The excited buzz of Nintendo fans grew at this year’s E3 with Ubisoft’s announcement that they would be jumping on board with Nintendo’s next console release, slated for the fourth quarter of 2012, the Wii U. This support from Ubisoft comes in the form of eight games set to be released in the first half of 2013 alone. These titles span genres, encompassing action, party games, and even dance games. “Ubisoft’s creative teams have taken advantage of the technological advances in the Wii U system to develop new gameplay concepts that will help set the new system apart from other consoles and deliver distinct, immersive gaming experiences for players,” says Ubisoft CEO, Yves Guillemot.
The collection of games announced for the new console are great, starting with Assassin’s Creed III, the next chapter in the series, set this time during the American Revolution, and starring a brand new protagonist, Connor. Also from the action genre comes Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth. This new superhero game features Avengers favorites, such as Captain America and Thor, with a total of more than 20 playable heros, and takes advantage of the Wii U GamePad for exciting attacks and specials. Rounding up this style of game is ZombiU, set in London, in the midst of a zombie plague. The Wii U’s GamePad is used in this title as a strategic way to help players interact with the world of the game.
Ubisoft also offers three physical games for Nintendo’s new system. Just Dance 4 offers songs from top-rated artists, new and old, and supports up to five players at a time for intense dance competition and choreography. Sports Connection is the next, promising family fun in interactive sports games. It allows for single or multi-player matches, and team cooperation with the new GamePad. Wrapping up for this group is Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2013, giving gamers huge amounts of workouts and exercises to create a customized experience, and offers an enjoyable environment for reaching the desired level of fitness.
We also have two favorites returning, the first being Rabbids Land, this time set in a theme park. The game hosts 20-plus attractions, and allows, through use of the Wii U GamePad, control of the Rabbids in a variety of different motions. The second returner is Rayman Legends, certainly one of the favorites of many Ubisoft fans. This entry in the series touts new and exciting gameplay, different from platformers of the past, and new environments sure to spark the attention of new and old fans of the series.
All in all, Ubisoft brings a strong hand to the table for Nintendo’s new baby, and the results are sure to be more exciting still as time goes on.
