I deliberated between the Xbox One and PS4, and chose the Wii U

The next generation is finally here. Excitement! Enrapturement! Expensiveness! Though which of these two shiny new boxes of magic and wonder to purchase? Getting both would be just greedy!

In one corner there’s the Xbox One with its love of non game-related media, and its eyes and ears that study your every move. In the other corner stands the Playstation 4, the great-value gaming machine that loves games so much, it keeps giving you them for free (ish).

Both are out and ready to buy right now. So which next-gen console do you choose? How about the Wii U?

“Boo! Hiss! The Wii U isn’t proper next-gen. It’s doomed!” you might say but think about it for a moment, it’s no secret by now that the launch titles for both the Xbox One and Playstation 4 are less than fantastic, quite typical of new console launches.

Though with the recent releases of Super Mario 3D World, Wind Waker HD and Pikmin 3, it’s managing to build up a roster of those classic Nintendo games we’ve come to...

[NatureOfLogic]

How about some third party support first? Until then, no. Nintendo fans should being hoping that WiiU can at least make it through another year of mediocre sales.

[jimbobwahey]

I think the lack of support from Nintendo themselves is more of a problem to be honest. New Super Mario U and Super Mario 3D World are great but uh, that's about it, and that's a big problem.

Where is Metroid? F-Zero? StarFox? They're too slow putting games out which is why I wouldn't even contemplate getting a Wii U for at least three years, because otherwise it will be gathering dust for way too long. I'll snag one when it has a decent library of games, and right now it's nowhere near having that.

[NewMonday]

a console is a long term investment, will the WiiU play..

Destiny
BF4
FIFA14
NFL14
Evolve
Aliens
Thief
MGS5
Witcher3
Dragon Age 3
Elder Scrolls Online
the Division
Mad Max

[imXify]

There has been 3 full years of slow releases on Nintendo home consoles from first party devs. 2011 only had Zelda with some RPGs, 2012 had WiiU with Super Mario Bros, 2013 had 3D World. That's really not enough.

( I know there was more but sales didn't do them justice )

[gedden7]

@NewModay

Im sure only a handful of those games will actually good enough but non (more than likely) will be considered a classic...

You know what classics games with NEW "GAMEPLAY" EXPERIENCES you will get with Nintendo.

[cleft5]

For me it is PS4 now, and WiiU when X comes out. Hopefully by then Bayonetta 2 and Fire Emblem x Shin Megami will be out by then.

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

@NewMonday

Your list has no variety. ALL GUN GORE M RATED or sports or WRPG or T and action

Bayonetta 2 (Nintendo) Action
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Nintendo) Platformer
Hyrule Warriors (Nintendo) Action
The Legend of Zelda (Nintendo) Action Adventure
Mario Kart 8 (Nintendo) Kart Racer
Monolith Soft RPG (Nintendo) Action JRPG
Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem (Nintendo) JRPG
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (Nintendo) Fighting
Wii Fit U (Nintendo) Fitness

EXCLUSIVE are better quality games that multiplats.
Yarn Yoshi (Nintendo)

[deafdani]

New Super Mario Bros U, Nintendoland, Wii Fit U, Wonderful 101 (published), Pikmin 3, Lego City Undercover (published), Zelda Wind Waker HD, Super Mario 3D World, Wii Sports Club (Tennis, Bowling, Golf so far), Mario & Sonic Winter Olympics. Those are Wii U games that Nintendo made sure to release on the Wii U's first year, on top of all the insane amount of stuff they put out for the 3DS this year. Those are just the top of my head, I'm probably forgetting something.

And next year, Nintendo has Smash Bros, Mario Kart, Donkey Kong and Monolith Soft's "X" in the pipeline, and they are also publishing Bayonetta 2, as well as Hyrule Warriors in collaboration with Tecmo Koei. And there's still unnanounced stuff to take into consideration, as well as games without release dates (Yarn Yoshi and Fire Emblem x Shin Megami Tensei). On top of that, only God knows what they have in the works for the 3DS next year, but even if it's only half of what they put for it this year, it will be batshit insane.

So, no. Nintendo's support for his own consoles, both home consoles and handhelds, has been amazing so far, and that trend doesn't look like it will diminish anytime soon. Yes, new F-Zero and Starfox entries would be nice because both franchises have been dormant for a while now, but Metroid saw two full games on the Wii plus the Prime Trilogy collection.

To even imply that Nintendo is lazy is blatantly untrue. They work very hard to release all kinds of games constantly.

So yeah, it's definitely third party relations where Nintendo needs to improve. Their own work is, overall, plenty and high quality. You will be very hard pressed to find a game company that works so hard to bring out that many games, most of them high quality, besides Nintendo... and Sony, for that matter.

[gedden7]

To be honest most of the 3rd paty games do suck or are mediocre.. So why waste your time and money???

[Master-H]

That's BS and you know it, you're only saying this because it fits your argument, according to you most of : Biosohck series, AssCreed, Dark Souls, Mass Effect, Batman series, Fallout, Elders Scrolls, Rockstar games like GTAs RDR Bully etc suck...pure Lols

[deafdani]

So, you don't want the Wii U to have the same amount of third party support as its competitors?

If you really think like that, reconsider, because you're not actually doing Nintendo any favors.

[brewin]

There are some really great titles on the Wii u and some of them are 3rd party titles. Rayman legends on U is the definitive version, AC 4 is only a slight step below the ps4 version, and there are several exclusives available now and later this year that can't be beat. I played half way thru the 360 version of AC 4 then tried the Wii u version and was shocked at how much better it actually is. There is also the virtual console, which offers some incredibly awesome old school stuff. The Wii u is a great value at the current price and it really is a sweet system. Anyone who says otherwise hasn't spent any amount of time with it.

[JohnnyTower]

Rayman was supposed to be an exclusive though. Then came to Wii U too late and overpriced. It's the same problem with Deus Ex; the definitive version came too late and overpriced on Wii u. There is no love with 3rd party devs right now. Wii U seems to miss a lot of extras from other 3rd party games as well. Ninty needs to ease the pressure on their legacy franchises and get some AAA fresh IPs.
Wii U is great, but I would be sad if it was my only console.

[brewin]

But why argue semantics? The games ARE there and they ARE the better versions. Deus Ex I understand a little more, but I got Rayman for $20 on the U and it did come out the same time as the other versions. And the game is better than the other versions I have played. The gamepad is integrated incredibly well and it is just an incredibly fun game.

[TheEnigma313]

I chose the PS4 for obvious reason. I will pick up a wiiu someday.

[brewin]

What obvious reasons? I wanted to get a ps4 but couldnt justify the price because no games.

[TheEnigma313]

I can tell by your avatar why you didn't choose a ps4.

[Nevers0ft]

Not sure why you're getting the down-votes, that seems like a pretty fair assessment. I'm very interested in a PS4, it looks like a great console but it doesn't have the software to entice me to it.. Yet (but it will).

[brewin]

@ Cochise

Lol. Because my avatar? Its Mario puffin a spliff. I'm a bigger PS gamer than a Nintendo one, but I don't blindly support any company. Sony has made some mistakes and their lineup didn't impress me enough to make the price worth it yet in my eyes. What a Douchy troll comment. I still have my ps3 and the games I have on that impress me more than what I have seen and played of the ps4 so far. The Wii u is a great system that has games now and in the very near future that I want to play. All that 3rd party stuff is also available on current gen, PC, or the u anyway. Sorry my opinion isn't the same as yours.

[starfox079]

WiiU is far more capable than xbox1 for game performance end of if you think otherwise your daft.......ive watched difital foundry videos of AC4 on wiiu/ps4/xbox1 and wiiu has the best water and water reflections,wiiu version has better textures than xbox1 on almost everything,wiiu has less rain thats it ???

Lets compare X next year...to AC4

[GuruMeditation]

A woodlouse can easily overpower a sherman tank, anyone who says otherwise is daft. See, I can do it too :)

[JohnnyTower]

X will be swept away by Titanfall. Nintendo's timing on their game releases is odd to say the least. Mario 3d for nov 22? That was silly. And nintendo's mech franchise will be fighting an uphill battle to be remembered next to the titanfall series. I'm not a hater, just a realist.

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

lol no Xeno has much much much bigger world of than Titan Fall

[Nevers0ft]

This isn't me ragging on Titanfall because (obviously) I haven't played it... But it looks like yet another FPS, albeit a very pretty one. What am I missing here?

[Quetzll]

@JohnnyTower

"X" is the next entry in the XenoSeries, which has a HUGE following. Titanfall looks cool, but is a new exclusive IP that looks very similar to COD; just with mechs.

Really, they both are lucky that they're exclusive to their platforms, because they won't be competing directly with each other. They're also different genres. IMO, X obviously has had more heart put into it. Just look at the trailers.

But to argue your point about X being "swept away" by Titanfall, X already has a much bigger fanbase.

[dericb11]

I am proud you picked the system that works for you. We all get to pick the one we think is best for us. Do you need a article to explain why? Nope. Just pick the one you think is best and game on.

[windblowsagain]

If you like ninty first party, you'll go that way.

But i like a range, which is why i would choose PS4.

[WeAreLegion]

See... I love Nintendo's first party titles. However, if I hadn't received my Wii U as a gift, I would not own one right now. Super Mario 3D World is phenomenal. LEGO City: Undercover is possibly the best LEGO game ever made. ZombiU is a fun horror experience. The fun sort of ends there for me though. Monster Hunter isn't really my thing. I enjoy the knock-offs more, like Gods Eater and Soul Sacrifice. They have much faster game play. I can't hunt monsters when my character is practically turn-based.

I would only recommend a Wii U to super hardcore Nintendo fans. Almost anyone else is going to run out of things to play very quickly.

[brewin]

There is plenty of things to play, just no sports, racing, or fps games. A few but nothing great. So if you need those types of games the u isn't really for u. But the u version of arkham origins and ac4 are superior to the current gen versions and there are a lot of 3rd party games too. Stuff gets overlooked easy when there are actually great experiences there. Scribblenauts, the eshop stuff like NEo assault, and lots of indie games get overlooked. There is plenty of content even if much of it is available on other platforms. The Wii u has games but people dont seem to notice.

[deafdani]

You like fast paced games? Give Wonderful 101 a spin, then. For fans of action games, this title is fantastic.

[weirdo]

i chose ps4 but i plan on getting both a steam machine and a wii u, if my bank allows me to

[WeAreLegion]

I own both a Wii U and a PS4. Nintendo and Sony make incredible games. However, I have already beaten all the Wii U games I can possibly beat. Sometimes, I go back to ZombiU, but it's rare. I do still play some Wii games on it though. I want Donkey Kong, but I'm not paying $50 for it. I think my next Wii U game will be Super Smash Bros. U. I'm not terribly excited about Mario Kart. There are just so many other games like it out there right now that I feel have bested Mario Kart. I might pick up Bayonetta 2, but Platinum has been letting me down lately.

[Activemessiah]

How did Platinum let you down? I don't think they even have a bad game to their name.

[deafdani]

MadWorld, in my opinion, was terrible. It was all style, but zero substance. Awesome graphics, but that's it.

Bayonetta, on the other hand, is pretty good, and Wonderful 101 is my favorite game of all time. I'll give Metal Gear Rising a spin sometime soon, I think.

:)

[Fanboyssuck27]

I'd choose Wii U everytime. Nintendo are the only company that makes top quality first party titles that many 3rd party games can't even match up to.

For games and gameplay Wii U wins everytime.

For hype, sales and graphics, ps4 wins hands down.

For best "multimedia" console xbone wins that category.

[DanielGearSolid]

Sorry but Nintendo doesnt get an automatic win in gameplay... Maybe in your opinion...

I Rather miss out on another Mario or Zedla than:

Dark Souls
Metal Gear Solid
Theif
Destiny

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

lmao

[Chrischi1988]

Lol^^

[Daldrakar]

who said you had to miss out on anything? Buy more than one console. Fanboyssuck27 never mentioned anything about only owning a single console. Why limit yourself at all?

[_QQ_]

actually PC wins graphics, online games, and is tied with Sony on exclusives.

Nintendo is all about exclusives, the best ones.

Sony rocks that exclusive game too, but i will also be getting it for some few third party games that don't make it to PC like MGSV,KH3, and FFXV
thats actually it lol.

MS i stay away from.

so i guss my list would go.

Best overall-PC
Best exclusives- Wiiu
Exclusives and some third party- PS4

@danielgearsolid, so get both?!?

[DanielGearSolid]

@lopez
True, get em all! If you want.

But im basing what I said on the article and person I replied to. They both insinuate one or the other

[Hicken]

First party games from ANY of the console manufacturers tend to trump third party titles. First party studios know their away around the hardware better, so they tend to get much better results.

And given how frequently Sony first party titles, at the least, have beat out everybody else's to be GOTY this past generation, it's hard to even see how your second sentence could be true(since this would mean Sony beats out Nintendo, meaning Nintendo isn't the ONLY company to best third party offerings).

Then there's some tripe where you fanboy, despite your name being a dig at just that sort of individual.

Hypocrites being hypocritical. Just another day at N4G.

[deafdani]

True, Nintendo has awesome games, and I actually prefer their games... but stop your nonsense, Sony has an absurd array of superb games under their belt, too.

Little Big Planet, Modnation Racers, Infamous, Motorstorm, God of War, Uncharted, The Last of Us, Gran Turismo, etc.

[DanielGearSolid]

I think long term when I buy consoles... Wii U doesn't have what I'm looking for now, or on the horizon

[Bathyj]

Since the N64 onwards, Nintendo consoles have been machines you buy to pretty much play Nintendo games. If you not interested in the first party line up for WiiU, what's the point. No one is buying it for multiplats.

[_QQ_]

Excellent choice. Wiiu has great Long term, Smash Bros and X will probably be the best online exclusive offerings outside of PC gaming, Not to mention Nintendo's exclusives are the best.

[DCfan]

X has online??

[Activemessiah]

The devs were recently recruiting for all kinds of things, one of them might be online.

[_QQ_]

Its pretty obvious at this point after examination of the trailers, also the Job listings on Monolith's site from a year ago.

[finite]

I did the same, but I also have a gaming pc so no need for the other next gen systems

[tigertron]

Pick the console that has the games that appeal to you the most. Or buy them all if you have the money.

I personally chose the PS4 and I'm glad I did.

[josephayal]

Wii U is the best choice for gamers

[tigner]

with my new baby girl (1st one, probably only one) coming in 2 months, I won't be able to support the U like I did the original Wii. (there just won't be any time)...

But when she gets older I know this will be the console of choice as the games will be kid friendly and will play the preschool games easily that were on the original Wii.

**pluse I want me some new Zelda!!!

[SmilingAdvocate]

I loled at the title

Buy a wii u if your a kid stuck in the past - Mario was amazing now it's rote, and Zelda is just a remake ffs

[Aether123]

I have a Wii U and a PS4, nothing like being a multi-console gamer :)

[truechainz]

Seriously though wouldn't have it any other way.

[pootymcpoockle]

I don't get all the fuss about the lack of third party support with the Wii U, Let me ask you guys a question.

When you bought your Xbox One's and/or PS4's, what was the biggest factor when you made your decision? Was it the games that are exclusive to the system by any chance? Maybe you really wanted to get your hands on Dead Rising 3 and want to be ready for the next Halo game. Or maybe you're a big fan of KillZone and know that you can only get the next Uncharted title on the PS4. You may have even made your choice based entirely on petty Fanboyism.

The point I'm trying to make is that the majority of people make their console choice based on the exclusives, not the third party titles. If that were the case, most people would just game with a PC.

[MNGamer-N]

It's going to be a strong year for the WIIU game library. I have a feeling slow starts for consoles are the new norm. The WIIU software train is set to arrive in 2014 and beyond.

[Necro_559]

Oh my, you choose the wrong horse then, i love seeing articles like this. Have fun, with your 7th gen tech. Have fun never playing a 3rd party game again. Have fun not having a decent online service. The original Xbox had a better online infrastructure. And have fun only play 1 or 2 1st party games a year. You have officially bought a dust collector.

[pootymcpoockle]

Never playing a 3rd party title again?

Let's count:
Batman Arkham City Armoured Edition & Arkham Origins
Rayman Legends
Assassins Creed 3 & 4
Tekken Tag 2
Project CARS
Resident Evil Revelations
CoD Black Ops 2 & CoD Ghosts
Injustice: Gods Among Us
Ninja Gaiden 3
Skylanders (Whichever one is out at the moment, can't remember)
Trine 2
Watch Dogs

These are just off the top of my head, and if you do a little research I'm sure you'll find a few more. But as I mentioned in an earlier comment, people buy consoles based on their exclusives, not the 3rd party software, but feel free to troll harder next time.

[marloc_x]

Have owned mine for over a year and it is a fantastic machine! Online is very good. The browser is superb, Mii Verse is fun and all my shooters play like silk,(and look NO different on my family's PS4 either Necro)! Dust collector? not in my house ;) oh.. and if you ever cave and get one, shoot me your Network ID HaHa!

[Chrischi1988]

@Necro:

Most of use own more than one console or lets say gaming system.

I have a pretty new gaming PC, for around $800 and it wipes the floor with a PS4, gameplay and graphic-wise.

I choose a Wii U, because it is actually the only console worth it, in my eyes. I get games I wont get on PC and on PC I get like every game that is an important 3rd party game, in a much better way and I get it cheaper. First Party is all that makes your console different to others. First Party is not comparable between Nintendo and Sony, Sonys first party is like another 3rd party game. On PC I get my RTS games, which will never be playable as on a PC.

And it is not 7th gen tech, maybe you should learn about that stuff a little more, it cant be 7th gen, alone because of the Touchscreen, which makes it actually more up to date, then most on your PS4, you only got hardware and that doesnt automatically improve the game, I know that, because I play in higher graphics, then what PS4 offers and then go back to my Wii U ;)

And again one of the "Nintendo has bad online" Trolls. Games that offer online, which most 3rd party games do, offer a completely normal online experience I we dont pay nothing. Think about it, paying for online is stupid and that companies tell you, they need it is BS. On PC you never pay for online (other than MMOs of course) and it works perfectly fine, always enough players online and so on, no big deal.

But whatever, there is no logic speaking with you, based on your childish fanboy comment.

[3dmariofan68]

If i am going to pay 60 dollars for a game, it better be good, and no one makes better games than nintendo, I am having so much fun with Super Mario 3d world, pikmin 3 wii party u, and zombi u, and the wonderful 101. Sony and microsoft don't have any games of this quality, and I have a ton of wii games to keep me busy as well, so it's a no brainer, my neighbors have a ps4, and the games are so boring, none of them stand out, I am still playing Super Mario 3d and having so much fun with it.. look at the black and white gameboy, the gamegear was far more powerful, and who dominates the hand held market??? it's all about the games, something that keeps bringing me back to nintendo.

[KevinCubes]

What's the cheapest I can get a wiiu

[Geobros]

Nice choice!!

[christocolus]

Awesome. Its all about preference. Be happy with what your choice bro.

[Daldrakar]

Well done, let the other two consoles sort themselves out for the first year then invest. Safe bet is the Wii U as most gamers will own one this gen at some stage.

[for we are many]

Good choice, I went with Wii U + PC + 3DS/Vita this gen, might get a Steam Box down the road. I got tired of the redundancy between MS and Sony's consoles and paid online services last gen, I was a loyal MS/Sony customer and have LOTS of games and broken low quality peripherals for ps3/360 that can't be used on ps4/X1 with no BC whatsoever and I don't want to repeat the mistakes of last gen, so I went with PC for shooters and multiplats generally(Better graphics, cheaper games, mods and free online) except for those that take advantage of Wii U gamepad. And Wii U for the quality Nintendo games that My family and I have loved since the dawn of VGs, as well as the odd 3rd party games that take advantage of Wii U architecture and Gamepad. 3DS is KING and the Vita is excellent too.

[iliimaster]

my man ! i made the same choice picked up the super mario n luigi bundle and i am loving it

[c4toast]

http://kotaku.com/people-ar...