You can "easily" put the Wii U + gamepad in a bag an go to the nearest mall with free wifi to download firmware and games. You have to learn what the TV screen looks like as it is not always mirrored in the gamepad.

EDIT: You do not have to buy the sensor bar for wiimote games. The gamepad has a sensor bar integrated.

Ah, Media Markt has more than enough TVs, I'm sure I can hook up the Wii U there for some time. They are usually very nice when I have special wishes. They also allowed me to charge up my smartphone some time back and they are also ok when I'm going there to watch a football game or something. I'm going to that particular store since 10 years and nearly everyone there knows me by name. So I'm sure that won't be a problem.

Nice to know that a sensor bar is included, thanks!

So, I've done some googling for you and found this:

https://www.reddit.com/r/splatoon/comments/3txhb9/splatoon_matches_use_5mb_per_minute/

According to that guy Splatoons data usage isn't outrageous, so it might still be an option for you to use your mobile plan. Hope that helps!

Many answers but may as well go too! :p

1. Depends on what games your getting, but in general, it is very useful to have. Updates will take a while to download, but after that, you can set it to automatically download updates when your system is on standby mode (basically off) Updates are required for online functionality, so if you are basically going for single player games, it's not mandatory (though highly advised)

2. Splatoon has a nice single player mode, but it boasts multiplayer, so once you beat single player, there isn't much to do without internet

3. Nope, even games compatible with GameCube controllers won't work for the Wii U

4. Yes, but unlike what others are saying, the text is still readable on the gamepad, since it's closer to your face :p

All your questions are answered, but if I were you I would honestly just buy a 3DS for now and wait for the NX if you want your Nintendo fix, unless you have something against handheld gaming, which I can understand.

The 3DS has much better support from both Nintendo and third parties and most of the Wii U's big games are much better with internet support such as Super Mario Maker, Splatoon, Smash, and Mario Kart 8, so if you don't have much internet access, it really isn't worth it. Most of the 3DS's best games are played perfectly fine without internet though and in my opinion has better games overall. Also this way you never have to worry about your wife hogging the TV from you :P

i think you are decided to get the Wii U. I hope you get a good discount with it since NX is coming. Your inquiries have been answered so won't add into it.

Just check out its library there are a lot of great games. I still need to add Captain Toad, Fatal Frame V, Zelda BoTW to my collection. Fatal Frame V i believe is on disc there, so you should be fine.

Take note of the 32 GB disk space if you are going digital on your games. Have fun on your Wii U and post your comments about the console.

To add: N-Gauge is the grandfather of mobile gaming. LOL.

I won't say that this is a bad move because I bought my Wii U in March 2015 after Iwata had already revealed codename NX, so I was in a similar boat as you and I have not regretted my purchase.  Like you, I hadn't bought a Nintendo console (or any console, for that manner) since the early Gamecube days and so the Wii U gave me first time access to not only the Wii U library but also the Wii library.  I have spent a lot of my time on the Wii U just playing old Wii VC games:  the Wii Virtual Console has a lot of classic 3rd party titles that never got re-listed on the Wii U eShop and so I have really enjoyed having Wii backwards compatibility and it has allowed me to play games like Chrono Trigger, Shining Force and the Phantasy Star series. 

I personally think that it is very unlikely that the NX will offer backwards compatibility with the Wii and so if you would like to play some of the games from that generation, a Wii U may be your best option. 

Definitely pickup a Wii-Mote for the Wii games.  I would actually recommend also buying a fight pad that can be plugged into your Wii Mote and used as a Wii Classic controller: this will give you the ability to play Wii VC games while also being able to function as a traditional second controller in games like Mario Kart 8, Smash and 3D World.

BTW, it might make sense to bring your Wii U to a friend's house for the first couple of uses and get the big firmware downloads out of the way using a proper internet connection.

I think that as long as you realize that you will be buying your Wii U for the past (and not for the future), you shouldn't find yourself regretting your purchase.  Zelda BotW is probably the last big thing coming for the Wii U, so just keep that in mind and I think you'll be fine as far as having regrets go.  Good luck, and enjoy the awsome games!

Kind of.

No.

No.

In practice it doesn't work out very well, but yes.

My question is why aren't you waiting for the NX to be unveiled before buying a WiiU? Please reconsider your purchase and WAIT for the NX to be revealed.

Wii U is dead.

User moderated -RavenXtra