Last time I wrote a post on this subject I hit a cord with some people when I criticized their favorite virtual pleasures. One of the issues raised a few times, and not so eloquently, was that I was a Nintendo fanboy and just wanted to bash on other games. I thought that was odd because two of the games I talked about, Final Fantasy and Mega Man, originated on the back of grandpa Nintendo. So in an effort to quell my o’ so many denouncers I aim my sights at you today Nintendo. From hell’s heart I stab at thee.
Nintendo was founded over a hundred years ago. Did ya know that? Fittingly enough they began as a card playing company. They started their videogame development during the 1970′s, and haven’t looked back. With such a long history in the game business it’s no wonder they retain some of the most storied franchises in videogames. I’m going to pick three and do my damndest to piss you off.
Donkey Kong
This is the game that started it all. Well no, I should probably point to EVR Racer if we’re going to talk about beginnings. Then again maybe it would be Nintendo’s distribution of the Magnavox Odyssey. For that matter it was probably Thomas T. Goldsmith’s CRTAD that began the revolution, but some people point to Raymond Redheffer of M.I.T. who claimed to invent a device called NIM in the 1940s, but he didn’t publicly demonstrate it until 1978 so that is suspect. I’m a bit off topic here; but I guess you could say it was the first game to feature Mario.
Donkey Kong has had a couple of heydays. First in the once plentiful arcades that have become a dying breed, and then again in the homes of many when Rare brought the series to the Super Nintendo, but after that it got a bit stale. The original Donkey Kong was wildly popular. I even found and played one of those original cabinets sitting in an arcade up in Laconia along Weirs Beach, and offered to buy it. Unfortunately the owner wanted far too much for a game cabinet that had seen a lot of abuse from both beach goers and the salt in the air.
Nintendo managed to bottle something great with the first Donkey Kong title, and Rare seemed poised to take the series into greatness with the likes of Link and Mario during the new age. It never happened. The great experiment that was Donkey Kong 64 was a wonderful push into the z-axis era. However, Rare was bought out by Microsoft in 2002, and the series just started to die. What followed the 64 title was essentially a string of loathsome party games, and portable titles that never brought the series back to what it once was.
Finally Nintendo made the decision to give the Donkey Kong name back to a western developer. Retro Studios in America got its hands on the ape and proceeded to emulate and improve upon what Rare had done before them. While I applaud Retro for making a great game I have my doubts as to the formula’s sustainability. Mega Man has gone down this road, and with the cancellation of Mega Man Legends 3, Capcom seems poised to try and recreate their last decade of failure with the series. I would hate to see another of my digital childhood heroes end up being stuck with such a stigma.
Reinvent the gameplay or let it die.
Metroid
I’m really not sure who’s running the ship over at Nintendo, but Metroid is a series that embodies all that Nintendo can do right and do wrong. I don’t understand what the disconnect is here, but Metroid has become a great example of the widening gap between Japanese developers and the rest of the world.
Metroid is one of those weird titles that manages to obtain success now and then. It has produced triple A games during its run. So why am I including it on this list? That’s a good question. Mostly just to piss off some fanboys, but I do have some legitimate concerns with the series.
I have fond memories of both the NES and SNES iterations of the this franchise, and the Metroid Prime series only furthered my devotion to exploring the tale of Samus. My issues with Metroid are much like my issues with Final Fantasy games in that I find the recent excursions to be a bit dubious. Nintendo made a great decision passing Metroid off to a western developer for the Prime series. Can you guess who it was? That’s right, our good friends at Retro Studios that we spoke of a bit earlier.
Metroid has been an alright game for awhile now and that’s the problem – it’s just alright. This should be a series that is playing at a much higher level. Team Ninja didn’t do Samus any favors. I can’t speak as to the game market in Japan. There is a lot of diverse and just plain weird stuff that passes for videogames over there. Other M is not what most fans of the series want. The whiny dialogue and overwritten cut scenes, that have been a major issue with Japanese games, made their way into the title – bad move.
There is also an outside influence that is going to plague the series and whether you agree with me or not, Halo is a factor. I’m going to get some hate mail for this, but I thought it was an avenue worth exploring so please read this thoroughly and with a measure of gravity before you call me an asshole. Now I should first state that I’m speaking of Halo in general rather than the specific. What does that mean you ask? It means that Halo has shown what the majority of people would like out of the shooter in this day and age. Call of Duty is another good example of what is king in the genre.
Sales numbers don’t lie. People who may have had an interest in the Prime games were playing Halo ‘type’ games due to a number of reasons. First they didn’t have to wave a controller around and like it or not a standard controller provides more depth than the current Wii Mote. Graphics have also played a part and hopefully Nintendo is going to up their game in the processing department with the Wii U. Finally the Wii is looked at by many consumers as a kids console, and Metroid is a series that should appeal to a wide age range.
These issues are going to be pushing against Metroid in future releases. What the Metroid title has going for it to differentiate itself from the pack is exploration. Nintendo has to capitalize on this or the series is doomed. There are ways to achieve the symbiotic relationship between compelling gameplay and pretty things to look at on the screen. I’m not sure if Nintendo has the right direction and leadership at the moment to properly handle the series or to let someone else take the reins as has been the case for some time. What I am sure of is that Other M is not the way to go.
The Legend of Zelda
I hate this series with a blinding passion.
No, I’m just messin’ with ya. I love it. Windwaker still sucked.
Pokémon
You knew this was coming. You knew the second you read the title of this post. I still look back upon the original Pokémon games with affectionate nostalgia and a warm fuzzy feeling. Now I look upon this series with a sort of disdain that I usually reserve for those I have a blood feud with. I remember when Red and Blue were first released and I thought hey this might be a cool game. So I went to pick them up and played them on my original model Gameboy. From that moment I was both hooked and damned.
I have to say that the series has been able to maintain a degree of freshness, and ironically it is the same factor that both invigorates the series that also leads many to condemn it. Every Pokémon title has essentially been the same game. The only change has been updated graphics, and far more ridiculous Pokémon which of course reflects that strain that has been put on the creative team behind the series after designing over 600 of the little pocket monsters.
Pokémon is not going to die, not by a long shot. The only mystery I have been unable to figure out is why Nintendo has not put this series on the Wii or the Wii U or whatever piece of crap console they have on the market. Fans like to say that the series is simply not meant for consoles and that we’ll never see a major console release because it violates the core principles of the game. That is of course a load of bull.
If I as high level executive member of Nintendo went to an investors meeting saying that my company doesn’t want to make a console game out of the best selling Nintendo title in the last decade and forgo millions in profit, because it would violate the title’s principles I would likely be thrown from the window of whatever high rise building I assume such a meeting would be conducted in at the time.
Cash is king and I am positive that Nintendo is looking into this. Then again I’m not privy to the inner workings of the company so I could be wrong, but it would by and far help Nintendo’s floundering console game sales. Nintendo is on the brink here and they have done everything they can to alienate international customers and developers. They have also proven time and time again how out of touch they are with the current state of the global videogame market (That is of course another article entirely).
Having said that, if on the extremely rare chance that anyone from Nintendo is reading this please consider what I have written below.
You listen to me Nintendo. Put Pokémon on one of your damn consoles and you let me run around an open world. You put that addictive gameplay on my LCD, and I’ll keep giving you my money. I swear if you make another Pokémon Snap I’m going to hit a child. That’s on you Nintendo, all that child abuse is on you. I want a real Pokémon game. If that isn’t in the cards just please stop producing the series. Not for sustainability or qualities sake, but for the good of the world. Pokémon may one day consume us all in its widening void of virtual obsession.
I almost did a section on Mario. Then again I get enough death threats already.
Now for some irrefutable proof that I’m an idiot. Metroid has sold over 14 million units. Donkey Kong has shipped over 49 million games, and Pokémon is second on the all time bestselling video game franchise list with 215 million units.
By the way I plan on doing this with our other two friends. Microsoft, your next.
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Okay, so here it is. I honestly agree with almost everything that has been said in this post. These games have had their time, now they should go the way of all the earth. Donkey Kong was awesome until it hit the 64. The version looked good for the time but lacked the fun and I left it unbeaten. Metroid is just too Japanise now. Pokemon has been lame since the third game. Nintendo was for a time, the best. I still thought so when I bought the Gamecube and had some fun with it until I finally broke down and bought an Xbox. I’ve never looked back. Nintendo’s titles are childish and appeal to avid anime enthusiasts and five-year-olds. Their consoles will continue to lack in the processing power to bring them to the “big kids”. As far as the other games that need to go… Halo. It was great, fun, new. Now it’s not. Let it die. Final Fantasy, you are already dead to me. Sonic, Mega-man, I didn’t even know you guys were still around! The biggest disappointment to me has been the death of Rare Games. 007, Donkey Kong, Conker’s, Perfect Dark. All classics. What happened? What did Microsoft do to you? I did disagree on one point. Once you get past the anime-like graphics of Windwaker, it’s a pretty awesome game. I also must say this to all before I die. I consider the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time to be the best game ever conceived by man. That is all.
Hi
screw you, pokemon is awesome!!
None of these franchises need to be put to rest as you put it, they are some of Nintendo’s core franchises. It’d be like telling Sony to stop making Uncharted games. Sort of.
Also, comparing Metroid to Halo and COD? Metroid isn’t an FPS, it’s an action/adventure title. It only barely qualifies as an FPS with the Prime series, which I maintain to be the best games on the Wii/Gamecube. Compare it to Castlevenia if you have to.
I agree with Pokemon mind, in that it needs to change. Not hugely, just evolve (if you’ll pardon the pun) naturally, taking what’s good about it and lose the annoying parts. I don’t think a proper 3D RPG Pokemon game will be released on the Wii(U) because it works so much better handheld, and that’s why there will probably be one on the 3DS, I wouldn’t be surprised if Nintendo announced one at the Tokyo Gameshow or somewhere else soon.
Oh, and Wind Waker is the best Zelda game out there. Deal with it.
I compared Metroid to FPS games because they are within the same vein of the genre. You mentioned the Prime series in your comment. Well that’s what I was comparing to Halo and COD. I also agree with you there is an element of exploration and adventure in the games. I mentioned it right in the article.
“What the Metroid title has going for it to differentiate itself from the pack is exploration.”
The Prime series brought Metroid into the realm of the FPS, and if it wants to compete those are the type of consumers it is going to be fighting for.
As for Pokemon there is just no excuse not to have a console title. Yes, I agree the games make great portable titles so why would you not put that on a console. People sometimes forget in this medium that it is a business. The CEO of Nintendo doesn’t say to himself, “Pokemon is a great portable title so why should I put the best selling Nintendo game on a console? Why would my company need all that extra revenue?”.
As for Windwaker being the best Zelda game. Really? Now your just disagreeing with me for the sake of it.
I almost died when I saw zelda on the list. Glad you were joking.
I agree with a lot of your list but dont think they should be put to rest. Just redone legit.
DKCR was a horrible game and donkey kong in general has sucked since the n64
Pokemon is fun but they are running out of ideas and there is no excuse not to have a full 3d pokemon game yet
donkey kong, I could have agreed with completely if it wasn’t for donkey kong country returns. That game was great, and sold quite well too considering how little people really care about DK nowadays. However, I do think he should be retired to only having maybe 1 game per console, and appearing in the super smash bros. games (obviously).
Metroid definatly shouldn’t be killed off, I just think it needs a better reboot than other M. I mean, it was a good game, but nothing more, I think they need to change the format of the game, much like metroid prime did. It’s a great franchise, it’s just becoming tired.
Speaking of tired… I love zelda games, it is my favourite game series in existense, but it needs a kick up the arse, it’s becoming stale in terms of the way the game plays, which hopefully skyward sword will change. It promises to change the boring dungeon-field equation, the relatively boring combat, the slow pacing, the re-hashed story, and most of all, the way we control link, adding genuine strategy to the game in terms of the combat, and adding a new twist to puzzles. If it actually manages all of this, it will be fantastic, if not, at least we know nintendo are trying :/ … Also, wind waker was awesome (apart from the finding the triforce of courage section)
Last but not least, pokemon… I mean, taking the 5 core titles, I think that there isn’t much wrong with it, although it has been resting on it’s foundation for far too long, black & white did change quite a bit, including adding a genuine story into the game, and I liked the idea of limiting it to the new pokemon, until the game is over, the problem was, most of them sucked. Also, yes, they need a new game on the Wii U. I loved the two colosseum games, and I think a lot of people did, if they do, people will buy it, end of, they could even have a ds style setup where all the menus are on the Wii U controller to streamline the setup of the game, and leave the whole screen for glorious pokemon graphics :) Oh, but make it like the portable games where we just explore and catch whatever we want, and do the typical badges and elite 4 etc. they could probably make a fully thriving world compared to the portable games, what with all the extra power.
My personal wish is also for them to make a co-op system, where maybe two people can explore simultaneously, and have double battles, just like in the GC games.
This is the second post I’ve done on this subject, and as I’ve written them they’ve tend to become less of a condemnation of the games and more about ways they could improve.
I really think all of these games have viable futures. I enjoyed the new Donkey Kong game, and Retro did a great job on it. However, it was just the same thing as the first three Rare titles in the series. I think it did so well because we haven’t seen it in a while. Two more games into Retro’s run and we may once again be clamoring for a 3D world, a place Donkey Kong should already be.
As for Metroid, Other M was not the way to go. I really think it’s a title that should be greeted with just as much anticipation as a Halo game is, but Nintendo seems hell bent on keeping it from what it should be. Turn it into and over the shoulder shooter with the atmosphere and exploration of of the original games and you’ll have a hit. Just get rid of the awful and whiny dialogue.
I enjoy Zelda games just as much as you do though since Ocarina I find they’ve gotten a bit flat. I’m not sure that’s the best way to put it. Zelda is in a way going to be haunted by its own success. Coming off two stellar titles kind of kicked expectations up to a high with the series. For me Windwaker was just too much sailing. That may be a shortcoming on my part, but I never felt like I could get my footing if you’ll forgive the pun. Twilight was good too, but I never got the feeling I did when playing Ocarina.
Funny, I put the Zelda thing in there as a joke, and that’s all people wanna yell at me about.
As for Pokemon if you put the game on a console in an RPG style setting you’ve got a hit. Coop and online PvP would just be icing on the cake.
Thanks for the comment.
You’re right about Pokemon…about it never dying that is. If anything, Pokemon has only gotten stronger since the 4th generation.
I agree they should put a Pokemon game on the home consoles. Colloseum and XD: Gale Of Darkness on the Gamecube were brilliant, something like that for the Wii – U would be a guaranteed multi – million seller.
A real Pokemon console title would likely amount to Nintendo’s best selling game of the decade. I’m still amazed they have never developed a game to fruition. Not only would you sell such a game to every current Pokemon fan, but you would bring in a lot of new consumers.
Pokemon director Junichi Masuda once said – “How players communicate with each other has been key to the Pokemon games – it is the backbone of all Pokemon game designs. I feel that the handheld systems work better than the home-based consoles. It’s certainly possible to come up with concepts for home-based consoles, but we might then have to change the core of the game.”
This statement made by Masuda in all honesty doesn’t make much sense. Active player communication via Wifi didn’t really start till the fourth generation. So how could it be the backbone of the many games to come before. Yes players can meet up in person and battle, but in all honesty I’ve only ever seen this phenomenon occur at a game or comic convention.
Anyone with a rudimentary understanding of how games work could see that the portable Pokemon titles would easily translate to a console. Nintendo being so worried about player to player communication is stretching it a bit too. First off the majority of people buying Pokemon don’t use Wifi to battle, and two the Wii does have an internet connection.
What Masuda was actually saying is that Pokemon is the only game keeping Nintendo’s portable business alive. It’s the reason many people bought a DS, and one of the reasons why the 3DS is selling so poorly.
Gale Of Darkness really was an interesting game, it’s a shame more people didn’t lay it. Nintendo really needs to make a 3D console Pokemon – Like Nicholas said, it would sell gazillions of copies.
“What Masuda was actually saying is that Pokemon is the only game keeping Nintendo’s portable business alive. It’s the reason many people bought a DS, and one of the reasons why the 3DS is selling so poorly.”
I have to agree with you there. I wouldn’t have looked twice at the GBC if it weren’t for Pokemon Red/Blue. And the fact that I don’t NEED a 3DS to play Pokemon is the sole reason I haven’t bought one yet.
However…the increased storage capacity that Nintendo would have if they were to make a game for a home console could lead to some amazing possibilities. I still hope for the day that we see the ULTIMATE Pokemon game…a game which includes every region, every gym leader and every single Pokemon in existence all in the one game. If Nintendo did that, either as a regular RPG or as an MMORPG they would have an instant classic.
dont agree with donkey kong,
fired on donkey kong returns last nite for wii and loved the nostaglia it brought. felt it was a breath of fresh air compared to all the shooters atm though could have done without waggle features.
I think pokemon has to get with the times, if they released a Pokemon MMORPG im sure everyone would buy it and pay to play it. look at all the fan made mmorpgs, its the perfect genre for Pokemon.
An MMORPG is a entirely different beast. While I admit that it would be very entertaining to play one I’m not sure if Nintendo is in a position to take on such a project. I think a good first step would be a console version of the portable game capable of online battles.
Still a PvP focused Pokemon MMO would really be a sight to see.
I’ve never really followed Nintendo much, everything they release just manages to seem slightly childish and/or casual.
Saying that I still see Mario as one of my gaming heroes – the amount of time I spent on those games with my Brother as a Kid is ridiculous :P .