What I Love AND Hate About Nintendo

I think anyone that's read my blog for even a little while knows that I do greatly enjoy the products that Nintendo puts out. I'd go as far as to say that as a developer, they are easily one of my favorites in the gaming industry. I will always be grateful to Nintendo for reviving video games in North America after the crash of 1983 and for helping make my childhood a lot more awesome. Having said that, in no way am I a Nintendo white knight. As much as I love Nintendo's dedication to games as a developer, as a company, well, they don't get a lot of love from me.

Have you heard of The Wonderful 101? It was this marvel of a Wii U game that had you controlling a ton of heroes in domino masks that could unleash all kinds of havoc by uniting to form massive weapons such as a giant gun or fist. It wasn't perfect but it was one of the best games you could own for the Wii U. The game received little in the way of marketing and to this day, there are still people that think The Wonderful 101 is a third party game. Platinum developed The Wonderful 101, but it is a Nintendo owned IP. There is a reason the two songs from the game appear in Nintendo themed stages in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Nintendo fans usually support Nintendo games heavily but The Wonderful 101 was left to die on store shelves because Nintendo didn't throw the add money towards it that they did Splatoon or Mario Kart 8, the later of which, probably didn't even need so much because it's freaking Mario Kart. Nintendo did everything in their power to make sure everyone knew that Splatoon was gonna be a thing. The game did so well and had big marketing behind it that it is often incorrectly stated to be Nintendo's first new IP since Pikmin in 2001.

Contrary to popular belief, The Wonderful 101 is owned
by Nintendo.

Don't know who Chibi Robo is? He's another Nintendo
character who didn't have the ad money of Zelda and Mario, so he
was sent out to die cold and alone.

Nintendo baffles me with the way they continue to treat their fans. Fan games and ROM hacks have been hit really hard as of late, with Pokemon Uranium AM2R (Another Metroid 2 Remake) being two of the most notable examples. To be fair to Nintendo, every company sends out cease and desist orders for fan remakes. SEGA did it when the Streets of Rage Remake finally released in 2011 and Square Enix quickly killed the Chrono Trigger remake before it could really take off. Nintendo has just been far more active lately in killing fan projects. On the one hand, I can understand Nintendo wanting to protect their franchises from copy right infringement, especially when it comes to fan remakes. But fan games that are done from the ground up being canned? That's a pill that's pretty hard to swallow.

AM2R is the best Metroid 2 Remake that Nintendo
didn't make. 

In the case of SEGA, they've been pretty loose when it comes to ROM hacks and fan games that use their copy right material. Taxman and Stealth, two pretty big names in the fan game and ROM hack community are two of the main guys behind Sonic Mania, a fully endorsed SEGA game. In other words, their fan works that were inspired by love of what SEGA had made helped open up the door to make an original Sonic game. Rather than embrace these up and coming game makers, Nintendo spits in their faces, which kinda sends the message that they don't want anyone doing any passion fan projects that involve their franchises. Keep in mind that there are dozens upon dozens of ROM hacks out there that Nintendo has not gone after. I'm talking stuff like Mario Adventure, probably the most well known Super Mario Bros. 3 ROM hack out there, and Nintendo has done nothing to squash it. 

Nintendo's eagerness to send out cease and desist orders can extend beyond games. Let's say a group of fans get together and wants to make a Super Mario web series and post it on YouTube. They get a few episodes up, it gets mentioned on blogs, Twitter, facebook and some major gaming medium outlets and YouTube channels start talking about it. Nintendo decides they don't like the noise this series is generating and shuts it down. Nintendo is fine with you enjoying their copy right material. So long as you're enjoying it on their terms. 

The TLDR version? Nintendo is great as a developer. One of the best out there. As a company? Not so much.

Nintendo: Doing a Crappy Job on NES Classic Edition Restocks

I walked into my GameStop last week. They had a hefty supply of the latest amiibo wave. Rosalina, Wario and Waluigi were all there for the buying. Nintendo was even kind enough to ship my store a plethora of Ness, Lucas, Samus, Pit and Robins! Now that is great news for anyone not wanting to go online and paying shipping for an electronic toy. You know what I didn't see a nice chunk of? NES Classic Editions. The closest my store had to an NES Classic Edition was a display standee.

It isn't like Nintendo didn't know the NES Classic Edition was going to be a super hot item. Sure, they did launch that sucker just in time for the holidays, but even if we weren't about to roast some chestnuts or whatever it is you prefer to roast over an open fire, anyone with the slightest ounce of intelligence knows the NES Classic Edition would sell like hotcakes. Unlike a lot of these other systems that come with a ton of pre-installed games, a lot of TLC went into the NES Classic Edition. I only wish Nintendo went the same distance to make the freaking thing easier for us to get a our grubby hands on.

Available if you can actually find one and may
or may not be at an insane price.

Nintendo has done an absolutely craptastic job of making the NES Classic Edition obtainable by supplying retailers with abysmal amounts of units. I'm no retail expert but when the majority of stores are getting units that don't even make it into the double digits, then you know your supplier is effing up. Target may not be the king of video game sales, but they do have a pretty meaty video game section and it really is quite telling when a store like Target can't even get six NES Classic Editions.

At least this game is easy enough to find. Unlike the NES
Classic Edition, Nintendo made buying the latest Pokemon
game hassle free.

Yes, I'm fully aware that time and money goes into making a product. But Pokemon Sun/Moon is ridiculously easy to get your hands on. Nintendo made sure they had more than enough supply to meet the demand. Even if you didn't pre-order the game, you can easily walk into just about any store that sells video games and leave with a copy of Pokemon Sun/Moon. Bottom line? Nintendo felt like making sure they had enough copies of Sun/Moon to go around but couldn't be bothered to have the same attitude when it came to a little box containing some huge hit games that helped get them where they are today.

One of the worst things about this whole ordeal is that since Nintendo can't get with the dang program on this, they enable scalpers to go about their notoriously aggravating practices of buying what little NES Classic Editions are out there and then re-selling them for astronomically high prices. The other bad bit is that retailers often have to feel the wrath of angry customers that come into stores looking for an NES Classic Edition only to be told that they are sold out. Human beings aren't always the easiest to deal with and even though it is the most wonderful time of the year, people tend to show their ugly sides when it comes to Christmas shopping.

Not long ago, I said that most people would have to wait for the NES Classic Edition to be restocked. Since Nintendo's restock game is terribly weak, I suppose anyone that wants an NES Classic Edition has to be in the right place at the right time or be prepared to wait for a good, long while. I think your patience will be rewarded. Eventually. 

Nintendo Switch Reveal Thoughts

Yesterday, the Nintendo NX was at long last revealed to the world under the title, Nintendo Switch. On a very rare occasion, I'm not late to the party, so I've decided to strike while the iron is hot and offer up some thoughts on the Nintendo Switch reveal.

The trailer for the NS was freaking great. As much as I love the Wii U, Nintendo failed on letting the public at large know what the system was. Many still look at the Wii U as an add on and not a successor of the Wii. With the NS reveal. this clearly isn't the case. No one is going to question what the NS is or mistake it for something it isn't.

Home consoles are great but we need a TV to play them and hauling them off for travel can be cumbersome. This isn't going to be the case with the NS. The off TV play of the Wii U has always been one of my favorite features about the system and I'm glad Nintendo is going to continue this with the NS, but taking it a step further. We can take the NS anywhere and enjoy it thanks to the tablet. On a bus, on a train, on a plane, on the beach. Even on the can if you're into gaming in the bathroom.

Look, ma, no wires! The NS has no cords attached to it. We're looking at a completely wireless game console. How cool is that? I thought it couldn't get any better than wireless controllers but a wireless console? I never thought I'd see the day. For a company that is often accused of being the dinosaurs of gaming Nintendo has shown that they can get with the times when they want to. Our phones and tablets, things that we use in our daily life are wireless so why nit make a console that is free of wires? I've been calling the NS a console but in truth, the thing is a handheld portable device as much as it is a home console. Nintendo has dominated the handheld market for over 25 years so it makes perfect sense to have the NS function as not only a home console but a portable device as well.

And the NS looks sexy to boot. I mean, just look at that thing and try to tell me it looks ugly. After digging the compactness of the Wii, it sucked to go back to a bigger Nintendo console with the Wii U. The NS looks stylish, slick and is smaller than the Wii U. Oh and that logo is simple but straight and to the point.

As excited as I am for the NX reveal, I do have some concerns. The detachable controllers are on the small side, which I can see being an issue for those with large hands. Nintendo likes to have their consoles be affordable but for what we've seen the NS do with that trailer, I have a hard time believing the NS will be cheap. With a price yet to be revealed, all we can do is guess, but I'd say $400 or more is a safe bet. Nintendo's history with third party developers/publishers on consoles has not been great since the Nintendo 64 days and while the list of third party companies for the NS looks impressive, I'm hoping Nintendo doesn't screw it up and many of these third parties abandon the system. The fact that the NS is portable will hopefully play in the consoles favor since again, Nintendo kills it on handhelds.

Introducing Nintendo Switch

Long code named the Nintendo NX, Nintendo has finally revealed its next generation console, officially named the Nintendo Switch. Gonna miss that NX code name but the Nintendo Switch name is rather fitting for what the console can do. Play on the TV, play on the tablet, play at home or on the go. 

Nintendo Should Do More Compilation Releases

I really like Nintendo. Granted, they can be a very strange company. They don't quickly adapt the way the competition does and some of their business decisions are pretty suspect, but Nintendo is still around for a very good reason. In the decades gone by, they've put out some truly spectacular games and they continue to do so to this day. 

In the ever growing ranks that is digital media, compilation releases are thankfully, still a thing. With a catalog as impressive as Nintendo's, you'd think they'd be up for far more compilation releases than what they've done in their 30 plus year gaming history. But despite Nintendo's incredibly rich history, very few compilation releases from the Big N actually exist and some have never even made it outside of Japan.

One of Nintendo's earliest
compilation releases.

The NES is a goldmine of first party releases. For a lot of fans, NES Remix and NES Remix 2 hit the right notes but for others, it rang a bell of disappointment because these games were bits and pieces of full games chopped up into one big mini game collection. As fun as it was to clear the first level of Donkey Kong as Link, it would have been awesome to have the full version of Donkey Kong nestled along side The Legend of Zelda and a plethora of other Nintendo NES greats. Think of it: a Nintendo NES Collection with Super Mario Bros. 1-3, Dr. Mario, Balloon Fight, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II, Metroid, Punch-Out!!, Excitebike, Kirby's Adventure, NES Open Tournament Golf, and EarthBound Beginnings to name plenty. They could even go the extra mile and give us some of those games that never made it outside of Japan like Devil World, both entries of the Famicom Detective Club series, and Joy Mech Fight. A Nintendo NES Collection would sell like hotcakes as a single Wii U disc game.

Let's not forget about the Game Boy. The little handheld that could, would and did has earned Nintendo so much change and it is longer overdue for some more love. The 3DS handles Game Boy games greatly, even removing that dreaded blur affect from scrolling so its a perfect system for a Nintendo Game Boy Collection. That and the 3DS is, well, a handheld. It would rock to have Super Mario Land, Tetris, Balloon Kid, Super Mario Land 2, Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters, Donkey Kong, Mole Mania, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, Mario's Picross, Wario Land 1-3 and all those other sweet first party GB games on a single 3DS cart.

Super Mario All-Stars was a big deal in 1993.
The 2010 re-release, wasn't treated as such.

Nintendo's 16-bit baby, the SNES, arguably the pinnacle of Nintendo's systems. Nintendo has so many stellar first party SNES titles that its almost scary. How incredible would it be to have Super Mario World, F-Zero, Pilotwings, SimCity, Battle Clash, Metal Combat, Yoshi's Island, Star Fox, Super Punch-Out!! EarthBound, Super Metroid, Donkey Kong Country 1-3 and all those other glorious first party SNES games in one sweet, sweet set? 

It really is puzzling that Nintendo hasn't put out more collections than what they have, especially when we know they are capable of doing so. In 1993, Super Mario All-Stars, which collected Super Mario Bros. 1-3 and The Lost Levels with 16-bit graphics and sounds was a platform fan's dream. When it was re-released in 2010 for the Super Mario Bros. series 25th anniversary with minimal in the way of extras fans and critics didn't recieve it as well. True, Nintendo could have and should have included Super Mario World, Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine  on that collection and yeah, the extras were lacking, but it was more of a missed opportunity than a bad compilation. 

Kirby's Dream Collection. A dream collection indeed.

2012's Kirby's Dream Collection was without question one of the best compilation releases Nintendo put out in years. Not only did it contain six of Kirby's platforming adventures, but the extras and presentation was top notch. It was the kind of collection that was so lovingly put together that it made you wish Nintendo would give some of its other franchises that sort of love for an anthology release.

Nintendo seems perfectly content with re-releasing their old games digitally on the eShop, which is fine but a release like Kirby's Dream Collection showed that Nintendo was willing to release a compilation of games that could already be purchased individually since at the time, just about every game in Kirby's Dream Collection could be purchased on the 3DS and the Wii. Its always nice to have as many options as possible to get your retro gaming fix and compilations in the vein of SEGA's Sonic Ultimate Genesis Collection and Rare's Rare Replay from Nintendo would certainly be profitable and welcome. 

Game Art #73: Nintendo Gallery

This is one of the smaller Game Art features on the blog, but there's still some pretty nice pieces for you to go gaga over. So do enjoy.

By Mop

By Mop

By Topology

Pixiv ID

By Mop

By i s h

By i s h

By NaR

By Mop

Favorite Tunes #101: Nintendo Train Hype Edition

Say what you will about Nintendo not doing things the way the competition does. They have been killing it as of late! 2014 has been one awesome year for the company with so many good titles being released on the 3DS and Wii U. Mario Kart 8 is still being popped into my Wii U, I've clocked almost 75 hours into the 3DS version of Super Smash Bros. and I still gotta find the cash to snatch up Hyrule Warriors and Bayonetta 2. I'm pretty sure you already know where I'm going with this so, enjoy the music.

ST01 Roll Out, Wonderful 100! Battle In The Blossom City Burbs - The Wonderful 101 (Wii U)

If you haven't picked up The Wonderful 101, I recommend doing so. At $30 brand new, it's one of the cheapest games you can pick up on the system and while it is by no means perfect, I think this is a game every Wii U owner should have in their library. I honestly was not expecting this the kind of musical score I'd heard when I fired this game up. This is one heroic, triumphant piece of music, the kind you'd expect to hear in a major motion picture. Those blaring trumpets heard throughout the course are as you defend a city under siege are the icing on the cake.

Captain Falcon's Twister Race: Mute City - Nintendo Land (Wii U)

For many of us, Nintendo Land was the closet we've gotten to an F-Zero revival. A decade has passed since an F-Zero title was released. So while the franchise may be gone, it is comforting to know that Nintendo has not forgotten about it, giving it a huge acknowledgement with it's own theme park section in Nintendo Land. This game has a catchy, charming soundtrack, with lots of chiptune takes on old classics. For good measure, Mute City is still sporting heavy traces of rock to go along with the 8-bit goodness.

Full Steam Ahead (Spirit Tracks) - Super Smash Bros. for 3DS (3DS)

Nintendo has already let the word out that the Wii U version of Super Smash Bros. is going to have even more music, including a plethora of tracks from the 3DS release. This is excellent news because the 3DS version has all kinds of sweet tunes. The Spirit Train has become one of my favorite stages to duke it out on, not just for the chaotic railroad nature, but for the music, accompanying it, in particular, Full Steam Ahead. This track has a very western vibe to it and considering the arranger of this track was Michiko Naruke, composer of the Wild Arms games, I guess that's to be expected.

GBA Mario Circuit - Mario Kart 8 (Wii U)

Wallpaper by MaxiGamer

Can't have a Nintendo-centric Favorite Tunes without dropping a track from one of Mr. Video Game's own titles, now can we? Originally the staring track in the Mushroom Cup in Mario Kart: Super Circuit on the GBA, this mode 7 track was given a gorgeous HD makeover with new boost panels added along with anti-gravity racing sections. Naturally, the music was updated, which now sounds like a lovely combination of jazz and funk.

Theme of Bayonetta 2: Tomorrow is Mine - Bayonetta 2 (Wii U) 

When Sony and Microsoft passed on Bayonetta 2, Nintendo stepped in and made the game a console exclusive. And there was much crying and death threats from fans that didn't have a Wii U or just hated The Big N. Bayonetta 2 on the Wii U even includes the original game to bring you up to speed in case you missed out on the first title. That's a pretty sweet deal. Also sweet is the music with some sick battle themes some feel good vocal performances. That main theme, tho!

Eclipse of the Moon (Guitar Version) - Hyrule Warriors (Wii U)

If Mario can have a dozen spin-off titles, why can't Link get in on the action? Enter Hyrule Warriors, which is what happens when the Legend of Zelda meets Dynasty Warriors. Having never played a single game in the later series myself, tossing in some Zelda characters makes Hyrule Warriors a good jumping on point for anyone curious about Koei's hack and slash series. The music in Hyrule Warriors is very expansive, featuring numerous versions of a single theme. The default version of Eclipse of the Moon is outstanding all by itself. Throw in some rock and increase the speed and your feels won't know what to do with themselves.

Favorite Tunes Database

Thoughts on the New 3DS Models

Do people still express much in the way of emotion when Nintendo announces an upgrade to their handhelds? I mean, this isn't anything new. They've been doing it since the Game Boy days. When news reached me that Nintendo had announced the New Nintendo 3DS, they only thing I could do was laugh. I was not the least bit surprised by this reveal, even though I was considering buying a 3DS XL, which I may still end up doing somewhere down the road. It may sound rude, but some of my laughter was directed towards those that had picked up the 3DS XL, thinking they had the best version of the 3DS. I can imagine the rage some of these owners were feeling. Nintendo had already stated that they wanted to forgo multiple releases of the 3DS as they did with the original Nintendo DS. But as we can already see with the 3DS XL and 2DS, they aren't exactly doing a bang up job. When I did some more reading on these New 3DS models, I found that there wasn't a whole lot to laugh about.

Cosmetically speaking, I think the design of these New 3DS Models is quite rad. The A, B, X and Y buttons are each mapped to distinct colors, which is obviously a homage to the Japanese SNES counterpart, the Super Famicom controller. Anything that gives a shout out to my favorite video game console of all-time is aces in my book. On the right side of the touch screen is a second analog stick of sorts, something Nintendo was criticized heavily for not including on the original 3DS and 3DS XL models. Nintendo tried to address this with the Circle Pad Pro add on, but most people didn't wish to physically add more to the system, myself included.

Another visual reminder of the SNES? Yes, please!

But a second circle pad and flashy face buttons aren't the only things these new kids are packing. The CPUs on these babies are more powerful than any of the current models, superior 3D viewing angels, additional shoulder buttons similar to those on Nintendo's first Wii Classic Controller, built in Amiibo scanners for your Amiibo figures (because you KNOW you're buying those things), Micro SDs instead of SDs, the best battery life yet, lasting up to seven hours and even a  replaceable battery. This sounds like much more than a mere upgrade, almost a whole new handheld. All of a sudden that 3DS XL ain't sounding too hot.

So yeah, this thing is miles ahead of any 3DS unit available and the increased power has brought some gamers fears to life. Xenoblade Chronicles will only be playable on these New 3DS systems and you can bet that won't be the only 3DS game that gets hit with that treatment. That's enough to have anyone seething.

It reminds one of the N64 days. Remember the expansion pak? The thing added more RAM to the N64's memory to enable games like Perfect Dark, Donkey Kong 64 and the Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask to be playable on the system. Whereas the expansion pak was an add on and not quite as costly as a game, these New 3DS's are no such thing. These are full blown systems and gamers should not have to cough up an absurd amount of cash just to play some 3DS games that should have been playable on hardware they already owned.

I think the most gamers seeing red are those that were trying to be smart and wait for the ultimate 3DS to come along. No doubt there are those that picked up a 3DS XL not too long ago and then read this news. Its like being kicked in the face with a pair of cleats. That stings bad enough but what this New 3Ds means is that unless you own it, you are essentially locked out of the entire 3DS library. As I said, I highly doubt Xenoblade Chronicles will be the only 3DS game to be made exclusively for the New 3DS. More games will follow and if you want to play them, the system upgrade won't be optional this time.

Wanna play Xenoblade Chronicles on the go?
Better be prepared to fork over some serious cash.

Still, it isn't all dark and cloudy. When you take a good look at it, the New 3DS units are exactly what gamers have wanted from Nintendo: more powerful hardware. But this thing is still a double edged sword for The Big N. While the hardcore gamer has their ducks in a row and is knowledgeable on the differences between the Wii the Wii U and different 3DS models out there, little Billy's mom isn't so savvy. Nintendo can plaster "Only Playable on New 3DS" on those boxes all they want. Such words will be lost on the casual consumer and will no doubt cause endless confusion, the very type Nintendo expressed desire to avoid by not releasing a plethora of 3DS models. And yet, here we are.

As much as fans adore Nintendo, they still catch a ton of heat from former fans that feel they've abandoned them and those that hate them for petty reasons. Nintendo just gave these gamers more ammo for their saw-doff shotguns. Things are certainly gonna be interesting to say the least.

Nintendo, Lower the Princes on Some of those eShop Games

Anyone that's hopped onto Nintendo's eShop and has spent an ample amount of time browsing knows that things are far from ideal. The 3DS version of the eShop especially needs some serious fine tuning, what with it's clunky interface. There are dozens of digital games to pick up but some titles cannot be found without using the search function. The Wii U eShop is certainly an improvement over it's 3DS counterpart. The interface may not be the best, but the setup is still much better than the portable version. But the big thing I'd love to see improved upon on both fronts would be the pricing of some of the eShop games.

Digital distribution is an excellent way for old-school gamers to re-experience classic games and for the newer generation of gamers to see what all us old farts thought was the bees knee back in the day. So it's a bit disheartening to admit that some of those games we used to love so much way back when don't withstand the test of time and not every NES eShop offering is worth the $4.99 price tag.

Donkey Kong is a piece of Nintendo
history to be sure, but at three levels, it
really is hard to justify paying $5 for.

Don't even bother with Golf. Just
pick up NES Open Tournament Golf instead.

Super Mario Bros. 1-3 are unquestionably classic games and well worth every penny. The same goes for The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. But the likes of Urban Champion, Golf, Tennis and Clu Clu Land? I don't know who in their right mind thought those games were worth shelling out $4.99 for. The gameplay in Tennis and Golf is so shallow and underwhelming that there really is no reason to fork over that kinda cash for such bland sports games. If you want a better NES sports offering, cop Ice Hockey, which is easily worth the $4.99. Games like Urban Champion should be 99 cents, and even then, I think some would argue that the game should sell for less than that. If 99 cents is too low, perhaps $1.99 is more just.

The way Nintendo sells games on the Wii U and 3DS eShop is infinitely better than the method used on the Wii. All games on the Wii's shop channel were purchased with points via a Wii Points Card and all games had set prices. There were no sales so every SNES game that wasn't an import was 800 points, the equivalent of $8. With the eShop, Nintendo can and does occasionally offer sales on games. Sometime after the Wii U launch in 2012, Nintendo was selling Kirby's Adventure for a mere 30 cents. I think $4.99 is a great bargain for one of Kirby's best games, but 30 cents? That's less than pocket change.

Considering what a physical copy costs these
days, $10 for a digital EarthBound is an absolute steal.

Game Boy Advance games have recently been added to the Wii U's eShop library. (Why, just the Wii U and not the 3DS? I'm not sure. Perhaps Nintendo wants those that were part of the 3DS ambassador program not to feel like that got shafted. But considering they got 10 NES and 10 GBA games for the very low price of free, I don't see how they could possibly feel screwed in that regard.) I really have no problems with the price point of GBA games. I automatically assumed they'd have a set price for $9.99, but it turns out GBA games are going for $7.99, same as SNES games and sometimes, they sell for a bit lower. The exception is WarioWare: MegaMicro Game$, which is selling at $6.99, an amazing deal for an amazing game.

The one SNES game that exceeds the $7.99 tag is EarthBound, carrying a $9.99 price. I cannot argue against that because physical copies of EarthBound, just loose ones, will cost you close to a hundred dollars. I have a friend that gave me his copy of EarthBound years ago, complete with the Nintendo Power strategy guide that came with the game. To say that was a huge blessing would be an understatement. EarthBound was one of the most requested games on the Wii's Virtual Console service but it never saw the light of day. Miraculously, the game was released for the Wii U's Virtual Console in 2013, giving many a chance to see what the game is about for a very affordable price.

I guess my main beef with prices on the eShop lies with the earlier NES games. Some of Nintendo's first batch of NES titles, just haven't aged well, or some were turds to begin with. Although it isn't just Nintendo's games. NES Ghosts 'n Goblins is arguably harder than the arcade version so I can't see a reason to price it at $4.99. Will Nintendo budget on NES eShop prices and cut some of the unworthy titles? I'd like to say yes, but deep inside, I know they won't.

Why the Death of Nintendo Would Do Gaming Zero Favors

Nintendo. Innovators. Saviors of the North American video game market. A company that so many want to see go down in flames for reasons I cannot possibly comprehend. Over the course of several console generations, Nintendo has gone from one of the most respected gaming companies to a blight upon the medium that should die a horrific death. Says the throngs of console warrior zealots and Nintendo haters that live in a bubble and cannot see the forest for the freaking trees. The death of the Nintendo, no matter how many want to see it come to pass would spell nothing good for the gaming industry.

I really don't understand the seething hatred gamers bore Nintendo. Just what did this company do to warrant so much spite? Did they key their cars? Raid their refrigerators? Not flush the toilet? Hey, I hate lifting up the seat to find that nasty surprise as much as the next person, but it doesn't make me start calling out for heads on fence posts.

Remember this game? It's pretty much the
reason the North American game market is
still around. 

Let's get he obvious reason for the Nintendo hate parade out of the way: we are no longer in the 16-bit era. Widely remembered as the golden age of gaming, during the early to mid 1990s, Nintendo and SEGA were locked into one of the fiercest console wars the medium has ever seen. SEGA did something every other competitor wished to achieve, but ultimately failed at, dethroning them from their number one spot. The arrival of Sonic the Hedgehog made the Genesis a recognizable console and brought the fight right to Nintendo's front door and the results of that battle were glorious for gamers. Because of the competition Nintendo and SEGA gave each other, many feel that both companies were at their peak. But as the saying goes, all good things must come to and end and as 32-bit gaming tech began to grab the eyes of the gaming masses, the 16-bit era became a memory.

Things change. It's a simple saying, consists of merely two words but it truly is amazing how much weight those words carry. A lot has changed in the Nintendo camp from the 16-bit console generation all the way up to now. One thing that remains the same is that Nintendo still puts out amazing quality hardware and software. A big difference is that Nintendo still has the lackluster third party support that dogged them since the N64 days. True, the Wii U and the last few consoles Nintendo made had third party support but not of the likes that Sony and Microsoft have enjoyed.

Unless you are vehemently against having
a good time, there's no reason you
shouldn't be playing this game.

Because things aren't like "The good old days" countless gamers believe Nintendo is a relic that has long outlived their usefulness and is dying or is already dead. There are a plethora of "Nintendo is Doomed" articles on the net that only serve to fuel the desires of the Nintendo naysayers to see the company perish. Their blinding hate for Nintendo makes it impossible for them to admit three things.

1.) When Nintendo delivers the goods, they really deliver the goods. Super Mario 3D World may not be a revolutionary game, but it is one of the best games I've ever played. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, for all it's frustrating moments is some of the most fun I've had with a 2D platformer.

2.) Nintendo makes handhelds like nobody's business. Right now, the best device to game on is not the PlayStation 4, nor is it the Xbox One. It's not even the Wii U, even though of the three current gen home consoles, it has the best library of games. It's the 3DS. Kid Icarus: Uprising, Shin Megami Tensai IV, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Bravely Default, and so many others. The amount of fantastic games on the 3DS is overwhelming, so much that it can be difficult to keep up with them all.

3.) Gaming would be a far less interesting place without Nintendo. In fact, I dare say it would be flat out bad. The haters will never admit it, because hey, being wrong is the most awful thing in the world.

Some of these gamers that wish Nintendo to die want them to go third party. Why? So they won't have to buy a Nintendo console to play Mario, Zelda, Pikmin and the rest of Nintendo's fabulous brand games, of course. The thing is, these titles wouldn't be nearly as good on a system not manufactured by Nintendo. Nintendo knows the ins and outs of their hardware like no one else. Do you honestly believe a game like Super Mario 64 would have worked on the PlayStation?

"The Game Pad sucks because it isn't
like a normal controller!" Says all those
that cannot step out of their comfort zone.

Nintendo is solely a video game company. Going third party would net them less cash than having their own hardware. This nonsense that Nintendo should drop the Wii U and start fresh is just that, nonsense. SEGA pulled the plug on three of their consoles and it's what got them where they are today. Nintendo giving the Wii U the axe would do irreparable damage to the company and spit in the faces of those that bought the system.

Let's take a look back on what Nintendo has given to the industry.

The control pad. That thing on every single controller today that greatly changed the way we play video games. This invention came from Nintendo. The Wavebird controller for the GameCube. Yeah, we had wireless controls before, but they all sucked. The Wavebird made wireless controls work and this was carried over with the Wii. Wireless controls in gaming are now a big thing. With the Wii U Game Pad, we can play HD games on our controller while someone else watches TV. On top of that, you can be a respectable distance away from the console and still play. Yeah, the Game Pad is bigger than just about every other controller out there, but it's vastly different from anything Sony and Microsoft has offered.

What am I getting at? Nintendo is still an innovative company. Gamers like to bemoan Nintendo for not doing things the way Sony and Microsoft do, but what's the point of having three consoles that are so similar? The PS3 and 360 being so alike meant fewer exclusives to each respective console. The Wii may have been inferior from a technical standpoint, but it easily had the best exclusives of the three. Nintendo has arguably done more for gaming than any other company. Their death would mean no more awesome handhelds and less innovative products. With each new Mario and Zelda title, Nintendo is often ridiculed for rehashing yet when they do try something different, they still catch heat.

Is Nintendo perfect? Not by a long shot. Their online strategy could use a lot of work and in many ways, they are behind the times. Having said that, they are a dinosaur that has done a lot of good in the world of gaming and I firmly believe they will continue to be an innovative force as long as they are around. Anyone that believes the industry would be better off if Nintendo kicked the bucket is living in a fool's paradise.

Top 5 Nintendo Controllers

Many would like to dispute the relevance of the Big N in the gaming industry these days but for all the company's faults, I think Nintendo will always have a place in gaming. Skeptics like to criticize Nintendo but the thing is, much of Nintendo's competition often takes notes from them and we've seen this all too often in the form of the various controllers Nintendo has conceived. Nintendo has graced us with six different home consoles since they've been in the business and having spent quality time with five of them, I've decided to lay out my top five Nintendo Controllers.

05. NES Controller - Nintendo Entertainment System

The NES was my very first game console and as such, I spent countless hours with the rectangular device glued to my hands. Much as I adored the NES and this piece of plastic, long hours of playtime lead to some hand cramps due to the controller's edges. Unlike the Famicom Controller, the NES Controller lacks the more rounder, softer edges.

But enough about the negatives. On the plus side, the NES Controller is a heck of a lot easier on the eyes when compared to the Famicon Controller's coloring. The design of the NES Controller is probably the most simplistic of anything controller Nintendo has ever made, but at the time and one could even argue that even today, keeping things simple, control wise, really is for the best. Nintendo was trying to convince American gamers that gaming was not dead and the last thing they needed getting in their way was some super complex controller. Those bright red A and B buttons below the Nintendo logo, a sizable control pad, that was invented on Nintendo's Game & Watch handheld devices, and the start and select buttons were all gamers needed to play with power.

Looking back, I'm amazed that so many games on the NES played as well as they did with such a barebones-looking controller. We got a lot done with just A and B. With Mario we could run and jump, with Mega Man we jumped and shot, with Simon Belmont, we jumped and whipped. The buttons were also highly responsive as well. After all these years, I still own the two NES Controllers that came with my NES that my dad bought me for Christmas in 1993 and none of the buttons feel worn down or stick.

The NES Controller is also probably the most iconic controller design in the history of the medium. How many other controller designs have you seen on t-shirts, belt buckles, coffee mugs and countless other things outside of gaming?

04. N64 Controller - Nintendo 64

Nintendo often gets accused of never doing anything different. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link was a radical departure from the first game. It was also a lot tougher and the gaming community cried salty, salty tears because of this. They also shook things up with the design of the N64 Controller, which bared little resemblance to the company's previous controllers. Reactions to this controller were similar to those of Zelda II. I'm starting to see why Nintendo seldom switches things up.

OK, so outcry towards this controller wasn't completely unfounded. The C buttons may have been too small for their own good and ultimately made fighting games on the N64 a no-go. Then there's the design itself. I mean, just look at it. Thing looks like an upside down pitch fork.

But don't let the odd appearance fool you. Despite what it may seem, I've actually found great comfort in holding the N64 Controller for hours at a time, something I cannot say for the NES Controller. The analog stick in the center made playing 3D games like Super Mario 64 and the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time a breeze. No longer did I need to hold a button with the left or right directional pad to make Mario run. Applying a full tilt of the analog stick in any direction of my choosing sent the plumber sprinting off in the desired path.

This baby is what mad analog controls popular. Sony was hyping the PlayStation to hell and back with it's 3D games, yet for all the promotion of such, the PS Controller lacked a proper method for 3D movement. This wouldn't get corrected until 1998 with the release of the DualShock, almost 3 years after the PS was released. Even SEGA arrived with an analog solution for the Saturn after seeing the N64 Controller, but like Sony, this was years after they system was already on the shelves. Nintendo knew moving in 3D games was going to be a very big deal and unlike their competitors, they made analog control standard for their controller right from the start.

The N64 Controller also had a big open slot underneath it which could be used to insert memory paks for saving data or the Rumble Pack, arguably the more important use of the N64 Controller slot. In inserting the Rumble Pack, gamers could receive force feedback in the form of rumble, depending on the game. This is now a standard feature in all controllers.

03. Wavebird Controller - GameCube

This may be cheating a bit since the Wavebird didn't come with the GameCube, but this puppy is such a monumental step up from the original device. The Wavebird eclipses the standard GCN Controller so easily that I feel it would be disrespectful not to include it here.

The original GCN is a highly durable piece of plastic and even though it may look strange, it's very comfortable to hold. At first glance, the Wavebird may seem like a bulkier version of the GC Controller. The main thing this baby has over the standard controller is that it's wireless. I don't think Nintendo was the first to come up with wireless controls, but they sure did make it a thing. With the Wavebird, you could be up to 30 feet away from your TV and still play your game. Yes, this means you could even have business in the bathroom and still fight Molgera in Wind Waker and trying to complete Event 51 in Melee. You know, that is, if that's your thing.

It runs on two double A batteries that should last you a long while provided you get a good brand. If you can track down a Wavebird, definitively pick one up. It's great for playing GCN games and N64 games via the Wii.

02. Wii Remote - Wii

This is a very welcoming controller. It has fewer buttons than most controllers and it functions like a TV remote. You can even use it to turn on the Wii, giving us yet another reason to be lazy. While many like to bemoan the use of motion controls (you know, people dreading that whole "change" thing), they were essential in helping Nintendo sell the Wii and bringing in a lot of outsiders to the world of gaming. With the Wii Remote, throwing a bowling ball was handled in the same manner as if throwing an actual ball, except without the weight. Swinging a baseball bat was also done in the same method of swinging a real bat. Playing first person shooters and rail shooters was changed so drastically with the Wii Remote that playing a FPS without pointing at the screen felt bland.

The Wii Remote could also be turned to the side to work like a NES Controller, which was great for the the NES titles that would hit the Wii's Virtual Console service. Thanks to this baby, I almost never had to fire up the NES to get my classic Mega Man, Castlevania and Super Mario Bros. fix. Did I also mention that the Wii Remote is wireless? Occasionally, you'll have to plug in the Nun-chuck but even then, that just plugs in to the Wii Remote itself so you can still stit a respectable distance from the TV.

Any complaints I have against the Wii Remote would be that the 1 and 2 buttons are a little too small for my liking and the control pad, much like the GCN's controller pad is also on the diminuative side. But the pros far outweigh the cons. The Wii Remote looks sleek, it can take abuse, it's wireless and no jagged edges means lots of comfy hours of gaming. Smart move on Nintendo's part making this baby backwards compatible with the Wii U because I was not ready to put her down.

01. SNES Controller - Super Nintendo Entertainment System 

If you've read this far, you could probably guess that is was going to be my number once choice. In so many ways, the SNES Controller is the perfect device for gaming. Don't believe me? Let me enlighten you.

Forsaking the rectangular design of the NES Controller, the SNES Controller sports curvy edges, allowing for a nice, comfortable grip. The control pad isn't near as stiff as the NES Controller and in addition to the A and B buttons are X and Y buttons. Not only are the X and Y buttons a litgher color of purple than the A and B buttons, but they look and feel noticeably different from them, despite being the same size. This four face button setup on the SNES Controller gives it an almost arcade-like quality. In fact the SNES had some pretty successful arcade ports like Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat II. The addition of the L and R shoulder triggers made the SNES controller excellent for fighting games. Capcom put those buttons to good use by allowing X to switch his weapon set in Mega Man X, a feature that would later be brought over in Mega Man 7, 8 and 10.

You cannot tell me Sony was not influenced by the SNES Controller when they made their PS Controller. The four face buttons, the placement of the Start and Select buttons, the L1, L2, R1, and R2, buttons You could even argue that the PS Controller was so successful because it took inspiration from this controller. The reasons I love the Classic Controller and Classic Controller Pro on the Wii is because they make me feel like I'm using an SNES Controller.

The SNES Controller may not have been wireless, and it certainly didn't have analog control or rumble. But it did give is shoulder buttons, two extra face buttons, an exceptional control pad, and quite possibly the best in-hand comfort I've ever felt from plastic. The fact that it was extremely light in weight was also a huge plus.

How Nintendo Can Improve Club Nintendo

About a year ago I became a member of Club Nintendo. The promise of obtaining goodies by registering games intrigued me. Since I had so many products to register I quickly built sizable amount of coins, most of which went towards digital games on my Wii, because, well, most of the other rewards just didn't appeal to me. Over time I had come to the realization that so many others had: Club Nintendo members outside of Japan are getting royally shafted.

When Nintendo released the NES, they not only created legions of gamers, they turned them on to a new form of music: video game music. Unlike Square Enix and a plethora of other companies, Nintendo very rarely releases any of it's music. They don't think there's much profit to be made from it so most soundtrack releases are regulated to Club Nintendo members. In Japan, that is. Club Nintendo members that live in the land of the rising sun have been treated to such wonderful soundtracks like Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Galaxy 2, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD and more recently, the beyond excellent Super Mario 3D World.

Every now and then Nintendo will throw us a bone on their soundtracks when it comes to gold and platinum yearly rewards. One of the rewards for obtaining gold/platinum status last year was a two disc re-release of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask soundtrack, which has been out of print for over a decade. This was a great reward for gold and platinum members as it gave them a chance to get their hands on a Zelda soundtrack, complete with new packaging. The last time Nintendo offered gamers outside of Japan a Zelda soundtrack was when they released Ocarina of Time 3D, which required you to register the game to so you could get that game's soundtrack and The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword, which contained orchestral arrangements of various Zelda themes.

A few of the soundtracks that were offered
to Club Nintendo members in Japan.

But it isn't just Zelda and Mario soundtracks. Nintendo is sitting on a huge backlog of game soundtracks that have either never been released outside of Japan, did receive a wider release and are out of print, or games that never got a soundtrack release at all. The soundtracks are some of the best rewards a Club Nintendo member could ask for but for reasons I cannot comprehend, these things are denied to members that don't live in Japan. We get bags, pen holders, pouches, but no soundtracks. One of the best ways Club Nintendo could be a whole lot better for members outside of the Land of the Rising Sun is if Nintendo offered their soundtracks to us. Why not re-release the soundtracks to Super Mario 64, Wave Race 64, F-Zero X, F-Zero X Guitar Arrange, Pikmin and Metroid Prime? Why not go even further back and re-release the music from SNES games like Yoshi's Island, Super Mario World, Super Metroid, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past? There's a copious amount of Nintendo soundtracks that could be rewards for Club Nintendo members that the company isn't even touching.

The lack of soundtracks isn't the only thing that bugs me. I've got a huge beef with the shipping for rewards, which, to put it bluntly, is atrocious. In this day and age where mail arrives much quicker, there is no excuse in having to wait months before you get what you ordered. I picked up a poster set as my platinum member rewards and I was informed that they would come in the mail before December 31, 2013. I put my order in for those posters back in August. Why on God's green Earth should it take more than three months to get mail delivered to you?! Even taking into account that I moved to a new complex before November ended, I cannot even begin to fathom why it takes eons for Nintendo to ship something to me. If there's an explanation that Nintendo has for this, I don't care how asinine it may be, someone please tell me. I can understand a week or two, but months? That's not just. Not just at all.

One of the better rewards. You
didn't even have to be in Japan to get it.

There are some nice rewards for those that have been saving up their coins. For gamers that had 1500 coins to burn, a Luigi's Mansion figurine statue was made available for 2013 being The Year of Luigi. The Pikmin Tout bag was also quite nice and not bad for 400 coins. Game & Watch Ball was pretty sweet if only to have a replica of a Game & Watch unit to make you the envy of all your friends. I've actually decided to to start saving up my coins for when the really good stuff comes along.

Overall, I certainly don't think Club Nintendo and the rewards are terrible. They just need to be managed a whole lot better. If the shipping were improved and members outside of Japan were given the option to spend coins on some soundtracks, I think we'd be golden. I don't these desires are totally out of the realm of possibilities.

Nintendo Franchises That Need to Return Part 2

The Big N gets a lot of flack for relying on it's existing IPs. Sure, they could do well to create some new ones, but let's be honest; Nintendo's currently existing IPs are some of the best in gaming. And yet, there are plenty that have been left by the wayside while the bigger names grab all the headlines. This is Part 2 of Nintendo Franchises That Need to Return.

Part 1

Balloon Fight

Balloon Fight (NES)

Call it a Joust clone if you must, but man, it's a really good one. In Balloon Fight, you play as Balloon Fighter, using two balloons to stay float as you flutter across the screen and try to burst the balloons of your enemies while trying to prevent your own balloons from being popped. Once you've let the air of your adversaries' balloons, they'll hit the ground (or the ocean if you popped them over water) and will get a few seconds to make new balloons, but if you punt them off the screen, you can stop them before they become a problem again. It was simple but extremely fun gameplay that was enjoyable alone or with a friend. As if that wasn't enough, there's another mode called Balloon Trip, a survival mode of where you control Balloon Fighter through an auto scrolling level on a single life filled with all electrified walls on a single life. Balloon Fight was short on music, but the jingles were catchy and so was the longest track in the game, Balloon Trip, which played during the mode of the same name and in bonus stages. Balloon Fight was definitely one of the better early NES games.

Balloon Kid (GB)

Years later, Balloon Fight would get a sequel with Balloon Kid on the Game Boy. It may have been on Nintendo's black and white brick, but Balloon Kid changes things up considerably, like serving up a plot. Jim is playing with balloons and has a bunch of them tied to him. All of a sudden, a strong gust of wind picks up and carries Jim off as his sister Alice watches in a panic. Alice takes up her own set of balloons and sets off on an adventure to find Jim. Gone are the single screen levels of the original Balloon Fight and in their place are scrolling stages complete with obstacles and enemies for you to avoid as you make your way to the goal. You'll even encounter a few bosses here and there. Another thing separating Balloon Kid from Balloon Fight is Alice's ability to drop her balloons which is necessary for certain sections in the game like dropping on a few bosses or giving Alice a running start. Balloon Kid also has a Balloon Trip mode that's very much like the one in the NES game. There's much more music in Balloon Kid than there was in Balloon Fight including an awesome arrangement of that catchy Balloon Trip theme from the original Balloon Fight.

Balloon Kid hasn't seen as many re-releases as Balloon Fight, but it has had a few noteworthy ones. In 1992, Balloon Kid was re-branded with the Hello Kitty license and released as Hello Kitty World on the Famicom. Despite some slight graphical changes, Hello Kitty World was still Balloon Kid with Hello Kitty in the place of Alice. Strangely, the original black and white version of Balloon Kid would go unreleased in Japan until 2000 when the game was released as Balloon Fight GB for the Game Boy Color. Not only did this version have a shinny set of colors, but it also had a save feature, which was pretty convenient seeing as how Balloon Kid can be quite difficult. It would have been nice if Nintendo gave us this version of Balloon Kid instead of the colorless one on the 3DS eShop, but a black and white version of Balloon Kid is better than nothing.

Nintendo hasn't completely forgotten about Balloon Fight to the extent that they have other properties. In 2007, Club Nintendo members in Japan could use points to pick up Tingle's Balloon Fight, a remake of the NES game with enhanced graphics and new music and sound effects along with four player support. The original Balloon Fight was also in the game and even if you don't like Tingle (which is basically everyone on the planet) you could still delight in watching that annoying giant fish swallow him whole in the game's opening. In WarioWare: Smooth Moves, one of 9-Volt's microgames was a 3D version of Balloon Trip. A full version of this mini game could be unlocked and it comes complete with a kickin' remix of the Balloon Trip theme. More recently, Balloon Fight was recognized in Nintendo Land as one of the attractions as Balloon Trip Breeze.

Nintendo Land, Balloon Trip Breeze (Wii U)

I'm very grateful for all the re-releases and the references. Heck, I think it's awesome that Balloon Trip got it's own attraction in Nintendo Land when Nintendo could have included something else in place of it. But, I think the Balloon Fight deserves to have it's own games again. I have no problem with a digital version of a new Balloon Fight. An adventure mode like Balloon Kid, a single player experience like the original Balloon Fight with tons of levels and of course, a level editor and an endless mode in the form of Balloon Trip and I will be one very happy camper.

Uniracers

One of my most fondly remembered racing games that didn't star a plumber or anti-gravity cars, Uniracers was proof that you could go insanely fast using only a single wheel and that you can stuff plenty of personality into a humble unicycle. Where most racing games of the time used mode 7, Uniracers was strictly a side scrolling racing affair. The 2D tracks worked greatly in favor of the gameplay mechanics. In order to advance ahead of your rival, you have to perform tricks while in the air. These can range from twisting after a simple jump or combining the twist with a few rolls. The better and longer lasting combination of stunts you successfully pull off, the bigger burst of speed you'll get in return. Tracks are constructed with loops, hills, big jumps and just about everything else you could imagine to give you serious air time to pull of sick tricks.

Along with Mega Man X, Donkey Kong Country and Final Fantasy VI, Uniracers was another reason 1994 was such an amazing year for SNES owners. Sadly, Uniracers saw a limited release of only 300,000 units. DMA Designs, the developer of Uniracers was sued by Pixar because they claimed that Uniracers ripped off their computer generated unicycle from their 1987 computer animated short film, Red's Dream. Unfortunately for DMA and Nintendo, an idiot judge ruled in Pixar's favor and no more than the initial print run of Uniracers carts was ever produced. Nintendo hasn't touched Uniracers since and a Virtual Console release seems unlikely. 

StarTropics

One look at a screen shot of either StarTropics game and you'll more than likely be convinced that these are Zelda clones. That isn't a far off assumption. The StarTropics titles are filled with dungeons, overworld maps, puzzles and lots of exploration just like the Zelda series. But hey, Nintendo made Zelda so, you can't really blame them for ripping themselves off. Besides, for what they are, StarTropics and StarTropics II are some pretty good clones.

StarTropics (NES)

In the original game, you play as Mike Jones, a teenager who's looking for his missing uncle, who in actuality was kidnapped by aliens. Mike defends himself with weapons like a yo-yo and a baseball bat. Some of these weapons can be upgrade, like the yo-yo turning into a morning star, but these upgraded weapons are dependent on Mike's heart count. If his hearts drop to a certain number, the weapon will revert back to what it previously was. The controls are on the stiff side, operating on a grid system. StarTropics may be a Zelda clone, but the controls are far more limited in this game than in the original Legend of Zelda. There's a slight delay in Mike's movements and he cannot move while jumping. Because of Mike's clunky movements, it can take longer than it needs to to get across a room full of tiles. The awkward control scheme can make StarTropics a tough game to get into and the game gets quite punishing later on, but it's still one I recommend giving a try.

Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II fixes many of the control issues that the original game had. Mike can move while jumping and he can walk around dungeons in eight directions instead of four.
Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II was released very late in the NES' life, being one of the last games to hit the system. As such, most attention was on the SNES and Genesis, which could have been factors for the game being overlooked. Even marketing the game with Mega Man 6 and the top loading NES couldn't save StarTropics II from poor sales. But if you're interested, both games can be purchased on the Wii's Virtual Console.

Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II (NES)

Perhaps it's due to the series having so much in common with Zelda that Nintendo sees no reason to revive it. One could argue that Zelda's very existence makes StarTropics unnecessary. But there are still those few differences that separate from Zelda. Breaking the games up into chapters makes it more liner and the weapon system is also unique (I love using the yo-yo). I'm interested in seeing what a developer like Alpha Dream (Mario & Luigi: Dream Team) or Intelligent Systems (Paper Mario: Sticker Star) could do with the adventures of Mike Jones. 

Battle Clash/Metal Combat

Battle Clash (SNES)

Metal Combat: Falcon's Revenge (SNES)

You know what the Super Scope 6 is, don't you? It's that gray bazooka in Super Smash Bros. Melee/Brawl that you pick up and either spam shots or charged up for a more power packed blast. Well, it's also a real life peripheral. I think you can count the number of SNES games that used it on one hand. Yes, the Super Scope was one of those accessories that you used with the game it came packed with, tossed it in your closet and then forgot you ever had the thing. But if there was a reason or two that made the Super Scope worth owning, Battle Clash and it's sequel, Metal Combat were it. Look at the screen shots for both games and tell me you aren't hyped. Both Battle Clash and Metal Combat place you in control of a giant mecha, battling it out with other giant mechas in first person view. The Wii was the perfect console of choice for another entry with these games. The Wii Remote is much more preferable than a big piece of plastic over your shoulder. Talk about a missed opportunity. Well, there's always the Wii U, but I'm not holding my breath.

F-Zero

F-Zero (SNES)

More recognized than any game on this list, if there's one series that's gotten the short end of the stick by Nintendo, it's F-Zero. This franchise has done a lot for the company and to see it go unused is heartbreaking.

Back in the 16-bit console wars when SEGA was waving the Genesis' superior speed in Nintendo's face with blast processing (it meant jack squat), Nintendo had a game that showed gamers and the competition that it was not a slug. Utilizing incredible mode 7 effects and a sense of speed that rivaled that of Sonic the Hedgehog, F-Zero introduced many gamers to the world of futuristic racing on tracks such as Mute City, Big Blue, Sand Ocean and Death Wind.

F-Zero X (N64)

Seven years after the release of the original F-Zero, F-Zero X was released on the N64. F-Zero X certainly wasn't a visually impressive game, but there was a reason for it's simplistic cosmetics. You see, F-Zero X was the first racing game in history to have thirty racers on screen at once and run at 60 frames per second. The jump from 2D to 3D can be rather rocky for a lot of franchises, but in F-Zero's case, it was extremely beneficial. Tracks had hills, loops, corkscrews, half-pipes, and cylinders. The breakneck speed from the original game was intensified even further and you could even attack the competition to eliminate them from races.

F-Zero GX (GCN)

F-Zero: Maximum Velocity was a return to the series mode 7 roots and while it was a fun racer, the next big entry wouldn't come until F-Zero GX hit the GameCube in 2003. One of Nintendo's biggest supporters once SEGA went third party was none other than SEGA themselves. F-Zero GX was developed by one of SEGA's second parties, Amusement Vision, the same company that makes the Super Monkey Ball titles. F-Zero GX is a gorgeous game even by today's standards and has a phenomenal techo/rock soundtrack. It also has a difficulty that is 100% unapologetic in everything cruel thing that it does to you, whether you're playing Story mode or Gran Prix mode. Yet, for as much as it seems like GX hates the player and all of humanity, fandom looks back on it as the crowning achievement of the F-Zero legacy. I can't help but agree.

It's been nine years since we last saw an F-Zero game. F-Zero GX bombed at retail and the last F-Zero title to see a release outside of Japan was F-Zero: GP Legend on the GBA with F-Zero: Climax being exclusive to Japan. Those that waited for an F-Zero game on the DS were sorely disappointed and there was nothing on the Wii. The most attention F-Zero has gotten as of late is an attraction in Nintendo Land in the form of Captain Falcon's Twister Race. Maybe Nintendo thinks that due to F-Zero GX not selling well that the demand for a new F-Zero game isn't high. Personally, I want a new F-Zero game more than I want a new entry in the Zelda franchise, or any Nintendo game that I've mentioned in both parts of this feature.

Part 1