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WiiU

Top 5 Wii U Games: Through the Launch Window Glass

#1 - New Super Mario Bros. U

by Tyler Ohlew - April 19, 2013, 10:02 am EDT

Hoppin' and boppin' their way to the top.

I’m not here to tell you how New Super Mario Bros. U changed the way you’ll play platformers. Its spot on our list isn’t earned by innovation or a successful revamp of the formula. Why it tops the chart is because it earns high marks where it counts. Fun needs to come before anything else, and I’m happy to report that NSMBU is an incredibly fun game.

While it catches a lot of criticism for being the fourth iteration of the New Super Mario Bros. series, this Wii U launch title shows a lot of growth. It is the effort of a team that has learned along the way, a team that is more confident than ever.

Across its nine worlds, New Super Mario Bros. U allows players to delve as deep into the experience as they want. Simple run-throughs are encouraged just as strongly as those with a more completionist edge. It’s friendly and inviting, a terrific tool to gather friends and family around the Wii U. However, while few would argue the NSMB series’ welcoming nature, U makes great strides to appeal to us more hardened gamers. Secrets are tucked into places only the most skilled of us dare to explore, and I couldn’t have been more grateful. While the time spent playing with my wife and kids was easy-going, on my own I became a monster, exploring its nooks and crannies. NSMBU can be quite devious at times, omething I had never felt in previous entries. This dichotomy of accessibility and challenge is a great example of the game’s fun, and showcases NSMBU’s efforts to draw in an audience not with its name, but with its quality.

But Nintendo’s efforts didn’t end with making the best New Super Mario Bros. title they could, they still had to justify the console it runs on. Such are the duties of all these launch titles. Unique to NSMBU is the way it unites a community. Through the Miiverse, players can share their thoughts and feelings the moment they happen. Both triumphs and frustractions are asked for, then beamed across these internets for all to see. Advice can be sought, braggings can be sent out, all bringing fans of Mario together. While the functionality has always existed in forums, the broadness of the internet has only splintered the numbers. Miiverse and NSMBU bring us together to share in the fun.

The intention of games is to provide fun, first and foremost. NSMBU may not provide social commentary, or challenge our perceptions of the medium, but it certainly succeeds in providing the necessity of the hobby.

Talkback

SchadenfreudeApril 15, 2013

The puzzles in Little Inferno are no where near as rewarding as Picross because they involve association not logic. I really don't think it's much of a game and find it boring. I regret spending $5 on it.

LudicrousDa3veApril 15, 2013

Wii U's post launch has been slow, but the launch itself was pretty awesome. A top five is really tough. Looking forward to seeing all of your picks.

ShyGuyApril 15, 2013

I agree about Little Inferno being top five. I find the cat the most disturbing so far.

azekeApril 15, 2013

Little Inferno is on sale for 5 Euro right now...

Still doesn't feel like a good price from what i read though.

I don't think Little Inferno is for everyone, but I'm a huge fan of point-and-click adventure games and I think that for some reason Little Inferno REALLY scratched that itch for me. I was really happy to have bought it at launch for that reason... or maybe I just really wanted to burn things...

Also... I am very happy that Lego City: Undercover is on this list. I haven't beat it yet, but I really enjoy being able to freely explore such the city, and it's such a wonderfully dense environment in terms of things to look at, puzzles to solve, or collectibles to discover.

Tony_342April 18, 2013

Completely agree with this. I'm still confused about some of ZombiU's bad reviews. Example: a "weak link in the Wii U's launch." Really, GameSpot? It is still the best game on Wii U.

LudicrousDa3veApril 18, 2013

I'm baffled when I see poor reviews for Zombi U. I've had some friends, hardcore gaming enthusiasts, come by recently. They haven't really seen the Wii U yet (why, Nintendo?! How they've failed to promote this thing so much is beyond me), so in these cases, I bust out Zombi U. That's about four new Wii U owners, thanks partially to the merits of this unique game.

ShyGuyApril 18, 2013

Can't disagree with a single entry so far. Funky Barn will, of course, be number one.

MagicCow64April 19, 2013

I don't have a WiiU yet, but a big sad part of me wants to buy one just to play NSMBU.

LouieturkeyApril 19, 2013

So I love it that the #3 game, ZombiU states that it is the best game on the Wii U period.

CericApril 19, 2013

NSMBU for #1 Seriously...
Seriously...

azekeApril 19, 2013

NSMBU is the only game i played of top 5, so i agree.

I have a feeling that even if i played other games nothing would change.

The game is still tremendously fun.

Mop it upApril 19, 2013

Did no one like Nintendo Land, or does it not count because it was a pack-in?

ShyGuyApril 20, 2013

I really liked Nano Assault Neo as well.

TJ SpykeApril 20, 2013

Quote from: Mop

Did no one like Nintendo Land, or does it not count because it was a pack-in?

Having the game require multiplayer for most of the good games probably hurt it.

Pixelated PixiesApril 20, 2013

Of those top 5 the only title I've spent any significant time with was NSMB U.

Not to be a downer, but I can't help but feel vindicated in my decision not to purchase a Wii U until I feel it's warranted. For as much as I had fun playing NSMB U on my sister's Wii U, I can honestly say it holds a limited appeal for me. It was a low impact fun, and yet at the same time kind of...boring.

Zombie U does look super interesting. I'd love to give it a shot, but it's not necessarily something that I would buy the system for.

Runner 2 looks incredible, and I have no doubt I would enjoy that just as much as I enjoyed the original; but then again, it's not a game that I have to play on Wii U (Once I'm done with Fire Emblem I think I'm going to pick this up on Steam).

Hopefully some day soon there will be enough Wii U games which pique my interest, or one single game which I can't live without (Metroid Prime 4?), and when that happens the weights will tip. Until that happens though I'm happy to remain on the side-lines.

Great feature guys.

pokepal148Spencer Johnson, Contributing WriterApril 20, 2013

boost mode can really mess with the level design, you can reverse the direction of cogs in the castle for example

oksodaScott Thompson, Associate EditorApril 20, 2013

Quote from: Louieturkey

So I love it that the #3 game, ZombiU states that it is the best game on the Wii U period.

It's my personal opinion that ZombiU is the best, but the voting didn't come out that way. So NWR says Mario, but I say for ZombiU :p.

LittleIrvesApril 22, 2013

One day people will look back, see how Nintendo Land was relatively ignored and dismissed by early adopters, and weep great tears of shame on behalf of their ancestors.

Pixelated PixiesApril 22, 2013

Quote from: LittleIrves

One day people will look back, see how Nintendo Land was relatively ignored and dismissed by early adopters, and weep great tears of shame on behalf of their ancestors.


Or we will look back and wonder how Nintendo thought they could get away with making several mini games which were effectively variations on hide 'n' seek.  :P:

CericApril 22, 2013

Quote from: Pixelated

Quote from: LittleIrves

One day people will look back, see how Nintendo Land was relatively ignored and dismissed by early adopters, and weep great tears of shame on behalf of their ancestors.


Or we will look back and wonder how Nintendo thought they could get away with making several mini games which were effectively variations on hide 'n' seek.  :P:

Until Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, I'm Sure NintendoLand was easily my most played.  My Son loves to play it.

If WiiU had the Activity Log from the 3DS *Hint Hint Nintendo* I could tell you exactly.

SarailApril 22, 2013

Quote from: Ceric

Quote from: Pixelated

Quote from: LittleIrves

One day people will look back, see how Nintendo Land was relatively ignored and dismissed by early adopters, and weep great tears of shame on behalf of their ancestors.


Or we will look back and wonder how Nintendo thought they could get away with making several mini games which were effectively variations on hide 'n' seek.  :P:

Until Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, I'm Sure NintendoLand was easily my most played.  My Son loves to play it.

If WiiU had the Activity Log from the 3DS *Hint Hint Nintendo* I could tell you exactly.

Ceric, you can. Click on the game's avatar icon to see individual total game time. It's there. :)

Quote from: Pixelated

Quote from: LittleIrves

One day people will look back, see how Nintendo Land was relatively ignored and dismissed by early adopters, and weep great tears of shame on behalf of their ancestors.


Or we will look back and wonder how Nintendo thought they could get away with making several mini games which were effectively variations on hide 'n' seek.  :P: :

And they're all great! Well, Mario Chase kinda sucks, but the other two are fantastic.

Pixelated PixiesApril 22, 2013

Ahaha. I'm not knocking it. Hide 'n' Seek is a lot of fun...when you're 5.  ;D

CericApril 22, 2013

Quote from: Pixelated

Ahaha. I'm not knocking it. Hide 'n' Seek is a lot of fun...when you're 5.  ;D

*Frank Sinatra* Aren't we all just Young At Heart...

Quote from: Racht

Quote from: Ceric

Quote from: Pixelated

Quote from: LittleIrves

One day people will look back, see how Nintendo Land was relatively ignored and dismissed by early adopters, and weep great tears of shame on behalf of their ancestors.


Or we will look back and wonder how Nintendo thought they could get away with making several mini games which were effectively variations on hide 'n' seek.  :P:

Until Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, I'm Sure NintendoLand was easily my most played.  My Son loves to play it.

If WiiU had the Activity Log from the 3DS *Hint Hint Nintendo* I could tell you exactly.

Ceric, you can. Click on the game's avatar icon to see individual total game time. It's there. :)

Is their a Super Hidden Top Game and like too?

SarailApril 22, 2013

Ah, I see what you mean. You meant that as in seeing stats based on total gameplay among all of your games (how many times played, total game time, etc...)

I got it now.

CericApril 22, 2013

Quote from: Racht

Ah, I see what you mean. You meant that as in seeing stats based on total gameplay among all of your games (how many times played, total game time, etc...)

I got it now.

Yep, now on that note its.

Monster Hunter w/ 149:50 and 38 Plays
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed w/ 18:30 and 12 plays
Nintendo Land w/ 13:20 and 20 plays (I have a feeling this isn't being counted right.  I know for a fact I've open that software more then 20 times.)
NSMBU w/ 12:39 and 12 plays
Nano Assault Neo w/ 4:08 and 12 plays
ZombiU w/ 00:44 and 1 play (Alright now I know these are messed up.  I have at least 3 plays on this game.  My wife would probably remember those because I was fuming near the end.)

So Nintendo Land is my Second most played game.  <.< >,>

How the hell have you put 150 hours into Monster Hunter in less than a month? I'm pretty sure if you totaled up all the time I've spent playing all my Wii U games since launch it wouldn't be close to 150 hours.

CericApril 22, 2013

Quote from: NWR_insanolord

How the hell have you put 150 hours into Monster Hunter in less than a month? I'm pretty sure if you totaled up all the time I've spent playing all my Wii U games since launch it wouldn't be close to 150 hours.

I was Sick 2 Days and remember I got it about a week after launch as well.  A few hours a night really adds up.  Though 5 of those hours was me leaving it up while running errands.

TJ SpykeApril 22, 2013

Still, that is a lot of hours. Even if you played it every day since you bought it, that would average out to 5.55 hours every day.

CericApril 22, 2013

Quote from: TJ

Still, that is a lot of hours. Even if you played it every day since you bought it, that would average out to 5.55 hours every day.

Hmm... I didn't play Thursday last week.  Seriously got it on 3/21 then started to play it 3/22 (Curse you slow eShop Downloads).
Then didn't play 4/4-4/6, 4/11,4/17-4/18, and not today yet.  Probably not though.  5 hours sound about right.

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