[ZombiU] How long will you survive? Probably not long to be honest...

MNC Dover

The new Nintendo Wii U console is almost here and one of the most intriguing launch titles is Ubisoft's ZombiU. Will it end up being the next big thing and get the system launch off on the right foot or will it be the next coming of Red Steel and ultimately disappoint. We'll find out soon enough.




What does it play like?

The game has been described as Dark Souls meets Shaun of the Dead. You play as a survivor in this upside-down zombie world. Unlike most zombie games released lately, the focus is more on stealth and survival. If a zombie bites you it's game over. You don't respawn at a check point, but rather start over as a new character. You'll need to track down your old character's corpse (and kill it!) to get your backpack full of supplies back. This aspect of the game means trying to be more cautious so as to not lose all of your accumulated gear.




How does it control?

ZombiU uses a standard FPS control scheme found in most modern games. The Wii U pad supports all the buttons and sticks you're accustom to using on a standard 360 or PS3 controller, so from a play aspect, everything should be just fine.




What's the second screen used for?

From the trailers shown, the second pad will have quite a bit of varied functionality. Ubisoft seems to be trying to fit in a lot of different gameplay uses and see what sticks. For example, any time you loot a corpse you have to use the second screen to get inventory items. While this is happening, the main TV screen is still showing your surroundings and possible zombies heading towards you. Here's a full list of second screen uses from the official ZombiU site:

Lock picking, door hacking, sniping, scanning, blacklight, turret, radar, mini-map, inventory management, weapon crafting, shooting skills, notebook, leaving messages, and world map.

Some of these look fun and exciting (door hacking, leaving messages) while some look like they might be tedious or forced (scanning, inventory management). We'll have to wait until the game is out before we make final judgments.




Where's my multiplayer?

Well, depending on your view of multiplayer, this will be either good or bad. There is no online multiplayer in a traditional sense. The online modes are score attack, survival, and human vs zombie. The score attack and survival modes are your standard fare with leaderboards tracking the best scores, but the human vs zombie mode is a capture-the-flag mode where one player is defending points while the other uses the game pad to place zombies on the map. This mode sounds quite fun and a great use of the the new controller, but some people may be disappointed in the lack of online functionality. More importantly, this mode shows off two gameplay experiences in one mode and is a perfect way for someone less "hardcore" than the average gamer to engage with the game and have a good time.




Enough of the pictures, I want to see it in action!

Here ya go, a small sampling of ZombiU in action!

E3 Reveal Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPHPd1EP_c8

Single Player gameplay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukalSSHAfa8

Mutli-Player gameplay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vlm83WIY-Ms

MonkeyConQueso

I can't wait for some survival horror goodness, although I fully see myself dying quite a bit in this game... Which is kind of the point. I'm hoping that the Rogue-like feel the previews have really sticks through the game.

corin7

Nice looking thread. This and NSMBU are my two launch games. Feeling good about it.

V Faction

Here's the GamesRadar 18+ minute preview of ZombiU:

http://www.gamesradar.com/zombiu-preview-how-survive-first-hours-game/

It would appear that weapons do not have decay/armor associated with them. Taking that into account, picking up the cricket bat (best weapon ever) or a baseball one with needles in it could very well be the plan to success.

MNC Dover

Cricket bats and Baseball bats also keep you quiet. Apparently sound plays a big deal in herding zombies towards you discouraging gun fire. I love that!

Professor Snugglesworth

Asked this before, but wasn't this game supposed to have some sort of online component where your game is influenced by other peoples' actions, ala Dark Souls? I remember reading that players could leave messages for other players to read, among other things.

Xenogears of Bore

Yes, and your friends zombies will come to your game and attack you when they die.

Professor Snugglesworth

Okay, good. That was the feature that got me interested in this game. I prefer the approach of a player-influenced world over traditional multiplayer for this kind of game.

Can't imagine why there's no actual online for the multiplayer.

Reynolds

Well, depending on your view of multiplayer, this will be either good or bad. There is no online multiplayer in a traditional sense. The online modes are score attack, survival, and human vs zombie.

I'm guessing that's supposed to be 'multiplayer' right there? Your score is uploaded, sure, but you can't play human vs zombies online or anything.

Xenogears of Bore

but you can locally which is just weird.

Ov3rcharge

Having played this at PAX, I can say that it is most certainly not like Left 4 Dead or Dead Island.
Such as running around shooting/hitting things is a good way to die.

Reynolds

Do you need one of the new Pro controllers to play that mode? Or can you use an old Pro, or even Nunchuk + Wiimote? Even if I bring the WiiU over to show my friends, if we can't actually play the one mode that actually lets two players play at the same time...

skeldare

Ov3rcharge wrote: »

Having played this at PAX, I can say that it is most certainly not like Left 4 Dead or Dead Island.
Such as running around shooting/hitting things is a good way to die.

So it's pretty much how it would be during a real zombie apocalypse. Cool.

oasis789

I like the permadeath and how you have to kill your zombified self to retrieve the equipment.

Ninja Snarl P

Call me when this is on one of the other consoles without more Nintendo controller silliness shoehorned in. I don't mean the alternate view modes are bad or that the approach looks bad, just that there's really not much of a required reason at all to make you look at a screen while looking at your TV to play a game. Alternate vision modes have only been in games since... forever, and plenty have done just fine without a silly gimmick screen to do it. Do love the picture of the hilariously obvious ripoff of a 360 controller, though, but to be honest, if they're gonna rip something off, so glad it's the 360 pad; PS stuff kills my hands now for being so tiny.

Is this a Nintendo effort, though? Because clearly, that would preclude any porting to other platforms. That would make me a little sad, but I might actually pick up a WiiU if it they get titles like this.

Astale

I heavily doubt this will be ported to other platforms. Which is a shame, since I love the look of this game, but it doesn't even remotely make me want a wiiu.

skeldare

Ninja Snarl P wrote: »

Call me when this is on one of the other consoles without more Nintendo controller silliness shoehorned in. I don't mean the alternate view modes are bad or that the approach looks bad, just that there's really not much of a required reason at all to make you look at a screen while looking at your TV to play a game. Alternate vision modes have only been in games since... forever, and plenty have done just fine without a silly gimmick screen to do it. Do love the picture of the hilariously obvious ripoff of a 360 controller, though, but to be honest, if they're gonna rip something off, so glad it's the 360 pad; PS stuff kills my hands now for being so tiny.

Is this a Nintendo effort, though? Because clearly, that would preclude any porting to other platforms. That would make me a little sad, but I might actually pick up a WiiU if it they get titles like this.

It's Wii U exclusive.

MNC Dover

Reynolds wrote: »

Do you need one of the new Pro controllers to play that mode? Or can you use an old Pro, or even Nunchuk + Wiimote? Even if I bring the WiiU over to show my friends, if we can't actually play the one mode that actually lets two players play at the same time...

We don't know yet, no real info has been released on other controller configurations available. Maybe?

Ninja Snarl P wrote: »

Call me when this is on one of the other consoles without more Nintendo controller silliness shoehorned in. I don't mean the alternate view modes are bad or that the approach looks bad, just that there's really not much of a required reason at all to make you look at a screen while looking at your TV to play a game. Alternate vision modes have only been in games since... forever, and plenty have done just fine without a silly gimmick screen to do it. Do love the picture of the hilariously obvious ripoff of a 360 controller, though, but to be honest, if they're gonna rip something off, so glad it's the 360 pad; PS stuff kills my hands now for being so tiny.

Is this a Nintendo effort, though? Because clearly, that would preclude any porting to other platforms. That would make me a little sad, but I might actually pick up a WiiU if it they get titles like this.

Gotcha. I'll PM you when PS3 or 360 gets the game.

Although, with a big honkin' "U" in the title, I can't imagine they will. But who knows, maybe they'll just rename it and cut out the touch screen features to maximize profits. This is an Ubisoft game not a Nintendo game. So are you gonna pick up a Wii U if more titles like this come out then? Sweet!

Agahnim

Definitely picking this up at launch, although I wish they could have somehow made the campaign co-op. I get terrified playing these games by myself.. which I guess is the idea, now that I think about it!

Magic Pink

I'm so excited for this. Bayonetta 2 made me get a WiiU but this certainly would have as well.

urahonky

This game is the only game I'm getting for the WiiU launch... Mainly because I have everything else on my Christmas list. I cannot wait to play it!

MNC Dover

New details on the game. Spoilered just in case:

- throughout the game, interact with different groups that have their own interpretation of John Dee's "Black Prophecy"
- they also have their own approach to this doomsday scenario
- guided most of the game by a survival expert referred to as the Prepper
- the rest of your group takes refuge in his bunker
- they are sent out one at a time when the current survivor out in the field is killed
- the Prepper treats the Black Prophecy as gospe
- he believes a great fire will wipe out the plague
- Dr Knight is a scientist who argues that science shall prevail in the war against the plague
- he has sealed himself under Buckingham Palace to search for Dee's fabled panacea, a universal cure for the disease
- uncover the secret society known as the Ravens of Dee and their leader, Sandra
- RPG-style levelling and upgrade system
- use the GamePad to scan the environment for items such as weapon parts
- enter the safehouse to upgrade weapons with these parts
- this will boost attributes like damage, firing speed and accuracy
- the more the player uses a certain type of weapon, the better their character will become at handling those kinds of weapons
- these skills only apply to one character at a time
- they disappear if said character dies
- competitive asymmetric multiplayer mode playable both locally and online

Some of these things sound pretty darn cool and definitely a reason to keep yourself alive through stealth.

V Faction

Thought I'd update the thread with review's thus far.

ONM: 92%
EDGE: 7/10
Gamespot: 4.5/10

One porridge tastes too hot, one porridge tastes too cold, one porridge tastes just... right?

Anyhoo, there's one like one video review (Gamespot) because of embargoes. General consensus though is that you will most likely get killed at some point.

MNC Dover

Cross-posted from the Wii U thread:

It's being reported that a demo of ZombiU will be hitting the eShop. No specific date yet but shouldn't be too long after launch.

urahonky

After playing this game for a few hours I have to say: it's fantastic. Very atmospheric and very tense. I died in the tutorial area if that tells you anything (though after that I haven't died yet). I was running down a hallway and took a wrong turn and it ended up being a dead end. I had about 30 zombies chasing me... I turn around and see the door I was supposed to go in and I barely made it inside without getting hit... But when I got to a ladder they swarmed me... Every time I grabbed the ladder and climbed up they grabbed my leg and pulled me off. After that I was basically screwed.

I also ran into another player's zombie afterward and put him out of his misery. I used 5 pistol shots on him and only got two back... But he did have a medipack so that's good.

HallowedFaith

Ninja Snarl P wrote: »

Call me when this is on one of the other consoles without more Nintendo controller silliness shoehorned in. I don't mean the alternate view modes are bad or that the approach looks bad, just that there's really not much of a required reason at all to make you look at a screen while looking at your TV to play a game. Alternate vision modes have only been in games since... forever, and plenty have done just fine without a silly gimmick screen to do it. Do love the picture of the hilariously obvious ripoff of a 360 controller, though, but to be honest, if they're gonna rip something off, so glad it's the 360 pad; PS stuff kills my hands now for being so tiny.

Is this a Nintendo effort, though? Because clearly, that would preclude any porting to other platforms. That would make me a little sad, but I might actually pick up a WiiU if it they get titles like this.

See, this is where traditional game play takes a backseat. The WiiU Gamepad is essential for the core experience they are trying to deliver. It was designed around it - and they do a WONDERFUL job of it. If you've not actually put some time into the game I don't know how you can call it a silly gimmick, but, whatever it is your money.

And I shake my head at the whole "360 ripoff" notion. That is just a silly thing to say.

redfield85

This is the one reason I want a Wii U. Well, right now since there aren't many games out.

Lucascraft

I watched a bunch of video reviews of this over the weekend. Looks like it has some good ideas, but not the greatest execution. One of those titles where the sequel will probably be a million times better. Kind of like Assassin's Creed.

urahonky

I've yet to run into a situation where there was a bad execution. Granted I'm about 2.5 hours into it... But still everything works as I read it would.

Heir

Wow. This has made me seriously reconsider on the whole not buying a WiiU thing.

Ninja Snarl P

HallowedFaith wrote: »

Ninja Snarl P wrote: »

Call me when this is on one of the other consoles without more Nintendo controller silliness shoehorned in. I don't mean the alternate view modes are bad or that the approach looks bad, just that there's really not much of a required reason at all to make you look at a screen while looking at your TV to play a game. Alternate vision modes have only been in games since... forever, and plenty have done just fine without a silly gimmick screen to do it. Do love the picture of the hilariously obvious ripoff of a 360 controller, though, but to be honest, if they're gonna rip something off, so glad it's the 360 pad; PS stuff kills my hands now for being so tiny.

Is this a Nintendo effort, though? Because clearly, that would preclude any porting to other platforms. That would make me a little sad, but I might actually pick up a WiiU if it they get titles like this.

See, this is where traditional game play takes a backseat. The WiiU Gamepad is essential for the core experience they are trying to deliver. It was designed around it - and they do a WONDERFUL job of it. If you've not actually put some time into the game I don't know how you can call it a silly gimmick, but, whatever it is your money.

And I shake my head at the whole "360 ripoff" notion. That is just a silly thing to say.

I have to 100% disagree that the WiiU gamepad is in any way essential. You remember that minor little game called "Metroid Prime" that came out in 2002? Yeah, multiple vision modes on the fly with a Gamecube controller. In combat, in a game with fast-paced combat. I also remember back when I used the GBA link to play some games and remembering how much of a pain in the ass it often was to stop watching the game in order to watch the controller. So there's definite personal precedent here as to why the WiiU gamepad thing is really anything but essential; I've seen plenty of Nintendo gimmicks before, and this gamepad thing isn't even entirely new on that front.

And the controller is a 360 ripoff. It's... blatantly obvious. Horribly, horribly obvious. But I'm actually more interested in the fact that Nintendo acknowledges their Wii controls sucked and decided to make a massive upgrade to the 360 controller than to try and stick it out with the old one, so I don't think it's bad, just kinda funny after all that effort spent trying to prove the Wii setup was not awful.

That being said, ZombiU has done more to garner my interest in the WiiU than anything did for the old Wii over the last 3-4 years. The WiiU gamepad bit is totally superfluous as far as I'm concerned, but the game itself looks extremely promising. Not enough to actually get the system right now, but enough that, should it prove to something great and different, more games of that calibre could get me over disappointment with the Wii and Nintendo's last few years of performance in general.

Magic Pink

Ninja Snarl P wrote: »

HallowedFaith wrote: »

Ninja Snarl P wrote: »

Call me when this is on one of the other consoles without more Nintendo controller silliness shoehorned in. I don't mean the alternate view modes are bad or that the approach looks bad, just that there's really not much of a required reason at all to make you look at a screen while looking at your TV to play a game. Alternate vision modes have only been in games since... forever, and plenty have done just fine without a silly gimmick screen to do it. Do love the picture of the hilariously obvious ripoff of a 360 controller, though, but to be honest, if they're gonna rip something off, so glad it's the 360 pad; PS stuff kills my hands now for being so tiny.

Is this a Nintendo effort, though? Because clearly, that would preclude any porting to other platforms. That would make me a little sad, but I might actually pick up a WiiU if it they get titles like this.

See, this is where traditional game play takes a backseat. The WiiU Gamepad is essential for the core experience they are trying to deliver. It was designed around it - and they do a WONDERFUL job of it. If you've not actually put some time into the game I don't know how you can call it a silly gimmick, but, whatever it is your money.

And I shake my head at the whole "360 ripoff" notion. That is just a silly thing to say.

I have to 100% disagree that the WiiU gamepad is in any way essential. You remember that minor little game called "Metroid Prime" that came out in 2002? Yeah, multiple vision modes on the fly with a Gamecube controller. In combat, in a game with fast-paced combat. I also remember back when I used the GBA link to play some games and remembering how much of a pain in the ass it often was to stop watching the game in order to watch the controller. So there's definite personal precedent here as to why the WiiU gamepad thing is really anything but essential; I've seen plenty of Nintendo gimmicks before, and this gamepad thing isn't even entirely new on that front.

And the controller is a 360 ripoff. It's... blatantly obvious. Horribly, horribly obvious. But I'm actually more interested in the fact that Nintendo acknowledges their Wii controls sucked and decided to make a massive upgrade to the 360 controller than to try and stick it out with the old one, so I don't think it's bad, just kinda funny after all that effort spent trying to prove the Wii setup was not awful.

That being said, ZombiU has done more to garner my interest in the WiiU than anything did for the old Wii over the last 3-4 years. The WiiU gamepad bit is totally superfluous as far as I'm concerned, but the game itself looks extremely promising. Not enough to actually get the system right now, but enough that, should it prove to something great and different, more games of that calibre could get me over disappointment with the Wii and Nintendo's last few years of performance in general.

They didn't say the gamepad was essential. They said it's essesntial for the core experience they are trying to deliver. In a fast moving combat game, yeah, looking at the pad all the time would be a pain in the ass. ZombiU is not a fast moving combat game; the point in-game is you need to make sure you're safe before you start futzing with your stuff.

And yeah, the pad is a rip off of the 360 controller which is a rip off of the PS2 controller which is a rip off of the Dreamcast controller which is a rip off of the bla bla bla etc etc etc. Learning and adapting from what other people are doing in the industry is hardly product theft.

urahonky

It adds a lot to the gameplay Ninja. I understand that you think a button can replicate having to look down on your pad while you're shuffling through your backpack, but it just can't.

HallowedFaith

I think this is a case where you have to play the game a bit to understand the way it works. The majority of people who have/are playing it seem to love it, and the miiverse community is erupting with love for it.

Nothing I can say has not already been said in some form or another. I think it is a fantastic and unique experience and my gaming appetite is better off for owning it.

Magic Pink

That's not to say that there aren't some poor choices made. I've heard the inventory management can be a pain and a lot of the TAP THE SCREEN TO MAKE X HAPPEN things should have been cut.

LegendofLink

Magic Pink wrote: »

Ninja Snarl P wrote: »

HallowedFaith wrote: »

Ninja Snarl P wrote: »

Call me when this is on one of the other consoles without more Nintendo controller silliness shoehorned in. I don't mean the alternate view modes are bad or that the approach looks bad, just that there's really not much of a required reason at all to make you look at a screen while looking at your TV to play a game. Alternate vision modes have only been in games since... forever, and plenty have done just fine without a silly gimmick screen to do it. Do love the picture of the hilariously obvious ripoff of a 360 controller, though, but to be honest, if they're gonna rip something off, so glad it's the 360 pad; PS stuff kills my hands now for being so tiny.

Is this a Nintendo effort, though? Because clearly, that would preclude any porting to other platforms. That would make me a little sad, but I might actually pick up a WiiU if it they get titles like this.

See, this is where traditional game play takes a backseat. The WiiU Gamepad is essential for the core experience they are trying to deliver. It was designed around it - and they do a WONDERFUL job of it. If you've not actually put some time into the game I don't know how you can call it a silly gimmick, but, whatever it is your money.

And I shake my head at the whole "360 ripoff" notion. That is just a silly thing to say.

I have to 100% disagree that the WiiU gamepad is in any way essential. You remember that minor little game called "Metroid Prime" that came out in 2002? Yeah, multiple vision modes on the fly with a Gamecube controller. In combat, in a game with fast-paced combat. I also remember back when I used the GBA link to play some games and remembering how much of a pain in the ass it often was to stop watching the game in order to watch the controller. So there's definite personal precedent here as to why the WiiU gamepad thing is really anything but essential; I've seen plenty of Nintendo gimmicks before, and this gamepad thing isn't even entirely new on that front.

And the controller is a 360 ripoff. It's... blatantly obvious. Horribly, horribly obvious. But I'm actually more interested in the fact that Nintendo acknowledges their Wii controls sucked and decided to make a massive upgrade to the 360 controller than to try and stick it out with the old one, so I don't think it's bad, just kinda funny after all that effort spent trying to prove the Wii setup was not awful.

That being said, ZombiU has done more to garner my interest in the WiiU than anything did for the old Wii over the last 3-4 years. The WiiU gamepad bit is totally superfluous as far as I'm concerned, but the game itself looks extremely promising. Not enough to actually get the system right now, but enough that, should it prove to something great and different, more games of that calibre could get me over disappointment with the Wii and Nintendo's last few years of performance in general.

They didn't say the gamepad was essential. They said it's essesntial for the core experience they are trying to deliver. In a fast moving combat game, yeah, looking at the pad all the time would be a pain in the ass. ZombiU is not a fast moving combat game; the point in-game is you need to make sure you're safe before you start futzing with your stuff.

And yeah, the pad is a rip off of the 360 controller which is a rip off of the PS2 controller which is a rip off of the Dreamcast controller which is a rip off of the bla bla bla etc etc etc. Learning and adapting from what other people are doing in the industry is hardly product theft.

Actually, the 360 controller is closer to the Gamecube controller than Dualshock.

As for the gamepad, I agree that it really is essential. This game is all about tension. Nothing raises that tension like being forced to look away from the main screen to manage you inventory or even to do simple things like look at your radar. This is a horror game first, shooter second.

Polaritie

For the record - there is clearly some evil going on, because the last time I had to recover my gear, my previous guy came at me with glowing eyes and some sort of black-red aura around him. Thankfully, I had a low barrier to cheese with (Melee zombies take their time shambling over em, so I just whack them senseless with the bat).

Anyone found any better melee weapons? The most significant things I've found so far (that aren't blatantly obvious like the carbine) are a silenced pistol (Unfortunately, weaker than default one, but it's SILENT), and a backpack upgrade (with two more slots... which is huge, even if it doesn't sound like it).

Flare/Molotov combos are great fun. If you can justify the use of two consumables, anyways.

MNC Dover

My friend is LOVING this game. He describes it as a survival horror game that happens to be in the first person. I can totally understand why people wouldn't try and compare it to L4D or RE, but it simply isn't what Ubisoft was aiming for with it.

urahonky

Oh man a backpack upgrade would be really useful now. I always have to choose between the extra set of boards or a can of soda.

Magic Pink

soda's terrible for you

everyone should get more wood

Ragnar Dragonfyre

Ninja Snarl P wrote: »

HallowedFaith wrote: »

Ninja Snarl P wrote: »

Call me when this is on one of the other consoles without more Nintendo controller silliness shoehorned in. I don't mean the alternate view modes are bad or that the approach looks bad, just that there's really not much of a required reason at all to make you look at a screen while looking at your TV to play a game. Alternate vision modes have only been in games since... forever, and plenty have done just fine without a silly gimmick screen to do it. Do love the picture of the hilariously obvious ripoff of a 360 controller, though, but to be honest, if they're gonna rip something off, so glad it's the 360 pad; PS stuff kills my hands now for being so tiny.

Is this a Nintendo effort, though? Because clearly, that would preclude any porting to other platforms. That would make me a little sad, but I might actually pick up a WiiU if it they get titles like this.

See, this is where traditional game play takes a backseat. The WiiU Gamepad is essential for the core experience they are trying to deliver. It was designed around it - and they do a WONDERFUL job of it. If you've not actually put some time into the game I don't know how you can call it a silly gimmick, but, whatever it is your money.

And I shake my head at the whole "360 ripoff" notion. That is just a silly thing to say.

I have to 100% disagree that the WiiU gamepad is in any way essential. You remember that minor little game called "Metroid Prime" that came out in 2002? Yeah, multiple vision modes on the fly with a Gamecube controller. In combat, in a game with fast-paced combat. I also remember back when I used the GBA link to play some games and remembering how much of a pain in the ass it often was to stop watching the game in order to watch the controller. So there's definite personal precedent here as to why the WiiU gamepad thing is really anything but essential; I've seen plenty of Nintendo gimmicks before, and this gamepad thing isn't even entirely new on that front.

And the controller is a 360 ripoff. It's... blatantly obvious. Horribly, horribly obvious. But I'm actually more interested in the fact that Nintendo acknowledges their Wii controls sucked and decided to make a massive upgrade to the 360 controller than to try and stick it out with the old one, so I don't think it's bad, just kinda funny after all that effort spent trying to prove the Wii setup was not awful.

That being said, ZombiU has done more to garner my interest in the WiiU than anything did for the old Wii over the last 3-4 years. The WiiU gamepad bit is totally superfluous as far as I'm concerned, but the game itself looks extremely promising. Not enough to actually get the system right now, but enough that, should it prove to something great and different, more games of that calibre could get me over disappointment with the Wii and Nintendo's last few years of performance in general.

So would you say that the second screen on the DS and 3DS is a gimmick and not essential to any of the game experiences on that platform? Because the WiiU is really launching off of the precendence set by their handhelds.

ZombiU might have a somewhat gimmicky approach to using the second screen, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. Besides, I think having to do things like crack a safe on the second screen while watching the TV for zombie attacks to be really cool. Without that second screen, we'd get a cumbersome system where the screen is overlayed by the safe and zombies attack you while you have no chance to react. Seems the second screen is absolutely 100% necessary to me.

We'll see many more uses of the second screen as the console ages. The DS and 3DS used it well, I'm certain that the WiiU will utilize it even better.