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[shaowebb]

Don't get me wrong, I am a Nintendo fan, though I don't love all of their franchises, but if you think about it Nintendo has been making the same games since the 80s. By that I mean games that are steeped in traditional, arcade design. I'd like to see Nintendo challenge themselves & deliver a few new IPs that have compelling narratives & deep gameplay like in The Witcher 3 or Fallout 4. I think it could really help in bringing variety to their current franchises.

You don't actually play nintendo games do you? Ever hear of Xenoblade Chronicles, Zelda or Metroid Prime?

More & more I find myself unable to be grabbed by Nintendo games because most of them lack strong narratives. With Nintendo games, it's pretty much what you see is what you get. Colourful mascot characters collecting bananas & jumping on Goombas just isn't doing it for me anymore. As I'm getting older this stuff gradually appeals to me less & less. I need something that does that little bit more & goes that little bit deeper.

So, what do you think? I think making more games that focus on having strong narratives & a darker or more grounded visual style could really help diversify their offerings. After all, it's said that they make games for everyone, right?

It really really sounds like you're the one not going too deep with Nintendo titles because you pretty much just mention DK and Mario. I really really feel like you don't play much in the Nintendo library if you feel this way. There is a reason that they can self sustain on first party titles alone. They have a lot of stuff. Fire Emblem, Metroid Prime, Xenoblade Chronicles, F Zero, and Zelda are some of their more serious things and that doesn't even paint a fair portrait when you consider the depth in their cuter titles like Splatoon, Pikmin or Pokemon. There is a lot deeper to enjoy in their titles than just collect bananas and jump on Goombas. It seems like their IP's were viewed with blinders on or something to feel otherwise.

 

[neurosyphilis]

Do you own a 3DS or Wii U?

3DS yes, Wii U hell no.

 

[mark_79]

The same happens with every new system. New Uncharted, new Final Fantasy, new HALO, new God of War, new Gran Turismo, new Forza, etc.

I agree. That's why I'm nowhere near as enthusiastic about playing games these days. I don't have a PS4 or XBO. I'll buy the NX though (if its not an out and out handheld) but I'll probably only end up owning two or three games for it.

Games-wise I'd love nothing more than Nintendo to go a bit crazy as Sega did during the DC era.

 

[Summer Haze]

Fallout 4 has a compelling narrative?

 

[OrbitalBeard]

I agree. That's why I'm nowhere near as enthusiastic about playing games these days. I don't have a PS4 or XBO. I'll buy the NX though (if its not an out and out handheld) but I'll probably only end up owning two or three games for it.

Games-wise I'd love nothing more than Nintendo to go a bit crazy as Sega did during the DC era.

I will agree with this. I'm hoping for a lot more "Splatoons" next generation. Meaning, new stuff that really feels like nothing I've played before.

 

[Neff]

I disagree. It had nowhere near the same breadth of software as NES, SNES or N64. If you look at the Wii U's software catalogue, it's very much focused on games for Children or Japanese video game junkies.

It's less of a genre problem, and more of a tonal issue. Visual appeal goes along way, and when very cutesy and or Japanese/anime centric visuals are slapped onto nearly every game you make, your audience is bound to contract.

Compare this to the N64 days and you can see that the Wii U is a very safe platform in terms of software. The only games that I'd say were truly creative were Splatoon and TW101. Now that's not to say Wii U doesn't have fantastic games, but the mix of lack of visual/tonal variety etc. clearly effected Wii U's appeal, outside of the fact it's just a badly thought out product to begin with.

Well it sounds like you're getting at the third party issue, and in that case I'd absolutely agree. Healthy third party content would be a tremendous benefit to Nintendo.

Nintendo's own software though? They're as diverse as ever. The only thing they're lacking is their N64 era flirtation with sports, an avenue which has subsequently been utterly dominated by the likes of EA.

 

[Jonneh3003]

From the "Why hasn't Mario Kart added a story mode?" thread:

'Mario let's have a race'

'it's a ok'

'hey we wanna race too'

'mamma mía, what a race it shall be'

And so they raced

No one wants a deep story in a Mario or DK game, Tropical Freeze nailed it with a high quality CG cut scene setting the tone and premise, thats all needed. Other Nintendo games do have stories like Xenoblade and Zelda which can be very deep and varied. Metroid Prime is a little like Bloodborne where a lot of the story is told through enviornment and lore but with a direct story being told too.

 

[JCX]

I feel like this thread is from 2005. Could be from any post SNES era really.

 

[Nanashrew]

TBH, I like that Pikmin exists and still gets made. I only got into the series this gen and have enjoyed it immensely. There's no game like it in the world.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

TBH, I like that Pikmin exists and still gets made. I only got into the series this gen and have enjoyed it immensely. There's no game like it in the world.

It's definitely a great franchise and 3 is the best one yet. Looking forward to Pikmin 4.

 

[Herbspiceguy]

This is silly. If they don't make these kinds of games then they can't build a market for said games on their platforms. It's not up to 3rd parties to do that, especially with how Nintendo has handled them in the past. They should absolutely be trying to invest in creating such software, as they did in the pre-Wii era. I think some of your forget how good their output during the N64 days was. A lot of it was thanks to Rare, admittedly, but there's no reason why they shouldn't be investing in western studios to make more diverse content. People talk about Nintendo's warchest but their software continues to be some of the most safe and conservative I've seen in years.

That's what I'm suggesting in the rest of my post.
What I meant is I don't see Nintendo's internal studios successfully pulling off a game like Witcher 3 or Fallout 4, so they shouldn't burn their fingers on that. They simply lack the expertise.

 

[packy34]

Sucks for them, because those studios dont release enough platformers, kart racers and Trading Card games for me.



See? That sounds really dumb doesn't it? It should, because different studios are different. Let Rockstar create their games without bothering them about why they don't make enough brightly colored mascot driven platformers for the little tykes. They don't need to cover the entire spectrum of gamings various genres; it's fine to be good at something and let the market cover other areas.

I literally only ever see Nintendo held to this absurd standard; where somehow they are expected to do every type of game ever. It's unrealistic, No studio has ever done it, and none ever will. Go buy a PS4/One/PC and join the rest of us that have figured this out.

Seriously.

Not sure why you decided to direct this reply at me since that's not the assertion I was making at all. I was replying to someone who downplayed the gameplay in F4 and W3, nothing more.

 

[Jonneh3003]

3DS yes, Wii U hell no.

Can you really be so negative to something you don't have?

 

[Always-honest]

pfff.... no.

 

[Fantastapotamus]

64 are the worst and don't represent where the 3D series is at now.

whatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhat

 

[Captain Europe]

From the "Why hasn't Mario Kart added a story mode?" thread:



No one wants a deep story in a Mario or DK game, Tropical Freeze nailed it with a high quality CG cut scene setting the tone and premise, thats all needed. Other Nintendo games do have stories like Xenoblade and Zelda which can be very deep and varied. Metroid Prime is a little like Bloodborne where a lot of the story is told through enviornment and lore but with a direct story being told too.

I'd love a little more story in Mario games actually, something like Mario Galaxy, nothing crazy. Something about that game just feels magical.

 

[Ansatz]

3DS yes, Wii U hell no.

I suppose it's not Mario Kart 7, Super Smash Bros. for 3DS, New Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario 3D Land and Yoshi's New Island you're playing on 3DS then, because the console equivalents are significantly better. I can't see how someone who is a fan of core Nintendo 1st party franchises think 3DS is a yes and Wii U is a hell no.

 

[wildfire]

The first barrage of no posts are annoying but I generally agree with them.

I wonder what the OP thinks of Square Enix and Final Fantasy. If he thinks they have been making the same game since the 3rd that tells me all I need to know about how knowledgeable he is about videogames in general.

 

[Jonneh3003]

I'd love a little more story in Mario games actually, something like Mario Galaxy, nothing crazy. Something about that game just feels magical.

I'd put Galaxy in the same category as Tropical Freeze. Theres a cool cut scene at the start of the game that does a great job of motivating the player and then it lets the gameplay do the talking for the remainder of the game.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

I'd put Galaxy in the same category as Tropical Freeze. Theres a cool cut scene at the start of the game that does a great job of motivating the player and then it lets the gameplay do the talking for the remainder of the game.

There's also the library that had a neat story that was completely optional for the player. I'd think something like that in a future Mario game would be nice.

 

[I Wanna Be The Guy]

3DS yes, Wii U hell no.

I firmly believe that Nintendo's first party output on Wii U has been fantastic and far better than the competition. Wii U does not deserve a hell no.

Spoiler

Also I think the 3DS library is fucking dire. Wii U destroys it.

 

[Richie]

I'd put Galaxy in the same category as Tropical Freeze. Theres a cool cut scene at the start of the game that does a great job of motivating the player and then it lets the gameplay do the talking for the remainder of the game.

I believe Art may be referencing Rosalina's story. Which Koizumi had to sneak into the game behind Miyamoto's back. Bless Koizumi.

 

[Nanashrew]

A type of lite career mode in MK series might be interesting since they do seem to be doing stuff with stats. It doesn't really have to go into any story, just offer more single player content and multiplayer content. Mission mode from MKDS is still among the best in the series too.

 

[neurosyphilis]

Can you really be so negative to something you don't have?

You don't need to own a Wii U to know how it's probably one of, if not the most flawed console of all time. It's just not worth the poposterus asking price Nintendo wants for it to me. $50 more I can have a Xbox One or PS4. Not to mention the insane rates Nintendo charges for its games.

 

[MrBadger]

Why does the entire industry have to make the same stuff? The reason why I tend to gravitate towards Nintendo is because their games are evolutions of the traditional gameplay styles I like.

There are plenty of places where I can get big open world games where the gameplay takes a back seat to just how impressively big the world is, featuring celebrities doing the voices or whatever. But I like Nintendo.

Also why does everything have to be a new IP? When Nintendo eventually release their repeatedly delayed take on the open world genre, will that not count because it stars Link?

I feel like this thread is from 2005. Could be from any post SNES era really.

Nintendo is for babbies. Their version of Mortal Kombat doesn't even have blood and Mario isn't nearly as cool as Sonic

 

[Captain Europe]

whatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhat

As in, the worst of the 3D Mario series . Great game on its own though

I'd put Galaxy in the same category as Tropical Freeze. Theres a cool cut scene at the start of the game that does a great job of motivating the player and then it lets the gameplay do the talking for the remainder of the game.

I really enjoyed Rosalina's story as well, I wonder when they'll make another character that joins the main cast.

 

[Orniletter]

Dumbest thread of the month.

Yeah, I loved those open world JRPGs and online shooters in the 80s (I wasn't even born then, but still)

 

[Richie]

You don't need to own a Wii U to know how it's probably one of, if not the most flawed console of all time.

Ya talking hardware, sales, marketing? 'Cause we're discussing games here.

If the Wii U's library is the worst videogamedom has ever offered, man is this medium superb.

 

[Spieler Eins]

Only on WiiU they lack the variety you describe.

 

[eXistor]

Witcher 3 and Fallout 4 have deep gameplay? I love the Witcher 3, but deep it is not. No, Nintendo should do what Nintendo does best: make the best damn games there are (when they want to). I really don't want deep narratives in my Nintendo games (although the Mother series exists of ocurse), I play their games for the gameplay and their deep understanding of the medium, something most other developers don't really get.

 

[Bl@de]

compelling narratives & deep gameplay [...] Fallout 4.

I'm already out ... Bye

 

[MrBadger]

You don't need to own a Wii U to know how it's probably one of, if not the most flawed console of all time.

The games are good though

 

[Morfeo]

I'd like to see Nintendo challenge themselves & deliver a few new IPs that have compelling narratives & deep gameplay like in The Witcher 3 or Fallout 4.

Lol, your post was invalidated right here.

Anyways, on your more general point, i kinda agree that Nintendo in general makes the same kind of games that they did in the 80s, that is games that is very gameplay-driven. As opposed to the games you just mentioned and all the rest of the industry, which is all about narrative and presentation. And this is why I love Nintendo and want them to continue making their kind of games - as they are the only ones doing it at that level. If you want to play narrative-driven games there are a ton out there for you, but please dont suggest that the only company (basically) making other kind of games stop doing it just because you no longer care for them.

 

[-MB-]

Only on WiiU they lack the variety you describe.

Says the guy that hates Super Mario 3D World because it was not like your darling Marios 64/Galaxy.

 

[Dremark]

Nintendo releases a few new ip's every year. Big and small. Splatoon, big ip. Dillion, Crashmo/Pullbox, Box Boy. small ip's

They should do more big ones, what they do now largely gets overshadowed by thier back catalog and when they hit gold on something it's a long term asset they can work with for a long time.

I'm not saying there is an issue with continuing to support thier old franchises, I think that's a big part of why people buy Nintendo consoles, but when most of your new stuff is smaller stuff like Pushmo (Great game, not knocking the game itself) you're not making it visable enough to draw people in and you get the sort of stimga you see in the OP.

Also just look at Splatoon, if Nintendo could get another success like that every year or two they'd be doing a lot better.

 

[Majine]

Excuse me, but I find Nintendos approach by designing according to FUN instead of a narrative is what makes them a top tier developer and I wouldn't want it any other way.

They have problems, but this is not one of them.

 

[RPGam3r]

You dont have like everything and no company can cater to everyone. Its not really an issue since there are enough developers out there which focus on narrative drive experiences.

Sure but few companies are as good as Nintendo.

 

[skypunch]

Lol, your post was invalidated right here.

Anyways, on your more general point, i kinda agree that Nintendo in general makes the same kind of games that they did in the 80s, that is games that is very gameplay-driven. As opposed to the games you just mentioned and all the rest of the industry, which is all about narrative and presentation. And this is why I love Nintendo and want them to continue making their kind of games - as they are the only ones doing it at that level. If you want to play narrative-driven games there are a ton out there for you, but please dont suggest that the only company (basically) making other kind of games stop doing it just because you no longer care for them.

Not once in my original post did I say I want them to stop making gameplay-driven video games.

 

[TrueBlue]

Super Mario Galaxy is an excellent example of a narrative that frames everything up and theb just lets you get on with. If you want to read the Storybook, you can - it's completely unintrusive.

It helps the Storybook itself is well written and charming.

 

[skypunch]

Excuse me, but I find Nintendos approach by designing according to FUN instead of a narrative is what makes them a top tier developer and I wouldn't want it any other way.

They have problems, but this is not one of them.

"Fun" isn't exclusive to Nintendo.

 

[Jonneh3003]

You don't need to own a Wii U to know how it's probably one of, if not the most flawed console of all time. It's just not worth the poposterus asking price Nintendo wants for it to me. $50 more I can have a Xbox One or PS4. Not to mention the insane rates Nintendo charges for its games.

You do need to own a Wii U to know the games though which is what this thread is all about.

 

[Bumbletron]

So, what do you think? I think making more games that focus on having strong narratives & a darker or more grounded visual style could really help diversify their offerings. After all, it's said that they make games for everyone, right?

The darker and more grounded visual style would help diversify. But they don't do it often because people would call it grim-dark and treat it like a joke.

Still a bit upset about the reactions to Days of Ruin. It was by far my favorite in the series.

 

[I Wanna Be The Guy]

You don't need to own a Wii U to know how it's probably one of, if not the most flawed console of all time.

It's also one with a bunch of great games. Wii U is in a very similar boat to Vita in this regard. People dismiss it and just assume it's shit without using it when in reality there's a lot of great games there. Admittedly not to the same extent as Vita, but you're still dismissing a system with a bunch of great games for no logical reason.

 

[Majine]

"Fun" isn't exclusive to Nintendo.

Never said that. It's two ways of designing a game. I prefer one of them.

 

[Maxey]

I for one commend Nintendo for still making great Mario games, as opposed to the recent misgivings of a certain blue critter.

 

[Nanashrew]

Their version of Mortal Kombat doesn't even have blood and Mario isn't nearly as cool as Sonic

This was essentially Sonic and all of Sega.

They should do more big ones, what they do now largely gets overshadowed by thier back catalog and when they hit gold on something it's a long term asset they can work with for a long time.

I'm not saying there is an issue with continuing to support thier old franchises, I think that's a big part of why people buy Nintendo consoles, but when most of your new stuff is smaller stuff like Pushmo (Great game, not knocking the game itself) you're not making it visable enough to draw people in and you get the sort of stimga you see in the OP.

Also just look at Splatoon, if Nintendo could get another success like that every year or two they'd be doing a lot better.

I do agree with this. I do feel they need to do more mid-tier games like Splatoon. They do a lot of small-tier games but not enough of the bigger stuff.

 

[Naxat]

Nathan Drake, recognizable? lmao.
Nathan Drake is the most generic possible character ever. You show me a picture of him I couldn't even tell him from the 50 other lookalikes in modern games.

Yes he is generic and boring, but people know him they recognise him, like a movie character and sony promotes him a lot he is one of the faces that makes playstation. If nintendo could create a new character in the same vein with drake would have a new face along with all of their recognizable characters, and if they do it wright it would a good promotion targeting new costumers, those who couldnt link or mario alone grab.

The next question would be if they're actually capable of making a large-scale game in that genre - both in terms of design and resources (since games like those are hugely expensive and would assuredly draw plenty of resources away from other potential projects).

Thats true,i think they can but they will consider the benifits compared to the cost and they won't do it.

Nobody says it would be a bad thing. But it's also not a necessity. I would personally love a more "western" Nintendo game. But if it doesn't happen, so what? I'd also love to see a FromSoftware Sci-Fi game or Warcraft 4.

I agree, this gen i own only the wii u and im realy happy with their output, so yes for my taste i dont think its a necessity but i would like too some western Nintendo games and i think it would help them change a little bit their image.

 

[Spieler Eins]

Says the guy that hates Super Mario 3D World because it was not like your darling Marios 64/Galaxy.

No, I ,,hate" it because it did nothing fundamentally new, unlike the rest of the series. Which has nothing to do with the actual OP anyway. I.e. the lack of variety outside of these samey mascot platformers/minigames is most prevalent on WiiU.

 

[I Wanna Be The Guy]

I for one commend Nintendo for still making great Mario games, as opposed to the recent misgivings of a certain blue critter.

It feels bad that just a few years ago I would have had a good counter post to this.

Well with any luck I'll have one by the end of the year. Fingers crossed.

 

[dampflokfreund]

Only on WiiU they lack the variety you describe.

This. Also their games became more and more kid friendly and dumb.

Paper Mario TTYD/SPM to SS/CS is the best example of this and it isn't the only franchise Nintendo has dumbed down since the past years.

We could wish they would make the same games as in the 90s/early-mid 2000's. Back then their games had depth and were not only about a plumber crushing Goombas