In Video: The Wii U In Action At E3 2011
In an E3 that has largely been defined by sequels — Deus Ex 3, Gears of War 3, Halo 4 through 6 — Nintendo has once again arrived out of left field with a product so bizarre it defies definition. The device features augmented reality, care of the pair of cameras, a high-fidelity sketching with a stylus and an independent, 6.2-inch touchscreen that functions as a separate display — keep in mind that I’m just talking about the controller.
The original Wii kept things simple, and accessible: you already know how a remote control works, just point it at the television and you’re off. For the “hardcore” gamer whose Xbox360 is little more than a Halo delivery system, Nintendo’s white box offered little of substance. Graphics underwhelmed. Internet connectivity was woefully obtuse. And waggling? We’ll stick to shooting folks in the face with analog thumbsticks, thanks.
Where the Wii was simple, the Wii U is complex: a touchscreen, triggers, cameras, dual analog sticks — it’s a mish-mash of gaming peripherals, from mobile all the way up to current-gen consoles.
The Wii U is an attempt to bring us (read: traditional, meat and potatoes gamers) back into the fold. For every fanciful clip of colorful characters playing sports, or bouncing about idyllic landscapes, there was something tuned towards the Mature-rating connoisseur — namely, splattered limbs and frenetic gunfire.
Take a look back at all mediocre to bad third-party titles available for the Nintendo Wii — when game developers don’t have a clear idea of how to take advantage of Nintendo’s characteristically wacky hardware, the results are disastrous. There may be something for everyone here, but the Wii U’s success is going to be irrevocably linked with game developers understanding how best to make use of the contraption.
Nintendo’s first party titles rarely fail to disappoint. And with design and control decisions being so similar to “normal” consoles, Wii U-flavored ports of first-person shooters and the like will certainly be feasible. So let’s just hope clever designers get on board and make the most of this intriguing platform.
Video: Hands-On With the Nintendo Wii U