It's December 24th, 1999, and a young 4 year old boy is about to have his life changed by a single present. The boy unveils a brand new purple Gameboy Color along with a small yellow cartridge known as Pokemon Yellow. The boy played through that game dozens of times, thus becoming forever entranced with the world of video games. Does this story sound familiar to anyone? I would be willing to bet many of you have had similar experiences with one of Nintendo's multiple systems or games. Many years have passed since that Christmas day, but that boy is still an avid gamer and die hard Nintendo fan.
Since the beginning, Nintendo has had a knack for creating experiences that transcend simply fun and games; they have created magical worlds that you can get lost in. Remember that first time you set foot into the world of Super Mario 64? Seeing that huge expanse before you leading into the heart of a towering castle is a sight you may never forget. Remember traveling for hours around the world of Hyrule in Ocarina of Time, befriending new allies and slaying evil beasts throughout it? Remember the hopeless feeling you get as you explore the world of Zebes and realize that you are truly alone in this hostile territory? Nintendo has excelled for years at creating these experiences that transport you to a world that feels truly alive.
The first, but certainly not the last time I really felt that Nintendo magic was with Super Mario World. The first Mario game I'd ever played, Super Mario World opened up a door into the wonderfully colorful and diverse Mario universe. Even though I had already played Pokemon Yellow extensively, this was the game that got me hooked on this fantastic hobby. I learned the first several areas like the back of my hand, running through them as fast as possible and gathering every secret I could. Every time I heard the upbeat music and saw the vibrant levels my eyes widened in excitement. I owe my love of video games to this single cartridge, a love that only grew as I experienced more Nintendo games.
Throughout my life, I've played dozens of the other Nintendo greats. From Mario and Zelda, to Pokemon and Fire Emblem, I've journeyed through many of Nintendo's greatest worlds. These games have given me more than just simple entertainment, they've given me experiences that I'll remember for a lifetime. One such example of these lifetime experiences is the greatest game I've ever played, the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Ocarina of Time is a masterful blend of storytelling, gameplay, music, and art. The fairytale like story is filled with interesting characters, places, and memorable moments. I still vividly remember the first time I walked out of the Temple of Time after releasing the Master Sword. Immediately I knew something was amiss; the sky was blackened and the cheerful music replaced by a chilling silence. Upon walking into the once vibrant Hyrule Castle Town, my heart sank. The town was in ruins and the the once cheerful villagers were now replaced with lumbering redeads. Moments such as these are constantly leaving you in awe as you complete your quest to end the reign of the evil Ganondorf.
Recently I've felt my love for Nintendo reigniting thanks to the great titles available on Wii and Wii U. Games like Super Mario Galaxy have once again shown me the creativity and joy that comes with a Nintendo game. Basing a platformer around the concept of gravity and planets is such a genius idea and it shows with Galaxy. The Wii U has even given me the chance to play a game that I never got to enjoy. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD is one of my favorite games from last year; rather than feeling like a reboot it felt like an incredible coming of age journey where a small boy has to thwart the plots of a tyrannical man named Ganondorf. Sound Familiar? While Wind Waker may take the same base idea from every other zelda game, this time it feels more personal. Instead of rescuing Zelda you are out to rescue your sister and actually work with Zelda through a lot of it. It's these twists that make the game feel original and genuine.
Even after having played all of these titles, I have still missed out on some of Nintendo's greatest. Earthbound, Metroid Prime, Animal Crossing, F-Zero, Pikmin, Star Fox 64, and Super Mario RPG are just a few of the notable games that I've missed out on. I can't wait to dive into the charming, quirky stories of Super Mario RPG at and Earthbound. I'm still looking for a way to explore the desolate world of Metroid Prime. Pikmin 3 is downloaded on my Wii U and waiting to be played. Even still Nintendo games are dragging me in, begging me to play them and experience the joy and creativity they hold within the disc or cartridge.
Nintendo has influenced hundreds of lives throughout it's 125 years of existence, and it's still going strong. Without classics like Mario and Zelda many games would not exist in the way they do, if even at all. Games like Darksiders, God of War, and every basically every platformer takes notes from those two legendary games. Every kart racer, every metroidvania game, and most other games borrow concepts from Nintendo classics. It's this influence that can still be felt in the industry today as developers constantly announce new experiences.
Probably the biggest reason that I love Nintendo is the way they treat their customers. Nintendo goes beyond just customers and fans and treats it's consumers as a Family. Nintendo is always willing to embrace it's"family", evidenced by things like Nintendo Direct and the Club Nintendo Rewards program. It's not hard to believe that everyone working at Nintendo is passionate about gaming and delivering quality experiences. Reggie, Iwata, Miyamoto, and the entire treehouse team are full of life and willing to deliver quality content with a healthy dose of fun and comedy. From Robot Chicken skits, Luigi Death Stares, and a full fight sequence between two Nintendo big wigs, Nintendo knows how to have fun. I'm sure everyone can give me a list of Nintendo's questionable business choices, but in the end it's hard to argue that they don't care about their Nintendo family.
With all of this being said, you can imagine how disheartened I am every time I hear about the "Death of Nintendo" or read all the"Nintendoomed" statements that appear on Nintendo articles. If Nintendo were to disappear there would be a little less charm and creativity in the world. Creativity is still at the heart of every Nintendo project, and it's something that many other developers have lost sight of. So many games today feel like carbon copies of one another and aim for gritty realism with as much blood and foul language they can muster. I enjoy a good bloody romp killing hordes of enemies as well as a super deep emotionally charged story, but Nintendo always knows how to deliver fun. Reggie said it best at E3 this year,"There's nothing wrong with having a little fun." With upcoming projects like Zelda U, Splatoon, Smash Bros for Wii U and 3DS, Captain Toad's Treasure Tracker, and Star Fox, Nintendo has proven that they still have something to offer to the gaming world; something that no one else can possibly deliver.
So Happy 125th Birthday Nintendo, and here's to plenty more.
-blaze6106
P.S. Thanks Guys from the Overblood Facebook Group that helped me work on a title, and particularly Kyle Valentine whose idea I took the most inspiration from.