System: Wii U
Dev: Nintendo
Pub: Nintendo
Release: December 31, 2013
Players: 1-2
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p

The final game mode in Dr. Luigi is Virus Buster. This mode is played on the GamePad and requires the player to use the stylus to flip and drag pill capsules to viruses. The number of capsules that drop at a time increases over the course of a level. Virus Buster is fun, but moves considerably more slowly than its button-controlled counterparts. I found this made early levels too easy even when starting at level ten, requiring a bit of patience before getting to the fun part.

In terms of presentation, Dr. Luigi's graphics do what they need to do. They're crisp and clear, giving players a clear view of the board and working well both on the TV screen and the Wii U GamePad. Adorable Luigi animations play between rounds. One minor complaint is that the capsules in Operation L are surrounded by an unsightly white border for no apparent reason.

The game's sound doesn't fare as well. Nintendo has been recycling the same two background songs in its Dr. Mario games for ages. Some new options would have been greatly appreciated, and it doesn't help that the sound quality is decidedly lo-fi. There's a fine line between “retro” and “annoying” in terms of sound design, and Dr. Luigi falls on the wrong side of that line.

Overall, Dr. Luigi certainly scratches that virus-busting itch, and is especially fun with two players. Fans of the series and Tetris addicts shouldn't hesitate to pick it up from the Wii U eShop. It's the kind of game that doesn't need to change a great deal between versions, and its designers have wisely stuck to the basics while adding some entertaining twists to the gameplay with Operation L.

By Becky Cunningham Contributing Writer Date: January 16, 2014