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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.andrewthornway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/2012-10-13-1222-1024x575.jpg\" "\\"Wii")
<\/dt>\n- Mr. Parablax on the Wii U<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n
Another problem I experienced with the Wii U was the game load times. I\u2019m not quite talking \u2018homage to the ZX Spectrum\u2019, but it was a close thing.\u00a0Nearly all the Nintendo demonstrators apologised for this, squirming variations of: \u201cI\u2019m really sorry, I don\u2019t know why it\u2019s taking so long\u2026\u201d\u00a0Maybe the software will be tweaked before launch; I really hope this is the case \u2013\u00a0and that\u00a0the console’s CPU isn’t to blame.<\/p>\n
Another gripe: if you ever played Pod Racers on the N64, you\u2019ll remember the demoralising\u00a0disappointment as the contests crawled along. (If you played the same game on the PC, it flew – it was amazing and a true predecessor to the Burnout \/ Need for Speed series.) Well, that crushing feeling\u2019s back with the Wii U’s version of\u00a0Tekken.\u00a0Your fingers rocket around on the controller, only for nothing to happen on screen. The characters move, but only in slow, soul-killing motion. This wasn\u2019t helped by having a PS3 Tekken Tag Tournament\u00a02 stand nearby, where you could see how the game runs on planet earth.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m sure the Wii U\u00a0will sell by the bucket load as parents buy their kids the latest gizmo for a present. If the family\u2019s happy with having an HD Wii, then that\u2019s great. The graphics do\u00a0look\u00a0good \u2013 on par with this generation\u2019s PlayStation and XBox.\u00a0I like the fact you can use your old Wii controllers, but overall, there was nothing inspiring; no spark to the machine. I can\u2019t say I\u2019m that keen to get one and I wonder how well this console will sell next Christmas when the new PlayStation and XBox hit the streets.<\/p>\n
The Wii U will be released on the\u00a018th November in the US, the\u00a030th November in Europe, and on the\u00a08th December in Japan.<\/meta><\/p>\n
Enough negativity. What good stuff did I see \/ have a play on? Well, retro games wise, Street Fighter 2 on the Super Nintendo was as great and fun as I remember, and then on to possibly my favourite cabinet game ever: Phoenix, which always gets a 10\/10. [There was no sign of Rastan, Robocop or the fantastic, huge, four player Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game. I hope this is addressed for next year!]<\/p>\n
The new stuff\u2026 Halo 4 looked very impressive on the 360 (one of the maps looked very \u2018Bespin\u2019 like, so who wouldn\u2019t want to have a go on that?). Next up Tekken Tag Tournament\u00a02 on the PS3 \u2013 which is a far better game than the depressingly poor Tekken 6. It\u2019s very fast, beautiful to look at and finger achingly addictive. Need for Speed Most Wanted was very playable, however was also somewhat \u2018Burnouty\u2019 to me.\u00a0(Not a\u00a0huge shock there\u00a0considering both games are from the Criterion stable.) I do wish \u2018street racing\u2019 games would have the option to turn the bumper-car options off, though. I just want to press \u2018start\u2019, have my car appear at the line, then \u2018go go go\u2019. I don\u2019t understand why anyone would want to have to find the race\u2019s starting point. Please \u2013 enough of the \u2018sandbox\u2019. (Or give me the option to turn it off.) I\u2019m also not bothered about the crashing. Some crashing is fun, but if I want to play a racing game I want to race, not to stockcar race \/ do speed camera runs \/ longest jumps, etc. Make no mistake, when you do race in this game, it’s good \u2013\u00a0I just\u00a0wish there was more of it.<\/p>\n
The game that stole the show? Probably Studio Ghibli\u2019s Ni no Kuni, which looked stunning and very intriguing. Want.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I had a good go with Nintendo\u2019s latest console, the Wii U this afternoon at the Play Expo in Manchester \u2013 I\u2019m sorry to say I didn\u2019t think too much of it. The main problem the Wii U has is its new \u2018tablet\u2019 controller. Demonstrators cheerfully called out, asking if anyone wanted to play a … <\/p>\n