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With all the time I've spent writing about the Wii U over the past several months, it seems odd to realize I have yet to pen a proper review. But with Nintendo's rolling embargo and the system's own roll-out of features – those of us that received early Wii U consoles weren't able to access the final consumer firmware until launch day – it simply didn't seem feasible. Until now.
So what can I say about Nintendo's latest entry into the video game console market? More to the point, how can I explain it without lingering on all the price points and hardware specs that we've been fussing over for weeks? Let's just zero in on the high and low points of the very first next generation offering.
[Good] My Eyes Are Up Here
Nintendo's brand of two-screen gaming is the true selling point of the Wii U. There's a reason that the tablet-style GamePad controller was revealed before the actual console itself. Just as Nintendo popularized the control pad with the NES, the four face button arrangement with the Super Nintendo and motion control with the Wii, the Wii U GamePad again stands out as a shift to the paradigm. The problem inherent in this is that players trained for decades to concentrate on a single focal point during gameplay now have a pair of different displays with which to contend. Remember how weird it sounded when the original Nintendo DS's two-screen configuration was revealed? Well, now that's happening in your living room. To Nintendo's credit (not to mention that of third-party developers), however, Wii U titles generally do a great job of telling you where to look and when. Games like Nintendo Land and ZombiU, where both screens play important but dedicated roles, take special care to make sure you know where to point your peepers at all times.
[Bad] What's That Sound?
While the GamePad's screen is beautifully responsive in providing a real-time alternate view of the game world, its integrated speakers sometimes provide less-than perfect accompaniment. While one gets the impression that the music coming from the GamePad is intended to be complementary to that piping through your television, that's not always the case. Hell, sometimes it doesn't even appear to be in sync! Thankfully a dedicated volume control quickly silences the cacophony, but it seems like dual-screen gaming should take better advantage of this supplementary sound source.
[Good] You Can Take It with You
I promised I wouldn't focus on points I'd already covered in preceding posts, but I simply have to remark again on how wonderful it feels to be able to separate the true console gaming experience from the console. GamePad-only play options in games like New Super Mario Bros. U and Batman: Arkham City - Armored Edition mean I can easily continue my play session even if someone else in the house needs to commandeer the big TV in the den. It also means those of us with properly laid out domiciles don't have to pause gameplay when nature calls. (Full disclosure: this was the first feature I tested after powering up my Wii U. I'm that guy.)
[Bad] You've Got the Touch, It's Got the Power
All this innovation comes at a price, and that price is battery life. It's far too easy to power through a fully charged GamePad in a single play session. Sure, the controller ships with a long charging cable, but tethering yourself to the Wii U itself defeats the purpose of this wonderful wireless connectivity. It also makes a mockery of that snazzy charging cradle that came bundled with Deluxe systems.
[Good] Complete Control(ler)
For the sake of argument let's say that the GamePad just isn't your thing. Maybe aiding your kids with a few properly placed platform blocks or changing the in-game perspective to scan a zombie-infested London for helpful wares simply ain't your cup of tea. Enter the Pro Controller. Your eyes (and hands) could easily mistake it for an offering from rivals Sony or Microsoft, thus it's not surprising that the Wii U's more traditional gamer fare – which admittedly consists primarily of ports at this point – offers support for this more traditional controller. Sure, it's one more component you have to purchase separately, but at least this time around you don't have to tether the thing to a Wii Remote.
[Bad] The Waiting is the Hardest Part
While responsive controls are one thing that the Wii U gets right, a place where it falters is on load times. Perhaps I've been spoiled by all those optional hard drive installs on my Xbox 360, but the only thing that seems to take longer than transitioning from the Wii U home screen to the game start screen is trying to exit from the game back to the system menu. It's a minor gripe, especially for a brand new system, but I genuinely hope later updates can streamline the process. What's not a minor gripe is the number of system freezes I've experienced. When a couple of third party games crapped out on their respectively splash screens in the days before the final system update I was forgiving enough, but when the flagship Mario title froze on launch after I'd spent more than an hour applying release day patches? Unacceptable. As is Nintendo's current remedy for system crashes; it involves unplugging your console power supply, which is unbelievably crude for such an otherwise refined offering.
[Good] So Long Friend Codes
I won't even ask if you hate Nintendo's Friend Code system. It was easily the most maligned element of the original Wii's less-than stellar online support. Thankfully the Wii U eliminates them in favor of the new Nintendo Network ID. The system is far from flawless in its current state – it's tied directly to the console itself, and finding friend invites is rather un-intuitive – but it's a step in the right direction.
[Bad] Delayed Gratification
While system features such as the (Pikmin-powered) Wii Transfer Tool, the eShop download store, the Miiverse social network and media streaming powerhouse Netflix finally went live Sunday, a number of other much-touted applications were noticeably delayed. While the programmable television remote functionality built into the GamePad worked from the get-go, the heavily publicized TVii service missed the deadline as did more pedestrian offerings such as Amazon Instant Video and YouTube.
[Good] It's-a Me in HD
Okay, allow me to beat one more dead horse. When the Wii launched with a graphical resolution that hit the ceiling at mere 480p, many gamers were puzzled. Thankfully Nintendo listened, and after six years of reviewers constantly stating that titles "look great by Wii standards" we finally get a proper high-definition Nintendo console.
[Bad] So Many Games, But It's Still All about Mario
The Wii U launch lineup is impressive. There are offerings for gamers of all types and skill levels, but, even with M-rated exclusive ZombiU and the showcase game collection packed in with Deluxe systems, it's early success will likely hinge on New Super Mario Bros. U. Some will say this is simply the nature of the beast, but with enjoyable offerings like Scribblenauts Unlimited and a genuinely enjoyable port of Arkham City, I hope the man with the mustache doesn't completely drown out the distinguished competition.
Thus far the Wii U launch has been a feast-or-famine affair. A sleek and simple install process was slowed down by a mammoth system update – one that unfortunately ate up the bulk of the free storage space on Basic systems – and the straightforward interface of its panel-based menu system actively clashes with the messy Mii-filled hub that is its counterpart. Still, for every nuisance, for every menu misstep and absent app, the Wii U packs a pleasant surprise.
Its eShop employs the GamePad screen for near-perfect functionality, and its tertiary pause menu, just like its little brother on the 3DS, makes multitasking a breeze. Even the aforementioned Miiverse, with all its Community boards and feed info and veritable overflow of player interactions, has a subtle charm that's difficult to deny.
The Wii U hardware and its launch have both proven far from perfect, but the fun that my family has had over the past two weeks of playing with Nintendo's latest console serves to remind me of one undeniable fact; even flaws can't ruin a truly good time.
Review materials provided by: Nintendo of America
