Nintendo Executive Editor for IGN Richard George explained in an article why he believes games such as ZombiU are proof the Wii U is worth the gamble.
George started by explaining his fears towards the system. “I have this nagging fear about Wii U. It’s not that the system won’t get software, or Nintendo’s iconic franchises. It’s that the system won’t get the type of software necessary to fully realize the potential of its grand experiment.”
“None of it really changes the way I see gaming through the lens of Wii U. None of it evokes an overwhelming reaction from me,” explained George, “not even Nintendo Land’s asymmetric gameplay.”
After explaining his wavering feelings about the system, George then stated his thoughts on ZombiU being an exception towards his basic thoughts.
“I’m still not sure if ZombiU is a must-play game or something that could justify a system purchase. I’ll need far more time with the game to make that call. But in limited bursts, this experience continues to grow on me. Wholly different from most zombie games out there, this one puts an emphasis on sheer survival, with characters scrambling to scrape by in a world that is out to eat you – literally.”
He then explained some of the features that have showed up in the game since E3, which make use of the Wii U’s gamepad. “My latest turn with this first-person shooter introduced a few elements that weren’t included when the game was shown at E3. Of particular note is the black light scanner,” he noted, “which encourages you to pull up the GamePad and use its screen to look around your room.”
“While your television gives you a third-person view of your character looking around, your Pad’s monitor gives you a purple-hued perspective of the world, allowing you to see objects tucked in corners and crevices.”
George explained how the game was not a traditional zombie experience in regards to taking on copious numbers with an arsenal of weapons. “This isn’t a game where you try to go toe-to-toe with zombies. There is no overwhelming arsenal to be had, no safe haven that can repeatedly heal you. Death is permanent.”
“Even scarier, ZombiU features multiple types of enemies. Just as you start to get comfortable with a typical undead monster, they start to spit at you, meaning not even keeping your distance will afford you a reprieve.”
“In a game where five bullets is considered an abundance of protection, the fact that a head shot will barely slow down an enemy is a merciless shift in advantage.”
You can view the entire article here. It’s a very interesting read.