Nintendo Land isn't Wii Sports , but it's the must have offline social game this new generation. The twelve Attractions do a commendable job of demonstrating what the Wii U and its GamePad are capable of and offer enough content to keep you playing much longer than you had ever envisioned.

+ Demonstrates the GamePad's potential; + A mix of games; + Is surprisingly addictive; + Will get the family gaming together again

- Monita is annoying and creepy; - Online functionality is poor; - Some boring attractions; - Menu might confuse casual audience

As with any new console, the Wii U needs the proverbial "killer app" to sell the system to as wide an audience as possible. In the past Nintendo did it with games as diverse as Super Mario 64, Tetris, and Wii Sports, and the publisher is trying again on Wii U with the inviting minigame collection...

Variety of novel uses for GamePad; Colorful introduction to Nintendo's new console; Deeper multiplayer experiences than expected

Weaker solo attractions are half the game; Running out of things to do in the hub world; Hearing instructions far too often

NintendoLand is, in the truest sense, the Wii U 's equivalent to Wii Sports . Like its predecessor, NintendoLand is a light and chirpy mini-game festival that exists primarily to teach players about the unique possibilities of their new console, yet manages to do so in a framework that provides...

Three very different variations on Pac-Man Vs; An excellent showcase for your new console; Packed full of Nintendo love

Inconsistent quality across the board; We'd have preferred more Mario Chase / Animal Crossing maps; Monita's voice sends a chill down our spine

So maybe it's better to judge Nintendo Land on its own merits. Do that and you might be surprised. It's not just half a dozen great diversions and a few more besides; it's sweet fan service that celebrates Nintendo's catalogue with more heart and less calculation than we've seen of late.

Sure, there's similarities in the game concepts, but Nintendo's successfully compiled them into one cohesive experience. Nintendo Land's divided in two: one side for solo gamers, the other for team players. With the latter, everybody wants to hold the Wii U's tablet controller, the GamePad.

Nintendo knows a thing or two about crafting worlds that have memorable, immediately recognizable characteristics. Perhaps, for you, the five-note theme that often accompanies Samus' appearance in Metroid games always conjures memories of many happy hours spent exploring alien landscapes.

Fun single-player attractions make good use of the Wii U tablet; Plenty of enjoyable ways to play with friends cooperatively and competitively; Mario Chase is a terrific twist on hide-and-seek; Nintendo themes give the attractions some charm

A few attractions are too difficult or too shallow

After an unbelievable last 7 years, the life of the Wii has come and gone, with the Wii U taking its place. With so much already out about the Wii U's software, hardware, specs, and everything else, nothing compares to finally sitting down and playing Nintendo's very first game on it.

Nintendo Land takes some of Nintendo's most recognizable franchises and turns them into fun, slightly bigger than bite-sized mini-games. But much more importantly, Nintendo Land -like Wii Sports before it with the Wii-is designed to help new Wii U owners understand the potential uses behind the...

Each of the twelve games show what unique things the GamePad can do, Extremely fun and accessible for new users.; ...while having enough depth for more intense gaming, So many great Nintendo franchises in one place

That's an expensive investment after buying an expensive new Wii U; I wish the unlockables were more useful; Why won't Monita just shut up and let me play!; Tags

Editor's Note: Since Nintendo Land is a large game with 12 distinct mini-games in it, we decided to assemble an Avengers-like team of staffers to write about all the attractions and discuss the game. In addition, I implore you to check out the accompanying podcast segment .

Fun Miiverse integration; Spectacular multiplayer experience; Wonderful aesthetic

Lackluster single-player experience; Some attractions are duds

I was a huge fan of the Rabbids series when it first came out. The first game was one of the best titles for the Wii in its early days and it made wonderful use of the motion controls.