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Nuvendil on 18 January 2016
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NoirSon said:
Miyamotoo said:
NoirSon said:
In Japan probably, but on a global scale, I don't think that would be accurate. Great game has done wonders but it really hasn't defined or shaped anything other then being very successful, I think Mario Kart 8 or Super Smash Bros. for Wii U are representative for the Wii U's life cycle.

How exactly!? Completely new, fresh and great idea in TPS online field, you dont have nothing similar like Splatoon. Splatoon has come out of nowhere and surprised us all and become a massive hit, its also completely new IP with own characters and world that become very popular with toys, music, mangas...while Mario Kart and Smash Bros are games that were great and successful games previous 3 or more generations.

But a system defining game is more then being fresh, new and successful, it has to embody the entire life of the console. Don't get me wrong, Splatoon comes close, but much like Perfect Dark, Super Smash Bros and a case can be made for the THQ/AKI wrestling games are classics on the N64 and some remember the system for it, the three games that are system defining for the N64 are Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time and Goldeneye 007. Splatoon is close to Goldeneye 007 but not as successful outside of Japan enough to make strong enough dent to save the Wii U, but the reason I don't think it will be what the Wii U is remembered for is that the massive fanservice of Smash Bros and Mario Kart tell the tale of the Wii U. Great games that did almost everything right sold very well but even with their weight (and Smash being the primary introduction of Amiibo) couldn't right the ship that was the system.

To me that pretty much sums up the Wii U's life right there and Smash Bros with its DLC, Amiibos and overall heavy fanservice across the spectrum just seems to be what I think most will remember the Wii U for even if we get another game in that franchise that has similar roster size and diversity.

I think the best way to sum up the Wii U's legacy will be "the system tens of millions of people *almost* bought."  Because that's been the tone since mid 2014 it seems.  People on the net, in stores, etc being on the precipice but never actually buying.  Waiting for a price drop that never came , or needing that final push in the form of marketing Nintendo wasn't willing to spend for.  If the Nintendo had marketed more aggressively and the Wii U had gone to $250 in holiday 2014 (or just gotten a Smash bundle) or at the Splatoon launch or heck even THIS holiday, sales would have improved a lot.  Those few brief weeks where the price was $250 at multiple stores, Wii U saw a nice surge in sales followed by a massive plummet when that was no longer available.  Mismanagement of the price, inconsistent bundling, and unwillingness to increase advertising presence even after spending the money to improve the Wii U's marketing all doomed the system from the word go, lineup and 3rd party suport (or lack there of) be darned.