When selecting a new game console, the number of high quality exclusive games it will offer is one of the biggest factors that I mull over before spending a single cent. Some players may be content with a port of a “Triple-A” title that their friends insist they “have to” play, but the truth is… you don’t. The hype for that game will die down in a few weeks, and you’ll be left with less allowance that could have been spent on a game with tons of replay value. Most of the time in those cases, the company that’s been knocking it out of the park has done so for decades: Nintendo.
Look, I understand that many of you may have to budget yourself to just one home console, and there might not be as many futuristic first-person space shooters on the Wii U, but you’re missing out on the big picture here. I can solidly stand behind every game purchase I’ve made for the Wii U so far, and that’s more than I can say for many of 2014’s video game releases.
So, what made me such a big fan of the Wii U in 2014?
Mario Kart 8
The little racing game that could, the Mario Kart series has managed to beat out all of the other kart racing clones that have spawned over the years due to its success. Thanks to the Wii U’s improved online connectivity, it’s possible to play with others online from all over the world with almost no noticeable hangups. The most fun that comes from this robust arcade-y racer filled with tracks new and old is the joy of playing with friends locally. Couch co-op is practically a curse word for some developers nowadays, but for a geeky gathering with friends, Mario Kart 8 is pretty hard to top. Best of all, since the mechanics haven’t changed drastically since the franchise’s debut in 1992, someone who used to play on older consoles can get back into the groove pretty quickly, not unlike riding a bike. That bike just so happens to be fitted with rocket boosters and blue homing shells, but that’s the point.
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Look, I know Nintendo dropped the ball as far as naming the game goes this time around, but Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is going to be around for a very long time. Its predecessors are still getting lots of tournament play and attention online on various Twitch channels, and with all the new fighters added to the mix I can see this one outliving the Wii U itself. I totally understand some fighting game purists who refuse to leave their Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat titles alone, and that’s fine. There’s enough room in the arena for super cereal games and ones where I can zap a dragon, yoga instructor, and a talking fox with a ray gun. Under that silliness is a game that requires precise timing and opponent anticipation to get down just right. At the highest levels of tournament play, a single flinch can send you to the loser’s bracket. It’s also going to sting a little bit more when you realize that your expert swordfighter was just decimated by a monkey with a peanut popgun, so be sure to enjoy yourself.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Yes, more so than Bayonetta 2, this little game that could was one of the must-play 2014 titles that the Wii U has to offer. Building on a popular minigame that was part of Super Mario 3D World, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker takes Toad out of Princess Peach’s purse and throws him into over 70 worlds filled with puzzles and danger. Each level consists of a tiny world contained in an invisible cube that Toad and Toadette must traverse to find gold stars. While your character cannot jump, the camera can be manipulated to give you a 360 view of your venture. For someone who only has a limited amount of time to game at night, I can knock out a few levels of Captain Toad and really feel like I accomplished something. Since it’s got that first party Nintendo game polish, you can expect all the charm and challenge of a Mario game, but with enough of a twist to give Toad his own time to shine. Good for him.
Next time, we’ll check out what’s in store for Wii U in 2015. Spoiler alert: more fun games.