New Super Mario Bros. 2

Also known as: N/A

Developer: Nintendo

When the original New Super Mario Bros. came out on the Nintendo DS, I was excited. While I’ve always thought that the 3D Mario games were okay, I’ve always preferred the original 2D games to them. After playing through it, I wound up thinking that it was okay, but nowhere near the quality of the original 2D Mario games. New Super Mario Bros. Wii, wound up leaving me with the same feeling, but I did like it a little more than I did the first “New” outing. So, when New Super Mario Bros. 2 was released, I figured I’d give it a shot. I figured it might be slightly better to New Super Mario Bros. Wii, if was going to continue that trend, but I honestly wasn’t expecting much. That said, while New Super Mario Bros. 2 doesn’t reach the level of the original, side-scrolling Mario games, it still provides a very solid 2D platforming experience. With plenty of power-ups to use throughout each of the levels, it kind of reminded me of Super Mario Bros. 3 and how I’d save the abnormal power-ups and use them in levels that I wasn’t supposed to – like completing the final stage and sending Bowser into lava all while wearing the frog suit. This was probably the first game in the “New” series that gave me nostalgia like that and it kept me coming back for more. I still consider New Super Mario Bros. U as the best game in the “New Super Mario Bros.” series, but New Super Mario Bros. 2 is a very solid second place…kinda like how its title suggests.

Review added: 01/04/2021

Nintendogs + Cats: Golden Retriever & New Friends

Also known as: Nintendogs + Cats: Shiba & New Friends (Japan, South Korea)

Developer: Nintendo

I hold the first Nintendogs games close to my heart. I was away in college when they came out, and my dog was not allowed to live with me in the school-sponsored apartment complex I lived in. So, while on the weekends I got to see my pup, I wasn't so lucky on the weekdays, which is where the original Nintendogs games came in. This sequel is just as good in my opinion, but aside from the addition of cats, there isn't much else new. That still didn't stop me from logging several hours into this game, though. Revisiting this game for this list, I immediately found myself smiling as I had forgotten that I had named a dog on my cartridge after my dog who had passed a few years ago. He was alive when I had originally played the game, but I had found a puppy that reminded me of him…so I called him Booger, which was my nickname for my real dog. Once the screen loaded and I saw that golden retriever puppy, I smiled. Then he started jumping around, barking and playing…it just made me smile and my memories were flooded with thoughts of that dog that I loved as if he were my own son. That’s where Nintendogs and Cats stands out in comparison to other pet simulators – these animals ooze personality like real pets would. Of course, owning a real pet is the best option, but if you’re unable to have a pet, but would love a dog or cat, this may be the next best thing for you. As far as pet sims go (and a TON of them have popped up since the original Nintendogs) this series remains at the top of the heap…though due to lack of originality, I feel like this version is slightly inferior to the original Nintendogs. Unless you’re a cat lover or really like to use the 3D aspects of the 3DS, I’d stick with the original.

Review added: 06/18/2020