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Nintendo Wouldn't Be Nintendo Without...

In the video game world, competition never ceases, and to remain a contender, each console manufacturer needs to maintain an identity among consumers and offer them something they can't get on any other platform. This weekend, TGR will take an in-depth look at the games -- one key franchise for each company -- that make Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony what they are today.

Today, which of Nintendo's franchises is the absolute biggest and most important?
italianbreadman - contributor
Published: 227 days 18 hours ago | Article | Wii | Nintendo DS | GameCube
 
 

Showing: 1 - 46 of 46 Comments
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predator - 227 days 18 hours ago
1 -
Mario will always be the face on Nintendo but the hardcore fans all think Nintendo are over selling him. Zelda is what I think is most important
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cain141 - 227 days 18 hours ago
1.1 -
When I think Nintendo I think mario...
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predator - 227 days 18 hours ago
1.2 -
everyone does but its Zelda where fans turn to
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butterfinger - 227 days 18 hours ago
1.3 - I am glad...
that they always seem to take their time with Zelda games. There will never be another game quite like a Zelda game for me personally. Mario platformers are usually great, but I'll still always take a Zelda game first.
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No FanS Land - 227 days 17 hours ago
1.4 -
@butterfinger

That's true, I don't know any other action/adventure game that play like Zelda, it's like the game never had any competition at all.
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Montrealien - 227 days 16 hours ago
1.5 -
I understand the point of this article and I do agree that Zelda and Mario are huge factors for Nintendo success. However I think you have to go to Nintendo`s roots to answer the main question here and the reality is, Nintendo would not be the Nintendo we know today if they never had hired Myamoto as a toy maker and ask him to make a videogame when they saw that it was the future, and that game ended up being Donkey Kong. The end.
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KKanjiAnkh - 227 days 16 hours ago
1.6 -
I love'em both, but Mario is, also the face of games, this is the most adaptable character, in the history of gaming.

Mario is a human in an oddworld, where anything is possible, but he is unrealistic, giving the range of his ablitites, to surpass, what can be done, and still seem reasonable, w/in whatever realm, he's in.
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Mini Mario - 227 days 3 hours ago
1.7 - @butterfinger
"I am glad...
that they always seem to take their time with Zelda games. There will never be another game quite like a Zelda game for me personally. Mario platformers are usually great, but I'll still always take a Zelda game first."

I guess it depends on the person. I prefer mario games (the more run and jump thru a stage type,.. using controller skills), while my brother is more a zelda a fan (who likes to think about the puzzle at hand to beat the level).

But i still love zelda too so i really depends on what u like
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cain141 - 227 days 18 hours ago
2 -
Right now none of those seem to matter. Nintendo went a year without Zelda and has done amazing saleswise.

Wii Fit and Wii Sports might actually be the most important right now...
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Seferoth75 - 227 days 17 hours ago
2.1 -
Nintendo has never released a Zelda game that often... I really do not see your point really.
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cain141 - 227 days 17 hours ago
2.2 -
lol Yeah they do...

No Zelda This Year for First Time This Decade

http://www.thegamereviews.c...
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heroicjanitor - 227 days 16 hours ago
2.3 - People only seem to remember the good Nintendo
But they haven't made a classic in years, there core fans are different now and they will never make another franchise like mario/zelda/metroid/golden sun(yeah that counts as great!) until they are pushed to do so, which is why, for the good of Nintendo's fans, Sony needs to make a comeback and fast.(Not mentioning microsoft because they don't make many of their own games, and therefore won't challenge Nintendo to make some, so don't get offended)
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Heath134 - 227 days 18 hours ago
3 -
Zelda>Mario
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italianbreadman - 227 days 18 hours ago
4 -
While Mario is the face of the Big N, the Zelda games are the company's masterpieces, for the most part.
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cain141 - 227 days 18 hours ago
4.1 -
I look forward to a new Zelda more than I do a new mario... No one else has done zelda style games right...
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Jpinter - 227 days 18 hours ago
4.2 -
I agree. Zelda in recent years has been much better than any Mario game to come out.
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BetaChris - 227 days 18 hours ago
5 -
I've always been partial to Zelda myself...
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Steven Colbert - 227 days 18 hours ago
6 -
Metroid is my main draw to Nintendo consoles but F-Zero and Zelda have also had a huge impact on me.I would not dare to continue gaming without most of the Nintendo franchises.
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cain141 - 227 days 18 hours ago
6.1 -
Yet those are the game they are holding back right now!!!

Help us oh great N... give us games!
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Shane Kim - 227 days 18 hours ago
6.2 -
Hell yeah, Super Metriod is just pure awesomeness.
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Allowen - 227 days 18 hours ago
7 -
Nintendo is too weak for me on this gen because they seems to be having problems to release many new Mario and Zelda games anong the other franchises,

When I bought my Wii I thought that I would see all the time new Mario and Zelda and Metroid games since these games don't need to have a "kill zone 2"graphics that requires 4- 6 years to make it.

Some ppl will say that graphics does not matter in terms of how long it takes to develop a game but it is strange when you see other uber cool graphic games on the other consoles where they took 2-4 years to get made but then Nintendo takes 4 years to make a new Mario Kart,,,,,

The game that will come this year that will make me turn on my Wii again is The Conduit from Sega. Shame on you Nintendo....Jesus Crist you don't whant to make games anymore ?not even the super ultra simple games like Wiiplay ???
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butterfinger - 227 days 18 hours ago
7.1 - You should really consider...
turning on your Wii again for MadWorld (also published by Sega). It really is a lot of M-rated fun.
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Dv8thwonder - 227 days 17 hours ago
7.2 - Nintendo never focuses heavily on graphics
You want to know the reason there's not a Mario or Zelda released every year.Gameplay, that and it would strain the franchises drasticly.Gameplay is king!
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Xander-RKoS - 227 days 16 hours ago
7.3 -
The fact that one Mario game was released for each console for the last two generations should probably help you understand that it takes them a long time to make them, and Zelda usually gets 2 in a consoles entire lifetime.

In fact, the we usually see one or two games of each franchise per console, so I don't know where this "they aren't releasing anything" thing comes from when we've already seen a Mario title, a Zelda title, a Metroid title, an Animal Crossing title, a Wario title, a Mario kart title, and a Smash bros. title. Heck, they're even bringing back Punch-Out and Sin and Punishment. I think the only thing we're missing for the rest of this generation is a Star Fox title, another Metroid title, and an F-zero title and I think the Wii would have matched the GCN's life (a kirby game would also be appreciated).
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Dv8thwonder - 227 days 18 hours ago
8 - "Leave luck to the heavens"
Nintendo wouldn't be Nintendo without Shigeru Miyamoto.
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cain141 - 227 days 17 hours ago
8.1 -
No one can deny that one...
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SpoonyRedMage - 227 days 16 hours ago
8.2 -
Gaming wouldn't be gaming with Shigeru Miyamoto.
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Allowen - 227 days 18 hours ago
9 -
When Sega stopped to make consoles I considered Nintendo my new #1 choice but the way they doing on this gen I might not by a Nintendo's console anymore.

For now on my #1 choice is Sony Playstation3 and now I will get myself an Xbox360 too.

if were not for Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime 3 that once in a while I want to play then again I would have sold my Nintendo Wii by now.
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Seferoth75 - 227 days 17 hours ago
9.1 -
Your first post kinda proved you never supported Nintendo.. Expecting tons of games every year?

You even go so far as to act like Nintendo has nothing to release this year. Totally ignoring Punch Out and Sin and punishment. No Nintendo fan would do that.

If you own one you really need to sell it because you are part of the casual gamer problem. you do not support consoles therefore you should not own a console.

I cant stand you guys that buy a PS3 or Wii and then refuse to support it but its all the Wii/PS3s fault that you're not a gamer..
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cain141 - 227 days 17 hours ago
9.2 -
@9.1

What type of twisted logic is that? If he doesn't support a rail shooter (which imo suck) and a wiimote gimmick boxing title he's not a gamer?
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Seferoth75 - 227 days 16 hours ago
9.3 -
@Cain, Obviously my point was beyond your ability to comprehend. I'd explain it but it would be a waste of my time. Needless to say you not liking a game doesnt mean it doesnt exist. So keep on defending senseless hate and making lame excuses to try to justify it. Doesnt change the fact that no real Nintendo fan would ignore 2 years worth of games. No amount of hate from you is going to change that.
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cain141 - 227 days 15 hours ago
9.4 -
@9.3

My allegiance isn't to a company but to games I enjoy. I didn't once say that there were not good games on the nintendo platform. I just don't see the ones I want.

But if you fanboy blinders are blocking your view that badly have fun walking off a cliff...
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Obama - 227 days 17 hours ago
10 -
I used to play mario a little when I was small but never go crazy about it. Same goes for Zelda. I guess they are just not my ideal type of games.
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cain141 - 227 days 17 hours ago
10.1 -
What types do you like then?
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cyguration - 227 days 16 hours ago
10.2 - Wait a second...
I thought Obama liked the Wii?? 0_o
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Obama - 227 days 16 hours ago
10.3 -
jprg, fps, and action games are my ideal types of games. Zelda is jrpg but not my kind of jrpg either.
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thelastawakening - 227 days 17 hours ago
11 -
I haven't owned a Nintendo system since the Snes, I usually got my zelda fixes from my lil bro's n64 and NGC (he's a Big N fanboy lol)and I can honesty say w/o the zelda series I wouldn't have touched them otherwise. I think the only way I'd ever buy a new nintendo system is if they made a new metroid game that wasn't first person. I'm sorry super metroid made a huge impact on my gaming habits when I was a wee lad and a new metroid would so make my day........a dream that seems so far a new metroid with ps3 graphics........droool
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sidar - 227 days 16 hours ago
11.1 -
just wondering did you finish metroid prime 1?
If not i suggest you do, cause i wasnt a fan either untill i actually finished the first one.
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sidar - 227 days 16 hours ago
12 -
Yep zelda over mario in my book too...but that doesn't mean Mario games arent great XD
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CaCl - 227 days 16 hours ago
13 - FOR ME
i dont know what i would do without mario im twenty now and i still cant wait for the next mario kart smash mario zelda metroid games not to leave out kirby fox and f zero THANK YOU BIG N for my hours of enjoyment over the years there has been a few hiccups but for me its realy hard to not like your games
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stewie32887 - 227 days 16 hours ago
14 -
Mario has never done it for me but Zelda? God when I was a kid I used to watch a home video over and over again because you could see someone playing Zelda in the background. What a great series.
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Cajun Chicken - 227 days 16 hours ago
15 -
...Platformers.
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SlamVanderhuge - 227 days 13 hours ago
16 -
Mario. F-Zero. Punchout. Metroid.

Nuff said.
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elninbo - 227 days 3 hours ago
17 - Super Smash Bros.
This is the nintendo game that does it for me...

The N64 version, not Melee or Brawl
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Dv8thwonder - 226 days 20 hours ago
18 - Epiphany
Nintendo wouldn't be Nintendo without gamers who wouldn't be gamers if there were no Nintendo.
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gidzilla - 225 days 23 hours ago
19 -
I think Zelda is going to struggle more than mario to keep re-inventing itself.
Playing Zelda is becoming a bit of a deja vous - and now we get get him riding around on a train. mental.
Saying that my faveourite game of all time is Legend of Zelda: a link to the past. Super Mario 3 coming a close second.
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