With Nintendo's next console, the Wii U, due in stores in just eight days time, on the 30th of November, it's definitely time to start thinking about which games you want to pick up on launch day, if you haven't already. But while the Americans got the chance to umm and ahh over their selection of launch titles for a good six weeks before the console hit stores over there, things have been kept rather vague a heck of a lot longer over here, with Nintendo choosing to wait until today, just a shave over a week before the console hits the UK, to let us know what games we'll be able to pick up on launch day. Still, better late than never and all that.
Here's the list in full (you can click on the links to view screens and learn more about each game):
- Assassin's Creed III
- Batman: Arkham City Armoured Edition
- Ben 10: Omniverse
- Call of Duty: Black Ops II
- Darksiders 2
- Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
- Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade
- FIFA 13
- Funky Barn
- Game Party Champions
- Just Dance 4
- Mass Effect 3 Special Edition
- New Super Mario Bros. U
- Nintendo Land
- Rabbids Land
- Skylanders Giants
- Sports Connection
- Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
- Tank! Tank! Tank!
- Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition
- Transformers Prime
- Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper
- Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2013
- ZombiU
Probably the number one reason why the Wii U will be a success this Christmas...
By virtue of the UK launch being a few weeks later than the American one, there are a few differences between the two line-ups, with games like Ben 10: Omniverse, Mass Effect 3 and Funky Barn being added, while we're sadly missing the likes of Scribblenauts Unlimited and Sing Party - so it's swings and roundabouts. While we're particularly miffed about the lack of Scribblenauts Unlimited (delayed because of the time it takes to localise the game into the various European languages) and are lamenting the lack of Lego City Undercover (although to be honest, expecting that on launch day was probably just us being hopeful), we're pretty excited for many of the titles in the list, particularly New Super Mario Bros. U, Nintendo Land and Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed.
As for what's coming after the fateful day, or what we're likely to see on the shiny new downloadable store, we have no news - although with our list being very similar to that which was released in America a month and a half ago, we'd imagine our upcoming games are pretty similar too. Still, it would be nice if the launch plans had been made that little bit clearer that little bit sooner, as we were starting to wonder if Nintendo actually realised the UK is a real place, with real people, willing to pay real money for their products - if only they'd tell us what we'd be able to buy. As it stands, we've ended up coming a distant last when compared to the rest of the world - while the Americans have been given their own "Nintendo Direct" videos explaining the console's key features, and Japan's had even more, all the UK and Europe have been given is a few clips of a subtitled Japanese video - and that's it. When combined with the fact we're being charged £50 more than the US for our consoles, you're left with a rather distinct feeling - but it's probably not the one Nintendo were hoping you'd have a week away from their new console's launch.
Still, with the list of games now (finally) revealed, the planning, budgeting, and hype can begin proper. What are you looking forward to picking up next Friday?
