Why the Wii U Is Finally Worth It: Games Deserving Of Your Time

We here at SuperPhillip Central have been enjoying the Wii U for a while now. That said, it's safe to say that the system wasn't for everyone at its launch, and for almost a year it has had releases few and far in-between. Not only did this lead to poor sales, but so did (and does) the confusion among consumers on what the Wii U actually is. However, now the system and its manufacturer are starting to get some semblance of momentum with a fall and holiday season that is packed with some killer titles.

Much like Sony's PlayStation Vita has come into its own game-wise, Nintendo's Wii U has finally reached a point where there are plenty of games out that make the system a worthy purchase. The recent North American price drop and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD bundle make a once-easy-to-ignore system all the more harder to look past. Of course, you could very well see this list of games and prefer more Western-oriented content, which the Wii U lacks when compared to other platforms. That said, the purpose of this article is to perhaps sway those of you still undecided on whether or not the Wii U is right for you. If the following list of released and upcoming retail games does nothing for you, then perhaps your taste in gaming could be broadened a little bit.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD

Back when the GameCube original was debuted in trailer form, many criticized the more toon-like art style, disappointed that the more realistic aesthetic shown during a past Spaceworld event wasn't the one displayed for the new Zelda. Now, we're ten years since The Wind Waker's original release, and most of the Zelda fandom has ended up really enjoying the game, and specifically the art style. It absolutely comes to life in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, offering high-def visuals, updates to help the experience feel less tedious, and an overhaul to the infamous Triforce Quest.

Pikmin 3

We sort of shake our heads when some folks say that they can't tell a difference between the graphics of Pikmin 2 and Pikmin 3. Yes, there are some people who say such a bizarre thing. Pikmin 3 might not be the most gorgeous game alive, but it really has subtle touches that make it a beaut to look at. Shigeru Miyamoto and the team behind the game crafted a splendid adventure, where solving environmental puzzles with your Pikmin posse was how to progress through the game, to collect more and more fruit. The added mission and bingo battle modes added even more variety to this rich and hardy game.

Nintendo Land

The term "mini-game collection" evokes a lot of negative connotations for a fair chunk of gamers. However, Nintendo Land goes above and beyond the simple "mini-game collection" by bringing players of the game twelve unique attractions, some deeper than others. Nintendo Land is still a popular title within the ranks of SuperPhillip Central, perfect for pulling out for parties or any other type of get-together. Each attraction has multiple stamps to collect through performing certain goals. Collecting all of these will take players quite a long time, as will gathering all of the objects around the Nintendo Land plaza. If you are a fan of Nintendo and their franchises or want a multiplayer game to enjoy with family and friends, Nintendo Land is the game to get.

New Super Mario Bros. U

Many criticize the New Super Mario Bros. series for playing it too safe-- for not reinventing the wheel (or taking steps to) with each iteration. With New Super Mario Bros. U, Nintendo has created a series of levels that rival some of their best efforts ever. No, the game does not amaze with its visuals, but with its tried and true gameplay it allows players of all skill levels plenty of excitement. The new challenge mode and boost mode concoct a different experience than what fans of 2D Mario have seen in the past-- tougher objectives with challenge mode and beginner-friendly assisting with boost mode.

New Super Luigi U

New Super Luigi U is like the Lost Levels of New Super Mario Bros. U, if that analogy makes any sense. (It should to most Mario fans). Luigi's game, seen in both retail and digital forms, implements a whole new set of much more challenging levels. Sure, they're shorter, but they contain no checkpoints. You also seldom get much of a chance to explore, as that timer always begins at 100 seconds. New Super Luigi U doesn't just serve the hardest of the hardcore either. The playable Nabbit character allows beginners to join in on the fun, seeing as the character cannot get hit by enemies. If you're looking for more challenge in your 2D Mario games, New Super Luigi U is a must.

LEGO City Undercover

One of our favorite Wii U titles at SuperPhillip Central, LEGO City Undercover features one of the most enjoyable open worlds we've ever encountered. There's no space wasted in the city, offering an abundance of things to do and things to collect. LEGO City is absolutely dense with content. The humor of the game appeals to all audiences, with some jokes and references that will go over the heads of the younger age set. Awful initial loading times aside, LEGO City Undercover brings an open world game to the Wii U that is charming and brimming with personality.

The Wonderful 101

Hideki Kamiya and the fine folks at Platinum Games teamed up with Nintendo to create two titles. The first of which is The Wonderful 101. The game allows you to take control of an ever-increasing number of heroes as they take on an alien menace. Through drawing symbols on the GamePad touch screen or utilizing the right analog stick, you can use special abilities to take down enemies and solve puzzles. The Wonderful 101 is packed with activities to do, things to collect, and pure platinum rankings to achieve on all levels on all difficulties. It's not a game for the faint of heart... or hands, for that matter. Underneath its colorful exterior is a game that will kick your wannabe superhero butt from here to Blossom City.

Rayman Legends

The Wii U has actually seen a fair amount of definitive versions of third-party multiplatform titles. No, it's not because of power differences between the Wii U and 7-8 year-old consoles. It's because of the features included. The Wii U version of Rayman Legends ingeniously uses the Wii U GamePad in certain levels to control a helper character, raising platforms, lowering spikes, cutting ropes, and removing things from the player's path. It's just not the same experience on other platforms (except Vita, but that version currently lacks Invasion levels and it is difficult to set up multiplayer, where Legends shines brightly). Rayman Legends isn't just a great platformer-- it's one of the best in recent memory.

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

This next game many players have a love-hate relationship with. Some absolutely adore it when it clicks, but with others the game never does, making them to quit, muttering about broken controls. However, a Monster Hunter faithful will tell you that the controls are made that way to force players to think before they act. Simply going at a monster all willy-nilly (that's the technical term for it, don't you know) will get you nowhere fast. It's about sizing up a monster, picking up on their patterns, and unleashing the wrath of God on them. The online community is still going strong, and many folks will help out beginner players to help them learn the ropes.

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed

A third-party success story on the Wii U, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed sold best on Nintendo's system, a quarter of all sales were for the Wii U version. That's darn impressive considering the difference in user base between the Wii U and the already established Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC communities. While the game does have its soft spots (glitches and hard-to-see turns at times), Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is a terrific kart racer that rivals Mario's recent racing efforts.

ZombiU

From a third-party success story to a tale of woe, ZombiU was Ubisoft's big exclusive for the Wii U. Unfortunately, the audience for a zombie game just wasn't there. Plus, Gamespot breaking the review embargo to post a negative review that was more of a reflection on the reviewer's skill/intelligence than the overall game didn't help matters either. Regardless, ZombiU is not really a first-person shooter. It's pure survival-horror. It's also pretty freaking scary. We don't play ZombiU with the lights off, and if we ever would, we would have a nightlight on at the very least. The game implemented the Wii U controller in some clever ways-- a scanner, a backpack (forcing players to move inventory in real time), and a keypad.

Batman: Arkham City - Armored Edition

The majority of gamers would probably pass on Batman: Arkham City - Armored Edition despite it being the definitive version of Arkham City. They've already played the game to completion on other platforms. Why play through the game again? We actually wanted to replay the game, and a cheap Wii U version (price-wise, not quality-wise) made our decision simple. We cannot stress how great it is to have a map on the Wii U GamePad so we don't have to constantly pause and unpause the game. Arkham City - Armored Edition utilized the GamePad well, and it offers all of the DLC content on the disc. However, unlike what Reggie Fils-Amie said, it pretty much IS the same game with the same content.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted U

We really never thought we would say "definitive version" for a Wii U multiplatform game, much more three times, but that's exactly what we're doing. Need for Speed: Most Wanted U was Criterion Games giving the Wii U special treatment and all of their effort and cunning. The end result is a game that is gorgeous to look at, fun to play, and offers GamePad functionality like changing the time of day, removing traffic, switching vehicles on the fly, and other cool tricks. It's a shame EA's support hinged on multiple poor ports and this late port, as it's painfully obvious that they never wanted to give the Wii U a chance.

- What's Coming Next -

Sonic: Lost World

Sonic seems to sell really well on Nintendo systems. We're hoping that trend continues with Sonic: Lost World. The game is receiving a Nintendo 3DS version, but they have totally different level designs and developers, so it's almost too tempting to double dip. The Super Mario Galaxy inspiration is pretty apparent, but what better game to draw ideas from than one of the greatest games of all time?

Super Mario 3D World

We can't really say much about Super Mario 3D World regarding whether or not it's a "rehashed" game (we hate that word). We've only seen one demo, and the game is due out in two months. However, multiplayer 3D Mario is something we don't want to miss out on. Super Mario 3D Land on the Nintendo 3DS is one of our most loved games for the system, so it's no wonder why we are optimistic for the Wii U sequel.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Retro Studios knows how to deliver a capable, competent and satisfying platformer, if Donkey Kong Country Returns is anything to go by. Perhaps we're being too reserved with our accolades. Retro Studios knows how to deliver a superbly satisfying, incredibly capable, and overall near perfect platformer. This alone makes us truly hyped for the next adventure with DK and the gang. With the return of Dixie Kong and more dynamic levels, Tropical Freeze will surely heat up our December.

Mario Kart 8

One of the most visually impressive Wii U games won't be released until spring of next year. We can wait, but our excitement might not be able to! Mario Kart 8 brings anti-gravity into the mix, allowing racers to speed off walls, ceilings and traditional floors (if you want to be THAT guy) as they speed to the checkered flag. The demo we played was absolutely impressive and got our pulses racing as fast as Mario, Luigi and the rest of the field. We simply cannot wait for the eighth mainline Mario Kart.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Despite having pain in his hand, Masahiro Sakurai continues to be hard at work on not one but two Super Smash Bros. games, along with his talented team. Every weekday he updates the Super Smash Bros. site with a new screenshot. This drip-feeding of information is tiding us over while we wait for the final product to release-- or at least the next demonstration...

Bayonetta 2

If The Wonderful 101 is anything to go by, Bayonetta 2 will start the action at high levels and only go higher from there. From fighting on a roaring jet to scrambling up a skyscraper, Bayonetta 2 is the game that spawned countless death threats, embarrassing reactions, and "Nintendo is stealing our games!" rhetoric. ...Now, we're depressed about gaming culture again.

X

After playing Xenoblade Chronicles we are ready to play anything and everything that Monolith Soft has to share with the gaming world. Their upcoming 2014 title (currently given the code name of X) features humongous mechs roaming across beautiful landscapes and battling colossal creatures. The Wii U doesn't have anything in the way of original RPGs on the system, so perhaps X is the start of a trend.

Other Games to Look Out For:

Watch_Dogs
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Call of Duty: Ghosts
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Wi-- we don't know what it's called. Come up with shorter names, please.
Batman: Arkham Origins
Skylanders Swap Force
Wii Party U
Wii Fit U
Yarn Yoshi (tentative title)
Project CARS

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGM - Fall Into Autumn Edition

We're not dead, but SuperPhillip Central has been less busy as of late. Real life takes precedence over the internet any day. However, there is plenty of new content that will be forthcoming, such as new reviews, interviews, and editorials. We thank you for your understanding. Now, as it is mandatory for Mondays, we have five more video game music tracks to share with you. From pinatas to plump plumbers, this edition of the VGM has got you covered.

v466. Viva Pinata (360) - Day 6

Viva Pinata is one of Rare's best post-Nintendo titles. It oozes with the studio's charm, and it is simply a great game. Getting pinatas to visit your garden through various methods of coaxing, defending your prized pinatas from unimaginable horrors, and making sure all of your friends get along with one another were all parts of this magnificently creative game. Here's hoping Microsoft allows Rare some wiggle room to create an Xbox One sequel to diversify the shooter-heavy lineup.

v467. Mega Man: Powered Up (PSP) - Cut Man

If there was any justice in the world, then the next two games being represented on SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGM would have sold better. Instead, these remakes failed to sell well, and ended up killing any chance of seeing other alike remakes. We so wanted Mega Man: Powered Up 2 to happen! Still, we're happy we at least got to replay the original Mega Man and Mega Man X with polygonal graphics, updated levels and content, and impressive music.

v468. Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X (PSP) - Sigma Palace Stage 1

Mega Man: Powered Up added a ton of content, but Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X wasn't too shabby in that regard either. Comparing the two it's no contest. Regardless, Maverick Hunter X changed where the location of the dash capsule upgrade was, remixed the later stages of the game, and added a Vile mode. Like Powered Up, the music was also redone to great effect. While it's not as good as the SNES original, Maverick Hunter X's music isn't half bad.

v469. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity (3DS) - Hazy Pass

Roguelikes are for the hardest of the hardcore, but the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games give the genre a beginner friendly touch. Gates to Infinity released this past March in North America, and it's a rather meaty game. The soundtrack is particularly lovely, but it's hard for us to remember a Pokemon game-- spin-off or not-- that had bad music for the majority of its music. Hazy Pass' pan flute gives this track a rustic, earthly feeling-- perfect for exploring the rocky innards of the area it plays in.

v470. Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (GB) - Overworld

We like 8-bit soundtracks, as they really show how good a composer is at working with bare minimum. Perhaps it's more difficult to create compelling music for an 8-bit system's sound card than for a system nowadays because of all of the technical limitations. It's very easy to create a mess of a composition that sounds absolutely horrid. Wario Land has some nice music, and we've chosen one of the main themes heard in most levels of the game to represent this 8-bit classic.

Forever Not Alone: Let's Not Forget About Local Multiplayer, Devs!

As someone who grew up in the 8-bit and then 16-bit eras, there was nothing BUT local multiplayer to be had. I just thank goodness that I had an older brother and friends to play games with like Super Mario Bros. 3, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game, Double Dragon, Super Mario Kart, Tetris Attack, and so on and so forth.

Now, it seems in a world of information cycling all corners of the earth rapidly, home console games have been proudly trumpeting online multiplayer, even completely forgoing anything for us local fans. Now, don't get me wrong-- I do enjoy occasionally hopping online and playing against total strangers and friends. It certainly has its place, especially for those without gaming buddies and family members to play locally with. However, the difference is that when I'm called a homophobic slur by someone in a local multiplayer setting, I can drop the controller and beat on them until they apologize. This isn't so online, where anonymity breeds insensitive players, bigots, and the slime of humanity.

This is one reason why I preferred the Wii this past generation (though every platform this generation was worthwhile to me). It not only had a great variety of big, medium, and small tier titles, but it also had a veritable smorgasbord of local multiplayer offerings. While the other consoles flexed their online multiplayer muscle to impressive lengths, Nintendo seemed to go kicking and screaming to deliver online multiplayer to their games. Even still, the company's focus was mostly on building entertaining and compelling experiences through direct social interactions. Games such as Wii Sports, Wii Sports Resort, Wii Play, Wii Party, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Mario Kart Wii, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Kirby's Epic Yarn, Kirby's Return to Dream Land, and Rayman Origins (though this was a multi-platform title) all delivered incredible multiplayer experiences that were best played intimately with a group full of friends and/or family members.

It seems Nintendo's focus on local multiplayer is continuing with the Wii U, with games like Nintendo Land (especially this one), New Super Mario Bros. U, Game & Wario, Pikmin 3, Super Mario 3D World, and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze all having local multiplayer only. While it's not encouraging for those who enjoy online gaming (even I have grown attached to wanting to see as many games incorporate an online multiplayer component), it's still nice that at least one console manufacturer, publisher and developer is not forgetting about those of us who'd like to enjoy our games face-to-face with company. I'd love to see that more with the other next generation consoles: developers who still dedicate time to investing in local multiplayer for their games. It need not replace online-- it just needs to be an option.

Perhaps that's a reason why I am not very into the first-person shooter genre much anymore. Many of the most popular shooters lack a proper local multiplayer equivalent. I love running, gunning, smack-talking, and laughing with people in the same room. It's the kind of fun feeling that a headset and a mic just cannot replicate.

Those FPS games that do implement local multiplayer forget something that even a game from 2000 possessed, and is still one of the greatest examples of-- bots. Bots are a terrific way of getting me into a shooter's multiplayer component. If you are unfamiliar with a bot is, it's merely a player controlled by the AI of the game. No need for extra human players. You can enjoy the multiplayer mode by yourself, if you so desire.

The game I referred to from 2000 is none other than my favorite first-person shooter still to this day, Perfect Dark on the Nintendo 64. Rare was sensationally ahead of their time with this game. Their last FPS effort, the revolutionary GoldenEye 007, made FPS games seem much more feasible and popular on home consoles, leading the charge of developers shifting focus from the PC to consoles like the N64 and PlayStation. However, GoldenEye 007 lacked bots.

In Perfect Dark, not only were there different bot difficulty settings, but there were a plentiful amount of bot personalities to attach to each simulant (as the game referred to bots as). For instance, one simulant could go after the player that killed them last, a simulant could always go after the player in last place, or a simulant could be a pacifist, only using its fists to take down its opponent. It astounds me, in all honesty, that this approach to bots hasn't been taking up by more games.

Even Perfect Dark Zero did not have simulant personalities; instead the game simply had bots with easy to hard difficulties. Still, I was happy to have bots to play around with, to learn each map and discover the best strategies for each area for when I decided to finally hop online (and realize I still sucked compared to so many other players). These reasons are why I love games that have AI opponents in the multiplayer, and this is one reason why Killzone: Shadow Fall appeals to me as much as it does. We don't have to have either online or local multiplayer-- we can have both!

This is my urge to publishers and developers. There's still plenty of gamers out there who enjoy a more intimate gaming experience. Of course, making a local multiplayer part to a game isn't some simple thing where you get guys from a room with a "programmers" sign on the door and ask them to quickly and cheaply thrown in some stuff for gamers like me. It takes time and money from the development. I just think that for many, that time and money is still worth it. It continues to make gaming a social thing, instead of simply being in a dark room with only a TV, game console, controller, and headset to chat with anonymous and friendly voices alike (cliche example, I know).

It is these social interactions-- these local multiplayer interactions-- that bring us closer together as gamers. It allows us to play our games our way. It gives us the chance to practice without blindly hopping online and being called a "n00b" because we don't quite have the multiplayer experience to go toe-to-toe with those who have been playing for months. I think there will always be a place for local multiplayer in gaming, and the more titles that include such features, the better and more balanced our hobby will be.

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGM - Is There A Big Game Coming Out Soon Or Something? Edition

Seriously. What's coming out tomorrow? Nothing big, right? We have no clue, but the internet and gaming community are both in uproars. Maybe we aren't that knowledgeable on gaming after all. In all seriousness, if you can tone down your hype for Grand Theft Auto V (if you even have any), we have our weekly lineup of five video game songs to share. There's Mario, Sonic, and even some F-Zero X to have some fun with! Let's get started!

v461. F-Zero X: Expansion Kit (64DD) - Rainbow Road

F-Zero X: Expansion Kit was a release that only occurred in Japan. In fact, the 64DD, an add-on to the Nintendo 64, only released in Japan as well. That's a shame, too, because as kids we remember thumbing through an old Nintendo Power and seeing coverage of this game, totally hyping us up. We had dreams of creating our own tracks, something the Expansion Kit possessed. Mario Kart 64's Rainbow Road made an appearance in the vanilla F-Zero X, but this theme only showed up in the Expansion Kit version.

v462. Mario Sports Mix (Wii) - Koopa Troopa Beach

While we approach the official end of summer in North America, we have Koopa Troopa Beach to listen to from Mario Sports Mix. The game was based off the foundation of the Nintendo DS's Mario Hoops 3-on-3, but it was much more improved and offered three other sports.

v463. Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (3DS) - Never Let Up!

Yoko Shimomura is some kind of musical goddess. Her work with the majority of Mario RPG games is hard to top. This boss theme from Mario & Luigi: Dream Team starts out very uptempo, but then it gets decidedly darker, shifting to a minor key. It's a terrific song to battle the baddies on Pi'illo Island.

v464. Sonic Rush (DS) - Raisin' Me Up

Dimps did well on the Game Boy Advance with their trio of Sonic Advance titles. Shifting to the Nintendo DS, they had extra real estate to work with in the form of a second screen. They utilized both to create levels that stretched to both screens. The composer from Jet Set Radio used his skills to create the fantastic soundtrack for Sonic Rush. This ending theme is inspirational and just darn catchy.

v465. Project X Zone (3DS) - Wanderer Road

Project X Zone was a game that many thought would not release in the West (us included). To our surprise it did. However, the actual game wasn't the most exciting one ever devised. For every cool character that would join your squad, there was a tedious and repetitive chapter to wade through. Wanderer Road is the theme of the two main characters of the game, characters who were made specifically for the game.