Where's the Hype for Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart 8?

Posted on by Colin McMahon

Another day, another article expressing disappoint in Nintendo.

Yesterday marked a special Nintendo Direct, one devoted to revealing details about one game and one game only: Super Smash Bros. (for Wii U and for 3DS… this game needs a better title). For thirty-nine minutes, Nintendo talked and for thirty-nine minutes, I listened. I cannot say it bored me to the point where I shut it off halfway through, but one thought was materializing in my head as I listened: I should be more excited than this. Not the first time I’ve had that thought during a Nintendo Direct. The one before the “special Smash Bros. edition” also didn’t catch my attention too much either. The focus of that one: Mario Kart 8. Hold on, Mario Kart? Smash Bros.? These two series are nothing short of awesome and arguably the best things coming out from Nintendo these days. I think both games will be great, I already own a Wii U, so why don’t I really care?

There is one than one reason but the main problem is this: too safe. My main reason for sticking with Nintendo, despite their numerous problems, is their creativity. I believe that this is a company that does not simply make games to make money. Call it naivety, call it romanticism, but I really do believe that most people who work at Nintendo are passionate gaming artists who like to make fantastic worlds never before seen (and impossible to exist in the real world). You know: people who are excited…. but these games don’t sound exciting.

Scratch that, Mario Kart 8 started out as a really cool idea. A racing game that allows players to break gravity to compete along the walls and ceilings? Suddenly all the courses change, all the options change: the game encounters a fundamental change. New and different, pushing the boundaries of gameplay: this is why I love Nintendo. But that wasn’t what they talked about last time Mario Kart 8 received a Nintendo Direct. Koopalings, and a late-May/early-June release date. Yay.

Oh man, I wasn't going to pay sixty bucks before but now: gotta have my koopalings.
Oh man, I wasn’t going to pay sixty bucks before but now: gotta have my koopalings.

This coming on the heels of an announcement made by the current Nintendo President, Satoru Iwata, that the Wii U would not experience any more periods of drought between big titles. Oh, good to know that I’m just imaging the three months between the release of Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze and Mario Kart 8. Also, seriously koopalings? I say this as a longtime fan of both Mario and Mario Kart games: who cares? Yeah, each racer performs a little differently in Mario Kart, but more racers just sounds like “hey, why don’t know how else to separate this game soooooo you can play as even more obscure Mario villains! Remember Super Mario Bros. 3? Man, we were so cool back then!”

If Nintendo had chosen to focus on the new video recording feature in Mario Kart 8, the one that (I believe) let’s racers record their highlights and post them online to the Miiverse, now that sounds more interesting. The internet, that fad that Nintendo seems to believe will die out any day now, represents a gateway to a lot of interesting changes that they could be implementing into their games.

Let’s go to Smash Bros., a series that I really love. One of my favorite gaming announcements ever was the reveal of Solid Snake in the first Super Smash Bros. Brawl trailer. It represented such an insane new direction for the series: characters I would never have expected to be in a Smash Bros. game may now be in a Smash Bros. game… except that was it. Nintendo has never since matched that excitement with any Smash Bros. announcement that has occurred since then.

Sonic? Who cares, he is a dying figurehead of Sega. I guess it’s kinda cool, for nostalgic purposes. Even Mega Man, who hasn’t eroded his reputation the way Sonic has, has also faded from the current video game world. At the time that Brawl was announced, Sony was touting the new Metal Gear Solid game. It was like Nintendo had snatched away all of their thunder with one announcement: “yeah, cool you have a Solid Snake game but can he fight Mario in it?”

Boy, too bad Nintendo doesn't pretty much own Platinum Games. Imagine Bayonetta in Super Smash Bros.! Wait...
Boy, too bad Nintendo doesn’t pretty much own Platinum Games. Imagine Bayonetta in Super Smash Bros.! Wait…

The announcement rippled out past Nintendo circles to affect the industry. I guess this is the point I have been driving at: who, outside of Nintendo and their diehard fans, cares about all these new announcements?

Yesterday Nintendo revealed that Charizard and Greninja would be joining the Smash Bros. roster as new characters. Cool, more Pokémon… exept Charizard was already in Brawl and who really cares about Greninja? Take a good look at that Pokémon, doesn’t he remind you of someone?

All I could think of.
All I could think of.

Yeah, Ryu Hayabusa, of Ninja Gaiden fame,  might not have been quite as exciting as Snake, but his inclusion would have gotten a lot more people invested. Instead, Nintendo crafted a Smash Bros. reveal that left me thinking: “boy, there sure are a lot of Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon characters in this game, I wonder what series are selling best for Nintendo right now?”

Maybe I’m wrong, maybe people have looked at these past two Nintendo Directs and have been swayed into purchasing a Wii U. That is the point after all: to generate excitement (which equals dollars) for Nintendo’s struggling console. I just don’t think they’re really doing that.

The Year of Luigi Began With a Whimper and Ended With Even Less

Posted on by Colin McMahon

Nintendo: seriously? From the creators of the Mario series, the Legend of Zelda series, the Metroid series, The Donkey Kong series… I could keep going (point is – they make great games) comes… “The Year of Luigi.” For those out there not following current news in the video game industry, things have not been going well for Japan-based video game developer and publisher, Nintendo. The once mighty console maker has taken a backseat since the release of the Wii U (actual name) in late 2012. Maybe the company knew they were being pushed out of the limelight, why else would they select Luigi to headline a year?

I feel this photo represents both Luigi and Nintendo at the start of 2013. Ready to just fall.
I feel this photo represents both Luigi and Nintendo at the start of 2013: ready to just fall.

Let’s talk about Luigi real quick. He is Mario’s brother. You know you’ve got a strong character when his best definition comes from comparison to another character. He’s not Mario… he’s the other one. The “Bros.” part of “Mario Bros.” Luigi is probably the most famous “player 2” character in video game history… but he’s still “player 2.” He’s the guy you make your friend play as. Sure, Luigi has had his own games. His first came in 1993 with Mario Is Missing! Yes, in Luigi’s first game he still was not part of the title. Was Mario Is Missing! any fun? It was an educational game that was not Oregon Trail, I do not feel the need to say more.

Since then, Luigi actually has appeared as the main star of a couple of entertaining games (some of which were released in the past year). The highlight has to be Luigi’s Mansion, the atmospheric launch title for the Nintendo Gamecube that, once again, had Luigi tracking down his brother (Mario needs to learn how to share the spotlight). Okay so one good game and in a history of being overshadowed; great role model, Nintendo.

The Year of Luigi began in February of 2013 with a Nintendo Direct that announced both the year and, what would be, the only game of the Year of Luigi worth mentioning, Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon. Luigi would finally get his long-awaited sequel and… maybe a couple of other games? It was supposed to be his year after all.

"Look, I put the hat on. What more do you really expect from us?"
“Look, I put the hat on. What more do you really expect from us?”

Well, let us count, in the Year of Luigi, Nintendo officially released four games (not including the previously mentioned, Dark Moon) for Mario’s sidekick. They were New Super Luigi U, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, Luigi Bros. (a hidden game in Super Mario 3D World), and Dr. Luigi. Yeah, even in his year: Luigi still cannot escape Mario. Really it is even less than it appears.

New Super Luigi U was a gloried expansion pack for New Super Mario Bros. U. Nintendo decided to add-on a full new 82 courses (because the worlds in New Super Mario Bros. U were just so memorable) and just subtract Mario from the equation. Hey, at least he isn’t in this “Luigi” game. It was a game that few, outside of diehard fans, could be excited about.

Then there is Mario & Luigi: Dream Team. It is good but seriously? SERIOUSLY?! Not only is Mario in the title, he’s first. It’s a Mario Bros. game, end of story.

Yes, it certainly looks like Luigi is front and center here. Oh look, I didn't know this was a Princess Peach game too!
Yes, it certainly looks like Luigi is front and center here. Oh look, I didn’t know this was a Princess Peach game too!

Luigi Bros. barely warrants mentioning. Again, it is a mini-game tucked away inside of Mario’s latest offering: fantastic. I bet that does all kinds of wonders for Luigi’s self confidence.

I guess that leaves Dr. Luigi. If you’re thinking: “Hey, didn’t they make a Dr. Mario game like, twenty (yes we’re old) years ago? What is this, a remake?” Yes, and yes. Dr. Luigi is essentially a prettied-up Dr. Mario for the Wii U. On the plus side, it does include an entire new mode that alters the formula considerably. I know I should be sarcastic here but I actually really like these types of games. It’s sad that this is my second favorite game of the Year of Luigi, but it wasn’t a bad little game.

I don't believe that man has ever been to medical school.
I don’t believe that man has ever been to medical school.

Nintendo, ladies and gentlemen. At least you can say they were true to Luigi’s legacy. All anyone has been able to talk about in the past year is the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Nintendo has faded away to the sidekick, with only one thing really worth mentioning: the 3DS (seriously, that is an awesome handheld with a never ending supply of quality titles).

The Year of Luigi ended on March 18, 2014 (a full year since the February Nintendo Direct). It is now the Year of… anything? Nintendo has been quiet. They are a company in turmoil right now that desperately needs to convince the video game industry that they know what they’re doing. Apparently they are keeping the Luigi-like mentality of making such an exit that no one will even be aware that they’ve left.

Nintendo could announce it was the year of Pokemon and Pokemon U was becoming a reality... but I think that is giving them way too much faith at this point.
Nintendo could announce it was the Year of Pokemon and make Pokemon U a reality… but I think that is giving them way too much faith at this point.

Animal Crossing: A Unique Game that Can't Be Played All at Once

Posted on by Colin McMahon

Everyone knows the feeling of getting a new AAA game. You run to the store at midnight (or first thing in the morning), wait in line, get the game before racing back home. Primary thought on everyone’s mind at that moment: “well, there goes my social life for the next few days”. Maximum a week usually, that game will dominate your time as you seek to complete it. But you will, that’s the point. Even with huge games like Bethesda’s Fallout or Elder Scrolls series, you will complete at least the majority of it in a relatively short time period (you will also become a hermit and your friends and family will begin speaking of you in mythological terms). The Animal Crossing series isn’t like that. Simply put: it isn’t like any other major video game release out there.

For the purposes of this article, the majority of my comments will be directly based upon my recent experiences playing Animal Crossing: New Leaf for the Nintendo 3DS. I have played every Animal Crossing game released so far, but there are a few things in New Leaf that I want to focus on. Plus, it’s the Animal Crossing game that is freshest in my head.

So let me summarize what happens in an Animal Crossing game: you play as a young human who moves into a town full of bipedal humanoid animals. You are given a small house and few possessions. There are stores where you can buy things, clothing stores where you can design new clothes, a museum where you can donate bugs, fossils, fish and paintings. In short, the town feels alive. It is full of things to do. The catch: you’re a broke foreigner. You have to make friends and acquire currency… because you will be in debt in this game. A lot of debt. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt.

Tom Nook is the creature you will owe so much money to in these games. He may not be a villain in the traditional sense but rest assured: he has grown fat off your blood, sweat and tears.
Tom Nook is the creature you will owe so much money to in these games. He may not be a villain in the traditional sense but rest assured: he has grown fat off your blood, sweat and tears.

So it’s kinda like The Sims. Kinda but not really. There is another catch with any Animal Crossing game: they all take place real-time, whether you’re playing or not. That means that right now in my Animal Crossing game, the town is waking up and starting to move. Doesn’t matter that I’m not playing. Just as it is 8:11 as I write this, it is 8:11 in my game. Kinda crazy when you think about it.

Just like in real life, there are different seasons in Animal Crossing. I will have to wait till December to experience December in the game. No other game does this.
Just like in real life, there are different seasons in Animal Crossing. I will have to wait till December to experience December in the game. No other game does this.

So what does this mean for gameplay? Essentially it means I can binge-play all I want but time is going to prohibit how much I can do. There is only so much one can do in a day, this is true in both life and Animal Crossing. This makes Animal Crossing unique. Even in the Sims series, one can always fast-forward or slow down time. There is that degree of control. Here, no. If you say you’re going to meet someone in the game in eight hours and then forget to show up – that experience is gone. Furthermore, they will remember that you weren’t there and be angry at you the next time you talk to them.

Sounds a little too life-like, doesn’t it?

Good news: it still feels like a game. While certain aspects render Animal Crossing as a second-life simulator, this is still a different life than most of us will ever lead. In Animal Crossing, you spend your days catching fish and bugs. You dig up dinosaur bones. You run errands for friends. You can buy new things at your leisure, even when massively in debt. You don’t need to eat, you don’t need to sleep. Oh and Animal Crossing: New Leaf adds something extra to the formula – you’re the mayor.

As mayor you fund public works and can enact ordinances to shape your town and all of its inhabitants.
As mayor you fund public works and can enact ordinances to shape your town and all of its inhabitants.

This gives more power to the player. Not much more mind you, that damn raccoon is still going to own your money and your soul before you can possibly pay off your debt. Still, it’s nice to see a game changing up the formula and adding new gameplay mechanics. The time limitations come into play here as well. For instance, in my game I have just enacted my first ordinance, which was a desire to increase the amount of money you get from selling items (very useful when paying off debt). I enacted it yesterday morning. It took effect this morning, exactly 24 hours after I enacted it. So I had to wait a day… which makes me want to play today because I want to see exactly what it is that I just did.

The stores in Animal Crossing are not open 24/7. This also slows progress as you can collect so much at a certain time but sell nothing. Being mayor allows you to extend the store's hours, should you so choose.
The stores in Animal Crossing are not open 24/7. This also slows progress as you can collect so much at a certain time but sell nothing. Being mayor allows you to extend the store’s hours, should you so choose.

Playing an Animal Crossing game is incredibly relaxing. Maybe it is the fixed time that renders the effect but I honestly think it’s more than that. Part of it comes from the fact that, even though it is so close to reality, (especially if you’re a recent graduate with debt filling your life), there is no time table. Play Animal Crossing if you want to experience a world run by money but not dominated by it. Despite the passage of time, my character will never die. He cannot get hurt or have his ambitions ruined. Everything he works for: he achieves. In short, that makes the Animal Crossing series the perfect propaganda for capitalism.

If that’s true than that makes Tom Nook the 1%… funny how much shared hatred is in there.

How it feels being several hundred thousand dollars in debt... to a raccoon.
How it feels being several hundred thousand dollars in debt… to a raccoon.

Thoughts? Comments? Am I full of it or onto something? Let me know now in the feedback section of this article.