Gizmo 76
Posts: 1725
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Still around.....
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Ok then... a weekend with the Wii U.
Overall it's pretty darn positive, I've bought this console to accompany others, so I have a different perspective and set of wants out of the console over someone who is buying as their main maybe.
First off the Wii U's OS, there is good and bad to this. The bad first, it's slow, annoyingly so at times, switching between apps and games has noticeable loading times and somethings take a few too many steps to achieve. An example being, you hit your 'Home' button on the gamepad which will bring up a quick accessible menu system, you go to your friend list and want to view one of their profiles, to do this properly you need to go to Miiverse (neat side of it all) which then has to load, so all this takes time. If they can cut these loading times and steps down there is a lot to like about the OS, it's very Nintendo, so it maybe a bit love/hate... but I sort of like the change from others and the ditty little tunes playing and Mii's running around is all kinda cute 
Miiverse is actually really nicely done, it's a mix between a forum (with activity   ), facebook and twitter. Basically each game gets it's own feed on which you can post comments, screenshots and do drawings on, these can then be Yeah'd (liked)  . Then you can also follow and friend people and view just their posts in your 'Activity feed'. Also you can message friends like on other systems. The sharing of screenshots is slightly different as you actually have to do it in game at the time, so you hit you 'home' button while playing, then go to Miiverse (loading) and it'll take a grab from where you currently are. No file management or storing of screenshots.
Image Linky
Also when you boot up the console your TV will show the icons of current most popular (I assume they are) games and under these stand loads of Miis with speech bubbles appearing of their thoughts and drawings related to the game. From here you could view the Mii's profile or reply to their thought if you wanted... Actually it's all quite neat and does work really well I think. I could see a few of these ideas coming across to the next gen consoles in some sort of form... to be honest I'd rather see something like this than an advertising heavy and media centre driven interface. It is still advertising the games, but the community is doing it, I'm sure the moderating can make the positive comments float to the surface  In that respect (at the moment) the Wii U is kinda refreshing, it feels like a games console, even though there is a YouTube, Love Film and Netflix app.
The actual console is a nice enough build quality, though a bit finger print friendly. The actual GamePad looks a little cheap, but is very light and comfortable to use and the screen itself is better than I thought it'd be in terms of how the streamed display looks. The resolution isn't as high as some of the mobile / tablet devices we are use too and when rendering web pages this is noticeable, but when enjoying something like Mario it's not so much of an issue. The main revelation of the GamePad isn't the two screens being used at one time like on ZombiU (environment scanner, map and inventory), it's the fact the a lot of the games can be played on the GamePad itself when the TV is off or on another channel.
I've double dipped and picked up BLOPS2 for the Wii U, now playing this in bed and experiencing a proper first person shooter with this level of performance on a hand held device, is very cool indeed. Obviously it is just streaming from the console, but it's done to such a standard that you don't feel like that is the case (unlike remote play on PS3). There are limits to how far away you can be and your environment and other wireless devices can have an affect, but I've had the Wii U in two places, one I played upstairs in the room directly above the console and the other the room next door, and the connection has been solid at both places. The fact you can wake up, pick up a device, check your messages, check the eShop store, have a blast on Mario or a couple of TDMs... Get up and continue on your main TV in the living room is extremely geeky, but also very neat.
Onto the games... I've currently got New Super Mario Bros U, ZombiU, NintendoLand and BLOPS2.
New SMBU is bloody superb, paulyboy might not like ... but this game if you like the 2D Mario world should be a system seller. So many genius touches already and I'm only 3 / 4 Worlds in. It's also one of the tougher Mario's of recent times, I think I'm only actually on 10 lives at the moment, usually on a Mario game the first couple of areas/worlds would get you a nice stock going! And getting the 3 coins on each is going to take some work, not just from a skill sense, some require you to work out how to get to them. Really is a classic Mario game... Looks great in HD as well.
ZombiU, I really need to spend a bit more time with this... It's quite a slow going game, but has a really good atmosphere and has made me properly jump a couple of times so far. A fair bit of walking and building of tension before anything occurs. Graphically it's a bit hazy and over use of filters, but suits the game I guess. The concept of when you die that person can then be found in the game world as a Zombie so you can get all your gear back is very well done. It's not your usual 'I can take out a room of 10 zombies no problem' type game, if there is more than 2 running might be more wise. I think I'll enjoy this, but need a have a longer play.
NintendoLand... First off this is no alternative to Wii Sports and due to this I don't think Nintendo will experience the same initial success that the Wii did off of the back of that game and the festive period. Half of the mini game events are decent and the other half maybe not so much. Multiplayer wise for the casual family christmas crowd I think there is a bit of fun to be had with Mario Chase and Luigi's Mansion. Some of the other games like Metroid are going to need a slightly more skilled player, so I don't think these are going to work so well. Wii Sports was great because bowling and golf worked like you'd expect them too, they didn't need any in-depth explaining; and Kinect sports also worked on a similar level (when it works ). The game does highlight some of the multiplayer plus points of the GamePad though, the whole second screen for someone means you can do some interesting things. For example in Mario Chase, the person with the GamePad (Mario) can see the 1 to 4 people chasing them on the map of the area and their own viewpoint of the game, and the others have to run around or work as a team to hunt them down.
Black Ops 2 is pretty much the same as the 360 version. Yes I've seen a couple of frame rate dips, but nothing game breaking.... technically aspects aside the game plays just as you expect but with some added GamePad bonuses. You could go online with a friend and rather than split screen, one plays on the GamePad and one on the TV screen. If you're using the GamePad on your own while playing online it'll show the whole map on the screen and you can access your classes, controls and scorestreaks from the screen. Or the best part for me, just playing the game on the GamePad. I know COD has split people in recent years, but if you're in the camp that like the game, then you'd really enjoy some of the Wii U extras the game has. I think Nintendo shouldn't just focus on Mario and NintendoLand for their advertising, they should also maybe use this with some guy on the crapper playing TDM while the Mrs is watching Corrie.
To round up, I wouldn't be without my 360, it's my main console.... due to LIVE and my friend's being on there, the controller which is still the best out there for me, and I guess initially the draw was PGR and Halo first party wise. My PS3 wasn't a planned purchase at the time, I still have the old chunky 20gb model, but the Uncharted games, LBP and some of the other exclusives are great. And now the Wii U, for Mario, Zelda and hopefully this time a bit more third party support. If I was just to have one it'd still be the 360 for me, and next year most likely the 720 or whatever they call it. The Wii U won't compare technically to the next gen, but I think I'm going to have a lot of fun over it's lifetime even if that is short lived and even if it does just come down to the next big 3D Mario, Zelda, Pilotwings (please), Mario Kart, Pikmin and Metroid.
So yes, I would recommend the Wii U, there is a lot to like about it. It's strengths and weakness will also vary person to person, some bachelor in his own pad probably won't see the GamePad playing as much of a perk. If anyone here does own and want to add me, it's Giz_76 ... no spaces were allowed 
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