The financial numbers are in for Nintendo, and it’s not pretty. While the 3DS is still selling like hotcakes, the Wii U will fall more than 6 million units short of their initial sale predictions for the current fiscal year.
That’s really bad, and while some are declaring this the official death of the Wii U, let’s not forget that there are still some great Wii U exclusives set for 2014. Today’s Fanatical Five takes a look at the most promising:
Super Smash Bros.
This is one of Nintendo’s most “hardcore-friendly” game franchises, and the latest iteration of the Nintendo fighting game already looks even more bonkers than before. New characters like the Wii Fit trainer, Mega Man, and the Villager from Animal Crossing look to keep the gameplay fresh, and there’s still nothing like getting three friends together for some smack talk and eventual hurt feelings.
Bayonetta 2
The Wii U exclusive generated a lot of controversy when it was announced, as most “fans” of the series fumed that they’d have to get a Wii U to pick up the next chapter of Bayonetta’s saga. This is something Nintendo will most likely exploit, and the first one was pretty damn entertaining, so you should probably just bite the bullet and buy it.
Mario Kart 8
This series is one of the most beloved in the racing genre, and makes a great party game. Plus, for years people have clamored for Mario Kart in HD. Match that with (hopefully better) online gameplay, and you’ve got a sure thing for those wanting a good time.
X
We still don’t know much about it, but what we do know is enticing: it’s a Wii U exclusive from Monolith Software that looks like part of the Xeno series, and combines Action RPG gameply with giant mechs. What more do you want?
Hyrule Warriors
Yes, the Dynasty Warriors series gets flak for being repetitive, but it’s also really fun. The Zelda series has tons of lore, tons of fans, and fits in perfectly with the medieval style of the series, and while it might suffer from a lack of depth, it definitely looks entertaining.
So even if the Wii U is doooooomed, at least there’s some fun to be had with it this year.