Last week I heard that my father in law was looking to get Mario Kart 8 since he had been playing it with my stepson and really enjoyed it. He wanted the game, but didn't have a Wii U. Since his birthday was coming up, I decided to get him the game and system as a surprise. Nintendo sells refurbished Wii Us and copies of Mario Kart 8, so I figured I could get them there and save some money. Altogether, it came to $254 and some change after (two day)shipping and tax. Not bad at all.

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The Wii U console looks brand new. Same goes for the Gamepad. Even if you're really picky about this sort of thing, there is nothing to complain about on a cosmetic level. A couple things are missing from the package that you get with a new Deluxe. There are no 'feet' included to set the console up vertically, nor is there a Gamepad charge dock. These are no big deal and are cheap to buy separately if you want them.

I opened up the system to take care of initial setup and updates. That way, he can open the system and get right to playing. However, I soon found that looks are deceiving. Shortly after hooking everything up, I turn the system on and.....nothing. No video signal is being transmitted. The light appears solid blue, the input is correct, and the disc light is on for some reason. Troubleshooting begins.

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First, I try swapping the HDMI cable that came with the Wii U with another. No changes. Next, I tried using the power supply that I use for my Wii U. Again, no changes. I tried a different HDMI port. Still nothing. So my wife and I turn to Google in search of answers. The only thing I hadn't tried was using Wii composite/component cables; both of which were missing from my house. My mother in the next town has a Wii, so we packed the system up to test the next day.

My Wii U worked fine when I plugged everything back in, so there's nothing wrong with my jacks or other equipment. I tested Mario Kart 8 and Nintendoland before putting the refurb back in the box. Both games worked. They're indistinguishable from new copies, aside from the red refurbished label on Mario Kart.

The following day I venture over to my mother's to see if I can get the Wii U to do something. I'm met with the same, disappointing "No Signal" box. I'm out of options, I have to call Nintendo. At this point, I would have been willing to just run out and buy a new Wii U if Nintendo would give me a refund. However, you can't get a refund for a refurbished product. Nintendo will repair or replace, but they won't refund you. Even if it's DOA.

I went through all the things that I already did with the tech so that we don't have to repeat anything. We didn't have to do any additional tests. I did everything there was to do and a little more since I had a spare power supply. The system will be sent in for repair soon at no cost. I might get it, or a replacement in a week. Awesome.

On the box for these things, it says Cleaned, Tested, and Inspected. Bullshit. Cleaned, definitely. I can't knock it for how clean the system is. This thing couldn't have been tested, though. There's no way. No video signal is a glaring problem that should have been picked up in either testing or inspection. It's unacceptable.

I have never received a DOA Nintendo product before. It's another blow to my confidence in the company, which I had associated with reliable products. Hopefully the replacement/repair works. It's already going to miss the birthday.

IGN posted a video comparison of how Wii games look upscaled on the Wii U. The one game they showed running, Skyward Sword, didnt look any better. This probably doesnt come as a huge surprise to many, as the games were designed around old hardware. What IGN should have been examining is how well older games run on the new hardware.

The Wii emulated Gamecube games as if they were running on your old machine, no more, no less. The Wii U manages to emulate Wii in such a way that games that previously suffered from awful framerate issues, now run far smoother. The Last Story is a perfect example of this.

On the Wii U, I encounter fewer framerate dips and hitches running through Lazilus City. In battle, when framerates would sometimes become so low that I would be unable to fend off enemies adequately, the frames only take a small hit. All areas of the game seem to run better on this new hardware.

This may not be the case with every Wii game, but its a nice bonus for whenever it works. Without knowing the specifics behind how Wii mode works, I can only speculate as to why this is. Perhaps the superior disc drive makes loading areas faster or more RAM is made available in Wii U's Wii mode than what was in the original hardware(acting similar to an N64 expansion pack).

I doubt any Wii game looks better running on the Wii U. If youre looking for better visuals, you're probably better off trying the Dolphin emulator, which will require a considerable amount of computing power. Most people didnt exactly buy a Wii for its visual fidelity, so a smoother gameplay experience should be good enough.

"The Wii U is a solid package that is unfortunately plagued by inefficient software and odd design choices."

Review

Pros: Small and beautiful design, quiet disc drive, Good management of heat, Lots of features, Gamepad is very responsive and feels good in your hands, Gamepad display is surprisingly sharp, Miiverse and Nintendo Network are both easy and fun to use, Ability to buy full retail games digitally, Lots of options for expanding storage

Cons: Day 1 update is required for backwards compatibility and many other features, Some networking issues, Absurd loading times between menus, Occasional lockup, Convoluted system transfer process, Risk of losing save data in the system transfer process, Bloated OS, Amount of space available for users is deceiving, SD cards can't hold Wii U related content

It's that time again! Console makers are either talking about or releasing their new systems. The next generation is here and Nintendo is the first one on the field with the Wii U. It manages to pack a considerable amount of power into a small space and is leaps and bounds better than the original Wii launched in 2006. Wii U manages to address complaints surrounding its predecessor, but while it is a nice system, it is not perfect.

The console itself looks like a longer Wii with rounded edges and buttons. It's meant to sit horizontally, like later models of the Wii, but it can work vertically with the feet included with the Deluxe version. Under the front flap, you'll find the SD card port and two USB ports. In the back, you have an HDMI port, two additional USB ports, sensor bar port, power port, and then the standard component/composite port. The setup will be very familiar to those who owned Nintendo's previous console.

One of the big selling points behind the Wii U is the new controller, dubbed the Gamepad. It might look like a heavy component in pictures, but it is surprisingly light. Compared to an Xbox 360 controller, it isn't much heavier. The analog sticks are comfortable to use and getting to the D-pad or ABXY buttons under them is fairly hassle-free thanks to clever spacing and shallow grips on the backside.

While the shallow grips do make buttons easier to access, it may make the controller feel a bit awkward to newcomers. The Gamepad doesn't seem to fit as well to my hands as the Gamecube or Wii Classic Controllers do, but this will probably fade as I get more experience with the console.

Speakers are located on both sides of the controller, along with volume control on the top and a headset jack. For those worrying about how images look on the touch screen, the images are brighter and sharper than you would think. It obviously isn't going to look as good as what's being displayed on a 1080p television, but the screen provides a fantastic scaled down image that should be satisfactory for most. What makes this better is how responsive the touch screen is, despite using older technology.

When you first power up your Wii U, you're brought through the standard setup procedures that you would go through with most other modern consoles set up the date, time, first user, and network settings. After this is done, you're prompted to get the Day 1 update. If you choose not to, your Wii U won't do much aside from play Wii U games.

This is where some issues begin to arise with the Wii U. While the box says 8GB or 32GB of memory, the operating system cuts directly into that amount. With the 8GB model, you're going to have around 3GB to actually work with when all is said and done. When I finished updating the system and all the applications(that require separate updates), Wii U told me that I had 25GB free out of 32GB in the system. You're told how much memory you get, but how much you can use is significantly less.

One of the solid facts that we know about the Wii U hardware is that it has 2GB of RAM built in. Half of this is dedicated specifically to the operating system. You would imagine that this would allow the system to flip between menus and apps with ease, but this isn't the case. When going to, say, the system settings menu, the amount of time it takes to bring up that menu from the Wii U home page can be anywhere between five to ten seconds. On one occasion, the system locked up on me completely.

This raises some questions about the operating system's efficiency. While it looks nice, there is no reason why it cannot load a fairly simple menu faster than it can, especially when it uses twice the amount of RAM available in the Xbox 360. I don't think this will be a permanent issue, as operating systems tend to become more efficient as time goes on.

Efficiency gripes aside, the main menu is very easy to navigate. When you have created a Nintendo Network account and connect to Miiverse, you'll see tons of Miis on your television and what game they are playing. The Gamepad will have a 3DS-like menu with different applications listed. You can swap what is displayed on the Gamepad and television by pressing the X button, which allows you to interact with different things via the Gamepad.

Setting up a Nintendo Network account was quick and painless. You can use whatever email address you like, select a username, fill out some basic information(such as your birth date), enter the activation code from your email, and you're done. Friend codes are gone, and Nintendo has finally moved on to an account based system.

Miiverse itself is fun to watch and interact with. Users post all sorts of drawings, tips, and questions for other players. From the Miiverse menu, you can comment on posts, follow other users, and send friend requests. You can also choose to block or report users.

Those looking for backwards compatibility will find that the Wii U isn't as easy as the Wii when it comes to playing previous generation games. When you insert a Wii disc, the disc menu will recognize it as a Wii game, but will prompt you to go into Wii mode, which is basically the Wii OS. From Wii mode, playing your old games is the same as putting them into your original Wii. It works, but it's a shame that there is a hoop to jump through before you can use the software. If you're looking to port your Wii stuff over the way it was before, there is a system transfer feature available.

However, one should note that the system transfer is a bit complicated and you need to read the directions very carefully. Even if you do follow the directions down to the letter, there is a chance that all your save data can be lost in the transfer, should the SD card fail in the final step. Your Wii Shop information seems to be transferred over the internet, but local content is put onto the SD card for transport, and then your local copies are deleted. It's a big gamble, and in my case, I lost ALL of my save data. This doesn't happen to everyone, but the problem is out there and can be a huge setback if you're in the middle of completing a game.

AND....there goes the save data. All of it.

In Wii mode, the system could not connect to the same router I was connected to from the Wii U menu. In Wii U mode, connectivity is fine. This forced me to use an older b/g router to connect to the internet in Wii mode.

Wii mode still makes use of the SD card, but Wii U content cannot be written to the card. For Wii U downloadable games, saves, and etc, you need to use either a USB storage device or the system's built in memory. Allowing Wii U to use the SD card seems like it would only be a matter of creating another directory, but Nintendo has chosen not to let us use it at all for next gen storage. So, if you're thinking about the 8GB Wii U, throwing an SD card in it won't alleviate your storage woes.

There are several applications that come in with the Day 1 update. Hulu Plus, Youtube, Netflix, Amazon Video, and Video Chat are all available to you on the home page. You won't be able to access them immediately, as they require updates. They're nice additions, but not necessarily anything ground breaking.

One of the most notable applications is the internet browser. It's the opposite of what you get on the 3DS. This browser is fast, easy to use, and is capable of loading Youtube video. Tabs are supported for flipping between pages, as well. There are some imperfections, such as the occasional page trying to load over and over, but this is much better than the Wii Opera browser or the 3DS browser.

The eShop is similar to what is on the 3DS, only expanded. Users can buy full retail games digitally and download them to your console. 1st and 3rd party games are both available, as well as Indy games. Videos and screenshots can be viewed from the eShop to enhance purchasing decisions, although steaming video can be troublesome at seemingly random times.

The Wii U is a nice console. The Gamepad makes interacting with the system more convenient than ever, and there's plenty of functionality just over the horizon with Nintendo TVii. Unfortunately, the system currently suffers more from software problems than anything else. With a few more updates, these problems will likely disappear and later models won't require so much updating. Waiting is not a bad idea with this console, especially if you don't see a must-have game. For those who want to jump right in, the 32GB version is the way to go.

Reviewer's Notes:

The actual score for this system is more like a 7.8. I rounded down because the issues that exist are difficult to ignore, at least for me. The score doesn't necessarily mean that I find the system mediocre or lacking - far from it. The Wii U is a feature rich console with lots of potential when you have it all updated, but one should be prepared for some frustrations. Compared to the original Wii, I like this system much better even though I gave both the same Gamespot score. The scores were simply given for different reasons.

Some sites have complained about the system using USB 2.0. I didn't mention this in the review because it doesn't seem relevant. Sure, it's slower than 3.0, but it still gets the job done and plenty of devices are compatible. I have Age of Empires III, Halo, and Doom 3 installed on a USB stick for my netbook, and those games run just fine. The fact that this older tech is being used isn't really worth noting as a pro or con.

After playing Nintendoland for a couple hours, I felt the system to see how well it was managing heat. My guess is that Nintendoland doesn't really push Wii U at all, as it was basically room temperature. The fan is quiet and pulls a surprising amount of air, too.

Gamespot score: 7.5

Actual: 7.8

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On my way out of Gamestop, I had to do a double-take for my brain to register that they had a Wii U in the corner. Since I'm planning on getting the system, hopefully, this holiday, I turned myself around and went back in to get a little hands-on time with Nintendo's new machine. Despite only having a Rayman Legends demo, I'm very impressed with the hardware.

The Gamepad takes some getting-used-to, but that's the case with many controllers. Both analog sticks at the top felt very natural and using the abxy buttons below the right stick was fairly hassle-free. The touch screen is large, bright, and sharp enough for playing games, while remaining extremely responsive. What makes this even better is how light the whole package is. It didn't feel much heavier than a Xbox 360 controller.

One thing I didn't like about the Gamepad was how the grips were positioned on the back side. It doesn't fit as well to my hand as the Gamecube or Wii Classic controllers do. I think this is because the grips aren't as pronounced, and that the reasoning for this is to make the abxy buttons easier to access. It's a minor tradeoff that I should be able to adapt to in the long run.

As I wrote before, Rayman Legends was the only demo available. The game displays in gorgeous HD and makes thoughtful use of the Gamepad. It's a solid demo with some platforming elements that you'll expect(run, jump, attack, etc), but it packs a lot of unique environmental interaction that makes you turn to the Gamepad, such as cutting ropes and turning giant maze wheels. Rayman moves by himself in some areas, depending on if using the Gamepad and moving at the same time are critical.

Rayman Legends is obviously built with local multiplayer in mind. Like New Super Mario Bros U, there can be several players on screen moving around while one focuses on tablet based interaction. So, grab a buddy if you want to have total control over your character. I was not able to test this feature out, but it was shown in several screenshots on the home menu.

I was hoping that New Super Mario Bros U, NintendoLand, or Pikmin would be available for demo, but there are only videos for those games. Still, Rayman was enough to give me a base idea on Nintendo's new machine. Looks like I'll be waiting in line November 17!

When I heard about the Mass Effect Trilogy, I was naturally intrigued. PS3 owners would finally get to play the first Mass Effect, and everyone else who had never bothered(or couldn't for one reason or another) would be able to get all three games at one low price....except for one platform. Regardless of whether or not the set includes all the DLC(unconfirmed as of right now), it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to release the entire set at $60 prior to when you will be releasing Mass Effect 3 on the Wii U for the same price.

It's completely backwards from a business perspective. All three games is an incredible value, given how much content you get for $60. Gamers could get that OR the weakest entry in the series, alone, for the same price. Yes, Mass Effect 3 will have Wii U specific features that aren't available on other platforms, but that's not the point. The point is, by doing this, EA has sabotaged their own product on the Wii U by diminishing its value. Kind of hard to justify paying $60 for ME3 when you can get it, plus much more, for the same price elsewhere.

Product Suicide

This development won't completely drain sales away from the Wii U version of Mass Effect 3, but I have a strong feeling that it will prevent the game from selling as well as it otherwise would have. It would be immensely smart on EA's part to throw Straight Right more funding and delay the release of Mass Effect 3 to pack it in with the trilogy. A Special Edition of the full trilogy would likely sell far better than just releasing one stand-alone entry. They could delay the release until March or April, if necessary.

Personally, I'm willing to buy a product again if there is something to justify it. For example, I bought Resident Evil 4 for the Wii, even though I already have it for the Gamecube. The reason for the purchase was for the extra content that I never got to experience, plus the new control scheme which, in my opinion, made the game superior to all versions prior. I repurchased Oblivion for the PC, even though I already owned it on the 360, for similar reasons.

The same could be done for Mass Effect on the Wii U. I own the full trilogy and I'm willing to purchase it again IF EA allows their studio to make enough modifications to justify the price tag. Nintendo's new platform has more than enough features to make such a thing happen. Hell, add in pointer control and I'm sold(seriously, I always wanted to play ME with the Wiimote).

I would buy this.

A console launch is the perfect time to make a good impression, as there are only a handful of games to compete with. So, why not start off on the right foot? Why give Nintendo gamers the impression that they're going to get shafted, while other platforms enjoy special bundles with a superior amount of content? Surely they can't be that dense. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a Wii U version of the trilogy, but I can't help but feel disappointed in the meantime.

It seems like every time I log on here I have an update about something, but it usually involves the same news stories over and over. In particular, "Wii U important for the world says Nintendo". I certainly don't agree with Nintendo's statement, but I find the Wii U to be important from another perspective. It's important, but more for Nintendo than anyone else.

Nintendo: Wii changed the perception of our brand

I remember the Nintendo 2006 press conference clearly. There were tons of games unveiled, including clips of next generation Mario and Metroid games and the new IP, Project Hammer. Ubisoft came out and gave a demonstration of Red Steel, giving the crowd an idea of things to come with Nintendo's new controller. In short, the press conference left many gamers, myself included, anxious to get our hands on Wii. Sure, the name was kind of dumb and I'll never forget all the Wii jokes, but that was all irrelevant after the conference.

Fast forward six years and we find that the Wii didn't live up to the expectations of many people who purchased the system. Project Hammer was canceled, loads of shovelware made its way on to the platform, Wii gamers usually got the worst 3rd party ports, when Wii didn't get the worst port, it sometimes didn't get the game at all, friend codes turned out to be a huge pain, games were usually graphically inferior to those on other platforms and Nintendo itself is guilty of releasing some very crappy titles. Don't get me wrong here, I like my Wii and I have over 40 games for it if you count those purchased in the virtual console. It has plenty of gems, but the system could have been so much more.

Sure, it has Xenoblade, The Last Story, Metroid Prime 3, Mario Galaxy, and Red Steel 2, but I would have loved to play Crysis or Mass Effect with pointer control. Once High Voltage managed to get the shooting mechanics down, I actually preferred to play shooters on Wii for the enhanced control. It felt more engaging and I couldn't help but fantasize about playing AAA games from other platforms with Wii control. If Crysis 2 or The Darkness ran well on Nintendo's platform, I would have bought them for Wii as opposed to competing consoles and maybe even PC.

The Wii is viewed by many as a family, or casual, console; something for mom, dad, and grandma to play on a rainy day. This casual perception has carried over to Nintendo's next console, along with the idea that it will be technically inferior to other next gen competitors. The disappointing showing at E3 didn't do much to convince skeptics, either. I actually feel that it did a bit more damage than good, and that's all because of their business decisions regarding Wii.

Wii U must overcome the negative perception of the brand that Nintendo created with Wii. It has to prove that customers won't get shafted with the worst versions of multiplatform games, prove that customers won't miss out on certain next gen multiplatform games, prove that Nintendo is taking online gaming seriously, and prove that it's not just 2006 all over again. Nintendo has an uphill battle on their hands, and that's what makes the Wii U so important. It is incredibly important for them, not for the world.

Does the Wii U set itself apart from other systems? Yes, but so did Wii and that didn't turn out as well as many had hoped. It made Nintendo a lot of money, but at the cost of its image. Time will tell whether the Wii U is just another Wii when next gen projects start coming into the limelight. I will buy the Wii U because I love Nintendo's first party games, but I hope that Wii U achieves more than its predecessor.