Gaming Cafe Diem Baby: The Nintendo Wii U Discussion

Yeah, I'm also hoping an XL ALBW special bundle is announced, though I'm resigned to assume it'll only be a regular 3DS probably and, thus, force me to miss out on it as I can only afford one.

 

Picked up Rayman Legends today. Felt a bit weird playing this one whilst Origins remains unplaced on my shelf but I'll get to it eventually.

It's a great extension of the Challenge App so I pretty much knew what I was getting into. Absolutely GORGEOUS game! I am ridiculously in love with the Ubi Art Framework (I'm still waiting for it to be made available to other developers- last I checked it still wasn't).

The Gamestop edition also came with an AC4 skin for the Viking girl. Castle Rock is much more satisfying when you play it with a long-haired character dressed in Viking armor and wielding an axe. I'd love to do a multiplayer round of it with all her versions/sister to make it a proper Viking metal band, hehe.

The Murfy levels using the GamePad ended up being much more challenging than I had anticipated- there is A LOT to keep track of on top of pushing your reflexes. It's very fun but I'm glad those levels are spaced out- if the whole game was like that, I think it'd just be too intense and you'd get worn out by it quickly.

Whats also pleasant is that they don't interurpt the flow of the platforming (except for the first 2 or so Murfy stages that are more tutorials. Once you get past them is when it has that hectic flow I'm talking about), which was a concern of mine (and, going by reviews, is what has happened to the non-Wii U versions since they require buttons pressing combinations).

 

Ubi hath not abandoned us yet: their new platformer/JPRG using UbiArt will be coming out on Wii U (and other platforms).

Clearly, they decided I haven't given them enough of my money yet.

 

In today's Nintendo Direct, they announced Wii Sports Club- basically an HD upgrade of Wii Sports with online multiplayer and leaderboard standings. What is neat is that you can buy it piecemeal for $10 a game, so you can stick to Tennis, Bowling and Baseball and save 10 bucks by avoiding the golf game and maybe the boxing game.

They also went into Wii Fit U- with an interesting digital model: if you have a balance board already, you'll be able to download a one-month trial of the full game before it's actually released, anytime between Nov and the end of January. And if you buy the pedometer accessory, you'll get to keep the free version forever. Which basically means you're getting the game for free by buying an accessory people who this is targeted at would probably buy anyways.

EDIT- Also, here's a look at the GamePad battery pack upgrade coming out.

 

As a heads-up: a new Nintendo Direct will be streaming tomorrow (Oct 1st) at 10 am EST. It's focused on Wii U/3DS games coming out by the end of the year, so expect more on Mario 3D, DKTF, ALBW & Pokemon, I would imagine.

EDIT- New Firmware upgrade for the Wii U has gone live.

Version 4.0.0 U, available via an Internet connection, includes the following improvements:
New Features:

• A feature to output video and sound to the Wii U GamePad when using Wii Mode¹ Users can choose to output to the TV and GamePad, or just the TV
• A feature to automatically receive recommended software and demo titles from Nintendo using SpotPass
• Support for USB keyboards
• An option to disable use of a Nintendo Network ID on non-Nintendo hardware, such as PCs and smartphones
• Support for Dolby® Pro Logic® II Surround Sound when playing Wii software Changes to Wii U Menu:
• Added a friend list icon to the Wii U Menu for easier access to the Friend List Changes to System Settings:
• An option to automatically receive recommended software is now available under "Internet"
• A setting to select which cable outputs sound is available through "TV"
• Users can choose to output sound through an HDMI cable, non-HDMI cable, or both cables at the same time. Click here for instructions
• A setting to adjust the hourly interval in which standby functions are performed is available under "Power Settings" when Standby Functions are enabled Changes to Wii U Chat:
• Added the option to view a friend's profile on Miiverse when sending or receiving a chat request
• Users can now chat using a headset connected to the Wii U GamePad Changes to Internet Browser:
• Pressing the R or L Buttons on the Wii U GamePad will skip video playback forward/back a small amount of time
• Holding the R Button will speed up video playback Ability to save username and passwords for websites that require login²
• Ability to launch the Internet Browser during gameplay and upload screenshots Added support for viewing PDF files³
• Added features intended for website developers that allow the user to enable developer tools and set user agent Improvements to system stability and usability:
• Further improvements to overall system stability and other minor adjustments have been made to enhance the user experience

You apparently still need to use a Wiimote when playing Wii games off of the GamePad, but you can just use that GamePad stand that came with the system (and I think it has a Wiimote sensor in it as well, which makes it more effective as an off-screen option).

 

The neat stuff: Mario 3D World has cherries that lets you multiply your character to control duplicates at the same time, there's also Goomba Mario and various forms of Block Mario (some let you shoot like a cannon, others make a trail of coins for you). There's also a return to the Big Boot, in a way- though this time it's an ice skate.

Pikmin 3 is getting a revised global high score chart, a free mission pack and new paid DLC mission packs.

The Sonic/Mario Olympic game will have global medal rankings sorted by country, which I think is [retty neat as far as these things go.

The cool: Sonic is back in Smash Bros. There'll be item crafting elements in the 3DS version of Sonic Lost Worlds that can be brought over into the U version.

There'll also be Mario and Luigi themed Wiimote pluses available. The Olympics game will also have a version with a pack-in light blue Wiimote Plus.

The sucky: DK TF is being delayed until Feb!

 

Aw, no Snake though? Figures. Of course, at this point Sonic is less of a third-party character and more of a recurring guest/star of Nintendo games.

 

List of indie games hitting Wii U (and 3DS).

I'm eying that JRPG... but I know I shouldn't as all my other unplayed JRPGs on my shelf are eying me.

 

The Year of Luigi closes out on a sad note: Super Show Luigi Actor Passes Away.

Game Over, Player 2 (actually, since Captain Lou is also gone, I guess it's really Game Over overall as well). Despite it's short run, the SMBSS's goofy fun was a big part of the late 80's/early 90's, so while he may not have had the widest of careers beyond this, I salute him!