Nintendo Wii U

[NEG]

3D (despite not being very 3D) is better.

Because it won't bleed your ears with Wah Wah! music and blandness.

[Not Thread Owner]

I loved Mario 3D World and I loved NSMBU. But NSMBU is clearly the better game.

[Jamie John]

I'm a bit confused about the accessories and controllers for the Wii U and was wondering if someone could clarify the details for me:

• the GamePad comes with the console and is compatible with all the Wii U games, and, as long as you don't plan on playing any (original) Wii games, you can just get by with this controller;
• to play original Wii games it's recommended you get a Wii Remote Plus and a Nunchuck, and it's necessary that you get a Wii sensor bar, all of which has to be bought separately;
• a Pro controller is more comfortable and is recommended for intense sessions on MK8, Bayonetta, Smash Bros., etc.;
• you can use your Gamecube controllers to play Smash Bros., as long as you get the adapter.

Is all of that correct? I'm thinking of picking one up but I'm trying to figure out how much it's all going to set me back.

[Not Thread Owner]

I'm a bit confused about the accessories and controllers for the Wii U and was wondering if someone could clarify the details for me:

• the GamePad comes with the console and is compatible with all the Wii U games, and, as long as you don't plan on playing any (original) Wii games, you can just get by with this controller;
• to play original Wii games it's recommended you get a Wii Remote Plus and a Nunchuck, and it's necessary that you get a Wii sensor bar, all of which has to be bought separately;
• a Pro controller is more comfortable and is recommended for intense sessions on MK8, Bayonetta, Smash Bros., etc.;
• you can use your Gamecube controllers to play Smash Bros., as long as you get the adapter.

Is all of that correct? I'm thinking of picking one up but I'm trying to figure out how much it's all going to set me back.

You don't need a sensor bar to play Wii games - the Game Pad has a sensor bar built in and you can use that instead. If you get a premium Wii U you get a sensor bar anyway.

A Pro controller is necessary for some multiplayer games (e.g. Hyrule Warriors) but "more comfortable" than the Game Pad? Debatable.

[Wiper]

The last two points are accurate (well, the third is subjective), but the first two aren't quite correct:

• Some Wii U games need more than just the Gamepad; Nintendoland for example has a large number of games that need a Remote Plus and a Nunchuck.
• Because of this, some boxed Wii U bundles (such as the Party Pack) include a Remote Plus, Nunchuck and sensor bar.

[Hodge]

Got a wii u party bundle and mario kart wrapped up ready for chrimbo for the whole family. Best combination for controllers as far as i can see is pick up 2 sets of motion plus and nunchucks along with a wii u pro controller and should be sorted on all ends then for some quality 4 player action and party games.

Picked up a 3rd party motion plus/nunchuck on ebay for £12. They get decent reviews so will be worth a punt over the expensive official one.

[carlospie]

The third party one I got off ebay was shit, the nunchuk feels terrible and loose

[Hodge]

Still waiting on delivery, but at a quarter of the price is the official one really that much better? What about the remote?

[stefcha]

I thought the 3rd party remotes were supposed to be universally awful.

[Not Thread Owner]

All the ones I tried have been. Nunchuks especially are shite.

[InsideOutBoy]

Seems pretty clear to me if you're a casual Mario fan, go for 3D World. I don't generally like Mario platforming games but 3D World is so charming and easy to pick up and play that I'm in love with it. However, I imagine If Mario games are the pinnacle of gaming to you, go for the NSMBU.

Or get both if you're just into games and have cash to burn.

[carlospie]

The official ones are miles better. Something to do with the feedback it gives and subtle clicks. It also seems to spring back to neutral better and has more weight to it.

[dataDave]

Normal Wii remotes work if you have some lying about. You don't need the Plus variant.

[Jamie John]

Thanks for the replies, folks.

How does using the sensor bar in the GamePad work with playing original Wii games? Do you just prop it up against the telly or something? I also read that you can watch the original Wii games via the Gamepad, but you can't control them using it, which I guess makes that option pretty redundant.

[Xevious]

Got a wii u party bundle and mario kart wrapped up ready for chrimbo for the whole family. Best combination for controllers as far as i can see is pick up 2 sets of motion plus and nunchucks along with a wii u pro controller and should be sorted on all ends then for some quality 4 player action and party games.

Picked up a 3rd party motion plus/nunchuck on ebay for £12. They get decent reviews so will be worth a punt over the expensive official one.

I'm not sure if you can use a Pro controller in Nintendo Land - and that would restrict you to three players in Nario Chase which would be a crime. Can anyone confirm?

[SMD]

\o/

[scottcr]

Such wonderful colourful fun.

I've got the Samus Amiibo and it's really nicely made.

In order to make sure Santa can deliver a Pikachu in time for Christmas, I've ended up ordering two. Nintendo have just made a whole bunch of them available on their online shop.

So that's Link, Peach, Donkey Kong and Pikachu on the way.

I'm so weak.

[SMD]

Wiik.

[JPickford]

Thanks for the replies, folks.

How does using the sensor bar in the GamePad work with playing original Wii games? Do you just prop it up against the telly or something? I also read that you can watch the original Wii games via the Gamepad, but you can't control them using it, which I guess makes that option pretty redundant.

A sensor bar is misnamed really. It's just a couple of LEDs - all the sensing happens in the wiimote. So the sensor bar in the Gamepad will work just as well as any other. The thing with the Wii games is that you are using the gamepad as both TV & Sensor bar. You'll need Wii controllers for control. So it allows you to play the games without using the main TV.

[jonnyalpha]

Apologies for the embarrassing hair.

But wow, what a photo. I'm so happy.

I wish I had hair.

[TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap]

You can even replace the sensor bar with two candles.

[rgraves]

... There´s a sensor bar in the GamePad!?

[SMD]

Yes, you can use it for Wii games.

[gone fishin]

Been playing a lot more Nintendoland with my four year old son.

In some ways, it's one of the best gaming experiences you can have - Mario Chase, Pikmin, Luigi's Mansion - some amazing Nintendo-ised versions of classic game genres (Pikmin is really just gauntlet).

But in some ways it's infuriatingly inconsistent, plus remotes needed for some games, not for others. Press 2 to start a game, but press + for others. You really notice the design inconsistencies when playing with a young child. My son can start Mario 3D world and play the basics. Yet he's completely thrown when we play Nintendoland, because of all the little inconsistencies.

So it feels like it's missing a bit of the nintendo "sheen" when it comes to some of the design.

Anyway, it's still a great game and I'm really appreciating what they tried to do. I still think it would have been better as a preinstalled game, where you could hang out and chat with people and maybe had more games added to it, even as DLC. I think it could have created a real Nintendo community, built into the Wii U hardware.

[carlospie]

Are amiibo worth the money? Iv got two on the way but tbh might fleabay one of they don't do a right lot.

[scottcr]

Are amiibo worth the money? Iv got two on the way but tbh might fleabay one of they don't do a right lot.

Of course they aren't - but they're very nice little figures.

Having said that, my son's Samus Amiibo is now pretty bloody powerful in Smash Bros now. Keeps kicking my arse.

[scottcr]

the box says that this is the Smash Bros collection... which means there will be other game collections. Given how much Nintendo have put into this, I imagine every first party game from here on in will support them in some way.

*can't wait for the Ridley and Ganondorf ones*

[letsbook]

[Not Thread Owner]

Needs a top hat and monocle.

[Comrade]

So, my brand new Wii U arrived today. I spent the afternoon setting it up - and now it constantly freezes with a buzzing sound. It seems to happen particularly when all the little miis run on and gather around the icons, but even when I hurry through to running the disk, I still couldn't get through a whole cup on Mario Kart before it crashed.

Is this a known problem? Is there a fix for it? Or is there no alternative to getting a replacement.