I love Nintendo. Ever since I could pick up a controller and play a video game I have loved Nintendo.
I feel like this is a common sentiment. Most of us grew up playing Nintendo consoles. At one point or another, we all loved the games that they made.
The Wii U, more than any other Nintendo console, has been incredibly divisive. Despite having what many regard as a strong library of first-party titles, the Wii U has struggled to get off the shelves of retailers.
Around this time last year, many heralded Mario Kart 8 as the potential savior of the console’s abysmal sales numbers. It was not.
Then, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U came out several months later, receiving universal praise and being heralded as Nintendo’s ace in the hole. It was not.
And then came the realization that the Wii U will not succeed. It will more than likely be the worst-selling Nintendo console, making the GameCube look like a commercial success in comparison.
Is this good for the games industry? No, it is not. Does that mean we should pout? Absolutely not. Let’s enjoy the Wii U while it lasts, and celebrate it for its often ignored accomplishments.
Which leads me to my bold proclamation: I love my Wii U more than Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
The Wii U is fun.
I have had as much fun with my Wii U as I have with any other console that I have owned. Whether it is playing 8-Player Smash with 7 of my friends in Smash Bros. for Wii U, or exploring the incredible Mario Kart 8 DLC packs with my friends, I have made great memories with my Wii U.
(Image from smashbros.com)
The Wii U’s library of games also kept me coming back. You know the feeling when you are at school or work, and you continue to think about how you cannot wait to get home and keep playing an awesome game?
I have that feeling constantly with my Wii U
When playing Super Mario 3D World, I could not wait to get home and continue to collect every stamp, every yellow flag, and every star.
When The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD came out, I was ecstatic. I had fond memories of playing Wind Waker on GameCube, but it had been over a decade since I had experienced Nintendo’s sea-faring triumph. I now had a reason to play Wind Waker again.
(Image from zelda.com)
It. Was. Awesome. I couldn’t wait to get home and continue my journey, sailing from island to island. Was it a remake? Yes. Did that in any way affect how much fun I had playing Wind Waker HD? Absolutely not.
Honestly, the only time I’ve felt this way with my Xbox One was with Sunset Overdrive. No other titles have grabbed me the way that Wii U’s best offerings have.
Big things and small packages
And then there are the smaller titles that took me by surprise. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Hyrule Warriors, and Pikmin 3 are just a few.
These were some of the games I didn’t think I would love, but fell absolutely head over heels for. Captain Toad is endearing, cute, inventive, and incredibly fun. Hyrule Warriors, while not a main series Zelda game, is a fun and action packed departure from Zelda’s normal makeup. And Pikmin 3 is an incredibly underappreciated title within the Wii U library.
If I could turn back time…
The final reason that I love my Wii U is because I got to experience some Nintendo classics through Virtual Console. I know this isn’t really fair, but my experiences with Fire Emblem, Super Mario World, F-Zero, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past were all on the Wii U.
(Image from nintendo.com)
I now love these games, and I’m glad the Wii U gave me the means to experience these incredible games. I can see how someone who has already played these games couldn’t relate. However, I am young, and I didn’t get to experience these masterpieces when I was growing up.
I know that the Wii U doesn’t have much third-party support. I know we are still waiting for Zelda Wii U. But I have enjoyed my time with the Wii U, more so than my Xbox One, and several other consoles that I have owned. And after all, isn’t gaming about having fun and great experiences with the games you are playing?
If that is the case, then I have had as much fun and as many great experiences with the Wii U as I have with any console I have ever owned.
