It’s that time of year again, folks. The time where everyone scrambles to buy their loved ones a gift in time for Christmas. Well, don’t be that procrastinator. We’re here to help. (At least in the games department.)
Here are some DOs and DON’Ts when it comes to shopping for the Wii U.
DO consider a Wii U, since the system has gotten better in the past year, but it’s not a must-own yet. If you’re determined to get a Wii U, consider tracking down the bundle with the Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, since that’s a terrific “free” pack-in game.
DO buy Super Mario 3D World, the best game on the system. Here are 11 other top Wii U games, too.
DO buy Pikmin 3. It’s a beautiful game.
DO buy LEGO City Undercover. It has nearly everything that makes Grand Theft Auto a great game while being kid-friendly and charming for adults. Plus it actually uses the Wii U Gamepad screen for something other than a big pause menu.
DO buy Nintendo Points that can be used both for the Wii U’s digital store and the Virtual Console — while the selection of classic games on Wii U is limited right now, games like Earthbound and Super Mario World are must-play supplements to the Wii U’s library.
DO buy some sort of battery extending device for the Wii U GamePad, the most power-hugry game controller on the market. It only lasts a few hours on a full charge, so any extra juice helps. Nyko’s UBoost or Power Pak replacement battery can help double or triple play time.
DON’T buy the Wii U version of multiplatform games if the gift recipient has other platforms that also run the game. The Wii U versions often lack the same DLC offerings or a full feature set. The exception is the 2013 Wii U version of Deus Ex: Human Revolution, which is worth looking into since it adds so much to the original 2011 release.
DON’T buy any sports title. Period. None were made for it this year, and the ones published last year were all half-assed ports.
Feel free to drop your own suggestions down below.
Comments
11 responses to “Wii U 2013 Gift Buyer’s Guide”
Its pretty sad that other than Pikmin 3 and Super Mario 3D World, the only games worth getting are old Super Nintendo games, and a GameCube game that came out 11 years ago
And monster hunter.
Althougth if Nintendo publishes MH4 on the 3DS over here, there will be no reason for it (since 4 on the 3DS has online multiplayer lobbies). Really the only reason stopping me from getting one just for MH.
And Wonderful 101, and ZombiU, and Rayman Legends (mario equallingly great), and Deus Ex (kicks so much more ass than the original version).
Here’s my “worth getting” list:
Super Mario 3D World,
Zelda Wind Waker HD,
Pikmin 3,
New Super Mario Bros. U,
The Wonderful 101,
Lego City Undercover,
Rayman Legends (best version),
Deus Ex (best version).
And if you only have a Wii U, and no other console (which would be at least 2 or 3 people :D), there are lots of good multiplatform games that aren’t ‘better’ on Wii U, but are at least good, like AC:Black Flag, Black Ops II, Mass Effect 3, Batman Arkham City etc.
It is turning into another GameCube – a few amazing first party titles, and not much else, and it lacks the crazy innovation appeal of the Wii, but there are a decent selection of games to play on the system already. Nintendo hasn’t been a strong third party platform for a very long time, people who buy it know that they are buying it for a first party line-up that you won’t find anywhere else. When a Wii U Zelda and especially a Wii U Metroid (that controller was made for Metroid) come out, it’s going to have already fulfilled it’s promise.
If anybody bought a Wii U thinking for a second that it would be competing in the same space as the PS4 or Xbox One, then they haven’t really been paying attention. In my book, that’s at least 6 must-own exclusive titles out already. I’ll be very happy, and a bit surprised if either the PS4 or Xbox One will have the same number of must-own exclusives after being out for a year.
That’s very important to point out. It’s not like the Wii where the controls were so fundamentally different for the console that multi-platform games either excelled well beyond the rest of the consoles or turned into an unplayable mess on the Wii (almost always the latter). The Wii U has a standard configuration twin stick controller, it’s just got a touch screen in the middle like the DS (but with two sticks).
Games like Assassin’s Creed can play just as well on the Wii U. If that’s your thing then pick up a Pro Pad and most multi-platform games will play just like the XBOX 360 and PS3 versions.
That’s not to say that it will be able to compete with the XBOX One or the PS4 blow for blow, but it does make the gap more of a power thing rather than a case of having to shoehorn traditional controls into a button starved motion controller.
One last thing for the list:
DO buy if the person loves their Nintendo DS or 3DS. They may not know they want it but they do. =P
The Wonderful 101 and Lego City Undercover were definitely worth getting.
Is that really true though? I mean at the very least is has higher quality (not just quantity) games than the PS4 and XB1 are offering right now though right?
i’ll wait next year for more good game lineups i am really looking forward to getting a 3ds by the end of this year and 2015 ps4 😀 kingdom hearts 3
“DON’T buy the Wii U version of multiplatform games if the gift recipient has other platforms that also run the game. The Wii U versions often lack the same DLC offerings or a full feature set. The exception is the 2013 Wii U version of Deus Ex: Human Revolution, which is worth looking into since it adds so much to the original 2011 release.”
No love for Rayman Legends. 🙁
DO buy The Wonderful 101. I’ve got Super Mario 3D World and I still think W101 is game of the year. I love it for the combat mechanics, story, inventiveness and variety.
DO buy Rayman Legends. It’s a fantastic game and the best version especially if you’ve got friends or family to play with. Plus it’s cheap!
DO find a cheap copy of ZombiU. Maybe not for everyone, but at $19 new it’s definitely worth a try. True survival horror.
Getting a Wii U for xmas. So excited. Can’t wait to play Rayman and Mario.
Only games worth owning for WiiU atm are;
NSMB
NSLU
Pikmin 3
Monster Hunter 3U
SM3D World
Zelda tWW
Nintendo Land