The Wii U barely scrounged up ten releases in 2014, but fortunately nearly the entire launch roster has a deserved place the console’s “Best of the Year” list, with many worthy of being on the overall best lists. Nintendo’s first-party and developing partners delivered top quality products, and some stellar indie titles added a digital punch to the company’s eShop. With a list like this on the reasonably priced system, there are very few arguments against purchasing a Nintendo Wii U.
NES Remix 2
Last year, Nintendo gave us bite-sized chunks of digital nostalgia with NES Remix . Its success has prompted additional titles on both the home console and 3DS handheld, with continued support for more. NES Remix 2 delivered, with a fresh set of old-school titles to exploit and mutate. Welcomed inclusions, such as Super Mario Bros. 2 and Super Mario Bros. 3 , Punch-Out!! , and Kid Icarus offer some clever and unique micro challenges to feast upon. This time around, we have leaderboards to see how many milliseconds are needed to shave off in order to make the list. As an extra bonus, you can play the entire original Super Mario Bros. as Luigi, complete with his inflated jumping and traction physics that make the classic platformer a surprisingly fresh experience.
Hyrule Warriors
The Dynasty Warriors series is no stranger to dipping their toes into other franchises, but when it comes to the world of Zelda, fans become both extremely excited and extremely apprehensive. Fortunately, Hyrule Warriors did not disappoint. The overpowered combat and fast-paced objectives are pure Dynasty , with a sizeable campaign and plenty of other modes to rack up countless hours. However, it is the stalwart dedication to preserving the Zelda brand that shines through brightest. The characters, enemies, weapons, venues, music, and countless other small touches will have even the most devout Zelda fans applauding the authenticity and tribute that Hyrule Warriors delivers. It’s in no respect a traditional Zelda adventure, but it’s high-octane action every second.
Stealth Inc. 2: A Game of Clones
The recently released Stealth Inc. 2: A Game of Clones is easily Nintendo’s most intriguing Wii U exclusive indie title this year. Traveling through a Metroid style series of chambers in a clone testing facility that resembles something from the Portal series, you’ll need to be quick on your feet to solve the clever puzzles and evade the deadly enemies and traps to succeed. But there is plenty beyond the typical puzzling platformer that makes Stealth Inc. 2 special. The GamePad utilized co-op mode allows you to play the entire campaign with another player. You can create your own fiendish boards and upload them to the community for others to dare, and the integration of the Miiverse social network allows players to provide in-game tips on progressing through frustrating areas. Even after completing the story, there’s always a reason to pick Stealth Inc. 2: A Game of Clones back up for a new challenge.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Captain Toad’s exploits were a delightful diversion in Super Mario 3D World , though few and far between. Fans of these side stages began clamoring for the beloved yet unlikely Mushroom Kingdom hero to have his own game. A surprise at this year’s E3, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker quickly became one of Nintendo’s most highly anticipated games of the year. The stage designs are varied, colorful, and tricky. The controls are a perfect divergence from the Mario formula, giving the game a feel all its own. Of course, the entire package is beyond adorable, and it’s near impossible not to smile as you watch Toad or Toadette scurry around the board. Yet, just like his Super Mario 3D World minigames, there still needs to be more.
Shovel Knight
A true throwback to the platformers of old, Shovel Knight embraces the 8-bit era in every respect. And yet, for all the games it emulates, from Mega Man to Castlevania to Super Mario Bros. 3 and more, the overall product is one that feels completely its own. The music and visuals are all original works, but there’s no denying the level design harkens back to the bygone days where running, jumping, and a single attack (in this case swinging a spade) are the tools at your disposal. There are plenty of hidden locations to discover, loot to collect and trade for upgrades in town, and a decent array of enemies with specific attack patterns to exploit. Having sold over 300,000 copies between the Wii U, 3DS, and through Steam on the PC, Shovel Knight breaks through the ever-growing pack of throwback platformers, and nabs the top spot as the must have title in its field.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
This past February Donkey Kong returned in arguably his best game ever. Island hopping with his three helpful companions, DK braved fiendishly difficult stages from jungles to ice-capped mountains and even under the sea. This is no child’s play platformer, boasting the most well designed levels that challenge even Mario side-scrollers in quality. And if you still feel the challenge of the campaign isn’t enough, you’re welcome to test your ability in the Time Attack and witness just how lackluster your skills are when compared to the top players on the leaderboard, who’s replays you are allowed to view. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze gives you plenty of ways to garner more lives, but just as many ways to burn them as well.
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Nintendo brought out the big guns this year, and there’s no bigger cannon in their arsenal than Super Smash Bros. The 3DS version has sold incredibly well on the juggernaut handheld, but it was always just the appetizer to the Wii U version. The brawler lived up to all the expectations and hype. Forty-nine playable characters, flawlessly tight controls at sixty frames per second, and a ton of modes to play with, including the chaotic yet insanely fun 8-Player Smash. The For Fun and For Glory online modes are simple, but get you into the action quickly, and are generally lag-free. Overall, it’s the skill testing, trash talking, hardcore action that every fan wanted, and the ailing console sorely needed.
Child of Light
Child of Light is arguably the best indie game of 2014, and deservedly so for many reasons. From the gorgeous hand-drawn artwork to the perfect blend of platforming and RPG, it’s the perfect package for anyone to unwrap from the eShop. The protagonist Aurora is on a quest to save her father, presenting a tale of a frightened girl who matures throughout her journey, meeting a handful of odd individuals along the way. The combat marries turn-based choices with precision real-time actions to provide an endlessly satisfying sense of achievement for those who master the system. The Wii U is the ideal platform for the game as well. The touch-controls on the GamePad are much easier to manage through menus and combat than traditional controls, the off-TV mode lets you play in quiet comfort should you need to the free up the television, and Aurora’s sprite sidekick Igniculus allows a second player to join the quest both in and outside of combat, similar to how co-op was used in Super Mario Galaxy . The journey is somewhat short for an RPG, but it’s a fantastic endeavor every minute of the way.
Mario Kart 8
The godfather of the kart-racing genre flips things upside-down for its Wii U entry, literally. Using anti-gravity, the course design is not limited to the laws of physics, and with its sixteen original tracks and an equal amount of remodeled tracks from previous games, there’s plenty of Mushroom Kingdom scenery to enjoy. And why would you not? Mario Kart 8 is one of the most graphically stunning video games ever made, with backgrounds just bursting with little touches that pay homage to the entire Mario lineage, and the ability to replay highlights and watch them in slow-motion. Your eyes are in for one of the biggest treats, ever! Let’s not forget though that this is still a racing game, and the drive to leave your opponents in the dust is an endless and exciting pursuit, both in single-player cup challenges and the easily accessible online multiplayer matches. It is the best Mario Kart yet, and that’s a bold statement considering the pedigree of past entries.
Bayonetta 2
It has been a few years since Bayonetta flaunted her curvy figure, and there is a considerable outcry from the general gaming community about Bayonetta 2 ‘s exclusivity to the Wii U console. Nintendo fronted the cash to developer Platinum Games to bring the sequel to life, without brandishing any boundaries. A rare M-rated title for the system, the game uses it well, with brutal combat and a bevy of ways to dismember angels and demons alike, coarse yet appropriately used language, and, of course, the provocative display. Yet the more I play this stunning game, the more I understand that the use of sexuality never comes off as raunchy or explicit. Instead, it is a showcase of Bayonetta’s confidence, comfort in her skin, and her incredible power as an Umbra Witch. Bayonetta 2 is one of the most well rounded and addictively fun action games you will ever play.