Event: Wii U Experience – Washington D.C.
Late last week, I had a chance to get some additional hands-on time with Nintendo’s upcoming Wii U console, thanks to an exclusive event held for Club Nintendo members. On hand were plenty of demo stations, each with one of the titles set to release around the console’s launch this holiday.
Not much has changed since my initial E3 impressions of the Wii U. I still believe the new GamePad controller adds a remarkable amount of freshness and immersion to home console gaming. You can use the controller’s large touch-screen in different ways, depending on the developer’s intention: you can view a mirrored image of the game to match what’s on your TV, or you can access menu or map information as a supplement to what’s on your TV. Both of these avenues work tremendously, though I prefer when the second screen is utilized as an additional screen for housing additional information.
I was able to check out quite a few games throughout the two hour event, titles like Nintendo Land, Game & Wario, Rayman Legends, New Super Mario Bros. U, ZombiU, Project P-100, and Batman: Arkham City – Armored Edition. Each game offers something different, but you can not deny the charm of Mario’s first HD title, a clear winner for launch. Game & Wario may have been my favorite title however for showing off the possibilities and inventiveness of adding a touch-screen for home console play, just as WarioWare: Smooth Moves was integral in its demonstration of the power of the Wii Remote.
A tremendous thanks to Nintendo of America for putting together the event. Instead of cramming hundreds of attendees into a small venue, the company took great strides to limiting the foot traffic in order to grant the lucky few visitors plenty of playtime. We were even treated to snacks like Wii U cookies, and cake pops in the shape of a 1-up mushroom. Here are some photos I took from the event, including one of me dressed as Link — yes, that happened.
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Tags: Events, Nintendo, Nintendo of America, Washington D.C., Wii U
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