Fatal Frame should make the Wii U GamePad relevant again

Dealspwn writes: "I love the Wii U GamePad. It's a fantastic piece of kit in terms of build quality and comfort (let's forget the crippling battery life for a moment), with a screen that should allow developers to offer new features and radical usability improvements with context-sensitive icons. Unfortunately, very few games actually use it to any great effect beyond just being another regular controller.

However, an incoming Fatal Frame sequel could change all that."

[bobacdigital]

Would be nice to see another zombie u type game come out mid cycle so we can see what advancements in developing techniques have been made.

[DarthZoolu]

WiiU problem is its game catalog that uses pad not just one game.

[randomass171]

I don't know. Can't the Wii U have a healthy balance between the two? Not all Wii games explicitly used the motion controls, like Kirby and Donkey Kong.

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

Gamepad usages isn't required it only an option for developers to explore more ideas in gameplay it not required for every game made. That why the pro controller exists.

@randomass171

The Wii U Gamepad is a CONTROLLER not a Game system.

[bobacdigital]

I really dont get some people .. Just because the pad doesnt have exclusive features in ALL games doesnt mean it is useless.. Unless you own one you dont fully realize how useful offscreen play is.

Offscreen play to me personally is a really good feature and justifies the existence of the pad imo. I know others will disagree , but I think some people undersell its novelty.

Anyone who shares a TV with a roommate / spouse / or kids should appreciate it. I have a friend who doesn't have a tv in his room and just uses the PAD without the tv.. if he needs the TV for games like zombie u or nintendoland he just plugs it in his monitor.

The issue with the Wii U is that the concept and power doesnt appeal to the general gaming community. The Wii U is a complementary console like the Wii was.. It would be great if you could solo this thing and get ps4 graphics but that isnt what they did.

The catalog is actually fine... it just needs more in it.

[randomass171]

The thing is many of us Sony fans are willing to adopt a Vita for cross-play on PS4. Vita is a $200+ device when comparitively speaking, the Wii U gamepad costs somewhere around $100 - $150. Granted Vita is more bang for your buck because it plays games standalone. I feel the Gamepad should have been able to do that as well, but no use crying over it. It's still a good device with a lot of features. The novelty doesn't really appeal though, so at the end of the day the reason I want a Wii U so much is for its games. Mario Kart comes out soon and Smash Bros. will be on the why by the end of the year.

[bobacdigital]

@randomass171

The vita does have a lot of advantages over the Wii U like the screen and being able to go truly mobile .. One thing it cant do is play games remotely at 60 fps. Remote play is limited to 30 even if the game does 60.. So games like COD or Rayman cant be enjoyed the way they were meant to be .. and if you are competitive at all you cant play any twitch shooters.

But I agree I would love the range to expanded on the Gamepad to allow you to go more than 25 to 30 ft away from the console..

[chronoforce]

Zombi U used the GamePad as a glorified inventory. W101 is what I would like to see more of.

[HarryMasonHerpderp]

I've got mixed feelings about using the wiiU pad in Fatal Frame. I think it might take me out of the experience if I have to keep looking at that thing or even worse using it as a camera. Just don't think it will be scary. Still really excited about a new Fatal Frame though!

[eaise]

@HarryMasonherpderp

I think it will actually make the experience scarier if they use it correctly. Having the tv with no ghosts on it but still have them screaming at you. Then raise the gamepad and you can see the ghosts. Using the gamepad as a camera will immerse the player into the game better than any Virtual Reality headset

[lilbroRx]

Its already relevant for anyone actually plays the console.

Just a typical sensationalist headline.

[Blues Cowboy]

Not sure about that. As a Wii U day-one adopter, I'm hardpressed to think of any particuarly interesting uses for the GamePad screen beyond the OS, off TV play and a handful of standout titles. Even DKC:TF and SM3DW didn't use it at all, never mind 3rd party games that do the bare minimum.

Lovely device, but so many devs just aren't using it. Not sure how you can argue that it's particularly relevant right now. A few games used it (ZombiU was awesome!), now they don't.

[marloc_x]

The OS is a big part of Wii U. Pushing a cursor around with a thumbstick is so last gen..

[randomass171]

To be fair, Nintendo hasn't had great AAA third party support for a while. Honestly, as long as they have off-TV support, I think I'd be satisfied so long as the game is fun.

[LOL_WUT]

I hope so because the last two games that Nintendo released (SM3DW & DKTF) they didn't even bother to utilize the gamepad. ;)

[lilbroRx]

Lies and ignorance as expected from the current king of anti-Nintendo trolling.

3D World had an entire direct segment just for showing off some of the gamepad bonuses, like being able to blow into the mic and move all of the flora as well as lifting platforms that was required by some stages. It showed off gyroscopic control for the Toad stages as well as a few touchscreen features such as selecting stored itmes.

But only people who actually have a Wii U and this game...or bothered to do "any" form of research would know that.

LOL_FAIL ;)

[LOL_WUT]

Actually your right it was just so minimal and not really innovative that it totally slipped my mind.. Bought it day one even gave it a score on miiverse lol. ;)

[DoctorJones]

No one cares if you own a Wii U, it could be your brothers mates tramp friends Wii U for all we care. What we do know is you're a troll. It's plain and simple to see, you're not fooling anyone.

No one cares what you think.

[Blues Cowboy]

"3D World had an entire direct segment just for showing off some of the gamepad bonuses, like being able to blow into the mic and move all of the flora as well as lifting platforms that was required by some stages. It showed off gyroscopic control for the Toad stages as well as a few touchscreen features such as selecting stored itmes."

I agree with the sentiment... *BUT* these features were tiny, practically throwaway bonuses that *could* be totally ignored. Nintendo need to make it a core part of the next few big games to sell developers on the concept.

Platinum Games rocked it in TW101 and will probably use it again. Because they're amazing.

[BosSSyndrome]

Thats a bunch of crap. 3d world is a great game but it did not use the gamepad in any remotely significant way. The fact that it can be played all the way through using a different controller is proof of that. Nintendo has been awful at utilizing the second screen in their own games. They admitted that themselves. Again, 3d world is a great game, but dont even try to say that THAT is the great potential of the gamepad because it ISNT.

[BoneBone]

1. Both games allow you to use Off-TV play.
2. SM3DW uses touch screen and mic, as well as Off-TV play. You cannot complete the game without a GamePad.
3. DK:TF is a traditional hardcore platformer and stayed traditional and true.
4. You can use the GamePad in DK:TF as a mini TV; using other controllers and the sensor bar on the GamePad.

Try using a Wii U with Off-TV play without a GamePad and let me know how you get on with that!

You need to wind in your sweeping, drama queen statements... just doesn't make you look very credible... I don't know if you're one of those people who claim to own a Wii U and play the games or not... but from this comment I'd say you do not.

[marloc_x]

I believe troop;)

[Flungsomepoo]

The wii U gamepad has so much potential. The few games that do take advantage of it, have been super fun to play. I hope Nintendo builds on it, and keeps it even for the next system.
Ubisoft has done a great job with there games on it also.

[Blues Cowboy]

Absolutely agreed. That's the tone of the article, too - stressing that there's a wealth of untapped potential that developers could (and should?) be experimenting with a lot more.

[leahcim]

mmm it seems to be the perfect franchise for wiiU

[WeAreLegion]

I hope so. All they have to do is make the game pad the camera. It's so simple!

[Blues Cowboy]

Right? It'd be so easy, yet potentially so immersive thanks to those speakers and the physical connection between us and the camera.

[antikbaka]

...or shouldn't

[DanielGearSolid]

Sorry but one game isnt gonna have that much of an impact...

Look at Titanfall, everybody acted like it was the second coming of Jesus Christ, yet the X1 still sold less than the Ps4

Not an apples to apples comparison but the point is, its just ONE game

[wheresmymonkey]

I really want to know what the PS4 does that's innovative?

I've got one and its most innovative features seem to be being able to take screens something both the xbone and wiiU do as well) an off screen play via the vita. Something the WiiU does straight out of the box.

In short innovation or game's library has nothing at all to do with sales. Hype! my friends that's why the PS4 is running away with it. As far as features an library go currently its the most bare bones of the three.

[DanielGearSolid]

I really wanna know why 6 months in to launch and ppl are pretending the library will not grow?

I really wanna know why Ps4 has a bigger library than X1 but its "the most bare bones"?

I really wanna know the size of the WiiU games library 6months in?

I really wanna see a list of "features" for all three consoles, that would support the "bare bones" claim

In short, where are the facts to support your claims?

[wheresmymonkey]

I see what you did there. Tried to derail the argument by offering no counterpoints or arguments of your own. My point still stands.

What does the PS4 do that other devices don't do as well or better, because honestly i can't think of anything.

Graphics PC is already got it beat, games well its in that annoying first year limbo. Features... the Xbone and the WiiU do more out of the box.

Maybe thats the point. It does pretty graphics and half decent games. I'm saying half decnet because it has great games but nothing on a par with SM3DW yet.

I'm not denying its a quality bit of kit. I'm just saying that all of the things that the greatest thing that the PS4 actually has going for it is a lot of positive press.