The video game industry has never been more powerful. Incredible innovations continue to be made in the field and Nintendo is a company that’s been at the forefront of gaming for decades. Every year there are new and exciting intellectual properties that debut, but Nintendo is particularly effective at maintaining franchises that span across multiple consoles and generations of gaming.
Nintendo has cultivated a popular stable of characters, but there are just as many that have also fallen to the wayside. It’s become increasingly popular to remake older games with modern mechanics and new engines. When it comes to Nintendo’s properties there are some where a fresh coat of paint would do wonders and others that don’t need to be touched at all.
10 Need: The Legend Of Zelda: Oracle Of Ages And Seasons Have Become Lost Classics
The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo’s flagship franchises that’s become just as much of a console-mover as the Super Mario games. Some of the biggest Zelda titles are console releases, but it’s also a series that has a wide list of satisfying handheld titles that haven’t received the same level of appreciation. The Switch’s recent remake of the Game Boy title, Link’s Awakening, sets a strong precedent that’s left audiences hungry for more. The Game Boy Color's Oracle of Ages and Seasons are arguably even better than Link’s Awakening and would benefit from the same upgrades.
9 Don't Need: Super Mario 64 Remains An Addictive Classic
It’s remarkable that one of the Nintendo 64’s launch titles is still one of its very best. Super Mario 64 didn’t just revolutionize the Super Mario series, but 3D platformers in general. It’s not perfect, but it’s still an incredibly enjoyable experience. The recent release of Super Mario 3D All-Stars put Super Mario 64 on a modern console with minimal aesthetic changes and it’s proof that the original is still a masterpiece of gaming. That’s not to say that a 4K upgrade wouldn’t look incredible, but there’s no need to rebuild this game like there is with some others.
8 Need: Wario World Bungles A Solid Game With Messy Execution
Wario is often treated as the more mischievous counterpart to Mario who’s filled the role of villain but also grown into a figure that can headline his own series. The WarioWare and Wario Land series still hold up, but it’s Wario’s Gamecube adventure, Wario World, that’s in need of the remake.
Wario World has tremendous potential and could have kicked off a whole trend of 3D Wario titles. The Gamecube game is too short and feels like a tease for a better game. It’s the perfect template that can be improved upon and also receive a heavy dose of Waluigi.
7 Don’t Need: The Donkey Kong Country Series Remain A Masterclass In Platforming
The Super Mario World games frequently get singled out as the best Super Nintendo platformers, but it’s incredible to consider just how much is packed into the Donkey Kong Country trilogy. The games don’t just deliver some of the most challenging and rewarding 2D platforming, but the music and graphics are on a whole other level for the time. There have been new Donkey Kong Country titles, but they wisely craft original stories instead of recreating the classics. Those Super Nintendo classics are still a perfect time capsule of gaming from that time period and should not be compromised.
6 Need: Kid Icarus: Uprising Can Benefit From Stronger Hardware
Masahiro Sakurai has become a legend in the gaming industry because of his work as the architect behind the Super Smash Bros. series, but his contributions to the Kirby and Kid Icarus franchises are equally deep. Kid Icarus: Uprising is a dazzling return to the classic Nintendo franchise that makes inspired work of the Nintendo 3DS' 3D effects and gyroscopic controls. Kid Icarus: Uprising is a great game, but restricted to only those with a 3DS. It would absolutely benefit from a console upgrade that smoothes out the wrinkles with the Switch's hardware.
5 Don’t Need: Mother 3 Perfects The Art Of Storytelling
Nintendo of America’s relationship with the Earthbound/Mother series continues to perplex gamers. Earthbound is one of the most well-regarded titles on the Super Nintendo, but it’s taken Nintendo a very long time to show the other entries in the series the same affection.
Mother 3 is a highly ambitious RPG that follows many characters across several radical time periods. The Game Boy Advance game still has a graphical aesthetic that’s charming and it doesn’t require some major visual overhaul. This is an occasion where fans don’t want a remake and they just want a way to experience the original game.
4 Need: The Return Of Star Wars Makes Rogue Squadron More Viable Than Ever
There are some excellent Star Wars video games and some of the finest entries are Factor 5’s Rogue Squadron series. The original Rogue Squadron is a highlight on the Nintendo 64 and the next two entries are standout Gamecube titles. There were canceled plans to release a remade trilogy that compiles the three Rogue Squadron games and such a prospect is even more appealing now. The Star Wars universe has expanded in major ways that could be incorporated into a new Rogue Squadron and the game could finally incorporate multiplayer, something that was woefully absent in the originals.
3 Don’t Need: The Rewarding Simplicity Of Star Fox 64 Is What Makes It A Hit
Star Fox is another one of Nintendo’s most valuable franchises, yet one that’s slightly fallen out of favor in recent years. Star Fox hasn’t been completely abandoned, but the most recent entries in the series haven’t been the necessary step forward for the games. A lot of the time it feels like Star Fox titles just continue to chase the glory that’s Star Fox 64. The N64 game is hardly the pinnacle of gaming, but it perfects what it does and offers a surprising amount to master for the more dedicated gamers. Star Fox 64 nails the formula.
2 Need: Ice Climber Has Never Gotten The Opportunity For Modern Updates
Ice Climber is such an unusual Nintendo entry because it’s been around since the original Nintendo Entertainment System, but it’s failed to materialize any sequels or updates. Ice Climber’s mascots, Popo and Nana, have become considerably more popular due to their presence in the Super Smash Bros. series, which is even more of a reason to bring them back. The mechanics behind Ice Climber aren’t that dissimilar from the original Super Mario Bros. and there are so many directions a new Ice Climber could go, whether it sticks to its original template or becomes a fully 3D adventure.
1 Don’t Need: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Breaks The Mold And Is Still A Triumph
Nintendo has taken some risks with Mario. Paper Mario may have started as an unconventional follow-up to Super Mario RPG, but it’s evolved into its own franchise with distinct gameplay mechanics, a unique visual style, and an eccentric sense of humor. There can often be diminishing returns on Paper Mario entries, but the Gamecube’s The Thousand-Year Door is an absolute success. The game cribs from many different genres of gameplay to deliver a different experience for each branch of the story. It’s a level of creativity that still resonates strongly and the game’s trademark look allows it to stay timeless.
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