In 2006,
Nintendo captured the imagination of casual and serious gamers alike with its Wii gaming console, which boasted a fun and super-accessible game play, innovative game controllers, and an appealing price tag. The
Wii U seeks to follow in the well-lauded footsteps of its illustrious predecessor, and gain a foothold in the eighth-generation console war alongside heavyweights such as Sony’s
PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s
Xbox One.
Similar in design to the original Wii, the Wii U’s dimensions of 6.8in x 1.8in x 10.6in and weight of 1.5 kg equate to an inconspicuous gaming console in your living room, especially when compared to the behemoths that the PS4 and the Xbox One are. The console is powered by an IBM PowerPC 750-based three-core CPU, along with 2GB of RAM and an AMD Radeon High Definition GPU.
The Wii U’s most important and innovative new feature is its chunky GamePad controller, a 6.2-inch touch screen tablet, with screen resolution of 854pixels x 480pixels, which feels solid to the look and touch, and most importantly, has a comfortable grip.
The screen on the GamePad controller is where the Wii U believes is its unique selling point, and it is easy to see why. Games use the second screen innovatively; games can be even played exclusively on the GamePad controller screen, without the need for for a tv. Setting up the Wii U is not tricky, and the straightforward and familiar Wii menu screen should have you whizzing through the interface in no time.
The original Wii faced criticism from some quarters for not supporting HD game play that the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 did. However, Nintendo looks to right that wrong with the Wii U. The Wii U boasts high-definition graphics to at least rival the PS4 and the Xbox One, but this is not where its strength lies, and Nintendo accepts that. But still, admiring everyone’s favorite mustachioed plumber, Mario, bullying turtles in glorious high definition is a treat for the eyes.
Priced considerably lower than the PS4 and the Xbox 360 at upwards of the Rs 35K mark, the Wii U is available at gadget shops across the valley.
Yantrick’s Verdict: Boasting close to a 100 game titles, including legendary Nintendo games like Mario, Zelda and Sonic, the Wii U gaming console offers an innovative gaming experience for hours on end.