Offering up to three main game modes with a selection of mini games on the side, Wii Party U can be praised for its success of curing boredom and having a great time. Each of these four main modes explain their differences from the main menu, and further down the line when you’re introduced to the roster of games each one has. Each game provides three levels difficulty and feels exactly as described while remaining in the borders of a fair challenge.

Wii Party U also requires the use of a Wii-Mote per person along with the Wii U Gamepad being shared amongst the crowd. This is an example of good design practice and as one could imagine the expense of a Gamepad per-person would be be off putting to its audience, not to mention a surprising kick in the teeth. But this decision in control structure doesn’t hinder in anyway the creative efforts that exists within its library of games.

"Games such as Tabletop Football and Tabletop Baseball bring back memories of the original Nintendo Wii's Wii Sports. Other additions such as Mii-in-a-Row and Tabletop Gauntlet are welcomed and received gratefully."

GamePad Party allows you to play with a friend directly on the Wii U GamePad. This does well in changing up the traditional way in which we play games rather than most which simply imitate the TV screen. It’s a simple yet greatly executed idea that brings traditional board games and video games to a meeting point where all requirements are met. It feels nostalgic in a way and I’m sure many people can relate to this. Games such as Tabletop Football and Tabletop Baseball bring back memories of the original Nintendo Wii’s Wii Sports. Other additions such as Mii-in-a-Row and Tabletop Gauntlet are welcomed and received gratefully.

House Party takes into account the space of your room and provides you with games more orientated around bigger spaces. Folk Dance Fever is a four player game in which the GamePad works as a synchronization tool to track the player as they dance in co-ordination with the game. One of the problems with this as with a number of the other games provided, is the tracking and location of the required Wii-Motes which must work in combination with the GamePad.

Another game that lies within this section is Lost-and-Found Square. Using the GamePad players must find each other’s location by moving through a small made up area, but must do so in steering the GamePad in the space around their room. As the player’s concentration is reliant on the GamePad, the TV screen works as a four-way mirror to provide the audience with entertainment.

"Wii Party U was clearly designed to be a cooperatively played game and while it works fine in single-player, it's not where its strengths or appeals lie."

What’s remarkable about each different game mode is their ability to remain fairly distinctive of one another without lacking or falling short of enjoyment. TV Party places a focus on combining its mini games with those similar available in the other modes. Highway Rollers, Gamepad Island, and Mii Fashion Plaza take note from board games and require you to roll a dice in order to progress through a platformed board game, built up of one of it’s worlds. This dice throws are split up amongst each other whereby you must compete in a mini game before further making your way back on to the main board.

Mini games is designed to work as a striped down version of those similar to the game’s three modes. While this is great in idea it feels unneeded and would have been better implemented had it’s game selection just been divided amongst the other three. One of it’s choices appropriately titled Minigame Collection allows the player to one of the mini games and play solo or cooperatively and works as a practice mode.

Wii Party U was clearly designed to be a cooperatively played game and while it works fine in single-player, it’s not where its strengths or appeals lie. Only a handful of the games are made available in single player and it would have been better off had the game not offered this at all. The mode feel boring and lonely and is not in anyway ideal for someone playing alone.

"This is where people have a problem in appreciating some of Nintendo's best games, because they're still holding out for that "Visual Statement" which shows off the Nintendo Wii U's true power capabilities. Meanwhile great games such as this are being overlooked."

Like the majority of Nintendo’s games, Wii Party U emphasizes its use of colour. Wii Party U possesses a colour palette that would do well to describe itself as Pop Candy. Everything appears bright and crisp, and the 1080p resolution really makes its presence stand out. Now granted this isn’t a visual benchmark in giving people a level of over-the-top special effects, it’s not meant to.

This is where people have a problem in appreciating some of Nintendo’s best games, because they’re still holding out for that “Visual Statement” which shows off the Nintendo Wii U’s true power capabilities. Meanwhile great games such as this are being overlooked. Wii Party U is a perfect game for a large group of people. It brings back memories of television commercials for family oriented board games and does well in delivering that feeling into a modern-era.

It also implements the style of games like those found in an arcade or fun fair, but doesn’t in anyway hinder the type of experience it’s going for. One thing that will stand out in its glorious selection of games, and in more so than others, is a slight feeling of not being  in control or simply relying on luck. This minor issue isn’t by any means a game-breaking bug nor should it destroy an enjoyable experience. It’s just more noticeable within certain games and when playing as a group shouldn’t make you feel cheated.

This game was reviewed on the Nintendo Wii U.

Nintendo has announced a list of the games Gamescom attendees will be able to sample at the upcoming expo, which takes place in Cologne from August 21st-25th. A whole host of Wii U and 3DS titles will be available to demo, the most exciting of which being Europe’s first ever playable glimpse at the much anticipated Pokemon X and Y in a short playable demo.

The fully announced list comes out to:

Wii U:

– Pikmin 3, which has already been released in Europe as of July 26th, will be =available on the floor for the Wii U to show off all of its brand new interactive features.

– The Wonderful 101, in which players control up to 100 heroes at a time in order to defend the earth from an invading alien scourge. The Wonderful 101 launches on August 23rd.

– The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, the beloved Gamecube title, has been remastered, revamped, and repackaged for the Wii U, incorporating some of the systems unique interactive features and overall touching up the game’s look for HD.

– Sonic Lost World will be available for fans of the classic franchise. Sonic returns to team up with former nemesis Dr. Eggman to battle the Deadly Six, showcasing a host of new abilities and fun environments.

– Wii party U, the Wii U’s family oriented board game station will be playable, and features board games, mini games, table top games, etc.

– Donkey Country: Tropical Freeze, the much anticipated new Donkey Kong side scroller, which features Donkey, Diddy, and Dixie Kong jumping and rolling their way over and through new enemies and environments

– Super Mario 3D World, which is the first multiplayer 3D Mario game for the Wii u will be playable, and will feature some never before seen abilities from the Mario cast.

– Wii Karaoke U will be available to all Gamescom attendees. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing is really up to you.

– And Finally, Mario Kart 8, set for a Spring 2014 release will be avaiable to demo in full HD.

3DS:

– Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, which launches November 8th, will be available for a demo. This final game in the Professor Layton prequel trilogy takes place one year after the events of Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask.

– The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is a new entry in the Zelda series, set in the same world as the SNES classis, A Link to the Past. The game will expand upon the original top down 2D perspective, incorporating many of the unique graphic elements that the 3DS has to offer.

In Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, players needs to help Donkey Kong and his friends save their home and banana hoard from marauding Vikings. The game features  new moves, including a plucking system to pull items right out of the ground.

Check out the brand new screenshots and the video below:

Super Mario 3D World on the other hand requires the player to work together with friends. In the game, players can choose to play as Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach or Toad. Check out the media for this game below:

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD returns on the Wii U console with HD graphics and enhanced game features. Players will sail the seas in search of lost islands, fight fearsome enemies, take on mighty bosses and seek out the legendary Triforce. Check out the video and screenshots of this game below:

In Wii Party U players can enjoy board games and mini-games on the TV, play familiar tabletop games using the Wii U GamePad. Check out the screens below: