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WiiU

What to Expect on Nintendo Platforms in 2015

Wii U (Part 1)

by Justin Berube, Nicholas Bray, Zachary Miller, Alex Osborn, John Rairdin, and Bryan Rose - January 28, 2015, 10:41 am EST

2015 is on track to be the Wii U's best year so far.

Wii U


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Kirby and the Rainbow Curse

NA Release Date: Feb. 20, 2015

Preview: Kirby and the Rainbow Curse Hands-on Impressions

Video: Kirby and the Rainbow Curse Gameplay Footage

Editorial: Breaking the Curse: Readying to Clay Kirby's Next Adorable Adventure

Video: Kirby and the Rainbow Curse Full Game Playthough (Japanese Version)

Did you like Kirby’s Canvas Curse? It was one of the first DS games to show off the potential of having a touch screen. Players guided Kirby, as a ball, through a stage by drawing lines for him to roll on. Absorbing powers and collecting medals spiced up the experience, alongside unlockable characters like Dedede and Meta Knight. The game is highly regarded by those who’ve played it. Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is a sequel (finally) for the Wii U, and it’s another aesthetic departure for the series. This time the art direction is in the style of claymation, though the gameplay is fundamentally similar. If you want to spoil yourself, our own Jared Rosenberg just live-streamed the whole game. And of course, there will also be Amiibo support. This is one title I’m definitely looking forward to.


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Mario Party 10

NA Release Date: March 20, 2015

Preview: Mario Party 10 Hands-on Impressions

Video: Mario Party 10 Gameplay Footage

Mario Party 10 is another entry in the multiplayer board game series. The new gameplay element here has to deal with Bowser, as he’ll be the star of his own mode where players using the GamePad will take control of the Mario villain as he tries to bring trouble to other players who play various mini games. Beyond the usual fare, we also have Amiibo integration in a new Amiibo Party mode that takes advantage of the new figures.


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Splatoon

NA Release Date: May 2015

Preview: Splatoon Hands-on Impressions

Video: Splatoon Gameplay Footage

Splatoon is a third-person team based shooter with some twists. The game pits squid children against each other with super-soakers filled with colorful ink in an attempt to try and spread as much of your team’s color onto the playing field as possible in a given match. Splatoon will feature character customization, various multiplayer modes, various weapons and power-ups, and even a full-fledged single player campaign. It’s one Wii U game you don’t want to take off your radar.


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Yoshi's Woolly World

Preview: Yoshi's Woolly World Hands-on Impressions

Video: Yoshi's Woolly World Gameplay Footage

While Nintendo’s latest home console may already have more than enough platformers, the artistic beauty of Yoshi’s Wooly World is reason alone to be excited for yet another game in the same genre. Good Feel, the team that crafted the super charming Kirby’s Epic Yarn, has been slaving away on this yarn-themed game, so if you’ve got a soft spot for cuteness and Yoshi, this one should definitely be on your radar.


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Mario Maker

Preview: Mario Maker Hands-on Impressions

Video: Mario Maker Gameplay Footage

Many of us have dreamed of designing Super Mario Bros. levels since we were kids. Now that dream is about to come true with Mario Maker. By the end of the year we will be able to make and play custom Mario stages using physics and themes from Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros. Is there a better way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the series?


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Project Giant Robot

Preview: Project Giant Robot Hands-on Impressions

Project Giant Robot was shown off at E3 2014 as one of Miyamoto’s unique Wii U experiences. The goal of the game is to fight as a giant robot against another (obviously much more evil) giant robot. During gameplay the GamePad is held close to the player’s chest so that leaning forward, back, left, and right are all transferred to the on screen robot.

In contrast to Project Guard, Project Giant Robot definitely looks like it could exist independently as its own game. That being said, we’ll have to wait and see whether Miyamoto decides to make Project Giant Robot its own game or add it as a gameplay mechanic in a larger project.


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Talkback

JdloJanuary 28, 2015

Why are your news stories so short?  I know you can only report on info you have, but man, there is no substance to any of these articles.

Quote from: Jdlo

Why are your news stories so short?  I know you can only report on info you have, but man, there is no substance to any of these articles.

This is a massive 10 page Feature. The first page is a short intro created to describe the Feature in its entirety before going more in depth. Please use the table of contents on the right hand side of the page to navigate the different pages and to see the real meat of this particular article.

I hope that helps. :)

This is a ten page feature, so I think there's at least a certain degree of substance to it.

CericJanuary 28, 2015

Forgot Steamworld Heist was coming.  That looks interesting.  I really need to get there first Steamworld game which is tower defense and looks interesting.

CericJanuary 28, 2015

Technically Star Fox has a Release Date of Before Zelda.  I'm looking forward to being able to actually play Xenoblade.

fred13January 28, 2015

First of all you missed Metroid Prime Trilogy out tomorrow on Wii U.


Second, this never dawned on me. When I saw the Fire Emblem Amiibo integration with Codename: S.T.E.A.M. during the Nintendo Direct I just assumed that meant that Ike, Robin, and Lucina Amiibo would release by March 13th at the latest, but this makes it sound like Robin and Lucina aren't very likely to come by then. I was going to skip Ike and grab Robin and Lucina (I loved Awakening, but I've never played any of the other FE games so I have no emotional attachment to Ike or Marth) Now I'm wondering if I need to try and find Marth and Ike so I can enjoy the Amiibo side of Codename: STEAM

Just to clarify things, we did not include Virtual Console titles on this list. While the Wii Download games on Wii U are technically not called Virtual Console, they are in a sense. It's for that reason they did not make the list.

As far as release dates go, they are only shown on this Feature if the exact month of the release is known (at a minimum). Anything else I felt had a higher chance of slipping out of its "Release Window" so it doesn't have a release date listed.

Please Understand!

TrueNerdJanuary 28, 2015

This is gonna be a good year, even if Zelda falls into 2016. There are six full priced retail games that I plan on buying on that list. Nine if Star Fox and Project Giant Robot/Guard are good and separate games. Ten if I cave and don't wait for a sale or price drop for Kirby Rainbow Curse.

I'd also like to purchase Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze and Captain Toad at some point.

Maybe I'll hold off til 2016 on that PS4 purchase.

Mop it upJanuary 28, 2015

I don't expect all of this stuff to release in 2015, but it's a nice summation anyway.

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