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E3 2011 - Day One (Wii U Hands-On Impressions)

by Jonathan Metts - June 8, 2011, 12:47 am EDT
Total comments: 15

We all played Nintendo's next home console. Hear our first impressions of the controller and the demos, plus a few thoughts on other games.

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It's been a crazy day, to say the least. We still set aside a few minutes to record these quick audio impressions with Jonny, TYP, and Neal. All of us played Wii U, and you'll also get a few comments on Zelda: Skyward Sword and Kirby Wii.

This podcast was edited by Jonathan Metts.

Talkback

motangJune 08, 2011

Here is my reasoning to why GameCube support is going to be removed from Wii U. It is because they don't need to use up space on the Wii U console itself for controller ports and memory card slots.

CericJune 08, 2011

Quote from: motang

Here is my reasoning to why GameCube support is going to be removed from Wii U. It is because they don't need to use up space on the Wii U console itself for controller ports and memory card slots.

We have a winner.  Not to mention the little bit of saving on the disc  things.

How was holding the controller with one hand and working the screen?
How was holding it covering both the Triggers and hitting the Face Buttons?

KeyBillyJune 08, 2011

Wii U sounds pretty good if you say it as you would a university (Wii University... Wii U), rather than "Wii You."  It is easy to say and even sounds kinda hip, and this is coming from someone who is generally cynical about gadget names.

Chocobo_RiderJune 08, 2011

I keep seeing people saying that THQ confirmed the Wii U being more powerful than the PS3, but I cannot find any actual sources for this.

People talking rumors: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/631516-wii-u/59365624

Does anyone have a link to the actual sources??

KeyBillyJune 08, 2011

Quote from: NinSage

I keep seeing people saying that THQ confirmed the Wii U being more powerful than the PS3, but I cannot find any actual sources for this.

People talking rumors: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/631516-wii-u/59365624

Does anyone have a link to the actual sources??

Darksiders 2 developers confirm it casually: http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/06/07/could-project-caf-233-be-the-best-platform-for-darksiders-ii.aspx

Chocobo_RiderJune 08, 2011

Mmm, yea, I saw that.

I think it is logical to assume he means "more powerful than PS3/60."  However, there's a chance he might just have been saying "the game will be good because WiiU *shudder* is more powerful than Wii."

EDIT: I'm listening to this podcast right now, I don't flappin' care if Kirby Wii is "breaking new ground" or anything.  I only have one 4-player co-op platformer (NSMBWii... were there others??) and all I know is every time people played it there were tears of laughter.  I can not WAIT for another such experience with one of my favorite other Nintendo characters, Kirby.

My wife has already called dibs on Kirby but that's ok cuz I'm psyched to play as MetaKinight!!!

KeyBillyJune 08, 2011

The response was apparently to the question of if the Wii U version would be the best.  So, I don't see how it would be comparing it to the Wii, but I might be missing something.

Oh, and I agree about Kirby.  All the complaining is a bummer and it seems like people can't just be excited for things anymore.

Chocobo_RiderJune 08, 2011

Yea, like I said, it definitely makes more sense for him to have been comparing to PS3/60, but I just want to eliminate all other explinations before I get my hopes up, y'know? =)

And yes, people just like to complain no matter what.

Nintendo seduces a whole new audience and makes investors happy? "Booo!!! Where's the hardcore!?"
Nintendo announces third party support of "hardcore" games? "Nintendo stock drops 5% from Wii U announcement! Bad move Nintendo!"

... it's silly =)

NinSage, the game we saw today that actually brings that crazy NSMBWii experience is Rayman Origins. Kirby Wii is not all that funny or chaotic because only one player has much power, and the levels are very simple and easy. There is no danger, and you can't really mess each other up. Rayman Origins is much more difficult and has more interactions among the players, like in Mario.

Chocobo_RiderJune 08, 2011

Well, I will say Rayman Origins did look very, very good and very fun.

Looooove 2D hand-drawn visuals.

Only one hiccup: that second character looks too much like a reject Strong Bad character.  ... are there any others? I'd take a gray-scale 8 bit Toad with no face over that monstrosity =P

adadadJune 08, 2011

Quote from: NinSage

Well, I will say Rayman Origins did look very, very good and very fun.

Looooove 2D hand-drawn visuals.

Only one hiccup: that second character looks too much like a reject Strong Bad character.  ... are there any others? I'd take a gray-scale 8 bit Toad with no face over that monstrosity =P

What, Globox?! Wim bam bay da ba du!

Chocobo_RiderJune 09, 2011


clearly =P

KDR_11kJune 10, 2011

The low weight makes sense, rumble assemblies are very heavy (I was surprised back when I first held a Gamecube controller) and if it doesn't have one that would drastically reduce the weight.

Putting the thing on the ground for a golf game may sound silly but I recall a review saying that playing Tiger Woods in maximum realism mode (first person view) would benefit from having a screen on the floor so you can actually see where you're swinging the club without looking off to the side.

Kirby Wii isn't a lot of fun if you're Waddle Dee. All you can do is hit stuff with a spear. Kirby gets giant swords that decimate the level.


The level scrolls with the Kirby player, at the expense of everyone else. Only Kirby can go through doors.

So how long until we get pics of four-way smooching food-sharing action?

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