Nintendo's launch of the Wii U was a fucking disaster.
Launching a full year before Microsoft and Sony dropped their next-gen consoles, Nintendo's console never clearly defined what it's role in the gaming landscape would be. Many consumers were convinced it was an accessory for Nintendo's previous console, the Wii, and directly out of the gate the Wii U was criticized for being bulky, devoid of launch titles, and an underpowered console. We're here to tell you that none of that matters any longer and it's now way past time for you to purchase a Wii U. Who exactly is telling you? Three Complex editors that have stood by, initially written off, and remained loyal to Nintendo's beleaguered console. Nathan Reese, Pop Culture News Editor, Gus Turner, Complex Sports Editor, and Hanuman Welch, Associate Video Game Editor have combined forces to finally convince you, dear reader, that it's finally time to pony up and cop Nintendo's Wii U.
Hanuman: So it's no secret that the Wii U has been plagued by misstep after misstep since it launched nearly two years ago. There was even a time when speculation predicted that Nintendo would be forced to diversify into mobile gaming to stave off the financial hemorrhaging of its not-quite-next-gen console. Why now? Why in the waning days of Summer 2014 is it the right time to finally cop?
Gus: Well, for one, Nintendo is finally starting to produce software for the Wii U that is actually desirable. When you look back at the Wii U's launch titles, it's mildly shocking to believe that the company could come out of the gate so ill-prepared.
Nathan: It's true, the first year of Wii U was pretty bleak. Most people seemed to think that it was just a tablet controller that they didn't need. Even Nintendo fan boys didn't have much of a reason to get excited. The few high profile games that did drop before the holidays, like Super Mario 3D World and Pikmin 3, weren't really system sellers—even if they were pretty great.
Hanuman: The Xbox One and PS4 launch libraries were pretty trash as well. Knack and Ryse were no reasons to drop $500 on Microsoft's new console. And in the first year of the Xbox One and the PS4, their consoles releases have largely been dominated by HD re-masters, last-gen ports, and indie titles. Which is great, but not $400-500 great.
Gus: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD and New Super Mario Bros. U were the console's initial offerings, which isn't just bad planning, it's almost insulting. A remake is a tough sell any day of the week, but expecting people to buy a new console so that they can play an old game suggests that Nintendo did not fully think this move through. Thankfully, Mario Kart 8 has been a huge win for the company, and not only because it's selling well. The success of Mario Kart 8 shows that people are still hungry for the Nintendo brand. It shows that the company can still create a wave in the industry. Their presence is just as much a present to the market as it has ever been.
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Nathan: It really is impossible to over stress how important Mario Kart 8 was for Nintendo. Frankly, it's the reason I picked up the console. It is just a fabulously crafted release. I've played Mario Kart 8 nearly daily since its release, and though I'm aching for some new tracks and karts, it's still a genuine source of joy in my daily life. I love me some 3D World, but Mario Kart 8 is the reason I own a Wii U.
Hanuman: Nintendo has always had a rocky relationship with third party developers, but it seems to me that they could still succeed with this console by ignoring third party completely. I mean, nobody is buying a Wii U to play a less optimized version of Call of Duty: Ghosts. Nintendo has always had a reputation for ivory tower isolationism, often to their detriment, but their library of first party titles is vast. They really could just give third party developers the finger and do their own thing.
Nathan: I definitely agree with that sentiment. Nintendo's in-house games have almost a Pixar-like level of quality to them. You really have to go back to Nintendo 64 for the days when Nintendo wasn't relying almost entirely on its own games, and even then it was just a few other developers, like Rare. That said, it would be nice to have some original content from developers other than Nintendo. Maybe with Wii U sales up, Ubisoft will hop back on board. But even if they don't, I don't think a lack of third party games is a deal-breaker by any means. Just look at the upcoming lineup! Smash Bros., Zelda, Splatoon—these are all going to be A+ titles, all made by Nintendo.
Gus: The company unveiled and further teased a number of upcoming exclusives for the Wii U during E3, which should please Nintendo's rabid fan base. From my brief experiences with the game, I can assure you that Super Smash Bros. is going to be as good as we want it to be. Hyrule Warriors will be a treat for anyone who wants to hack-and-slash using Zelda, Midna, Sheik, or Ghirahim, to name just a few characters from the game's ever-expanding roster. Splatoon will be a sleeper hit for the console. I even found Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker to be surprisingly enjoyable. And despite the fact that we know absolutely nothing about it, the forthcoming open-world Zelda title is worth a mention. Who knows when it will come out or what it will be, but if Nintendo is actually able to produce a game that can rival the scope and variety of a true open-world adventure like Skyrim, then sign me up. Sign everyone up.
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Hanuman: On what merits can the Wii U stand apart from Sony and Microsoft?
Gus: Again, their exclusives are going to be what sets the Wii U apart from the XB1 and PS4. Exclusive content has always defined Nintendo's approach to console gaming. We can talk about the form of the Wii U, and how the Game Pad can be utilized in ways that the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One wouldn't allow,
Hanuman: That Game Pad was not a particularly sexy design and it still burns through a charge so fast. It looks like an iPad that Nintendo glued Wii Motes onto. But I think it also provides Nintendo with a peripheral people are actually interested in using. Can't really say the same thing about my Xbox One's Kinect. The voice command function worked literally twice and now it just sits in a drawer in my living room.
Nathan: Before I actually owned a Wii U I thought that the Game Pad was huge mistake. I didn't understand the appeal of two screens, and honestly I still don't care about the added functionality of having another place to look while I'm playing a game. (I'll concede that some mini games, like the Toad games in Super Mario 3D World are fun though.) That said, I often find myself playing games only on the Game Pad while my girlfriend is watching TV. It's awesome to be able to hang out in the same room as someone else, while enjoying doing different things together. And maybe I'm just the laziest person ever, but playing videogames in bed sort of rules too. They definitely won me over.
Gus: At the end of the day, Nintendo's fun, original, family-friendly approach to game design is only made distinct by the fun, original, family-friendly faces they have attached to these games. Mario, Pikachu, Link, and Samus are merits in and of themselves. Now, we just need to see some games made for them. It's really as simple as that. The software will always bring people to the hardware.
Hanuman: Nintendo has also really started to embrace indies in an encouraging way. Shovel Knight, GunVolt, Guacamelee! are all amazing games and that's on top of Nintendo's Virtual Console that features a back catalog of games that features titles from the Super Nintendo, GameCube, and, hopefully soon, the N64. The lack of N64 titles seems pretty glaring, what do you guys think is still missing that could take the Wii U to un-fuck-withable levels?
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Nathan: Oh man, a Goldeneye port would be amazing. Or better yet, a souped-up re-release with online play. That could go a long way in convincing skeptical gamers to give the system a chance, just based on nostalgia value alone. That's probably never going to happen, but a guy can dream.
Gus: For a company that was once known for its official Seal of Quality, it seems like Nintendo has lowered the standards for its most recent console. Some of the junk pumped out for the Wii already (Dr. Luigi, 007 Legends,Game & Wario) lends an air of desperation to the console's game catalogue, and the news that the company has been struggling to partner with third-party developers doesn't help this perception. And while the console has more games on the market than any other next-gen console, it's hard to name many of them. Going forward, Nintendo needs to ensure that quality is being emphasized over quantity.
Hanuman: Seems insane that a new Metroid title hasn't been released in the two years since the console has been out. Is Nintendo even competing with Microsoft and Sony at this point? I don't think Nintendo should be viewing themselves as Sony and Microsoft's competitors. The idea has been brought up a lot recently, but it bears repeating: Nintendo is essentially its own medium within the video game industry. They aren't known for their "mature" or "sexy" games.
Gus: The trailer for the Wii U's upcoming hack-and-slash shooter Devil's Third proves this. Thongs, tattoos, and whiskey don't speak to the same audience that loves a cuddly, electric mouse or a green, squeaky dinosaur. The same criticism can be levied against Bayonetta 2, which is straining to be an equivalent experience to Sony and Microsoft's big-budget adventure titles, filled out by the seductive and busty titular character.
I truly believe that Nintendo should throw in the towel on games, even just on the basis of aesthetics. The Wii U doesn't have the hardware to go toe-to-toe with the breath-taking visuals that the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One can provide for games like Assassin's Creed or Call of Duty. On an emotional level, it just feels awkward to play these titles when I'm so accustomed to Nintendo's accessible, all-inclusive approach.
Nathan: Yeah, Nintendo doesn't have to compete with the big guns. It thinks of itself as its own entity, which I think is the right move. But if you look at the numbers, Wii U isn't doing a terrible job against the Xbone. It's been out for a year longer, but there are a similar number of units out there. If it picks up speed (and I really do believe it will), it could almost go head-to-head with Microsoft. If we're talking about console disaster stories, Xbox One is in worse shape than Nintendo. Playstation 4 is already way ahead of the pack.
Hanuman: Why would I play Assassin's Creed or Call of Duty on the Wii U when I can be playing Pikmin 3 or Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze?
Gus: This doesn't need to be viewed as a loss for the company, though. Let Sony and Microsoft battle back-and-forth for turf. Nintendo already has carved out a substantial space in the market. They should focus on holding onto that share instead of trying to creep in on the action being won by the PS4 and the Xbox One. It's just not worth their time. More importantly, I think they should be convincing their potential consumers why it's a necessity to have a Wii U, even if they already own a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. They need to think up a way to sell people on the idea of two-console households. I don't think it's impossible. Also, we need to talk about Amiibos. Financially, that could be a windfall for Nintendo.
Hanuman: Amiibos were a massively strong play for Nintendo. The company obviously saw what was happening with Skylanders and most recently Disney Infinity and capitalized brilliantly. They've got exclusive rights to the massive library of Pokemon characters and that alone would make the company millions. Add in all of the Mario, Zelda, Metroid properties and Nintendo suddenly looks like they're dealing with the market in a progressive way. Amiibos are a going to capture both ends of the spectrum in terms of consumers. Aging fans will purchase the figures (especially Pokemon and Smash Bros.) and younger audiences will be presented with the catalogue of characters in a way they've seen in both Skylanders and Disney Infinity. Since the Wii U has always aimed to positions itself as a family-centric console, what better way that creating inclusive action figures that speak to young and old audiences.
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