The short version is that the new Wii U console is confusing. It might turn out to be genius or a flop.
A lot of buzz surrounded Nintendo’s press conference this year. Murmurs about their new home console spread quickly. How would they follow the success of the Wii? The briefing suggested that Nintendo would offer some answers.
This year Nintendo opened with celebrations for The Legend of Zelda’s 25th anniversary, offering an orchestral tribute. Link’s Awakening is available on the eShop now; Four Swords is free on DSiWare; Skyward Sword is planned for release in time for the holidays. The game is finished, and special editions include a gold Wii remote.
Nintendo also highlighted the 3DS lineup, revealing many new titles expected later in the year. The lineup includes Mario Kart, Kid Icarus, Super Mario, Star Fox 64 3D, and Luigi’s Mansion 2. Third party 3DS releases announced include Resident Evil The Mercenaries, Tetris, Ace Combat, Driver Renegade, Tekken 3D, Metal Gear Solid, and more.
Another notable reveal is a free real life Pokedex for the 3DS that uses augmented reality. The AR feature lets players spot Pokemon in their living room through the 3DS camera. Players will head out to real world capture zones to find rare Pokemon from Black and White, then bring them back to the game for collection and battles.
The centerpiece is the Wii U. The new system works with existing Wii games, peripherals, and controllers while delivering HD graphics and a fresh controller that resembles a large tablet with side buttons. The touchscreen supports touch based play and can display Wii U video on the small screen. This means games can be played on the controller even when the main TV is off, which adds a new layer of flexibility. A stylus comes with the controller for HD drawing on the screen, and the device includes a built in camera as well as motion sensing that mirrors the Wii remote.
What games were in the pipeline? A strong slate from third party developers showed enthusiasm for the Wii U. Confirmed titles include Darksiders II, Assassin’s Creed, Tekken, Metro Last Light, Ninja Gaiden 3 Razor’s Edge, and more.
No release date had been announced yet, with more details expected soon as the year progresses.