Sonic and Shepard show the Wii U difference

Trailers for the Wii U versions of Sonic & All-Star Racing Transformed and Mass Effect 3 are designed to demonstrate the difference that the Wii U makes to gaming, ahead of the new Nintendo console's November 18 debut.

Trailers for the Wii U versions of Sonic & All-Star Racing Transformed and Mass Effect 3 are designed to demonstrate the difference that the Wii U makes to gaming, ahead of the new Nintendo console's November 18 debut.

In the Wii U's Mass Effect 3: Special Edition trailer, the player uses the Wii U GamePad's touch screen to direct squadmates to tactical positions, before changing weapons and engaging with the enemy.

The trailer can also call upon a selection of impressive press quotes, given that Mass Effect 3 was released on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 back in March.

Newcomers to the series are catered for by means of the Special Edition's interactive comic that covers the events of Mass Effect 1 & 2.

Also packed in are various expansions -- the Extended Cut ending, as well as the From Ashes storyline and three multiplayer packs.

In the trailer for Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, the GamePad screen again comes into play.

It doubles as a map display, showing the player's location during a race, can be used as a rear-view mirror, or show the progress of ranged weapons as they home in on other racers.

Of course, if someone else is using the TV, all the All-Star Racing action can be sent direct to the GamePad screen, and its motion-sensing capabilities mean that players can steer by tilting the pad, if desired.

Just as in the Wii U game NintendoLand, the GamePad lends a level of novelty to multiplayer modes, with the GamePad user's aim different to those players using the big screen, while more conventional split-screen races are also available.

The Nintendo Wii U is released in North America on November 18, in Europe and Australia on November 30, and in Japan from December 8.

Microsoft and Sony are expected to reveal their own plans for a new Xbox and PlayStation in 2013.