I bought a Wii U hoping for an awesome Zelda and Metroid in HD. I think a lot of people would be pissed since they showed that 2011 tech demo for Zelda and were expecting that.

I've had a great time with the console, got my money's worth. It would definitely be the worst Nintendo console without Zelda, but I wouldn't regret buying it, either.

Changing is one thing, but I will still need to like it or the direction they're going. Point was though, as far as the topic goes, if WiiU also wouldn't even get an original Zelda game that's exclusive, then yes, WiiU will definitively go down as a giant disappointment for me compared to every other Nintendo console with what it has (and what I played) now. So that wouldn't really change my view, but moreso cement it. We'll see how it stands two years from now though, nothing's unsalvagable and it's not like I'm not anticipating some of the future games or the goodness they're hopefully going to announce at E3. One could even end up being one of my favorites, who knows!

Truth be told I don't want WWHD and Hyrule Warriors to be the final say as far as Zelda goes on Wii U. It wouldn't be fair to the fans and to the system itself. Although it has some issues, its quite a technical achievement for the specs. I'm thinking that Nintendo went to the drawing board again and put some things through redesign because they saw what Monolith Soft did with XCX and want to tweak some things. And if there is any developer that knows open world its Monolith Soft.

I agree completely with it being a disappointment, but doesn't the N64 no longer have any exclusive LoZ? Twilight Princess (the one most people want a remake of) wasn't exclusive to one console, in fact if it gets remade (which I don't see it happening) it will be on 3 different consoles!

That said, yet again I would understand the disappointment. 

Also, what about the way Nintendo is going about games don't you like this gen, with titles that are released?

Whatever happens, the Wii U will probably be like the new Dreamcast. Later, everyone will love it and wonder why not everyone wanted one.

Did The Windwaker releasing on Wii U change your view on the GameCube? It also has no exclusive Zelda title.

When the next Zelda game releases, the Wii U will be the only console to play it on.

That is obviously a completely different situation. Wind Waker HD is a remaster of a game that came out over 10 years ago. It's nothing like having a simultaneous or near simultaneous release on two consoles. 

Exclusive within a reasonable timeframe, remakes don't knock the original off it's pedestal. Especially not if they come well over a decade after the fact with a full generation in between. OoT and MM were 13 and 15 years old respectively, which means I had adequate time to enjoy the originals on the N64. Gamecube had it's own Zelda, two even if you count FSA, so TP being on Wii wasn't much of a blow. There were other things on Gamecube.

But what really the issue is that it would be the straw that breaks the camel's back, because WiiU would have little else to carry the load. It's adding up like simple math. Non of these things alone would seal the system's fate, but all together... And yes it took a while for Wii to get it's own Zelda (but TP felt more like a Wii game anyway because GC had WW at least), but Wii had plenty of things to fill the void with new gaming concepts with the Wii series, two epic, ambitious 3D Mario's, the return of 2D Mario after decades of absence and interesting new takes on existing franchises. No need to get bored.

With WiiU, I feel like they've only given half the effort. Where are the new views on existing franchises, like a Luigi's Mansion? Hyrule Warriors, the only one as of now really that qualifies, is fun, but it's hardly a classic that will be played and remembered for ages to come. Where are the big ambitious AAA Mario's? Where are the new, exciting gameplay concepts? Stressing the 'new', the different. Nintendoland made me think great things were coming, but we've still seen no follow-up and the Gamepad is becoming an afterthought. Splatoon, maybe. But what they showed didn't warm my heart much, especially now that it's also evident they're bringing an incomplete game. Moreover it again only feels like a small effort. Like again it's just a side game, but where are the main courses I keep wondering.

Adding up the points the system gathered up to now in my imaginary console-league, paints a bleak picture, and having a Zelda finally that would be on two platforms simultaneously (and thus being superior on a newer console) isn't helping WiiU's cause in this case.

Obviously though, I want something that brings it though, I hope E3 brings something that prooves to me Nintendo isn't already with their minds with WiiU's successor instead.

I think NX is a handheld and ya dont worry about it

As far as new views of existing franchises, I'm not entirely sure what you are talking about. The fact that most of them used motion controls? If so, then Fatal Frame using the gamepad as the camera, as well as Star Fox utilizing two views, The W101 being a new Nintendo IP that fully uses the gamepad, Splatoon using the gamepad to quickjump to specific locations and gyroscope aiming, ect.

If you are looking for a change of gameplay as drastic as motion controls, I can agree this isn't it. But you have to agree with me on the fact that the the majority (at least of the people that still game and discuss gaming) do not WANT that drastic of change, and personally feel this is a perfect innovation for the future of gaming. It streamlines item management, and clears clutter from the gaming screen, interact with things through its touch screen, ect. Do I think what we seen so far has used the Gamepad to the fullest? Absolutely not, but refinement is part 2 of innovation. 

As far as cross gens and remakes go, I agree that OOT and MM have had long enough in the sun (a few gens worth) before they were remade, but people who have not experienced these titles yet will still get the better experience on the 3DS. Even if they are remakes it does take away from the original game.