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Down but not out: 10 Wii U games we can’t wait for
Nintendo’s console may be struggling against Xbox One and PS4, but it still has games on the way.
The Legend of Zelda for the Wii U
© Nintendo
When you sell over 100 million units of a console it's fair to expect your next machine to continue that success – especially if it has a similar name – but that hasn't happened with Nintendo's Wii U. With its lifespan coming to an end the underrated platform has shifted just 10 million units globally, despite having some of the best games of this hardware generation. However, we're not here to dwell on the failings of the Wii U or point out what Nintendo could – and should – have done differently; instead, we're going to highlight 10 must-have releases which are still on the way, proving that there's life in the console yet.
Star Fox Zero
Fox McCloud's glorious return after a decade in the void of space was supposed to be Nintendo's big Christmas offering, but the game was very recently delayed until Q1 2016, robbing many a fan of their festive cheer. Still, if a later release ensures that Nintendo can fine-tune the gameplay then we're all for it – we got to play a little of the game post-E3 and found the dual-screen perspective was useful but took a lot of getting used to. The visuals – which look very much like 1997's Star Fox 64 but in HD – could also do with a little polish, but at least the whole thing moves in a silky-smooth 60fps.
Yooka-Laylee
The first game from UK studio Playtonic Games – formed by ex-Rare staffers – Yooka-Laylee is channeling the spirit of Banjo-Kazooie and is, at the time of writing, the most successful UK-based Kickstarter gaming campaign ever. The £2 million (€2.7m) raised during the funding drive will go towards creating an old-school 3D platformer the likes of which hasn't been seen since – well, since Rare stopped making them, to be honest. With more Rare legends joining the team – including Grant Kirkhope, David Wise and Kevin Bayliss – this is shaping up to be one of the highlights of 2016.
The Legend of Zelda
Since the teaser footage shown off at E3 2014 we've heard precious little of the latest Zelda title, and its delay well into 2016 has triggered rumours that like its ancestor Twilight Princess – which was held back so it could launch simultaneously on both the GameCube and its successor, the Wii – this latest Link adventure is being groomed as a possible launch title for Nintendo's next console, dubbed NX. That means Wii U might have to wait to play the game, but it's such an iconic series that the system will at least go out with a bang rather than a whimper. A massive open world environment is promised, and Nintendo has stated that the game will be one of the most innovative in the long and proud history of the series.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
At the time the most successful video game Kickstarter ever, this gothic platformer comes from former Castlevania producer Koji Igarashi, the man who oversaw a mini-revival of Konami's vampire-hunting franchise before parting ways with the publisher under a cloud of disillusion. Now back in the saddle – thanks to the efforts of his legions of fans – Igarashi is hard at work on Bloodstained, which is as close to a proper Castlevania sequel as we're likely to get any time soon; following the lacklustre Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, Konami seems to have mothballed the series. Not to worry though – this is sure to scratch the same itch quite well, thanks very much.
Genei Ibun Roku X FE / Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem
Two of Japan's most famous and respective RPG franchises collide, but not in quite the way you might think. Genei Ibun Roku X FE is set in the modern day, with the main characters being pop stars who can connect with spiritual warriors – known as Mirages – who have crossed over from another dimension to battle a growing evil. It's totally bonkers but in a loveable Japanese kind of way, and boasts some amazing visuals and gripping turn-based combat. Will it save the Wii U in the west? There's about as much chance as The Smiths reforming and playing Candle in the Wind live on The X Factor, but hardcore RPG fans won't mind that one bit.
Mighty No. 9
An early Japanese Kickstarter success, Mighty No. 9 comes from former Capcom staffer Keiji Inafune, who was intimately involved with the legendary Mega Man series. This title showcases a similar theme and very familiar gameplay, which – in the absence of a proper Mega Man game – probably goes some way to explaining why it managed to raise over $4 million in pledges. Expected to launch this September, the game has since been pushed back to February 2016, when it will receive a digital and physical release on Wii U.
Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water
Known in the US as Fatal Frame, the Project Zero series is one of Japan's scariest, which makes this release on a family-friendly Nintendo console something of a shock. The gameplay is based around fighting off malevolent ghosts using a special camera, and in this case the Wii U GamePad replicates said item. It's all very Japanese – the jump scares are straight out of the cult Japanese horror movie The Ring – but it's nevertheless a valuable Wii U exclusive at a time when third party developers are all but ignoring the console. It's coming out at the end of October.
Xenoblade Chronicles X
With Star Fox Zero slipping into 2016, this cult RPG title is arguably Nintendo's biggest hitter this Christmas. It certainly has the credentials; its Wii forerunner is a classic and was recently re-released for the New Nintendo 3DS hardware, and the visuals are absolutely jaw-dropping, with gigantic robots battling it out with nightmarish fantasy monsters. With hours of gameplay on offer and unique online modes coming along for the ride, this is almost certain to please dedicated role-playing fans – whether or not it can appeal to a wider audience remains to be seen.
Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash
Super accessible and perfect for multiplayer sessions, the Mario Tennis series may not have the allure of Mario Kart but it's been providing hours of fun across the past few console generations. Ultra Smash doesn't reinvent the wheel and retains the addictive and approaching gameplay which has made previous instalments so much fun. The addition of vastly improved and downright glorious HD graphics should be enough to keep existing fans happy, while newcomers will surely be attracted by Mario's friendly face on the packaging and the tantalising promise of some multiplayer mayhem.
FAST Racing NEO
Nintendo has all but ignored calls from fans for a new F-Zero title, so we'll have to settle for FAST Racing NEO – which you'd be forgiven for branding the "next best thing" were it not for the fact that in many ways, it looks set to surpass even Nintendo's futuristic racer. Gorgeous HD visuals moving at 60fps are promised, as are a wide range of multiplayer race modes and a super-tough "Hero" feature which calls to mind the insane challenge of F-Zero GX on the GameCube. Three years in development and looking more impressive each time we see it, FAST Racing NEO is expected to drift onto the track this year, although a solid launch date is still to be announced.
