Ubisoft wanted to be '1st core' game on Wii U with ZombiU...

[robometal cowboy]

Ubisoft wanted to be '1st core' game on Wii U with ZombiU, upset with reviews, pleased with sales
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"We wanted to be the first to offer a core gaming experience with the Wii U Gamepad. You can call it experimental, you can call us crazy but that’s what we wanted to do." - Ubisoft's Guillaume Brunier

ZombiU is certainly a core experience...one that seems to be a bit too much for some reviewers out there. Mr. Brunier commented on the early reviews for ZombiU, which didn't quite sit well with the team.

We were really disappointed with the early US reviews. We are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the experience we created but we did not expect so harsh a feedback. However as more and more journalists and gamers played the game, these opinions proved to be a minority. So right now we’re rather pleased with the overall reception of the game.

As more customers pick up the Wii U and try out ZombiU for themselves, things seem to be going well. Mr. Brunier didn't talk specific sales, but did say that Ubisoft is pleased with how things are going, with ZombiU being "among the best selling launch titles on Wii U".

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[Shaanyboi]

It's not a game for everyone, for sure. And yeah, the melee combat is... bad. Like, REALLY bad. It's like they'd never played Condemned, or even Dead Island.

But the core experience? It's awesome. I hope that with a sequel, they get the time to really nail down the feel to what a concept like this deserves.

[marsbarrow]

It's an awesome game for sure. So creepy.

[Triforce of the Gods]

This game deserves a sequel that isn't rushed for launch, definitely.

[kdognumba1]

ZombiU is too much for the journalists you say? pfffft casuals

[Kenichi340]

Happy to hear they weren't discouraged by the reviewers' scores. Everyone that I've seen love the game, and I'm glad to hear they're satisfied with the overall sales so far. I'm sure that if they make a sequel it'll be even better and much better recieved by the "professional reviewers."

It's not a game for everyone, for sure. And yeah, the melee combat is... bad. Like, REALLY bad. It's like they'd never played Condemned, or even Dead Island.

But the core experience? It's awesome. I hope that with a sequel, they get the time to really nail down the feel to what a concept like this deserves.

While I can't speak for Dead Island, Condemend's melee combat wasn't any better, either.

[CaptainColon]

I go as far as calling this my personal GotY for 2012. I hope this gets a sequel, but yet don't want it to be too successful because I don't want it to turn into a yearly franchise like Ubisoft has a habit of doing.

[Kama]

Playing this game late at night with the lights off and my headset is a great experience. I really do hope we get a sequel.

[LithosTheHero]

Yeah, in the end it's the fans response, and just from Miiverse you can see they succeeded in making a pretty awesome game.

[redhatdrawler]

Great game that deserves a sequel. I have a few minors gripes, but overall it really it a great launch title.

[Chicken008]

A lot of the response I've seen is positive. All the negative reactions I see are about the game being too much like Demon's/Dark Souls.

[sergiomonty]

Awesome game. Stupid reviews.

[McDaniel-77]

I'm going to buy that game soon, but I'm not satisfied with the eShop pricing.

eShop games shouldn't cost more than 20-40 bucks. 69,99 is ridiculous for a videogame, especially if it's just a download.

McDaniel-77

[Hinph]

Forget the overly harsh reviews... I think this game is just fantastic. I'm probably a couple hours from the end, but if I were to give it a score right now, it would be a 8.0-8.5

I encourage everybody who likes true survival horror to pick it up at some point, even if you wait until a pricedrop.

[coffeewithchess]

Considering that Nintendo Life didn't even finish ZombiU before allowing their "review" to be published, I find this type of article surprising from them. Perhaps they should concentrate on finishing games first, then slapping a score on them; not deleting the "reviewer" admitting he didn't finish the game, then banning and threatening to ban a user for simply asking how long the game was played and if it was completed before it was published.

I agree with Ubisoft about the "early" reviews, but the REAL problem here is the complete lack of review standards on sites INCLUDING Nintendo Life.

[Johnknight1]

I go as far as calling this my personal GotY for 2012. I hope this gets a sequel, but yet don't want it to be too successful because I don't want it to turn into a yearly franchise like Ubisoft has a habit of doing.

The only yearly franchise I can think of that Ubisoft has is Assassin's Creed. At least they have huge studios work on those, unlike EA with all their sports games.

[Garlador]

The fan response trumps the critics response. This is one where I feel the majority of critics got the game dead wrong (get it?).

Seriously, the game has its flaws, for sure, but it's definitely a great, memorable, and appreciated game for the Wii U owners out there. Like other games that didn't hit a homerun on its first swing at bat, a sequel could fix some of the minor and major problems with the game (better melee combat, more variety of enemies, better visuals, less bugs), especailly if they don't have to rush it for launch.

I do find it telling that they revealed that, after one day of release, only 15 people had finished the game.... including review copies. Which means a great deal of reviewers posted their reviews without completing the game, which makes me question how much time they actually spent with it.

[StarStabbedMoon]

@Chicken008
Those who love the game say the same thing though. I think it's mostly people who didn't like the slow-paced survival horror gameplay.