Review: Jett Tailfin On Wii U

This is the challenging and dangerous world of underwater racing! As a fast fish, you will run through several track trying to be first in the speed challenge. The player must be one of the first to qualify and proceed to the next race. Accumulate enough points through the 16 tracks and become the Champion! You can also face the other racers in special bonus rounds where they will do their best to let you eat their dust… or bubbles.

Pros:

• Nice graphics that are big and bright.
• Handful of characters to pick from each with different stats.
• Racing game with pick ups. Kind of like Finding Nemo Vs Shark Tale in an underwater Mario Kart rules face off.
• Collect items from barrels, Hit bubbles to fill your boost meter and hit currents to get a speed boost
• Local multiplayer with 4 player support.
• Local leader boards.
• Game screen is mirrored onto the gamepad.
• Touchscreen is used for menu navigation and minimal in game interactions but not compulsory.
• Full voice cast.
• Cut scenes are good with a film like approach.
• Three difficulty options, Easy medium and hard.
• Controls are ok and can easily be learned.
• Two views are available, First person and third person.
• Three modes: Single race, Challenge and local MP.
• Loading screens show controller layouts and game tips.
• In game you can get attacked by Manta Rays and Sharks.
• Calibrate controller whenever you want from the pause menu.
• Bar to show race position, race progress with a mini map being shown on the gamepad.
• Turn HUD off and on.
• Apart from racing a few other race types come in with a battle for bubbles being the first one. Here you just have to make sure you are the first one to collect the most bubbles.
• Over 15 levels to unlock and use in MP and free play.
• Multiple routes on each track.

Cons:

• No off screen play.
• Slight learning curve especially with the controls.
• Gameplay despite all the turbo and speed boosts is rather slow.
• No proper tutorial.
• Limited pick ups.
• Evading attacks is just a QTE that happens throughout a race. Messing up will get you hit and stun you.
• No invert controls.
• No proper hit notifications, Your character will say something but when racing you may not hear it.
• UI is awkward with simple button presses replaced with a small touchscreen input needed.
• No replayability.

In Summary, The game is very lackluster. For a racing game it is really slow. The controls are not smooth and with no way to change them it is very annoying. I would say that as a more seasoned gamer, It is not a nice game to play and actually gets very repetitive and boring after only a few races, But my 8 year old enjoyed it and liked the underwater setting. Even then he only managed a few games then accused the game of just repeating the same race over and over. Its a shame as it had a lot of potential but fell flat. Its a game that you can easily do without it and should only really look at it if you can get it cheap.