Super Smash Bros – Colin McMahon

Ten Fighters You Should Vote Into Smash Bros.

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Colin McMahon

Every time a Smash Bros. game is announced, part of the fun is guessing who will be in it. There are safe bets like Mario, Link, Kirby, and Samus, but there are also internet hopefuls. Well, now – for the first time ever – Nintendo is letting us pick. Yes. Yes. Yes!

Now loyal customers or perhaps just those rare few people with the internet (Nintendo still doesn’t know the internet is a thing apparently, just ask Mario Party 10) can vote for the next fighter. Simply go to this official ballot site and cast your vote. All you need to know is your gender (cause girl votes only count for .8 of man votes), the character you want, which game they came from, and why you want them. In terms of knowing your gender… I can’t really help you beyond providing this guide. Figure it out?

Okay, well if that’s as far as you got before getting lost, here are some ideas for Smash Bros. Some are safe, some are reaching, all are possible. Maybe. Power to the people! Yay!

1. Goku (Dragonball Z: The Legacy of Goku for Gameboy Advance)

I’ll start off with the Kotaku push. For those out there who don’t know – how do you not know? Goku has been around for ages. He is so popular that, even if you don’t watch anime, you’ve likely still seen him around. The Saiyan fighter seems to be a natural fit in a fighting game.

People want Goku so much that they've already added him to Smash Bros. — People want Goku so much that they’ve already added him to *Smash Bros*.

2. Paper Mario (Paper Mario for Nintendo 64)

Okay, the argument against this guy is that we shouldn’t have to vote for him. Why isn’t he already in the game? Like seriously, we got Dr. Mario as far back as Melee but Paper Mario gets no love. That’s too bad because, unlike his P.H.D. bragging counterpart, this Mario could actually warrant an original move set.

Paper Mario waiting his turn to appear in *Smash Bros*.

3. Bayonetta (Bayonetta 2 for Wii U)

If the Nintendo universe were not so devoid of sexuality, Bayonetta would probably already be in the game. Still, it comes across as kind of a dick move by Nintendo. Newcomer Platinum Games loves working with Nintendo after all. They made Bayonetta 2 a Wii U exclusive. Monolith Soft made Xenoblade Chronicles an exclusive and Shulk got to be in the game. Sounds kinda sexist there, Big N.

Bayonetta: the character who could single-handedly raise the age requirement. — Bayonetta: the character who could single handedly raise the age requirement.

4. Shovel Knight (Shovel Knight for 3DS/Wii U)

Why would not want to play as a knight wielding a shovel? Also the fact that this game has been one of the biggest indie hits for Nintendo should count for something. Let’s get Shovel Knight to dig in (haha get it?).

And he fits with Nintendo's anti-violence message! — And he fits with Nintendo’s anti-violence message!

5. Leon Kennedy (Resident Evil 4 for Gamecube/Everything)

Speaking of cashing in a favor, remember the Gamecube? Remember Resident Evil 4: that sick once-exclusive for the Gamecube that got everyone excited for Resident Evil again? Yeah, let’s give Leon his due. His move set would be unique, and maybe we could also get a cool cultist village level to fight in.

Leon's already enjoyed a crossover with Lord of the Rings, why not Nintendo? — Leon’s already enjoyed a crossover with *Lord of the Rings*, why not Nintendo?

6. Batman (Batman for NES)

Because what isn’t better with Batman in it?

Pretty much the only reason you need to vote for him.

7. Aang (Avatar: the Last Airbender for Wii)

Yeah, of course I’m going to promote more Avatar: the Last Airbender. Apart from that though, just think about it. Think about how much Aang would fit into Smash Bros. and how cool his move list would be. Did you think about it? All right, now make it happen.

With your help, Aang can finally be rendered with a mouth.

8. Bomberman (Bomberman 64 for Nintendo 64)

We already got Mario, Sonic, Mr. Game & Watch, Pac-Man, and Mega Man. Poor Bomberman is feeling left out. Besides, it would be fun to have someone with continuous access to high-powered explosives.

9. Rayman (Rayman Legends for Wii U)

Seriously, this guy has a trophy in the game. How is he not already in the game? HOW?! Nintendo and Ubisoft need to fix their stupid argument and make this a reality.

He's already a trophy! This is the hugest tease ever! — He’s already a trophy! This is the hugest tease ever!

10. Godzilla (Godzilla Unleashed for Wii)

Because Godzilla needs to fight everybody. It is his destiny. This was my vote.

Bonus: Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th for NES)

Cause f*ck Mortal Kombat X. Nintendo should get him too.

Be sure to specify that you want the purple Jason.

Nintendo's E3 2014 Strategy: oh btw… Pac-Man IS in Smash Bros.

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Colin McMahon

This year’s E3 is upon us and so far… things have been kind of dull. When re-releases like The Last of Us for PS4 and Halo: the Master Chief Collection for Xbox One are getting headlines, there is definitely a lull in excitement. Yes, you (the lucky customer) will be able to buy the same great games all over again – giving your favorite companies more money! I generalize, there have also been some great teases at exciting new games. When I say teases, I mean teases. Look at this new trailer for the new Star Wars Battlefront:

Not a ton of riveting gameplay footage there.

Anyway, in the midst of it all, there is Sony, there is Microsoft, and there is Nintendo. Yes, Nintendo is still peddling that Wii U thing of theirs. The console that has been largely forgotten recently, well up until the release of Mario Kart 8 and the arrival of psychotic Luigi to the internet.

It is no secret that there hasn’t been much excitement for the Wii U when compared to the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Not that the Wii U does not possess its own growing library of quality games, not that the Wii U doesn’t have the strongest collection of exclusive titles out there, not that the Wii U isn’t the only system this generation to be fully backwards compatible (meaning they can’t do exciting re-releases like the other two… cause you don’t have to re-buy games to play them); it’s just a weird little machine. People are still unsure about the gamepad. People still want more games. Well, here is Nintendo’s Digital Event:

There are games all right, but many titles there were products that we already knew about. Bayonetta 2 is exciting and it is awesome to see the original Bayonetta included as well but, well, where is the new Star Fox? Turns out it was there. As was Mario Party 10 and two other brand new series (currently dubbed Project Giant Robot and Project Guard). Yes, evidently Nintendo believes in saving the best… for sometime other than their national E3 event.

It came off as bizarre to see an entire block devoted to Splatoon, another new game for Wii U, with no official mention made of the other two series. Explanation: these two new series must be (and sound like they are) at a very early stage in development. Plus as these are both new IP concepts for Nintendo, maybe the company does not feel confident enough in them at this stage to broadcast the games to an international audience. That might explain Project Giant Robot and Project Guard, but not StarFox. Heck, Nintendo and Robot Chicken even made a joke about it during their presentation:

It is nice to see Nintendo using their sense of humor but it is still a strange move. Nothing generates hype quite like a trailer and all StarFox received was a blurry video of Shigeru Miyamoto playing the game. The Mario Party 10 trailer was not even included as part of Nintendo’s Digital Event. Is there still hype for these games: of course, but there could be substantially more if Nintendo had given both games a better reveal. Which brings us to Pac-Man…

As seen in the Nintendo Digital Event, there were only two Super Smash Bros. character reveal trailers: The Mii Fighter and Lady Pala – Pale – Palutena (clearly a Nintendo A-lister). Pac-Man was also revealed but at the end of the day, at a non-streamed Nintendo developer roundtable. Now this is really strange. Pac-Man represents the unprecedented third third-party character in a Super Smash Bros. game. Plus, it’s freaking Pac-Man! Players will now be able to have the ultimate retro gaming rumble as Mario, Sonic, Mega Man, and Pac-Man are all together. No, no, show Lady What’s-her-Face, that will get the crowd pumped more.

While it seems that Nintendo has had the most exciting E3 of the large companies (sorry Microsoft and Sony, I’m just not excited to re-buy games from you in the near future), the company is still employing bizarre marketing techniques. It wasn’t all bright and cheer either as Ubisoft announced that they are sitting on completed Wii U games, but are unwilling to release those titles until Nintendo can build more excitement for the Wii U.

Announcing games in bizarre ways outside of your main event may not be the most efficient way to build hype, Nintendo. Just saying.

It does help when this is how the new Zelda game will look. No, really, this is confirmed to be in-engine graphics.

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

Posted on April 9, 2014 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?

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.