In the two years since launch, Nintendo’s second-screen console has evolved considerably. The Wii U is far more accessible than before, thanks to an updated interface that gets you into menus and apps much faster, and a quick-start menu that lets you jump into a game from standby mode. It also boasts a killer library of first-party games that offers experiences you won’t find anywhere else.

The System

The GamePad

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The Interface

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The Software

Yet this system still suffers from third-party neglect, and its major point of difference, the GamePad, is underutilized. Although the latter is a fantastic piece of kit, Nintendo has yet to justify it wholly with its software, and it faces the danger of being ignored by consumers as a crucial part of the system altogether.Given the growth the Wii U has undergone in the last 24 months, our original review is no longer as relevant as it once was. The experience of owning this console has changed; accordingly, we've gone back and re-evaluated it to update our assessment. After peering at it with fresh eyes, it's obvious that this system has quietly transformed from being a good one into a great one.At 4.6 cm (1.8 inches) by 26.9 cm (10.6 inches) by 17.2 cm (6.8 inches), the Wii U is a compact system that sits very comfortably beside other consoles in an entertainment center. With its rounded edges and a choice of black (pro) or white (basic) colour schemes, it’s stylish and unobtrusive, although scratches tend to stand out on the pro console’s black finish. On our office launch unit, that’s very obvious after two years of use.For storage, Nintendo offers only 32GB of internal storage on the pro model, and a stiflingly paltry 8GB on the basic version. It’s a short-sighted move that Wii U owners have to work around by purchasing SD cards or an external hard drive—though neither storage option is particularly fast by today’s standards. (Support is limited to the SDHC format for SD cards, and to USB 2.0 external drives.) Buying additional storage is a necessary extra step you’ll have to take if you plan to keep multiple full-sized retail games on your system, such as Bayonetta 2, which weighs in at 14.6GB.Inside the system lives a 1.24GHz multi-core processsor, 2GB of DDR3 RAM, and a 550MHz graphics core. When compared to its current-gen peers, the Wii U trails the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in terms of raw power, but this is largely a gameplay-over-graphic console that excels within that framework. Even still, choosing this system doesn’t mean sacrificing good looks in order to have fun—Nintendo’s incredibly skilled at creating fantastic-looking games that run on these specs. Mario Kart 8 , for example, looks beautiful at 720p and 60fps.Instead of raw power, Nintendo has placed its bets on the Wii U’s major point of difference—the GamePad. This controller/second screen features a 16-cm (6.2-inch) touchscreen display that offers a crisp and clear image, and though its 158ppi resolution and lack of multi-touch capability does place it well behind modern tablets, I’ve found it to be all I’ve needed when gaming on my Wii U. At 491 grams (1.08 pounds), it’s surprisingly light considering its 13.5 x 2.3 x 25.9 cm (5.3 x 0.9 x 10.2 inch) frame; this weight, coupled with its curved ridges and symmetrical twin thumbsticks, has allowed me to withstand long play sessions despite its bulk. It’s durable, too—a particularly important point for those looking to buy the Wii U for younger children.You can also use the GamePad as a screen for the Wii U if your TV is occupied by someone else (which is actually a really fun option), but range can be a problem. There is no exact science to how far you can wander away from your Wii U before the image breaks up; it comes down to how many walls, floors, and other obstacles you have between you and the console. I’m able to play Mario Kart 8 directly above the TV on the second floor of our office, but if I take it to the bedroom in my apartment—down a hall from my TV and behind a door—my game will cut out. It can be frustrating to be chained to the console in this way if you live in a more crowded space.Even with this in mind, the GamePad is the most versatile controller on the market right now. Its array of traditional controller inputs (including shoulder buttons and dual thumbsticks), an internal gyroscope, built-in speakers, a headset jack, and NFC support caters to a variety of gameplay functions. (And some of that functionality is still being teased out; we’re only seeing NFC use now, with the introduction of Amiibo .) Its only true drawback is its battery life, which at about four hours, can prove a pain during longer Mario Kart 8 marathons. However, you can plug the GamePad into the wall to recharge, or simply play wired.With all these great features crammed into one controller, it’s a shame that the Wii U GamePad is still underutilized. Occasionally a game like ZombiU Rayman Legends , or Nintendo Land comes along and shows the kind of brilliant, innovative things that can be done with it, but most developers still seem baffled by the tech. Notably, this year’s standout platformer, Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze , doesn’t utilize it beyond Off-TV play—the screen goes blank if you’re using the TV once you start a level—and that is a first-party game. Right now, the GamePad serves as an occasionally interesting novelty, rather than the driving force behind the Wii U that Nintendo had hoped for.The Wii U’s interface is clean and straightforward, and since launch has been tweaked for the better. Turn it on and you’re able to access pinned apps (your friends list, the Miiverse, the eShop, the internet browser, Nintendo’s TVii, and notifications) on the bottom toolbar, and recently played games, settings, and installed games across three rows on the main screen. For the download-happy, you’re able to move apps and games into customizable folders to keep everything orderly.We criticised long load times in our original review, but getting into the Wii U menu from standby mode now takes under 30 seconds, thanks to general OS speed and stability improvements. On top of that, the quick-start menu on the GamePad slashes the time it takes to load a game or app in half by bypassing the menu entirely; I was able to get to the Super Smash Bros. for Wii U start screen in 25 seconds from standby. Ultimately, it’s a fairly snappy system, even when compared to the newer consoles.Online communication and social interaction on the Wii U is limited, however. There’s no universal standard for in-game chat—so you might be able to talk to your friends in one game and then have no means of communicating with them in another—and many key first-party games like Super Smash Bros for Wii U and Mario Kart 8 won’t allow in-game chat outside of public lobbies. While this is understandable from a “family friendly” standpoint (Nintendo doesn’t want kids subject to the kind of language you’d hear online in Call of Duty), using Skype for smack-talk during a Mario Kart race isn’t quite the same.You do have another option for human contact via Wii U’s Miiverse, which is a fun if inessential element within the interface. The social network remains a little baffling for newbies—it could be tweaked a bit to improve accessibility—but with some persistence there’s a friendly, helpful, and wildly creative community to be discovered (and it’s now accessible on PCs and mobile phones, too.) Its sub-communities, essentially forums dedicated to games and apps, are particularly endearing, and are elevated by the ability to post screenshots directly from your game and create fan art inspired by them.If you want to shop, the Wii U eShop is easy to navigate and regularly updated. Additionally, it allows your system to download a purchased new game prior to release, granting you access the moment it officially launches. You can also visit the Virtual eShop, which offers a currently limited selection of classic games from previous Nintendo consoles.Media options on the Wii U are serviceable, if anemic. Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and Hulu Plus work fine—similar to what you’d expect from a Smart TV. Wii U’s own integrated entertainment-app TVii, which collates your channels into one viewing platform, hasn’t been promoted or mentioned by Nintendo in over a year (and it’s still not, and will likely never be, available in Oceania). Despite that insistent pinned icon on everyone’s GamePad, it may be something of a lost cause.But such peripheral issues fade into the background considering what the Wii U has been primarily built for: playing video games. Since its launch in 2012, Nintendo has slowly added to what’s become an outstanding library of first-party games; Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Super Mario 3D World Bayonetta 2 , and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD are all beautifully crafted, polished, and incredibly fun, and only available on this system. And with games like The Legend of Zelda Wii U Mario Maker , and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker on the horizon, it looks like the trend will continue at least through 2015.The system still suffers from lack of third-party support, though. If you want to play games regularly outside of Nintendo’s own stable and only own a Wii U, you’re going to find it tough-going. Big blockbuster games from third parties rarely come to this system, and certain genres, like sports and shooters, are almost extinct. Better sales could turn this situation around, but the trend has only got worse since launch.Still, there’s a lot of good stuff to be found here. Nintendo continues to quietly support indie games, with more added to the Wii U eShop each month. Older gems such as Lego City Undercover , ZombiU, and the optimized-for-Wii U Rayman Legends offer one-of-a-kind experiences. The Wii U’s library may not be huge, but two years in, there’s a lot to play with.