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Forums - Nintendo Discussion - 18 months in, what are your thoughts on the Wii U Gamepad? Success or disappointment?

I'm slightly disappointed with it so far.  I like the controller overall but feel like the potential we were promised has not been realised.

On the positive side, I think it feels great in the hands, and is the perfect weight.  I think having a map/inventory off the TV screen is also a positive, it helps declutter the main picture and gives you more info without having to dive into a load of menus and pausing the game.  Zombi U has the best use of the Gamepad so far out of the games I have played, the bleeping radar and the fact that it didn't pause the game while you were in the inventory was great. I'm sure off TV function is good although I have no use for it

But there hasn't been a real 'wow' moment for me.  Hopefully Nintendo have some ideas going into the future, I feel like they may be the only ones who could really think of something innovative.    Another aspect I dislike is the rumble.  It is the worst I have ever known in a controller, the gamepad doesn't even vibrate it just makes an awful noise like it's about to die.  And the battery sucks.

The reason I am bringing this up is that I think 18 months is long enough to judge the controller on against what was promised.

What are your opinions on the gamepad?  Would you like to see more innovation? Has it reached the potential/expectations you had for it?



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like the console, hate the gamepad. it'd be nice if nintendo get rid of it



Useless and only making Wii U more expensive than a comfortable cool pro controller would :)



As much as I love the gamepad its only because I love off tv play. Seems like Nintendo couldn't recreate the magic of the Wii. No game that Ive played has utilised the gamepad in a way that makes it necessary for the game and only slightly benefits from it.
=(



Uabit said:
Useless and only making Wii U more expensive than a comfortable cool pro controller would :)


I agree about the Pro Controller. I was very surprised at how good it was when I first tried it.  So simple but feels just right



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I don´t care about off-tv play, so a complete disappointment.It´s an albatross hanging around the system´s neck.



JGarret said:
I don´t care about off-tv play, so a complete disappointment.It´s an albatross hanging around the system´s neck.

But an albatross is more impressive than a hole in one... do you really think its that impressive??



Uabit said:
Useless and only making Wii U more expensive than a comfortable cool pro controller would :)


Useless? Care to elaborate on how it's useless after there's been games that's already showed how great the pad is. It's the best idea Nintendo has come up with and more than worth the extra expense.



celador said:

I'm slightly disappointed with it so far.  I like the controller overall but feel like the potential we were promised has not been realised.

On the positive side, I think it feels great in the hands, and is the perfect weight.  I think having a map/inventory off the TV screen is also a positive, it helps declutter the main picture and gives you more info without having to dive into a load of menus and pausing the game.  Zombi U has the best use of the Gamepad so far out of the games I have played, the bleeping radar and the fact that it didn't pause the game while you were in the inventory was great. I'm sure off TV function is good although I have no use for it

But there hasn't been a real 'wow' moment for me.  Hopefully Nintendo have some ideas going into the future, I feel like they may be the only ones who could really think of something innovative.    Another aspect I dislike is the rumble.  It is the worst I have ever known in a controller, the gamepad doesn't even vibrate it just makes an awful noise like it's about to die.  And the battery sucks.

The reason I am bringing this up is that I think 18 months is long enough to judge the controller on against what was promised.

What are your opinions on the gamepad?  Would you like to see more innovation? Has it reached the potential/expectations you had for it?

I feel the same way about the gamepad as I do Kinect.  Great for the overall uses of the system so far, but few games (full games, not party games) have used it to its full potential.

I like them both, and they bring something different to the industry.



I will say that i like the gamepad for playing off screen as i do that more than playing on screen. But it isnt really a big factor either. I wouldnt mark it as a pro or con.  Ill stay neutral on this one.