Home > Shut The Box [Wii U] - Review
Developer RCMADIAX is hard at work pumping out Wii U exclusive eShop games. Shut the Box (based on the board game) is his third and latest game this year. The game is only $0.99, which is currently the cheapest on the eShop. Even a cheap game needs justified though, you'll have to keep reading to see if Shut the Box made the cut.
Platforms: Wii U [Reviewed] Developer: RCMADIAX Release: August 7, 2014 MSRP: $0.99
Shut the Box is incredibly simple. A pair of dice are rolled, displaying a number at random from 2-12. You have three layers of tiles numbered 1-9 in each layer. The goal is to select any number of tiles that add up to the number displayed on the dice. Once you've either exhausted all possible moves or win by eliminating all the tiles, the game is over.
It takes a combination of careful thinking of which tiles you want to eliminate and luck to win the game. This leads to a positive and fun experience while playing. However, it was only 4 or 5 minutes until I had beaten the game, and then I lost interest entirely. The crippling problem with Shut the Box is a complete lack of content. Don't get me wrong, the gameplay that's there is solid and enjoyable. But when there's only three minutes of new gameplay, the game doesn't hold your attention long. There's only one game mode and a simple high score counter. There's not even an option screen.
The background music is pretty catchy, but you'll quickly find it's just a single tune playing on an endless loop. Visually, the game looks quite dated. An odd selection of colors and lack of special effects make Shut the Box graphically awkward. The presentation doesn't take anything away from the gameplay, but it also doesn't enhance it. The best thing this game has going for it is it's price point, a measly 99 cents. However, if this was a smartphone app, I wouldn't pay anything for it. Shut the Box honestly seems more like a flash game or mobile application than a game fit for a home console. I suppose it could be a nice side activity while you were watching television. It would be a great way for young children to practice math skills. So while Shut the Box might have an audience, I'm just not it.
Pros:
- Fun gameplay
- Very inexpensive
- A solid challenge
Cons:
- Minimal content
- No replayability
- Poor presentation
Poor
These games simply aren't worth playing. They aren't fun to play and are seriously lacking in content. This category is usually reserved for cheap games that are blatant attempts at quick cash for the developer. Somtimes technical problems make these games unplayable. The only award these games will be winning is the Nintendo Castle certificate of participation.
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About the Author:
Rial Johnson
Rial Johnson founded Nintendo Castle in 2011 with hopes to build the largest collection of Nintendo walkthroughs, guides, and content on the web. He is an avid gamer with a special place in his heart for Nintendo, but often finds himself writing about games more than actually playing them. You'll likely see him around Nintendo Castle and on social media, mostly managing the front-end content of the site.
