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[QuantumZebra]

Fixed.

I mean yeah, PS4 can really give it a run for its money this year alone, but for how good the Wii U library was, you'd have expected the console to do a little better than it did. It's a damn shame really.

But it's more than just the official library as OP pointed out. Full Wii BC means the largest official retro emulator is built in to the thing. And if you want to go just slightly unofficial, you can add Gamecube games and turn the Wii U into the quintessential Nintendo history machine with very little effort. All with off-tv play included. It's a pretty special console that will go heartbreakingly under-appreciated. There's still a lot of untapped potential in it that Nintendo is leaving behind, but hopefully the Switch can end up in an even better place.

Pretty much.


I'm not saying it's a marvel of modern technology - but the sheer possibilities with the Wii U surpass any other console ever made.

With a bit of elbow grease you can have almost every damn highlight of Nintendo's existence in gaming on ONE system... that is beyond awesome. That is what I meant in the OP.

 

[Mega]

Most of the arguments point to Nintendo being a stellar software developer (which they are), instead of being a good hardware developer (which they are not). Good I wish Sony would sign a deal with them to port their games to PS4.

By your logic, wouldn't it make more sense for Nintendo and Sony to port their games to Xbox Scorpio? Microsoft will now have the better console hardware.

 

[Synth]

By your logic, wouldn't it make more sense for Nintendo and Sony to port their games to Xbox Scorpio? Microsoft will now have the better console hardware.

And then it'd make more sense if they all just put everything on PC.

 

[Glass Shark]

By your logic, wouldn't it make more sense for Nintendo and Sony to port their games to Xbox Scorpio? Microsoft will now have the better console hardware.

We've officially gone off the deep end

 

[Gator86]

I actually put it slightly above the PS4 library-wise (they're almost even in my opinion).

The PS4, as of today, has 362 good or better rated games on Metacritic. The WiiU, as of the same date, has 99 despite being out a year earlier and also being a dead platform. Yup, those numbers are basically the same.

"It's not about quantity, it's about quality!" The WiiU has 8 games 90 or above whereas the PS4 has 18.

But yeah, things 2-4x more than another thing are basically equal. Commence Metacritic thuthering.

 

[dmcAxle]

It has some of the strongest first parties Nintendo has ever made in my opinion. I think in that sense the (nintendo) library rivals the Gamecube and it has better games than the Wii. The main problem is the number of amazing games can be counted on two hands, but the quality of those games makes up for it. Not trying to put it against any other consoles with this statement, as it's just Nintendo games vs Nintendo games.

 

[IISANDERII]

I'm sure most people saw that headline and immediately became confused and disoriented, but hear me out:

1. The Wii U has arguably the best/most accessible first party titles ever: NSMB Wii U, MK8, SSMB4, SM3DW, Mario Maker, WWHD, TPHD, BotW, etc... With the exception of Mario Kart 8's battle mode, all of those are roughly equal if not arguably better than their heralded predecessors (Mario Kart SNES, Melee, Super Mario World, etc..).

2. The (second?/third) party titles are absolutely impeccable: Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze (Greatest platformer of all time), Bayonetta 1/2 (greatest action game(s) ever made), Xenoblade Chronicles X (hoooly shit), Wonderful 101, Splatoon, Pikmin 3, Starfox Zero (it was good!), Hyrule Warriors, etc...

3. The virtual console (while much lamented) is still pretty damn awesome. I was playing A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time (switching back and forth using restores) on the gamepad, while using my TV for movies and other stuff.

4. Backwards compatibility with the entire Wii library (which also bleeds into some Gamecube games). I get the Metroid Prime Trilogy, Xenoblade Chronicles, The Last Story, Super Mario Galaxy 1/2, etc, etc...

5. UI - yes I know it is barebones and simplistic, but it gets the job done and even my 3 year old daughter knows how to navigate the system. And dat internet browser... so good.

--

I know a lot of people like to bag on the Wii U, and its' launch and marketing was abysmal, but the system is so good.

I can't justify purchasing a Switch until at least Xenoblade Chronicles 2 drops, simply because of how amazing the Wii U is and how much mileage I still get out of it.



Please understand, the Wii U is awesome.

--

Edit: Yes I understand for third party gaming it is "barren" - but for a Nintendo gaming console it is pure bliss. I would always recommend a secondary gaming machine with it, ala PC or PS4, but I would do that with almost any platform.

Edit 2: TL;DR: The Wii U is Nintendo's Dreamcast

All those acronyms! Am I supposed to know what they are? I used to be a big Nintendo fan until the Gamecube days

 

[Dynasty8]

And then it'd make more sense if they all just put everything on PC.

That would be a dream come true for me.

No more limited hardware. No more divided friends list. No more being forced to play with a certain controller. No more paying for online.

I don't own a PC, but I own all three consoles and would totally be in favor of this. (Let competition run wild through software, because PC has and will always be superior.

 

[Synth]

That would be a dream come true for me.

No more limited hardware. No more divided friends list. No more being forced to play with a certain controller. No more paying for online.

I don't own a PC, but I own all three consoles and would totally be in favor of this. (Let competition run wild through software, because PC has and will always be superior.

Yea, the only problem though (and it's a pretty big one), is that many of the titles we'd want to be ported over, only really exist to differentiate the hardware itself.

 

[MrT-Tar]

Just bought this today (first time I've actually ever seen a copy in the flesh). £60 for a very good copy isn't cheap, but I've always regretted not buying a copy on launch back in 2015. How is the game? I've only ever played the Wii remake of Crimson Butterfly (which I loved), the US PSN versions of 1-3 are currently in my backlog unplayed.

Remaining WiiU software to buy:

Captain Toad
Pokken
Starfox Zero
Hyrule Warriors
New Super Luigi U
NES Remix
Super Mario Maker

 

[TheFuzz]

It was a great concept as far as hardware goes, but the Switch coming a few years later shows how dated the hardware itself was.

There are about 10-15 great games. That's it.

 

[Kudo]

It has some great games, sure, but everything else about it is rated as it is.
Comfort-wise I think the controller is great but blurry screen, slowest OS to date, really long updates really kill the console for me, but it's the games that matter the most so I'm having fun.

 

[Fiendcode]

Most of the arguments point to Nintendo being a stellar software developer (which they are), instead of being a good hardware developer (which they are not). Good I wish Sony would sign a deal with them to port their games to PS4.

Switch is a pretty excellent hardware design though. Relatively powerful, easy to develop on, sleek and desirable. Nintendo learns from their mistakes sometimes and it's not like Sony always bats it out of the park with architecture either (PS2, PS3, Vita).

 

[takriel]

This isn't about hardware, which is pretty abysmal in the Wii U, but about software, which is pretty good.

 

[TheChewyWaffles]

OP you posted two days late. The Wii U was garbage execution all around.

 

[nickgia]

The console itself is crap. The games are amazing.

 

[Screamapillar]

Most of the games OP mentions in #2 are all first-party. DK, Splatoon, Xenoblade, etc. All of those games were either partially or entirely made internally or at a wholly-owned studio.

 

[BibiMaghoo]

I really want to buy one, but the price is still stupid high. It is still only £30- £50 less than a switch, which is beyond stupid. I won't buy one pre-owned either. Nintendo please.

 

[Doc_Drop]

I really want to buy one, but the price is still stupid high. It is still only £30- £50 less than a switch, which is beyond stupid. I won't buy one pre-owned either. Nintendo please.

Why not buy preowned? saw one in CEX for 140 quid,I'm tempted mostly to be able to play Zelda. Nintendo don't want you have one so you may as well find other sellers who do

 

[MadJackChurchill]

Incredible line up. Gimmick I used almost every time I turned it on (remote play). Fun parties for all! So criminally underrated and underestimated.

 

[theaffection]

It was a great concept as far as hardware goes, but the Switch coming a few years later shows how dated the hardware itself was.

There are about 10-15 great games. That's it.

Thats it? 10-15 games is more then alot of other consoles past or present

 

[Tarextherex]

Thats it? 10-15 games is more then alot of other consoles past or present

Name any console made by Nintendo/Sony/Microsoft/Sega that has less than 10-15 great games

 

[E-flux]

Just bought this today (first time I've actually ever seen a copy in the flesh). £60 for a very good copy isn't cheap, but I've always regretted not buying a copy on launch back in 2015. How is the game? I've only ever played the Wii remake of Crimson Butterfly (which I loved), the US PSN versions of 1-3 are currently in my backlog unplayed.

I personally really like it, it suffers from a lack of polish but many of the stories in the game are really good. I also love the atmosphere of the hub, i have never seen a copy of that in the wild either, when i bought mine i had to travel to a difference province since the guy for some reason didn't want to mail the game. The trip was well worth it in my opinion.

 

[Exodust]

By far Nintendo's worst console. Only two games I can say were legitimately worth buying the system for(BotW and Bayonetta 2). First console I regretted buying since the 3DO.

it has some of the strongest software of any console ever

No.It.Doesn't.

EDIT: Not worth it, just don't think a handful of good games where two were brilliant makes it some of the strongest software of any console ever.

 

[Fiendcode]

Name any console made by Nintendo/Sony/Microsoft/Sega that has less than 10-15 great games

SG-1000 and Virtual Boy.

 

[Boss Man]

While I disagree, I will say thay the Wii U will likely end up holding a more permanent spot under my TV than any game console before it.

In addition to having a lot of great looking HD Nintendo games along with their ability to entertain groups, it also has full Wii backwards compatibility and motion controls. I suspect that it'll serve its purpose for a long time.

Breath of the Wild being the best game I've ever played certainly doesn't hurt my final opinion of the Wii U either.


IMO, they made a huge mistake with the Gamepad and not calling it Super Wii and treating it as such. In fact, I think there's still a great big market for that but it'll only shrink over time. They missed the big wave.

 

[Okami Haundo]

I looked through OP and found exactly the conclusion that I expected. Wii-U has some great software, but software + hardware make the console for me. I can't agree in good faith when the Gamepad felt so half-baked.

On the other hand, Switch is on the fast track to become my favorite console of all time. Hardware is already there for me, but they just need to keep up the pace with the software.

 

[Shahed]

There's just not a lot that interests me on it. Nintendo just don't tend to make many of the types of games I like to play. The only game I'd want to play on Wii U are Zelda BotW, Zelda Wind Waker HD... And Zelda twilight Princess HD. I've played BotW on Switch, so it's just 2 remasters of games I've played before. I suppose Xenoblade X and Tokyo Mirage Session are games I'd consider playing if I had a Wii U, but don't so I'm not really fussed

It's kind of the same issue I have with Switch. Breath of the Wild was awesome, but now that I've played it there's little reason for me to care about buying the Switch for the foreseeable future

 

[Version 3.0]

SG-1000 and Virtual Boy.

True, but when these come up in the conversation, it's kind of a red flag that we're not talking about "one of the best consoles ever".

Let's list some more console that the Wii U is definitely better than:

Atari 7800
Philips CD-i
Atari Jaguar
Fairchild Channel F
3DO Multiplayer
Bally Astrocade
Apple Bandai Pippen
FM Towns Marty

Plenty more where those came from.

 

[i-Jest]

And then it'd make more sense if they all just put everything on PC.

Why stop there. We need better VR tech and apps to give it more life blood.

 

[Lorcain]

I've seen it mentioned a few times in this thread that the WiiU gamepad = the Switch for "off tv" play. My family and I put a lot of fun hours into our WiiU, but the gamepad screen is nowhere near the quality of the Switch display...not even close. Also, the off tv range was pretty short in my house. One room away and it wouldn't work.

As others have already said, the WiiU has some great games, but I would never argue that the hardware was good.

 

[PolarBucs]

Bought a Wii U Summer 2016 and it strikes me as an extremely underrated console. This may be because I didn't have to suffer through the game droughts like early adopters, but nonetheless, I'd recommend people buy one even today especially if you can find a cheap one.

I also disagree about the gamepad. It's remarkably comfortable given the size of it, and much more comfortable than using a Nintendo Switch in portable mode (which I rarely hear people complain about). I use it over the pro controller even though I have both. Off TV play on the gamepad is the same reason I like the Switch -- can hang out with significant other and play a console-quality game without dominating the TV as with a PS4 or XBONE.

 

[Shadowhelper]

It was a turd with some great games. That tablet was seriously a piece of shit. Like the touch screen capability of that thing was an absolute joke. And we all have really nice touch screens in our pockets so I don't know what they were thinking when they did that. It was also some cheap ass TN panel type thing. The tablet was hideous piece of tech that seemed like it from an era 20 years previous.

I hope Nintendo stop being cowards and start releasing those WiiU games on the Switch. Still waiting for a 2d Mario, could do with NSMBU on the Switch. That would be very appreciated.

 

[Arc Christelle]

2 years too late for this post.

 

[primasaurus]

It is a great system with some of the best games, a lot of those games would sell really well on the Switch today

 

[FaustusMD]

Nintendo happened into one of their best games ever with the Wii U (Mario Maker) but if you ask me, they failed that game with how they handled it post-launch. That's of course without going into the 3DS abomination.

I always want to hand it to Nintendo, and there are some big hits on the Wii U, but many of those are going to end up on the Switch in some form. Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8, and Splatoon (2) are better on the Switch—if we do indeed get a new Mario Maker on it, then I won't go back to my Wii U pretty much ever I guess. The Switch is the natural evolution of the Wii U and it owes that much to its predecessor, but not so much that I would put on rose tinted glasses for it, personally.

 

[Sami+]

That 4 month bump tho let's goooooooo

Wii U sucks but the games are good 🤙

 

[zenspider]

In retrospect Wii U has a great library, but it's way too soon to remove it from the context of it's time.

Some real gems like Mario Maker, TMS#FE, Bayonetta 2, Wii Sports Club and W101; some oddball titles I really enjoyed like Devil's Third and Starfox Zero; some of my all-time favorites like Super Mario 3D World, Splatoon, and Xenoblade Chronicles X.

Save the last two and Mario Maker, I would have rather played them on another system. The hardware was cumbersome and the experience was awful.

 

[……forgetit]

It had good games but the actual console was a mess, Nintendo themselves have basically admitted that they had no idea what they were doing. Very few games take advantage of the consoles features and Nintendo themselves failed at justifying the mostly useless, expensive controller. Couple that with their bad launch and major branding issues and you have a recipe for disaster.

Again, the games were good, but the hardware was so bad that it deserved to die.

"The games were good but the hardware was ass." I'm sure everyone who uttered this owned a PS1 or PS2.

I've owned neither but you really can't compare the two situations. The PS2 was the weakest of it's generation, but that's the only thing it didn't have, it was still very forward thinking in how it could be used as a multimedia device and it was marketed well. Also it's hardware was at least comparable to the competition. The Wii U launched at a point where it was more expensive than both competitors consoles with comparable hardware. Also, though it was more powerful, it was much harder to develop for. On top of that the PS4 and Xbox One launched the next year.

Bad hardware doesn't just mean under powered.

 

[Renna Hazel]

Wii U had the best games of it's generation but it still falls short compared to most other Nintendo offerings. It stood out to me mostly because this gen was pretty weak. PS4 will probably surpass it though, has plenty of life left in it.

 

[Machina]

OP is nuts. Wii U and its namesake were both some of the worst the industry has ever seen, and easily Nintendo's worst. And before anyone starts quoting the Wii's sales, just because Wii Sports was popular down at the local nursing home, doesn't make it a good console

 

[Arc Christelle]

"The games were good but the hardware was ass." I'm sure everyone who uttered this owned a PS1 or PS2.

 

[Sega Saturn]

No it's not.

 

[rokkerkory]

Compared to past Nintendo consoles, it's really not

 

[dab0ne]

I Love it!

Spoiler

because I only paid $60

Edit:
But seriously the games are good and my kids absolutely love it. Definitely a console with good games.

 

[PeakPointMatrix]

Make no mistake, no one will argue that the *games* aren't fantastic. They're great.

The *console* however is a disastrous aberration. Underpowered, atrociously designed, slow cumbersome unintuitive UI, clunky underused worthless gamepad, horrific save and HDD management and that's just the tip of the iceburg. It was ill-concieved an all fronts and easily holds second place behind the Virtual Boy as one of the worse pieces of hardware Nintendo's ever released.

I consider the amazing games released on it a hostage situation and will cherish the day that they are all ported over to any other hardware. Again, the games are great, it's the hardware people loathe; it's beyond abysmal.

 

[digdug2k]

Make no mistake, no one will argue that the *games* aren't fantastic. They're great.

The *console* however is a disastrous aberration. Underpowered, atrociously designed, slow cumbersome unintuitive UI, clunky underused worthless gamepad, horrific save and HDD management and that's just the tip of the iceburg. It was ill-concieved an all fronts and easily holds second place behind the Virtual Boy as one of the worse pieces of hardware Nintendo's ever released.

I consider the amazing games released on it a hostage situation and will cherish the day that they are all ported over to any other hardware. Again, the games are great, it's the hardware people loathe; it's beyond abysmal.

Like, I get that the wiius is is "slow". Boot time is too long for basically every console on the planet right now. But how the hell is it clunky or unintuitive. It's icons. You tap them. It isn't even covered in ads like it's competitors. Just apps. You tap.

 

[Neith]

The console itself is garbage. I don't even know why people want to start arguing this. The games now are pretty damn good for what they are. There are not that many games though.

What is there looks amazing in 4K on Cemu that much is for sure. But the console? Please. It's a third rate trash bin piece of tech. Nintendo will always make great games.

It's just the truth that the only way I will play the Wii U games from now on is with my DS4 on Cemu. And it is glorious. Or will be glorious lol. I'm still waiting for Cemu to become more mature before I start anything beyond Mario Kart 8.

 

[ShadowFox08]

No its not one of the best consoles made. The CPU was embarrasingingly inferior to last generation.

It does have a lot of quality titles though

 

[Q8D3vil]

It was trash tier console.
It was so bad my friend offered if anyone want to take it and nobody bothered.