While many often write off the Wii U as a serious next-gen contender when compared to the likes of the juggernauts of the PS4 and Xbox One, one developer doesn’t feel it’s getting its due.
Michael Kelbaugh, who is CEO and President of Retro Studios, says that Nintendo’s console is regularly being overlooked regarding what it brings to the table in the specs department. “Unfortunately, the perception is that it’s not a very powerful machine. That’s just not true. It’s a powerhouse. It’s more than adequate to make great games on.” He says.
While the term “more than adequate” is fairly open-ended, it’s hard to measure things on potential. The fact is, Nintendo is currently suffering financially as a result of the lack-luster sales of the Wii U console (which has them looking to potentially restructure their console business, possibly eyeing a move into the mobile market).
However, while there was a bit of leap for his team in transitioning from the hugely successful Wii to the updated Wii U, Kelbaugh says the development of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze was a refreshing change of pace. “It was really fun being able to crack that open for the first time and learning HD techniques; pixel shading, having a lot more horsepower and how that impacts the team. It was really fun to watch our artists just go crazy because now they didn’t really have to worry about polygons anymore. ‘Make as many as you want!”
Pick up Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze for the Wii U, out now.