Why the Wii U trumps the PS4 and Xbox One
Next-generation is now current-generation. Understandably, most of the attention paid to gaming over recent months has been focused on the battle between the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Debates have raged over which console is the better option, with main talking points generally being price and exclusive games. Judging things on that basis, maybe there's another contender to the throne of console king. Something called the Wii U.
Nintendo's latest arrived last year to little fanfare. Sure, it had a screen in the controller and it looked quite nice, but what else was there? A Mario game? Graphics that were already matched by what the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 could offer? Consumers needed more if they were going to buy into Nintendo's latest vision, and now they have it.
After a year of being on shelves the Wii U finally boasts a game catalogue worth bragging about. The last few months have seen the releases of some of the most critically acclaimed games in recent years, including Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD and Super Mario 3D World. We dare you to find two exclusive games as loved as these on a PS4 or Xbox One in the near future.
There's also the likes of Pikmin 3, the best version of Rayman Legends, Scribblenauts Unmasked and The Wonderful 101 that can offer different gameplay experiences to what you're used to, while Super Smash Bros U and a new Mario Kart roll into town next year. That's a collection that any gamer can enjoy.
The biggest fault in the Wii U's appeal is the lack of third-party support, with studios wary of developing for a console with such a small install base. However that doesn't mean there aren't any huge triple-A titles. Call of Duty: Ghosts made it over to the Wii U this year, as did Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag and Batman: Arkham Origins. There's still plenty to choose from, and although they won't look as pretty as they do on the two newest consoles, it's still basically the same experience when it comes to storylines.
Compare what's available on the Wii U to the Xbox One and PS4 and you can definitely see how Nintendo's console is in the lead right now. That might not be the case in a years time but for now it's true. Dead Rising 3, Ryse and Forza Motorsport 5 are great exclusives for the Xbox One, but are they system sellers? The less said about the PS4 launch line-up the better, with platformer Knack in particular being singled out for criticism. There's just nothing out there at the moment that screams, 'must-buy'.
Not to mention you can pick up a Wii U for a much cheaper price than a PS4 or Xbox One, usually bundled with a few games if you shop around. There's no doubting the benefits of Sony and Microsoft's newest hardware, but at the moment they don't steal the spotlight like they should be. For those who are looking for a cheaper entry into next-generation gaming, the Wii U has been here all along.
