There’s no doubt about it, the Wii U will go down as one of the worst console launches of all time, if not THE WORST! After kicking everyone’s ass last generation from a sales perspective, Nintendo decided to start the next generation by going first. It sounds like a solid plan and they even called the system Wii U just so they could ride off the success from the Wii before it but they made one fatal mistake. They clearly weren’t ready and instead released a system about one year too early onto the market with nothing to play on it. Even now some 8 months later, we’re still relegated to slim pickings.
Much has been said about the Wii U since it’s launch, pretty much everyone has already poked fun at and taken jabs at Nintendo. Rightly so I might add and even I was taking shots at Nintendo last year in regards to how poorly they handled just about every aspect of the Wii U. The Wii U trashing however has gotten stale as of late and now everyone is just trying to score some hits by beating a dead horse, guys we get the point, Nintendo f**ked up.
What I’m here to do is take a look at Nintendo’s response to all the complaints, namely the lack of games for the Wii U. Pretty much every system not named Dreamcast has had a lacklustre first year but eventually many of them get going once the right games start to come along. I think the Wii U is FINALLY reaching that point where some good stuff is on the way soon and we at least have some idea of what we can expect in the more distant future.
Let’s all take a moment to put down our pitchforks and see what potentially cool stuff is coming to the Wii U.
Pikmin 3
Technically I’m cheating a little bit because this one is already out but it’s JUST been released so I’ll make an exception. I’ve only had Pikmin 3 for a few days so my impressions on the game are far from final but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed what I’ve played. I don’t think of myself as a fan of the strategy genre but Pikmin 3 presents itself as a very approachable title that doesn’t overwhelm the player. I wouldn’t say it’s a strategy game for idiots but rather a strategy game without all the clutter normally associated with the genre.
On it’s own Pikmin 3 isn’t going to make the Wii U a success overnight but it’s colourful, charming and elegant none the less. To my knowledge there isn’t anything quite like it on the market so Pikmin 3 is an easy title to recommend. Don’t be surprised if you go into Pikmin 3 with low expectations and end up having some of the most pure fun all year. Not a killer app by any means but if you own a Wii U, you’d be stupid to at least not give this one a go.
The Wonderful 101
Personally speaking I think The Wonderful 101 will the first “killer app” for the Wii U. Developed by Platinum Games and directed by industry legend, Hideki “Do You Eat Sh*t” Kamiya, The Wonderful 101 at first bares a resemblance to Pikmin 3. However once you play The Wonderful 101 you’ll soon notice that the two games share an similar isometric view point but that’s about it as this one an insanely fast paced action game by comparison.
The Wonderful 101 has you team up with 100 other heroes although there’s about four main stand outs, each with their own unique ability. Drawing various shapes using the right analogue stick or via the touch pad will allow our heroes to unite up to take on various forms such as swords, guns, whips or even a giant fist to punch your enemies right in the face. If you ever wondered what Viewtiful Joe with a touch of Pikmin mixed in would be like, The Wonderful 101 is it and it works… wonderfully!
Rayman Legends
Sure Rayman Legends is no longer an exclusive (was it ever really?) but there’s no denying which version will be the one to get. Originally slated for release almost a year ago, Rayman Legends appears to FINALLY have a firm release date. It’s the sequel to the much loved Rayman Origins although a reworked art style, the additional of musical stages and overall stronger level design makes Rayman Legends feel like the game Rayman Origins should of been in the first place.
Rayman Legends deserves special praise as it appears to be the ONLY game that’s actually using the GamePad in a unique exciting way. Up to four players can play the game like a traditional platformer whilst a fifth player can use Murphy over on the GamePad to stun enemies, create paths and even protect the players by shielding them from incoming fire. The entire Murphy concept is relegated to a shoulder button on Xbox 360 and PS3 which sounds awful, especially to those of us who have already played the Rayman Legends demo/challenge app. In my eyes, this one is still an exclusive as I can’t imagine playing it on any other system and getting the same experience.
The Legend of Zelda Wind Waker HD
Including a port of an old game on this list was never going to go down well but let’s push on anyway. The GameCube sold just over 21 million units worldwide, I think it’s fair to say that there’s a chunk of gamers out there who haven’t already played The Wind Waker yet. The Wii U HD remastering of Wind Waker may represent a good time to jump in and see what you missed out on some 10 years ago.
Due to the Wii U’s poor sales thus far, I can’t imagine The Wind Waker HD bringing in a whole new audience but I think it also works as game for fans of the original who just want an excuse to replay the game. The visuals now run at a 1080p resolution (with overly excessive bloom lighting sadly) and the core game itself has been tweaked create a more enjoyable experience. The sailing for example now features a new sail which greatly speeds up the time it takes to get to islands and Nintendo has promised to make changes to the awful Triforce collection quest featured in the later portion of the game.
As far as HD remasters go, The Wind Waker HD is certainly a step above what we’re used to seeing. This is more than just the old game running at a higher resolution and Nintendo has solid track record with remakes in the past with titles such as Metroid Zero Mission, Ocarina of Time 3D and StarFox 64 3D to name a few.
Sonic Lost World
Despite staring in some of the finest 2D platformers ever, Sonic has also starred in some of the worst 3D titles too. I enjoyed Sonic Adventure 1/2 when they were first released but looking back, those games were trash outside the Sonic stages. All of that changed however in 2010 with the release of Sonic Colours, 2011′s Sonic Generations further increased the quality and we’ve now reached a point where a 3D Sonic game isn’t something we laugh at any more.
Sonic Lost World is basically a Sonic game with a very “Super Mario Galaxy” feel to it. Stages randomly floating high above the ground and the game itself ditches the realistic looking visuals in favour of something far more colourful. Sonic Lost World also ditches the “boost to win” mechanic but the 2D portions make a welcomed return. It’s a little hard to predict whether Sonic Lost World’s new take on the Sonic formula will work out but I can at least say that I’m looking forward to finding out.
Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze
OMG, IT’S NOT METROID!!! Yeah, instead it’s the sequel to one of the greatest platformers of all time, hardly the worst “compromise” when you think about it. Yes, Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze is the sequel to 2010′s much loved Donkey Kong Country Returns and it appears to be the perfect sequel too.
For Tropical Freeze the silly waggle controls are now optional, the underwater levels are back and the stupid blow mechanic has been replaced with a pull one instead. Dixie Kong is also returning as a playable character and they’ve even managed to get David Wise who scored the original Donkey Kong Country games on SNES to return for Tropical Freeze, so yeah, perfect sequel really.
Retro Studios have gone on record to say that Tropical Freeze represents the team’s desire to do more with the series. It’s quite exciting to think that Retro Studios are basically saying they think they can top the original which is no small feat. Based on what’s I’ve played of Tropical Freeze already, I think we’re looking at a Sonic 2/Donkey Kong Country 2/Super Mario Galaxy 2 style sequel. It will be interesting to see how/if Rayman Legends can compete with Tropical Freeze.
Super Mario 3D World
Yup, it looks strikingly similar to Super Mario 3D Land on the 3DS and it’s somewhat disappointing to see Nintendo “cheap” out but this game is all sorts of fun. I wasn’t a believer either until I got the chance to play the game myself and whilst I’m not here to praise the single player, the multi-player is an absolute riot and it’s 4-player Mario done right. Yes I’m looking at you New Super Mario Bros Wii/U.
The main feature of the game would be the new cat power up that allows Mario and crew to transformer into cats. Not only does it make you more mobile but it allows you to climb up walls and attack enemies with your claws. Again it doesn’t all that exciting when I tell you about it but this is one game that truly comes to life when you play it for yourself. The best thing I can do here is just to just to tell you to trust me on this one, Super Mario 3D World will be very entertaining stuff.
Mario Kart 8
Unfortunately Mario Kart 8 won’t be arriving this year which is a shame as a Wii U bundle featuring the game would of been a perfect Christmas present. Instead we’re hearing that it will arrive in early 2014 which kind of sucks but if Nintendo is indeed strategically spreading out it’s releases to keep a steady flow going then it makes sense.
You’d think with the 8 in the title that things would be getting stale for Mario Kart but I’m still pumped for this game. I think many were surprised with how good it looked at E3 and the new anti gravity mechanic is genius, I’m still wondering why I didn’t come up with that idea myself. It doesn’t radically change the game but it does freshen it up a bit and gives the tracks an F-Zero feel to them.
I’m sure you’ve all seen the videos and read the news, it’s Mario Kart Wii and 7 fused together with a new anti gravity mechanic thrown in. It’s still in it’s own league in the kart racing genre with Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed being the only other title that even comes close. Mario Kart 8 is probably the biggest system seller the Wii U will ever see in it’s lifetime, it’s an absurdly popular series and this latest entry is the most excited I’ve been for a Mario Kart since the N64 era.
Bayonetta 2
I still remember the internet blowing up after Nintendo announced this one being a Wii U exclusive. Hell I’m still shocked Nintendo actually bothered to chase such a title and offer to fund it in exchange for exclusivity. Nintendo is known for doing a lot of strange things but Bayonetta 2 represents them being wise for once, good job Nintendo.
Ninja Gaiden II disappointed, God of War III failed to maintain the standard set by it’s first 20 minutes and Devil May Cry 4 would of been better if it didn’t play like an old dinosaur. Basically in my opinion the “hack ‘n slash” genre got off to a bad start this generation but thankfully the original Bayonetta came in to save the day and show everyone else how it’s done.
Bayonetta 2 plays a lot like the original, it’s not reinventing the series but it’s even more crazy than the original, if such a thing is even possible. Stylish visuals, massive boss battles, superb set pieces and the smoothest combat in the genre, Bayonetta 2 is more of a good thing and I for one can’t wait. This alongside The Wonderful 101 look set to be the best things to come out of Platinum Games yet.
Yarn Yoshi
I don’t know about you guys but I love Yoshi, in fact the original Yoshi’s Island is one of my favourite games. Traditionally speaking however Yoshi peaked early on and none of his follow up games have been all that impressive, even Yoshi’s Island DS felt a bit forgettable and the upcoming Yoshi’s New Island looks a bit weird.
Yarn Yoshi is developed by the same team that brought us Kirby’s Epic Yarn, the clue is in the title and visuals themselves. Rather than try to recreate that Yoshi’s Island magic, Yarn Yoshi will instead be it’s own thing and this could actually work out in it’s favour. Yarn Yoshi will be able to stand out on it’s own rather than be stuck under the massive shadow of the original Yoshi’s Island.
Not much is known about Yarn Yoshi at the moment, Nintendo showed a small gameplay trailer during a Nintend Direct and went quiet on the title during the E3 period. It might be a while before we see more of Yarn Yoshi but so far, it looks and sounds pretty cool. Definitely a title I have on my watch list, more so than Yoshi’s New Island.
X
For many this title is the most impressive Wii U title in development even though it does not even have an official name yet. It’s developed by Monolith Soft and appears to be some kind of sequel to the much praised Xenoblade Chronicles on the original Wii. Like Yarn Yoshi we don’t know much about “X” but what we have seen thus far has been pretty stunning and appears to be the most promising RPG title in development across ALL platforms.
Personally I think the RPG genre had it’s hey day back on the SNES and PSOne, since then it feels like the genre has become rather stagnant and generally full of disappointment. From a quality point of view, does the Final Fantasy name even have any meaning to it these days?
I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve not dabbled in an RPG in a long ass time, partly due to the lack of time I have to invest in these long titles but mainly because nothing has peaked my interest. I don’t want to risk sounding like a Nintendo fanboy but X looks like what RPG’s should of been for a while now. This alongside Kingdom Hearts 3 may restore my faith in the RPG genre.
Super Smash Bros 4
Smash Bros!, Nuff Said!
The Legend of Zelda
Even less surprising than someone telling you David Cameron is an ass, it’s The Legend of Zelda for Wii U. As per usual we don’t know sh*t about this one and the screenshot/video provided above isn’t even indicative of what the actual title will look like. It COULD look like that but it could also be another Wind Waker, when it comes to Zelda we just never see it coming.
Whatever this Legend of Zelda title ends up being, there’s no denying it’s a killer app for the Wii U and if the game is done right, it will single handily sell a lot of Wii U’s. I even have a friend who has a Legend of Zelda tattoo, trust me there’s a lot of Zelda fans out there and why wouldn’t there be? The Legend of Zelda is one of gamings most cherished series.
With that said I honestly can’t tell you that I enjoyed the last three Zelda games all that much, namely Skyward Sword, Spirit Tracks and Phantom Hourglass. When I think of the last three Zelda games I enjoyed the names, Twilight Princess, Wind Waker and Minish Cap to come mind instead (hell even Four Swords Adventure on GameCube) so I’m hoping the Wii U Zelda game will “bring back” the series to it’s former greatness. Well I’m lying, that Zelda game on 3DS looks really awesome and that may be the one to do it.
I think anyone who owns or chooses to purchase a Wii U at some point will be doing so with the hope of seeing a kick ass Zelda game to go with it somewhere down the line.
In conclusion…
I’ve gone through some games that I’m personally excited about, I think there’s some stuff in there that will appeal to anyone who considers themselves to be a gamer. It’s not the biggest line up in terms of quantity but there’s no denying that it’s certainly a quality driven one unless Sonic Lost World decides to ruins it for everyone else.
You don’t need to point it out, I can see a distinct lack of 3rd party games on the list and I can’t imagine that changing any time soon. Nintendo is stuck making Wii U games, 3rd party developers will just go to whatever is hot and the Wii U certainly isn’t on fire. If I were a 3rd party developer, I wouldn’t bother with a Wii U version of a game because I honestly don’t see money in it. With that said, if you are going to support Wii U, can you at least not f**k it up by stripping away DLC and multiplayer modes?
In case you didn’t notice, the first seven titles I’ve mentioned are coming before the end of the year. If you average it out slightly, that’s basically one “major” game to look forward to each month. When I say “major” I mean something I would actually be interested in buying and not just keep on my Amazon wishlist for months until I see a price cut. With that said, I don’t think anyone should ever resort to having one system rule them all.
At the time of writing the PlayStation 4 looks to be a nice companion to have alongside the Wii U. It can fill in the blanks that the Wii U is missing and vice versa. For all the sh*t we’ve given Nintendo and the Wii U since it launched, it looks like I’m actually going to spend most of my gaming hours on the Wii U for the second half of this year.
Let’s not also forget those crazy random Nintendo Directs, you just never know what Nintendo might announce during those.
