Previews

While the PS4 and Xbox One have been hogging all the limelight in recent months, Nintendo's latest console has been quietly building up the kind of software library that owners of SONY and Microsoft's latest can only dream of - and there's plenty more potentially excellent titles coming to the Wii U over the next few months too...

Mario Kart 8

Release Date: Spring 2014

The world's most addictive racer joins the HD party for the first time, packing in some old fave tracks (including Dry Dry Desert and Music Park) but more importantly, some fab looking new ones - just take a glance at the Sunshine Airport's bevy of planes soaring over (and through) the track reveals that Wii U packs plenty of processing punch. But never mind GPUs/CPUs - all you need to know is that Mario Kart 8 is looking as engrossing as ever, what with its enhanced bikes and gliders action plus the all-new anti-gravity feature. Race up vertical walls! Across ceilings! Ba! We bet there's still nowhere to hide from that ruddy blue Spiny Shell. Grrr...

Super Smash Bros.

Release Date: TBC 2014

The cute slug fest returns, this time packed with even more company mascots who've gone all Fight Club. As well as returning stars such as Mario and Zelda, expect a host of new characters including Mega Man, Animal Crossing's 'Villager' and best of all, the Wii Fit Trainer - yes, the one who has been telling you 'to breath slowly' and 'hold this pose' for all these years is finally let off her yoga mat and... In. Your. Face. Now factor in a mass of locations and items to fight each over and across plus the much touted connect abilities between the Wii U and 3DS, and this edition is shaping up to be the best of the series to date.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Release Date: 21/02/2014

Pound the ground in delight because a Nintendo icon is back! No, not Mario but his hirsute chum, Donkey Kong, who must wrestle back his home island from Vikings of the northern seas. Expect a '2.5D' platformer with six massive levels, co-op gameplay, fresh twists on old stalwarts (such as rickety mine carts), a host of new foes and at last count, four playable apes to go bananas with - Mr Kong himself of course plus Diddy, Cranky and Funky Kong.

Bayonetta 2

Release Date: TBC 2014

Bonkers and barmy, Bayonetta 2 climbs on the shoulders of the infamous original, taking its OTT third-person combat to ever more ludicrous heights. The bespectacled heroine returns in full 60fps, fighting mad monsters in adrenaline-soaked action that features co-op too; all while "expanding on the Climax Action of Bayonetta"! And there was you thinking that Nintendo was just for kids.