Nintendo Games Better Than They Have Any Right To Be

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As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but appreciate the exceptional quality of games that Nintendo consistently delivers. Their innovative approach to gameplay and ability to shatter boundaries makes them a standout in the world of game development. Truly, they set the bar high, often being seen as the epitome of excellence in the gaming industry.

The Super Mario Bros. series is still pushing boundaries in the platformer genre, and the latest release, “Tears of the Kingdom,” represents a remarkable leap in technology that surpasses games running on advanced hardware.

While it’s not the case that every Nintendo game becomes an instant hit, some of them encounter challenges. These may stem from questionable gameplay concepts or simply not striking a chord with players.

These Nintendo games surpass our expectations remarkably. Against all odds, they captured our hearts. Regardless of whether Nintendo created these games in-house or simply published them, their presence has undeniably enriched us.

10. Kirby Air Ride

Shooting Star

Although Kirby had achieved great success with his Dreamland platformer games, his introduction on the GameCube was as a character in a kart-style arcade racing game.

Beyond this, the game’s control system prioritized ease of use and accessibility above all else. Unlike Mario Kart, it wasn’t particularly challenging in terms of skill level, which led some to perceive it as more suitable for a younger audience.

Then, we got a chance to play the City Trial mode, and everything changed.

A fun and exciting way to put it would be: City Trial is a game where organized confusion reigns supreme! The players’ mission involves gathering power-ups, vehicles, and even tracking down mythical components to construct the ideal kart in this high-octane race.

Absolutely, you’re up against a few others here, each with the ability to launch attacks on you and snatch power-ups from your grasp.

9. Star Fox Adventures

Star Fox: Legend of Zelda

The most obvious issue during the development of Star Fox Adventures was that Nintendo essentially took a generic action-adventure game made by Rare, and gave it the Star Fox label.

Originally, the title of the game was “Dinosaur Planet.” It included a playable character named Timber, who hailed from the world of “Diddy Kong Racing.” The style of gameplay resembled that of “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

As time goes by, the character Timber will be swapped out for two new characters: Sabre the wolf and Krystal the fox. Interestingly, Krystal will continue to stay in the game, while Fox McCloud, who is more well-known, will take Sabre’s place.

Although Star Fox Adventures deviates from the usual gameplay style we’re accustomed to in the Star Fox series, it unexpectedly offers a captivating action-adventure experience that, truth be told, outperforms many of the more recent installments within the Star Fox franchise.

8. Mario Party

Blisters on my palms

It’s unclear who requested a Mario-themed board game, but I’d like to express my gratitude to that individual. On the other hand, it would have been nice if we hadn’t experienced those pesky blisters during the production process back then.

Mario Party offers an ideal choice for effortless fun with its pick-up-and-play game mechanics. The game’s structure mimics that of a classic board game, featuring mini-games as interludes during the rounds.

Successfully completing the mini-games awards you coins, which can then be used to purchase stars. The player with the highest number of stars at the end is declared the winner.

In other words, there’s no major breakthrough or fresh concept being presented with the Mario Party series. However, despite its less impressive aspects, it remains enjoyable and fun to play.

Its latest release, the Nintendo Switch’s Super Mario Party: Jamboree, is an absolute blast.

7. Star Fox 64

Ready for duty

Check it out, I’m quite fond of ‘Star Fox 64’. Frankly, I’d be thrilled if Nintendo could revive the series and give it a fresh update. To tell you the truth, there are numerous similarities between this game and the original Star Fox title.

In contrast to the Super Mario series where every new installment brought fresh innovations to the platformer genre, I found that Nintendo took a more familiar approach with Star Fox.

In essence, it’s irrelevant whether we discuss it or not because Star Fox 64 has significantly improved with its enhanced 3D graphics, voice acting, and vibration feature, making it the best rendition of the game available.

Despite its issues like Aquas level and Blue Marine not being great, and the game being quite brief, these imperfections are negligible; Star Fox 64 continues to be an enjoyable experience to play.

6. Wave Race 64

Soak up some sun

I promise I’m not picking on the Nintendo 64; it’s one of my favorite systems of all time.

Wave Race 64 might not be as convincing when it comes to its appeal. At times, it seems more like an advanced demonstration of technology that was expanded into a retail game priced at full value.

Today, it would set off every warning sign. However, back then, it wasn’t an issue as it was a highly polished and engaging technical showcase instead of a full product.

Managing the game’s jet skis is an absolute delight, be it soaring over the ocean’s waves or skillfully navigating sharp turns. The technical prowess required to create a racing jet ski experience is truly astonishing, as its GameCube sequel didn’t quite replicate the same enchantment.

5. Luigi’s Mansion

Spooky time

Launching the GameCube console with Luigi as your main selling point is an incredibly risky move.

In 2001, Luigi’s Mansion didn’t create a massive global impact, but it surpassed expectations remarkably. To start with, its visuals showcased the remarkable potential of the GameCube system.

In second place, the gameplay, which leans more towards action-adventure rather than typical Mario platforming, surpassed many people’s expectations.

While “Luigi’s Mansion” isn’t flawless, it undeniably offers a delightful journey, and it’s more than deserving of the two terrific follow-ups it received.

4. Pokemon Snap

Gotta snap ’em all

Ever since its debut, the Pokemon series has held a significant position within Nintendo’s lineup of franchises. I vividly recall receiving a promotional video cassette (VHS) from Nintendo, which fueled my excitement for the series’ introduction to North America.

It appears they underestimated the appeal of Pokemon; it continues to rank among the top-selling video game series today. Given this success, it was inevitable that spin-offs would emerge, particularly for home consoles. Nevertheless, I’m sure few anticipated a game focusing on photographing Pokemon would gain traction.

In other words, just like with Pokemon Snap, its linear gameplay makes it ideal for capturing images of Pokemon in their natural habitat.

Absolutely! While the game isn’t lengthy and there’s not a lot of interactive elements, just like Star Fox 64, the real charm lies in the challenge of mastering it with each successive playthrough. I can’t wait to get better!

3. Pokemon Conquest

Gotta conquest ’em all

Discussing spin-offs of the Pokemon series, it might seem unusual to argue that a game focusing on classic gameplay wouldn’t be successful. However, this is precisely the case with Pokemon Conquest, a fusion of the Pokemon and Nobunaga’s Ambition universes.

The harmonious blend of Pokemon characters with the strategic mechanics of Nobunaga’s Ambition leaves me wondering if Nintendo might explore similar collaborations further on.

In the gameplay of Pokemon, there’s an inherent strategic aspect in its turn-based battles. It seems quite logical and obvious that this strategic element could be adapted to fit within the turn-based strategy game category – something that we probably should have anticipated earlier.

Nintendo served as the game’s publisher, with Koei Tecmo developing the game for the Nintendo DS.

2. Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem

Deep into that darkness peering

As a dedicated gamer, I can’t help but marvel at the extraordinary success story that is “Eternal Darkness” on the Nintendo GameCube. This game, published by gaming giants Nintendo, managed to stand out amidst the crowd and secure its place as one of the system’s finest titles. Pondering where to begin with this masterpiece… it’s a challenge I gladly accept!

1st Option: Nintendo’s choice to release a highly mature game like Eternal Darkness is notable. This chilling game delves deep into Lovecraftian horror, and I must say it’s one of the scariest games I’ve ever encountered. The Sanity Meter in the game does an impressive job of playing with your mind, sometimes even creating the illusion that it’s deleting your saved progress.

As a passionate admirer, I can’t help but reflect on the unfortunate turn of events that followed Silicon Knights’ parting ways with Nintendo. The excitement surrounding their Xbox 360 exclusive title, “Too Human,” was palpable, but alas, it turned out to be a significant letdown. And to make matters worse, their subsequent project, an action RPG titled “X-Men: Destiny,” fell even shorter of expectations.

It’s clear that, thanks to Nintendo, Eternal Darkness is far better than it had any right to be.

1. Wii Sports

Wii would like to play

Indeed, it’s undeniable that Wii Sports has been a phenomenally popular and successful game throughout history. However, let me share my perspective with you.

The game came out for free when the Nintendo Wii system was launched. While the Wii’s motion-controlled capabilities were initially exciting, opinions varied on their effectiveness.

Wii Sports paid little heed to such considerations. Regardless of the fact that, much like Wave Race 64, it can be seen as an impressive showcase of technology, it effectively functions in this role. In a similar vein to Wave Race 64, it’s a tech demo that delivers.

The game doesn’t require precise, identical movements to real-life sports actions, yet we still managed to mimic the entire experience of playing these sports. In essence, Wii Sports is enjoyable, and that’s what truly counts.

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2025-02-05 21:10