The Software
Nintendo wants Wii U to be your main media console, but it’s still missing a lot of the video features that will make that possible. But even without them, the Wii U may still usurp your current media setup by adding a tablet to the mix.
From your GamePad you can surf the web, play a game while someone else watches TV, or watch a video on Netflix while your TV is off. For anyone without a tablet, this experience will be mindbogglingly awesome - and even for longtime tablet owners, it still feels incredibly smooth.
Wii U's user interface is similar to the Wii's. You have channels to navigate through on either your GamePad or HDTV screen, and the other screen displays the Wii U's new features, like Miiverse, Friend Lists, and more. The channels are clean and easy to navigate, especially with the GamePad, but you'll quickly find the loading screens can last anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds.
Those loading screens are a big concern, especially since some of the longest loading screens are the ones you'll use the most. Accessing the Wii U menu, for instance, often takes over 15 seconds, and there's absolutely nothing you can do while your console loads.
Miiverse is Nintendo's new Twitter/Facebook/Forum hybrid, in which you can "Yeah" people's posts, share doodles made on the GamePad with your Miiverse network (which is as addicting as it sounds), post screenshots, receive tips on how to beat hard bosses, and more. It's just one of the many things that's so intrinsically wonderful and Nintendo.
Internet features are a big part of the Wii U and a big step for Nintendo. But for every major accomplishment Nintendo has made on these fronts, small niggling annoyances abound.
Friends Lists and Miiverse requests are inconsistent and confusing. The eShop has navigation issues and is desperately in need of more hubs. The lack of dedicated voice chat means that games will have different setups and functionality, and is sure to be problematic for core gamers. Those core gamers will also find the Wii U Pro controller's lack of a headset jack to be patently absurd.
Then there's the weird, crippled solution of the Wii Menu - which requires your console to reboot to load a Wii menu. That Wii Menu is the only way to access old Wii content. Your old Wii content won't migrate into your Wii U channels; instead it lives in a separate dashboard, which requires your Wii U to completely reboot to display the old Wii interface. Wii Mode requires a paired Wii remote, looks ugly, and requires a long pause while your system reboots.
It reminded me of the lamentable "desktop" in Surface RT, which utilized a familiar façade to keep users from confusion, but ended up making the OS feel less integrated. And still, having it is better than nothing, but we still wish our Wii content would just integrate with our Wii U content without rebooting.
The good news is that once it loads, all your old Wii content will work, from purchases, to save files to channels (so long as you've transferred them using the Wii U's downloadable transfer tool). Wii games don't have GamePad functionality, and the Wii U doesn’t have GameCube controller ports, so you'll need to use Wii controllers.
Value
Is there ever a better value for a gamer than a new console? For the same price as many on-contract phones, you can get a console that will supply you with countless hours of entertainment.
When you factor in the accessories that are compatible, the Wii U is One of the most economical consoles to date. While the Wii launched for $50 less at $249, it also needed a whole slew of new controllers and accessories, which quickly ran that price up. With the Wii U, all of your Wii controllers will work.
Better yet, you can opt for the 8GB version and expand it with just about any external hard drives and SD cards. That means Nintendo isn't forcing you to buy the Deluxe Version.
You could manage just fine with the $300 version, although we definitely recommend spending the extra $50 if you can. The Deluxe Set comes with more storage, a charging cradle, Nintendo Land, and a savings program that will net you around $6 back for every full price game you purchase through the eShop.
The Verdict
Like most consoles at launch, Wii U is a mix of awesome new ideas and mediocre execution. This is Nintendo's first foray into HD, into true social offerings, into the dangerous business of internet communities, and for the most part it's been handled fairly well.
The Wii U's software speed bumps will likely be ironed out in future OS updates. The same can't be said for its hardware limitations - of which there are a few of note. The GamePad's mediocre battery and outlet charging needs, and maybe even the inordinately long loading screens are pain points you may just have to live with. Right now, the Wii U doesn't have any next-gen competition, but it will soon.
It's hard to compare the Wii U to hardware that hasn't even been announced yet, but if you're going to spend $350 on the Wii U, it's not a thought exercise without value. If horsepower is your main concern, you might choose to wait until next year when we'll doubtless see new, more powerful offerings from Sony and Microsoft.
But the odds that anyone else will release anything as innovative as the Wii U are unlikely. If you want something that'll offer absolutely one-of-a-kind gaming experiences, crazy same-TV multiplayer, and the ability to play next-gen games on a tablet, the Wii U is king.
Despite some growing pains, Nintendo has taken a huge step in the right direction. This is a console in its infancy, with lots of room to mature.
7.6 Good
The Wii U is truly unique. When the software is half as exciting as the hardware, it'll be a force to be reckoned with.
Nintendo wants Wii U to be your main media console, but it’s still missing a lot of the video features that will make that possible. But even without them, the Wii U may still usurp your current media setup by adding a tablet to the mix.
From your GamePad you can surf the web, play a game while someone else watches TV, or watch a video on Netflix while your TV is off. For anyone without a tablet, this experience will be mindbogglingly awesome - and even for longtime tablet owners, it still feels incredibly smooth.
Wii U's user interface is similar to the Wii's. You have channels to navigate through on either your GamePad or HDTV screen, and the other screen displays the Wii U's new features, like Miiverse, Friend Lists, and more. The channels are clean and easy to navigate, especially with the GamePad, but you'll quickly find the loading screens can last anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds.
Those loading screens are a big concern, especially since some of the longest loading screens are the ones you'll use the most. Accessing the Wii U menu, for instance, often takes over 15 seconds, and there's absolutely nothing you can do while your console loads.
Miiverse is Nintendo's new Twitter/Facebook/Forum hybrid, in which you can "Yeah" people's posts, share doodles made on the GamePad with your Miiverse network (which is as addicting as it sounds), post screenshots, receive tips on how to beat hard bosses, and more. It's just one of the many things that's so intrinsically wonderful and Nintendo.
Internet features are a big part of the Wii U and a big step for Nintendo. But for every major accomplishment Nintendo has made on these fronts, small niggling annoyances abound.
Friends Lists and Miiverse requests are inconsistent and confusing. The eShop has navigation issues and is desperately in need of more hubs. The lack of dedicated voice chat means that games will have different setups and functionality, and is sure to be problematic for core gamers. Those core gamers will also find the Wii U Pro controller's lack of a headset jack to be patently absurd.
Then there's the weird, crippled solution of the Wii Menu - which requires your console to reboot to load a Wii menu. That Wii Menu is the only way to access old Wii content. Your old Wii content won't migrate into your Wii U channels; instead it lives in a separate dashboard, which requires your Wii U to completely reboot to display the old Wii interface. Wii Mode requires a paired Wii remote, looks ugly, and requires a long pause while your system reboots.
It reminded me of the lamentable "desktop" in Surface RT, which utilized a familiar façade to keep users from confusion, but ended up making the OS feel less integrated. And still, having it is better than nothing, but we still wish our Wii content would just integrate with our Wii U content without rebooting.
The good news is that once it loads, all your old Wii content will work, from purchases, to save files to channels (so long as you've transferred them using the Wii U's downloadable transfer tool). Wii games don't have GamePad functionality, and the Wii U doesn’t have GameCube controller ports, so you'll need to use Wii controllers.
Value
Is there ever a better value for a gamer than a new console? For the same price as many on-contract phones, you can get a console that will supply you with countless hours of entertainment.
When you factor in the accessories that are compatible, the Wii U is One of the most economical consoles to date. While the Wii launched for $50 less at $249, it also needed a whole slew of new controllers and accessories, which quickly ran that price up. With the Wii U, all of your Wii controllers will work.
Better yet, you can opt for the 8GB version and expand it with just about any external hard drives and SD cards. That means Nintendo isn't forcing you to buy the Deluxe Version.
You could manage just fine with the $300 version, although we definitely recommend spending the extra $50 if you can. The Deluxe Set comes with more storage, a charging cradle, Nintendo Land, and a savings program that will net you around $6 back for every full price game you purchase through the eShop.
The Verdict
Like most consoles at launch, Wii U is a mix of awesome new ideas and mediocre execution. This is Nintendo's first foray into HD, into true social offerings, into the dangerous business of internet communities, and for the most part it's been handled fairly well.
The Wii U's software speed bumps will likely be ironed out in future OS updates. The same can't be said for its hardware limitations - of which there are a few of note. The GamePad's mediocre battery and outlet charging needs, and maybe even the inordinately long loading screens are pain points you may just have to live with. Right now, the Wii U doesn't have any next-gen competition, but it will soon.
It's hard to compare the Wii U to hardware that hasn't even been announced yet, but if you're going to spend $350 on the Wii U, it's not a thought exercise without value. If horsepower is your main concern, you might choose to wait until next year when we'll doubtless see new, more powerful offerings from Sony and Microsoft.
But the odds that anyone else will release anything as innovative as the Wii U are unlikely. If you want something that'll offer absolutely one-of-a-kind gaming experiences, crazy same-TV multiplayer, and the ability to play next-gen games on a tablet, the Wii U is king.
Despite some growing pains, Nintendo has taken a huge step in the right direction. This is a console in its infancy, with lots of room to mature.
7.6 Good
The Wii U is truly unique. When the software is half as exciting as the hardware, it'll be a force to be reckoned with.
