Spotlight on Wii U: Wii U GamePad

When it comes to brand new gaming experiences that can’t be had anywhere else, Wii U is loaded with a host of innovative, exciting and unique ways to play. But what’s at the heart of it all? Not surprisingly, it’s the Wii U GamePad. More than just a controller for Wii U, the GamePad is loaded with features that open up a whole world of new gaming opportunities!

For instance, take the 6.2-inch touch screen at the centre of the Wii U GamePad. Thanks to its widescreen display, many multiplayer titles on Wii U have swapped split-screen play for dual-screen – instead of two people sharing the same screen and seeing less of the action, they can have a screen each! For example, try some traditional co-op action as you chase down super-villains in LEGO Marvel Super Heroes or head for the many attractions of Nintendo Land, discovering unique gameplay experiences that change depending on whether you’re in control of the GamePad or using a Wii Remote to play on the TV.

It’s not just multiplayer gaming that benefits from the GamePad’s integrated screen either – many single-player games put the GamePad to good use during play by offering benefits you’d never get with a regular controller. In The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, the GamePad becomes an interactive real-time map, so you don’t get lost on the open waves or in the darkest dungeon, as well as an on-the-fly inventory that allows you to change items without stopping the in-game action. In Pikmin 3, you can keep tabs on all your diminutive plant pals easily and send squads to other areas of the map with a touch. Use the GamePad as a golf tee in Wii Sports Club, as an all-purpose survival kit in ZombiU, to interact directly with the world of Rayman Legends, and much more besides.

And of course, plenty of Wii U games offer off-TV play, too. Even if the TV is in use, you can still enjoy all kinds of fun on Wii U without losing anything by transferring the action to the GamePad’s screen. And on top of that, Wii Party U’s GamePad Party mode features a variety of minigames played exclusively on the GamePad: no TV required!

There are even more features too, all designed to help you maximise your gaming fun. You can experience the thrill of the hunt with your friends in Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, using the GamePad’s built-in microphone for voice chat during online multiplayer. Use infra-red communication between a Fit Meter* and the GamePad to send the walking, climbing and calorie-burning information it collects to Wii Fit U, perfect for reviewing your everyday activity. You can even use the motion controls built into the GamePad to control your view in Wii Street U powered by Google and get an even wider view of the world around you.

And if you’re an avid fan of browsing the Internet, the Wii U GamePad’s got you covered there too. Surfing the web for your favourite pages is simple with the touch screen, as you can simply tap and slide to navigate. If you have company, you can display everything on the TV for all to see, or keep it hidden until you’re ready to share what you’re looking at. You can even stream online videos on the TV while you’re searching for the next one on the GamePad, so the entertainment never has to end!

Packed with innovative features that help redefine how you have fun, the Wii U GamePad really is a whole new way to play games! Discover a world of games and much more at the official Wii U website.

* Multiplayer requires additional controllers, sold separately. Fit Meter sold separately.