Held with both hands the Gamepad feels chunky and robust, but not too heavy. The triggers protrude with a smooth curvature on the underside of the controller, allowing it to remain raised slightly when at rest. Theyre perfectly placed for shooters like Mass Effect 3 and ZombiU. The analogue sticks are responsive and comfortable, resembling the rubberised stick of the Wiis nunchuck. The D-pad and four face buttons also feel like carry-overs from the Wii controller, the buttons resembling the crisp plastic of the plus and minus of a Wii Remote more than the A and B, offering a more precise feel essential for titles like Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and NBA 2K13. Its easy to forget, after six years of the Wii, that this is the first Nintendo console in 11 years to come with a standard, out-of-the-box controller featuring four face buttons and two analogue sticks. That alone should make the prospect of porting and developing for Wii U much more enticing than its often maligned predecessor.
The screen on the GamePad gets as much use as the other inputs during our time with the device. As a touchscreen it feels very much like the 3DS responsive display, and due to its larger screen size the option of a quick swipe or tap with a finger, rather than fumbling to unsheathe the stylus, is much more reliable than it is on Wii Us portable sibling.
The display itself makes for a genuinely worthwhile alternative to the big screen. The front-facing camera, used to display our guilty grin as we make an escape in Mario Chase, for example, is clear enough to stand the test of its picture being displayed on a HD display, without any cringeworthy framerate or clarity issues. When used to view games where detail is everything, like following the ball in NBA 2K13, the GamePad holds its own. Surprisingly, its during an extended session of New Super Mario Bros U, the major firstparty launch title, that the GamePad screen action starts to put a little strain on our eyes as we try to keep up with the manic flow of two leaping, bounding Marios.
The new Pro Controller is a pleasant surprise: light and easier on the eye and hands than the Wiis original Classic controller, and with wireless connectivity to the console it feels like a lightweight successor to the Wavebird thatll be a go-to option for players looking to play more traditional genres by more traditional means it feels particularly appropriate for downloadable twin-stick shooter Nano Assault Neo.
The sense is that these two controllers can cover a lot of bases between them. The Pro Controller is light and ergonomic enough to occupy the function of a standard twin-stick controller, while the GamePad screen is sharp enough to handle all but the most hyperactive scenarios in the palms of your hands. There are still questions to be answered, of course, such as sound quality on the GamePad and the comfort of extended sessions with the Pro Controller and its suitability to genres like the FPS, but so far Wii U is equipped with controllers at least to accommodate both casual and core with equal competence.
