Top 5 best Horror Games on Nintendo Systems

It's October and you all know what this means. Yes it's this time of the year again. The time of ghouls and ghosts. The time were we are all aching for a good scare. Of course finding such on Nintendo consoles may be a hard, but not impossible. Over the years our favourite maker of game consoles has been home to some pretty terryfying experiences. And no I'm not talking about the Zelda CDI games. Instead I want to take this chance to dedicate this weeks toplist to a genre that often is overlooked between Marios and Links adventures, but is just as important for a healthy console library. At least for me.

So join me in taking a look at the five best Horror games on Nintendo consoles.

5: Clock Tower

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It's hard to imagine by todays standards, but the first Clock Tower Game on the Super Nintendo was really terryfying. Even when I played it some years ago, when I was in my mid twenties, I still felt a little bit uneasy. Of course the Graphics are extremely outdated, but hte gameplay still perfectly transfers the feeling of help- and hopelessness.

The Story of the game is quickly told. The protagonist Jennifer and three other children are adopted by a wealthy, secluded living man, named Simon Barrows. After the are brought to his mansion, which is named Clocktower after it's most prominent feature, and Mr. Barrows is nowhere to be found, Jennifer opts to search for him. Shortly after she finds the corpse of one of the other girls and from that point onward, is stalked by a mysterious deformed man with a huge pair of scissors.

Like I said earlier Clock Tower is stil a good horror game, despite its outdated graphics, because it perfectly translates the horror via Gameplay. As with all Point and Click games you only indirectly control Jennifer. But that's not what I'm speaking about. The two main factors that keep the game working even today are Scissorman and how your character reacts to him. Scissorman may look grotesque and even funny at first glance, but the gameplay he creates is truly terryfying. The developers have perfectly incorporated one of the fundamental rules of Horror. You can't fight the monster. If you try Scissorman will kill you. Everytime.

Instead you have to hide or use enviromental traps to momentarly stop him. But here comes the second genious gameplay twist into play. Whenever Scissorman is nearby you enter panic mode. Simpyl said Jennifer is fearing for her life and this clouds her judgement. In panic mode you may trip and generally act slower based on your health.

This all coupled with the extremely open structure of the game with several endings and pathways to take made Clock Tower and instand classic in the Horror Genre with several great sequels, which sadly can't be found on Nintendo consoles.

4: Resident Evil Revelations

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While Resident Evil 4 is an excellent game and has claimed it's rightful place in history, it was also the first step away from the classic Resident Evil formula. Of course the end result is one of the best games of all time and most certainly the best Resident Evil game overall, but it can't be denied that it toned down the Horror Atmosphere from previous titles a little. The shift towards a more action oriented franchise started with this title and because we're talking about Horror games here, I wanted to shine the spotlight on another entry. One that brought RE back on track and put down the groundwork for the series excellent resurrection in Resident Evil 7. Of course I'm talking about the first Revelations game on the 3DS.

When the game was first introduced I, and many others, where sceptical. Can a Horror game work on a handheld console? The simple answer is, yes it can. Revelations was one of the first games that really made the 3D effect worthwile, simply because it looked great. Capcom really got everything out of the Hardware and created a gorgeous 3DS title.

But what made the game truly a success was that it perfectly brought back the old Resident Evil theme. The abandoned cruise liner Queen Zenobia is a perfect Horror location. It manages to combine grand setpieces with claustrophobic and dark corridors. But what really puts Revelations on this list is the great enemies they introduced. The T-Abyss Virus infection creates truly amazing monsters, and even though the enemy variety could be bigger, Capcom managed to create truly disturbing monsters for you to fight. And of course you don't fight them in hordes, which helps to keep things rather fresh (and frightening).

3: Eternal Darkness

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You can't make a list about Horror games on Nintendo consoles without mentioning this GameCube classic. If you're familiar with the Psycho Mantis Bossfight in Metal Gear Solid for the Playstation then let me tell you that Eternal Darkness is this Boss fight turned into a full game. And also if you're a fan of H.P. Lovecraft and lament his lack of presence in the video game world, then let me tell you that this is a game you need to play, as it's story is heavily inspired by the authors works.

But what is the story? Well just like the rest of the game it's complicated. The main protagonist of the game is Alexandra Roivas, but most of the time you'll be playing other characters which stories Alexandra experiences through reading in the Tome of Eternal Darknss. The Story spans over more than two centuries starting in 26 b.c. up until Alexandras part in the year 2000. It's very well written and deals heavily with the concepts of insanity and cosmic horror. I won't say anything more, just that this game is well worth playing for the great story alone.

But luckily that's not all Eternal Darkness has going on for it. The gameplay is also quite good. But of course the one thing that I have to mention, and central pillar of the gameplay, is the sanity meter. Your characters don't stay unaffected by the Horrors they'll have to face in order to survive. All of this takes a heavy toll on the mind. And Eternal Darkness takes joy in showing this to you. Every time your sanity meter drops lower more and more hallucinations will occur. Thes hallucinations are often character and location specific, so there is a shit ton of them. And the most insidious thing is that they don't ''physically'' affect your character, but they all make it harder to survive. For example a room is now full of monsters or upside down. And of course there are the legendary Fourth Wall breaks like the fake error screen that tells you your save data has been lost and so forth.

Overall Eternal Darkness is a true mindfuck of a game in the best way possible and should be enjoyed by every fan of Horror games.

2: Silent Hill: Shattered Memories

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I haven't played Silent Hill 2....

I haven't played Silent Hill....

but I have played Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. And to all of you now saying that this is a remake of the first Silent Hill congratulations. You're technically correct. The best kind of correct.

But now back to the actual game. As stated above Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is a remake of the first Silent Hill for the Wii, but that's not entirely true. It's more of a reimagining of the first game. It has the same basic premise as the first, the main characters search for his daughter, but the plot has been altered as well as new and changed characters. The biggest change, however, is the the new and defining feature of psychotherapy sessions. From time to time you'll enter these first person sessions and answer questions. And the answers you give will then influence the future gameplay and surroundings. This creates an incredibly dynamic game that feels different for every player.

One thing that makes Silent Hill: Shattered Memories so frightening is it's monsters. Or should I say monster? Instead of many differend creatures hunting you this time around it's only one typ of monster. But don't worry you won't get bored of them because just like the rest of the game they are everychanging. Every action you take and every answer you give to the psychotherapist alters their appearance. This ensures that these monsters not only feel very threatening, but also keeps them unique for every player.

And one last thing adds to their impact. You can't fight them. Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is the first title in the series without any combat system. Instead you have to avoid and outwit the monsters your own action have created. And that makes for one hell of a memorable play session.

1: Project Zero 2:

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When the Project Zero (Fatal Frame) IP was partially bought by Nintendo I didn't think much of it. A friend had owned the first installment on his PlayStation 2, but we never actually came around to playing it. So when I got a used copy of the Wii Remake of the second game, Crimson Butterfly, I didn't knew what I was in for. What i got was simply one of the greatest horror trips I've ever experienced.

The plot of the game is simple. The Twin Girls Mio and Mayu visit their favourite childhood playspot before it's lost to a damn construction. But the nearby forest had been home to a village a long time ago where the Crimson Sacrifice Ritual was performed. When this ritual failed one day the whole village vanished. Now there is an urban legend that whoever wanders to deep into the nearby woods becomes forever entrapped in the lost village.

I don't think I have to delve any deeper into the story, do I?

But the story is not the part that makes this game so special to me. It's the simple fact that this game has created one of the best atmospheres I've ever experienced in a video game, period. The dangerous beauty of the Lost Village really pulled me in, even with the outdated Wii hardware. And one thing that the developers understood masterfully was how to create a perfect, threatening enviroment. The Ghosts never lose their edge and every encounter had my heart beating. The game doesn't overload you with encounters, but perfectly paces them and keeps you in a state of constant tension. It is a really stressful experience. And that's what makes it so great.

So tell me. What games had a chill running down your spine? Which made you turn on the light at night? Let me know your experiences in the comments.

And as always

thanks for reading

Top 5 atmospheric Games on Nintendo Consoles

Happy and colorful. That is the image that Nintendo has cultivated over the years. And that's the way they are seen by the general public. Just take a look at their two latest big new IPs, Splatoon and ARMS, and you'll see it for yourself. Now of course there is nothing wrong with that, and that's the last thing I would want to imply. But this image, as true as it is, leads to one simple problem. At least in my eyes. People tend to see Nintendo as just that. It's just a kids and family company. And this will and should always be Nintendos main identity. But to say Nintendo is just that is very, very wrong.

When I say to you, think of a typical Nintendo title, most of you probably going to have a very specific picture in mind. But what people tend to forget, when thinking of Nintendo games, is that there is more than just the Happy and colorful fassade. There are countless games for Nintendo consoles with thick atmosphere. Of course this doesn't exclude happy and colorful ones, but most people tend to forget that. When you think of an atmospheric game you probably think of something dark and brooding. Which is a damn shame because atmosphere can come in all shapes and colors. So today I'd like to focus on this topic. I hope you'll enjoy my little collection of atmospheric Nintendo games.

5: Xenoblade Chronicles X

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For me this game is still one of the best games on the Wii-U and it's a damn shame that so few people have played it. Luckily Xenoblade Chronicles 2 looks just as promising, so maybe this time around more people get to enjoy the creative worlds that Monolith tends to create. Because if there is one thing that this studio excels at, then it's creating imaginative worlds with rich atmosphere. And while the original Xenoblade had some really cool areas, which has to be expected of a game set on two gigantic titans, Xenoblade Chronicles X really took the cake for me. Becaues it was one of the few games that managed to create truly alien feeling areas. While venturing through Sylvalum or Noctilum I never had the feeling that something like this could exist on earth. Together with the genius music this created an alien atmosphere that has yet to be replicated by another game for me.

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There is hardly anything comparable to the feeling of soaring through the Noctilum with your Skell. The titanic beasts and awe-inspiring enviroments just suck me in. Or the contrast between the calm serenity of Sylvalum and the deadly beasts that inhabit it. The other three continents int the game, Oblivia, Cauldros and Primordia, don't manage to live up to that standard fully, but they are just as beautiful. Especially at night.

Sadly that rich atmosphere is sometimes interrupted by the gameplay. I'm not talking about battles or the like, but things like collectibles being small blue crystals floating on the overworld instaed of actual things. Picking up an actual plant from the ground or simply driving over a bluy crystal symbolizing it, is a huge difference. Especially in the atmosphere department. Still the awe-inspiring enviroments will (hopefully) let forget about such minor hiccups.

4: Zombi U

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Everytime I mention this game I praise it. But it's simply that good. Especially for being a launch title on the Wii-U. Coming from a time when Ubisoft still was fully behind Nintendo this game sought to do what Red Seel on the Wii couldn't. Showing of the new unique capabilities of the console and create a good title in the process. What we got is still one of the best Horror titles on any console. Ubisoft managed to do the unthinkable and make Zombies menacing again. And they did it with one simple trick, which also was responsible for the great atmosphere of the title. The perrfect use of the Wii-U gamepad. I have already talked countless times that Zombi U used the problem of competing screens to it's advantage. By not pausing the game when you open the inventory and forcing the player to look onto the gamepad they create a threatening atmosphere where you never can relax. Just how a Horror Game should feel.

Zombi U is the perfect example that you don't need the latest tech and best graphics to create an atmosphere that sucks you into the game. It uses the limitations and possibilities of it's hardware perfectly. That's also the reason why the port of the game for X-Box, PlayStation and PC didn't truly work in my eyes. Zombi U only works fully on the Wii-U, but here it creates a horror atmosphere that doesn't allow you to relax even one second.

3: Metroid Prime

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You can't talk about atmosphere without mentioning one of the most atmospheric game series of all time. Even with it's limited tools on the NES and SNES Metroid always managed to suck you into it's alien worlds. The feeling of isolation mixed with the greatness of Samus Aran truly created an unique atmosphere. So when the series made the jump to 3D enviroments it continued to do exactly that. Metroid Prime was a huge risk for Nintendo. Not only was the series on a more than seven year hiatus, but the preceding game also was one of the greatest of all time. So could Talon IV keep up with the creepy and alien atmosphere of Planet Zebes?

To answer this question quickly. Yes it could. Retro masterfully reimagined Metroid as First-Person title, and while Talon IV may not feel as alien as Zebes at first glance, it is an absolutely stunning and atmospheric place to visit. Even now more than a decade later.

The one thing Retro absolutely nailed on their first try with the Metroid Series was the feeling of lonelyness. Exploring Talon IV always feels dangerous, but never out of your league. After all your Samus Aran.

One of the main reasons for the great atmosphere of the title is, without a doubt, the switch to first-Person. This creates a much stronger connection with the game. Metroid Prime manages to make you forget your surroundings and completely sucks you into it's alien world. And any game that still manages that more than a decade after it's release deserves a place on this list.

2: Resident Evil 4

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In 2002 Capcom announced the Capcom 5. Five exclusive titles for the Nintendo Gamecube. Among those was one game in particular that created a lot of buzz. Resident Evil had been a PlayStation exclusive series up until then. But after releasing the excellent Remake on the first title on the GameCube the wind seemed to change. And so the excellent Resident Evil 4 was created from the ground up as GameCube exclusive. (Ironic because nowadays nearly each available platform on the market got a port of this game.)

After the third title in the series and the spin-off Code: Veronica the Resident Evil franchise was in a tight spot. The games, great as they were, had started to feel stale. Because of that game creator Shinji Mikami decided that the gameplay of the series needed a rework. The result was, and still is, one of the greates horror titles ever.

So what is so great about the atmosphere in Resident Evil 4? Well I could talk about how great the game sill looks or how the varied and detailed enviroments or rural spain suck you in. But the thing that truly creates the great atmosphere, at least for me, are the enemies. No longer are you fighting brainless Zombies, but infected villages and cul people. And while the Las Plagas parasite has made them obedient towards the cult, it hasn't turned them into mindless Zombies. They behave quite dynamically and adjust to your strategy. And that's what makes this game so atmospheric.

1: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

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Never ever before have I lost myself to such an extent in a virtual world. Only Skyrim and my first time playing World of Warcraft in 2005 come close to the feeling that Breath of the Wild created. When the game was first introduced in 2014 I couldn't completely believe Nintendos promise of a truly open game, where you could tackle problems from any possible angle. But I happily admit how wrong I was. Not only did Breath of the Wild create the most ''open'' Open world so far, but it also has showed me the limitations other, similar, games have. Awkwardly jumping up a mountain in Skyrim now feels so much worse after experiencing the climbing system in BotW.

To me the game is the complete package where presentation and gameplay perfectly work together to create the single best atmosphere in any game I've played so far.

An important factor in that is the genious muscial score, that is praised far to less when talking about the game. Yes the score is very withdrawn, but that's exactly the idea. It is only there to emphasize the world. Take the Hebra Mountains as an example. The sparse music there serves to pull you in and emphasize the feeling of cold- and lonelyness that these mountains emit. Also when the Score wells up from time to time it feels that much more intense and special.

If you've never played Breath of the Wild it's hard to describe but the ability to go wherever you want simply changes everything. When playing Breath of the Wild I don't have the feeling that I'm playing a game, instead it truly feels like an adventure. An Adventure everyone should experience for themselves.

So what games manage to suck you in with their atmosphere? Which games let you forget the fact that you're playing a game? I really love to hear your answer. So let me know in the comments.

And as always

thanks for reading

5 old Nintendo titles that deserve a remake

Have you all been busy playing Samus Returns? The Remake of the original Metroid 2 for GameBoy had me shackled to my 3DS screen for the whole weekend. I think calling it just a remake doesn't do the end result justice. Nintendo and Mercury Steam did more than that. They took the original and build a completely new game on it's foundation. Not only did they improve the graphics, but they added story, new areas and the amazing melee counter feature. Metroid: Samus Returns truly is the ultimate version of the original Metroid 2.

But this remake has had me thinking. What other games of the past deserve the same treatment?

There are lots of Nintendo classics out there which were held back by the limitations of their time. Not to say that they are bad games, but looking at what they created out of Metroid 2 with Samus Returns it makes you wonder what possibilities other titles hold.

We now live in the world of remasters, HD remakes and ports, so seeing an actual remake, built from the ground up, is an exciting prospect. And it's something I would love to see more off.

5: Kid Icarus

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The original Kid Icarus often gets overlooked when talking about great Nintendo games. It launched only a little more than four months after Metroid in Japan and in the EU and US it even launched before Samus iconic first adventure. Because it used the same basic formula it is often called a clone, but even though the games might be similar tha doesn't diminish the fact that Kid Icarus is an excellent title. Pit got a little bit more atention in the past couple of years via his inclusion in Smash Bros. and he even recieved a new title in 2012. But after that the series once again went into hibernation.

A remake of the first game would be a good way to gauge interest for a continuitation of the series. The artstyle of Uprising could be used for that job creating a familiar feel for anyone who played the 2012 entrance of the series.

Kid Icarus would also make sense because of it's genre. In recent times the Metroidvania genre has grown in popularity thanks to excellent indie titles like Hollow Knight. Because of that there is now a pretty big demand for such games and as one of the pioneers of that genre Kid Icarus would surely attract some attention. Also with all the enhanced backstory that Uprising introduced adding new parts to the original is definitely possible. And lastly with a release more than 30 years ago you can't accuse Nintendo of cashing in on the IP by re-releasing a title from last year or so.

4: Links Awakening

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You always remember your first and have fond memories of it. That's why I'll always consider Link's Awaking among my favourite Zelda titles. It also helps that it is a damn good game. It's always amazing to see how much the developers got onto the GameBoy. It's the full Zelda experience with eight dungeons, side objectives and even a trading sequence. Also it's definitely the most ''loose'' of all the Zelda games with things like Goombas appearing as enemies or a Mario lookalike turning into a Tanuki. Thins you wouldn't expect in a Zelda title.

Of course being my first Zelda title I will always have a soft spot for the original Links Awakening. Especially when talking about the original German translation and all the raunchy humor it contained, but by using the Link between Worlds Engine and adapting the title for the 3DS you could open up one of the darkest Zelda stories for a whole new audience.

Unlike Kid Icarus or Metroid Zeld doesn't need this remake. It's not a series that has been slumbering for the past couple of years, but instead saw the biggest release in franchise history earlier this year with Breath of the Wild. But just like Breath of the Wild was a bold new step into a completely new direction for the series, a remake for Links Awakening could be a great and cost effective way to give players a more traditional Zelda experience. Also it would allow one of the more obscure Zelda titles to shine instead of A Link to the Past (which would also be a great candidate for a remake)

3: Wario Land 4

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This won't be the only time we get to see Wario on this list, but more on that later. He may have started as a villian, but Nintendo seemed to realize that Marios greedy evil clone was the perfect anti-hero. And so the next game after his first appearance in Mario Land 2 was in his own game titled Wario Land. From this came a long and successfull series of great Jump'n'Run games which, in my opinion, peaked with Wario Land 4 for the GameBoy Advance.

Not only did this title sport some of the most imaginative level designs of the series, but also added several mechanics that truly created an unique Jump'n'Run experience. The core of the Wario Land series has always been the collection of different treasures and as many coins as you you could. Even in the first this unlocked several endings in which Wario either owned a Bird House or a full blown Planet at the end. Wario Land 4 took this concept and build one of the best portable Jump'n'Runs on this foundation.

Levels in Wario Land 4 always consist of two parts. Your first goal is to find a Keyghost, which will open the door to the next level. For this you progress normally through the level, avoiding obstacles and collecting hidden treasure. But there is a twist. The Ghost can only be accessed after setting of a bomb, which will blow up the whole level. So now your goal is to escapce as fast as you can. This makes every level a mixture of exploration in the first part and a frantic speed run back in the second.

Wario Land 4 also offers a second quest like Hardmode, which is a rarity in most Jump'n'Run games.

So with all this in mind the game would be a welcome change of pace in todays market. Also if they could use the artstyle of The Shake Dimension i could die happily.

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2: Donkey Kong Land series

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Now I may bend the rules a little bit with this one, but hey it's my list after all. When Rare introduced the World to the Donkey Kong Country games all were blown away by the graphical power they showcased. Of course some voices of dissent suggested that without the fancy graphics the games wouldn't be half as good. So what did Rare do to prove them wrong? They released the Donkey Kong Land series of games.

I think especially the first deserves a mention. Because while 2 and 3 were heavily inspired by their respective Country conterparts the first one was truly his own game, even featuring a City as final world. The Story was that Kranky, unsatisfied by DKs showcase in the first Country, hired King K. Rool to steal all bananas again. Talk about a nonsense plot. But the level design can't be disputed. It proved that Rare could create great games, no matter the technical limitations.

Donkey Kong Land still stands the test of time gameplay wise, but the yellowish graphics on the first Gameboy really are hard to watch nowadays. Reworking these titles for the 3DS, using the Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D engine, or the Tropical Freeze one on the Swithc (one can dream) would be a great way of giving us Fans some more Donkey Kong, without involving Retro. (They should work on a differen project)

1: Super Mario Land 2: The Six Golden Coins

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When I talked about Wario Land 4 earlier I mentioned that he would appear once again on this list. Most of you probably guessed that it would be this title. Especially since I praised it loudly in another post of mine. But it's just a simple fact that Super Mario Land 2 is this good. After the first adventure of the worlds most favourite (Ex-)Plumber successfully transfered the Mario experience onto the Handheld. Even though there were some hiccups. Still it was a solid Mario game.

The sequel, however, blew the first one out of the water in every aspect. Not only the graphics got massively improved, but we also got a overworld map and free level selection. Honestly the game much more seemed like a portable Mario World than a sequel to the first one. Also it featured some very unique enemies and levels, unlike anyhting seen before and after in other Mario games.

I already mentioned the worldmap. Unlike the one on Mario World, which still was offering a straightforward progression path, the Island in Mario Land 2 was completely open. What I mean by that is that you could tackle each of the six worlds the game offered in any order you wanted. Got stuck on a level in the Pumpkin Zone? Just head over to the Turtle Zone and enjoy some excellent water action.

Generally speaking Super Mario Land 2 offered an incredible ammound of diversity for a GameBoy game. From szenery to mechanics. How often do you see Mario wearing a space suit and jumping around on the moon with low gravity? Or have him shrunk to microscopic Size and battle ants in their hive?

Mario Land 2 is the perfect candidate for a Remake, not only because it is a great game, but also an unique one. Something that hasn't been seen in the Mario Universe since then. Also I want to see how the Jason Vorhees Masks with knives in their heads look like after a graphical overhaul.

So this was my selection for five older Nintendo titles, which deserve the remake treatment Samus Returns got. What games would you like to see getting a complete graphical overhaul? Let me know in the comments

and as always

thanks for reading

5 times Nintendo dropped the Ball with Metroid

This week it's finally time. Seven years after the last ''proper'' release in the series we're getting a new Metroid game. Of course it's not completely new, but ''just'' a remaster of Metroid 2 for the Gameboy, but if you compare both games directly it's like night and day. Metroid: Samus Returns is not just a remaster with better graphics, but a true remake build from the foundation that was Metroid 2. With new areas and more story this game will be worth it even if you know the original in and out. Or at least that's what I hope. The definitive answer will arrive on the 15^th of September when the game finally launches.

Still in the past Metroid fans didn't have it easy. Even though Samus is often considered as one of the big three Nintendo figures, together with Link and Mario, she is by far the character with the fewest appearances. Also Nintendo hasn't been handling her all to well in the past. And while I'm sure that Samus Returns and the upcoming Prime 4 will be a return to form for her, it can't be denied that Nintendo has had several missteps in Metroids long and storied history.

So before we, hopefully, return to a positive outlook for the Metroid series let us delve one last time into the dark pits that was the Metroid series in the last couple of years. Hopefully by looking back at the darkness behind us the light at the end of the tunnel will shine even brighter.

So without further ado here are the five times Nintendo has dropped the Ball with Metroid.

5: Metroid Prime Pinball

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Metroid is a series that has a very unique atmosphere. No matter which game you play all perfectly translate the feeling of being alone in space perfectly to the player. So what is the natural idea for the first Spin-off game in the series? If your answer is a Pinball game because of Samus Morph Ball then I think I hate you. Metroid Prime Pinball was released in 2005 in NA (or 2007 in Europe) for the Nintendo DS. It was a commercial failure selling only 6,228 copies during it's first month, but more importantly this was the first proper Spin-off game the Metroid series recieved. Not only that but it felt more like a cheap cash in, than a full fledged game. Nearly all reviews criticized the lack of variety and content.

Not to say that the game was bad, but a series with such a long history clearly deserved more. Metroid Prime Pinball is a perfect example on how to cheaply cash in on a huge IP. In todays market it would probably be a phone game, created to make a quick buck. Still some of the redeeming qualities the game has, are the fact that it's actually a pretty good pinball game and fans of the Metroid series will recognize many details on the different tables.

Still the fact remains that the first proper Spin-off the Metroid series recieved should have been something more thematically appropriate. A stealth based game where you play a Federation Spy or maybe a team based shooter with some federation forces.... which brings us to...

4: Metroid Prime Federation Force

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Hach Metroid Prime Federation force... you were so young and innocent. But you were also delivered to us at the worst possible time. You just can't hope that Fans, who have been waiting for a new game in a franchise, will take lightly to a spin-off game using a completely different art style and having little in common with the main line entries. Federation Force has been doomed from the start, which is a pity because the game wasn't that bad. It's not great by any means, but it is a solid team shooter. It was a solid Spin-off and certainly more thematically fitting than a Pinball game.

Then why is it higher on this list? The answer is simple. When Metroid Prime Pinball was released it was between Prime 2 and 3 during one of the best peroids for being a Metroid fan. As a result the game was mostly ignored or accepted as a fun oddity. When Federation Force released it had been six years since the last proper Metroid title. And that title was Other M.

So the first Metroid title after a full console cycle was a game where you didn't even play Samus. And while I did say that the game wasn't half bad there is one glaring flaw, which I simply can't ignore. Earlier I said that Metroid is a game series with a strong and rich atmosphere. And that is the one thing that Federation Force is severly lacking. The Chibi Artstyle they chose for this adventure simply doesn't mix well with the idea of a Metroid title.

So in conclusion the game came at the worst possible time and with the worst possible art style. Which is a damn shame because otherwise I'm sure it would've been a success. So in the end Nintendo is to blame for the fall of Metroid Prime: Federation Force

3: Not celebrating the 25^th anniversary

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2011 was a huge year for Nintendo. During e3 they celebrated 25 years of Zelda with a live orchestra and later that year Skyward Sword, the biggest Zelda releas up to that point, came out for the Wii. And Nintendo really went all out to make the 25^th anniversary of the Zelda series as big as possible.

Another series that celebrated it's 25^th birthday during that year was Metroid. Of course you wouldn't know because Nintendo did absolutely nothing to remind you of that fact. No concerts, no release, not even a sale of older titles on the e-shop.

Hey Samus thanks for 25 years of service and staring in several of the most critically aclaimed video games of all time. Here's a friendly handshake. Now back into the closet with you.

Metroid is often ranked among the most important Nintendo franchises. Even though it doesn't sell huge quantities of games it has an extremely high standing among the more hardcore gamers. A demographic in which Nintendo doesn't have the strongest standing. Metroid is one of the few possibilities to garner the attention of that crowd. By not celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the Metroid series Nintendo let a perfect opportunity got to waste to promote their brand as something more than just a casual paradise.

2: Metroid Other M

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Metroid Other M started with a bold vision. Giving Samus a voice. But along the way it seems like Nintendo forgot that she also has to say something with that voice. When Other M was released Voice Acting was still a novelty in Nintendo titles. Metroid Prime: Corruptoin had been the trail blazer three years earlier. Samus, however, had remained silent during the course of that game. And looking back this was the right decision.

Before Other M we never knew what Samus was thinking. So we had to fill that with our own imagination. Luckily her actions did speak for her. We got to know Samus as a badass bounty hunter, who gets the job done. Even when faced with immense danger she never backed down, but instead bravely faced it head on.

Well now we know she proabably was haunted by self doubt during all those encounters. Other M has many problems, but by far the biggest has to be Samus characterization in that game. I get that they intended to maker her a flawed character for a more engaging story. After all it's hard to connect with a superhuman, but they overshot that goal by a long mile. Other M currently sits nearly at the end of the Metroid canon. When the game takes place Samus not only had been a soldier in the galactic federation, but also an accomplished bounty hunter and hero for several years. She has survived two encounters with Mother Brain, exterminated the Metroids and defeated Dark Samus. And still one meeting with her old superior turns her back into the insecure and, to be honest, dumb girl she was many years ago?

To say Metroid Other M has been pretty damaging to Samus character would put it lightly. At this point everything about that game should be forgotten and burried.

1: Not doing enough with (and for) the franchise

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Between Super Metroid and Metroid Prime were nearly 8 years and between Other M and Federation Force still 6 years. And if you count Metroid Prime 4 as the next ''true'' Metroid game then it's even more. As you can see Metroid has always been a series with ups and downs. Which is a huge shame considering the great potential it offers.
It's often said that Nintendo lacks appeal for more mature audiences. It even goes so far that some people love to suggest transitioning games like Zelda into a game for adults. I think a darker Zelda is always among the top of wishes when a new game in that series is announced.

What people tend to forget is that Nintendo already has a franchise with a dark atmosphere and the possibility for a deep story. And they just ignore it.

Even though there lies so much potential in the Metroid series. Not only in the mainline games, but also in spin-offs and merchandise. Of course Samus is no Mario, so seeing her go cart racing or having a nice Boardgame with Ridley would not fit into the tone of the series, but games like Federation Force, ill recieved as it was, prove that there are great possibilities for Spin-Off games in the series. And not only that. Metroid would be a great fit for adaptiation in a different Medium. Expanding the backstory of the galactic federation in a series would be interesting to see.

Generally speaking the lack of Metroid in all of Nintendos merchandise is just baffling. While you see Mario around every corner and each GameStop has at least two copies of Zelda Monopoly in store you're hard pressed to finde any trace of Samus outside her own games. And that is a damn shame.

Where do you think Nintendo dropped the Ball with Samus? What would you do differently? Let me know in the comments

and as always

thanks for reading

Top 5 Metroid Games

Metroid Fans didn't have it easy the last couple of years. The last real game in the series we got was 2010 Metroid: Other M, which was mechanicaly fine, but really put a dent into Samus image as badass bounty hunter. Or to say it bluntly. The Gameplay was good, but the story really sucked. Apart from that the only other Metroid Title, apart from Virtual Console releases of older games, was the universally lambasted Metroid Prime: Federation Force.

I've already talked lots about this game in the months leading up to its release. While it was an okayish game in the end, it was released (and announced) during the most unfavorable timeframe imaginable. But the failings of Other M and Federation Force aren't todays topic. Today we're going to focus on the good parts.

Like I said at the beginning the last couple of years haven't been easy for Metroid Fans. Luckily this changed during this years e3. Not only did we get the conformation that Metroid Prime 4 is in development for the Nintendo Switch, no we also get a classic 2D Metroid for the 3DS. Given it's only a remake of Samus first mobile adventure on the GameBoy, but it looks like it's greatly enhanced.

So to honor the return of the first female badass of video games I plan on focusing on the Metroid series this month. I won't dub September Metroid Month because I'm not sure if I'm going to repeat it next year (unless Metroid Prime 4 releases during that timeframe), but at least for this year the month of September will mostly be dedicated to Samus Aran.

And what better way to start this exciting Metroid Celebratin than with a list of the five best Metroid titles.

5: Metroid

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Every game which names a complete genre deserves a spot on such a list. Couple this feat with the introduction of a female protagonist (huge news at that time) and you have one of the most influantial games of all time. Metroid didn't only convince the Metroidvania genre, but also it got everything right about it on it's first try. Of course if you play it today you'll dearly miss some of the quality of life improvements implemented in later titles of the genre, but the building blocks are all there and function perfectly. A huge, hostile world that opens up piece by piece as you aquire new weapons and abilities. The feeling of isolation and lonelyness that defines Metroid.

Generally speaking the atmosphere is one of the strong points of this game. Of course it can't compare to later entries in the series, but if you compare it with other games of that time the first Metroid oozes atmosphere. The obvious inspiration the developers pulled from Alien is obvious, but if you take one Science-Fiction Movie as model, then there is nothing wrong with choosing one of the best and most iconic ones out there.

Also one thing I just have to mention when talking about the first Metroid is the fact that Samus is a women. Of course this is basic knowledge nowadays, but in 1986 (or 1987/88 in the US/Eu) this was still a huge revelation. Even more so because it was only revealed to the player after you beat the game in under five hours of playtime. A fact that further improved the replayability of the title.

Today the original Metroid may seem a little bit antiquated, but luckily Nintendo released an excellent remake for the GameBoy Advance, called Zero Mission. It contains the same game layout but improved the graphics by a lot and enhanced the backstory further. So if you want to experience the best version of the game I would recomment Zero Mission, but the original also still works today.

4: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

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By the time the Wii was announced Retro Studios was already seen as a new Rare for Nintendo. And while the Austin,TX based developers weren't creating titles in the quantity that Rare did for the N64, they nailed the quality part. After shocking the world by taking Samus in a completely new direction with Metroid Prime they intended to end their trilogy with a bang. And what a bang it was. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption has his rightful place among the best games for the Nintendo Wii, even though it was released during the first year of the Wiis existance.

The amazing thing about this is that Corruption absolutely nailed motion control. It showed how a shooter had to work on the Wii. After games like the first Red Steel were pretty lackluster this was the first time that the Wii showed that Motion Controls could work outside of casual titles. The transition from Gamepad to Wii-Mote wasn't without hiccups. Complexity had to be reduced. For example, Corruption didn't offer different beam weapons anymore, but Retro managed to wipe away this flaw by doubling down on the core strengths of the Prime Series.

Metroid Prime 3 was designed to be the end of the Prime series and this is a fact that you at each corner. Everything feels bigger, more urgent and generally more important. For the first time in the series there is voice acting. Altough Samus herself remains silent. (A good decision as we have seen through Other M) This time she isn't saving one planet by herself, like in Prime and Prime 2, but working together with other bounty hunters and the galactic federation to save a whole star system and win a war.

And while the classic Metroid atmosphere is weakened by this, it still comes through. During your infiltration of the Space Pirate homeworld and especially on the G.F.S Valhalla, which is the closest the series has ever come to the Alien Movie franchise.

Generally speaking Corruption was a fitting end for a trilogy. On it's own it may be slightly weaker, but after playing through the other two Prime games it is the great ending for a great trilogy of games and a fitting fourth place on this list.

3: Metroid Fusion

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After 8 years Samus finally returned in full glory with this game. The time between Super Metroid in 1994 and the release of this title and Prime also wasn't easy for fans. The only appearance Samus had on the N64 was her role in Smash Bros.
So excitement for the first proper Metroid title in 8 years was pretty high. Even more so because it was developed by R&D 1 the original developers of the series.And still to this day it marks the final release in the series, chronologically speaking.

Like Other M Fusion offered on a more linear manner of exploring the space station and focused more on it's story. But unlike Other M here it worked. In many cases Other M often feels like a weaker version of Fusion. In both games you explore a space station with different biomes, but in Fusion the exploration, while still beeing guided, simply feels more natural.

Also we shouldn't forget about the hidden star of the game. The primary antoganist Samus-X or simply called SA-X. A doppelganger created when the X parasite infected Samus Varia suit. It is an enemy with all the same capabilities that Samus has at her prime, but noe of the moral concerns of a human. In other words it's a damn frightening bastard. And it's hunting you. The encounters you have with SA-X are among the most terryfying and intense moments I've experienced in Video Games so far. It let's you feel your utter helplessness. Something that is new for Samus. So far she had been the Hunter. And while there were many challenging encounters in her past, she was always powerful enough to handle them. But this time you're completely helpless. SA-X is you at your peak. Something that samus is far removed from during this game.

Metroid Fusion ranks among the best GameBoy Advance games and even though you may see it a the first step that lead to Other M this has nothing to do with the fact that Metroid Fusion is a great game and one of the best examples of the Metroidvania genre.

2: Super Metroid

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Talking about great examples from the Metroidvania genre. Her is the best one. It's no wonder that Super Metroid can often be found towards the top of best games of all time lists. Generally called the best SNES game by many the 23 years since its release in 1994 have done absolutely nothing to hurt this title. It's still as damn good as it was then.

During Metroids entry I said that the game got the concept of a great Metroidvania game right on it's first try. Well if the original Metroid introduced the concept then Super Metroid perfected it. I would go as far and say that even after 23 years this game is still the best of it's genre.

There are several factors at play to achieve that status. First and foremost it's Planet Zebes. The main base of Space Pirate operations is a beautifully crafted horrific world. It's dangerous and deadly around every corner. The enviroments are oozing with atmosphere and the great Sprite work secures that this is still as true today as it was in 1994. For me only one other game manages to create a better feeling of isolation and dread, while still maintaining a wish to explore every nook and crany of this alien world.

So Zebes is a dangeorus and hostile world, but luckily you're Samus Aran. I think this is the game that fully cemented Samus as one of the greatest female characters in gaming. And it did it without her uttering a single word. It did it fully through gameplay. The way Super Metroid allows you to approach the world and it's monsters. The tools it gives you to survive in this enviroment. All this forms Samus and how you see her. Even though she is alone on a world full of enemies she is fearless. Super Metroid shows Samus as what she is. The best Bounty Hunter in the Galaxy.

Now we have talked about the great gameworld Zebes and the great Character Samus, but don't worry I have saved the best for last. The Gameplay. And what more can I say except it's freaking great. During Fusions entry I said that the game focused on a more linear way of exploring the gameworld. Well Super Metroid is the complete opposite. Yes the world still opens up piece by piec via the acquisition of new power ups, but how you combined those pieces is completely up too you. That is one of the reasons why Super Metroid is still the Go-To game for speed running. The order in which you go for the necessary upgrades is a puzzle that you have to solve before even starting your run. Simply said Super Metroid is a game that you can play again and again and still find a new path.

1: Metroid Prime

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I said that only one game creates a better feeling of isolation and dread than Super Metroid. Well this is this game. When Metroid Prime came around it had been 8 years since the last proper Metroid Game. The series had been pretty dead up until then. With Metroid Fusion another classic Metroid was already in the makes for the Advance, but for the GameCube the series needed the next step. A new evolution. Luckily Nintendo found a small development company located in Austin,TX, which was wiling to take on the risk of guiding the franchise into the age of 3D. And the end result was not just good. It was good enough to spark an eternal war. Which is the better Metroid game? Super or Prime?

And while I would say that there is no right answer to this question for me it's pretty easy. I started with Prime and apart from Galaxy, The Wind Waker and Breath of the Wild no other game has been able to blow my mind like Prime did.

Atmosphere is a big part of the Metroid experience to me and no other titles does this better than Prime. The Planet of Talon IV is of of the greatest video game worlds of all time. A world that was annihilated by a catastrophic event many centuries ago. Forgotten by time and filled with hostile beasts. And Samus is completely alone.

The biggest part in creating such a perfect feeling of lonelyness is without a doubt the switch into first-person view. It made everything more intense. When you walk through the frozen wasteland of Phendrana Drifts, listening to the eerie music, it's easy to imagine yourself as the person looking through the visor. Metroid Prime is a game that further build Samus character because now you can imagine firsthand how she must feel.

But First-person view didn't only bring a dramatic increase in immersion and atmosphere, it also shook up the gameplay quite a bit. Of course the corner stones remained. The World gradually opens up piece by piece via the acquisition of new Power-Ups, but combat and and exploration got much more intense. Also with the introduction of different visors and beam types the battles gained a new strategy component.

Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. These two titles often get called the parents of 3D gaming because the showed how to perfectly transfer a 2D title into the three dimensional sphere. In that case I would call Metroid Prime the prodigial son. It's often overlooked, but just like the other two titles it is the perfect application of a great 2D concept in a 3D world. And now if you excuse me I think it's time to play through the Prime Trilogy on my Wii again.

Metroid is one of Nintendos most storied franchises. Sadly it often get's overshadowed by others. So tell me what great memories do you have of the series? What are your favourite games? Let me know in the comments.

And as always

Thanks for reading

Top Five Times Nintendo has thought outside the box

Nintendo is an interesting company. On one hand they are as conservative as it gets, but on the other they always manage to surprise us with some new inovation. I think it's this duality that has allowed them to stay relevant up to this day. They never forget their roots, but always strive to move forward. Of course they sometimes go overboard in both directions. Innovation for Innovations sake is never desirable, as is complete stillstand.

But overall Nintendo managed to achieve a good balance I think.

Still the company is mostly seen as living in the past, being stuck in their old ways. But as we fans all know this is far from the truth. Nintendo is an ever changing company with one single focus. Creating quality Video Games for us to enjoy. Now before this introduction sounds even more like a glorified press release, let me introduce todays topic to you.

Overall Nintendo is a traditonalistic company. We can always count on them releasing a new Mario Kart on a console or handheld. We always know that the next Mario adventure is on it's way, and we can be certain that a return to Hyrule is already planned. And we know what to expect from these games. Great, but familiar gameplay. But today I'd like to shine the focus on the unexpected. The decisions that took us all by surprise. Today I'd like to talk about the five times that Nintendo has thought outside the box. The times the left their comfort zone and created something truly new.

5: Breath of the Wild

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Who woul'dve thought that a series like Zelda, which is filled to the brim with history, would appear on a list like that. And to be honest up until e3 2016 I would've never even considered it, but then this trailer hit and changed everything.

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In just 3 Minutes and 19 Seconds Nintendo managed to throw everything we knew about Zelda out of the Window. A completely open World. Survival Gameplay. Breath of the Wild looked like a different game entirely. And the simple truth is, it not only seemed that way, but also felt unlike any Zelda title before once you've got to play it. The new world of Hyrule, while familiar at first sight, was something you have never seen on a Nintendo console before.

Zelda is a storied franchise with a lot of critical acclaim. Nintendo didn't need to change anything about the formula. Skyward Sword, the last truly classic console Zelda, sold well and recieved great scores. Still Nintendo and Eiji Aonuma opted to give the series a complete shake-up. It was a huge risk fundamentally changing, what is arguaby, your most important franchise so completely, but it was a risk that, in the end, payed out.

Breath of the Wild was a new start for Zelda. Like the original game in 1986 or Ocarin of Time in 1998 it has set the standard for future iterations of the series. The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild is one of the best examples of Nintendo stepping outside their comfort zone. And it is glorious.

4: Virtual Console

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Nostalgia is a huge part of Nintendos identity. Heck if you ask the right people they will tell you that it's the only thing about Nintendo. No other gaming company can look back on such a storied history as Nintendo. For over 30 years they've been providing us with great games and great memories. But in 2005 this wasn't really the case. Apart from a Handful SNES games they had ported to the GameBoy Advance Nintendo didn't really capitalize on their long history of games. Nobody in the industry did. Everything was focused on moving forward. If you wanted to enjoy the classics you'd have to find an old console at someones yard sale. But during e3 2005 while introducing the Wii Satoru Iwata revealed the Virtual Console.

The Wii was the first Nintendo console with actual backwards compability. But instead of fullfilling the standard of being able to play games from the previous console generation they went beyond that. Via the Virtual Console the Wii was backwards compatible towards all former Nintendo consoles. Of course you'd had to buy the games again, but for many this was a small price for having all of their favourite games on one console. Now you could play A Link to the Past and Super Mario 64 back to back without the need of switching consoles.

The Virtual Console marked the first time that Nintend truly started capitalizing on the massive value of Nostalgia. It was a genius idea and proved that they were capable of adapting to a new market. The Wii was the first gaming console for a lot of people and via Virtual Console they were given the chance to catch up on over 20 years of gaming history.

3: Donkey Kong

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It seems hard to understand nowadays, but in 1980 the world was a very different place. And even though video games were mildly successful during that time their appeal was still very limited. They story behind the game is well known nowadays. In 1980 Nintendo of America was left with a large amount of Radar Scope arcade machines, because they failed to sell. Hiroshi Yamauchi, the president of Nintendo during that time, tasked a young designer called Shigeru Miyamoto to create a replacement game, which could be insterted into the machines to replace Radar Scope. This was Miyamotos first shot at designing a video game. He was also supervised by veteran Nintendo engineer Gunpei Yokoi (who you might know as the father of the GameBoy)

The two immidiatelly started working on a game concept that, for that time, was truly revolutionary. Yokoi and Miyamoto used the graphics as a means to characterize the hero of the game. No longer were you a faceless character, but you controlled Jumpman on his quest to save the beautiful Pauline from the brutish Donkey Kong. Not only that, but the two designers also included Cutscenes and different stages. Unheard at that time.

Donkey Kong proved to be a huge success and the jump start for Miyamotos legendary career. It revolutionized story telling in video games. And all that because Nintendo thought outside the box to find a solution for the unsold Radar Scope machines.

2: Metroid Prime:

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Let's see. You have one of your most iconic franchises, which hasn't seen a new release in over 8 years. You want to bring it back, but it has to adapt and change to fit into the modern gaming enviroment. Whad do you do?

If your answer is you hand the task to a newly founded american studio, which hasn't released any games so far then welcome abord the board of executives at Nintendo. Because that's exactly what happened in 2002 when Nintendo released Metriod Prime for the GameCube.

In 2000 Shigeru Miyamoto visited the studios of Retro in Austing, Texas. He wasn't impressed with the prototypes of games the studio was working on during that times, but saw a lot of potential in their Action-Adventure Game Engine. He suggested it could be used to develop a new game in the Metroid series. And that's not the only thing he did suggest. He was also the driving force behind transitioning the game into an first person perspective.

This was a bold new step. Afterall Super Metroid is often regarded as one of the best games of all time. To throw nearly everything about this game out of the window and create a new experience in Metroid Prime was a huge risk. But like with Breath of the Wild it was a risk that was very well worth taking. Next to Ocarina of Time and Super Mario 64 Metroid Prime is often named when talking about the perfect example of a 2D to 3D transition. And it has cemented it's place as one of the best games of all time. Just like its predecessor.

1: Wii

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In 2005 Nintendo was in a difficult position. Their days of ruing over the console market were long gone. Sony had dominated them the second time in a row with the PlayStation 2 and the Gamecube had even fallen short in defeating the new competitor X-Box. At the end of the sixth generaion the PlayStation 2 reigned supreme with over 150 Million Units followed by the X-Box with 24 and then the Gamecube with 22 Million sales. During this time Nintendo president Satoru Iwata realized something. Nintendo couldn't compete directly with Sony and Microsoft. So instead of entering the ever evolving hardware and power race Nintendo instead opted for something different. Instead of fighting for a finite amount of hardcore gamers they instead decided to tap into a completely new market of customers. People, which up until then, wheren't even considered to be possible buyers. People, who had never played a video game before. Nintendo literally jumped out of the box of pre-existing customers with the Wii.

During e3 2005 Nintendo announced the Nintendo Wii. Barely more powerful than a Nintendo Gamecube and instead focusing on motion controls. It took everyone by surprise. Instead of making games look better and bigger they introduced a completely new way to play. And the reletively weak tech had another advantage. The Wii sold for a retail price which none of the other two consoles could come even close to.

Nintendo had created the perfect storm. Everyone immidiatelly understood the appeal of Motion Gaming through Wii sports and the low price made the decission to get a Wii even easier. No matter on which side you are on the whole Motion Gaming experience in 2006 and 2007 the Wii was the thing to get. And at the end of the console generation, despite it's short comings and a lackluster support during it's latter days, the Wii reigned supreme with over 101 Million Units sold.

When did Nintendo surprise you? Did they ever? Tell me in the comments.

and as always
thanks for reading