VGC: 'Does this independent title live up to the Yuji Naka name it bears?
Whenever a project is tied to a big name, whether the project is a movie, album, or video game, expectations soar. We expect greatness, huge production values, and unparalleled quality. You see, these big names attained that prestige by being great at their craft. However, these expectations are usually inappropriate. For example, Yuji Naka is one of the biggest names in the gaming realm as he is the father of the iconic character Sonic the Hedgehog. So, as you can imagine, the fact that Ivy the Kiwi is tied to Yuji Naka immediately raises expectations in the minds of many gamers. I can tell you now that Ivy the Kiwi is not great, it does not have huge production values, and it is not unparalleled. What it does have is an innovative, simple, and elegant game mechanic that is worthy of the Yuji Naka name; a mechanic that far exceeds anything you’d expect.'
While its true that Yuji Naka hasn’t been churning out classics over the last fifteen years, a closer look at his work over that time shows a creator with a singular vision
Though today you can stuff stereoscopic 3D and console-quality graphics into your backpack, that once seemed inconceivable. Handhelds have evolved quickly, but we shouldn’t forget the games that made them great in the first place. Though these games lack raw processing muscle, they have a power all their own.
GameZone: "We take a look at 10 more titles that are worthy of your time and attention as our very serious list of the top 50 Wii titles rolls on."
Looks fun, but I don't think I'll be getting this.