One-hundred and twenty-five years ago today, in 1889, the company that we know of today as Nintendo was founded in Japan. Originally, the company put out playing cards, but it also experimented with toys, a hotel, being a taxi service, and selling...instant rice. Nintendo did all of those things, but then in the 1970s, something changed. With new creative minds like Shigeru Miyamoto, the company began to put out electronic toys and arcade games...and a giant as born. Now, decades later, Nintendo is a company that many of us know and love very well. Now, that company is one-hundred and twenty-five years old. It's shaped our industry in so many ways, and is still continuing to do so with its own creative flare unlike no other. So, what better way to celebrate today, than to create a list of one-hundred and twenty-five reasons why Nintendo should be loved? Of course, it's hard to come up with all of these reasons myself...so I got some a bit of help. Also, there are some reasons that sort of overlap, but I think you all will agree with me when those happen, since they're standouts unto themselves.x In any case...here you go. Happy Birthday, Nintendo.
Here's to another 125...I know you've got it in you.
1. It Revitalized Gaming After the Crash
I won't pretend to know everything about the video game crash that happened in the early 1980s, because I still need to spend more time researching it before I fully understand what happened at the time. However, I am very aware of the fact that Nintendo played a big part in helping the industry recover. If Nintendo hadn't filled the gap created by the crash after Atari's failure, our industry could be very, very different...it could potentially not have existed at all, even. So, thanks Nintendo...for stepping in and helping lead our industry to where it is today.
2. It Essentially Helped Foster the Creation of Most Of Our Favorite Franchises
This is where things get a little overlap-y, if that makes sense. Because Nintendo helped jumpstart the industry, other companies were able to hop on board and create their own games and platforms. Nintendo's success led to Sega trying things out, and then Sony, and then Microsoft. All of these platforms, and others, assisted some way in the creation of our favorite franchises. I'm not saying that Nintendo should be credited with the creation of Halo or anything; I simply mean that they did lend a hand in companies getting to the points they did, is all.
3. It Brings People Together with Mario Kart
Nintendo's known for creating games that inspire both cooperation and competition between people. Mario Kart is one such series; the long-running kart-racer has inspired other titles like it, but none have ever matched the true greatness of throwing a banana peel behind you only to see Yoshi spin out. While I didn't really enjoy the latest Mario Kart as much as I thought I would, I can say that the series has provided me with countless hours of fun.
4. It Brings People Together with Super Smash Bros.
Like Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros. is a series that helps to bring people to play video games. Smash isn't as popular in sales, but I think it's safe to say that among the gaming populace Smash itself is more popular. Smash is something that can bring people who have just met onto a common ground, as they discuss their mains, strategies, and love for the series. Almost every night since entering college, I've played Super Smash Bros. Brawl with people on my dorm floor, because the game is that great...and we can't wait for the Wii U entry to come out (no one else has a 3DS...:().
5. Smash Has Led To Smash Hype, and Smash Hype is Amazing
The new Super Smash Bros. game is just around the corner, and that fact has led to a lot of excitement around the internet. Simply feeling the hype behind the game is amazing; when a new character is revealed, everyone I know (on Twitter, at least) is freaking out about it, and even when they hype dies down, it's still there. Everyday, someone brings Smash up; everyday, we get a bit closer, and the wait gets harder and harder. I get excited for a lot of games...but there's something different about Super Smash Bros.
6. Reggie Gave Us My Body is Ready
The line "my body is ready" has been repeated millions of times over the last few years, and it's hard not to keep doing so. Some people get tired of memes, but I've personally never really lost interest in the ones I've heard. I'll probably keep using "my body is ready" for the better part of my life. Sorry, everyone.
7. Nintendo Created Captain Falcon
8. 8-bit Tunes
I mostly listen to music that's come out of Japan in the last few years, but the tunes that composers like Koji Kondo gave us so many years ago are still so memorable. Sure, they still put out great stuff today, but there's no way people will ever forget the legendary music that came out of that era...and many, many of them were for Nintendo games.
9. The Charm of Mario
The Super Mario series has had countless titles since it appeared, and has had so many successful spin-offs that some of them are considered their own series. Nevertheless, the games that simply star Mario running around on his own, or with a couple friends, are where the true magic lies. Playing games like Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario Galaxy have inspired many gamers with their simple mechanics, but clever design.
10. The Awe of Zelda
Like Mario, The Legend of Zelda series has inspired many gamers in their clever design, but the overall sense of adventure that Zelda employs is what separates it from both Mario and other series. Link is thrust into an open world, and must defeat the forces of evil threatening the land. Sometimes the games are more story-focused, or more linear, but regardless of how they're structured they bring the familiar Zelda feeling...and that feeling is one of awe, and amazement.
11. The Awesomeness of Metroid
Even though the Metroid series has been having a rough time as of late with the god awfulness of Metroid: Other M, the series overall is still fantastic and one of the best in existence. The feeling of being alone on the dark planets that Samus explores is unlike anything else. You can say that there are Metroid like games out there...they do exist, of course...but nothing truly matches Metroid. And no, Castlevania does not count...that is a different beast (because of its themes, not its gameplay).
12. They Gave Us the Dpad
Nintendo has innovated many times in the gaming space, and one of the most well-used things they've patented is the dpad. Once the basis for moving in games, the dpad now exists more for camera adjustment and inventory management, but it's still an important facet of any game controller. Even though Sony and Microsoft have their own dpad designs, the original from Nintendo's always been the most reliable and comfortable one.
13. They Made Motion Control Games Work..Sorta
Alright, I won't go out and say the Wii's motion controls are perfect. Many people experienced trouble with them, but I personally didn't have really any problems when I played the system. In any case, the Wii was able to establish motion controls as a viable option for various types of games, including first-person shooters and adventure games.
14. They Made Miis
Some people consider Miis to be awful, and a waste of time and resources by Nintendo. However, I've always preferred them to Xbox avatars...in fact, I think Miis make Xbox avatars look...well...awful, to be perfectly honest. Miis can be funny at times, and the fact that they can be designed so oddly and messed up is definitely not a bad thing. Seeing people make Miis that look like Link, Ganondorf, and Michael Jackson is pretty awesome, and I'll never get tired of attributing various stories to them. And of course, don't forget; Miis will allow us to play as Reggie in Smash.
15. Nintendo Serves as a Gateway
Nowadays, many people seem to consider Nintendo as something off to the side, since not
Nintendo Supported Pokemon, Which Led to Team Rocket