Wii U Review Roundup: Customers Critical of Media Functionality, But Charmed By Gameplay Potential

Now that the Wii U has warmed customers' living rooms for a few weeks, everyday fans have had a chance to chime in on the next-generation console. Unsurprisingly, it appears that user commentary largely echoes the praises and criticisms of game journalists and technology experts alike.

As a game machine, Amazon user FlaryFamily commends the system for bringing encouraging family bonding and multitasking. They write, "My oldest son loves that he can watch Netflix or play the new Mario on the GamePad while other members of the family watch TV. My favorite part about the Wii U is that the whole family can get together on the couch and play together." However, the console owner warns that parents should consider downloading the "tremendously long" system update before gifting it to someone.

User Ernest Gundel agrees that the Wii U works well as a video game console, but gets a "failing grade" as a media hub. Specifically, he notes that Nintendo's touted TVii feature set  was delayed just days before the launch of the system,  "crippling" the GamePad's functionality as a one stop shop for media integration. His review continues to lament the Wii U's inability to play Blu-Ray discs, DVD's, CD's, AVI's, and MP3's.

Nutwiisystem.com admits that the Wii U "didn't give me the knock-my-socks-off experience that unboxing the original Wii gave me, but I see a ton of potential if game developers can truly use the new features that the GamePad offer."

Overall, there doesn't seem to be any consensus on a single must-have game experience as of yet. On a whole, players seem to be charmed by the system's potential as they wait patiently for creative minds to take advantage of the GamePad.

The Wii U launched in North America on November 18th, followed by the UK on the 30th. Nintendo's next-generation console is available in two flavors: Basic and Deluxe. The $299 Basic version is white and has 8GB of memory, a sensor bar, an adapter, and a HDMI cable. The $349 black Deluxe release sports 32GB of memory, and comes bundled with Nintendo Land, a Gamepad charging cradle and stands for the console and controller.