Wii U – Catching Up on Nintendo’s Wii U Console

Nintendo’s Wii U console has been out for well over a year now, a console that I’ve had from day one. I didn’t spend a lot of time over the second half of last year playing with the Wii U as I was more focused on other platforms like handheld and PC gaming. That didn’t leave a lot of open time for me to enjoy the console that I’ve loved from well before the first day of ownership.

I’ve been interested in the the Wii U since the announcement of the console, especially with the gamepad as it sounded like a fantastic idea to me. I got my first hands-on experience with it at CES 2012 where I knew it was right for me, and it had nothing to do with the fact that I was the one showing the Nintendo employees how to play their own demo.


The launch of the Wii U had a number of good titles for owners to play, though only a handful of titles really captured my attention. One of those games is an absolute favorite of mine; Nano Assault Neo. Of course, ZombiU ate up a lot of my time as well. I’ll also confess and mention that I spent way too much time playing Call of Duty: Black Ops II. That’s right, I put down my 360 copy and grabbed a Wii U Pro Controller and began the journey into the Wii U’s online battlefield.

My Wii U ended up sitting idle for months after the launch rush was over. I had a brief moment where I returned to the console to play the joyful platformer, Mutant Mudds Deluxe, but I hadn’t touched the Wii U since. That’s until recently, of course, where I’ve now brought it back to life to take a look at some of the latest games that have released.

I still consider the Wii U a fantastic console that’s quite enjoyable to experience. I love the gamepad features and the online communities to share screenshots and comments. It has a few flaws, but I can’t help but to always have a smile on my face when playing on the console. It makes gaming enjoyable in a unique way. Playing through the latest releases like Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Super Mario 3D World, Sonic: Lost World, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD, Pikmin 3, The Wonderful 101 and non-exclusives like Call of Duty: Ghosts and Sniper Elite V2 has been a refreshing experience to have on the Wii U. I’m glad to have finally returned to this console that I enjoy.

Ok, so I wasn’t always smiling during Sonic: Lost World with some of those levels. Frustratingly difficult, I must say. In a good way, though!

I guess I shouldn’t write an article on the Wii U without adding a quick note about Nintendo’s struggle with selling the console. There is a lot of negative talk going around about the Wii U that may affect some people’s decisions on whether or not they should buy the console. My advice is that no one should get their heads wrapped up in all the negative talk and that they should simply look at the console and games and decide if it’s right for them.

Anyone a Nintendo fan? Yeah? Then get this console!

A friend of mine recently became interested in the Wii U, though he was a little unsure before purchasing the console. Finally, not long ago, he made his purchase and has been enjoying every minute with the console. It’s because there are good games available for it, especially when you add Super Mario 3D World and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze to the mix. There isn’t a wide selection of titles, but there is certainly a core selection for gamers to enjoy. Nintendo fans are going to be happy with their new console. Even with its lack of power compared to the recent releases of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, it still does gaming the right way by making the experience fun. Everyone I know that’s purchased a Wii U recently has been completely satisfied with what it offers. That’s a good sign, right?

Since my friend recently purchased the system, I actually tried out a feature I’ve never used before – video calling. I’m surprised by how well that option works. Obviously, it’s something that I’m sure only close friends would want to use, but it’s great for communicating quickly. Nintendo may be struggling with selling the Wii U, but they’re not struggling with keeping those who own the system happy. I love my Wii U; the games, the communities for sharing, and all the features that the gamepad offers for gameplay.

While there may not be many third-party entries making its way to the Wii U console, there are still good options for Nintendo fans to enjoy. The recent Nintendo Direct took a closer look at some of the games that should have fans interested, including Mario Kart 8, Bayonetta 2, and the latest title from Monolith Soft.

Entire Nintendo Direct from 2-13-2014

Now it’s time to take a closer look at some of the games I mentioned above that released over the past six months. Click the links below to check out a quick brief on each game.

Sonic: Lost World
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD
The Wonderful 101
Sniper Elite V2
Call of Duty: Ghosts
CastleStorm

Make sure to also check out our review of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze!

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