Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

We’re facing a thesis in level design. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a game that could be placed among concept art books, printed developer diaries and classic toys on the same shelf.

Captain Toad also makes an effort to tie its narrative into 3D World‘s, something that had me smiling when I finally got to see how. It’s just the best kind of fan service, and really the sort of thing that no one does as well as Nintendo, if at all.

It might be hard to tear yourself away from Smash Bros., but Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker makes for an excellent holiday diversion.

As usually Nintendo squeezed every last drop of fun out of a simple idea. [04/2015, p.59]

Everything you could ask for a Nintendo game: fun, beautiful, original and with great characters.

Captain Toad is a little gem on the Wii U library: a low budget game that manages to successfully expand and improve the gameplay from the Super Mario 3D World minigames, thanks to a brilliant and always surprising level design.

Treasure Tracker may not bring the near endless innovation seen from a brand new core Mario release, but I do not hold that as a criticism against it. Instead, it manages to be engaging enough to be both compelling and charming in its own unique way – that very much suits it’s titular character.

An exemplar game that gives hours of pleasure to those who own a Wii U and one that will remain among the best options for this console.

If anything, the release of Captain Toad goes to show just how confident Nintendo is, and more so with how much it understands its audience. In a blockbuster season filled with plenty of firearms and fistfights, Captain Toad shows us more creativity and style than many new IPs out there.

Treasure Tracker is a powerful gesture of confidence by Nintendo: a spinoff game with more original ideas than most companies' new IPs.

Its blend of platforms and puzzles and the way the game was spawned from Super Mario 3D World are very well executed and the overall atmosphere of the title is extremely creative and likely to keep players around it for a long time.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a delightful experience, and acts as a reminder that sometimes a simple change of perspective is all you need to succeed.

Like hidden treasure, Captain Toad Treasure Tracker packs a lot of value into an unassuming package. With a supremely addictive set of charming, brain-teasing levels, stellar production values and a budget price, Captain Toad is the perfect way for Wii U owners to wrap up 2014 after indulging in Smash Bros.

It’s a rewarding game that constantly revs up the creativity and challenge to keep you addicted while also throwing in a decent amount of extras to bring you back for seconds. It’s charming presentation and clever puzzles give it a special touch that sets it above other similar games. And frankly, there’s little else out there that’s like Captain Toad.

Top to bottom, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a delightful little treat of a game. It shows a purity of puzzle design that few studios can match, and it wraps it all in a sugary-sweet presentation that only the most jaded could refuse.

Despite these issues, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is an incredibly charming game.

Don’t be tricked by Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker‘s relatively inexpensive $39.99 price tag; there’s a ton of game here.

Treasure Tracker may be relatively budget-priced, but it doesn't feel like a cheap, throwaway creation. Every inch of its nearly 100 stages and bonus levels has been buffed to a spit-shine finish, and the Nintendo content factory has produced dozens of one-of-a-kind stage concepts to explore here.

The fascinating interactive puzzles of Captain Toad convey the unparalleled mastery of its creators in the art of the 3D platformer.

Some of the game mechanics and gimmicks may grow a bit tiresome after awhile, but the clever level design, bonus objectives and unique puzzles make this yet another fantastic title for Wii U owners to add to their collection.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a wonderful little game that proves that a limitation (in this case, Toad’s inability to jump) can be the cornerstone for some truly inspiring and creative ideas. Each of the seventy plus levels is a masterclass in level design and will invite you to find every little secret they hold. Our only regret is that there aren’t even more levels in this package, as even these seventy levels are over far too quickly.

Simplicity is the name of the game here. And with this simplicity Nintendo offers, once again, a great puzzle-platformer suited for everyone.

Yeah, there aren’t many original songs, and it can be tough to judge depth at times, but those are hardly even problems in the grand scheme of things. The gameplay is a joy, the visuals are gorgeous, polished, and charming, the music is lovely, and there’s a ton of content for a low price.

A game that gives further meaning to the expression "Nintendo difference". Extremely varied gameplay, with clever puzzles and very colorful art direction. The only complaint is the troublesome camera.

It is as motivating as it is relaxing to take the charming mushroom on a treasure hunt filled with puzzles. Nintendo delivers a strong start into the new year.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a fantastic, fun and smart game, which ended up overshadowed during the window of major releases.

Captain Toad is a smart and marvelous puzzle game. An excellent game for Wii U.

Toad finally became the star of its own game. Captain Tracker is a joyful, smart and witty puzzle game that is really hard to put down.

It's a small gem in a great Wii U line up but different from traditional platformers.

Like Donkey Kong ’94, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a fun experience distilled down into digestible chunks.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a fun puzzle-platformer with a huge amount of polish. The camera angles can sometimes get in the way of its greatness, but Toad’s first solo adventure is absolutely a memorable one.

This new adventure is charming, clever and fun. One of those games "full of Nintendo" that you cannot miss if you like puzzle-based experiences.

Take an idea you implemented in another game, and extend it to make a new IP. That's the premise behind Captain Toad, but in this case it's taking something so good as the levels of Toad in Mario 3D World, and making a whole game with them. It's funny, smart, so adorable and screams Nintendo in every part of its code. Sure, perhaps the camera needs polish, and maybe it's easy and short, but try to get all the treasures on every level and we'll see if it's still so easy and short. A little gem in the Wii U catalog, certainly not for everybody -at least if they don't like puzzles games, or the platformers without a jump button- and it's one of those titles whose only purpose is to have fun with.

For anybody else, Captain Toad's weird little experiment would be an afterthought. But Nintendo's exercise in digging has found something pretty special - an action puzzle game that succeeds on charm and smarts, rather than reflexes and spectacle.

Mario isn’t featured in this title, but Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker shares the same creative spark that so often fuels games bearing the Mario name.

The charm of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker resides in the unique variety of levels built for the game, as well as the competent, yet simplistic gameplay design it delivers. Add a strong replay value to the mix and you have one of the best surprises to hit the Wii U this holiday season.

Treasure Tracker takes the core concept of Captain Toad and runs wild with it. It’s a smart, adorable puzzle game that presents some awesome locales and really rewards you for taking the time to unpack them. Despite the control issues and menu problems, Captain Toad Treasure Tracker proves that you can still be great without being Super.

Nintendo has made its first mobile game. Too bad Captain Toad ended up on Wii U. This game would've been perfect on iPad. A puzzle game that has a very compact structure is a common sight on iDevices, but rare on consoles, that are meant to be used in a livingroom. [Feb 2015]

Indeed, its central mechanic feels rather like a statement in itself; perhaps this is Nintendo’s way of motivating its designers and players alike to embrace the idea of approaching the familiar from a fresh perspective.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker continues the successful recipe from the mini-games in Super Mario 3D World. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is something different and deserves praise. It’s packed with content and challenges and will keep you entertained for hours. Nintendo has been creative with the usage of camera angles, but I’d wish they’d have more illusions like in Super Mario 3D Land.

A game of small joys, lovingly compiled by master games makers. Smaller in scope than many of the titles in the Mario universe, the focus with which it has been constructed has meant it retains a purity sorely lacking in many modern games.

Captain Toad is a perfect example of technology at service of playability, a game where design is everything.

Treasure Tracker is a heartwarming, well thought-out and engaging puzzler.

If you loved the Captain Toad bonus levels in Super Mario 3D World, you will most definitely enjoy this game. It is a beautiful and charming adventure full of fun and different challenges. Too bad the camera is not always your friend, and too bad this game is a bit on the too expensive side.

18 years on from Super Mario 64, Nintendo's designers are still going further in their exploration of the third dimension than almost anyone else.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a marvelous puzzle game that stretches its initial value well beyond what I had anticipated. It will take players a hefty amount of time to master it all, and the game does a fantastic job of making you want to see and do everything.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a fun and quality game that has managed to entertain us longer than expected. Considering the price of about 20 euros lower than normal titles for Nintendo Wii U and excellent ideas fielded by level designers of this game, it is a title that we recommend.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a colorful game with nice puzzles to solve while chilling out. Another interesting Wii U exclusive.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker may be a humble little game that may not aim very high, but it succeeds as a quality and polished title for those who want a relaxing and easy going adventure-puzzle game.

Replaying stages to get everything is part of Treasure Tracker’s pleasure, but it doesn’t come at the expense of variety.

A game that challenges the mind like Treasure Tracker doesn’t come around all that often and for that the Wii U console carves out another experience with childlike wonder as the objective, rather than the aesthetic.

Just like Captain Toad, if you can't jump, you'd better use your brain. This down-to-earth approach transforms the environments into puzzles that require to look harder - and dig deeper - than expected in order to find all of their design treasures.

Nintendo continues to prove why they are the legends of the industry. They deliver time and time again with solid titles, and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is one such title.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker might come at a slower pace than Mario, but it's a platformer that's often just as endearing.

This game builds on the puzzle levels we were introduced to in 3D World. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker offers a constant stream new, colorful puzzle levels, but it never gets truly challenging. That being said, anybody that is looking to enjoy an upbeat Mario spin-off will fall in love with Captain Toad, as the quality of the levels is very high and the toadstools simply steal the show.

Captain Toad is an experience that doesn't attempt to really wow you, but instead delivers consistent puzzle experiences at a rapid pace.

While Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker certainly succeeds brilliantly in most of its puzzle-platforming endeavors, it does feel slightly short in the end, and a fussy camera can sabotage sequences that require quick actions and quick decisions.

It may have started out as a minigame, but with its original take on the Toad character and a large number of enjoyably tricky puzzles, it's great to see it in the spotlight it so truly deserves.

The usual high quality Nintendo level design and charm makes up for the lack of challenge and longevity.

Treasure Tracker may be small in stature, but it's packed with depth and detail.

Utterly charming on (literally) every level, it may not offer much in terms of fast action but this is just as imaginative and engrossing as any Super Mario game.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a rare case of a game that feels truly designed — from the ground up — with the Wii U in mind.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker isn’t going to blow minds with its humble presentation and laid back puzzling, but it’s still got plenty of imagination and some really sagacious architecture in its level structure.

It’s a nice change to Mario gameplay without making it unrecognizable.

A minor work by its dev's standards, but committed looters will grow to love this slow-burn adventure. [Jan 2015, p.79]

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a fun puzzle adventure for Wii U. Levels are creatively made and there are enough reasons to play them again. The puzzles are quite short and not that difficult, though.

By the pound, what Captain Toad offers most is interactive charm.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker may not be Nintendo Japan’s best work, then. But it’s testament to the consistently high bar that their platform developer’s internal teams have set over the past few years.

A great expansion on the concept of the mini-games from Super Mario 3D World. Unfortunately, despite a lower starting price it never offers enough new elements to become truly great. You'll still enjoy every second you spend in this bright and colorful world though.

Another good title from Nintendo, but with a bit more content, could have been a great one.

There's much to admire and to enjoy, but we've come to expect more from a developer of EAD Tokyo's calibre. [Jan 2014, p.114]

Captain Toad isn’t the deepest game in history, but it’s filled with charming graphics, clever design and a bunch of fantastic puzzles. The camera is annoying, and it tends to be a bit repetitive after a while. In any other way Captain Toad is a good choice for the puzzle fan.

A polished little gem, but the word "little" is key. While not brimming with content (it clocks in at about 7 hours), its brain-bending stages are a welcome dose of EAD Tokyo goodness, even if it does lack co-op.

Captain Toad : Treasure Tracker is a cute and simple way to bring in the New Year. Although they won't keep you busy too long, Toad's adventures are well-finished, colorful and efficient enough to be worth a try.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker isn't the most taxing puzzle game in the world, but it's well-paced and enjoyable all the same.

While it's good to see Nintendo stepping out of its Mario comfort zone, Captain Toad just isn't versatile enough to compete in the big leagues. What would be a budget eShop no-brainer is a little too slight at a higher price.