Well y'all, after waiting forever I finally got a Wii U 32GB Deluxe. My brother bought it as an early birthday gift for me, knowing that I was dying to play Bayonetta 2.
So, question. I really love the Offscreen play, and I'm noticing some really cheap titles on Amazon. I played the hell out of Arkham City, Deus Ex: HR, and AC3+4 (all on PC). But I'm kind of tempted to just build my library, and have something to jump into every now and then- were these good porting jobs?
I own 3D World, MK8, NG3:RE, ZombiiU. I'm hoping to pick up Wonderful 101 within the week or so, are there are other things people are really loving ? The system came with NSMB so I have that also.
Arkham City is a great version of the game unless you're super sensitive about the occasional framerate stutter. I played the whole game on PS3 when it launched and then beat the Wii U version earlier this year again. It's looks great, runs okay and is a really nice showpiece for how the GamePad could've been utilized in multiplatform titles ...if they had kept coming. Same can be said for Deus Ex HR. The Wii U version of Deus Ex is the best version of the game, period. GamePad integration is A-grade material. A definite showpiece. AC III and IV are good versions, too. I completed AC III on Wii U over the Winter and loved having the map on the GamePad all the time and Off-TV for multiplayer in bed is nice. Same thing with AC IV. Both games have unlocked framerate so YMMV, sometimes it's buttery smooth, sometimes there's some drops. Nothing dramatic. Very very playable. I have no trouble recommending these versions. I'd also recommend Splinter Cell: Blacklist, if you're into those kinds of games. Can be had for super cheap these days and also makes great GamePad use, supports Off-TV and, aside from long loading times, is a very well done port.
I've you have game nights with friends who aren't too cool to try weird/new things, you should really hunt down a cheap copy of Nintendo Land as well. Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze and Pikmin 3 are also both absolutely must haves. Best games in their respective series and top-class representatives in their genre.
On the eShop, you have to check out Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails, Toki Tori 2+, Shovel Knight (unless you played that on PC?), SteamWorld Dig, etc.
Scram Kitty is a tough game to explain because so much of its awesomeness comes from how it "feels" ...here's a video of a stage played by the dev:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyTNHoTZJ5Q &
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvTa9lD8BfY - it might look easy but it's very challenging and plays just so so well. Here's a trailer that shows off a lot of the amazing stuff in the game (runs at a smooth 60fps, btw, which the YT trailer obv. can't show off) Toki Tori 2+ is an exploration-based platformer that treats the player with respect and let's them be smart by figuring everything out without relying on a single word of text. The environment and wild life tells you everything you need to know. Both of those games are not easy to explain since much of the appeal relies on the "a-ha" moment you have while playing them.
If interested in the gamepad attributes, let's say that Rayman Legends, Splinter Cell and also Batman City has some good use of the device. Batman origin a little less, but still something. AC 3 and 4 are good ports but not in terms of Wii U "customization". .
I found the GamePad features in Arkham Origins really disappointing after the stellar job done on Arkham City. For me this is a Pro Controller game with the map on a table somewhere. A real letdown in that regard.
the N3DS Xenoblade 2015 confirmation for the West (from the Australian Direct) make me really scared abut the actual date for Xenoblade Chronicles X release... I wonder if they'll promote it as their big Fall 2015 title (aside Zelda?)
I don't think so, no. It'll be a Summer title regardless. This is not a "play this game first, then play the other." Even just them being on separate platforms cements that. Xenoblade X will come whenever Xenoblade X is ready. Xenoblade 3D might be more likely to have its release timed in accordance with X and not the other way around.