E3 Brain Explosion 1 - Wii U

[wilco64256]

OK so Nintendo's launch of the 3DS has been an absolute mess but they've got some good stuff coming down the pipelines for that, in particular I'm looking forward to the new Mario game and (yes I liked the first one too, it was fun) the new Luigi game.

But enough about that - let's talk Wii U.  This thing looks downright incredible.  You can play right on the controller if somebody else wants to watch TV, that alone is pretty awesome.  Then add to that all the backwards compatibility and being able to switch back and forth between the regular Wii remote stuff and this new controller is even better.  Then it has a touch screen.  Then you see some of the ways that it can be used in combination with on-screen stuff (like the golf game that was being played or the throwing stars) and the thing is getting insane.  And the system itself is (finally) capable of full HD.  And we see previews of great hardcore games that never got onto Wii for various reasons and suddenly I'm thinking this new system could still be a solid hardcore gaming system too.

What are people's thoughts on this?  I personally think Nintendo has gone above and beyond anything I was expecting yet again by showing off a new console a full year before the competition, and I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on one of these once it rolls into the market.

[Enchantermon]

No more GameCube controller ports?

[MusicallyInspired]

No more GameCube support period. I'll never be able to play Brawl on this.

[Baggins]

I dloaded the e3 videos for various upcoming 3DS games, they sure look great. Mario Kart looks great. Paper Mario might be my least favorite game in the paper Mario series, but I admit the 3D updates to it look good. Gives the game a different feel. As for Super Mario, seeing the return of the tanooki suit brings back nostalgia. Although I'm slightly turned away by full 3D gameplay, preferring 2.5D style Mario games.

The only thing I have to say the foreground character 3D looks great in these videos, backgrounds look extremely flat though, very noticeably so.

[Enchantermon]

No more GameCube support period. I'll never be able to play Brawl on this.

I'm right there with you. That sucks.

[Baggins]

Couldn't gamecube go virtual console?

[Enchantermon]

Perhaps, but the main problem is no controller support. I tried using the Wii controllers for Brawl and just couldn't get used to it; I had to use the GameCube controller. But the WiiU won't support them, so even if Meleé was available on VC, it would still require use of the Wii or WiiU controllers. And while I can't say that I won't be able to get used to the WiiU controller (can't know until I try), I would still prefer to use the GameCube's.

[wilco64256]

I could see Gamecube titles going to VC for the Wii U.  And I can see them making a Gamecube controller that plugs into the Wiimotes the same way the current "Classic" controller does.  I wouldn't be too concerned about that.

[Baggins]

They already have a classic controller deluxe looks more like a ps2 controller, real second analog stick and four bumpers. So better configuration, more buttons, better layout. I've been meaning to get one.

I never liked the gamecube's second c stick.

[Enchantermon]

And I can see them making a Gamecube controller that plugs into the Wiimotes the same way the current "Classic" controller does.

That's true; I forgot about those.

[Fierce Deity]

I don't want to sound like a Nintendo hater, but I haven't experienced enough goodness on the current Wii system to warrant a purchase of the Wii U. I think I'll be satisfied with Skyward Sword, and then I might take a break from the whole Nintendo scene. If some good third-party RPG support goes towards the 3DS, then I'll buy that.

[Baggins]

Well I understand the next Golden Sun is going to be on 3DS, I'm curious about the cliffhanger from the last one, with the moon thing and the rifts.

[wilco64256]

Nintendo really is trying to put a lot more effort into supporting third parties on their platforms lately, so hopefully we will see more solid third party titles heading to both the 3DS and the Wii U.

[Fierce Deity]

A 3DS I could see myself buying. I still need to see more on the Wii U. It's just too new and abstract for me to get excited about at the moment. Leave it to Nintendo to question the way that we play our games though. I have to give them that much.