Okay, so I'm just gonna use this thread to give my almost-2-month-post-hype impressions of the system. I've had one since launch, and luckily haven't have hardware issues; maybe 2 hard locks but that's about it.
So things I like:
+ The user-interface is clean, and I like seeing random other posts on the Miiverse when I load up. The whole Miiverse is also overall very clean, and while the censorship results in this weird family-friendly 1950's Americana "gee-whilikers"-esque sentimentality, it's refreshing compared to the homophobic/racist cultures on some other online services.
+ Netflix/Hulu functionality. It's basically become my go-to for these services. I do wish that you could use the web browser while on Netflix... hitting the Home button stops everything in its tracks.
+ Games: Some pleasant surprises. I really enjoyed ZombiU, and was really what I was looking for in a Survival Horror game. NG3:RE is better than I expected (skipped out on 2, and haven't played a NG since Black.) BOPS2 is basically what I expected, but I like that I'm actually pretty good compared to the other players. Nintendoland is fun with a group of people.
+ Off-screen functionality: I still think this is the "gimmicky" part of the 2 screen thing. I mean, isn't the whole POINT of having two screens that you can utilize them and NOT cram everything in? That being said, for a game where that standard's already set like BOPS 2, it's a neat little feature.
Now my long list of grievances:
- Load times. It's been beat over the head, but considering how Nintendo was obsessed in the last few generations about maintaining low load times it's laughably ironic that the GUI takes a substantial amount of time starting up, loading an app, hitting home, closing an app, etc.
- The overall interface looks sleak, but things that should JUST work often don't. Hiting the HOME button at ANY time should bring up the home screen. Period. But some games simply don't let you do so during cutscenes or MENUS (BLOPS 2, I'm looking at you.) Furthermore in something like TVii, hitting the home button, then hitting it again to close out the home screen closes out TVii and you have to load it again. It's extraordinarilly frustrating and makes me not want to use the service.
- Speaking of TVii, I like the concept. A lot. I want it to work, but again... it needs to be MUCH faster starting up, and needs to be much more streamlined. Right now, the search function is pretty limited; and hit or miss. They need netflix support and other services like HBOGo.
- Wii functionality. I'm grateful for the backwards compatibility, but they literally just created a Wii inside the Wii U. Even if you go to the Wii Shop and download VC games, you still have LIMITED BLOCKS and may need to resort to using an SD card. Really? You have 8-32 Gb built in and the system's still reading it as 512 mb or whatever the Wii had. Speaking of that:
- VC function. Yeah it's been said but this needs to work natively on the Wii U. I'm hoping that if they get the VC store on the Wii U working, that they'll simply allow us to download our previous catalog of games from our old accounts. I'm not holding my breath though.
Lastly, here's my thoughts going forward on the system.
I dig the system. I really do, but I would have to say I'm worried and there's multiple kinks that need to be ironed out, and I'm not sure if Nintendo is really going to do so, mainly because what they have in place is "good enough."
Similarly, I'm a little fuzzy on the outlook of things from a game standpoint. Right now, the announced games I'm looking forward to are Wonderful 101, Bayonetta 2, and Pikmin 3. Maybe MH3U. For me, the system was more of a good faith system, knowing that I was gonna buy Smash Bros., next 3d Mario, Zelda and Mario Kart anyways.
Having said that, I just have this feeling that Nintendo is having more trouble adjusting to the HD era-type games then they're letting on. Of the 1st party games we've seen, NSMBU is very pretty but still a 2D game with 2D assets, Wii U Fit is an HD upgraded version of the Wii version, Pikmin 3 is pretty but started its life and much of its gestation as a Wii game, and Nintendoland while a better game then it'd have you let on still has the whole "simple but deep" mentality, with varying stylized graphical fidelity. I think there's a reason why Nintendo is publishing a bunch of 3rd party games like NG3RE, the Platinum games, and teaming up with Namco for Smash Bros. I don't know, maybe it's just paranoia based on Nintendo's ninjas and secretive ways, but I feel like with the info that we know, this time it's a little different.
I've said it before but I think Nintendo's best bet this generation is become a safe-haven for the little to middle sized publishers, especially the Japanese ones. Once Durango and Orbis come out, there's no doubt that the high budget Elder Scrolls, Bioshocks and GTAs of the world will be developed as the primary system. Wii U could and should be the system that companies like Platinum, Atlus, Mistwalker, Grasshopper or somebody like Itagaki could feel comfortable making a somewhat risky game for wth Nintendo's backing, without the fear that it'll ruin them and cause them to go under.
Anyhow, all of this is speculation, and again, it might sound like I'm down on the system, but I do actually like it. I just think there's stuff that needs to be worked out and I have some concerns for the future. Maybe I'm wrong though. Maybe Nintendo blows the lid open at E3 and shows the most amazing looking Metroid and Mario games, a brand new Retro-made IP, and Monolithsoft remaking FF7 with Square or something. Regardless, my journey in the Nintendo-cycle continues I guess.
Really good.
