Games reviews: Game & Wario; Where's My Mickey?; Journey Collector's Edition

Game & Wario places much more emphasis on the single-player experience than usual

Game & Wario

£39.99 Wii U Nintendo

**

The latest in the WarioWare series of mini-game craziness takes a slightly different tack by placing much more emphasis on the single-player experience than usual. The immediately obvious problem being that few of the twelve solo-play minis on offer are of sufficient depth to warrant much more that the cursory play needed to unlock the next one.

The best on offer: a game of virtual paparazzi in which players must target certain characters in crowded locations; an addictive measurements game where players design a robot; and a patchwork-based pattern game, will entertain, but fail to wholly compensate for the title's lesser lights.

Inevitably, the game is at its best when played with friends, but with just four dedicated multiplayer modes (and two more ported from the single-player side) even these will get old before too long. If you've exhausted Nintendo Land and are looking for something similar then Game & Wario should keep you going. Just beware that at times it feels more like a series of technology demos shoehorned together than a truly polished full-price release.

Where's My Mickey?

£0.69-£1.49 iOS, Android Disney

****

In the latest of the physics puzzle-solving Where's My...? series, the iconic face of Disney hunts for H20, relying on the weather for help. We know the format is a runaway success, but the appeal here lies in the lovingly crafted animation, with amusing cartoon clips unlocking along the way. There's no scrimping on content here with a new story to explore in each episode, and you can even play as the gawky Goofy to mix things up. Additional hidden levels are a further nice touch, as are exclusives for the iPad version. Adorable gaming fit for adults, as well as children.

Laura Davis

Journey Collector's Edition

£15.99 PS3 Sony

*****

Bundling together three of the PS3's greatest PSN releases – Journey, Flower and Flow – this collection represents the entire body of work by developer Thatgamecompany; with each title not only garnering almost universal praise, but many an accolade too. Each depicts similar themes: freedom, exploration, momentum and nature, and all push the boundaries of what we should expect of modern game design. Completing the disc are art galleries and even multiplayer mini-games, meaning owners of one, or all, of the games might still find reason to revel in this inspiring collection.

MP