Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
  • Games
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Hardware
  • Video
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Deals
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • SFX
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Trending
  • Grounded 2
  • The Fantastic Four: First Steps
  • Donkey Kong Bananza
  • Switch 2 Starter Pack
Recommended reading
A screenshot from Super Mario Odyssey showing Mario throwing Cappy in New Donk City.
Super Mario Spend 60 hours in Super Mario Odyssey and you'll see why it's one of the best games Nintendo has ever made
Screenshot featuring Toad and Toadette from the Wii U version of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Games The 25 best Wii U games of all time
Best Mario games
Super Mario The 15 best Mario games of all time
Pikmin 4
Strategy Games Despite being the father of Mario, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto has once again affirmed Pikmin is his favourite child: "I spent a lot of time the past 5, 6 years really wanting to grow Pikmin"
Super Mario World, our number one best retro games
Adventure Movies Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel accidentally drops official title, and it's a direct call back to one of the best Mario games
Donkey Kong in the character selection screen in Mario Kart World
Super Mario How to unlock characters in Mario Kart World
Princess Peach in Mario Kart World
Super Mario Mario Kart World roster: The complete Mario Kart World character list
  1. Games
  2. Captain Toad Treasure Tracker

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker finally makes Toad a superstar

News
By Henry Gilbert published 17 June 2014

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

When you wish upon a star...

When you wish upon a star...

When reviewing Super Mario 3D World last year, I wrote, Of special note were Captain Toads 3D puzzles, an exploratory minigame about shifting perspective thats strong enough to be its own separate release. When I brought this up to Nintendo employees during E3, they joked that Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a full fledged spin-off made just for me, and thats what it feels like when playing. After exploring five imaginative levels, this puzzle platformer seems like the start of a whole new Mario subseries.

The game stars Captain Toad, a brave member of the Mushroom Kingdom thats known to search for treasure in dangerous areas. You realize just how courageous he is when you notice that he lacks almost all of Marios offensive capabilities. Instead of running and jumping, Captain Toad uses timing and logic to avoid enemies and complete puzzling stage that take advantage of the Wii U GamePads motion controls and touch screen. The captain goes all around the Mario-verse, including the desert and a haunted mansion where Luigi would feel right at home.

Theres even room for a boss stage, though the battle with a massive dragon is all about avoiding attacks until he reaches the top (all while collecting extra coins as you go). In a way, Treasure Tracker reminds me of a mash-up of Portal and Donkey Kong for Game Boy, mainly through its clever use of level design and 3D space. The retail release will be out by the end of the year, so I better start writing my wish list for that review now. Maybe Ill ask for a unicorn

Check out the following screenshots for additional info!

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
This dragon is one of the first bosses that Captain Toad will face

This dragon is one of the first bosses that Captain Toad will face

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
Like several upcoming Wii U game, Captain Toad makes interesting use of the GamePad

Like several upcoming Wii U game, Captain Toad makes interesting use of the GamePad

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
This looks like it could be a very pretty stage

This looks like it could be a very pretty stage

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Toad polishes up his turnip-tossing skills from Super Mario Bros. 2

Toad polishes up his turnip-tossing skills from Super Mario Bros. 2

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
Aw... Goombas look so cute when they're sleeping

Aw... Goombas look so cute when they're sleeping

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
Captain Toad even smiles in the face of a deadly Magikoopa

Captain Toad even smiles in the face of a deadly Magikoopa

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
The game also borrows some of the touch-based puzzle elements from 3D World

The game also borrows some of the touch-based puzzle elements from 3D World

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
If he falls from a great enough height, Toad can do some damage

If he falls from a great enough height, Toad can do some damage

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
Look forward to playing this spin-off by the end of the year

Look forward to playing this spin-off by the end of the year

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
CATEGORIES
Wii-u Platforms Nintendo
Henry Gilbert
Henry Gilbert
Social Links Navigation

Henry Gilbert is a former GamesRadar+ Editor, having spent seven years at the site helping to navigate our readers through the PS3 and Xbox 360 generation. Henry is now following another passion of his besides video games, working as the producer and podcast cohost of the popular Talking Simpsons and What a Cartoon podcasts. 

See more Games News
Read more
A screenshot from Super Mario Odyssey showing Mario throwing Cappy in New Donk City.
Spend 60 hours in Super Mario Odyssey and you'll see why it's one of the best games Nintendo has ever made
Screenshot featuring Toad and Toadette from the Wii U version of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
The 25 best Wii U games of all time
Best Mario games
The 15 best Mario games of all time
Pikmin 4
Despite being the father of Mario, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto has once again affirmed Pikmin is his favourite child: "I spent a lot of time the past 5, 6 years really wanting to grow Pikmin"
Super Mario World, our number one best retro games
Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel accidentally drops official title, and it's a direct call back to one of the best Mario games
Donkey Kong in the character selection screen in Mario Kart World
How to unlock characters in Mario Kart World
Latest in Games
Rusty's Retirement
Indie dev behind quietly massive Steam trend says they only learned to code 5 years ago but have made 2 games selling 750,000 copies: "I still don't believe it myself sometimes"
Elden Ring Nightreign fan art of Revenant
Elden Ring Nightreign players posted so hard that even the game's publisher has succumbed to Revenant
Donkey Kong Bananza screenshot shows DK looking shocked, with his hands in the air and eyes popping out of his head.
Nintendo is probably regretting those Switch 2 mouse controls as players flock to Donkey Kong Bananza's artist mode to create penises and other cursed sculptures
Steam logo from Valve
Valve confirms pressure from banks and card companies is to blame for the storefront axing adult Steam games: "Loss of payment methods would prevent customers from being able to purchase other titles"
Dark Souls 3
On top of The Duskbloods and Elden Ring: Nightreign, FromSoft is reportedly deep in development on a game that sleuths think is another Dark Souls remaster
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild screenshot showing Link, a male character with elf-like ears, blond hair, and bright blue eyes
The Legend of Zelda movie is exciting, but I'm still begging for 5 specific video game movies to get adapted next
Latest in News
Margot Robbie in Barbie
Super Mario Bros. studio is making the first theatrical Barbie animated movie
Rusty's Retirement
Indie dev behind quietly massive Steam trend says they only learned to code 5 years ago but have made 2 games selling 750,000 copies: "I still don't believe it myself sometimes"
Elden Ring Nightreign fan art of Revenant
Elden Ring Nightreign players posted so hard that even the game's publisher has succumbed to Revenant
Donkey Kong Bananza screenshot shows DK looking shocked, with his hands in the air and eyes popping out of his head.
Nintendo is probably regretting those Switch 2 mouse controls as players flock to Donkey Kong Bananza's artist mode to create penises and other cursed sculptures
Alison Brie and Dave Franco in new horror movie Together
Want to be Together forever? Team behind new horror movie ups The Monkey's meta marketing by encouraging fans to propose in theaters as part of "crazy" contest
Steam logo from Valve
Valve confirms pressure from banks and card companies is to blame for the storefront axing adult Steam games: "Loss of payment methods would prevent customers from being able to purchase other titles"
  1. DK and Pauline look surprised in Donkey Kong Bananza
    1
    Donkey Kong Bananza Review: "Destruction isn't just a flashy gimmick for the Minecraft generation, it's one of the best inventions Nintendo has had in years"
  2. 2
    Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 review: "A nostalgic, must-play hit for fans"
  3. 3
    College Football 26 review: “Thanks to rivalries and dynasty, this is the greatest show on turf”
  4. 4
    Mecha Break review: "This mech battler makes up for lacking customization with a varied roster that lets me live out my Evangelion fantasy"
  5. 5
    Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: "This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse"
  1. David Corenswet as Superman inside the Fortress of Solitude in James Gunn's Superman.
    1
    Superman review: "A triumphant reinvention and a promising start for the DCU"
  2. 2
    Jurassic World Rebirth Review: "An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber"
  3. 3
    M3GAN 2.0 review: "A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion"
  4. 4
    28 Years Later Review: "Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy”
  5. 5
    Predator: Killer of Killers review: "Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation"
  1. Lee Jung-jae as Gi-hun in Squid Game season 3
    1
    Squid Game season 3 review: "A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever"
  2. 2
    Ironheart review: "A relic of Marvel's content-at-all-costs era"
  3. 3
    Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: "The show's most assured run of episodes to date"
  4. 4
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling"
  5. 5
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...