July 4th 2024.
It's a bittersweet moment for Nintendo fans as the Wii U, once a promising console, is now facing its final farewell. The console's failure was evident from the very beginning, with a lack of marketing and unimpressive games. Despite being the successor to the popular Wii, the Wii U failed to capture the attention of the masses and was discontinued in 2016. Its replacement, the Switch, quickly took over as Nintendo's second console of the generation.
The Wii U's downfall was not a surprise, and most people were not even aware of its existence. Its eShop was closed last year, and repairs were still being offered in Japan until recently when Nintendo announced that they have run out of spare parts. This news was not unexpected as it was already mentioned last year that hardware support would only last as long as spare parts were available. In the West, repairs had already stopped due to a lack of demand.
While the passing of the Wii U may not be mourned by many, it does take with it a number of great exclusive games. The beloved Xenoblade Chronicles X, for example, has yet to be ported to the Switch. Despite not utilizing the Wii U GamePad, the lack of a port is still confusing to fans. Other games that haven't made the journey to the Switch also make use of the GamePad, making their absence even more disappointing.
Some games, like Star Fox Zero, could potentially be retro-fitted to use normal controls, but the poor reception of the original makes it unlikely. This also means that the pack-in Tower Defence game, Star Fox Guard, is also lost to history. However, there are some games that won't be missed, like Paper Mario: Color Splash and Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival.
Rumors have been circulating that Kirby And The Rainbow Paintbrush will make its way to the Switch, but it seems impossible for games like Game & Wario to be ported over due to their reliance on the GamePad. While Game & Wario may not be a loss, the same cannot be said for launch title Nintendo Land. The compilation of multiplayer games, such as Mario Chase and Luigi's Ghost Mansion, were amazing party games that cannot be replicated on any other console.
Although the Wii U's games were not known for their longevity, they were still great for gatherings and it's a shame that they cannot be experienced on a modern format. There is some hope that a few of these games, especially Xenoblade, may appear on the Switch in the future. The Wii U remasters of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess also seem like possible candidates for a port.
As the Wii U officially bids farewell, it's a reminder of the unique games it brought to the world. However, its early demise also paved the way for the much better and successful Switch. The Wii U may be gone, but its memory will live on through its exclusive games. And for those wondering why Xenoblade Chronicles X has not been ported to the Switch, it remains a mystery. But for now, let's cherish the memories and look forward to what Nintendo has in store for us in the future.
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