Wii U review: Gone, but not forgotten

Games

Of course, a console is nothing without a great library of games to play, and until last year the Wii U had been struggling to make much of an impact in this department. Thankfully, the Wii U had a bumper crop of games over Christmas, filling its ranks with even more must-have titles. We have a full list of all the best Wii U games you should buy to go with your new console, but the games we’ve listed below are some of the system’s highlights.

Mario Kart 8 leads the pack of “must-own” games on Wii U, as this is by far the best entry in the Mario Kart series to date. Not only does it look stunning, but it also features some of the greatest tracks ever made. You’ll regularly want to stop and admire the sheer visual feast that’s going on around you, but sadly those grand prix won’t win themselves. The game also supports Nintendo’s amiibo figures, which unlock character-themed costumes for your Mii, and the latest update introduces a series-first ultra-fast 200c racing mode.

^ Mario Kart 8’s anti-gravity sections are truly mind-blowingly beautiful

More adult-minded Wii U owners should definitely pick up the action-packed Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 double-disc pack as well. Created by PlatinumGames, Bayonetta was originally released on the Xbox 360 and PS3 in 2010, but now it’s been re-released alongside the Wii U exclusive Bayonetta 2 so Nintendo fans can play through the full saga. Both are incredibly fun to play and have some of the best, and most spectacular, fight scenes we’ve ever seen. Fans of Platinum’s action titles should also play The Wonderful 101, a comic-book style brawler whose mad ideas need to be played to be believed.

For those that really want to get into the fighting spirit, Super Smash Bros for Wii U is another must-have title. While it features the same characters as the 3DS version, Smash on Wii U has its own set of stages, 8-player local battles and a whole host of multiplayer modes, event battles, and an even bigger soundtrack. Just like Mario Kart 8, Smash Bros is compatible with amiibo figures, too, which you can use as your own customisable fighters in-game. 

Your next port of call should be Super Mario 3D World. Following in the footsteps of the 3DS’s excellent Super Mario 3D Land, 3D World combines the 2D platforming found in the New Super Mario Bros. games with expansive 3D worlds similar to those in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario 64. It’s a joy from start to finish and there are so many ideas crammed in here that Nintendo couldn’t actually fit them all into the main story, as there’s almost another game’s worth of post-credits content ready and waiting after Bowser’s been defeated.

^ Super Mario 3D World features a host of new power-ups, including the Double Cherry which splits Mario in two

Rayman Legends is another excellent platformer, and one that we think actually utilises the Wii U’s unique features far more effectively than Mario. It’s an absolute master class in asymmetric gameplay (when two players have completely different experiences when playing the same game) and few other games cater so well for single and co-op play. Those looking for a real platforming challenge should also check out the excellent Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.

^ Rayman Legends’ multiplayer is riotous fun and the musical levels in particular are absolutely sublime

Other Nintendo essentials include Pikmin 3, a real-time strategy game that sees you take control of hundreds of tiny plant-like aliens to help ferry fruit back to your spaceship to save your starving home planet, and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, a gorgeous HD remake of the classic GameCube game.

Pikmin 3 actually shares most of its DNA with its Wii predecessors, as the game’s controls are far more suited to the Wii Motion Plus Remote and Nunchuk than the GamePad. This might mean you’ll have to buy an extra Remote if you don’t have one already, but that shouldn’t detract from the game’s overall charm and character.

The Wind Waker HD is another breath-taking title that makes an already timeless game look even better than it did ten years ago. You play as Link who must sail across the Great Sea in search of the Triforce to help save Hyrule from the evil Ganondorf. It’s comparatively short compared to other Zelda games, and notably easier as well, but this HD version isn’t just a pretty face-lift. It’s also been refined to improve on the original’s faults, making it even more sublime to play.

Zelda fans should also take a look at Hyrule Warriors, which combines Zelda with the Dynasty Warriors series. It’s a mad idea on paper, but there’s simply nothing more satisfying than ripping through hordes of moblins with Link’s signature spin-attack, Zelda’s light magic, Impa’s huge samurai sword, or Sheik’s magical harp to name just a few of the many playable characters on offer. It’s combat is completely over the top compared to traditional Zelda games, but once you see all your favourite Zelda characters letting loose with their signature attacks, you’ll never want it to change.

Wii U eShop games

There’s also a fantastic selection of cheaper, downloadable eShop games on offer, too, including the excellent top-down shoot-’em-up platformer Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails. Despite being one of the most difficult games you’re ever likely to play, Scram Kitty’s satisfying mix of arcade bullet hell shooting and rock hard platforming is intensely addictive, ensuring players will keep coming back for more as they strive to save the world’s cats from their new mouse overlords.

There’s also the Mexican-infused Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition. Recently ported from PS3 and PC, this stylish action game features some of the most dextrous and ingenious platforming outside of Mario and the Donkey Kong Country series. The Wii U edition also features Off-TV Play and shows the entire map on the GamePad, making it easier to keep track of your progress and seeking out hidden passages as you punch, kick and uppercut your way through each level.

Other top platformers include the quirky Stick it to the Man, an entertaining puzzle platformer whose obsession with brains and mind-reading almost position it as a kind of spiritual successor to DoubleFine’s Psychonauts, the randomly-generated Cloudberry Kingdom and the high fantasy adventure Trine 2.

For RPG fans, Ubisoft’s Child of Light is a must-buy. Easily one of the most beautiful games ever made, this watercolour fairytale features an innovative take on the Active Time Battle system popularised by the Final Fantasy series and its twelve-hour running time also makes it one of the most substantial download titles currently available on the eShop. 

Verdict

The Wii U may not have the same ‘wow’ factor as the original Wii, but it still represents a matured take on home consoles that we haven’t seen from Nintendo before, both in its approach to online gaming and its hardware design. It’s the perfect blend of a home and handheld console, mixing power with portability while still retaining that unique Nintendo charm and all-important low price of entry.

It’s also a great budget option to the considerably more powerful and expensive PS4 and Xbox One, and its game library is really starting to come into its own, making it our go-to console for family-friendly fun.