Feast your eyes on 90+ tasty Wii U rumors before E3!

With E3 coming up in just a few days and Nintendo expecting to do a massive Wii U blow-out, I think it's time to go back and listen too ALL the wacky rumors we've heard in the past nine months. Yup, that's right. ALL OF THEM. After days of research and scavenger hunts, I've managed to dig up 96 different rumors that have popped up since the Wii U's announcement last E3, many of which have since been denied, others not been commented on, and even more still hanging out there awaiting confirmation. So ignore all of reality, sit back and relax, and enjoy all of these wonderful rumors, most of which will probably never ever come true. That said, we don't officially know what's hovering around the Wii U quite yet, so.... are these rumors finally going to be revealed at E3 this year? Or are they just all the more reason to never trust the internet? Read on guys, and see for yourself.

Massive list of Wii U rumors prior to E3 2012:

1. Wii U to not feature hard-drive, instead to sport 8GB flash memory. DENIED: Wii U will have a hard-drive.

2. Wii U to feature "HD" virtual console, select "classic" games to be re-mastered in HD.

3. Nintendo to allow select GameCube titles to "be downloaded from WiiWare" onto Wii U, comes from NintendoGal interview with Amber McCollom, E&T director at NoA.

4. Project Offset to be revived as Wii U exclusive, I.P. picked up by Nintendo.

5. Mass Effect 3 being developed for "Next-Gen System", possibly hinting Wii U release.

6. Wii U-specific Sonic the Hedgehog game in the works, will be spin-off of main line series, SEGA has since denied "Sonic Dimensions" specific game speculation for Wii U, but says Wii U is still very "applicable to Sonic".

7. Dead Space being developed for "unannounced console" alongside PS3 and X360, possibility of Wii U release, game confirmed to release in 2012-2013 fiscal year, most likely Dead Space 3 (see rumor #24 for more on Dead Space).

8. The Darkness II being planned for Wii U, no further details given.

9. Wii U to support two tablet controller support, Nintendo feels that it's "absolutely necessary".

10. EA and Valve competing to become "main service" for Wii U's online system.

11. Ubisoft working on "AAA MMO Title", speculated to be for Wii U.

12. Final Fantasy XV to be officially announced for Wii U (see rumor #86 for more on Final Fantasy).

13. Wii U's online store to be a "fully featured app store", includes digital distribution of eBooks and YouTube app (see rumor #81 for more on eBooks).

14. Project Ogre to land on Wii U, developed by Kojima Productions.

15. Sonic and SEGA All-Star Racing Transformed to be released on Wii U, also developed by Sumo Digital.

16. Wii U's Nintendo Network feature to be configurable online with web browser, to feature "new feature that haven't been used before by Nintendo", rivals PSN and XBL.

17. Rocksteady working on TMNT game for Wii U, to be in the style of Batman: Arkham City, Rocksteady has since denied this rumor, but continues to work on "next-gen platforms".

18. Star Trek game to be released on “all major home consoles and PC”, possibly hinting Wii U release (Star Trek to be released in 2013).

19. Nintendo considering name change for Wii U, having trouble conveying message to consumers.

20.  IO Interactive to bring Hitman: Absolution to Wii U, being developed alongside PS3, X360, and PC versions.

21. Junction Point to "implement Wii U support for Epic Mickey 2", unsure to be Wii U SKU or enhanced emulation (tablet support).

22. Activision to support Nintendo "greater that before", developing launch title for Wii U (Call of Duty: Black Ops 2?)

23. 5th Cell working on unannounced Wii U title, to be Wii U launch title.

24. Wii U to see release of TimeSplitters 4, Overstrike, new Dead Space, TimeSplitters 4 since been denied in development by Crytek, Dead Space 3 officially confirmed for E3 2012 showing.

25. THQ reportedly working on 2 unannounced Wii U games, one of which possibly uDraw-related.

26. Nintendo working with MySpace to bring "MySpace TV" app to Wii U, MySpace TV has since been confirmed to exist, no information on Wii U version (or its specific existence).

27. Anonymous Japanese source claims Wii U to launch at $299, Nintendo has no plans to announce Wii U price at E3 2012.

28. Medal of Honor: Warfighter coming to Wii U, reported by Austrian newspaper Der Standard.

29. Nintendo Gamer magazine speculates on Bioshock Infinite's port to Wii U, says is "likely", Vicarious Visions confirmed to be working on Wii U game, delayed PS3, X360 versions of the game to 2013.

30. Darkstalkers 4 rumored to be in development, to be released on Wii U, PS3, and X360, according to Venture Beat.

31. Ubisoft working on a "card" game for Wii U, set to be Wii U launch title.

32. Nintendo tweaking dev kits to make room for Unreal Engine 4.

33. Nintendo to show ten to eleven Nintendo-published retail titles for Wii U at E3 2012, three new Nintendo I.P.'s to be revealed.

34. Nintendo to price Wii U "lower than they want to", looking forward to magnify momentum during holiday season.

35. Ubisoft working on "Lady Gaga: The Experience" for Wii U, according to Dual Pixels.

36. Wii U to support 720p as "sweet spot" resolution with tablet controller use, tablet controller screen to handle 480p, simpler games to handle 1080p at ease.

37. Massive Wii U eShop games list (all rumored, none confirmed), includes listing for World of Warcraft and Phantasy Star Online, see list here.

38. Capcom to make showing at Wii U show floor at E3 2012, categorized under "action".

39. Wii U uses Wii's USB-Ethernet adaptor for profiling, basic pipeline similar to X360.

40. Grand Theft Auto V to be released on Wii U, to be delayed across all consoles for Wii U support, says analyst.

41. Wii U to launch on November 18th in North America, in Japan the week after, according to Japanese source, Nintendo has no plans to announce Wii U launch date at E3 2012.

42. Lucid developing Gran Turismo-style racing game for Wii U entitled "Concept Grand Prix", to feature "extremely realistic physics", focuses on community features, to compete with Forza and Gran Turismo, more details at E3 2012.

43. LucusArts creating MMO for Wii U, according to E3 2012 floor listings (Star Wars: The Old Republic?).

44. Toki Tori 2 for Wii U to feature "Steam Cloud support", Two Tribes claims idea to be only a follower suggestion, neither confirms nor denies such feature.

45. Gaijin Games have possession of Wii U dev kit, teases Wii U version of Runner 2 on multiple occasions, rumored to currently be in development.

46. Nintendo discussing the use of "haptic feedback technology" (a special kind of rumble) to be implemented on Wii U controller, not yet official.

47. Wii U tablet controller camera to feature facial recognition, movie recording, motion tracking (head/eyes), video chat, to support DRC camera.

48. James Bond license being used for upcoming Wii U game, no further details given.

49. Nintendo making deals with content companies to provide entertainment/content for Wii U, according to Adweek.

50. Pikmin 3 is "almost finished", possibly a Wii U launch title, to be shown at E3 2012.

51. Nintendo teaming up with Epic Games to create Metroid for Wii U, to run on Unreal Engine 3.

52. Wii U operating system to be mobile based (Android?).

53. Wii U tablet controller wireless range to Wii U base console to expand to multiple rooms, even multiple floors.

54. Wii U tablet controller to feature "Gamer Card" feature, to feature StreetPass that allows the transfer of activity and profile, "comparable to Pokémon's pedometer", to feature built-in screen, able to connect to Nintendo Network.

55. "Unnamed source" claims Wii U to cost $180 to manufacture, of which $50 to make tablet controller.

56. MonolithSoft working on Wii U project, no further details given.

57. Wii U to have some sort of "dock" (charging dock?), according to Nintendo patent.

58. Wii U launch line-up to be "pretty damn good", according to GameTrailer's Shane Shatterfield.

59. SEGA working on unannounced downloadable Wii U game, also for PSN, XBLA, and PC.

60. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 to be announced for Wii U, according to GameStop listing.

61. Wii U tablet controller to feature "clickable Circle Pads", similar to "click sticks" for PS and Xbox, Wii U Circle Pads has since been raised several millimeters above tablet controller. CONFIRMED: Wii U features click sticks.

62. Wii U tablet controller to feature "analog triggers", similar to GameCube.

63. Frontier working on project for Wii U (LostWinds?), no further details given.

64. Retro working on StarFox game for Wii U, possibly Star Fox x Metroid crossover, game since confirmed to not be at E3, see details here.

65. Wii U to have Splinter Cell 6, Rabbids Party Land/Raving Rabbids game, Just Dance 4, much more, according to listing on Blockbuster UK, Blockbuster claims listings to be "speculation" and "placeholders", neither confirms nor denies listing source (see rumor #71 & #80 for more on Splinter Cell; see rumor #67 & #74 for more on Just Dance 4; see rumor #78 for more on Rabbids Party Land).

66. Wii U dev kits (version 5) final as of May 7, brings unspecified "good news", "original" and "not necessarily... obvious".

67. Ubisoft Reflections working on unannounced Wii U game, set for 2012 release, speculated to be either Driver, Just Dance, or Far Cry related (inferred from studio development history).

68. Wii U to come packed-in with free Wiimote, tablet controller to possibly have capacitive touch screen, according to Nintendo patent.

69. New Wii U controller to feature analog sticks, also re-layout of buttons, as seen in Twitter pic from Q/A tester at Traveller's Tales. CONFIREMD: Leaked Wii U controller is the final version of the Wii U GamePad and features analog sticks and a re-layout of buttons.

70. Nintendo's Tadashi Sugiyama is working on new Wii U game to be shown at E3, previously worked on Ice Climber, F-Zero, and Mario Kart franchises.

71. New Splinter Cell game in the works for Wii U and PS3, not mentioned whether it will be SC6 or spin-off, according to HipHopGamer (source has been accurate in the past).

72. Wii U to feature cloud storage for save games and profile data, comes via system update in 2013, tied to Nintendo Network profile, to be integrated into Wii U channels, joint development between Mozy Inc. and Nintendo.

73. Ubisoft working on free-to-play Wii U game, says analyst, possibly referring to Ghost Recon Online, coincides with job listing at Ubisoft for "AAA online game", to feature purchasable DLC.

74. New Nintendo I.P. for Wii U called "Acid Ghost", to be shown at E3 2012, originally was going to be published by Konami on PS3/X360, to feature "dark sense of humor", according to anonymous source at GoNintendo.

75. Ubisoft to "continue to grow the [Just Dance] brand with geographical expansion, and new platforms", hinting at possible Wii U release. CONFIRMED: Just Dance is coming to Wii U.

76. Supposed "insider" claims "something green and white" coming to Wii U, possibly hinting at new Yoshi game.

77. Namco Bandai working on new Fooly Cooly game for Wii U, 3DS, according to post on IMDb, to be official sequel of the anime.

78. New Castlevania game in the works for Wii U (Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2?), able to interact with Castlevania: Mirror of Fate game for 3DS, heading also to PS3, X360, and PSVita.

79. Ubisoft working on new party game, from LinkedIn profile of Ubisoft employee, employee has history of working on Rabbids franchise, possibly Rabbids party game. CONFIRMED: Rabbids Lands is coming to Wii U.

80. Wii U to feature game suspension similar to 3DS, also to support multitasking. CONFIRMED: Wii U features game suspension.

81. Ubisoft working on Wii U version of Splinter Cell: Blacklist, to be released in 2013 alongside PS3 and X360 versions.

82. Evergeek Tech Inc. working on eBook distribution for Wii U, according to LinkedIn profile.

83. Square-Enix bringing Kingdom Hearts HD Remix to Wii U, plot connections to KH:3D exclusive to Wii U version.

84. Zen Studios working on CastleStorm for "Nintendo digital platforms", possibly hinting at Wii U release, since been confirmed for 3DS eShop, more info to be revealed at E3.

85. Blizzard currently working on 2 console projects, one or both for Wii U, possibly Diablo III or Starcraft III, also working on MMO "Project Titans".

86. Square Enix to merge Final Fantasy Versus XIII into Final Fantasy XV, to be released on Wii U and X360 PS3 (thanks Uchihataketo).

87. "Mario Wii U" to be Wii U launch title, according to Geoff Keighley of GT.TV.

88. Nintendo to show Star Fox, F-Zero, Smash Bros. at E3 2012, claims source from Gaming Unwrapped.

89. Luigi's Mansion 2 to be announced for Wii U, to be launch title, says UK retailer.

90. "Scribblenauts Unlimited" URL registered by WB Games, possibly hinting at Wii U Scribblenauts game based on title and gameplay style, according to Joystiq.

91. HBO forming digital partners with Nintendo, to release HBO Go app on "game consoles", Wii U app all but officially confirmed.

92. Wii U to have achievement system, to also track gamer time and high scores (thanks BurntGman2).

93. Wii U to feature Facebook and Twitter apps, ability to upload screenshots and videos from Wii U. CONFIRMED: Wii U can take screenshots with the ability to upload them onto Miiverse.

94. Wii U download games to be purchasable by phone, possibly through an application or online service.

95. Suda51 to teases No More Heroes 3, currently working on next-gen console, possibly hinting NMH sequel for Wii U (thanks GamingMachine).

96. Silicon Knights working on "much requested I.P." for "next-gen consoles", possibly hinting at Eternal Darkness 2 for Wii U (thanks GamingMachine).

So guys, what do you think? Are any of these plausible? Or are they just too ridiculous to be true? Any specific ones you like? Ones you hope will never happen? Sound off in the comment section below!

Am I missing something? Tell me in the comments below or on my wall! Either way, you will be given credit for your findings! (And you'll get a cookie!)*

Author's Note: No rumors of graphical power and tech specs are listed due to conflicting reports. Moreover, Nintendo is not likely to reveal specific tech specs until a much later date closer to launch when the hardware is completely finalized.

*just kidding; you won't get a cookie... sorry!

What does Nintendo have in store for us this year?

Last year's E3 was huge for Nintendo. Not only did Nintendo show off for the first time a brand new 3D Mario game for the 3DS, but they also introduced their Wii successor: the Wii U. A lot has happened since last E3, including the massive 3DS price drop and the release of five - yup, FIVE - new Mario-related titles, with 3 more expected to launch this year. But enough of last year. This year, Nintendo is planning to pull the cover off of the Wii U and show the world the what their next-gen HD gaming console is capable of. But that's not all Nintendo has to do; they also have to keep the momentum going with their 3DS handheld console. What are they going to announce? What's going to be on the show floor? Who else besides Nintendo is going to show up? Well luckily for you, I've come from the future, and I'm here to tell you what Nintendo did at E3 2012!

Okay fine, I'm not from the future. But still, there are so many things I want Nintendo to do and hope they will do it! My predictions aren't exactly the most predictable ones; I like making crazy predictions and then boast in glory when they actually come true. So, without further ado... ON TO THE PREDICTIONS!

 

1. Nintendo is going to demo their "Mii-related" pack-in game for the Wii U.

Nintendo may not want to reveal the price of the Wii U quite yet, but they sure as hell want to reveal its value! Part of the success with the Wii was its Wii Sports pack-in. Not only was Wii Sports a great game, it was the game to own on the system! It both emphasized family-friendly gameplay and showed off what the system was capable of. If Nintendo has learned anything from the Wii U launch, it would be that the Wii U needs a great pack-in at launch. Wii U Play, maybe? Or maybe Chase Mii and Battle Mii built into the system? Get my drift, Nintendo?

2. Nintendo is going to reveal a new Zelda game.

I know what you're thinking. "What? A new Zelda game? But we just had one last year!" Don't fret, my friends. A "reveal" doesn't mean "show me gameplay". Heck, Skyward Sword's reveal was just a poster! With Skyward Sword out and Miyamoto promising "no more 5 years of development for Zelda", I'm willing to bet a reveal is being planned for E3. A 3D Zelda. No, not 3D in a spatial sense. 3D as in stereostopic 3D. Yup, that's right. Nintendo is going to announce a Zelda game for the 3DS at E3 this year!

 

3. Nintendo is going to announce cross-connectivity with NSMB2.

Two NSMB games in one year is ridiculous. It's like having two different versions of Call of Duty in the same year! Why in the world is Nintendo doing it? Easy: Wii U and 3DS connectivity. Imagine, creating your own user levels on the 3DS and porting it onto the Wii U. Or taking NSMB2 on the go and uploading your data to the big screen. Sounds pretty cool, right? As of now, cross-connectivity has only been confirmed for Smash Bros. 4, which just started development. If Nintendo wants a quick proof of concept, cross-connectivity with NSMB2 and the Wii U's NSMB (which is likely to be NSMB2) is the way to go.

 

4. Nintendo is going to reveal a new I.P. geared toward the "hardcore".

Nintendo? New I.P.? What? Yeah, I know. If you ignore Rhythm Heaven, Steel Diver, Brain Age, the Wii series of games, Nintendogs, Animal Crossing, those three Rainfall games, and every other franchise that people like to pretend never existed, the last great Nintendo I.P. was Pikmin, which is already seeing its third iteration here on the Wii U. Nintendo has to step up its game! All joking aside, *ahem* with Miyamoto confirmed to be working on several new I.P.'s, there's got to be something cooking for E3. Perhaps we'll see finally see what Nintendo's been doing for the past year or so at E3. No wait... we WILL see it at E3! Oh, and one more thing. One of them is going to be a shooter. Because "shooter" is always synonymous with "hardcore" (hint: I was being sarcastic).

 

5. Nintendo is going to change the name of the Wii U.

I know a lot of people are torn on this issue, but I firmly believe in what I believe. The name "Wii U" makes no sense to anyone. To the casual audience, Wii U is just another Wii add-on. To the hardcore, Wii U represents just another casual console, mostly because we related the name "Wii" to the term casual. To the cascore (the audience in the middle where I fall in), Wii U means absolutely nothing. So why keep the name? Sure, the 3DS suffered through the same dilemma, but at least that name made some sense. Heck, even Reggie wasn't even sure what the "U" stood for! Utopian? Universal? Unity? Reggie, just shut up! Wii U needs a name change, and it'll get one at E3.

And yes, I know. Nintendo's already started a "Wii U" Facebook page and a Wii U ad campaign, so the chances of a name change is relatively slim, but I'm still going to hope... I still think Nintendo will change the name.

6. Nintendo is going to detail Nintendo Network.

Nintendo announced its "competitor" with PSN and XBL in a financial briefing early this year. But since then, we've heard very little of the Nintendo Network. Now is the time to shine. Nintendo needs to prove that they can stay connected and keep up with their competitors after years of lagging behind. Nintendo needs to prove that they can integrate games and features into the Network day one. But above all, they need to innovate. The world of online is still very open and Nintendo has the chance to not only catch up to the competition, but also get ahead. Get ahead on MMO networking. Get ahead on online boards and lobbies. Make new features, and give them a Nintendo twist. Then we'll see what Sony and Microsoft have to say.

 

7. Nintendo is going to explain connectivity in Animal Crossing.

The next major first-party game to launch is Animal Crossing for 3DS. Slated for release in 2012 in Japan (and surely in America as well), Animal Crossing 3DS will help Nintendo detail their plan for Nintendo Network on their handheld. We all know that Animal Crossing has always been about connectivity, and with NN launching soon, it's the perfect time to talk about AC's new features. Item trading? Online lobbies? DLC? It's Nintendo's time to shine and prove to everyone that Nintendo can continue to stay connected, even in the handheld market.

 

8. Nintendo is going to detail built-in Wii U software.

How will Nintendo appeal to the "casual" audience? It seems that they're trying too hard to appease the core audience and leaving their casual friends who fell in love with the Wii behind. What can Nintendo do about it? It's simple: make the Wii U an entertainment device, the ultimate Nintendo entertainment system. Add ESPN, add Skype, add Facebook, add Youtube... the Wii U has the ability to be an entertainment hub and not just a game station. If Nintendo wants to attract everyone, they need to confirm that these applications will be on the Wii U day one.

Well, that's it for predictions! Check back next Friday for one more thing to think about before E3 2012! Trust me, you won't want to miss it. Meanwhile, why don't you guys tell me what you expect to see at E3 this year? Do you agree with my predictions? Or are they too crazy to ever be true? Sound off in the comments below!

MORE PREDICTIONS

Predictions: Nintendo in 2012

MORE E3 MADNESS

E3 2012: Before the Show - Nintendo franchises that missed the Wii (and should be on Wii U)

 

With Pikmin on its way, who's next on the list?

The Nintendo Wii. Home to 3 main-line Mario games, 3 Metroid games, 2 Zelda games, 2 Kirby games, and a crapload of other titles. Yup, many of us will look back at all the awesome content the Wii had and how they all utilized the Wiimote in a unique fashion. Unfortunately, many of else will also look back and think to ourselves, "what happened?" The last quarter of the Wii's lifespan was full of software droughts of not just third-party games, but first-party as well. Many of us wanted Nintendo to reboot older franchises onto the Wii. Unfortunately, we got none.

But the Wii is about to get replaced with the shiny new Wii U. And along with it will come Pikmin 3, the third entry of a franchise that started on the GameCube and never made it to Wii (with the exception of the NPC titles, but those aren't true sequels). Pikmin 3 not only gives hope to the Pikmin franchise, but it also gives hope to other franchises that never made it to Wii. And that is what this blog is about. Below you'll find 5 franchises that skipped the Wii, and why I think they'll be great on Wii U.

1) Star Fox

Let's rock and roll! The Star Fox series' absence from the Wii was and always will be a mystery to Nintendo fans. Miyamoto had long hinted the return of the Star Fox franchise, going so far as to saying that the Wiimote would work great for controlling the Arwing. But of course, Star Fox Wii never came to be. But don't be saddened, guys. It's been rumored that the franchise is going to make a return with Retro Studios holding its reigns! Yup, Star Fox may be headed its way onto the Wii U, and sooner than you may have expected!

There are several reasons why I think Star Fox is a great fit for Wii U. First, the tablet controller would work great as a dashboard or communicator. Second, considering that the Wii U is supposedly going to feature a robust online system, we might actually be able to get our first taste of Star Fox with online play and online leaderboards (finally)! And third, it's Star Fox. IN HD!!!

2) F-Zero

Unlike Star Fox, which had a game on the DS, F-Zero completely skipped the last console generation. Why? Who knows? The last F-Zero game was released almost a decade ago, and it didn't even make it here to America! Where had Nintendo's rival to Sony's WipEout go? To the Wii U, perhaps? Maybe. Miyamoto has in the past discussed his feelings toward F-Zero on Wii, saying that it wouldn't "surprise" anyone. But he did hint that he'd like to reboot the franchise... on next-gen hardware. Wii U?

The many reasons why I think Nintendo should reboot F-Zero on the Wii U are very similar to why I think Star Fox should get a reboot. The tablet controller, again, could act as a dashboard. The bright lights and high-speed blurs would look amazing in HD. And did I mention online? Yeah more online play, more leaderboards, more fun!

3) Wave Race

MAXIMUMMMMM POWWWWEEERRRRRRR!!! Wave Race on the N64 was amazing. Not only was it fun, but for the first time in history, video games got water physics "right". The GameCube game was all right, though it seemed so bland and had terrible controls. After skipping over the Wii, we've found ourselves onto the Wii U (and no, the jet skis in Wii Sport Resort do not count). Will we get a new Wave Race for Wii U?

As of right now, there's been no word on the future of the Wave Race franchise, so it's very possible that the franchise is dead. However, I do hope that a new one will come out soon, for the very same reason as F-Zero: dashboard, online, and HD. Whether we'll get it is anyone's guess. Only Nintendo knows what's next for the Wave Race franchise.

I don't understand. It's not like Nintendo's facing competition in the jet ski racing genre. Why don't they just make a new Wave Race?

4) 1080˚

Before SSX we had 1080˚, Nintendo's very own snowboarding franchise. Unfortunately, 1080˚ suffered from a similar fate as Wave Race; the N64 version was amazing, the GameCube version was alright, and then we get nothing more. Like Wave Race, no one knows where the hell the franchise is, and whether or not Nintendo even cares anymore.

Now, I think we all know what I'm going to talk about here. Yes, 1080˚ would be amazing online. Yes, 1080˚ would be amazing in HD. As for the tablet controller though, I'm not sure how it would fit into the game. Maybe a new way to do tricks? Hmm? Sounds cool to me!

5) Ice Climber

I honestly don't know why I want a new Ice Climber game so much. I hated the original. Yet I want a new one so bad. I think it's time that Nintendo reboot the franchise. After all, Kid Icarus got a reboot, so why can't Ice Climber?

As for what type of game Ice Climber HD could be... maybe an RPG? A pseudo-sequel to Mother 3? Both franchises have children in them, why not? Or maybe a survival horror game? Children and zombies are scary, right? Maybe like Eternal Darkness? Kids getting stuck in an asylum is scary too, right? Yeah I'm going crazy with this. I just want a new Ice Climber game Nintendo, only because I want to see what you guys can come up with.

And yes, I know. Ice Climber didn't just miss the Wii. It pretty much missed everything else aside from its original Famicom/NES release. But oh well.

Well, that's it guys. Check back next Friday for more stuff to think about before E3 comes around! See you guys then!

Oh, and tell me fellow MyIGNers, which Nintendo franchise(s) would YOU like to see on Wii U?

...including impressions for Dynasty Warriors, Rayman, UMvC3, ModNation, and Ridge Racer!

A couple of days ago, I returned from a long road trip with several of my buddies, one of which owned a PSVita. I've always wanted to touch one, seeing that people have been raving about it so much around here. So after playing a massive round of Mario Kart with my friends, I decided to try it out. Below are my quick impressions on the hardware itself along with five games: Dynasty Warriors Next, Rayman Origins, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, ModNation Racers: Road Trip, and Ridge Racer.

Before we begin, I should probably tell you my background when it comes to Sony hardware. I own a PS2, and I have A TON of games for it. I've played a PSP before, and despite liking it as well, the games that were on the thing just didn't appeal to me that much. Basically, I have a soft spot for Sony's stuff, and despite the fact that I don't own a PS3, I don't hate Sony. I just think they've kinda walked away from their old fanbase by killing off older franchises. But enough of that. Let's get on to the impressions.

 

The Hardware

I already kinda had in mind what to expect in terms of the size of the Vita due to the fact that most gaming sites (IGN included) really like to post pictures of new hardware. And my expectations matched with what I saw. The PSVita is huge. Of course, that may not be a bad thing. There had to be a way to fit that big and bright and beautiful OLED touch screen on there. But with a size like that, how the hell am I supposed to put the dang thing in my pocket?!

The first thing I did after getting a hold of the Vita was press the buttons. I really liked how they felt. The D-pad and face buttons were clicky (just the way I like it) and the shoulder buttons are mushy (again, just the way I like it). The analog sticks, however, felt extremely loose. I'm not even sure if I should call them "sticks" since they're really just sliding nubs attached to a ball (kinda like a joint and socket). This posed as a problem with some of the games I played, so if you want a Vita, you better be ready to try to get used to it (which I in no doubt believe it's possible).

One small note to put out there: I didn't try the rear touch pad. None of the games I had were compatible with it (with the exception of ModNation I assume, though I didn't really have time to tinker with it). I'm sure it's cool and all, but with so little games using it, I don't expect it to be a stand-out feature at all (or at least not yet).

Oh, and one last thing. In terms of battery life, the Vita suffers deeply. My friend and I barely managed to get 4-5 hours in before the battery gave way. Even so, we managed to squeeze in many more hours over the course of several days. It's just a shame that we couldn't play much longer than that. Oh well. At least I got to play all the games I wanted to play! And speaking of games...

 

Dynasty Warriors Next

The first game I tried was Dynasty Warriors. Upon starting up my friend's load game, I was immediately thrown into a minigame in which I was to race up a mountain on my horse while jumping over or avoiding obstacles. Here, I had the option to use the gyroscope to move my horse left or right. Naturally, I went with the buttons.

I expected to get right into the real game after that. But boy was I wrong. I was then thrown into yet another minigame, this time using the gyroscope to shoot down enemy troops with a blaster (?). It was a bit frustrating mostly due to the fact that I was on a bus at the time so me waving the Vita around made me look like an idiot. After beating it, I then (finally) moved on to the main game.

The main game was... boring to say the least. It felt exactly like Dynasty Warriors 3, a game that I had on my PS2. Heck, it looked like DW3. It was a lot of generic hack and slash. My goal was to capture all 7 enemy bases by killing everyone in each base (and each base had like 400 people; talk about repetition). I captured 2 before the enemy recaptured one of mine. I gave up and turned the game off. I guess now I know why people have been hating on the DW series for quite a while now!

 

Rayman Origins

While my experience with Dynasty Warriors Next was met with a bitter end, another game, Rayman Origins, got my spirits up. I've heard great things about this game (IGN gave it a 9.5/10) and I love 2D platformers, so I was eager to try the game out.

I was only able to squeeze a few levels into Rayman, but what I got out of it was a lot of potential. The ability to slap didn't really come until the second level, so everything before that felt really slow and segmented. But after that second level, I was blasting my way through the game like it was nothing. It felt good. No, it felt great. It was like playing a fighting game while playing a 2D platformer. I loved it.

One thing that I really appreciate about Rayman Origins is that it doesn't penalize you for dying. I guess the reason why it's there is to urge players to go crazy on platforming like I did. It's a solid game, and while I didn't play much of it, I'm pretty much down for the 3DS version. It looks and plays like the Mario game that I've always wanted. And I want it!

 

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3

Look. I suck at fighting games. The combos, the button commands, the movesets... everything is just so complicated! Why can't these games be like Smash Bros.?! Anyways, enough of that. I failed miserably at UMvC3. I don't think I want to play it again.

One thing I will say about this game though is that I'm IN LOVE with the art style. The comic-book cartoonish look of the characters and stages make this game look beautiful. In fact, I'd say that this is the best looking Vita game by FAR. It's unbelievable that a game with visuals like this could make it onto a small little cartridge. Too bad I'm terrible at this game!

Oh, and by the way, Phoenix Wright is the best character EVER! ;D

 

ModNation Racers: Road Trip

This is the one game that I've played extensively on. I must say, aside from Ape Escape (which is dead, I presume), ModNation is now my favorite Sony franchise. I love making my own tracks, I love making my own character, I love doing absolutely anything and everything in the game... it's so much fun. I've never played a ModNation game before, and I must say that I'm very impressed.

The game plays like most racers in that you have your basic movement, acceleration, brake, and drifting mechanics. Drifting and getting air (among other things) adds to your boost meter (much like the Burnout games) which you can use to blast by your opponents. Items are also in this game, which adds to the chaos of the game. You can even level up your items if you collect the same item more than once (for up to 3 times)! Each stage also has a set of goals for you to achieve which range from getting items to taking shortcuts. Boy do I love Modnation. It actually made me wish that I had a Vita!

I'd like to address three small things about this game to everyone. 1) The load times for the game are so long. They're annoyingly long. Probably 15-20 seconds long. Doesn't sound long to you. Look at your clock right now and stare at it for 20 seconds. It's pretty long. 2)The framerate is terrible. It looks like it's running at 15-20fps. My friend told me that he's going to try to reinstall the game to see if it gets fixed. It's kinda weird how this game is the only one that does such a dip in framerate. 3) For those complaining about no online play, I say you should still give the game a chance. There is literally unlimited value in this game. All the collectables, the course editor, the character editor, the kart editor, and the track sharing features more than make up for the lack of online play. I understand that the inclusion of online would have made the game even better, but don't let that hold you back from getting the game. It's still fantastic.

 

Ridge Racer

Riiiiiddddggggeeeeee Racer! I must say that I'm not very good at Ridge Racer. It was the game that I played the least (and for good reason; there's not even that many courses in the game) and the game that I felt was the most generic (yes, even more than Dynasty Warriors). It was... okay. Nothing special. I mean, it's not a bad game. I just found it kinda boring. Maybe it's because I've never played Ridge Racer before. Maybe I'm playing it wrong (I don't know how that would be; it's a racer for goodness sake!) I don't know. The game just didn't click with me. It just felt like another racer.

 

Summary

Overall, my experience with the PSVita was all that I expected: a large handheld with a mix of good and bad games. It's amazing how you can get something as fun and unique as Rayman to something so boring and generic like Ridge Racer. The graphics also vary a lot; UMvC3 looks amazing while Dynasty Warriors looks so dark and bland. As for my favorite and my least favorite games? My favorite game by far is ModNation Racers: Road Trip. I just had so much fun with that game! Probably sunk in an hour and a half on it. As for my least favorite? Dynasty Warriors Next. I hated the minigames, I hated how I had to kill 400 people to capture a base, I hated how my base got recaptured... maybe it just wasn't my day but it was too frustrating for me to move on.

I kinda want a Vita now. But I also kinda don't. The PSVita is just so goddamn expensive! I'm just not willing to pay $250+ for a Vita, even if there are a couple of good games on it. I'd rather wait for the Vita library to fill up with hundreds of masterpieces before I spend that much on one (hint: that means never)! Maybe I'll wait for a price drop. Just maybe. Maybe one day...

And no, I'm not talking about another Galaxy clone.

Don't let the name fool you. Despite the fact that I liked the Galaxy games a lot, I don't really want a Super Mario Galaxy 3. Then why the name, you ask? Well first, it's going to be on Wii U, so a name with the letter "U" in it would fit well, won't it? But other than that is the concept of a "universe," a place of interlocking worlds and lands. Note that I didn't issue the term "planet." That's because all of it all fits on one planet, the ultimate universe: the Marioverse.

Perhaps it's best that I explain in deeper detail. My idea for a Mario Universe comes from my fascination for one of the last great 3D platformers that graced the Nintendo 64: Banjo-Tooie. That game to me was the ultimate video game, combining two of my favorite genres together: platforming and adventure. While many will brush off Banjo-Tooie as gaming's most notorious Easter egg hunt, but I took a different view on the game. You see, Banjo-Tooie takes place in one giant world, with sub-worlds that seamlessly intertwine with each other. For example, enter a cave in the desert world, and you'll find yourself in the middle of space world! It was this sense of exploration and discovery that cast a spell on me; Banjo-Tooie is still one of my favorite games of all time.

I want the next Super Mario will take this idea to a whole new level. No, I take that back. I BELIEVE that the next Mario will take this to a whole new level. With the rumored Super Mario 4 to be announced soon, I believe that Nintendo can do it. Here's how:

1) Super Mario 4 will be a 3D platformer that will spark new life in the genre.

Rarely do we get a great 3D platformer nowadays, to the point where many don't even know the genre exists (you'd be surprised by how many people think Little Big Planet and New Super Mario Bros. are 3D platformers). To refresh your memory, a 3D platformer is a game that is played in a three-dimensional space, in which jumping is the main mechanic. It seems that Mario is the only true traditional platformer left, as many other franchises have chosen the hybrid the genre with others, including shooter and puzzle. Though I'm sure Nintendo will release a new 3D Mario some time in the future, I feel that it's important to keep the genre alive and well, at least for now. Who knows? Maybe introducing the genre early will make the Wii U the ultimate place for more 3D platforming action in the future!

2) Super Mario 4 will take place in an area that spans the entirety of the Marioverse.

The entire Marioverse? Of course, this is an exaggeration, but it does manage to bring my point across. I want the next Mario to place an emphasis on exploration. More importantly, I want Nintendo to ditch the level-to-level structure of all the previous 3D Mario games and instead make one GIANT world for us players to explore. Nintendo has made a ton of Mario games in the past, but none of them truly expose the full potential of the world of Mario. Can you imagine exploring vast deserts and dark forests with Mario? It's like combining Ocarina of Time with Super Mario 64 into one massive platform-adventure game!

3) Super Mario 4 will show off what the Wii U is capable of.

Of course, when there's a Mario game, there's got to be a Nintendo platform to put it on. Here's why I chose the Wii U as my platform of choice. First off, it will debunk the rumors that "the Wii U is not truly next-gen" (which I think are ridiculous rumors to begin with). If Super Mario 4 really does sport the massive landscapes I mentioned in point 2, then no one can doubt the power of the Wii U anymore! Secondly, it will attract the core gamer, and from what I understand, that's what Nintendo is trying to do with the Wii U.

In many ways, my idea of Super Mario 4 harks back to Super Mario 64; both games are similar in that they place an emphasis of actually "finding" power stars, unlike in the Mario Galaxy games where the path practically just "leads" to them. In many ways, Super Mario 4 reflects the attitudes of the Legend of Zelda series; both place emphasis on exploration, as if YOU'RE the one who's discovering new things. But one hidden game that's inspired me to write this blog is Xenoblade; both take place in a massive world that you can explore, meaning every mountain, and every valley. If Super Mario 4 is a hybrid of these three things - Mario 64, Zelda, and Xenoblade - then I can die happy. Because THAT is my dream game. And I want it now.

Nintendo, please make it happen!