Nintendo's Backwards Compatibility is Still....Backwards

So the Nintendo WiiU’s sales have been quite dismal in these opening months. A promised excellent opening lineup has been reduced to pure nonsense as most of the games got delayed, pushed around, or maybe even cancelled. Pikmin 3 got cancelled, Rayman got cancelled, Lego City Stories just came out when it was promised at launch, Virtual Console and Nintendo TV got pushed back and we will not be seeing any traces of heavy-hitters until the summer with E3---an E3 that Nintendo desperately needs to win for momentum.



Rock Band unveiled its final song for downloadable content, which is the humbly overrated American Pie. This song will follow the 2,000+ songs that were available to download for the Guitar Hero-killing video game that has aged gracefully because of its arsenal of DLC and because of tis budding list of music to choose from.


Now, while these two previous paragraphs may hold no correlation, there is one indeed embedded within the sentences. There is a reason why Rock Band continued to hold an audience despite being 5 years old, and there is a reason why the Nintendo WiiU is having such an atrocious start even though it has such a great chance to succeed: downloadable content. Rock Band managed to outgross Guitar Hero in the long run even though it was nowhere near as popular with the pop culture. And this was because they managed to utilize its potential and continued to pour on the new songs bringing classics and mixing them up with newer rock songs to play.


The WiiU on the other hand, there is no excuse. The first HD Nintendo system still doesn’t have Virtual Console games and it has been out for several months. The first high-definition system, the first to emphasize downloadable content and external/internal hard drives has yet to truly branch off and offer an exclusive massive lineup that would combine the classics along with the modern-day games. We have progressed far, far too much in technology to see only one or two classic games a week being released on the console. This is inexcusable.


Newsflash: The Nintendo 3DS and PS3 were two major systems with very slow launches and first years that are now flourishing because the games were being released in a consistent pace. If you release the games, they will come, it is a very simple strategy. The original Playstation took down the (superior, don’t deny this) Nintendo 64 simply because it released an abundance of games that overwhelmed gamers and the competition. Now let’s talk about the WiiU.


Nintendo WiiU, you should have had hundreds of games ready and available at launch through the Virtual Console. All they had to do when the plans were set for this system ions ago was to figure out a way to bring all the arcade, NES, SNES, N64, and Gamecube gems into the Virtual Console and make them available as soon as humanely possible. Who can possibly deny the chance to re-play SNES games in an HD system by Christmas? Who could deny the opportunity to download games like Mario Sunshine, Wind Waker, and Smash Brothers Melee at launch? The backwards compatibility potential is strongest for Nintendo not just because it has the richest history of the current systems, but up until this past year they have the best first-party games out there. Third-party runs Xbox 360, but the first-party is what saved and allowed the Nintendo Wii to win. Not to mention, the first-party is what prevented the Gamecube from becoming another Dreamcast.


I had discussed this way before the release of the Nintendo WiiU, SNES and N64 classics getting the HD touch was a major requirement to win back the hardcore fanbase while trying to maintain the mainstream audience that had gobbled over the Wii. Just thought of Majora’s Mask HD and Yoshi’s Island HD makes me salivate. And they don’t even have to be HD, if you offered over a hundred Nintendo classics over its long history at less than $10 its hours upon hours of potential gameplay appealing to the old-schoolers and the new-schoolers that weren’t around when the games originally came out.


However, with a piss-poor online shop and now with the game lineup stretching quite thin until this winter, the WiiU is slow on sales and eating away at Nintendo’s profits. If it weren’t for the torrid resurgence of the Nintendo 3DS, who knows where Nintendo would be right now.



All of this could have been avoided if Nintendo had planned ahead, reached into the past, and found a way to have a massive and extensive lineup from the getgo. Nintendo had the chance to own Christmas. Now, they have to fight the PS4 next holiday season for any chance of winning the war.



Never underestimate the power of downloadable content. Just ask Angry Birds, Rock Band, and the IPad.

What's in a Console's Name?

So the WiiU isn’t exactly selling like hotcakes. As a matter of fact the original Wii is outselling it right now, as we speak. In the United States and also in Europe, the WiiU is being outsold by the seventh generation systems and by a substantial amount. And so now while Nintendo refuses to engage in panic mode, they must be mildly pondering why the company’s very first HD system isn’t reaching into the mainstream like the Nintendo Wii did all those years ago. And while I have lots of theories and possible explanations as to why its chugging along slowly in the sales department, I think the main reason is very simple and very low key:

The name.

Nintendo WiiU. What a miserable name.

Does that honestly sound like an upgrade over the Wii? Or does it sound more like just a mere add-on?  Doesn't the WiiU sound very....2005ish? Doesn't this sound like a mere miserable upgrade over a system that has already tarnished its reputation because of its final 2-3 years? Let's look at the progression of names:

XBox--XBox 360. Very simple, sounds like an upgrade from the getgo.

Playstation--Playstation 2---Playstation 3. Also simple, and each time sounds like an upgrade over the previous system.

Even Nintendo had it right for a while:

NES -- Super Nintendo -- Nintendo 64
Game Boy -- Game Boy Color -- Game Boy Advance


But then the marketing department got lazy and didn't focus much on the names, with the major upgrade over the DS being called just the 3DS, and the Nintendo Wii's successor being the Nintendo WiiU. This is why the 3DS had such a slow start, because it just sounded like another version of the DS and doesn't quite exemplify its superior hardware, superior graphics, and upgraded gaming. The WiiU is suffering the same fate--after all, if you had not read and researched about it (and Nintendo did not help at all with all the secretive ways just weeks prior to the launch) you would not know that this is Nintendo's FIRST HD system, as well its first majorly interactive system with heavy online capabilities.

That's right, how can Nintendo's first HD system not be a good seller? How can the idea of HD versions of Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Smash Brothers, Pokemon, etc. not be appealing to gamers? Its because that detail is lost behind the uninspiring name. Now, the marketing team has to work extra hard to ensure that the WiiU isn't a mere minor upgrade, but a major improvement.

After all, the name doesn't say squat.

10 Gamecube Games in Need of an HD Rerelease

The Nintendo WiiU has hit stores and one of the biggest questions concerning the system is the backwards-compatibility. But we aren’t talking about the Wii (even though I have discussed that the service has to stop bullspitting and truly blow up), but actually on the Nintendo Gamecube. Believe it or not, it’s been 10 years since the cube hit stores and became a financial disappointment although it delivered some of the best video games of the new millennium. Now, while I have been strongly begging and pleading for HD remakes and re-dos of past Nintendo classics, there has not been word on just how the Gamecube games (and if) will look once they do eventually arrive to the Virtual Console.


Nonetheless, I will remain faithful that Nintendo will do the right thing and enhance the Gamecube games a bit before putting them in the online store. I am personally willing to shell out a little extra for the HD touch—after all, look how that improved Perfect Dark and Marvel vs. Capcom on Xbox Live. Here is my list of the 10 Gamecube games that most definitely needs the HD re-release for new gamers to enjoy.

Honorable Mention


1)      Super Smash Brothers Melee: I do actually doubt that this will happen, because why spend $60 on the new upcoming Smash Bros. when you can spend $15-$20 on the HD remake of arguably the greatest fighting game of all-time? Melee is pure action perfection and remains the quickest, most responsive, most rewarding, and deepest fighter in the franchise and in the business.


2)      Viewtiful Joe: Capcom deserves no positive fame or fortune whatsoever for being one of the shadiest gaming companies out there. So although this is a fantastic game and can use an HD touch, I’d rather not see this game at all. Remember Capcom was the company that backed off a guarantee of releasing 5 exclusives to Nintendo only to dismantle the entire deal slowly but surely.


3)      Resident Evil 4: See above answer.

Now to the Top 10!





#10) Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes

Now, this game was a hybrid of the first two games in the Metal Gear Solid franchise that helped Sony become the king of gaming for 10 years. Enhancing this one with an HD touch would give Nintendo its first foray into the Metal Gear world in full definition. It was a slick game that improved upon the few flaws of the original Metal Gear Solid and combining with some extra goodies, became one of the best mature titles of the generation. Add the HD, add some MGS2 mayhem, and I promise you this $20 game will sell like hotcakes.

P.S. Snake’s appeal in Smash Brothers should improve the chances Nintendo gets an actual Metal Gear Solid game in the future.



#9) Soul Calibur II

Not sure what happened to this franchise, but it doesn’t hold the gamers’ attention like it used to back when it hit the Dreamcast and achieved that rare IGN perfect score. Soul Calibur II is arguably one of the best fighting games out there, and then throwing in the ability to fight as Link only made things all the sweeter.  Bringing this back, throwing in the HD, throw in some more playable characters, and smooth out the controls will make this a gem worthy of revisiting. The Marvel fighter series was saved because of MvC2 on Xbox Arcade, and Soul Calibur II on the WiiU can achieve this same type of revival.

P.S. In case you argue that Nintendo gamers don’t purchase fighting games: Smash Brothers Brawl is the only fighting game in history to sell over 10 million copies. Nuff’ said.


#8) Tales of Symphonia

The Tales series is an interesting one, for it holds an interesting relationship with Nintendo. Despite having two of their biggest hits on Nintendo systems, the Tales games see more spotlight in the Sony systems. Nonetheless, bringing back the surprise-surprise hit Tales of Symphonia would definitely improve relations amongst all the parties involved if done right. This is the biggest Tales hit, and by far the one with the most room for improvement and refreshment. Tidy up the graphics, improve the animation, and give it a big-screen feel will certainly lift this epic story and game into new heights that you couldn’t achieve all those years ago. With being one of the better Nintendo RPGs in the last decade, there is nowhere to go but up with this one.

P.S. I find it odd that Nintendo didn’t attempt to milk this installment in the franchise.



#7) The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords

If you ever ponder what Link to the Past or Link’s Awakening would look like with the HD touch, then this game would be a nice experiment. The puzzling Zelda entry in the history of the fabled franchise, Four Swords came off as a game that required far too much to fully enjoy. After all, you had to fine three other people with Game Boy Advance systems in order to get the full treatment. Now, we can fix this by just making it a good ol’ fashioned 4-player game. There was a good game to be found in all the hardware muddle, and putting HD graphics and perhaps some new material on it would give this game a new life and a second chance at obtaining an audience.

P.S. Anyone else up for remaking Oracle of Ages/Oracles of Seasons for the WiiU?


#6) Eternal Darkness

Let’s have fun with this story: this game was well-received by critics to the nth degree, loved by gamers, but was purchased by essentially nobody. To make matters stranger, Nintendo holds the patent to the gameplay style, which remains a style that’s used…..never. And the patent has been renewed….recently. So, is the sequel going to happen? Or is this a mere ploy into being able to produce an HD remake or re-release? Whatever the reason, it has to be done. Eternal Darkness was a psychologically engaging game with plenty of twists and scary moments. It was Nintendo at its most mature, and at times its most creative. Just making it HD would be enough, but throwing in some more scares and moments that will warp your mind would make this one of the most essential purchases in the entire run of the WiiU.

P.S. I am surprised the patent to screw with your game hasn’t been used anywhere else, not even in the recent ZombieU.


#5) Super Mario Sunshine

Hands-down the most underrated Gamecube gem (Seriously, why don’t we talk about this game?) in the history of the machine, Super Mario Sunshine is a modern platform classic that was a great blend of music, gameplay, animation, and style. This game is literally just one HD update away from transforming into a purchase worthy of every penny. Seriously, that’s all it takes. Give it the Mario Galaxy polish, HD it up, and honestly, you are set.

P.S. While I prefer the open-style exploration of Mario 64, I would not mind a waterpack resurgence in the future.


#4) Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader

The best Star Wars video game of all-time (Nobody say KOTOR, I will scream), Rogue Leader from the Gamecube launched displayed how powerful the system was. As a matter of fact, few games ever topped it in terms of visuals as well as gameplay throughout its run. Now with Disney at the helm, they can fork over the big bucks, totally upgrade the entire game visually, add more levels and ships, and re-release this excellent game on the WiiU. Introducing this to a new generation of gamers and Star Wars fans would be nothing short of a great idea.

P.S. I am still waiting for Rogue Squadron IV. Just saying.


#3: F-Zero GX

The fastest, toughest, and craziest racing game I’ve ever played, F-Zero GX is the franchise fully realized and nearly hitting its full potential. This game would benefit greatly from getting the HD treatment and having the ability to run on a much more powerful system. While most skipped out on this game when it had first come out, this game is too good to not get a second chance. Give it the high definition upgrade, add all the characters and courses from the arcade version of the game, and I will buy this day one. And should every racing fan or anyone that enjoys a challenge.

P.S. If we don’t get an announcement for an F-Zero game within the next year, I will be royally disappointed.




#2: Metroid Prime

Without a doubt one of the greatest games of all-time, Metroid Prime should become an HD game as soon as possible so we can a) relive this wonderful experience and b) showcase everyone how a Metroid game SHOULD be done, instead of the light/dark theme in Prime 2, the rather Halo-ish turn it took in Prime 3, and the abomination that eventually became Other M. All that is needed here is a visual upgrade, nothing more. This game is perfection and shouldn’t be fiddled with too much.

P.S. A downloadable Metroid Prime Trilogy HD upgrade would be fantastic, especially now that the original game package is out of stock.








#1: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker



This isn’t the best Gamecube game in history, but its definitely the one that will most benefit from an HD upgrade and a move to a larger system. Back in the early 2000s, this game was so huge it was almost a chore to churn through when collecting the final pieces of the Triforce. But there was so much space and so many little islands in between major areas, this game could keep you entertained for hours. This essentially predates the Elder Scrolls transformation into 100-hour games.
Wind Waker wasn’t my favorite art style in a Zelda game, but the gameplay more than made up for it, and there’s plenty of room for even more enhancement. Imagine not only giving it HD, but also throwing in more islands, more secret places to go, and more sidequests. A Skyrim-style expansion would make this remake, this return to the Great Sea a worthwhile one.

P.S. If Nintendo really wanted to win the hearts of gamers, they would package Wind Waker with an upgraded Phantom Hourglass

Keys to the Success of the Nintendo WiiU

The Nintendo WiiU is hours away from being launched into the stratosphere (and technically by the time you read this article it’s probably already out) and being the first system in a new generation several years ahead of the competition, one of two things will happen: total success to the nth degree, or total disaster. The last time a company attempted this---well….Sega Dreamcast. Now, I have devised a list of things Nintendo must do in order for the WiiU to ever have a shot at matching the success of the Nintendo Wii, which did indeed win the Seventh Generation, even after giving up two years ago.



Strong First Year


The launch isn’t half-bad, with Mario, Pikmin, a few third-party gems, and a few surprises sprinkling the first couple months. But 2013 has to have many more surprises because as of now, the WiiU really has not discussed about anything past March. At least two of the major players in Nintendo should make an appearance, whether it be a good Mario spin-off, Metroid, or perhaps recent forgotten franchises like Kirby, F-Zero, or Fire Emblem. There is a good chance that ultra-secret Retro Studios project can be the big-big release of 2013.




Perfect the Online


Microsoft has conquered the online gaming market for years, and Sony and Nintendo will never catch up. Seriously, never. That being said, Nintendo has three major cards that could really threaten Microsoft’s Xbox Live fanbase. Mario Kart, Pokemon, and Super Smash Brothers. One is the best-selling racing franchise in the history of gaming, the other is the best-selling RPG franchise in history, and the last one contains two of the best-selling fighting games of all-time. Now, if Nintendo can greatly improve their online functionality, then there’s no reason why these three franchises couldn’t create games that will be played for years upon years to come.

Imagine the online Pokemon tournaments. Imagine the Mario Kart worldwide leaderboard. Imagine the random matches of Smash Brothers 4. Mario Kart 64 essentially was the first game to perfect multi-player of more than two players, so it only makes sense that Nintendo finally takes the next major step in multi-player. But it has to be done. It must be done. In order to really appeal to the hardcore, its time to embrace the internet.

P.S. You better improve that Virtual Console, Nintendo has far too many great games for them to neglect some.



Embrace the Past

Let’s be honest: Nintendo’s remaining hardcore fanbase is still around because they still yearn for 90s Nintendo when almost every single exclusive was a pure gem, from Super Mario World in 1991 straight to 1999’s Pokemon Snap. So with this being said, why not start doing the HD collections or HD remakes and start selling them? I would love to see SNES and N64 classics getting the cleaned-up HD touch. If there is a company with plenty of history to refer to, Nintendo is definitely a grand example. Imagine how awesome it would be to have HD collections of Mario, Zelda, Metroid, etc.




Zelda Must Be On Top (Of the gaming world, you perverts)

Every single generation since the NES, Zelda was the biggest, baddest, and most amazing game in the business. Nintendo always went the extra extra mile with Zelda. From the original through Majora’s Mask, Nintendo would always have that edge over the competitors with this franchise. Hardcore gamers used to hang on to that Nintendo because of Zelda. Now…well, not so much. Wind Waker ditched the usual Zelda look, and Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword looked like games trying to follow the trend, not necessarily set them. This next Zelda needs to impress in multiple layers like the good ol’ days in order for Nintendo to really get the respect and attention of the true-blue gamers. Every major system has that one Best Picture Oscar-like game that showcases their best work. Sony has the Uncharted franchise, Microsoft has Halo, and Nintendo has Zelda. To move more sales, Zelda in HD better impress.



Second or Third-Party Must Improve

Third-party gaming has always been an issue with Nintendo, as the gaming industry has the memory of an elephant. The Playstation exists solely because of an act of revenge back in 1994. Most other companies still remember Nintendo’s death struggle on smaller companies back in the NES and SNES days. Because of this, the first-party games are what has kept Nintendo afloat during their weaker days like the late N64 days and the entire Gamecube run.

Now, third-party definitely improved on the Wii whether you realize it or not. Just Dance, Guitar Hero, Disney, and even Sega have benefited greatly from the surprise smash hit system. But there’s much work to be done, as there are still franchises like Final Fantasy, Grand Theft Auto, Burnout, Need for Speed, among others that have not moved their way to Nintendo in recent years---if ever. The Wii can technically classify itself as a dark horse win as many factors outside the actual system contributed to its victory. I doubt the WiiU can be this lucky—so they must improve relations with third-party companies OR—

Improve the second-party offerings. Nintendo has a good slew of companies to rely on, and they need to continue putting out good games. They have Intelligent Systems, Next Level Games, Camelot, and especially Retro Studios that can carry the mantle once held by Rareware as the top go-to company when first-party falters. In recent years the second-party offering was a bit lacking with a few disappointments here and there. So if the WiiU wants to really succeed, they must whether help their smaller companies step up or find a way to entice the bigger shareware industries to step up their game or at least actually put some effort in Nintendo product.


Price Drop When Others Launch

This one is very simple: don’t get greedy. The second the next Xbox and next Playstation launches, you better have a price cut in hand because those competitors will have prettier machines, more powerful machies, more capable machines, and above all, much more money to run through. Nintendo’s ability to correctly drop a price at the right time is what saved the 3DS (temporarily) and destroyed the Vita. Dropping the WiiU down to between $250-$275 when the Xbox 720 launches at $450-$500 will be quite a nasty blow to the competition.





Finish Strong

This is the most important, because for two generations Nintendo ended in a feeble whimper. The N64’s mistake was extremely poor marketing and not truly embracing the final gems of Pokemon Stadium 2, Perfect Dark, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, and especially Majora’s Mask. You need to save some of your best cards for last in order to give the system some necessary legs and good momentum once you hit the ninth generation. I can promise you the hype towards the WiiU isn’t as big because the Wii ended so, freakin’, weakly.

Save some dark horse franchises for the end. Ending the WiiU run with a Star Fox sequel, an F-Zero sequel, a WiiU version of Advance Wars, or perhaps even that Earthbound game we had always wanted to see would do nothing but great things to the sales, and the overall reputation of the gaming device. 

Nintendo, don’t just start strong, finish strong. All the great systems did the same---the NES, the SNES (especially), and the Playstation 2---with the Playstation 3 doing the same except for the fact that it might be another three years before we see the PS4.






I wish the WiiU success because when Nintendo succeeds and looks good, the gaming industry as a whole improves.

The Potential Epicness of SNES HD

The Super Nintendo we all know is arguably the greatest system ever created. All the forces of nature were working in its favor, as the first-party games of Nintendo were almost all masterpieces, and the company even got a slew of instant classics from second and even third-party developers. IGN even managed a list of the 100 greatest SNES games, and as of now have not included a title that felt like just filler to complete the ranking (except for that one unicycle game). In my personal ranking of the 20 greatest video games in history, a good percentage of them are on the Super Nintendo. And in terms of musical soundtracks, the SNES occupies the top titles on the list. The Super Nintendo has handed us a better controller, and a more consistent (in terms of quality not quantity) and varied library of games than any other system out there. The XBox 360 was closest, but failed to deliver enough RPGs and (great) platform games to take the crown.


Part of the appeal of the Virtual Console when it was announced was that we gamers could purchase SNES gems at a cheap price to enjoy and to introduce them to a new generation of gamers. Years after the Virtual Console debut, check out these pitiful numbers: only 94 SNES titles for the Japanese gamers, and only 71 for the United States. Now keep in mind IGN has a list of the 100 best games for the SNES. These numbers are ridiculous, and totally unnecessary. Even the Playstation 3 has schooled Nintendo in terms of bringing back classics wither plethora of PSOne titles that are available for purchase online. Check out these lists—although the Japanese once again get triple the content that the Western Hemisphere gamers get. You would think that Nintendo would be the company shelling out and whoring out their greatest hits. The WiiU can change this unfortunate predicament. While the WiiU has been rumored to focus on re-releasing Gamecube titles, I think they should go a step further by creating the SNES HD.


Picture this: taking all of the classic SNES titles that we all know and love, clean up the graphics, enhance them a little, widen the screen ratio to match those of the HDTV around the world, add a few nice touches and surprises, and re-releasing them yet again for the WiiU. This also gives Nintendo a second chance to unleash the full potential of the Virtual Console, and gain support from the third-parties that helped shape the Super Nintendo so long ago. It would be the section of the Virtual Console we're definitely going to visit the most.


Can you imagine Super Metroid HD? Super Mario World HD? Earthbound HD? Mega Man X HD? Contra III HD? Donkey Kong Country 2 HD? Link to the Past HD? Super Mario RPG HD? Mortal Kombat II HD? Yoshi’s Island HD? Turtles in Time HD? Super Mario Kart HD? Now if the game already looks stellar, we don’t have to add any 3-D or other effects to the game, but instead clean the frame rate, clean any potential glitches, and give it the widescreen support. And for most of the games I’ve mentioned, that’s all you need.

With most SNES games, a small high-definition clean-up is all you have to do to make that $10 purchase a good one. A great one actually. We can even take it a step further by offering an enhanced soundtrack to most of these games. Can you imagine playing Super Metroid with one of several OCRemix songs playing in the background? Street Fighter II Turbo for XBox Live did that and look how well it turned out. Now this would work on the WiiU not only because it’s a more powerful system and the demand for HD versions of classic games remains decently high (See: Marvel vs. Capcom 2 HD), but also because the WiiU controller and its massive screen in the middle would be utterly perfect for playing Super Nintendo games. Now for those pondering, it wasn’t totally my idea—the idea stems from the XBox Live recent support of adding a nice HD touch to games from the past like Street Fighter II and Perfect Dark (my favorite example—still the best shooter of all-time).


Bottom Line: Nintendo can really step up to the plate and deliver next year if they can do what they did with the SNES games on the Wii—except offer much more than a measly 71 games out of a potential 700+, and then add some HD abilities to most of their games. While this is indeed a long shot, if games like Super Mario World, Super Mario RPG, Final Fantasy III, and others can receive the HD treatment and attention that HD remakes like Street Fighter and Perfect Dark had gotten, we could see a major reason why it would be worth getting a WiiU.

An idea like this can definitely get the blessing of third-party companies, as I’m sure they’ll love to have their classics enhanced for a new audience. Companies like Sega and Capcom can definitely benefit from a linking to the past for the WiiU. Come on now, wouldn’t you fork over a cool 10 bucks to replay a Super Metroid game with cleaned-up graphics and HD-widescreen support? I am sure there is a league of gamers that would. These classic games stretched the hardware and software limitations of the Super Nintendo. With the WiiU, that limit has been stretched much farther, and its time for these games' full potential to be reached.