significant processing power to function properly. So, even if a computer can run Minecraft, it may not do it well. If the computer you are using lacks enough processing power, Minecraft will lag and run on a low-frame rate.

If you are looking for the ideal computer to play Minecraft, here are some tips:

PCs are the Best

Minecraft can run on PC, Linux, Macs, Xbox, Playstation and even on computers powered by Raspberry Pi. However, PC is the best type of computer play the game on. If you have a good desktop or laptop PC with a powerful graphics card, that’s all you need to play the game. You do not technically need a gaming computer for Minecraft. However, if you also want to play other games, it won’t hurt to buy a low-budget gaming laptop or a desktop.

Framerate Matters

Framerate, or fps (frames per second), is how fast individual images can be displayed on a screen so it looks like the images are moving. You may know this as moving picture, or movie, technology (very fancy). Video games display images similarly to movies. The graphics you want to see on the game will be affected by your computer’s fps. The higher the fps, the better. You can change this setting in-game, but there’s no point in tuning up in-game fps very high if the computer you are using cannot render the fps that fast. The basic frame rate for Minecraft is around 50 fps. Standard computers can manage around 60 fps. Gaming computers usually have double that rate, which will be more than enough to play Minecraft smoothly with great blocky graphics.

Get a Solid Processor

Ultimately, it comes down to the computer’s processor and memory. The Intel Pentium processor is the most basic processor that you can play Minecraft without major issues. You can upgrade to Intel Core i3, but this processor is largely similar to Pentium but costs extra. Ideally, Intel Core i5 with 4GB or 8GB RAM is the best processor for the game at the moment. Of course, you will have to combine the processor with a good graphics card. Core i7 processors are great if you already have one. There is no need to upgrade from i5 to i7, as you won’t get noteworthy perks for the additional cost.

Pair the Processor with a Good Graphics Card

Minecraft’s graphics are meant to be blocky like in arcade machines of the yore. However, a good graphics card will render the images best without lag. You need to pair a solid processor with a good graphics card like Nvidia GeForce GTX 950M or Iris Graphics 6100. Make sure the graphics card comes with at least 4GB of memory. Your computer will need at least 4GB of memory as well.

You can optimize your Minecraft experience further by buying an ergonomic external mouse and perhaps an external keyboard if you are using a laptop.

LEGO Dimensions Packs – Dr. Who, Simpsons, and Adventure Time

dr who lego

In what other game can you have Homer driving down the yellow brick road in the bat-mobile?

The answer is LEGO Dimensions.  The Lego brick themed multiverse spanning game is constantly expanding and with the most recent additions you can now explore the worlds of the children’s favorite Adventure Time, the generational favorite Dr Who,and the TV classic The Simpsons Springfield to name a few.

Sets are broken down into a few different categories, the predominant one being levels. With the download of an update to your game and the usage of figures from that particular universe, the level is unlocked.  Simpsons brings your characters into Springfield to solve various quests and requests by locals as well as the collection of various items to complete the level to 100%.  There are playable levels as well as free play modes where you can just go exploring to find all the nooks and crannies put in the game.  I guarantee as a fan you will find something that will put a huge smile on your face no matter which level pack you play.

Adventure Time has tons of characters and interactions with authentic voices.  When combining the level pack with the character pack, you can play as the duo Finn and Jake and cause mischief and save princesses with the help of BMO and Lumpy Space Princess.  To be honest, my son was least interested in Lumpy Space Princess to start off with, but her animations and interactions with characters are so spot on and genuinely funny, she is now one of his favorites in the entire game across every universe.

In addition to the sets mentioned, there are also fun packs like the Ninjago Cragger pack, which includes the evil Croc-tribe warrior Gragger and his Swamp Skimmer (which can be rebuilt into Cragger’s Fireship and Croc Command Sub).  This is one of the interesting parts of Lego Dimensions- vehicles aren’t only one vehicle but can be upgraded and rebuilt into other forms making them stronger or adding a new mode of transportation to the game, like a submarine going underwater or a jet which can fly around.

Each pack is jammed full of fun with levels, characters, and of course the LEGOs themselves, which come with digital instructions on how to build some characters in game.  Once put together, the characters can also be played with in real life just as other LEGO sets are, and fit in with the rest you have at home. Don’t lose the parts, though!

Mincraft at Best Buy @BestBuy @Minecraft #ad

Minecraft is one of the my son’s favorite games.  My husband, not as much, but he is learning (and also learning how much of an old man he is sometimes).  You can build and explore exciting new worlds with Best Buy’s assortment of Minecraft games and collectibles.

Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures.  Where players can use their imagination, they can bring anything their digital heart desires to life. This translates into a robust level of online shared works to explore.  Visit randomly generated worlds as well as build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles.  Minecraft is less of a game and more of a digital revolution.  Play in Creative Mode with unlimited resources, or mine deep in Survival Mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off dangerous mobs. Do all this alone, or with friends.  Co-Op mode is a blast with a family member or a friend.  My husband honestly didn’t see the point in Minecraft until he sat down and played Co-Op with the kiddo. The games are very family-friendly, and great for kids and adults of any age.  The toys and collectibles make great gifts for anyone already into the game or just getting their feet wet.

Best Buy carries a large assortment the assortment of Minecraft products – this includes an Xbox One S console bundle, additional Minecraft games, and Minecraft toys and collectibles.  The coolest being (of course) the Xbox One S console bundle, which includes not only the Xbox One S 500GB console, but also Xbox Wireless Controller, Minecraft: Xbox One Edition Favorites Pack, Minecraft Builder’s Pack, Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition Beta,  and also 14-day Xbox Live Gold trial.  The Xbox One S is the same as an Xbox One but is now powered up with 4K Blu-ray, 4k video streaming and HDR all this while being 40% smaller.

Moana: The Movie, the Games

moana app

Moana, the newest animated film from Walt Disney Pictures, is still filling theaters around the world. It’s one of the top-ranked movies of the year, beloved by critics and audience members of all ages. If you haven’t already taken your children to see it, I confidently recommend doing so. Older children, teens, and thrill-seeking adults can enjoy Moana in 3D, which offers an entirely next-level type of entertainment. However, the story and 2D visuals are captivating enough that the non-3D movie is very much worth seeing.

After watching Moana at the theater, a great way to stay connected is through video games. These days, sites like Poki offer countless web games for free. On Poki, each game is sorted into categories, which makes it easy to find exactly what you want. Today, I’d like to share what my child has been playing lately: Moana games from Poki!

The Moana games on Poki are a subsection of the movie games category, which includes hundreds of titles. Some of the most popular movie games are based on Frozen, Cars, or Spider-Man. But the hit film of today is Moana, and there are many exciting adventures to discuss.

Moana Waialiki is a Pacific Island princess. To be more specific, Moana is Polynesian, and she is beautiful. When the movie was first announced, there was much discussion surrounding this new type of Disney royalty. Feminists and open-minded citizens everywhere praised the choice to showcase diversity on the silver screen. As a result, we have a movie and now many games that center around the proud Motunui native. The Moana dress-up games on Poki highlight her unique culture and clothing. The fabrics, dress styles, and jewelry are all based on authentic island fashion. Players will learn about Oceania while playing, as these games take place 2000 years in the past, just like the movie.

There are also different types of Moana puzzle games, including hidden-object and jigsaw challenges. In Moana Hidden Letters, players will use a magnifying glass to find the alphabet on the beach. In Disney Moana Puzzle, gamers must unscramble memorable scenes from the movie. Every puzzle piece is a small part of the big picture. This type of gameplay lets us relive iconic movie moments with Moana and Maui.

Have I mentioned that the Moana soundtrack was co-written by Lin-Manuel Miranda? That’s right—the award-winning composer and star of Hamilton helped pen the music for Moana. Best of all, some of Poki’s Moana games feature real music from the movie. When playing Kakamora Kaos, gamers are bound to be inspired by the movie’s original soundtrack. The orchestral symphony will charge the coconut-wearing pirates on their massive ship. Instead of playing a game on the computer, it will feel like you’re a part of the film!

After watching Moana, playing these games is the next best thing. Even if you haven’t seen the movie, the Moana titles on Poki are so much fun that they stand tall on their own. It’s time for your children to play with the Polynesian princess and her demigod companion Maui.

Jotun Valhalla Edition and Axiom Verge for Nintendo Wii U

Today we are going to look at two of the plethora of cool Indie titles for the Wii U, Jotun Valhalla Edition and Axiom Verge.  An epic Norse adventure game and a mind bending side scroller which questions your trust in the programmers of the game.

nintendo games

First up is Jotun, Jotun Valhalla Edition follows the story of Thora, a Viking warrior who has suffered an inglorious death.  This means she can not enter Valhalla. As such, Odin offers her another chance to prove herself worthy of Valhalla by battling various gods and defeating them.  You begin the game in Ginnungagap, a Norse limbo which acts as your central point between various levels.  Each has lush hand drawn designs and characters.  Every level acts as a puzzle in itself, as well as an exploration chance to find a God’s weapon.  These weapons then make each boss battle easier to get through, some times, later in the game these are even necessary to defeat some tough baddies.  This game has a “new school”, artistic vibe and an old school, boss rush game play. It is perfect for new gamers as well as older ones.  What I really like about this game is its lush settings, designs, and the Norse driven story which is a relatively fresh area in gaming.

Axoim Verge video game

Next up is Axoim Verge.  Axoim Verge, looks familiar at first glance, a 2d side scrolling Metroid-vania style game where the hero explores a huge area piece by piece.  But that is where the similarities end. With nine massive non linear areas which are unlock-able,  tons of weapons, tools, and equipment (the most memorable of which is a glitch-er tool which, when used, causes game elements to break and either open up new areas, turn enemies into health power ups, or even have enemies turn into assistants).  This not only opens up new elements of game play and gives players a new way to analyze an area, but also opens up new portions of the area and has you question where this game’s setting is. Is it the future, an alien world, or a glitch virtual reality world?  Either way, we had a great time exploring it and can’t wait to unlock more weapons, areas, and tools.

Jotun Valhalla Edition is available now for $14.49 and Axoim Verge for $19.99 through the Nintendo eShop on the Wii U.

Nintendo Select

Nintendo has made some incredible games for the Wii U, but which ones are best? Since they aren’t cheap, you might wonder how you can get more then one game for the $60 price tag.  Nintendo helps people figure that out with the Nintendo Select line of games, which are specially packaged and branded as the best of the best in Nintendo titles. With titles like Super Mario 3D World, you can tell you aren’t getting the just the least popular games.  Also, there is the benefit of the lower price tag- the ability to get at least 2 games for $60.

We are going to take a look at the newest releases in the line which includes Super Mario 3D World, Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, and Pikmin 3- all for the Wii U.  There are also titles for the award winning hand held the Nintendo 3DS, including Zelda Ocarina of Time 3D, Donkey Kong Country 3D Returns, and Mario Party Island Tour.

First up is Super Mario 3D World, with the familiar plumber powering up and saving the world one flying turtle as a time.  This time with glorious 3D environments and  varied levels, they are easy to play but difficult to master.  Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze follows the familiar primate in a not so familiar environment of a frozen tropical paradise.  Pikmin 3 is a 3d puzzle/ RPG game where players toss about little plant/animal creatures called Pikmin, who do your bidding in a dangerous world full of harmful critters and obstacles all while trying to fix your space ship and find your friends.  (My son loves this game beyond reason, LOL.)

The 3DS includes two 3D remakes of incredible games; Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time and Donkey Kong Country 3D Returns.  Ocarina follows our hero Link in his adventures to save the princess and the world with new items, new game play, and shiny new graphics.  Last but not least is the action party game Mario Party Island Tour, which is a plethora of fun mini games to pit you against your friends or other characters in a race around a board game world.

As of now, there is also a special promotion going on where each of the mentioned titles are actually retailing for $19.99, so this is the perfect time to get some stellar games for an incredibly good price.