Will Captain Toad save Nintendo from failure?
- Thread starter vulva
- Start date
Well, there have been two new Mario games for the console already, and if you bought a Wii U because you expected a Metroid or F-Zero anytime soon you might as well not have.
And just because the games Nintendo released this year aren't your thing doesn't mean their output is 'average' (well, this year at least, lets not speak of the dark ages). If anyone had a strong year when it comes to quality it has been Nintendo, you don't even need to own one of their systems to acknowledge that.
speculawyer
Member
Captain who?
Captain Toad, says so in the thread title.
dampflokfreund
Banned
I don't get it. When saying Mario its clear what people want: a new adventure 3D Mario in the vein of Sm64,Sunshine and Galaxy. Not a mixture between NSMB and Galaxy.
As Spieler 1 said, just because other consoles have a more shitty output it does not make the Wii U less shitty.
You can easily google that. Please take this thread seriously as I think you'll all be very surprised at the results of Captain Toad saving Christmas this year!
ugh_the_boot
Banned
I think OP is Captain Toad! Go man, i'm behind ya all the way!
Toad Poawaarr!
Toad Poawaarr!
Mihael Mello Keehl
Banned
Thats sad maybe its time for a new hobby for you. Jealousy is bad dude.
Love Deterrence
Member
Came in to post the Jordan on Oprah gif, but this should suffice! I do wish that were the case, OP. But hey, the game looks awesome and that's what matters most.
StreetsAhead
Member
I disagree with the OPs premise (even if Nintendo was on the brink of failure at this point, Captain Toad ain't saving them), but that doesn't stop Captain Toad becoming a success, in terms of profit. Here, you have a project, based primarily on exist assets and engines, that was made within a year. It's hard to imagine that it won't be profitable for them. It also provides an alternative purchase for people who aren't interested in Smash this holiday.
QuixoticNeutral
Member
Captain Toad isn't going to draw any big numbers, but it will be an exceptional test case for whether Nintendo can sustain a profitable line of mid-range, lower-priced, high-quality retail titles that can be turned out quickly and inexpensively without sacrificing the brand's reputation for depth or polish. This is an absolutely vital test case of how sustainable it is for Nintendo to adjust to the reality of first-party titles propping up the system alone.
The question right now is whether there is a viable space for first-party retail games that are more visible than eShop experiments like Pushmo/Pullblox or Dillon's Rolling Western, but smaller than large-scale niche titles like Bayonetta 2 and Xenoblade X and less demanding on development time or manpower. Nintendo's catalogue has incredible depth. With third parties out of the picture, what they need is breadth.
That this is an all respects positioned as a minor filler release should blind nobody to its real importance. eShop originals and indie titles are still by and large treated as second-class in terms of promotion and media coverage. This is an effort to reclaim the disappearing 'AA' middle ground, and it won't be the last. It's probably fine if it sells modestly so long as it isn't burning money.
The question right now is whether there is a viable space for first-party retail games that are more visible than eShop experiments like Pushmo/Pullblox or Dillon's Rolling Western, but smaller than large-scale niche titles like Bayonetta 2 and Xenoblade X and less demanding on development time or manpower. Nintendo's catalogue has incredible depth. With third parties out of the picture, what they need is breadth.
That this is an all respects positioned as a minor filler release should blind nobody to its real importance. eShop originals and indie titles are still by and large treated as second-class in terms of promotion and media coverage. This is an effort to reclaim the disappearing 'AA' middle ground, and it won't be the last. It's probably fine if it sells modestly so long as it isn't burning money.
SphericalCrusher
Member
Nintendo isn't in any risk of failure. Stupid thread.
It's weird to see a Musou game suddenly appear in lists.
awww, welcome to NeoGaf =)
Poimandres
Member
Imagine... that is exactly what you are doing. Sorry OP but this is a fantasy.
The truth is, a puzzle platformer type game doesn't have particularly wide appeal and the game won't sell well at all. It's also unlikely to get rave reviews because apparently the game is fairly short, even considering the price point. As a Wii U owner, by interest in the game is totally lukewarm.
Even if the game was popular with Wii U owners, to be a "runaway success" the Wii U would need to be a runaway success... which it isn't, and never will be. If you truly believe this game has some sort of universal appeal, well, try not to be disappointed when it appears nowhere on the charts.
LegendofLex
Member
While I agree that the 3D Land/World approach comes way too late to be meaningful, I'm guessing Nintendo's mentality looks something like this:
"Wow, even though we spend way more money on 3D Mario to meet its demand for high production values, 2D Mario sells twice as many copies! I guess Mario fans just don't like 3D Mario as much. We won't be able to sustain this level of investment in 3D Mario if this trend continues. Is there anything we can do to make 3D Mario more palatable to the Mario fans who haven't bought the previous ones?"
3D Land/World would have been much more appropriate way back in 96 when there were not expectations for 3D Mario. Now that it's already firmly established as the gold standard for 3D platformer adventures, Nintendo can only hit a smaller audience by pushing the series in a different direction (just like how they lost by pushing the series in a direction that didn't align with the "gold standard for 2D arcade platformers" reputation of the 2D Mario games).
I imagine the mentality behind 3D World's launch in particular was this:
- Release a 2D Mario game at launch
- It sells gangbusters
- Release a 3D Mario game that is designed to cater to the 2D Mario crowd
- It captures the people who bought Wii U for 2D Mario + some 3D Mario fans, since obviously Nintendo perfectly captured everything great about 2D Mario in 3D
sarcasm
- Sleeper hit, since obviously everyone loved the Captain Toad content in 3D World so much that they'd pay $40 for more
- Release full-blown 3D Mario adventure game, subsidized by profits from the previous games (since Galaxy-level production values + added cost of development for Wii U doesn't work out very well economically)
Obviously it's not going to work out that way.
Over the next ~5 months, the consensus will be that, no, Captain Toad did not save Nintendo. Within ~5 years, however, there will be stories explaining how Captain Toad represented a turning point for Nintendo, and how it resulted in a rejuvenation of their business.
Smash U will be forgotten long before Captain Toad.
Smash U will be forgotten long before Captain Toad.
PeakPointMatrix
Member
Absoludacrous
Member
Poe's Law in full effect
Miss.Selfdestruct
Member
this.
Love Deterrence
Member
SmokedMeat
Gamer™
Anticipation?? For...Captain Toad?!!! What anticipation?
If any game is going to do some saving it's Smash Bros. Not Captain Toad. Not Splatoon.
If any game is going to do some saving it's Smash Bros. Not Captain Toad. Not Splatoon.
Although I share your disappointment 3D World was by no means a bad game. In fact, it's absolutely fantastic. That quality doesn't change just because I'd much rather have had a 'true' 3D Mario.
But I can somewhat relate and it's a fair point.
Just because we haven't seen a new Zelda, Metroid or Mario this year doesn't make its output shitty either. Super Smash Bros alone is a system seller to some and that's currently sitting on a Metacritic score of 94. Maybe if you never ever use the console for local multiplayer, but then once again you should end up questioning yourself why you bought a Wii U in the first place (and even then you still got stuff like Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze and Bayonetta 2 this year; both games that could be GOTY-contenders).
'But those are all just rehases and sequels!'. Well, that's what people buy Nintendo consoles for and it pretty much summarizes the entire industry nowadays. Even all you ask for are sequels to your favorite series.
DAREALGUMMY
Member
I don't think Nintendo EVER viewed this game as a top flagship title. Do I think it will be a high rated game with good sales? Yes. Will it sell systems? No.
Always-honest
Banned
Weird thread. But i'm buying the game.
lol yep. The sad ones are the people who are actually taking the thread seriously. lmao
Don't underestimate him/her/it
I'm honestly surprised at some of the posts in here. Not the ones who think that it won't succeed, that's to be expected since obviously everyone has different interpretations of success.
I'm more thinking of the people talking about how this game isn't a system seller, when that wasn't at all the point. I think other than when a proper Zelda game comes out, the majority of the Wii U ownership numbers will level out by the release of Smash. This isn't about selling consoles. This is about one unifying game that will draw together all of the existing Wii U owners to enforce their love for fantastic games and wonderfully original content.
This isn't about increasing console numbers with a budget title. This is about everyone getting together and saying YES! to supporting the Nintendo we all love.
YES! to Captain Toad
YES! to Toadette
YES! to all coming together with one strong title that refines Nintendo down to what we love most: fun, challenge and joy.
This is something that every gamer I'm sure wants, and Nintendo have graciously put it out in a format where everyone can join together regardless of their gaming backgrounds and confidently say "We love video games". Captain Toad seems like the central game to join such a divided community together.
I'm more thinking of the people talking about how this game isn't a system seller, when that wasn't at all the point. I think other than when a proper Zelda game comes out, the majority of the Wii U ownership numbers will level out by the release of Smash. This isn't about selling consoles. This is about one unifying game that will draw together all of the existing Wii U owners to enforce their love for fantastic games and wonderfully original content.
This isn't about increasing console numbers with a budget title. This is about everyone getting together and saying YES! to supporting the Nintendo we all love.
YES! to Captain Toad
YES! to Toadette
YES! to all coming together with one strong title that refines Nintendo down to what we love most: fun, challenge and joy.
This is something that every gamer I'm sure wants, and Nintendo have graciously put it out in a format where everyone can join together regardless of their gaming backgrounds and confidently say "We love video games". Captain Toad seems like the central game to join such a divided community together.
Danny Dudekisser
I paid good money for this Dynex!
Lol, absolutely not.
But I'll be buying it.
But I'll be buying it.
I, uh... what? But this is just a cute little spinoff, why would it...
Ah fuck it, I'll join the craziness.
VIVA LA TOADALUTION!
TheLastCandle
Member
This is Toad's world, you all just live in it.
FantasticMrFoxdie
Mumber
I like shrooms too OP.
rather do that, than ecstasy
rather do that, than ecstasy
Jawmuncher
Member
My honest reaction just reading the title.
I mean it's gonna be good, but a system saver it isn't.
Smash really is the best thing it has this holiday to push sales in terms of holiday releases.
As for the quoted from OP, I don't really get it.
I don't think the game is going to change anyone's mind.