Nintendo could have won the E3
They really had a chance.
However, they took the easy route and limited Retro Studios down to just two options: a new Metroid or another Donkey Kong Country game. And one can only assume how much influence Nintendo may have had on that decision---after all Donkey Kong Country Returns did outsell the entire Metroid Prime Trilogy combined and the company really needs another hit on their hands. And Retro decided to go with another Donkey Kong Country.
What killed us gamers and Nintendo fans was that the project was a massive secret for quite some time and added to the mystery by actually hiring people from other game companies---including top dog Naughty Dog. The possibilities were endless. Say what you will about Nintendo and their decisions, they have an incredible first-party lineup of franchises that are beloved and can use a facelift:
Metroid (Other M really hurt it)
Earthbound (Nintendo needs an RPG and now)
Star Fox
F-Zero (Please....please..this one especially......)
Star Tropics (Here is a video to remind you)
Wave Race
Excitebike
Mario Party
Mario Tennis
Wario Land
Even The Legend of Zelda could use a nice facelift from Retro Studios. This Texas company has saved and/or improved three franchises within the next decade, from Metroid to the Donkey Kong brand. They have the talent, they have the patience, and the attention to detail to be able to transform lesser-known or downfallen franchises and make them relevant again. Critics know this, gamers know this, and Nintendo knows this. This is why it hurts that instead of one of the series I mentioned above, we get:
And I get that Nintendo wants to play it safe. I understand that. But Nintendo's recent success in the past decade has been because of their wild card factor. Their gambles, their surprises, their attempts to try something new. The Wii overall was a gamble, the 3DS was a gamble, Smash Brothers Brawl was a shocker when they added Snake and Sonic, Metroid Other M was a shocker, Goldeneye 007's spiritual sequel was a surprise, NBA Jam Wii was a surprise, Kid Icarus on 3DS was a shock, and there are many other smaller examples sprinkled throughout. This is what we expect, this is what we anticipate. The crazy uncle factor is what has separated them from Sony and Microsoft in this entire millennium----which have become neck and neck even with this upcoming holiday season.
So now with all the wild cards hiding and the safe games being revealed what do we see? Sequels. Mario Kart 8. Link to the Past 2 (May I remind you, on the wrong system too). Mario 3D World. Smash Brothers 4 and 4.5. Yoshi's Island 2. Pikmin 3. Shall I continue? I mean, some of those games sound exciting....but these are obvious sequels to games that we knew were going to happen. But what about:
Star Fox 6 (Last game: 2006)?
F-Zero 7 (Last game: 2004)?
Star Tropics 3 (Last game: 1994)?
Super Metroid 2 (Last 2-D Incarnation: 2004)?
All we needed was one of these games to show up with the crop of usual and expected sequels and its wild card status could have won it E3. With Microsoft being absolutely stupid and Sony saying all the right things but missing games (Did it even show any non-Kingdom Hearts exclusive games???) Nintendo had the chance to shine with a purebred lineup of games. Instead, lots of apologizing, lots of 2014 sequels, and no major surprises to look forward to from Retro Studios.
Every major system has/needs its major go-to company for the peak of quality gaming. Microsoft had Rare before being forced to depend on Bungie (and losing them..), Sony has the mighty Naughty Dog (Which practically saved the PS3 in recent years with Uncharted and The Last of Us), and Nintendo is used to depending on themselves--with some success and some failure. This must stop, its time to give this mantle to a company with a superior track record in recent years. That company is Retro Studios. Give them the keys to all the franchises and prevent them from taking the easy route. Donkey Kong Country Returns 2 is the easy route.
And this is why Nintendo lost.
No Wild Card in their hand.
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