In the world of video games, delays aren’t uncommon. Some of the games that were supposed to come out in 2015 have been delayed, including “Uncharted 4.” A delay often lends more time to the developer to create a better gaming experience, but the recent announcement of “The Legend of Zelda” Wii U game being delayed to 2016 might be the final nail in the coffin for the gaming system.
Released almost a full year before the PS4 and Xbox One, the Wii U has struggled to captivate an audience in the same way as Nintendo’s previous console, Wii. That was in part due to its name and confusing presentation that made casual consumers believe it was an add-on for the Wii. Another possible reason for the console’s struggles is its capabilities compared to other gaming systems. When the PS4 and Xbox One were released, they drew spotlight away from the Wii U, causing sales to drop.
None of this is to say that the Wii U wasn’t a compelling console that offered specific game concepts. The gamepad was a piece of hardware that could create memorable game experiences, and the entire console aimed to bring increased activity between the player and the games.
Games like “Super Smash Bros” and “Super Mario 3D World” proved Nintendo was still capable of creating great experiences. Almost every Nintendo-made game pushed for innovation, but the Wii U constantly struggled to have third-party developer support.
With the delay of “The Legend of Zelda,” the upcoming schedule for the Wii U is almost barren in comparison to its competition, and with rumors swirling of the Wii U’s replacement, things aren’t looking good for the console. None of this should be alarming to the Nintendo faithful. The gaming console still offers plenty of experiences and fun through its backlog of games and compatibility with last generation’s Wii.
The games that are coming out for the system this year look to be time consuming experiences. “Yoshi’s Woolly World” will be released in the first half of this year and will offer players a vibrant platformer that centers on Mario’s green dinosaur. The role playing game Xenoblade X will also becoming out sometime this year, offering fans the ability to slay monsters together.
What will be the legacy of the Wii U? It was a system that tried to do different things to differing degrees of success. When it succeeded, it offered gaming experiences that couldn’t be found anywhere else, but ultimately, the lack of third party support killed the Wii U.
