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Sorting Out The Wii U Launch Lineup

Nintendo's Wii U lands on retail shelves on November 18. If you haven't decided which games to pick up, you're running out of time. Take these suggestions into account.

1. New Super Mario Bros. U
It's kinda sad that most of the Wii U launch games I want to play are also available on another system. If you're buying a new system you probably want to have an experience that you can't get anywhere else. Enter Mario to deliver more co-op platforming action.

2. Assassin’s Creed III
Possibly the best Assassin's Creed game to date makes a great addition to the Wii U library. Nintendo's touchpad adds some cool new interactive features such as item and weapon selection. Maybe it's not a big deal to play this on Wii U, but it's still an amazing game.

3. Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition
If you somehow missed one of the best games from last year, this is the perfect time to catch up. Not only does this version included previously released DLC, but a new B.A.T. mode allows the dark knight to build a meter with successful attacks and unleash more powerful moves once it's full. Players can also use the accelerometer to steer a remote batarang or blow up explosives one at a time or all at once with the touchpad.

4. Call of Duty: Black Ops II
It's Call of Duty, so you know this will be a world-ending roller coaster ride. You can use the Wii U controller to display weapons, ammunition, maps, and objectives, but this game still might be better with a classic controller.

5. Skylanders Giants
Both Wii and Wii U versions of Activision's monstrously successful action game use the same portal to take your toys from the real world into the game world. So if you already have a Wii portal, you're halfway to getting Giants' 40 new creatures into your Wii U.

6. Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
The original Epic Mickey was a fun little platformer, and the sequel looks even better. Paint the environment and solve puzzles with the Wii U touchpad using either Mickey or Oswald The Rabbit.

7. Darksiders II
Vigil's Wii U version of its epic dungeon quest comes bundled with DLC packs Argul’s Tomb, Angel of Death, Shadow of Death, and the Deadly Despair Pack. This version will also include a few unique weapons and armor sets.

8. Rabbids Land
The original Rayman Raving Rabbids was one of the early standout titles for the Wii. Hopefully Ubisoft strikes a similar chord with this zany 4-player party game.

The Wii U releases on November 18. The 8GB version is $299, but the $349 Deluxe Set includes 32GB of local storage, a Wii U controller-charging cradle, Wii U console stand, and a copy of Nintendo Land. Hopefully this list gives you a better idea of which games to buy for your new system.

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Comments
  • I'm stoked for the Wii U. Despite hat you may hear, people actually LIKE to play NINTENDO games. I think the Wii U will be the bestof both worls, with boht classic and motion gaming, all in an HD package that will please both hardcore and casual fans. And like the Wii, give it a few months to get a head of steam. This system is going to be hot for along time. I have spoken.
  • Blue toad and blue yoshi look like there having fun, In that pic. I CANT WAIT FOR THE WII U! Ac3 will be beautiful on it!
  • looks like a solid lineup to me.

    But the average parent/guardian is not going to know that the Wii U is NOT the same thing thats been around for the past however many years the regular Wii has been around

    They need to rebrand the Wii U as something totally different
  • Guess I'll pick up a Wii U and AC 3 during the winter.
  • I'm really looking forward to the Wii U. Granted I'm not getting a majority of these, since I already want them on a different console, there are other games for the Wii U I'm getting. but this isn't all that bad of a lineup. Now if Pikmin 3 were there I'd buy the Wii U day 1.
  • Wish that Pikmin 3 was on this list. Or a triple-A Luigi's Mansion 2.
  • No ZombiU? It looks fantastic, and seems to use the gamepad in some genuinely interesting ways.
  • I cant wait!

  • I'm soooo excited for the Wii U. I was skeptical until I held a controller in my hands last week. My local GameStop had one up and the only playable game was Rayman Legends. It took me only one minute of playtime to decide that this console will be great.
  • Meh, nothing in that list makes me want to get the Wii U. Come on Nintendo give me a reason to want your console, because you have given me none.
  • Wow look at all those sweet titles I can play ANYWHERE else. Okay only half of them, but the other half I don't care about at all. I'll wait a couple of years once they get out their big Mario and Zelda games... even then though I don't know.
  • Staff
    Lots of third party games indeed. I guess that's good considering Nintendo's track record with third-party developers, but I'd hope for more first-party offerings than New Super Mario Bros. and Nintendo Land...
  • No Scribblenauts?
  • Wow, 7 of the 8 games listed above were really worth buying. I'm impressed, Nintendo.
  • checked out the Wii U at Best Buy yesterday. Totally dissapointed. I may have talked some trash earlier but after holding that controller in my hand with a screen smaller than the Vita's (which i got rid of already) i now know that this is garbage. For some reason the only playable demo they got is Rayman. Probably because the only game they have is 2d mario to sell the system. Damn its been a long time since i ran to Toys R Us to see the cutting edge Mario 64 on N64. This is just whack and for kids and casuals with no friggin hand eye coordination. So went home and downloaded The Unfinished Swan. AWESOME! I also beat it inbetween writing this.
  • I guess everyone makes mistakes but one of the premier Wii U titles, ZombieU isn't listed. :)

  • ZombiU is my choice..
  • Darksiders ll and Super Mario Bros. U is my top 2 right now. Thought that Ninja Gaiden 3 would be on the menu.
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