Why the Wii-U is a true next-gen console

I know that this is a pretty controverse headline for my first blog post, but hear me out. I'm not saying that the PS4 or the X-Box One aren't next gen, but I think that the Wii-U offers a truer next-gen experience than these two, apart from the graphics of course.

From the three console manufacturers Nintendo is the only one, who constantly tries something new.  

Of course one could argue, that the Wii-U Gamepad is only innovation for the innovations sake, and you're partially right. But nonetheless it's something new. Something refreshing.

The PS4 and the X-Box One are practically PC's with hooked in controllers. There is nearly no difference. And as someone who owns a rather potent computer that is my problem with these two. Now I'm not saying that this should apply to you, but it's my reason for the lack of interest that I have in these machines. The two consoles can do next to nothing, what I can't do with my PC when I plug in a controller.

So lets talk about the Wii-U. The Good parts and the bad parts too of course. Because there is no denying that the Wii-U has issues.

The Gamepad:

Yes. The Gamepad is really good. I think it's one of the best controllers that exist only to be beaten by the X-Box controller. I neither think it's to big or clunky. When playing with smaller devices, like my 3DS, I often get cramps in my fingers, but after getting accustomed to having my hands farther apart than I'm used to, I don't want to swap the Gamepad against any other Controller. It has a nice weight, which doesn't tire my arms, even when I play longer sessions. It has a good button layout and I can't really say something bad about it. Well probably the lack of analog triggers, but that isn't the end of the world for me. 

Off-screen:

The display is a genius idea. After being able to play Super Mario 3D World on Offscreen Mode in my bed without turning on the TV, I wouldn't want to have it any other way. But of course here we have the first negative point for the console. It's either Off-screen or other features. Because you can't do innovative Features with the gamepad, like for example in Zombi U, and have an off-screen mode. The nerve wrecking switching between the game pad and the TV to open a door, while Zombies are practically gnawing at your back, can't work with off-screen. So it's either thought out gamepad features, or half-assed to no gamepad features and off-screen mode. That's a shame, but at least we have the choice. And for a kid friendly game like Mario 3D World an off-screen mode is the right choice. Granted it's a feature, which adult gamers don't really need and is, in the best case, neat to have for people like me, who have their Wii-U in bedroom and like to play in Bed. But I worked in retail for nearly two years, and I can tell you that off-screen play was the big thing with parents when I explained the console to them. Being able to watch TV, while their child hooks in some headphones and continuous playing without disturbing them is a huge plus with parents. Especially around here where not every child has a TV of their own in their room.

So off-screen is a neat feature, but I hope it was just an afterthought an not the central element the Gamepad was designed for.

Touch-screen:

Now this is a blade with two edges, because even Nintendo didn't manage to use the second-screen to its full potential more than once. On the top of my head there are only three games, that I own, which do this. Zombi U, Lego City Undercover and Nintendo Land. All other titles use conveniences like displaying the map on the gamepad or the off-screen mode. This are neat features and I personally wouldn't want to miss them, but they don't legitimate the gamepad. 

Luckily Nintendo Land does it. The asynchronous multiplayer is a blast. I never had so much fun than in the luigis mansion mini game. Nintendo Land truly shows that Nintendo is still king in local muliplayer. A thing that I have been missing on the other consoles. Sure you have multiplayer games, but nothing comes even close to mario party, mario kart, smash bros or nintendo land. And that is why I'm looking forward to the installments of these series on the Wii-U. 

Zombi U on the other hand is probably the best survival horror video game since Silent hill 2. Not because of the story, but because of the nerv wrecking gameplay. It's a unique experience I would recommend to everyone. Yes it's kind of clunky, but that is the point. Surviving shouldn't be a walk in the park. It should be hard work and this game perfectly emulates that feeling.

But that is also the problem of the gamepad. Just like Zombi U or Nintendo Land it offers unique experiences, but has no mass appeal. Nintendo maybe thought that because tablets are so common nowadays, the gamepad would be self explanatory. But that is not the case. It's quite the opposite. It's neither a true tablet nor a normal controller. 

The Wii-mote just felt natural. Pop in Wii Sports and it's practically self explanatory. Even old people, which never came in touch with a video game before understood it. The Wii-U doesn't do this. While the Wii was different, but everyone got it the first time you looked at it, the Wii-U is more elusive. Once you played Nintendo Land with your friends, you see the great opportunities the gamepad holds in store for you, but you don't see it on the first glance.

Miiverse:

The Miiverse is great. Plain and simple. Unlike facebook it's dedicated social platform just for gaming. And even I, who normally detests social media (I don't even have a facebook account), finds himself writing some posts. Combining it with the stamps in Super Mario 3D World, the ability to draw and the ability to easily share screenshots it's a great platform and I sincerely hope that Nintendo doesn't abandon it. It's fun to browse through the different posts, laugh at someone who is stuck, or maybe even help him.

So in conclusion, for me personally, the Wii-U is the most “next-gen” console because it offers something truly different than it's predecessor, while the PS4 and the X-Box One are just technical updates to the PS3 and the X-Box 360, which do the same thing again, just with better graphics. Also the Wii-U is the last really dedicated game machine, which is a huge plus from my point of view. The Wii-U has its flaws, which I will address in another post down the line, and there are some things that the PS4 does better(Crossbuy for example is just great), but for me the nintendo console holds the most promise for the future. Not in terms of graphics (for that I have my computer), but in terms of gameplay innovation. Nintendo Land and Zombi U show how it's done. Now Nintendo just has to trust their hardware and the gamepad and start to use it fully to it's possibilities. And if they don't and continue only with off-screen play, well then the Wii-U is probably truly doomed

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Let's be honest. In terms of graphical quality nintendo is going to lose. There is no denying that. Of course the first party titles will look awesome. Super Mario Galaxy was one of the most beautiful games in the last generation, but that's not gonna cut it. It doesn't speak to the masses. Because the Wii-U is not gonna have Battlefield 5 or Call of Duty 712, they lost the general gaming audiance. And because the Wii-U isn't a accessible and easy to grasp like the Wii was, they lost the casual market. Currently Nintendo mostly has just the die hard nintendo fans on their ship.  

When Nintendo stepped out of the hardware race they bound themselves to their uniqueness. Currently they are unique, but not in a positive way. And just because I'm having a blast playing with my Wii-U, doesn't mean that it's successful. It's in Nintendos hands to turn this around, but they have to start. Because with all it's flaws the Wii-U is still the most “next-gen” console on the market today.

TL;dr:
The Wii-U has it's flaws and they are nintendos fault, but it shows the greatest promise from all the next-gen machines for unique and new gameplay experiences. It just has to use this potential.