If the Wii U has got attention for one thing, it's the gamepad; a controller and tablet computer all-in-one.
How does it handle? Pretty good actually. It's lighter than it looks and there is a shelf at the back so it rests in place nicely on your middle fingers (or whichever fingers you choose to use). This works nicely whether you're using the left analogue stick or d-pad as your main control. The Start and Select buttons also work better on the right side so they're easier to use than in the normal position at the bottom.
Having a second game screen is something I'm used to anyway owning a DS Lite and 3DS XL, so that's nothing new to me. So far, the gamepad screen has been mainly used as either an enlarged map screen (as opposed to the onscreen HUD radar), which is pretty handy in some games, especially Assassin's Creed III, or as a quick use inventory, like in Batman: Arkham City, where you can quickly choose a gadget without having to pause the game and go through the relevant menus. In ZombiU, the gamepad is also used as a scanner; you hold up the pad and use it to look for hidden items. In some games (like Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate), the gamepad screen can be configured to however you want it.
The gamepad really comes into its own for off-TV game play; most games allow you to transfer play to the gamepad screen so that you can still play your game while you watch something else on TV. It sounds slightly bizarre but is really good, and it was something I did quite a bit while playing New Super Mario Bros U while I had a football match on TV. The definition on the gamepad screen is obviously not as good as on the TV but it's still pretty good.
The gamepad is also really good on the web browser too, where it's tablet-like abilities come to the fore.
The battery life on the gamepad is not that great though, I reckon about 4 hours. Also, the gamepad remains on even if you're using another controller in the game you're playing meaning that the battery drains anyway. That said, it's no problem to have it plugged in and I don't use it too often without it being plugged in anyway.
Alternatively, there is the Wii U Pro Controller, which is like a more regular console controller but with both the analogue sticks up high and the d-pad and buttons below, as opposed the the Xbox 360 which has a high left analogue stick and low right analogue stick and PS3 which has both analogue sticks below.
The pro controller handles wonderfully, especially on Call of Duty: Black Ops II, which is the game I use it on most. Having both analogue sticks higher makes playing a first person shooter better (and more comfortable) than ever. The button layout takes some getting used to at first; when first playing Blops II I kept pressing X when I meant to press Y, but it didn't take to long to get used to. I haven't really used it too much on the other games I have, though I look forward to using it more.
The battery life on the pro controller is pretty impressive though. It only takes a couple of hours to charge up (via a USB lead to the Wii U) and lasts for tens of hours. And you can charge it up while you're using it if you're desperate.
Additionally, the Wii's controllers also work on the Wii U, though not on all games. If people on the Miiverse are to be believed, then many Blops 2 players still use the Wiimote and nunchuck, and the classic controller (pro) also work on some of the games I have. After yesterday's system update, the Wiimote can now also be used for other non-game actions such as on the web browser too.
How does it handle? Pretty good actually. It's lighter than it looks and there is a shelf at the back so it rests in place nicely on your middle fingers (or whichever fingers you choose to use). This works nicely whether you're using the left analogue stick or d-pad as your main control. The Start and Select buttons also work better on the right side so they're easier to use than in the normal position at the bottom.
Having a second game screen is something I'm used to anyway owning a DS Lite and 3DS XL, so that's nothing new to me. So far, the gamepad screen has been mainly used as either an enlarged map screen (as opposed to the onscreen HUD radar), which is pretty handy in some games, especially Assassin's Creed III, or as a quick use inventory, like in Batman: Arkham City, where you can quickly choose a gadget without having to pause the game and go through the relevant menus. In ZombiU, the gamepad is also used as a scanner; you hold up the pad and use it to look for hidden items. In some games (like Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate), the gamepad screen can be configured to however you want it.
The gamepad really comes into its own for off-TV game play; most games allow you to transfer play to the gamepad screen so that you can still play your game while you watch something else on TV. It sounds slightly bizarre but is really good, and it was something I did quite a bit while playing New Super Mario Bros U while I had a football match on TV. The definition on the gamepad screen is obviously not as good as on the TV but it's still pretty good.
The gamepad is also really good on the web browser too, where it's tablet-like abilities come to the fore.
The battery life on the gamepad is not that great though, I reckon about 4 hours. Also, the gamepad remains on even if you're using another controller in the game you're playing meaning that the battery drains anyway. That said, it's no problem to have it plugged in and I don't use it too often without it being plugged in anyway.
Alternatively, there is the Wii U Pro Controller, which is like a more regular console controller but with both the analogue sticks up high and the d-pad and buttons below, as opposed the the Xbox 360 which has a high left analogue stick and low right analogue stick and PS3 which has both analogue sticks below.
The pro controller handles wonderfully, especially on Call of Duty: Black Ops II, which is the game I use it on most. Having both analogue sticks higher makes playing a first person shooter better (and more comfortable) than ever. The button layout takes some getting used to at first; when first playing Blops II I kept pressing X when I meant to press Y, but it didn't take to long to get used to. I haven't really used it too much on the other games I have, though I look forward to using it more.
The battery life on the pro controller is pretty impressive though. It only takes a couple of hours to charge up (via a USB lead to the Wii U) and lasts for tens of hours. And you can charge it up while you're using it if you're desperate.
Additionally, the Wii's controllers also work on the Wii U, though not on all games. If people on the Miiverse are to be believed, then many Blops 2 players still use the Wiimote and nunchuck, and the classic controller (pro) also work on some of the games I have. After yesterday's system update, the Wiimote can now also be used for other non-game actions such as on the web browser too.
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