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Editor’s note: John is excited by Nintendo’s return to the 16-bit era through recent games like Muramasa: Demon Blade — enough so to finally purchase a Wii. He’s a little disappointed in Sony and Microsoft for not giving games like Bionic Commando: Rearmed the retail presence he feels they deserve. Is there still a place in triple-A game development for the 2D side-scroller? -Rob
For a long time now, I’ve only supported one gaming platform: the Xbox 360. Microsoft’s system has just been able to fill my more recent gaming needs. I’m an average gamer with moderately diverse tastes — action/adventures, first-person shooters, driving games, and even Japanese role-playing games.
I’d been a PlayStation owner back in the late-1990s but had slipped from Sony’s grasp into the unlikely arms of Microsoft. I fell in love with Xbox exclusives like Halo, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and Ninja Gaiden.
When the time came to join this new generation, I never hesitated to get the Xbox 360 and a copy of Gears of War.
Before you cry “fanboy,” know that my tendencies haven’t always defaulted to Microsoft. Many of my fondest gaming memories reach back into what I consider the halcyon days of Nintendo — the Super NES.
But I really can’t stand the Wii.
I’m not blind to the system’s accomplishments. The Wii offers a unique way for non-gamers to play and provides them with direct results to their actions. Many titles are extremely specialized for mental and physical health while others offer a variety of pick-up-and-play mini game collections. All-in-all, the Wii a very accessible platform to new players.
All of which means I’m completely outside this console’s target audience.
I always feel like I have to qualify my dislike of the Wii. Though I think the system has done and will continue to do wonders for the industry as an accessible ambassador of gaming, the Wii simply doesn’t fill my needs or fit my idea of what a game platform should be. Nintendo’s retreat from the golden era of the SNES felt readily apparent with their latest home console.
Since the end of the 16-bit era, I have become less engrossed and engaged by the games crafted by Nintendo’s iconic mastermind, Shigeru Miyamoto. The Mario series is a good example of how I feel iconic Nintendo titles have drifted in recent years: the creative, deep settings of Super Mario World has given way to “gimmicky” new bite-sized 3D puzzles.
The spark and flair of Super Mario Sunshine’s “blobular” cast has become tepid and as amorphous as the candy-colored Jello townsfolk of Sunshine. And while some would point to games like The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess or Super Smash Bros. Brawl, these are titles I either lost touch and interest with years ago or never identified with in the first place.
In some ways, I feel like Miyamoto shares some things in common with George Lucas. Both are extremely influential, gifted men who have left a lasting impact on their respective industries thanks to their early work. Secure in their later years, they seem to indulge whimsy over depth and connection with previous entries.
If I’m so disenchanted and dissatisfied with Nintendo, why the hell would I want to purchase a Wii? The answer is simple: retro-gaming. The past Nintendo had abandoned is what ultimately saved them in my eyes.
I bought a Wii on the goodwill of one title: New Super Mario Bros. Wii. A couple of worlds into the game, I can tangibly feel childhood memories of myself huddled in front of my parents spare TV as I attempt to beat some ungodly snippet of Super Mario World. The art style — especially in the underworld — strongly resembles a 3D side-scroller homage to its distant predecessor.
Gone is the DS iteration’s game breaking Mega-Mario and in-level power-up box. What remains is something of an evolution that ignores the 3D entries of the franchise. Power-ups uniquely pepper the game with the flavor of previous Mario titles; however, I don’t find myself grasping any of them as iconic as the Raccoon Suit, Frog Suit, or Cape. And though I’m not sure how I feel about two generic Toads, I can find enough here to give some small reconciliation with Nintendo.
I’m also salivating over prospects like Muramasa: Demon Blade. The game looks downright amazing and plays within the confines of the Wii’s power. Team Ninja’s upcoming Metriod: Other M is another title which piques my interest in the Wii.
This is where the strength in the console lies for people like me — the Wii can offer something that Microsoft and Sony can’t or won’t: full support of enhanced 2D sprite or 3D side-scrollers. Sure, games like Bionic Commando: Rearmed and Shadow Complex exist, but they aren’t given the same chance to be showcased as system sellers with a full retail presence. For once, Nintendo’s hands-off attitude toward third-party publishers has led to the reemergence of the beautifully crafted, finely honed 2D experience.
Ironically, in order for me to fall in love with Nintendo again, I have to ignore all the strengths of the platform and latch onto an ancillary feature as my key selling point. A repackaged youth — one of smudged and worn memories so sweetly reworked into a beautiful new beginning.
