Nintendo made a lot of announcements during their big Wii U event, but one of the most exciting was the inclusion of new details about the Wii U version of Black Ops II. Set to be a launch title for the system, due to the game being released across other platforms a full week before on November 13, the Wii U version isn’t watered-down like most Wii ports in the series. Nintendo is finally on the true Call of Duty bandwagon and it’s looking pretty good.
During the announcement, it was revealed that Black Ops II on the Wii U will run in “full HD” at 60 frames per second, though graphically it doesn’t look much different from other versions of the game. However, there are a few new additions exclusive to the Wii U edition, including an excellent looking co-op mode where each player has their own screen. Rather than forcing players to play in split-screen co-op, one player can use the TV as their display, while the other uses the Gamepad’s display. This feature can be used in a special co-op game mode where players can take on bots in simulated multiplayer, but can also be used during the infamous zombie modes. We still don’t know if players will be able to play split-screen online.
Aside from the unique co-op experience, Nintendo is making sure to fully support Black Ops II online, including support for Black Ops II‘s eSports integration. However, no details were given about voice-chat support, though it is expected that players can use the Gamepad’s built-in microphone. DLC will also be made available to Wii U players, but nothing was mentioned about the Nuketown 2025 maps that are available for PS3 and Xbox 360.
It’s hard to say how sales for the Wii U version will be considering that most players already have their copies preordered and ready to pick up on November 13. Without proper sales on the Wii U, it will greatly effect the online community, making it harder to find matches, especially further on down the road. Hopefully there will be enough gamers willing to try something new and pick it up on the Nintendo console, allowing the company to get some good feedback on how similar games would be received in the future.
Seeing Black Ops II on the Wii U is a good sign for things to come. It proves that Nintendo is looking toward the future and is keeping their promise about trying to reach the “hardcore” gaming audience again.
