4 Reasons To Get The WiiU

With the WiiU fast approaching in a matter of days, it's an exciting time for gamers indeed! I'm sure many of you have been setting aside a good amount of cash - or even pre-ordered the system in advance - and are prepared to wade through the crowds at your local Walmart or Best Buy to receive Nintendo's newest gift to mankind. (Or open your mailbox on Sunday morning if you're one of those online buyers.)

On the other hand, I know a good portion of you readers are still uncertain about making such a hefty purchase early on. And while I could ask, "What the hell is wrong with you!?" like a good Nintendo fan, it's perfectly understandable that you'd feel that way. It's new, experimental, the game library hasn't developed yet, and it doesn't toast waffles. Following the Wii and the massive game droughts it had in-between its life cycle, there's more than enough reason for gamers to be cautious this time around.

But that doesn't mean Nintendo hasn't learned from their mistakes; they've gone out of their way to apologize for turning away the so-called "hardcore" gamers for the casual crowd, and they've promised that this generation will be a welcome back to their truer fans. A lot of people are quick to dismiss that as a broken oath after the reveal of the WiiU and its tablet controller gimmick guaranteed to bring in another five years of shovelware. They're blind to the fact that yes, Nintendo is doing everything in their power to make this next generation a good one for hardcore Nintendo fans.

Here are four big reasons why gamers should be excited about the WiiU, and why U should look into getting one, too.

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Nintendo's First-Party Titles

Mario? Check. Ice Climbers? Check.
Super Smash Bros? Forty-something check.

It's always a given that Nintendo systems, no matter the generation, will be the sole receiver of some of the greatest first-party works in the industry. On no other system can you find Mario, Link, Samus, or Captain Olimar. Sure, there are some imitators on other systems, but they differ in one very important area from their Nintendo proliferators -- polish. There have been many 3D platformers across all systems, some good or even great, but none come close to the absolute wonder that is the Super Mario Galaxy duo. The games are some of the finest entries in the Mario series to date, with new concepts and ideas presented and executed beautifully in each galaxy -- there's a reason why they're the two highest-rated games of today. Similarly, Zelda-inspired dungeon crawlers with a focus on items have been popping up frequently on Steam, Xbox LIVE Arcade, and mobile devices, but none can truly top the original trend-setters, namely A Link to the Past.

The same goes for the WiiU, which already has New Super Mario Bros. U, Nintendo Land, and the long-awaited Pikmin 3 making the cut for launch. Still, the most exciting thing about owning a Nintendo console has always been knowing the fantastic series developed in-house will be getting a nice, new iteration. The real-time demo of HD Zelda already has fans frothing at the mouth, and the announcement of another Super Smash Bros. title (which will be receiving two versions on the home console and the 3DS, no less) sent the Internet into an absolute frenzy. There's even more that Nintendo hasn't touched upon that could appear down the line, like Metroid, Kirby, or possibly even Star Fox. And we know something big will be coming out of Nintendo's mouths soon enough, after their own Retro Studios -- yes, the geniuses behind Metroid Prime -- confirmed development on a brand new game. What could it be? I don't know, but it's sure to make those without a WiiU green with envy.

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Third-Party Support

Above: The beginning of
a beautiful friendship

If you own a Wii or a GameCube, the words above probably sound mocking to you. Actually, the Internet has used that phrase as a way to torment Nintendo loyalists, who lost beloved franchises as Final Fantasy and were unable to experience some of the finest forms of gaming outside of Nintendo's comfort zone, like Metal Gear Solid and Grand Theft Auto, for well over a decade. Sure, there were always the first-party titles to play, but there's no denying the sore lacking of games from other developers in the last two or three generations of Nintendo consoles made the game libraries feel more than a little empty. It's a pretty big issue, when you consider how much it factored into the GameCube's moderate failure and the Wii's laughable reputation. (Although the DS never had much of a problem, as I've pointed out before.)

Worry no more, because the WiiU is not only set to change all that, but already has. Nintendo has said they wanted to make it more open to their third-party brethren, and the words (and games) of those developers paint a pretty great picture of what's in store for the new system. Big names like Activision, SEGA, and Crytek are very interested in the hardware, some already developing games to take on all that horsepower. Gearbox in particular has been a huge advocate for the WiiU, praising it for being a "powerful, powerful machine" and labeling the GamePad as "one of the best controllers Nintendo's ever made for making an FPS." The last part is very interesting; if they're right, the GamePad just might be the thing to entice third party developers into introducing more mature titles to the Nintendo side of things. Ubisoft and their amazing launch title ZombiU could be a sign of things to come -- third parties utilizing the GamePad in an intuitive way to bring new playing styles to the table and enhance the gameplay experience as a whole. Game developers have said nothing but praise for the WiiU and if they put their enthusiasm where their money is, it could fix and strengthen the bonds between Nintendo and the rest of the industry. And, more importantly, the link between Nintendo and their fans.

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Miiverse

Where else would you meet
such friendly strangers?

Aside from the GamePad and the touch-based goodness it's going to introduce to consoles, the next big thing the WiiU will be spearheading is the first true social network in gaming. Sure, Xbox LIVE and PSN have already made it easy to set-up games and chat with our friends during some friendly matches, but the aptly named Miiverse will be expanding on the social aspect that was only touched upon in the HD era. There hasn't been much word on it lately, but we do know that it'll make gamers of similar likes and interests more connected than ever. Miis of players you've met will congregate around titles on the home screen. Your friends can leave messages behind in games for you to read. Miiverse even supports video calls and the integration of Nintendo's very own forums, making the gaming community tighter, almost like a cute little neighbourhood. (Hopefully an orderly one at that.) On top of that, Nintendo is officially adopting a username-based system, doing away with the Friend Codes that have hassled Nintendo systems this generation. (Tell me you aren't happy about not having to type in random digits!)

We all know that Nintendo's the 'kiddy' company of the big three, and their highly-limited, highly-restrictive online practices have made that mindset somewhat true. Thing is, whatever barriers they set up last time, they are working on tearing them down and bringing gamers that much closer to being globally united. Sure, many of the games the WiiU will be receiving in the near future will be available on other systems as well, but will you find something as tightly-knit as Miiverse on any of them? The social aspect, which was once Nintendo's greatest downfall, has now become a big selling factor for their next system. If you and I support them on this, maybe they'll keep working on staying in touch with the new generation.

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It's New!

Remember doing this?

Of course, the biggest reason to get the WiiU as soon as possible is simply because it's the newest kid on the block. Aside from the fact that pre-orders for the system are practically overloaded and could lead to another year-long shortage, this current generation of the Wii, Playstation 3, and Xbox 360 has gone on long enough. Motion controls and HD graphics have gone from revolutionary to just a novelty by now, and gamers are hungry for something entirely new. The 3DS has already ushered in the next era of handheld gaming with 3D and games grand enough to be on home consoles -- likewise, the WiiU will be introducing more power to play with, a more integrated social experience, and the simple-but-game-changing concept in its GamePad.

The Wii's end is already in sight, having churned out some of its last few gems (Skyward Sword, Xenoblade Chronicles, The Last Story) just recently. The HD twins are still going strong, but it's clear that a breath of fresh air is needed after a generation dominated by first-person shooters and cinematic adventures. I'm ready for the giddiness that comes with unpacking the box of a new console, the excitement of setting it all up and the booting it on for the first time, and the wonder that comes from checking out new features and games. Surely some of you tire of seeing the same start-up screen every day and are ready for something bigger and better, too.

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And there you have it: the four main principles by which Nintendo dictates your purchase of a WiiU. It's alright if you're still not convinced, for the reasons I mentioned in the opening paragraph. Still, you can't go wrong with getting the system early on as some fantastic games are readily available on Day 1, including New Super Mario Bros. and ZombiU. Once the GamePad is in your hands, Wii will always be ready to game with U!