Graphics Don’t Get Worse With Time

I was reading a review for NBA Live 14 back when it launched where the writer described what he considered to be a poorly rendered crowd of fans. His descriptor for this poor representation was “[t]he crowd looks PS3-ish”. It was a pretty odd choice of words, considering that PS4 and Xbox One were barley out of their boxes. at that point. Clearly, by comparison there are some notably big differences between last-gen’s systems and today’s current boxes, but when I look at my PS3 and 360 games, I still see some beautiful, intricate graphics. I also feel the same way about GameCube, PSOne, Nintendo 64, SNES, Genesis, NES, and every other system’s graphics that has ever come out. What was good will always be good, so long as a person knows how to appreciate what’s on the screen in front of them.

The easiest way to think about this is remembering that when any system is in its prime, there are good looking games, and bad looking ones. No console has uniformly spectacular graphics across the spectrum of its titles. Twilight Princess on Wii looked a thousand times better than M&Ms Racing, for example. Particular titles represent the pinnacle of what can be achieved graphically on a console. Yet, the vast majority of video game journalists and critics are quick to dismiss what came before because of how shiny and new the graphics look on the latest generation of consoles. To say that game A doesn’t look good anymore because game B came along on the new system is a ridiculous oversimplification.

Video games suffer from this mindset in particular because of the industry’s ties to technology. Tech moves forward, always, with the idea to make the next new device far more advanced and better than the old. This leads people to categorize what’s old as inferior or lacking, which is totally unfair. Other mediums of art and entertainment embrace what came before. No one is slamming cave paintings or Jane Eyre in their respective communities, yet with video games there’s always some upstart ready to come along and say how a particular classic game isn’t all it’s made out to be.

Ocarina of Time is still every bit as nuanced and visually fascinating as it was in 1998. The vivid pinks of the sky as it transitioned to night, the serenity of the Forest Temple, the frightful depths of the Bottom of the Well, and a hundred other locations and experiences are timeless examples of what Nintendo 64 was capable of. The reason being that within the confines of the limitations of that hardware, Ocarina remains a work of brilliance. There were a hundred Superman 64s, but Ocarina was in a class of its own. Saying Ocarina is ugly now demonstrates a complete and utter lack of appreciation for what made the game so beloved to begin with.

Classic games shouldn’t only be playable if they’ve been upscaled to HD or completely remade. These games resonated with players for a reason when they first launched, and there’s no reason someone shouldn’t be just as absorbed playing them today. So go and bask in the waters of Wave Race 64, feel the rush of air as you swoop through the skies in Ratchet & Clank, and feel the chill of the snow in Metal Gear Solid. The good games will always be beautiful, because art never goes bad.

Super Smash Bros. Direct 04/08/14

Well, that was different. An entire Nintendo Direct broadcast dedicated to the upcoming Super Smash Bros. games on Wii U and 3DS. There’s a lot of information to go over today, so let’s get to it!

Release Windows

In a surprise move, Nintendo is not going to release the Wii U and 3DS versions of Smash simultaneously. Smash on 3DS is slated for a Summer 2014 release, while Smash Wii U is now set for Fall 2014. I suppose it only makes sense to let each game have its own time in the spotlights, especially considering the seeming quality of both.

Smash and Run

Further legitimizing the 3DS version of Smash was today’s announcement of the handheld-only Smash and Run online mode. In Smash and Run, players barrel through a dungeon populated with random enemies, collecting powerups to enhance their character. These dungeon crawls last only five minutes, after which all upgrades to the player’s character carryover into a Free For All bout. Cool!

Online

Sakurai noted the limitations of online face by Nintendo when Brawl came out on Wii, emphasizing that things will be different this time around. It was unceremoniously hinted at that players should do their best to have a speedy internet connection, even going so far as to recommend players buy a wired internet adapter for their Wii Us. While just about every online game is better with a good internet connection, it was still an… interesting thing to point out. I’m nervous.

The footage of online play looked good, though, and with Nintendo set to eliminate DS and Wii online play in short order, here’s hoping the extra server space will serve to boost both Smash and Mario Kart 8. As far as actual modes go, Sakurai and company have opted for something called For Glory and For Fun. For Glory is meant for true competitors, with no items and matches occurring only on Final Destination-versions of the bulk of each of the games’ stages. For Glory also keeps track of players wins and losses. For Fun is exactly what it sounds like; traditional stages and items, with only players’ wins counted. Whichever crowd a player gravitates towards, they’re sure to be satiated with this setup!

Taking it a step further, online behavior will be monitored, with bans put in place for disruptive players (that includes tattling on players not doing anything wrong). Unfortunately, there won’t be true leaderboards, but there will be something called Global Smash Power, which ranks how many other people the player has outscored in solo player modes. Interesting, but I’d still like to know where I stack up online. At any rate, Sakurai and Nintendo have clearly put a lot of thought into this new online setup, so hopefully it pays off for players, in the end.

Characters

Individual fighter transformations are now out, meaning characters like Zelda and Samus, who could become Sheik or Zero Suit Samus, respectively, can no longer do so. Instead, these alter-egos have become their own, separate fighters. This has resulted in some balancing tweaks, as Zero Suite Samus, for instance, was intentionally weaker than armored Samus in Brawl. Now her own character, the developers had to augment her to be competitive with the other fighters.

Officially announced as players on the roster were Zero Suit Samus, Sheik, Yoshi (big surprise), and two, new Pokemon; Greninja and Charizard! Charizard seems to have replaced the Pokemon Trainer along with Squirtle and Ivysaur, but with three other Pokemon playable, it probably would have been overkill to make the other two their own characters. Who knows, E3 is still coming, but these seem to be the Pokemon we’ll be brawling with!

That brings to a close all the news fit to print on today’s Smash Bros. Direct! A tad underwhelming, but overall I was very pleased to learn so much more about the new Smash Bros. games. I’m sure Nintendo will have more to say leading up to the impending launch of both (I will eat my watch if Nintendo doesn’t include a Namco character), but in the meantime, enjoy this glimpse by watching the actual video from today’s broadcast. There’s some more tidbits about frame rates, stages, and trophies that I didn’t touch on here, so it’s worth a look. Until next time, dear readers!

The Games That Make You Think

I’ll never forget the end of Super Mario RPG, when, with their mission done, Geno ascends back into the sky and leaves his friends down below. After all the hours invested playing, it didn’t occur to me that at the end Geno, who’s only goal was to restore Star Road, would have to go home. I was a kid, and I gravitated towards titles that featured characters I liked more than how “good” they were. Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI, EarthBound, all those SNES titles that so many people were enjoying at the time were lost on me, because I didn’t know any better. As a result, for all intents and purposes, Mario RPG was the first true RPG I ever played. I spent the whole time laughing at the oddball characters, soaking in the graphics, and tapping my toes to the excellent soundtrack. When it finally ended, though, I just wasn’t ready to let go; I believed it wasn’t right that my reward for beating the game was to lose a friend.

Deep narratives aren’t uncommon in video games, but not all of them resonate the same way for different people. Whereas some will site the twist at the end of the first BioShock as their favorite moment in gaming, others might say that triumphing over the Elite Four in Pokemon Diamond left them breathless. It sounds weird, but really, it’s the player’s attachment to any given title that makes the experience special. Take Super Mario Galaxy, for example. When Mario’s little Luma buddy throws himself into that vortex at the end, I’m crushed every time. I might have saved the day, but ultimately all I cared about was that the Luma was by my side, then he wasn’t. That was twice in my life that a Mario game made me think about loss, and each time was potent.

It’s an incredible thing to have a game connect with a player beyond just having fun. There’s a certain amount of escapism to video games, but I know that when I’m playing, for me there’s a lot more it it; I’m soaking in everything that’s on the screen in front of me. The design of the characters, the worlds, the sound of the music, the story, all of it is being absorbed by my brain. I’ve seen and done things that left me in awe in all my time gaming. I count leaving behind poor, brave Makar to guard the Earth Temple in Wind Waker right up there with watching Atticus Finch defend Tom Robinson in To Kill A Mockingbird. Pushing forward relentlessly to find the source of the pillar of light in Journey resonates as strongly to me as Gatsby reaching futilely towards the green light across the water in The Great Gatsby. The themes and tropes video games explore are just as compelling as the written word or projected film.

It’s important to recognize the depth of emotions and feelings that people have experienced in video games, because then it becomes easier to validate the industry outside of its own community. Twitch is great, or posting videos of playthroughs on YouTube, but it’s also integral that gamers move past the pure, visceral aspects of gameplay and take a deeper look at what these games mean, the stuff that lies under the surface. We’ve had enough talk of head shots and hidden rooms; it’s time to start saying what it all means. Think of when players saw Aerith die for the first time in Final Fantasy VII; thousands of people across the world were convinced that they did something wrong. PlayStations were reset, shutdown, or unplugged from sockets as a response, with some folks going so far as to even restart their entire playthrough. That’s an incredible moment in storytelling, let alone the industry, that only people who play games have any inkling of, and as time progresses it’s a memory that fades. Let’s do our best to recall and catalogue these experiences so that the legacy of gaming is more than negative news reports and congressional debates.

The Video Game Comics You Need to Read

I finally told my local comic shop to cut Ultimate Spider-Man from my pull list. Ultimate Spider-Man, for you staunch gamers not in the know, is an alternate universe take on Spider-Man that has evolved over the years since its inception to now feature a half Puerto Rican, half black young man named Miles Morales under the webs. Miles is freaking awesome, and I’ve been with the book through thick and thin for years now, but the latest impending relaunch, along with some other nauseating changes to the line, have finally prompted me to cut ties. As a result, I started reevaluating everything on my pull list of comics, and came to realize that some of my favorite comics on the stands today are Archie Comics’ three video game-based series, Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic Universe, and Mega Man.

Yes, for those of you in the know, I’m still picking up must-haves like Batman (and I’m digging Superior Spider-Man, naysayers!), but in all honesty, the most fun and freshness are coming from these three series. As I’ve been going through my back log of comics as of late, it got me thinking about the various video game comics that have come out or are still being published that really deserve more love. Here are the top five video game-based comics you should track down and read!

5) The Legend of Zelda Manga

Publisher: VIZ Media

Nintendo might be reluctant to return to TV and movies when it comes to its core franchises, but one area that the company has been more outgoing with is comics. The line of Zelda manga translated and published here in the US by VIZ Media (under its VizKids imprint) feature very fun, energetic retellings/reinterpretations of the stories from the games. What makes them special is the combination of intricate, beautiful artwork and little story details not present in the games. Some might be pickier about pulling the stories straight from the source material, but I’ve always found some of the small alterations to be welcome injections of personality that only serve to expand and enrich the Zelda mythology. There are ten volumes in total, with a very handsome collector’s edition out there that bundles them all together. Easily worth a read for fans of the series.

4) Kingdom Hearts Manga

Publisher: Yen Press

Originally published by Tokyopop, the Kingdom Hearts manga are very handsome recreations of Sora’s epic games. Fans will be blown away by the stunning artwork, and the story is just as engaging/maddening on the page as it is on a TV screen. To date, there are volumes based on KH, KH II, KH: Chain of Memories, and KH: 358/2 Days available to read. Keep in mind, Tokyopop lost the rights to publish the manga and it went away for years before Yen Press came along, so it’d be best to add this to your collection sooner, rather than later!

3) Street Fighter Comics/Manga

Publisher: Udon Entertainment

The fine folks at Udon are responsible for some of the most robust and comprehensive video game art books to ever be published here in the West, so it’s only fitting that they’d put out some excellent comics, too. The publisher has translated some of the more beloved Japanese manga stories and also produced some of its own, original comics, too. The quality for both is very high, and are offered in a number of formats, including massive coffee table editions! Keep your eyes peeled for other Udon published comics, including Darkstalkers.

2) Mega Man Comics

Publisher: Archie Comics

Mega Man might be in limbo in the world of video games, but he’s alive and well in comics. Archie’s been producing the series for over two years now, and the quality has yet to dip. From issue one to now, the writing and art have been consistently high, establishing a unique take on the character’s world, friends, and enemies. Aside from Udon, Archie is one of the few publishers to make video game comics that aren’t just translations of material from other territories, and the time and effort the company puts into Mega Man is readily apparent on every page. I also have to point out, Udon has translated some excellent Mega Man manga, as well, so be sure to give those a look, too!

1) Sonic the Hedgehog Comics

Publisher: Archie Comics

Like I said, I’ve dropped Ultimate Spidey and a few other titles in recent months, but Sonic’s wonderful adventures from Archie are some of the best stuff I’m reading from month to month. Both Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic Universe exist in a world unique to the comics and different from the video games, but what Archie has crafted is so nuanced and entertaining, it’s no surprise why Sega has maintained as long a relationship with the publisher as it has. From the art to the writing, I’ve fallen head over heels for the Blue Blur and his pals, and you should, too.

Well, folks, I hope you can find the time to peruse the interwebs (or better yet, get to a comic shop) to pick any/all of these titles. Each one is worth your money and time, and it’s important to keep quality titles like these on the stands. Forget picking up the next #1 relaunch of the month; support comics and creators who put quality over gimmicks!

E3 Anticipation

It’s only March, but I can’t help but think about E3 2014 and how very close it is. Soon, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft will be promoting their newest games (and maybe hardware!) for the world to see, but half the fun is guessing what those reveals might be! Here are five things I’m looking forward to seeing at E3 2014!

5) Halo 5

Last year’s demo built hype, certainly, but it seems likely that we’ll finally get a true glimpse at Halo 5 this E3. Or Halo something-or-other, because Microsoft has been coy about committing to the traditional numbering from the Xbox and Xbox 360 days. Taking a cue from the comic book companies and trying to ditch “intimidating” high numbers on its boxes might be Microsoft’s goal (which sucks), but no matter what Halo 5 is ultimately called won’t mean a thing if the game can’t maintain the high quality the series is known for. Given how embraced Halo 4 was, I think it’s a safe bet that Halo 5 will be just fine. That being said… what comes next for Master Chief?! I’m torn whether I want to see something radically different or more of the same, awesome Halo gameplay we all know and love.

4) New Vita IP

I don’t care what anyone says, Tearaway was an amazing game that played to Vita’s strengths. It was as charming as LittleBigPlanet and a breath of fresh air regardless of platform. I’d love to see a sequel make its way to Vita (or even PS4), but I’d also like to see some more, original IPs head to the handheld, preferably straight from Sony itself. PSP brought the world the wonderful Patapon and Loco Roco series (which need Vita sequels, like, NOW), and I’m curious what other sorts of unique, fun handheld games Sony has up its sleeve.

3) Mega Man

It’s just sad that fans have been waiting years now for a true, new Mega Man game from Capcom, but that’s the world we live in, folks. With all the attention that Mighty No.9 has been (justly) receiving, it would be foolish of Capcom not to capitalize on the Blue Bomber. There’s room for both series in the world, and maybe now would be a good time to unveil a Mega Man title to create some friendly competition between Comcept and Capcom. Fans would be the winners, in the end, no matter what! Just to geek out a bit, here, but after the Worlds Collide crossover between the Mega Man and Sonic the Hedgehog comics by the folks at Archie, I’d love to play a video game with the two characters. The comic was fun and introduced some weapons concepts that would be awesome to see in action!

2) New Nintendo Hardware

I’m thinking that Nintendo will either reveal a new variation of the Wii U hardware or a redesigned 3DS. As far as Wii U goes, I don’t foresee a full-blown redesign, but I can picture Nintendo either doing something to make the system differentiate itself more from the original Wii, or offer models with way more memory or a slimmer GamePad. A redesigned 3DS is probably the safer bet here. The base model 3DS remains the weak link of the three versions of the handheld, with low battery life and some clunky design choices (I’m looking at you, Home/Pause/Select buttons!). As it stands now, the 3DS is the middle child and not all that appealing. I’d be pretty happy to see Nintendo put out a new model that’s reminiscent of the XL’s design, with rounded edges, better buttons, slightly bigger screens, and longer battery life. Make it ultra thin, and it would be pretty dang cool.

1) New Zelda

This is a foregone conclusion, as Nintendo has already confirmed we’ll be seeing the first glimpse of the next installment of Zelda, but no one knows what it’s going to be like. Realistic graphics? Toony? A middle ground like Skyward? Will the waggle be back? Where in the timeline is it going to fall? So many questions! Just talking about it gets me excited, and with the incredibly fun and gorgeous games that Wii U has already graced us with, I know that the next Zelda is going to be amazing. I just want to know more about it!

A handful of predictions/guesses, but here’s hoping that some of them come true! Until then, I should probably get to actually finishing a bit of the mountainous backlog of games I have piling up. Till next time!

A (Nintendo) License to Steal

When Nintendo’s Satoru Iwata outlined his company’s plans to begin licensing its characters and franchises to more developers, my mind started racing thinking about the different possibilities. We’ve already gotten a bit of a preview of this with the announcement of Hyrule Warriors and Shin Megami X Fire Emblem, so playing off of those examples, lets think about what else might be coming our way in the future. I’ve put together some dream team combinations of developers and franchises; let’s hope they actually happen!

5) Star Fox by Treasure

Anyone who played either of the Sin & Punishment games knows just how intense developer Treasure’s shooters can be. While the stories in Treasure’s titles can be a bit on the… zany side, the gameplay itself never disappoints. Letting them go nuts with Star Fox seems like a perfect match, as the series has always been at its best when the screen is littered with enemies and explosions. With a more focused, Star Fox-centered narrative in tow, this could be the pinnacle of Treasure’s offerings to date. Just no thigh high white boots for Fox, please; that was scary enough in Star Successor.

4) Metroid by Bethesda

While a return to first-person for the Metroid series would be more than welcome, it would be amazing to see Bethesda setting up shop behind Samus’s HUD. A Metroid game taking cues from the Elder Scrolls and Fallout titles has a lot of potential to push the series farther than ever. A grittier romp through Samus’s universe would be a welcome change of pace from Other M‘s polarizing third-person adventure.

BONUS-Metroid by Konami

Hey, why not? The company that created the Metroidvania subgenre of platformers would be perfect to helm Samus’s return to 2D! Koji Igarashi has surely dreamt of what he’d do with the franchise he so lovingly imitated. so I see no reason for Nintendo to not let him take a crack at Metroid for real!

3) Golden Sun by SquareEnix

While I was a fraction of an inch from attaching Fire Emblem to Square, I think that the company behind Final Fantasy could do wonders with Nintendo’s underutilized RPG series. The blistering production values Square is known for would bring Golden Sun to life like never before. Adapting the series play mechanics to a game as pretty as Final Fantasy XIII, and I can’t wait to see what this pairing might yield.

2) Kid Icarus by Platinum

The high thrills and kinetic action of Kid Icarus Uprising would fit developer Platinum like a glove. Its mixture of melee combat, aerial shooting, and huge personalities would only be pushed to 11 under Platinum’s guidance, especially if Hideki Kamiya was attached to the project. The resurrection of the Kid Icarus franchise was too wonderful to let slip to the back burner; in the hands of a quality developer like Platinum, Pit could walk on the sun if he wanted, not just fly close to it.

1) Zelda by Capcom

I’m just going to say it; Capcom can make a Zelda game as engaging as Nintendo itself. I think that argument can be made with Oracle of Ages and Seasons alone, but it’s really cemented by the wonderful work the company did with Minish Cap. I’m excited by Hyrule Warriors, but I see no reason why there can’t be more than one marquee Zelda adventure developed at the same time. If there’s any company that can be trusted with Zelda, it’s Capcom.

Nintendo Direct 12/18/13

Today’s Nintendo Direct revealed quite a bit of excellent information, especially considering so many people’s low expectations before the broadcast. Here’s a brief rundown of everything you need to know in order to get all caught up.

Hyrule Warriors

Teaming with Tecmo Koei, Nintendo announced this new, action-focused spin on The Legend of Zelda series. Gameplay is based on Tecmo’s Warriors games, so look forward to Link decimating legions of enemies! Loving that scarf, btw.

Yoshi’s New Island

The 3DS installment of the beloved series is coming in 2014, with creator Takashi Tezuka as part of its creative team.

NES Remix

A bunch of NES classics have been broken down and shuffled around, forming very Warioware-esque experiences. Available on Wii U.

Bravely Default Side-Story Demo

Exclusive story content not available in the actual game will serve as the demo for the highly anticipated 3DS title. Available January 2.

Sonic Lost World Nintendo DLC Zones

Yoshi’s Island Zone is available now, pitting Sonic against Shy Guys and Piranha Plants. It looks ridiculously fun, and Iwata strongly suggested that a Zelda-themed stage is coming next.

Dr. Luigi

Well, now we know why Luigi doesn’t star in as many games as his brother; he’s been busy earning his doctorate. Typical Dr. Mario action with a Luigi theme, including a new mode with L-shaped fusions of the colorful capsules from the series.

Rosalina in Smash Bros.

She sure has been busy lately. Following appearances in Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D World, Rosalina (with a Luma friend in tow) will be making her Smash debut on both 3DS and Wii U.

Kirby Triple Deluxe

This title looks like a great, traditional Kirby experience, with a couple of new game modes shown off today. 3DS needs a Canvas Curse sequel, though; just sayin’.

Wii Sports Club Adds Golf

Available today, and looking mighty fine in HD. Probably the best visual upgrade of the three games available so far.

Luigi’s Mansion Figurine

Club Nintendo members get to plunk down 1500 coins for this amazing little diorama. Paint me jealous, in multiple coats.

Chibi-Robo Photo Finder

January 9 sees the return of the miniature custodian, with an emphasis on taking photos of objects from real life that will fill in mysterious silhouettes in-game. A demo will be arriving shortly.

Celebi For Pokemon Bank Users

Become a Pokemon Bank user and get a free Celebi for use in Pokemon X and Y.

Cranky Kong Re-Confirmed as Playable in Tropical Freeze

Just in case you’ve been avoiding the internet for a minute, Nintendo has reiterated this will be Cranky’s first playable outing and brought some pretty footage to show it off.

And that’s just about it! Be sure to watch the actual video (which are always fun). I’m looking forward to everything that was shown today. If Hyrule Warriors is half as good as Crossbow Training, 2014 is already shaping up to be a memorable year for Nintendo fans.

Top 5 Games For Your Wii Mini

Available in Europe and Canada for about a year now, Nintendo’s Wii Mini is finally heading to US retailers. The Wii Mini comes bundled with a copy of Mario Kart Wii, a red Wii Remote Plus, and a Nunchuk, and is expected to launch November 17th for the paltry sum of $99.99. That’s a whole lot of awesome for very little money, which makes it the perfect gift for someone who has yet to experience the wonders of Wii or is looking to get a system on a budget. While the system does not support any form of internet or WiFi, it is still capable of playing the hundreds of titles available to play on a regular Wii. With a ton of great and not so great games to play that are still readily available in stores, it might be a bit daunting to get in on the fun, so here are five titles to keep on your radar if you plan on picking up a Wii Mini! Mario Kart Wii is the pack-in, so consider it entry number six!

5) Wii Sports/Wii Sports Resort

I know, I’m cheating by combining these into a single entry, but the two games are must-haves and go very well together. Both Wii Sports titles are showcases of how fun motion controlled games can be. The original Wii Sports introduced the world to the joys of digital bowling, while Wii Sports Resort made realistic sword swinging a staple of parties and family gatherings. If you want to know why everyone fell in love with Wii, these two games are where to start.

4) New Super Mario Bros. Wii

Classic Super Mario play control was multiplied by a factor of four when Nintendo introduced multiplayer to the venerable series. Four players can get in on the action, controlling Mario, Luigi, and a yellow or blue Toad. Expect lots of chaotic fun as players battle to take the lead or work in harmony to get through the game.

3) Metroid Prime 3

This final entry (so far) in the Metroid Prime series is an incredible first-person adventure. Guide Samus across multiple planets in her quest to end the threat of Dark Samus once and for all. Gameplay is intense, the graphics are stunning, and there are some very fun uses of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to experience. I’d recommend getting Metroid Prime Trilogy if you can find it at a reasonable price; you’ll get all three Prime games with the first two now featuring motion controls!

2) Super Smash Bros. Brawl

There aren’t a ton of fighting games available on Wii, but Super Smash Bros. Brawl is one of the best. With a huge roster of 35 characters to choose from (including Solid Snake and Sonic the Hedgehog!), a fun single-player story mode featuring beautiful cinema scenes, and hundreds of unlockable items, this game is a Nintendo fan’s dream come true. For everyone else, it’s just an immensely entertaining game that will keep them engrossed for hours at a time.

1) The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Link’s first foray on the Wii, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, was an amazing game in its own right, but Skyward Sword is the pinnacle of what can be achieved on Wii. Gorgeous graphics, precise motion controls, an engaging story, and some of the best environment and dungeon design that the series has ever seen make this a landmark game. You owe it to yourself to buy a Wii Mini just to play this game.

Well, hopefully this list gives you a nice starting point for what to play on your Wii Mini. There are dozens of other great titles to play beyond what I’ve listed (Xenoblade Chronicles, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Kirby’s Epic Yarn), so if you’ve been holding out on buying a Wii, now’s the time to get on board!

Building a Better Zelda Game

With The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker‘s re-release barreling ever-closer to us, it’s gotten me thinking of what direction Nintendo’s other flagship (a pun!) series should take. It’s ironic that Nintendo would make Wind Waker the focus of a remake, as it remains one of the more radical departures of the typical Zelda formula. Visuals aside, Wind Waker‘s gameplay and structure were a marked deviation from what had come before. The sense of experimentation that Nintendo brought to Wind Waker resulted in one of the series’ more timeless outings; with that in mind, let’s examine how Nintendo could further spice things up for the future.

Dungeon Variety

One thing I loved about both Wind Waker and Twilight Princess was how traditional dungeons were sometimes eschewed in favor of quests or masked with creative environmental designs. While I would never want to see Nintendo altogether abandon dungeons, offering a more diverse assortment would be a breath of fresh air. The Goron Mines in Twilight Princess are a perfect example of how to do this, with that dungeon seamlessly meshing into the environment. I’d also like to see a continuation or extension of Skyward Sword‘s mixing of the overworld with elements from dungeons. That seemingly small tweak made the transitions into the proper dungeons less jarring and more natural, something that I really appreciated as a player.

Item Variety

There are basic items I expect to get in every Zelda game; bow and arrows, a sword, hookshot, bombs, and a shield. It’s the deliberate pacing of how those items are given out that could stand for some change. Nintendo could try to distribute items as they did in games like Link’s Awakening, where you’d find them in shops or the overworld. I also would welcome being able to again get “secret” items like the Fierce Deity’s mask from Majora’s Mask or the Biggoron Sword from Ocarina of Time. Part of the allure of both those items is that they weren’t even necessary to beat the game, but rather were a reward for players who wanted more out of the experience, to explore. Which leads us handily to my next point…

More to Explore

After the gargantuan overworld of Twilight Princess, I don’t necessarily feel Nintendo needs to make the next Zelda game bigger, but more populated. One aspect of Majora’s Mask and Wind Waker that I found incredibly captivating was the metric-ton of NPCs (that’s non-playable characters for the nooblets) to interact with. Multiple characters make the game world feel alive and give you further cause to explore. Of course, that also means there should be some kind of reward/motivation for taking the time to do this, which could handily be resolved with the secret items and doo-dads I mentioned above. Along with the NPCs more shops, houses, and heck, even a secret dungeon or town, would be excellent additions to the experience.

Enhanced Combat

Skyward Sword‘s motion-controlled sword fighting was pretty spot-on, but no matter how Link swings his sword in the next Zelda game, I hope that the combat evolves. Some of the most engaging (not boss) battles in Zelda history have either involved Dark Nuts or Iron Knuckles, and it’s because fights with them are more demanding than the average skirmish. One-off enemies like Deku Scrubs are fine here and there, but I’ve always loved seeing Link take on enemies that are both physically imposing and cunning. Give Link more of these tough and grueling foes to fight. Beefing up the enemies, though, means Link has to have a strong repertoire of fighting techniques to take them on with. Twilight Princess and Minish Cap both placed a big emphasis on Link developing an expanding move set over the course of his adventure, so I think those two games would be a good starting point for Nintendo to branch from. Link could even take a leaf from Samus in Other M with her more physical approach to combat!

Outside the Box

This next part is tricky, because I’m not sure if Nintendo needs to add much to the Zelda toy box. Perhaps touching on Zelda II and incorporating a RPG-like upgrade system could be worked in? Link could earn EXP from fighting enemies and players could determine which of his stats to boost. Nintendo, ever new-gamer-conscious, could even find a way to simplify this process to a handful of basic categories that would keep the addition from being too cumbersome. Expanded customization might be nice, as Skyward already sort of introduced this new dynamic with the shield and item upgrade system. Maybe even add the option to customize Link’s tunics and gear. Innovation and Zelda often go hand-in-hand, so whatever Nintendo chooses to add will surely be a boon to fans.

Not Broken

There are plenty of things about Zelda that don’t need changing, and I hope Nintendo doesn’t make the mistake of innovating for the sake of innovation. If I read the words “steampunk” or “modern” in conjunction with another Zelda fan-post I’m going to hurl. I’d like to see the stamina meter and lite-Prince of Persia agility elements carried over from Skyward, as they helped add a new layer to exploration. The basic set of items should remain and the essential dynamics of exploration, dungeons, and combat shouldn’t be sacrificed or tweaked too much. Nintendo continues to lead the industry with its mainstay series like Zelda, and part of that success comes from their exceptional ability respect the series’ past while simultaneously moving the brand forward. Skyward Sword is one of the most stunning videogame experiences of this past generation, and didn’t even need to be HD to do it. From the thrill of piloting a time machine boat that turned sand to water beneath its hull, to the thrill of fighting a virtual god under an endless sky of menacing thunder clouds, Nintendo has yet to show any signs of decline with the Zelda series. I’m just a beggar trying to be a chooser, but I do feel my humble suggestions might make the next Zelda the best one yet. Seriously though; more Iron Knuckle.

Retro(spective) 2-The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures

Released 2004; developed and published by Nintendo.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures is a good example of how sometimes less can be more. The game put a laser-like focus on the core concepts of Zelda that make the series so endearing and enduring. Four Swords foregoes the traditional single-player, open-world adventure trappings we’re all so familiar with and replaces them with arcade-like stages designed for multiplayer and with very specific goals. While that might sound like sacrilege, what makes this approach so effective is twofold.

First, it’s important to know the gameplay is based on the traditional NES/SNES overhead action of Zelda 1 and 3, but does not allow for the boundless exploration of those titles. What this means for the player is that while Four Swords eschews an open world with interconnected characters, dungeons, and towns, the game structure takes each of those things and distills their best qualities into stages, instead.

For instance, part of the joy of visiting towns in a Zelda game is interacting with the NPCs and taking on sidequests. An entire stage of Four Swords will focus on exploring a town and doing exactly that, but in a more goal-oriented, structured way. The significance of this might not seem apparent at first, but once you start playing you understand; the game is cutting off all the fat and giving you the experiences you love at rapid fire. The slowburn of completing quests and slowly progressing through a vast Hyrule are instead changed to the joys of instant gratification. Forget crossing a complicated chasm or poking through a web of tunnels to get to a dungeon, Four Swords throws you right in and lets you get to the good stuff in short order.

The second key ingredient is the combat. Whether in a party with three other people or playing on your own, the titular Four Sword splits Link into four copies who waddle along in tandem throughout the game. With friends, you’ll depend on each other to work together to defeat foes and solve puzzles. This of course means a bit of New Super Mario Bros. mischief enters the equation, with stages easily turning into a series of attempts to sabotage your partners. The exact opposite is also true, with a skilled group able to carve a path of carnage through your enemies. Single-player, though different from the multiplayer approach, affords you full control of all four Links. This means being able to arrange the quartet into various formations to tackle both puzzles and enemies. While the competitive/cooperative aspect might be gone, it’s hard to describe how epic you’ll feel controlling four little sword swings as they tear through a few dozen enemies. Both control schemes are immensely satisfying for different reasons and make the game utterly unique in the series.

I’d also like to note, there is an interesting quirk to items in this game. While old favorites like the boomerang, bombs, and bow & arrows are still present, they are not items you carry between stages. Each stage is tailored with a particular set of items and only allows you to hold onto one at a time. However, as each Link can have a different item from the other, you can elect to stock up on bows and have four deadly archers or equip each Link with a different item for maximum utility. It makes tackling each level more strategic and interesting when you have to determine if it’s worth having a specific item or not.

Sadly, this particular Zelda title didn’t sell very well, partly because to enjoy the multiplayer meant having three friends, with three Game Boy Advances, and three GBA/GC link cables. Yes, the only way to experience this unique brand of Zelda action required an incredibly tedious method of play. While it was cool to see some of the action shift to your GBA screen (as when entering caves, houses, etc.), to most players it ultimately wasn’t worth the prohibitive nature of such an overly complex setup. I tackled this game single-player predominantly, so I can attest that you will have fun blasting through this one on your own if you can hunt a copy down (no GBA required for single-player!).

One other thing worth mentioning is just how great this game looks and sounds. Aesthetically, Four Swords is a mixture of A Link to the Past and Wind Waker. Factor in the muscle of the GameCube, and the screen is a cornucopia of traditional 2D Zelda sprites and animation, more rich and colorful than ever. A menagerie of classic Zelda tunes helps heighten the experience and draw you in further. Whether or not Nintendo ever takes another swing at a multiplayer Zelda game is anyone’s guess, but considering the Wii U seems like the perfect venue for such a revival helps me sleep better at night. Do yourself a favor and play Four Swords!

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures is available on the Nintendo GameCube.