The gamepad isn't essential but it is pretty cool. Works great in Pikmin and Zelda where you need a map. Look, no one who is way into video games can really argue with a straight face that the WiiU is all you need these days but it fills a niche and it is a nice compliment to a PS4/Xbox One. I think that Nintendo know this and is trying to capture a large percentage of both of those audiences - this worked with the Wii and isn't working with the WiiU so far.