PSA for the Wii U haters: look at those games we’re getting!

There's nothing that annoys me more than having to try to defend the Wii U to people. It's like I'm surrounded by gamers that feel the console is a waste and that its early sales numbers are indicative of a failed console for Nintendo. I can't wait to laugh in their faces as 2013 progresses. I keep saying the same thing over and over: just wait until the big first-party games come out… just wait. Well, it looks like that waiting will be over at E3, as Nintendo announced today a ton of previously unannounced titles that will be shown off at the summer's premiere gaming expo. 

No crap the Wii U won't have a ton of early adopters when a good majority of the launch titles are ports and there's no Zelda or Smash Bros. game. Thank goodness yesterday's Nintendo Direct, when the company announced two Zelda games, a new 3D Mario action game, a new Mario Kart, a new Yoshi game, a new title from the devs behind Xenoblade, and a new collaboration title from Atlus that blends Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem. (Check out all of the Nintendo Direct highlights here)

What's that you say? The Wii U is a failure? It's not going to be able to compete with the next-gen consoles from Microsoft and Sony? HA! Look at what the Wii did! While the Wii U is having more third-party games, and specifically more 'adult' games, its success will be based on the strength of its first-party titles — like always. These titles might not make parents and grandparents buy the Wii U like they did the Wii, and it might not lure over Xbox and PlayStation fanboys, but it's most likely going to convince every on-the-fence fan and Nintendo fanboys to get the console. Also, every kid who loves Smash Bros. and owned a Wii is going to want the Wii U now. It's already happened… did you see the Tank! Tank! Tank! kid?!

So, here's a few thoughts to people hating on the Wii U:

  • Have fun with PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale starring Fat Princess. We'll have the new Smash Bros. soon enough. You know, the one starring a fat plumber that people have actually heard of.
  • The argument where the Wii U can't match the power of the next Xbox and PlayStation is flawed. The Wii couldn't match the 360 or PS3 and we saw how that turned out. It's about quality of game, not graphical prowess. League of Legends is the number one game in the world and doesn't have better graphics than most PC games; The Walking Dead beat out Assassin's Creed III, Dishonored, Journey and Mass Effect 3 for game of the year (all of those had better graphics); and lesser graphics didn't stop Skyward Sword from being a great game. Oh, and the 3DS seems to be doing fine compared to the graphically superior PS Vita.
  • "The Wii U just caught up to current-gen graphics, congrats" argument. See above.
  • Resident Evil 6 has good graphics, but the game sucked. Just throwing that out there.
  • I can play my Wii U on the toilet or on a train without a TV.
  • My son is three-and-a-half-years-old and wants to play Mario Kart 7 on my 3DS non-stop. Imagine what Mario Kart on the Wii U will do to the kid. He already loves Mario, Luigi and Bowser as much as Lightning McQueen and Mickey Mouse.

Maybe it's jealousy that have people continuously hating on Nintendo's new console. Maybe the haters want Bayonetta 2, Rayman Legends, a new Mario Kart instead of Jimmie Johnson's Anything With an Engine, a new 3D action Mario game, LEGO City: Undercover, and are upset they can't play Wind Waker HD or the brand-new Zelda game. I can only speculate, but Nintendo will be hanging in there with Microsoft and Sony at E3 just based on the games they're showing — and that's with new console announcements from competitors.

All Nintendo needed was time to get its big games out there. 

You can follow Senior Editor Lance Liebl on Twitter @Lance_GZ. He likes talking sports, video games, movies, and the stupidity of celebrities. Email at [email protected]