Overview
Just released on November 18, 2012 was the Wii U, an eighth generation video game console. Unlike the Wii, the Wii U has a lot more features that the Wii normally doesn't have. But of course, Wii games can still be played on this system, as there is a backwards-compatibility Wii Menu included. A Wii Remote is, however, indeed required to play the games and use the Wii Menu. The Wii U comes with a game pad and a recharger that can come in handy if the pad runs out of power.
The Wii U was also released in Europe on November 30, 2012, and in Japan on December 8, 2012. It was unveiled on June 7, 2011 during the E3 2011 conference. The Wii U is priced at between $299.99 and $349.99.
The Nintendo eShop originally only sold NES and Super NES games as Virtual Console titles, with games from later consoles joining in 2014, starting with the Game Boy Advance, then the Nintendo 64 in 2015.
The Wii U was discontinued in early 2017, ending the eighth generation of video game consoles.
Games
Some notable Wii U games include New Super Mario Bros. U (2012), Super Mario 3D World (2013), Mario Kart 8 (2014), Super Mario Maker (2015), and Paper Mario: Color Splash (2016).
Virtual Console titles include:
- Donkey Kong
- Donkey Kong Jr.
- Mario Bros.
- Donkey Kong 3
- Super Mario Bros.
- Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
- Super Mario Bros. 2
- Super Mario Bros. 3
- Super Mario World
- Super Mario Kart
- Kirby's Adventure
- Donkey Kong Country
- Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
- Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble
- Kirby's Dream Course
- Kirby's Dream Land 3
- Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
- Kirby Super Star
- Super Mario 64
- Mario Kart 64
- Yoshi's Story
- Mario Party 2
- Donkey Kong 64
- Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
- Paper Mario
- Super Mario Advance
- Mario Kart: Super Circuit
- Wario Land 4
- Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2
- Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3
- Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
- Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
- Kirby & the Amazing Mirror
- Super Mario 64 DS
- Mario Party Advance
- Kirby Canvas Curse
- Mario Kart DS
- Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
- New Super Mario Bros.
- Kirby Squeak Squad
- Super Paper Mario
- Super Mario Galaxy
- Super Mario Galaxy 2
- Kirby's Epic Yarn
- Kirby Mass Attack
- Kirby's Return to Dream Land
As of January 1, 2021, despite the Wii U having been discontinued for four years, all NES titles continue to be sold at $4.99, while Super NES and Game Boy Advance titles sell for $7.99, Nintendo 64 titles for $9.99, and Nintendo DS and Wii titles for $19.99. GameCube games were never re-released.