Mass Effect 3 for Nintendo Wii U - Action RPG Game with Epic Sci-Fi Storyline - Perfect for Sci-Fi Fans and RPG Gamers

I have never been a fan of FPSs - paint ball and sporting clays in the real world are more appealing to me, but this is a very enjoyable game and well worth the time.More detail…We bought a Wii U for the holidays this year - primarily as a gift for our younger children, but wanted to round out the library with a few more serious games so we purchased this along with Zombie U. Mass Effect 3 has surprised me with how thoroughly enjoyable it is and how much time I am willing to commit to it (time is the biggest cost of any single player video game as far as I am concerned). I typically do not spend more than 5 hours a week on video games, TV and movies combined (and most of those I do with friends or family). I have averaged 10 hours a week on ME3 since starting the single player campaign 3 weeks ago - and I do not feel like I have wasted it. There are a ton of reviews on this game already, so I am going to focus on its appeal to a casual gamer and aspects that are likely unique to the Wii U port.The game can be configured with an emphasis on action, storyline or with a balance of the two. I took that later route which provides some heart pounding combat and solid interactive storytelling where the dialogue paths you choose seem to have a real impact on the branching of the overall story arc. Basic combat is relatively easy and fun and the Wii U gamepad provides great if somewhat unrealistic situational awareness (map with location of targets).The gamepad also provides access to special abilities and maps in non-combat situations which is a bit redundant with the maps that can be pulled up on the main screen but is a nice feature of the port to the Wii U. A pro-controller does provide better control during difficult combat, but the gamepad provides a great immersive experience and the earphone output is useful if you want to keep the noise down.One of the things I appreciate most in the game is its ability to seem vast and open ended while actually being relatively linear. A big turnoffs for me in video games is having to hunt through every corner in a virtual world to be certain that everything is covered. ME3 allows you to make big decisions about direction and then gently nudges you down a broad and lavish path toward the destination. There are times when I feel that a successful outcome is inevitable and that the storyline is not dependent on how long it takes to complete a given objective, but those are rare.Performance on the Wii U is best described acceptable - load times between missions are slow, but gameplay is smooth. The visuals are very good with ME3 having the most satisfying graphics of anything I have seen on the Wii U and on par with last gen xBox and PS3. It lags far behind a mid-range circa 2013 PC in graphics and sound, but the experience on the Wii U is very immersive.Overall, playing Mass Effect 3 feels like being a major character in a Sci Fi epic and in my opinion is more enjoyable and satisfying than watching a modern Sci Fi TV show or playing any other single player game on the Wii U.