Nintendo Wii U Launch Guide

By Kevin Mitchell Posted on November 6, 2012

Are you planning on picking up the Nintendo Wii U on November 18, 2012? Have you preordered a Basic or Deluxe model already? Have a checklist for which games/accessories you will be picking up on launch day as well? If you are still unsure about anything relating to the Wii U, this guide is for you. Our Nintendo Wii U launch guide covers everything you need to know to survive the launch of the Nintendo Wii U.

The Console. Basic or Deluxe?

If you plan on picking up the console on launch day, hopefully you already have it preordered. If not, I would expect long wait lines starting the night before at most stores. Preorders for the Deluxe model were cut off in only a matter of days, but without the shipment numbers we can only speculate. Does this mean demand is high? Not necessarily, as Nintendo may be limiting the supply to stores to give it the appearance of being the most wanted item this Holiday. Don’t think they would do that? They did exactly that during the first year of the Nintendo Wii.

For $299.99 the Basic Set includes a white Wii U console, Wii U GamePad, Wii U GamePad Stylus, HDMI cable, Sensor Bar and AC adapter. For only $50 more, the Deluxe Set priced at $349.99 offers more bang for your buck. Instead of a white Wii U set, you will be getting a black Wii U set along with 32 GB of internal storage – compared to the Basic Set’s 8 GB -, Nintendo Land, a Wii U GamePad cradle, a Wii U GamePad stand and the Wii U console stand. Let’s not forget it will come with 2 years of 10% points back on all purchases made on the Nintendo eShop.

Nintendo Wii U Interface

What does the main interface look like when you boot up the Wii U? Check out the WaraWara Plaza in this newly released trailer straight from Nintendo. As an added bonus, we are giving a sneak peak at Wii U Chat.

Accessories

Are you going to need to purchase all new accessories when you pick up the Nintendo Wii U? Not necessarily. Wii Remotes will be compatible with the Wii U if they have the Wii Remote Plus attachment. The Wii Balance Board and Nunchuck controllers will be compatible right out of the box. You may be saying, what if I want to use more than one GamePad at a time? To be honest, there aren’t any games that will work with multiple Wii U GamePads and in fact here in the US Nintendo won’t even be selling an extra GamePad. If you break your GamePad you will have to go through Nintendo for a replacement. External USB Hard drives will be compatible with the Wii U – if you require more storage. Microsoft should take note about forcing overpriced storage solutions.

The Wii U Pro Controller – priced at $49.99 – will be available at launch if you are looking for a standard controller option. One important missing aspect from the Pro Controller however is the lack of a headphone port. For comparison the Wii U GamePad does contain a headphone port.

Games. Games. And more Games.

Take a gander at the confirmed launch list of titles for the Nintendo Wii U. With over 20 games available on launch day, this may be the most amount of titles ever at the launch of a console. Need help decided which game to purchase? Check out our recommendations as well the complete list and launch window list. Reminder our recommendations are for confirmed Day 1 titles only, not those that are Launch Window such as Pikmin 3.

ZombiU

ZombiU is without a doubt the most talked about Wii U launch title, and deservedly so. Who would have believed that we would be seeing a mature themed zombie game on a Nintendo console? If I were to tell you this 5 years ago, I would be laughed at.

The single-player campaign promotes a highly tense experience where each character only has a single life. If you don’t pay attention to your surroundings you can easily get overpowered by a group of zombies and lose everything in your backpack. Using a new character you have to plan carefully to backtrack and retrieve the backpack in order to restore all of your previously obtained items. Multiplayer revolves around surviving hordes of zombies with one player controlling the zombies using the GamePad and the other player using the Pro controller in order to survive.

Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two

Wasteland is once again under attack and Mickey Mouse alone won’t be able to save the day. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit joins Mickey for drop-in and drop-out 2-player cooperative gameplay. The GamePad only displays the map so if you are looking for games that make special use of the Wii U you won’t find it here, but you won’t care when you are having so much fun with a friend.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II

The Wii U version of Black Ops II is by far the definitive version to play. Using the Wii U GamePad you are able to easily use the touch screen to activate killstreaks as well as using the touch screen as a second screen for split-screen multiplayer sessions. As a reminder, the Pro controller does not have a headphone jack – so remember that if you plan on playing online.

Assassin’s Creed III

Although it was released very recently, Assassin’s Creed III utilizes the GamePad to provide a bigger overhead map as well as given Conner the ability to quickly switch weapons.

Scribblenauts Unlimited

While Scribblenauts Unlimited will be coming to the Nintendo 3DS and PC in November as well, the Wii U version will be getting special cameos: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Link, Epona, Zelda and dozens of other Nintendo characters and items. Think Link will be able to solve the next puzzle? Why not have Link drive a tank that is on fire and shoots pigs? I don’t know about you, but that seems like a recipe for success in any situation.

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wii U Edition

The Wii U Edition of Tekken Tag Tournament 2 brings Nintendo themed power-ups to an all-new game mode. While, you won’t be playing as Mario, there will be costumes for Mario and others. All of the Downloadable content from the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions will come already included in the Wii U edition.

New Super Mario Bros. U

Get ready to once again yell at your friends and family with New Super Mario Bros. U. Adding your Mii character into the mix along with Mario, Luigi and Toad, you will be able to utilize a brand new squirrel suit as well as a baby Yoshi. The player using the Wii U GamePad can help or hinder up to four other players using Wii Remotes by forming platforms at anytime.

Nintendo Land

For those who are picking up the Deluxe Set, Nintendo Land comes included, but for those poor souls that are picking up the Basic Set, you may want to take a look at Nintendo’s “demo” game for the Wii U. The 12 attractions of the theme park are based on fan-favorite Nintendo game worlds and Nintendo is hoping for it to be the Wii Sports of the Wii U. Is not including it in every single Wii U a mistake? I seem to think so, especially with a $60 price tag. Regardless, it still makes our recommendations list as it is the perfect title to get people familiar with the Wii U controls.

Darksiders II

The Wii U version of Darksiders II contains a whole bunch of DLC that wasn’t included in the original release of the title: the Angle of Death add-on, Deadly Despair add-on and Argul’s Tomb will be added to the Wii U version. For exclusive features, the GamePad will display the map as well as show your current objectives. Changing up your weaponry can also be done with a simple press of an icon.