Will Nintendo 's forthcoming Wii U breathe new life into its aging Wii concept ? Hard to say at this point , but it will bring a fresh element to Nintendo gaming . I got my hands on the redesigned system , which was first previewed a year ago , after Nintendo 's Electronic Entertainment Expo event in Los Angeles on Tuesday . Here are my first impressions : . First , the Wii U Game Pad . It is smaller than a tablet , but larger than your mobile phone . It does n't feel heavy in the hands , and you will really have to try hard to snap it in two ( not recommended ) . The Wii U Game Pad is part controller and part handheld console , and new games are expected to take advantage of both abilities . I tried out the Wii U on two games , each featuring a different use for the device . `` Luigi 's Haunted Mansion '' takes advantage of what Nintendo calls asymmetric gameplay . This allows the Wii U to have unique goals and abilities in the game when played simultaneously with other people holding regular Wii controllers . In this game , the player with the Wii U is a ghost trying to track down and capture the four players using Wii controllers . The ghost player uses the Wii U built-in screen to see everything on the map while the four other players must watch the TV screen to capture a ghost they ca n't usually see . The Wii U screen is large enough to make small shapes easy enough to distinguish . The two joystick controllers feel natural and sturdy , and comparable to other console joysticks . There are also two sets of shoulder buttons which are appropriately placed and do n't feel uncomfortable to use . In the second game , `` Donkey Kong 's Crash Course , '' those buttons are used to manipulate a course you navigate by tilting the Wii U in the appropriate directions . The shoulder buttons raise and lower bridges and elevators while the joysticks are used to turn cranks . It was a little difficult to rotate joysticks while also trying to tilt the Wii U . But with practice , I was able to get the right amount of touch without dying . Players can watch the overall action on their TVs or get an up-close view through the Wii U screen . I ca n't envision players using the big screen for games when the small one is in their hands . Nintendo plans to release a wide range of games , from kid titles like `` Pikmin 3 '' to offerings for hardcore gamers like `` ZombiU '' and `` Mass Effect 3 . '' The promise of additional gameplay features for the Wii U make it an intriguing option . Overall , the Wii U is a solid hybrid of a souped-up Wii system and a handheld gaming device . It 's larger than a traditional console controller , but not so heavy that it would cause fatigue problems . Despite no announcement of a specific launch date or a price , the Wii U will only be as good as the games made for it . Nintendo 's focus on games during Tuesday 's event is a sign the gaming company may have its eye on the right target .
The Wii U will bring a fresh new direction to Nintendo games . Nintendo still has n't announced a specific release date or a price for the system . Nintendo demoed the system after Nintendo 's E3 event Tuesday .