by Adam James Playle
Let's talk quantity. Roughly 21 million PlayStation 4 consoles have been sold since it's introduction to the market and the Xbox One has had over 12 million units sold also. Trailing behind both of them is Nintendo's Wii U, with around 9.5 million consoles sold. That's still a great amount of sales. However, the Wii U was the first of this generation's consoles to hit the shelves - it cannot be denied that the lower sales indicate gamers are opting for other mediums or consoles to play on instead. This may be partly due to the growing popularity of PC gaming.
Let's talk quantity. Roughly 21 million PlayStation 4 consoles have been sold since it's introduction to the market and the Xbox One has had over 12 million units sold also. Trailing behind both of them is Nintendo's Wii U, with around 9.5 million consoles sold. That's still a great amount of sales. However, the Wii U was the first of this generation's consoles to hit the shelves - it cannot be denied that the lower sales indicate gamers are opting for other mediums or consoles to play on instead. This may be partly due to the growing popularity of PC gaming.
When judging this generation's three consoles, the Wii U is certainly lagging behind. That's numbers, news and a sweeping explanation of the Wii U in today's market. It's not the most powerful of consoles when looking at the hardware. The graphical capabilities are grand but still it does not take the gold. The comparative picture I am painting of the Wii U makes it seem dwarfed by both Microsoft and Sony's creations.
However, the console is certainly not inadequate in today's gaming market. It has features and perks enough that I opted for it over it's competitors. To be honest I've never regretted that choice. On paper, this console should sink against it's competitors, but a number of elements keep it afloat with a growing fan base.
However, the console is certainly not inadequate in today's gaming market. It has features and perks enough that I opted for it over it's competitors. To be honest I've never regretted that choice. On paper, this console should sink against it's competitors, but a number of elements keep it afloat with a growing fan base.
Game Exclusivity
The fun, but frustrating, Mario Kart 8.
Console exclusive games have been around for decades. Metal Gear Solid IV: Guns of the Patriots, The Last of Us and Halo are just to name a few from the top of my head. They have been console exclusives I never had the pleasure to play due to them being exclusive to platforms I did not own. Exclusivity is by no means a bad thing, it makes you commit to the console with the games that you most want to play. Nintendo has many of its own exclusive series which have never left their platforms. I grew up with the likes of Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart, Mario Party, Legend of Zelda - my fondness of these game series made me a fan of Nintendo. I would happily spend my money on the ability to keep up to date with these game series as new renditions are released for the Wii U. Mario Kart 8 is probably the best example for this. My hours spent on previous renditions of Mario Kart alone would tally up to the hundreds, if not thousands. A game series which began decades ago which was finally getting the Wii U treatment. That was almost reason alone to go out and buy one. The game utilizes the Wii U's hardware and so it runs in much better quality than any of it's predecessors. Running in 60fps with sharper graphics and more in depth level design than ever, it's really stepped up since it's NES roots. Mario Kart 8 is still the fun yet frustrating game I've grown up with, but with all the qualities gamers expect from their products in this day and age. Many other Nintendo exclusives for this console can boast this claim as well.
Awesome DLC
Twili Midna, as seen in Hyrule Warriors.
Downloadable content is marmite in the gaming world. Some people love it, thinking the downloadable additions only enhance the game playing experience. Others loathe it, believing the creators to have done half a job making their game and leaving you to pay extra for the full picture.
Nintendo had not previously done DLC. There was the eShop, used to buy virtual console games and other items. I was skeptical upon hearing the news Nintendo would join the DLC bandwagon, but the content you can purchase for many games is justifiable. Nintendo's DLC is not required to get all you want out of the game, it just allows you to put more hours into the games you already enjoy. The use of Wii U DLC is demonstrated well in one of the newest Zelda games. Hyrule Warriors was certainly a step away from classic Zelda. It mixed the fast-pace of Dynasty Warriors with a few of the puzzle and combat elements from the Zelda games of the past. Once you sink your teeth into it though, the game is really enjoyable. I sped through the main campaign in just under a week using almost all the combatants that the base game offers. The Wii U's DLC provides the opportunity to expand on that, with new characters and weapons. Some of it is mere aesthetics, such as Ocarina of Time skins for characters. For the most part, it provides new characters such as Young Link and Twili Midna with new combos and play styles. The DLC for this Wii U game certainly adds some new dimension to it, and I believe products like this to be a positive step for Nintendo and their consoles.
Nintendo had not previously done DLC. There was the eShop, used to buy virtual console games and other items. I was skeptical upon hearing the news Nintendo would join the DLC bandwagon, but the content you can purchase for many games is justifiable. Nintendo's DLC is not required to get all you want out of the game, it just allows you to put more hours into the games you already enjoy. The use of Wii U DLC is demonstrated well in one of the newest Zelda games. Hyrule Warriors was certainly a step away from classic Zelda. It mixed the fast-pace of Dynasty Warriors with a few of the puzzle and combat elements from the Zelda games of the past. Once you sink your teeth into it though, the game is really enjoyable. I sped through the main campaign in just under a week using almost all the combatants that the base game offers. The Wii U's DLC provides the opportunity to expand on that, with new characters and weapons. Some of it is mere aesthetics, such as Ocarina of Time skins for characters. For the most part, it provides new characters such as Young Link and Twili Midna with new combos and play styles. The DLC for this Wii U game certainly adds some new dimension to it, and I believe products like this to be a positive step for Nintendo and their consoles.
The Unique Gamepad
The Wii U gamepad is not at all like that of its rivals.
The first impression I had of the Wii U's Gamepad was that it was chunky and looked like a horrific rendition of a tablet. The Nintendo Gamecube controller is perhaps one of my favourite controllers, as it's compact and comfortable to play with - this seemed like the polar opposite! It was hard to believe the same company could make one controller which was fantastic and one which seemed like a baking tray with buttons stuck on to it. When I actually began to play the Wii U, I realized the Gamepad is quite light and comfortable and is no issue at all. Everything's easy enough to reach on the Gamepad and you're not straining to press any button combinations. The touchpad is extremely responsive and it offers a quicker alternative to flicking through menus and inventories with the thumbsticks. The touchpad screen itself is a quality little screen to be used either in conjunction with games or to play the game on itself. There have been times when I've played Mario Kart 8 online without the need to flick on the TV since I can play it from the Gamepad. With it's inbuilt speaker and headphone port, the Wii U Gamepad alone is enough to get the full gaming experience out of. It's almost as if the Gamepad is a pseudo-Gameboy.
Worthy of Your Time
I've not mentioned everything the Wii U offers or all of it's merits as a console, but I think I've highlighted reason enough why it's certainly not dead in the water. The console alone is versatile but with a friendly interface. It certainly seems aimed for casual gamers and families wanting to play together. Still it's online play is something gripping enough for more competitive and serious gamers also. It has enough perks that enticed me to buy one. It's a console with a myriad of merits and a selection of stellar games.
Maybe it's not everyone's favourite, and maybe it won't win this console war, but there's reason enough to get a Wii U. I won't be getting either of it's competitors anytime soon. That's not out of protest and not because I'm a long-term Nintendo fan. It's simply that the Wii U offers everything I want from console gaming in this day and age.
Maybe it's not everyone's favourite, and maybe it won't win this console war, but there's reason enough to get a Wii U. I won't be getting either of it's competitors anytime soon. That's not out of protest and not because I'm a long-term Nintendo fan. It's simply that the Wii U offers everything I want from console gaming in this day and age.
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