Soapbox features allow our writers and individual contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they’ve researched. Today, with the Wii U approaching its 10th anniversary next month, Jim is trying to make amends for missing a misunderstood Nintendo console, with your help and ours…
Let me start with an apology to Nintendo fans everywhere. The title is correct, I have never owned a Wii U and for that, I apologize. But, really, can you blame me? [Thin ice, Jim. Thin! Ice! – Ed.]
I wish I could say that I have always been the kind of unwavering supporter of the big N in everything it does, possessing a steadfast eye that can see past mere aesthetic or technical decisions and see the positives regardless. In fact, in 2012, it wasn’t me.
Seeing Wii U is not a problem ‘woah, check out all these fun games’and ‘you don’t need a TV to play this?!’ Instead, my thoughts are as follows: ‘Hey, it looks like an iPad; wait, it’s chunky; chunky = bad; I hate it’.
Honestly, I didn’t feel great making such an assumption ten years ago, but hey, those are the hazy days of 2012, we live and learn. Except I didn’t study. Just to be clear, I played some Wii U in the following years. A little Wii . Sports Club here, a small amount Super Mario Bros. there, and of course all the Wii U Switch ports, but I must say I used to really The console experience will be a giant leap.
Seeing the Wii U…my thoughts are: ‘Hey, it looks like an iPad; wait, it’s chunky; chunky = bad; I hate it’
This year, I’m changing that. I recently got my hands on a Wii U, and I’m determined to catch up on everything I’ve missed over the past decade. Okay, everything maybe a stretch of road; let’s solve it some thing that I missed. This will be a range of experiences, covering everything from exploring the homepage and crafting a Mii to playing hit titles for the first time.
My plan was to dig into the panel and then share my thoughts on the anniversary in some sort of weird flashback. The problem is, I really don’t know where to start. Certainly, I maybe google it and I’ll probably find some interesting things, but what I really want is some advice from people I know.
Below, some of our great writers have shared their Wii U starting tips, covering everything from first-time mechanics to first-time gameplay. If there’s any advice you think is missing from the following list, drop it in the comments below and I’ll do my best to put it into practice!
Alana Hagues, editor
I have to admit I’m not the biggest Wii U pioneer, but there’s a lot to celebrate about it – and you’ll get one at the right time!
My mandatory recommendation should be Xenoblade Chronicles X. Even with Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and 3 on Switch, X still boasts the best open world of any game I’ve ever played. I have to apologize that I stumbled across a game that is over 100 hours old and filled with system, but it’s pure otherworldly escapism with an incredibly detailed and rewarding world for you to get lost in and enjoy. discover.
If you haven’t played it yet, Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition is a really cool way to play one of the best superhero games ever. Putting maps on GamePad is a genius – Zelda: The Wind Maker do it too! More games should use the GamePad, so look for those! On the other hand, Yoshi’s Woolly World not only a pure platformer but also the cutest lighthearted video game ever. If you can get some cheap amiibo, do it – knitted Yoshi in a colorful Samus suit is a must see. And you can also play co-op!
Finally, I have to send you to the eShop – not just because it shuts down in March 2023, but because there are so many great exclusives out there, consists of a pretty awesome line of Virtual Consoles with Game Boy Advance and DS games, and there are still plenty of games on the service that don’t have replays like Mario Golf: Advance Tour and Kuru Kuru Kururin. It’s a retro fan’s dream, and until NSO gets its hands on GBA games, this is a great way to play them.
Ollie Reynolds, editor
Interestingly, my memory of the Wii U has become hazy in recent years. Maybe the panel didn’t leave much of a lasting impression on me, or maybe I’m just getting older; both options are equally viable at this point.
However, what I will say is that if you don’t have the original Wii, then you must download it Metroid Prime Trilogy from the Wii U eShop. Honestly, it’s a must for any self-respecting Nintendo fan. They are three of the best video games ever made – especially the original game – and a good alternative to the standard 2D Metroid adventures many of us are familiar with. . Heck, there’s a reason people went crazy when Nintendo announced the existence of Metroid Prime 4!
As an aside, I’d probably recommend a game that has been largely forgotten in the Nintendo community: Zombie. It was released as a launch game for the system, and as such it made significant use of the gamepad controller, requiring you to select key items from the gamepad’s screen while your character remained vulnerable. Zombie attack on TV. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but the Wii U functionality combined with the surprisingly unique setting of London and Buckingham Palace make ZombiU a pretty solid title if you’re into a bunch of horror games. in my game collection.
Gavin Lane, editor
I will start as most Wii U owners have done and explore Nintendo Land.
It’s a fascinating mix of the kinds of Nintendo games that are despised in large part because it’s not Wii Sports and fails to showcase the Gamepad’s potential with a simple, succinct pitch. For the part of the launch software, it was a huge mistake on Nintendo’s part, but the real shame is how the game itself was engulfed in general confusion and lethargy afterward. Its patchwork of novelty experiences include plenty of nostalgic nods and glimpses of real innovation. In the end, the local asymmetric gameplay probably just needs a little too much from all the players in attendance unless everyone is engaged and 100% absorbed, but Nintendo Land is full of ideas and moments. unique. Don’t expect Wii Sports, whatever you do, but enlist a ready-to-go Player 2 and explore. I remember being particularly fond of the ‘hot spots’ of Zelda, DK and Balloon Fight, but there was all sorts of magic mixed in there.
The other obvious thing to do is go to the eShop and download it Affordable space adventures right. There are several other Wii U exclusives but for my money ASA ranks among the best games on the system.
Alternatively, just take a moment to stroke one of those polished plates. Oof.
Is there something we missed? Head down to the comments section and let us know! Imagine you’re making a recommendation to someone who’s never touched a Wii U before (which isn’t true, but it’s not a million miles away), what would you say they do first? The more specific the better.
Leave a comment with your first-time Wii U advice, and stay tuned to see if we can use it!
