"Twilight drops her curtain down, and pins it with a star."

I always love the games that we get to review for Nintendo, especially as Nintendo played such a huge part of my childhood. What I love most about it though is that every now and again the games go beyond enjoyment and completely suck me in and take control of all of the spare time I have. Despite being such and enormous fan of Nintendo for the last 24 years, when we reviewed The Legends of Zelda Tri force Heroes not too long ago it was actually the first Legends of Zelda game that I had played from the franchise. I'm not quite sure what was holding me back but after playing that I was itching to play the remastered The Legend of Zelda The Twilight Princess HD.

As far as it being a remake goes, I can't really comment as I've not played the Wii edition and have nothing to compare it to, but as a stand alone game The Twilight Princess HD is a truly amazing piece of work and my evenings have been fully submerged into the land of Hyrule. With a Vast land that you can easily spend hours just wandering around, I was glued within 5 minutes of playing.

The story follows Link a ranch hand from a quiet rural community who is sent on a trip to Hyrule to deliver an important package. He arrives to find the land covered in darkness and the eerie dark curtain also causes him to be transformed in to a wolf. So at different chapters in the game you can be playing as link or his wolf shaped counterpart. My favourite part of being the wolf is that you get to talk to any animals you meet along the way giving you further insight in to what is going on  Throughout the story. You meet a variety of enemies but also many friends to help you along your way, my favourite so far have been a group of monkeys to help you get across large gaps. With you throughout the game is Midna a strange ghost like character who gives you tips and often points you in the right direction.

I've racked up about 12 hours game play so far and if the information on any of the gaming sites is anything to go by the game takes an amazing 30-35 hours to complete, so I'm looking forward to many more quiet gaming nights to myself. I can't recommend the Twilight Princess enough. If you've got the sort of spare time that lets you get lost in a huge gaming adventure then you should definitely embark on this HD adventure to Hyrule.

"Man is a gaming animal. He must always be trying to get the better in something or other."

When I was younger around Christmas time there would always be at least one Nintendo game I was hoping for. I remember one year really wanting Super star Wars and Mario paint and another year desperate to get my hands on Zool the Ninja Ant. Playing our Nintendo console back then was fun time spent with my family and things haven't changed when it comes to me and the boys. With so many great Nintendo games released this year here's my top 5 that should be in any Nintendo fans Christmas stocking.

Although it isn't my favourite game of 2015 (It's my second), Super Mario Maker in my eyes is most definitely the biggest. This game is huge and rightly so. Being able to design your own courses is amazing and although the game is only single player, being able to create levels for your friends and family really makes this a great family game. With thousands of levels to play, created by other gamers all around the world, there is no end to the amount of fun you can have playing this game.

Yoshi's Woolly world was the game I was looking forward to playing the most. I love cute games and this one takes cuteness to the extreme. Woolly world is a colourful none threatening game but one that can take quite a lot of skill at times. For me personally, the best game of the year and one me and the boys will be playing a lot over the Christmas break.

I am all about the 3ds, as much as I love the Wii U, Handheld gaming fits in better with my days and The Legend of Zelda Tri Force Heroes has been entertaining me while I have been parked up waiting for Mrs M or passing the time waiting for Seth to come out of school. The 3 person multiplayer that can be played from one cartridge is the main attraction for me, with both of the boys having 2ds' but it is also great to take two random gamers from anywhere in the world on missions with me too.

I'll be honest, when I first played Splatoon it didn't really appeal to me, but the more I played it with the boys, the more they got in to it and that excitement is contagious. Splatoon is an amazing multiplayer rumble and I could happily sit with the boys for hours playing this as it is a really fun and competitive game. As far as family games go this is definitely one to be on your Christmas list or a great way to spend that festive cash you get from a distant relative.

I cheated a little on number 5 as it wasn't released this year but the game is still huge so Super Smash Brothers has made its way to my top 5. With an enormous selection of Nintendo characters spanning over many years of Nintendo's history this game really packs a punch. Ive not played the Wii U version of the game but I hear it is amazing. The 3DS game though has been great for me as I can fit a bit of brawling in here of there. I was always a huge fan of the fighting games when i was younger and being able to battle using many of the characters I grew up with is amazing.

There have been loads of new titles released this year, these are just my personal top 5. To find out about other titles and future releases head over to Nintendo.co.uk. I hope you all have an amazing game filled Christmas, I'll be using the quiet time to work on completing these 5.

"Everybody's out there wrestling like a robot."

When it comes to Nintendo I love the classics, Super Mario for me as a kid was the best and when Yoshi was thrown in to the equation I was in my element. Although I have followed the mustachioed plumber through his glorious career and plan to continue until I am old older and grey, I think its awesome when I am introduced to something I'd not heard of before like the new Chibi-Robo! Zip lash game. I am however a little disappointed with myself for not realising that the game is a follow up to the earlier release on the Gamecube many years ago (I did own a Gamecube when it was released but sadly girls were also a part of my life at this age so I may have missed a lot).

Chibi-Robo Zip lash is a platform game where the hero adventures through each 6 level world using his trusty power cable to progress, while trying to stay charged. The little robot who whips his way through each level is also big on cleaning up mess along the way and picks up litter that is left about to give to his friend at HQ to gain extra points. 

Opeie was the first to point the game out when we were having a mooch on Nintendo.co.uk and said that the game looked really cute. This is one of the things that will always be a huge factor in why I love Nintendo games so much. Most of their games appeal to all age groups and Chibi-robo is definitely no different. I did think after watching the video that it may be a little difficult for Opeie being only 4 but this mini hardcore gamer of mine flew through the early levels with the greatest of ease. I love that the boys are in to gaming and I will always embrace that as it is something that was big in my life as a child, I do limit them though as I think anything they do should be done in moderation. With each game we play though I do try and find the educational advantage in each (there always is one). The legends of Zelda / Pokemon (strategy), Mario Maker / Animal Crossing (design), Super smash Bros... how to brawl? (I jest). Chibi-Robo though gave me a chance to give Opeie a Nintendo themed home school lesson in 'angles'. As the levels progress you need to bounce your power cable off of angled walls to get to higher sockets and Opeie was getting a little frustrated by not being able to advance. The game is great as when you aim your power cable at an angled wall it shows you the trajectory by dotted line to help you along your way. So my lesson in angles showed Opeie throwing the power cable at different places on the angled wall caused the plug to take a different path, Genius!

Chibi-Robo Zip Lash has been great for taking with me everywhere I go helping to bridge that boring gap when I am waiting in the car (which happens a lot). The levels are short and not too testing, although I am only 3 worlds in and there are fun extras as you progress, my favourite so fare being  'The Adventures of Skater Bot' Where Chibi-Robo! dons a skateboard and whizzes through the level shooting his power cable at sockets while moving

The game is fun, effortless play, the only downside for me (and this is just personal preference) was the product placement throughout the game. Console gaming is frowned up on enough, which I can definitely understand if it is not done in moderation. I don't think that any computer game for children though needs to be advertising confectionery throughout the game, it took me right back to Mcdonald land released in the 90's.

That aside though the game play is a lot of fun and being a lot cheaper than many of the other latest 3ds releases you really cant go wrong. I love the Wii U but I seem to get much more time for handheld gaming as it fits in to all my quiet moments and Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash has become another great Nintendo title to add to our ever expanding collection.

There seems to be a fun amiibo section of the game too, sadly we couldn't find out more about that as we are playing the game on the older 3DS. With all the games being released with amiibo extras I'm starting to think that we definitely need the New 3DS XL.

"There is something magical about three you know - a trio is tight and nicely economical."

I am a HUGE Nintendo fan and have grown up with their games since I was around the age of ten. Despite this ever growing love I am ashamed to say that I have never played a Zelda game! I know, I should be disappointed with myself and I have been told so many times over the years that I am missing out. I remember a conversation years ago with my friend Jen over a few drinks about the importance of playing the legend of Zelda games (she's a big fan) and whenever I mention Nintendo to my friend Jamie he tells me about the impact Ocarina of time had on him growing up.

It was time to give it a try and with the release of The Legend of Zelda Tri force heroes on 3ds last week there was no better time to throw myself in there. I love a good 3ds game because I can fit it in to every quiet moment I have, Sitting in the dentist waiting area, lying in bed late at night with my headphones in and in this case, waiting in a car park while Seth is having one of his annual hospital check ups.

As I have not played the other games from the series I don't have anything to compare it too, but I can confidently say that I was hooked from the moment I started playing. Tri force heroes follows Link on a new adventure in Hytopia, a town that is obsessed with fashion. The towns princess (Styla) has been cursed by a Witch who the towns folk refer to as 'The Lady' and has been left in a black jumpsuit (probably not the best outfit for a fashion conscious member of royalty).

To defeat the witch Link must embark on an adventure in to the Drablands but he's not alone as the town believe that the evil can only be lifted by a trio of heroes that work together and can form a totem by piling on each other. Tri force heroes can be played by a single gamer using two 'dopples' that you can control one at a time to get you through. What makes Tri force heroes so much fun is that to make the most of the games functions you can connect a further two consoles (2ds, 3ds or New 3ds). What makes the game even better is the other two players don't need to own the game themselves as the multiplayer mode can be played using downloadable content from the player owning the game (as well as there being a local and online play option). I wasn't sure if the game may be a little difficult for Opeie but as you are playing cooperatively and each puzzle isn't too long, you can get through each one smoothly as a team.

Haven't got anyone to play with at home? no need to worry, all you need is your console set up to your wifi and you can play co-op mode with allies everywhere. I would have loved this option on my Gameboy when I was a mini gamer growing up and it has been great to play alongside other players of an evening. As well as the Co-op play you can also take photos from each level (when you have picked up the in game camera from one of the shops) and share these in the Miiverse.

For me Tri force heroes is the best 3ds release of 2015 as it has been the first game that I have been squeezing in levels every spare moment I can (not to mention a few late nights, oops). I wont give too much away but as the levels progress they get increasingly more tricky to complete which is why I have found the game so engaging. There are also a great selection of costumes and items to unlock during your adventure to aid you through each level. As a parent and blogger I don't get huge chunks of time to sit and play console games unless I'm sitting with the boys playing together but the short puzzles fit in perfectly amongst all the other things I am doing.

The legend of Zelda Tri force Heroes gets a huge thumbs up from us and I think it will be keeping me (and the boys) entertained over the coming weeks. We're now looking forward to the next installment of The Legends of Zelda series on the Wii U too, so stay tuned.