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RevieWii-Uing the Situation

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I haven't bought a new console since 2007.

Back in mid-2007, I could see an ad announcing a $100 price drop for a PS3, blithely assume that it would be backwards compatible, run out and impulse-buy the dern thing that day – even in a non-pay week. Then I could gnash my teeth and wait for games to come out. Oh, "everybody knows" the consoles time their big releases for November? Over here, "Black Friday" is the anniversary of some things burning down. I remember the Games Drought of 2007, how it led to the Succession of Poor Gaming Purchases of 2008, and the Surprisingly Low Trade-In Prices of 2009.

Good times. I won't even talk about the Second PS3 Purchase of 2012, because I regard that as replacing some failing parts in my old PS3 and putting it in a slimmer box.

So, early adoption didn't work so good for me last time, and I didn't upgrade in 2013. I swore to hold off until prices dropped and there were enough good games out. Besides, I still had many PS3 games to play.

I've noticed recently that prices are dropping into the realm of "Hazza's Stag Party" (regrettable but affordable, as long as it's a one-off), there's a few games to choose from, and I'm running out of PS3 games. Like the fan whose toe was squashed by Prince's original support band's tour bus, I can feel the time pressing near.

As a PS3 owner, I just assumed that when the time came to upgrade, I would get a PS4. But my impulse-purchasing days are over. I've got a wife and two credit cards kids to support. Now I have to think before I buy. This ... "thinking" has provided room to question my assumption. Into this room, doubts and even perhaps a modicum of product research have crept.

The doubts boil down to one Big Doubt: What if everything I thought I knew about consoles is wrong? Many things I had slotted down as Pros about the PS3 actually look like Cons for the PS4, and all the things I used to sneer about from Nintendo, when applied to the Wii U, might be Pros.

I didn't grow up playing Nintendo games. In fact, once I became a PlayStation owner, I thought my job was to be proudly ignorant of them. I heartily joined in the old refrain: "Nintendo just makes new entries in the same franchises year in year out." Nearly every time a Zelda, Mario or Donkey Kong came out, I'd sing another round. But that refrain could equally be a mark of praise. Using logic, if the first entry in a franchise is good, and the sequels are more of the same, should that lead one to expect that ALL of the entries in the franchise are ... good? How would I know? I've never actually played any of those games. Admittedly, I've heard the Zelda series is decent, even though it just rips off many of the mechanics of 3D Dot Game Heroes.

One of the games for which I thought I'd want a PS4 was Assassin's Creed: Unity. Now that that game's here, I am so bored with Assassin's Creed that it's a drag even to type its name. I get to the second "double-s" and I'm already checking Twitter.

This is the paragraph where I should lay out the results of a Metacritic score review to show that Nintendo franchises' latest iterations are "better" than the PS4/Xbone ones and therefore my change of heart is backed up by yummy, objective facts. The results were more equivocal than that, but it doesn't matter, because I just don't feel the same franchise fatigue with Nintendo games, even if such fatigue exists for others. The blockbuster franchises to which I have been most loyal over the last 8 years now appear as jaded and numb as the writers and cast of the 5th season of The Walking Dead. All their world-weary, brown-scaled, photorealistic, AAA nihilism over the years has burnt me out. Nintendo offers the excitement of something fresh (to me): a shift – in tone, in colour, in subject matter and in mechanics. Is this "grass is greener" magical thinking? Probably, but it's weighing more on my spending hand than brand loyalty is.

I had a similar reversal on the issue of controls.

Sony's DualShock controllers feel so comfortable and reassuring in my hands that sometimes I just hold one while I watch TV. However, its 14 buttons and 2 joysticks could actually put my daughter off gaming for life. I used to scoff at reports of people throwing controllers against walls, out windows, into pits of fire, etc., until I watched my daughter's rage build to a pure white heat as she tried to use the DualShock for the allegedly simple task of negotiating the costumes menu in LittleBigPlanet. Don't get me started on the puppy-drowning platforming itself.

Contrast this with the simplicity and user-friendliness of the basic Wii U controller: a D-Pad and 2 buttons. Presumably, motion control is more intuitive still. The DualStick is more accurate for recording movement, allows faster reactions and other things I used to know. And sure, motion control can be imprecise. But that won't make a lick of difference if one controller prevents a 5-year-old from playing games, while the other controller does not.

My fondest memories of console gaming involve a couch and buddies. The buddies are in the same room, perhaps even on said couch. As couch co-op dwindles from Sony's offerings, Nintendo appears intent on keeping it. This is great – not just because I can play with my kids, but also with my wife. Maybe I could even coax those old buddies out for a games night (OK, now I've strayed into pure fantasy).

The industry edict was to go online for your multiplayer experiences. I've been such a laggard in pursuing online multiplayer experiences, though, I'm wondering if I ever will. So I can't really be impressed any more with consoles that tout better online multiplayer features. It's like paying extra for a house with a golf course and thinking, "Well I don't play golf NOW, but when I do... ."

It can be handy to spring-clean your assumptions every now and again, even on something as relatively banal as a console purchase. I surprised myself, not so much by how my priorities have changed – I knew that already – but more by realising how many assumptions I still had. Now the Wii U has become frontrunner in the prestigious Next Probable Console Purchase in our household. How will it go? I'll let you know in a couple years.

Comments

Contrast this with the simplicity and user-friendliness of the basic the Wii-U controller: a D-Pad and 2 buttons.

Except it isn't. The primary controller is the Wii U Gamepad, which is chock full of buttons and sticks. Only player 2 will get to play with Wiimotes in games.

Unless you play Wii games, which the Wii U totes does, in that case you're back to using the WiiMote by itself and (usually) the Nunchuk.

But, yes, the Wii U has the best collection of games right now as long as you're okay not playing the latest FPS. Sounds like you. Welcome.

garion333 wrote:

But, yes, the Wii U has the best collection of games right now as long as you're okay not playing the latest FPS. Sounds like you. Welcome.

Splatoon!

Ahem, anyway. As a dad, too, I'm excited to be introducing my kids to Nintendo games and look forward to my daughter's first MK8 race.

I know there are family friendly options on all, but pound for pound the WiiU delivers those options that don't feel awfully cheesy for adults, either.

I'll second the welcome!

garion333 wrote:
Contrast this with the simplicity and user-friendliness of the basic the Wii-U controller: a D-Pad and 2 buttons.

Except it isn't. The primary controller is the Wii U Gamepad, which is chock full of buttons and sticks. Only player 2 will get to play with Wiimotes in games.

Unless you play Wii games, which the Wii U totes does, in that case you're back to using the WiiMote by itself and (usually) the Nunchuk.

That's going to vary considerably by game. There are a number of Wii and Wii U games where you can use the Wiimote as the primary controller if you want.

ClockworkHouse wrote:
garion333 wrote:
Contrast this with the simplicity and user-friendliness of the basic the Wii-U controller: a D-Pad and 2 buttons.

Except it isn't. The primary controller is the Wii U Gamepad, which is chock full of buttons and sticks. Only player 2 will get to play with Wiimotes in games.

Unless you play Wii games, which the Wii U totes does, in that case you're back to using the WiiMote by itself and (usually) the Nunchuk.

That's going to vary considerably by game. There are a number of Wii and Wii U games where you can use the Wiimote as the primary controller if you want.

Yes, this is true and I waffled on saying as much but couldn't figure a way to put it succinctly or go through and figure out each game.

Your next console should be an Atari 2600. One stick. One button.

The lives so far of the PS4/Xbone have met with nothing but apathy from me. I got my "grass is greener" fix by moving to PC; but the moment my daughter is old enough to understand video games, or a new Paper Mario comes out (whichever comes first), we'll be getting a Nintendo console. Microsoft and Sony do what Nintendon't, to their creative detriment.

Well written! I'm right there with you, having passed on Sony and MS's console offerings this go-round.

My kids just love Mario Kart. And so do I. It may all come down to that.

garion333 wrote:

Except it isn't. The primary controller is the Wii U Gamepad, which is chock full of buttons and sticks. Only player 2 will get to play with Wiimotes in games.

Unless you play Wii games, which the Wii U totes does, in that case you're back to using the WiiMote by itself and (usually) the Nunchuk.

But, yes, the Wii U has the best collection of games right now as long as you're okay not playing the latest FPS. Sounds like you. Welcome.

These "facts" you use. I need to get some.

I figured there was always someone in the room who'd just rediscovered an old Game Gear.

Gravey wrote:

The lives so far of the PS4/Xbone have met with nothing but apathy from me. I got my "grass is greener" fix by moving to PC; but the moment my daughter is old enough to understand video games, or a new Paper Mario comes out (whichever comes first), we'll be getting a Nintendo console. Microsoft and Sony do what Nintendon't, to their creative detriment.

IMAGE(http://i.c-b.co/is/image/Crate/GravyBoatWSaucerF8)

That's the Gravey Boat. I'm in it.

I too jumped from the 360 to Steam. I've been eyeing a Wii U ever since the Mario Kart Wii servers went offline, predominantly so the wife and I would have a good excuse to swear at each other. With my daughter only recently turning 1 though, I'm wondering if I'm actually looking at the *next* Ninty console.

Jonman wrote:

With my daughter only recently turning 1 though, I'm wondering if I'm actually looking at the *next* Ninty console.

Not if it means that you miss out on Mario Kart 8. It's sublime.

If your focus on the PS3 was "world-weary, brown-scaled, photorealistic, AAA" games, you're missing the best stuff on the PS3. I had far, far more enjoyment out of colorful midtier and indie games on the PS3.

As for the Wii U, I only have a handful of games for it. Most of its games are better done elsewhere, already finished elsewhere, or are in genres that I don't like (Sidescrolling mario-style platformers, brawlers, and cart racers.)

And Couch Coop disappearing from Sony platforms? There's HEAPS of couch-coop games right now.

Couch co-op games on the PS3 and PS4... Mostly just the ones that I own or have played...

Tiny Brains
Chariot
Ibb and Obb
Borderlands 1, 2, Presequel
Hell Divers
Adventures of Cookie and Cream (PS2 Classic)
Diablo 3
Uncharted 3: Drake's Fortune (As a second story mode)
Portal 2 (as a second story mode)
Trine
Trine 2
Super Stardust HD
Shank
Shank 2
Rayman Origins
Rayman Legends
Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One
Rage
Overlord 2
Moon Diver
Minecraft
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (1 & 2)
Little Big Planet (1, 2 & 3)
Legions of Lego games
Eternal Sonata
Tales of Xillia (1 & 2)
Tales of Graces
Guacamelee
Dead Nation
D&D: Chronicles of Mystara
Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
Blue Estate
Various Pixeljunk games (Shooter, Eden, etc)
Knack
Never Alone
Super Motherload
Jamestown+
Mercenary Kings

If this is what Dwindling looks like...

Well, kazriko, if you are going to list actual games, OF COURSE it looks like there is a surprisingly large number of couch co-op games on Sony systems.

Many of them (not all) are for older folks, but more importantly in my house, the controller is the stumbling block to playing them, even for my wife.

Whereas, judging from the ads I've seen on TV, all you have to do play a Wii U is wear white and giggle.

Felix Threepaper wrote:

Well, kazriko, if you are going to list actual games, OF COURSE it looks like there is a surprisingly large number of couch co-op games on Sony systems.

Many of them (not all) are for older folks, but more importantly in my house, the controller is the stumbling block to playing them, even for my wife.

Whereas, judging from the ads I've seen on TV, all you have to do play a Wii U is wear white and giggle.

You should never judge a console by its ads.

Everyone was new to using a controller once. You can start them out on a game that only uses one or two buttons on the controller and one stick first (like Skylanders, also a couch co-op game, or Cookie and Cream.) Once they're used to that, you can give them a lego game that might use one or two more buttons, and so on.

I only listed about 1/3rd or so of the games that are out there as well. There's lots of them like Army of Two that I've never even considered playing/buying.

Realistic sports titles are, unfortunately, the other major thing missing from the Wii U. As a Wii U / PC household, we are without the latest Madden and FIFA games, among others.

kazriko wrote:

like Skylanders

IMAGE(https://ashwinikumar007.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/blackmoney.jpg)

Felix Threepaper wrote:
kazriko wrote:

like Skylanders

IMAGE(https://ashwinikumar007.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/blackmoney.jpg)

True, though you could get by with about 8 characters in the first game, maybe 16 in the second... I tapered off my purchases by the 2nd game, I think I have around 50ish, including all of the first gen. But do look at Cookie and Cream, d-pad or analog stick, jump, and grab are the only buttons used, playable on your PS3, and only $10.

My uneducated, un-researched view is that I could keep my 360 and have access to hundreds of working games that I enjoy playing or pay lots of money for the privilege of playing a few games that still need patching.

Which pretty much is never the case with a Nintendo game.

I bought the XB1 at release and barely played it until Destiny came out, with the exception of Lego Marvel, which I could have played on any console.

I got the WiiU for Christmas 2013 and it has been a treasure trove of family gaming goodness. My kids are now thoroughly addicted to video games and all things Mario, and we have a fabulous time couch co-oping, competing, or just cheering each other on. It is an amazing family experience, dirt cheap for the kinds of memories we are making. Compare a WiiU in price to literally any vacation you might take. In the US, two nights at a hotel (using one room for the whole family!) is more expensive. That's two days versus a console we play almost every day.

Games > Console

I wouldnt buy a brand new Wii U until I knew what Nintendo's next console will be.. But it would be a great system to pick up on refurb or ebay.

WolverineJon wrote:

Realistic sports titles are, unfortunately, the other major thing missing from the Wii U. As a Wii U / PC household, we are without the latest Madden and FIFA games, among others.

I think FIFA is on Origin for PC. Not sure if they put other sports titles up there.

Felix Threepaper wrote:
kazriko wrote:

like Skylanders

IMAGE(https://ashwinikumar007.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/blackmoney.jpg)

Does that look like a belly button to anyone else?

Fedaykin98 wrote:

My kids

I just went into a time warp to back when I met you at PAX in ... 2008 was it? Anyway, took a while to wrench my brain back to current time.

It's cool. I just need a bit more riboflavin.

TheGameguru wrote:

I wouldnt buy a brand new Wii U until I knew what Nintendo's next console will be.. But it would be a great system to pick up on refurb or ebay.

Not entirely sure your reasoning here, unless you are trying to say you would hold out until they revealed details on the "NX". Anyways, it can be had right now for $200 refurbed directly from Nintendo w/ NintendoLand.

wordsmythe wrote:
Fedaykin98 wrote:

My kids

I just went into a time warp to back when I met you at PAX in ... 2008 was it? Anyway, took a while to wrench my brain back to current time.

You were young then!

Also: I think Gameguru makes a reasonable point, BUT - two years or whatever is an eternity in the life of a child. For those of us who use the WiiU partly or primarily as a family gaming machine, there is clearly plenty of great time to play this console with your kids. I wouldn't expect a new Nintendo console for at least two years. Also, as I've learned extensively over the last few generations, just because there's a new console out doesn't mean it's time to buy that console. It could easily be three years before one needs to buy the next Nintendo console.

If I sound like a shill for the WiiU, well, good.

mrtomaytohead wrote:
TheGameguru wrote:

I wouldnt buy a brand new Wii U until I knew what Nintendo's next console will be.. But it would be a great system to pick up on refurb or ebay.

Not entirely sure your reasoning here, unless you are trying to say you would hold out until they revealed details on the "NX". Anyways, it can be had right now for $200 refurbed directly from Nintendo w/ NintendoLand.

Thats my point.. it could be that in a few months we will learn some details at E3.. or it could be we are in the dark for another year.

Either way there is an overabundance of "cheap" Wii U systems on the market that I would buy before I bought one new.

mrtomaytohead wrote:

Anyways, it can be had right now for $200 refurbed directly from Nintendo w/ NintendoLand.

I went this route for my family, and it has worked out great.

Nintendo Land is a great first/starter game for the Wii U. It "introduces" the console very well, much like Wii Sports did back when the Wii first came out.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

If I sound like a shill for the WiiU, well, good.

PC/Nintendo4life!

Hard to argue with any of this if you're primarily interested in a console for kids or playing Nintendo's games. It's the only console I'd even consider for purchasing as a family console. Fortunately my kids are still blissfully ignorant about a "new Wii" existing and are enjoying regular Wii games, so we've yet to cross that bridge.

However, it's 3/3 of the consoles I'd purchase as a console for myself: an adult with varied gaming tastes who enjoys having a digital hub, a variety media offerings and various ways to interact on the console. The Wii-U simply a one-trick pony where the other two are swiss army knives when it comes to all of these things (i.e. no blu-ray/DVD support, no game DVR, only 32 GB of flash storage, no Cloud, no Play as you download, no remote download, no accessing your account from other consoles, no cross game chat, no HBO Go, no streaming game video, and on and on...).

Paul Tassi at Forbes said it much better than I (regarding how Nintendo "won 2014"):

And yet, the argument for the Wii U is still not really an argument for the Wii U. It's an argument for Nintendo and their ability to make good games. And in turn, that makes us circle back to an old debate. Why does Nintendo have to keep making console hardware?

For me, other iterations of Super Smash Brothers, Zelda, Mario, Mario Kart, etc. - as awesome as they all are (and I truly think they are) - can't cover the game variety and performance gaps for me. I suppose this is why you see the Wii U not even mentioned in comparison to the others in most of the "console comparison" articles out there as it simply doesn't compare directly at all. This is truly a shame, because their games are great - GREAT. They deserve to be played by everyone and not be exclusive to Nintendo's hardware (albatross), the arena where it's been unable to keep up for decades now.