Wii U Impressions

Nintendo pulled back the curtain on their next console during their E3 2011 presentation. While most of the details were already revealed for the Wii U, there was still a sense of mystery about the controller. All the rumors were true, the Wii U's unnamed controller does feature all the buttons and control sticks of a GameCube controller, it does feature a forward facing camera, it does have motion control, and most importantly it has a 6.2 inch touch screen.

[ZoidsRaven]

The controller's size will take some getting used it, but I think Nintendo is on to something.

EDIT: Though I think Nintendo better do something with that "one Wii U controller per console" thing. Besause that seems to be the Wii U's only problem for me. 7_7

[Samus HD]

agree
but I think that will change when they read all the complaining comments :)

[bwazy]

Guys, go hold your laptop or a book like the Wii U's controller is. Now, I'm not saying that you should to this for 30+ mins, but after about 5 or so, your thumbs really start to get sore (simulating button presses). I don't know how they specifically designed this controller, but they better do some extra fine testing on comfort levels during extended levels of play.

[Shok]

I get what you're sayin dude, but really......a laptop is much wider than the controller and a book is much thicker. Bad examples.

[just_looken]

bad examples but a valid point though you guys remember Nintendo launched the 3ds headache machine and the wii destroying tv craze so they probably wont fix it.

[bwazy]

I was using a macbook air and an acer eeepc lol. Also books don't have a standard of thickness.... :S

[TruthbeTold]

From what people are saying, as big as it is, it weighs no more than an Xbox controller does, and it's comfortable to hold. So what's the problem again?

[mamotte]

"...the possibilities the new controller represents far more than I was by any upgrade to the graphical and online capabilities of the system and by more than anything else I saw at this E3 or any of the three I've attended."

See? this is innovation! If you only want power, buy a PC already.

[NESpower]

Amen brother!

[ATiElite]

Ummmm hold on there a minute brother!

I have power and innovation. You do realize that the Wii-U design came about from old school IBM slates that could interact with a PC wirelessly and even swap displays, this was mostly used with power point presentation and chart could update in real-time. Well if you didn't....you do now!

This High end Business tech that's like 10 years old just found a way to mainstream console gaming.

I really like the Wii-U as it will open up more innovation in Video Game Play..........BUT don't ever forget that consoles are nothing more than low end PC's. Almost nothing on any console wasn't already done on a PC first (except the wireless controller Atari 1982). Even PC's had $1000 Blu-ray burners before Sony released the PS3.

[mcstorm]

I cant wait to get a wiiu with nintendo showed looked good ok the controller looked big but when you look back at all nintendos controllers every one has said this about them all but they have all worked very well. As long as the dont sell the wii u controller for a high price on its own and the online is at lest like psn ide be more than happy that the console would work for the core.

[NESpower]

The controller is much smaller in person. Check out hands on videos. It's still sizeable but not like the E3 video made it look. Everyone and I mean everyone is saying it's way more comfortable than it appears. And lighter.

[mcstorm]

I bet it is so far Nintendo have not made a controller that is uncomfortable.

[pcz]

i wish people would stop saying the controller is huge, have you not watched the countless reviews/opinions from journalists from e3 saying its smaller than it appears and is comfortable to hold?

jesus christ!

[1998gamer]

The Wii U controller is a DS3 w/ a mic and LCD screen that allows streaming btw console...what innovation? what does it bring that will improve gameplay that isn't for casuals. Those 3rd party developers and Nintendo like to talk about the possibilities but i'll believe it when i see it.

Not impressed with it at all and to whether it is comfortable or not people at E3 have not used it for a long enough duration for any judgement. I can game for 5hours straight or longer and unless you can do it at E3, it don't mean jack what these " journalist" say at E3 about its comfort.

[pcz]

'' it don't mean jack what these " journalist" say at E3 ''

why on earth do you watch e3 then?

why on earth do you come to a website full of game journalism?

oh yes of course, you are one of those trolls.

jesus christ!

[1998gamer]

Thanks for taking what i said out of context.

And its funny you call me a troll because from all your previous post you clearly are one.

"Unless these "journalist" played with the Wii U controller for more than 3hours straight, their thoughts on comfort means nothing to me. Its not a viable measure on comfort."

is what i mean but clearly reading comprehension isn't thing.

[Jejojaja]

At first i thought the Wii U looked kinda worthless, since i could'nt figure out a way to make use of the controller. But the dualscreen-thingy grew on me and now i can't wait for games like:
Mario Kart Double Dash 2, imagine one player racing the kart with normal wii remote and second player using all the weapons with the Wii U controller. That would be awesome.
Same goes for a new Star Wars: Rogue squadron. One player steering the falcon and second player controlling a gun with the Wii U.
Then we got the standard camera, different kind of visors (Metroid) and scopes that could utilize the Wii U controller.
Another sweet thing would be playing GTA or something similar, and with the wii U controller doing a "drive By shooting" so the tv screen is still the car while controller scren shows first person view out the window.
And i really can't wait for a F-zero with only the racing going on on screen in glorious 1080p @60 fps with the map, boost-meter and the speed indicator on the controller.
Im sure i'll come up with more ideas later, but i really can't wait to play these kind of games.

EDIT: Imagine eternal darkness 2 that switches the video output back and forth between the controller at intense moments to fuck with you.
please nintendo make it happen

[maniacmayhem]

1998Gamer...use your imagination. Imagine playing a detective like game and your in a dark room and cant see sh*t. Hold your WiiU controller to the screen and the controller screen now shows you lit areas of that dark room.

How about for RPG's, imagine having all your inventory items and spells on the second screen available anytime without pausing the action.

Sport games...especially madden, to have plays. Make your own plays all that extra stuff on the second screen so the action is seamless on tv.

Seriously if you cant see what this will bring to gameplay then you are not really thinking hard enough.

Edit: and i agree with Lf_slck below... The removal of the HUD general is pretty outstanding.

[Lf_sIcKmAn]

I dont know about the rest, but the possibility of REMOVING the hud from the screen and letting you enjoy a game like ZELDA or MARIO or METROID or STARFOX or INSERT NAME HERE without the clutter with great graphics and 1080p resolution is at least FOR ME good enough reason to get one...

[ATiElite]

I wish people would shut the HELL up about the Wii-u being either too big or not comfortable.

For one everyone here has sat for a length of time and read a book. If you hold a book (which by the way is very non-ergonomic thing to hold) then you can hold a Wii-U.

same people here complaing about the Wii-u are the same people who Text all day long on super small phones. The Wii-U looks No longer than a iPad.

The design set-up is the same as any standard 360 or PS3 controller but may have your hand slightly further apart which by the way is BETTER as your hand naturally like to rest on your outer thigh.

If anything the actual buttons and pad design on the wii-u suck ass as they seem way to small. From my own experience every Nintendo controller ever has sucky buttons. That dam square ass NES controller use to leave my hands in pain.

[trancefreak]

You can also rest the controller as u play. As seen in the demonstrations made by Nintendo.

I rest my ipad on my legs when im reclined works well like that.

The table resting position was shown in the e3 video.

cant wait to try it tbh.

[TruthbeTold]

I agree with everything you said except for: 'everyone here has sat for a length of time and read a book'.

Based on what I see here at N4G on an every day basis, I seriously doubt it. To further that point, I'd wager money that the average CoD gamer refuses to touch a book unless a teacher makes them read it.

[ATiElite]

yeh your right. lol

[btk]

Not what I expected.
1080p @60fps with better than Move motion controls would get my attention. I was expecting something else.

LCD screen as controller? Not so sure. I think they ran out of ideas.

[TBONEJF]

The only thing I like bout the Wii U controller is when someone change your TV. You can still play your game on the Wii U touch controller pretty neat. I can't wait