The Devious World of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

The Mushroom Kingdom's diminutive Toad may not be as popular as Mario or Yoshi, but he's finally getting his turn in the spotlight in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. The spinoff game for the Wii U is based on the Captain Toad mini games from Super Mario 3D World, where you have to navigate small levels in search of a golden star. For Treasure Tracker, the game's been expanded to over 70 levels, and Toad's no longer exploring alone; he's now accompanied by his female counterpart, Toadette.

Unlike their friends, the Toads lack the ability to jump, which may seem limiting given the task at hand, but every level is outfitted with clever conveyances that make up for your lack of vertical mobility. Moving platforms, pipes, stairs, and ramps get you to where you're going, but even with all of that assistance, you're going to run into some perplexing situations now and again. This is especially true if you're chasing special challenges and the three gems hidden in every level.

Each stage is a complex environment that needs to be heavily scrutinized in order to uncover all of its secrets. By rotating the world and zooming in, you can get a good idea of where most secrets lie, but discovering the path to glory is sometimes easier said than done. You'll have to rotate every platform, destroy every block, and analyze every obstacle to uncover all of the game's riches. That said, there are some scenarios where you have to be thorough rather than clever, making sure to defeat every enemy, just in case they possess the gem that you need to complete your collection.

Collecting gems is largely optional, but you eventually reach a point in the game when you need a certain amount in order to proceed. At that point, you may find yourself backtracking, and while returning to earlier levels may not sound like fun, they're so chock full of character and thematic variety that making repeated trips is less of a bore than you might think. The bright and colorful worlds in Captain Toad reek of innocence and childlike charm, but the puzzles within are anything but easy or simple. However, as you progress through the game, improving your awareness and understanding of the game's mechanics, you begin to see things in earlier stages that you may have missed during your first trip, and the sense of accomplishment sinks in as you find every gem, and check off every stage's special challenge.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is an adorable little game, but it's also deviously challenging. Thankfully, it subtly ramps the complexity of its puzzles, keeping you engaged and curious at every turn. It may have a simple premise, but it will no doubt surprise you, and if you're anything like me, it will make you question your puzzle solving skills more often than you'd like. Puzzle lovers and Mario fanatics beware: Captain Toad means business. Keep an eye out for it on December 5, 2014 in the US, and January 2, 2015 in Europe.