It's Time To Go Hardcore

Nintendo has been seriously slacking off in the games department recently. Of course, some of their first party titles have been great, like Twilight Princess and Super Mario Galaxy. But many Wii and DS gamers are upset at the constant influx of "casual" games.

That's why Nintendo really needs to get back on their feet. To help them with this feat, I'll take a look at some of Nintendo's major franchises, and what they need to do to fix them.

Mario: I can't say that Nintendo has seriously "hurt" Mario, but that doesn't mean there aren't a few things they could do to get the hardcore players back. First off, we need another DS Mario game. New Super Mario Bros. was a great success for Nintendo, so why not bring it back? The mix of 3D moves and the classic feel was one of Nintendo's greatest feats for Mario. It seems a waste to stop Mario from going handheld. Perhaps a Paper Mario for DS? Super Paper Mario's RPG elements made it a blast to play - I can imagine how fun it would be if we could use the touch screen to make the transition from 2D to 3D.


The Legend of Zelda: I'm a little disappointed at the announcement of another toon Zelda game. It's not like I didn't enjoy them, but I miss the realism created in Twilight Princess. I understand that it would quite difficult to create a Twilight Princess-esque game for the DS, but there is not reason not to have a sequel for Wii. With 1:1 sword control, another Zelda game for Wii would be an automatic hit. The biggest thing I would ask for is another assisstant like Midna, one that actually interacts with Link and is a major part of the story.


Super Smash Bros.: WE NEED A PORTABLE SMASH. It's been far too long not to have a DS version of one of the greatest fighting games ever made. But in my opinion, Sakurai should be out. He's done a great job with the last three games, but Brawl could have been much better - less clones, a better version of the level creator (maybe with water), and a more in-depth story mode. Another Wii version would also work, but perhaps just introducing downloadable content could solve all the problems of Smash.

Kid Icarus: Ever since Brawl launched, everyone's been clamoring for another Kid Icarus game. So why not give them one? An action-adventure game with the ability to fly (limited, of course), sword and arrow control, and maybe even some RTS elements (remember Pit's Final Smash)? This would definitely make the hardcore gaming crowd happy - a sequel to an old classic that's once again fresh in our minds.


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