Topic: Nintendo Should Follow Capcom's Lead

[EXtoC4]

Hey Guys,

I wrote an op-ed about how Nintendo should follow Capcom's lead on the downloadable front. I mean, who wouldn't want an 8-bit Metroid sequel or even extension of Super Metroid.

You can check it out here: http://thefinallevel.blogspot.com/.

Let me know what you think.

[KDR_11k]

Naah. 2d is nice but going down to 8bit is stupid and pointless, nothing was lost with the transition from 4 color graphics to 256 colors. Besides, the NES Metroid is all kinds of suck and fail and should never be mentioned again. Of course when Nintendo does 2d games they just release them on the DS and why not, the games sell for more money there, have a bigger potential userbase AND are portable (HUGE advantage).

[Nick DiMola]

I think Capcom brought it all the way down to 8-bit because 16-bit defined more of the X series than the mainline series. That makes sense to me. For Nintendo, the graphical power of a system has never really defined the series, so I'm not sure it makes sense to go back to 8-bit.

I can see the rationale behind a Super Metroid sequel entirely in the same presentational package, perhaps even a sequel to SMB 3. Four Swords carried the 16-bit Zelda presentation and I liked that. I wouldn't mind more 2D but I'm not entirely sure how necessary it is for Nintendo to return to that presentation style (referring to 8-bit, 16-bit graphics, not 2D).

[Arbok]

Capcom is doing something unique... and it should stay that way. I'm fine with a resurgence of 2D platformers... but I don't want everyone to jump on a 8bit or even 16bit bandwagon just because...

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Cuz bandwagons have poor suspension, AM radios, and no AC.

[KDR_11k]

I can see the rationale behind a Super Metroid sequel entirely in the same presentational package

Well, yeah, it's called Zero Mission (Fusion is not worthy of the Metroid title).

[Nick DiMola]

I can see the rationale behind a Super Metroid sequel entirely in the same presentational package

Well, yeah, it's called Zero Mission.

Exactly my thought.

[EXtoC4]

I'm surprised you wouldn't want to some old-game goodness from Nintendo. Even like a lesser known franchise, at least getting some love instead of some half-baked idea like Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast? Or what about F-Zero WiiWare title w/ online racing?

I don't see following their lead as jumping on a bandwagon. Especially when NWR is asking Iga to bring Castlevania to WiiWare. Does that make Konami bandwagon jumpers, too?

[Nick DiMola]

I don't see following their lead as jumping on a bandwagon. Especially when NWR is asking Iga to bring Castlevania to WiiWare. Does that make Konami bandwagon jumpers, too?

Well that's because Castlevania absolutely sucks in 3D and should really only be presented as a 2D game. I wouldn't condone them stepping all the way back to an NES style presentation of the game graphically. Castlevania could use some new DS assets though, they have been recycled long enough at this point.

As far as F-Zero goes, I'd rather see it return in GX form. Barrel Blast is an abomination and I think we should forget that it exists (I actually did until you mentioned it ). I'd say the only game that I'd like to see a proper sequel to would be Mario 3 and I think WiiWare would be the ideal outlet for that. Another Star Tropics would be cool too, but then again I'd rather see a re-envisioning of it to see what more the series is capable of.

Nintendo tends to continue most of the older presentations of their games on their portable systems, so it doesn't feel as if their older styles ever really die, at least for their most popular franchises.

[Ian Sane]

Well, yeah, it's called Zero Mission (Fusion is not worthy of the Metroid title).

I really liked Zero Mission but I'm going to defend Fusion.  Metroid Fusion is exactly the sort of sequel Nintendo used to be known for.  It took an established formula and presented it in a slightly different manner.  It wasn't cookie-cutter and it was unqiue enough that both it and Super Metroid can co-exist.  It didn't replace the previous game.  In a really good series each entry is essential and memorable.  Compare this to something like Mega Man where the six NES games are all remarkably similar and play the same.

Metroid Fusion refers to itself as Metroid IV in the intro and that's exactly what it feels like.  It feels like if Nintendo had made a new Metroid around 1997 on the SNES that Metroid Fusion is exactly what it would be.  It was like all the years between III and IV never happened.

But then I defend Majora's Mask the same way and get some flack for it.  I just seem to really like it when a sequel feels like it has a reason to exist.  "More _____" is not my kind of sequel.

[GoldenPhoenix]

I really would rather see at the very least a 16 bit revival of games. At least games like Super Metroid still hold up EXTREMELY well even today, the 8-bit era, not so much. I think it is because there were few limitation for 2D games in the SNES/Genesis and they could do alot with the visuals artistically.

[Nick DiMola]

I don't understand the disdain of Fusion either Ian. I think it is a great game that did things a bit differently and I enjoyed it greatly.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Fusion is a quality title but Majora's Mask is still in my "ehhe" category.

[Luigi Dude]

Well considering how the 2d Megaman games were run to the ground in the last 10 years, and lost a lot of it's fanbase, they kind of had to make this one 8-bit to get the older fans attention.  Look at how Megaman Anniversary Collection on the Gamecube and PS2 COMBINED, sold close to one million copies.  While Megaman X Collection COMBINED, didn't even hit 500,000.  Plus the best selling Megaman Zero game was the first one and it only sold around 400,000 copies worldwide.  And all the sequels sold less and less, including both ZX games which didn't do very good at all.

Pretty much goes to show, it's the Classic NES Megamans that the gaming public cares the most about.  This is because the NES games were much simpler for the average person to play, and could be enjoyed by everyone.  When it went to X and beyond, it kept becoming more and more complicated until you get to the Zero series, which is impossible for anyone that isn't a die hard Megaman fan to enjoy.

Plus if Capcom used 16 or 32 bit sprites, it'd just remind people of Megaman 7 and 8, which are best left forgetton.

[Ian Sane]

Pretty much goes to show, it's the Classic NES Megamans that the gaming public cares the most about.  This is because the NES games were much simpler for the average person to play, and could be enjoyed by everyone.

I don't think it has anything to do with how simple there were and rather just that the old NES Mega Man games were the ones people actually played while the X series has a lot of Playstation games that most people never played and thus have no emotional attachment to.  Mega Man is overexposed due to be severely milked.  Yeah I think the games have gotten more complex but I don't think that has anything to do with Anniversary Collection outselling X Collection.  Mega Man on the NES was relevent (for about three games or so) while elsewhere he was this rehashed character.  I don't think it was because it was more accessible but rather because it was new.

[EXtoC4]

People also care about Mega Man 9 because Capcom is playing to their loyal, hardcore fan base. This project even has an awesome, old-school boxart that rekindles the flame of the original cover design. Capcom is pouring their souls into the title, instead of just milking their Tiger Alpha Rewind Network series (although, they are still doing that).

This is why I wrote the article. Nintendo has upset and pissed off some of their fan base (obviously, the hardcore). Capcom has shown the kind of love that a downloadable, old-school title can bring with the right mix of passion and effort. Nintendo would still be bringing out the DS and Wii titles, just give some smaller guys a chance at an offbeat sequel or spin-off on WiiWare. Heck, I want Punch-Out on Wii, but giving me the old formula w/ two buttons and some new characters. Punch-Out 2: Little Mac faces Big Mac.

Ha, but love to see what you guys have to say. Obviously, Nintendo has a hard road no matter what they do. Simply revisting the pixels of the past may not be what the doctor ordered.

[nickmitch]

Revisiting the pixels really isn't the answer. What Nintendo did with New Super Mario Bros. is exactly what they need to do with the other 2D franchises. Keep it 2D, but keep it fresh.

For the record, Metroid Fusion is one of my favorite GBA games, just like Super Metroid is one of my favorite SNES games.

[Tanookisuit]

I'm all for new 8-bit games.  With graphics that crude, one is actively engaged in creating the content of the game- translating the visuals into something that makes sense.  I think this is key to the connection we feel with early Nintendo games, and the main source of our feelings of nostalgia.

[Morari]

We definitely need more 2D games, but intentionally limiting the graphics to what was acceptable a decade ago is generally pretty pointless. We could be benefiting from nicely clean and crisp sprites nowadays, with high resolution and fully animated backgrounds. There is really no reason to do an 8-bit game outside of nostalgia.

[Adrock]

I have to defend Metroid Fusion too. I wasn't a fan of the changes Nintendo/Intelligent Systems made to the series, many of which have, unfortunately, been carried over to subsequent titles... namely that Zero Suit Samus crap. Yeah, I said it.

Anyway, I can't say I agree with following Capcom's lead. They're basically making this game as cheap as possible and appealing to a specific audience. Capcom is the first to do this, will anyone care if someone else ganks their idea? It won't be an original idea anymore.

And does Nintendo even need to do this? Does Nintendo need nostalgia to sell, for example, a 2D Mario game? The short answer: no. Honestly, my dream 2D Mario game would be a main adventure that brought back the best ideas and items from past games such as selectable characters with different attributes and the leaf, feather, boot etc. as well as a level editor so I can make my own levels like I wanted to when Mario Paint came out (you can make pictures that look like custom stages) and without the need for hacks.

[KDR_11k]

Fusion felt outsourced, like a game made by someone who didn't understand why Metroid was different from other games. Story is nice and all but preventing sequence breaks like that was just lame.

Yeah, the "zero suit" **** was the weakest part of Zero Mission and I didn't like the placement of the powerbombs either (you had to go out of your way to get them at all, no real reason to bother with them before finishing the game)

I think going retro doesn't make a lot of sense, it's like throwing out the baby with the bathwater (weren't many people looking forward to what MM9 would do with the additional CPU power?).

Plus the best selling Megaman Zero game was the first one and it only sold around 400,000 copies worldwide.

With that difficulty it's no wonder the series never really caught on. I still haven't gotten past the initial four levels in 3 (and only defeated one, the one time I got a second one I was left with a bad rank so I reloaded the old save, the game's supposedly the easiest out of the bunch!).

[AV]

I was going to do a Video on Youtube about this.

I really think Nintendo should just show its legal muscle and just bully in and take ownership of custom/modded games.

Metroid SR388

and

Super Mario Frustration

Should be on Wiiware, not ROMS.

even though mario would drive me insane, but I wouldn't stop until I finished it, and Metroid just looks amazing.

[KDR_11k]

That would probably get them some of the worst PR imaginable plus it might not even be legal.

[IceCold]

But then I defend Majora's Mask the same way and get some flack for it.  I just seem to really like it when a sequel feels like it has a reason to exist.  "More _____" is not my kind of sequel.

And yet you lament the lack of exactly those sequels on the Wii here http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/forums/index.php?topic=25786.0.

Ian: the walking contradiction.

[DAaaMan64]

It took you till "Today at 12:56:53 am" to figure that out?