Topic: What's your favorite launch game of all time?

[NWR_insanolord]

Console launches are always exciting, and bring with them a wide variety of games (or not, in the case of the N64). With new hardware, developers often try new things or make creative use of new hardware. I'm asking what you think the best launch game ever was. (For the purposes of this discussion, anything that came out within a month of launch is a launch game.)

[pokepal148]

i think mario world aged the best on the nintendo side

[TJ Spyke]

Sticking with actual launch games (meaning launch day; not launch window, with is what insano is talking about), I would say Luigi's Mansion holds up best today for Nintendo systems. I think Super Mario 64 was most effective though since it essentially sold the N64 and showed how the controller can be used.

[Adrock]

(For the purposes of this discussion, anything that came out within a month of launch is a launch game.)

This is easily Super Smash Bros. Melee for me.

[Ian Sane]

Super Mario World is my favourite.  It lacks the influence of Super Mario Bros or Super Mario 64 but that actually helped it age better.  It's a refinement of an existing gameplay design so it doesn't feel very dated while SMB and SM64 are raw and unpolished due to all the new ideas they introduced.  The Super Nintendo is my favourite system ever and Super Mario World is one of its best games.

For Nintendo first party games, my least favourite would Luigi's Mansion.  It's actually an enjoyable game, it just isn't worthy of its marketing as the flagship launch title of the Gamecube.  Nintendo needed to really blow everyone away to come back from the N64 and then they pushed their new system on the strength of a game that can be completed in a weekend.  I remember I rented it for a four day rental and beat the game in only two days and felt kind of ripped off just for paying for rental time I didn't need.  I shudder to think how I would have felt if I bought it.  It's just the wrong game at the wrong time and did not have enough meat to it to make a good first impression for the Gamecube.  The Xbox had less decent games for its launch but it had Halo which made a great first impression and we all know which system sold better.  Your first impression for what needs to be a big comeback is not the time to do some quirky short game starring a supporting character.  Even if SSB Melee or Pikmin got Luigi's Mansion's "slot" as the flagship title the Cube probably would have done better.

[ejamer]

Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader


Easy call too - this game is fantastic, and any real Star Wars fan needed to own/play it.  There have been some solid launch titles for various systems... but this game blows them all out of the water.

[TJ Spyke]

Whoops, I forgot about Super Mario World for a second since I didnt get a SNES at launch, SMW is the best 2D Mario game and I still play it from time to time.

[Oblivion]

Pilotwings Resort.

[ShyGuy]

Wii Sports?

[magicpixie]

Perfect Dark Zero!  No, wait, that's not right...

Although I never owned one at launch, I'm casting my vote for Super Mario 64.

[Spak-Spang]

Ihaveto go with Super Mario World.  When you think of a game that is instantly playable and just fun it is that game.  No bells andwhistles, just an extremely well designed platformer.

[Pixelated Pixies]

I think it's got to be either Super Mario 64 or Wii Sports for me. Both games were system sellers and aptly demonstrated what made those platforms great. If you really push me though, I'd have to say Super Mario 64 takes it. It was just such a mind blowing experience to play 64 for the first time. It was truly seminal.

[jvgsjeff]

Hmm, good question. I think I'd have to go with Super Mario World, although Super Mario 64 is a close second.

[Stogi]

Got to go with Super Mario 64. As much as I loved SMW, 64 I never had a grin so large the first time I literally took control of a game.

[Spak-Spang]

You know what is funny, I don't even remember what the launch titles were for systems other than Nintendo systems. 

Usually, I don't feel the exclusive launch games for other systems are anywhere near the same quality as Nintendo's. 

[Pixelated Pixies]

You know what is funny, I don't even remember what the launch titles were for systems other than Nintendo systems. 

Usually, I don't feel the exclusive launch games for other systems are anywhere near the same quality as Nintendo's.

Halo was pretty awesome.

[NWR_insanolord]

You know what is funny, I don't even remember what the launch titles were for systems other than Nintendo systems. 

Usually, I don't feel the exclusive launch games for other systems are anywhere near the same quality as Nintendo's. 

I think it's because most of the great launch games are first party, as those studios have had the most time with the hardware, and Microsoft and Sony's internal studios aren't as strong ad Nintendo's.

[MagicCow64]

I don't love SMW at this point, kind of find it too easy, and I never liked all the food themes/dinosaur design stuff. The only thing that really stands out about that game to me from the series is the secret/map path structure, which has yet to be topped. Otherwise I much prefer the vibe of SMB3.

I think Mario 64 can't be undersold, particularly if you hadn't grown up with 3D games. It didn't just invent 3D platformers, it invented 3D games, and was also incredible on the fundamentals. Playing that for the first time was like seeing a movie in color for the first time (or some better analogy).

Past that, I agree that Rogue Leader was awesome. Beautiful, chock full of content, played great, lots of challenge if you wanted it, tons of unlocks. It's kind of a wonder that the studio was never able to make anything decent again. 

[Pixelated Pixies]

Past that, I agree that Rogue Leader was awesome. Beautiful, chock full of content, played great, lots of challenge if you wanted it, tons of unlocks. It's kind of a wonder that the studio was never able to make anything decent again. 

Rebel strike was pretty awesome.
 
*I can do this all day people*

[shingi_70]

Super Mario 64 and a shortlist of runner ups would be
Super Mario Bros
Halo Combat Evolved
Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess

[Khushrenada]

Kid Icarus Uprising.

*I can do this all day people*

[Spak-Spang]

Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess also deserves mention. 

Halo, not so much...the first Halo to me is horrible...the second was when Halo began to get its legendary status in my opinion.

[Shaymin]

My choice is the game that basically made its system AND its form factor, and it's the only launch game in the history of anything I've gone out of my way to rebuy repeatedly.

I speak of... Tetris GB.

[Drizzt]

Super Mario World. The game that introduced me to Mario and the best console the SNES. The music, controls and level design were all great.

[TJ Spyke]

IIt didn't just invent 3D platformers, it invented 3D games

Actually, it did neither. There were 3D platformers before, its just that they pretty much all sucked (Jumping Flash! for the PlayStation came out in April 1995).