November celebrated the arrival of the next-generation of consoles, with the long-awaited release of Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Nintendo, however, got there first, releasing its successor to the Wii - the GamePad-enabled Wii U - one year ago. But with a less-than-stellar line-up and slow sales, you'd be forgiven for overlooking the system.

Opening sales of Xbox One and PS4 have almost immediately dwarfed the Wii U in the UK. Nintendo's system has been reported to shift 150,000 sales in one year, which Xbox One managed in its opening weekend. PS4, meanwhile, has already sold over 250,000 units.

It's a very strong start for the new consoles, but a notably poor one for Wii U, especially as it's the successor to one of the best-selling consoles of all time. So much so that lifetime forecasts are now at a 25 million, just a quarter of the original Wii.



The poor performance is down in part to little software. Rayman Legends, a showcase for the console's GamePad and multiplayer features, was set for release at the start of the year but was swiftly delayed and made multi-platform, a frustration for early adopters who assumed it would be an exclusive.

Despite Nintendo initially suggesting a closer relationship with third-party publishers, prominent releases such as Grand Theft Auto 5, Battlefield 4, Tomb Raider and FIFA 14 have been notably absent, while others - such as Batman Arkham City and Injustice: Gods Among Us - were given small delays.

Future third-party support is also looking bleak. Games from Fallout and Skyrim developer Bethesda and EA's anticipated Star Wars line-up won't be on the system, while the lack of Unreal Engine 4 support could also be a blow.

But like other Nintendo systems before it, the quality comes from its first-party exclusives, and in its last few months this is where Wii U has really started to bear fruit.

Pikmin 3, Wonderful 101, Sonic: Lost World and the excellent remake of GameCube adventure Wind Waker HD - and even downloadable releases like Wii Sports Club and Wii Fit U - have shown there is quality software to be found in recent months.

Even lesser-received titles like Game & Wario and Wii Party U continue where Nintendo Land left off, providing unique multiplayer experiences with the Wii U's feature set.

And then there's Super Mario 3D World, a multiplayer platformer that has received sky-high praise from critics and is set to feature highly in end-of-year lists, and is a perfect reason to invest in the console.

You could argue now with a competitive price point and some excellent releases under its belt, it's a viable alternative to expensive next gen systems this Christmas.

Nintendo isn't slacking on improving the console experience either. Earlier this year faster loading times and Virtual Console support was implemented, while coming soon 3DS and Wii U eShop balances are to be merged, games can communicate with those on non-Nintendo platforms and indie support is said to be "overwhelming".

Even with the arrival of Xbox One and PS4, 2014 looks to be promising, with the arrival of Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros and the announcement of a new Zelda set for E3.

Nintendo

The Wii U has had a troublesome start, certainly, but it's something that isn't out of the ordinary for a Nintendo system, as the 3DS saw similarly sluggish sales and slow software support at launch.

The arrival of a 3D Mario and Mario Kart within its first year gave it much needed momentum, and this year it had the best line-up of any gaming system thanks to the likes of new Pokemon, Zelda, Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem entries, making its ownership nothing less than essential.

What's to say the Wii U can't do the same in time?

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