The Wii U has finally hit stores…sort of. At GameStop’s across the country there are demo units of the system that showcase the new hardware. I was fortune enough to get some time with it and enjoy the Rayman Legends demo that comes with it.
Right off the back I didn’t think that it worked. Not in a technical standpoint but a physical one. The controller, which is im sure a huge gripe with tons of skeptical buyers, feels great. It’s natural to hold and actually makes sense. It made me excited to know that I wouldn’t be upset with the product whilst playing a new Mario title or Metroid or Zelda. Personally I want a completely new Star Fox title but that’s for another time. The controller is sprinkled with Nintendo magic that makes it unique but still sensible. Im very sure once you try it you’ll be sold on it.
On a technical level everything is gorgeous. The demo unit has a very clean menu system and the interface is very good. Obviously this isn’t how the final product will appear but I can’t complain with what I saw. Once I started playing the Rayman Legends demo (the only demo available by the way) I was hooked. Although I have seen this demo before, it being the same one displayed at E3, getting a hands on approach with it was great. I ended up playing the demo multiple times because it was that good.
There are two different game modes to experience during the demo. One is your standard platforming with a musical twist. It’s smooth and I can’t wait to play the future levels that will come in the full release. The other is a sort of single player co-op experience. You control your character until a certain point where you use only the touch screen. The character on the screen is controlled by the computer while you assist it by either attacking enemies or manipulating the environment. It was very enjoyable and thankfully you can play that section with another person.
The visual’s for the game are nothing short of stunning. Colors are vibrant and pop out. They engross you and you become enamored with the world around you. Character models feature a certain level of charm that only Ubisoft can bring and it certainly shows. Needless to say this game was like playing an HD 3DS game that is plugged into your television.
Basically, go to your local GameStop and give the Wii U a shot for yourself. From what I gathered it will definitely be worth the purchase. The question is whether or not you will shell out the cash day one or wait until the library grows. I personally expect great things to come from Nintendo due to their lineage and their big promises. Just be sure to go into the demo with an open mind and hope for the best in the near future. The Wii U will launch in North America on November 19, 2012.
Wii U Hands On Impressions via sfxxPLAY