What you need to know
The new Dr Luigi, puzzle game for Wii U consoles, released in the UK this week, is a "fun twist" on a classic Mario game, say reviewers. Dr Luigi revives key elements of the 23-year-old puzzle game Dr Mario and is the final instalment of Nintendo's Year of Luigi series.
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What the critics like
Dr Luigi has introduced new L-shaped pills for "a fun twist" on the classic pill-tossing gameplay, says Scott Thompson on IGN. More than just a shallow gimmick, "the new pills substantially alter the virus-busting experience for a simple, effective change to the classic 23-year-old gameplay".
The new Dr Luigi is "a no-frills addition mostly for fans of the Dr series", says Chris Carter on Destructoid. Visually, it is "bright, vibrant and incredibly smooth all round", but the real kicker is the Virus Buster mode using the touch pad, which really quickens the pace and ups the action.
The new Virus Buster touchscreen option is the most enjoyable, says Mike Futter on Game Informer. It's "a smart change-up" that offers slightly slower but more intense play, while it’s still hard to get that classic tune out of your head, or the smile off your face.
What they don’t like
Dr Luigi manages to be fun enough, but it's still "a far cry from the top-tier classic puzzlers" like Tetris, says Jeremy Parish on USA Gamer. There are some fun little riffs on classic material, but it lacks intensity and sells itself almost entirely on novelty.
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