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

Source

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.

Source

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

Source

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

Source

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

Source

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

Source

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

Source

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

Source

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

Source

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.

Source

2: Donkey Kong Land series

Source

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

Source

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

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

Source

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.

Source

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

Source

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

Source

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:

Source

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

Source

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

Top 5 Nintendo Summer Games

Summer is great. Well not for me because I hate the heat, but for pretty anyone else. Still even a Winter friend like me can appreciate the great atmosphere that comes along with summer. Just enjoying a sunny day by the water or go hiking in the mountains... there are countless great things about summer. Lucily for people like me there are videogames, which allow us to escape into warm summer worlds, even whil sitting in a nice cool basemant.

The summer has many faces, altough the classic beach theme is, of course, the most dominant one. Luckly the same goes for the world of videogames. So today I would like to take you an journy through five games, which would be perfect holiday destinations. So grab your swim shorts and bikinis, put on your sunglasses and enjoy the summer. And if the weather doesn't play nice then enjoy these virtual summer dreams.

5: Pokemon Sun/Moon

Source

For a moment I thought about including Pokemon X/Y instead of Sun/Moon. France, or Kalos as it's called in the games, is a beautiful region, rich with culture and awesome sights. But to be honest the Alola region from Sun and Moon is nearly unbeatable in the summer category. Even though Hoenn comes close.

But Hawai, which is the real life inspiration for Alola, is one of the first things that come to mind, when anyone mentions summer and holiday.

Beautiful girls in hawaian dresses dancing between tiki torches while you enjoy a cold drink at the beach. Doesn't that sound like the perfect summer? And if your stay is filled with adventure and discovering new Pokemon then it's even better.

The Alola Region works because it offers nearly everything. You can even find a snowy peak on one of it's island. If the need to cool down ever arises. Apart from that there a beautiful beaches and lush jungles. Also there is the local Malasada speciality.

Source

The Sight alone is enough to make my mouth water.

Alola simply offers everything from adventure to delicous treats and also it's very kid friendly. There is no better place for a family vaccation than the Alola region.

Source

4: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Wakter

Source

The sun above and the water beneath you. Nothing but the endless sea in front of your boat. The flooded Hyrule from the Wind Waker made me long for the island life, even as a young boy in 2003. Experiencing the busy ''city'' life on Windfall island, the mysterious forest on Forest Haven or just relaxing at the beach on Outset Island. There is an activity for everyone on this huge ocean.

Also who doesn't like to feel like an explorer when discovering new Islands. The Ocean from Wind Waker also offers that. From frozen Islands to an acitve volcano the Ocean offers many unique sights to see. There are even rumors about a ghost ship appearing in clear, starry nights.

Some may call the long travel times by boat boring, but to me they are a chance to relax and simply enjoy the water and fres salt-breeze. The Wind Waker is your own adventure holiday. You are the captain of your own ship and you decide where you head too. And yes Breath of the Wild offers an even bigger freedom, but it doesn't have the same summer feeling. The blue sky above and the blue ocean beneath. That is what summer is all about. And all of that you can find in The Wind Wakers Hyrule.

Source

3: Yoshis Island

Source

Now if you're searching for a complete package than look no further. Lush forrests and Jungles? Check. Snowy mountain peaks? Check. Flower fields? Check. Beaches and water fun? Check.

Yoshis Island simply offers everyting. As long as you can overlook the insane Magikoopa trying to steal your baby. It even features some old castles to satisfy your need for some culture and history.

Of course like all vaccation destinations on this list this place isn't for the faint of hear. There is lots of action to be had on this island with lots of different activities. Be it skiing downhill, go cave diving or monkeying around in the jungle. There is something for everyone.

And while you enjoy the beautiful sights this island has to offer you, maybe you'll even topple down a spiked tyrant in still one of the most epic battles of all time. Talk about active holidays.

Source

2: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Source

Earlier I called a holiday in Alola kid friendly. In that case this place is the complete opposite. It's brutal, hard and absolutely amazing. But let's talk about the landscape first. A tour across the six islands of Tropical Freeze is probably the most varied vaccation you could have. You love the mountains? Well Autumn Heights has you covered. Want a Safari throug the African Wilderness? No problem just head over to the Bright Savannah. Just want to have fun at the Beach? Here's Sea Breeze cove for you. You love snow? Luckily the Snowmads have frozen over Donkey Kong Island creating the perfect winter wonderland for you to enjoy. There is even a jungle full of giant fruits and huge factories to satisfy your needs for something extraordinary.

Of course, just as I stated earlier, this amazing adventure isn't for everyone. It's an action vaccation by every definition. If your're looking for a relaxin holiday this isn't the place for you. But if you're searching for a satisfying experience head over to the nearest Funky Flights or simply jump into the next best rocket barrel.

Source

1: Super Mario Sunshine

Source

Of course the Number One spot could only go to a game, which has Holiday and vaccation as it's main theme. Isla Delfino is THE Holiday paradise and if you, or a doppelganger, who looks like you, dosn't cover the whole Island in paint the locals actually are very welcoming. And Isla Delfina has a lot to offer. From a four star spa resort (Ghosts inclusive) over a amusement park all the way to the countless beautiful beaches the Island is the ultimate summer holiday location. Of course it doesn't offer the geographical variety some of the earlier entries had, but everything here is made with one thing in mind. Vaccation. And because of that it can't be beaten.

Isla Delfino is the perfect place to forget your daily troubles. It may not be a huge island hopping adventure, but that doesn't mean there isn't a lot to do here. You can even clean the teeth of a giant eel, which will really scare the crap out of any one with deep water phobia. Or maybe you simply prefer to play with some watermelon at the beach? No matter what your preferences are Isla Delfino offers something for everyone.

So just sit back and relax. Enjoy the sun because you won't find any rain here. Theres always great wether and perfect conditions to fully enjoy your vaccation. All 365 days of the year.

Source

So what games get you into the summer mood? What is your favourite virtual holiday destination? Maybe you prefer something really left field. Whatever it is let me know in the comments below.

And as always

thanks for reading

Top 5 Nintendo Franchises which should be adapted into series/movies

Source

Nintendo produces Video Games. This is a long standing truth and I hope nothing will change that in the upcoming years. Luckily with the huge success of the Swith it seems as if Nintendos main business area is secured. But we don't live in the same world as twenty or even just ten years ago. With the rise of Smartphones everything has become interconnected. Nintendo is slowly giving in and is starting to adapt, but there is one field were they're still hesitant to do so. Maybe it is because they've seen countless of their rivals fail and maybe it's because their own tries in the early 90s have been colossal failures, but Nintendo has always shied away from adapting their IPs for the TV-Screen.

One of the last decisions of the late Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has been a stronger focus on Cross-Media Projects. The idea is to heighten awarness for Nintendo products via partnerships outside of Videogames. The announced collaboration with Universal Studios and opening of a Nintendo Land in their parks is one of the results of this strategy. And now CoroCoro announced a Splatoon Web Series, which will launch on the 12^th of August on their Youtube Channel. Of course these is just the beginning, but slowly Nintendo begins to realize that there is a huge portion of their fans out there, who have grown up with their games, but, as their adult lives moved on, can't or won't find the time to play countless video games. Still most of them harbor many nostalgic feelings towards the products that made their childhood awesome. Projects like Pokemon Origins have proven that a mature adaptation of their properties can prove to be a huge success.

The recent release of the Castlevania series on Netflix proves that adaptions of vidoe games can succeed. If they are done by people with passion and love. Nintendo should utilize this and not only create merchandise for their products but once again try to bring their franchises to the screen. It doesn't have to be a full fledged cinematic universe with several movies leading to the inevitable team-up in the Smash Bros. film. It doesn't even have to be a cinema project. Netflix, Amazon Prime and Co. prove that in todays environment TV-Series can be just as big as movies. So today I'd like to talk about the five Nintendo IPs that should be adapted as a TV-Series or Movie.

5: Star Fox:

Source

I said it nearly every time I talked about Star Fox Zero, but that game was a huge missed opportunity. Not just because the Gameplay was a constant battle against oneself, but also because the story was boring. It was just a simple rehash from Star Fox 64.

I'm still convinced that Star Fox would be perfect as a dramatic Space Opera with big set pieces and even bigger stakes. We even got a glimpse at this with the animated trailer for Star Fox Zero. It was beautifully done and gave the characters a deeper personality beyond needing constant saving or telling you to do a barrel roll.

I think an adaptation as Anime would work best for the Character Design of the games. Anthropomorphic animals may be huge in the animated industry (looking at you Zootopia), but the over the top action and characteristics of Star Fox would work better in a dawn environment. Also I would prefer the adaption to be a TV-Series instead of a Movie.

This gives the creators enough time to build the team and it's characters. And with that we don't have to waste our time with a origin movie, but can hop right into action, telling the origin stories of different characters along the way via flashbacks. Also the TV-Series style of Story Telling lends itself better to the idea of a grand space opera, filled to the brim with betrayal, intrigue and mystery. Just make it a Netflix series so I don't have to wait weeks after the cliffhanger ending of the last episode.

4: Fatal Frame (Project Zero):

Source

I'm a huge Horror Fan. I love Horror Movies, Horror Stories and Horror Games. Project Zero is a favorite of mine, simply because in this day and age the series still provides classic horror feeling, just like in the days of the original Silent Hill and Resident Evil. Another one of my favorites is Stranger Things. And I think you can already see where I'm going with this.

The plotlines of Project Zero Games would lend themselves perfectly to a mystery series on Netflix. And unlike Star Fox I strongly advice against making this an Anime. Of course it could work as one, but using real actors would serve a Horror/Mystery Series better. Even though there are some very unsettling Horror Animes out there, I always find them not affecting me as much as other works. Maybe it's because I subconsciously think drawn images aren't that threatening I don't know, but I'm sure that a series with real actors would just work better.

As for the Story they could adapt on of the games (2 or 5 would be best I think) or try to tell a new story. Project Zero is a series that heavily relies on atmosphere, which is great for a series because you don't need many expensive shots of the threat at hand. And the ghosts also wouldn't need a huge CGI-Budget like a, for example, the mutants from Resident Evil would.

Project Zero would be the perfect Mystery/Horror series. Done right I'm certain it would grow a good following, which wonders what happens next after each episode. Also apparently there is already a Hollywood movie adaptation in the works, so let's see where this is headed. 

3: Fire Emblem

Source

Ok now everyone who watched the Game of Thrones premiere raise your hand. While many great series have gathered a big following over the last couple of years, it can't be denied that Game of Thrones creates the largest hype. Now I've heard lots of wishes to adapt Zelda in the same style, but I don't think it's the right franchise for that. Zelda is a colorful adventure focused on its three main characters. Yes it has lots of cool side characters, but the ones driving the plot are always Link, Zelda and Ganondorf. I just don't see it lending itself to a sprawling series filled with many different plotlines and characters.

Luckily Nintendo owns a series, which does exactly that. Before its Anime Overhaul in Awekening the Fire Emblem series always told a grand story influenced by the European middle ages. And even in Awakening and Fates it's still the story of waring kingdoms, love and hate, betrayal and sacrifice. A Fire Emblem Series could built upon those strengths and build a huge world, filled with plotlines and memorable characters.

Also the prominent perma-death feature from the games is a perfect template for a series filled with unexpected and dramatic deaths. Also Fire Emblem is a series filled with iconic sights, so the creators wouldn't have to follow a specific game to create memorability. Just seeing a Pegasus Knight will make fans hearts beat higher.

This would give them the freedom to truly create their own vision of the series without being shackled by pre-existing games. It could work either as a gritty Game of Thrones style series or a classic high fantasy adaption, but I'm sure it would work.

2: The Legend of Zelda

Source

Whenever someone talks about Nintendo IPs, which should be done as a movie Zelda is the first to be mentioned. And even through so far I've been advocating for TV-Series as means of adapting Nintendo franchises, here I agree. Zelda deserves a movie. The franchise will always be a story concentrating on the three bearers of the TriForce. (And Yes I know there have been expectations.)

A Zelda movie would be huge. Nearly everyone knows Nintendo. And nearly everyone, who knows Nintendo knows Zelda. Of course it would also be a high risk project capable of burying video game movies forever should it flop, but that's why it needs to be done carefully. Find Producers, who are really passionate about the project. Just look at the Castlevania series. They had a producers, who loved the games, and the series turned out great.

The Legend of Zelda should be it's own story, but with strong ties to the games. Every inch of this series is filled with iconic bits and pieces, so the movie would be a treat for easter egg hunter. As for the story I would either choose Breath of the Wild or Ocarina of Time as template. But I would change one thing. Make Zelda an actual character, who accompanies Link on his travels. (Or he on hers)
Maybe even incorporate the Champions or Sages into the story. Make the Princess and her knight gather allies before they take on Ganondorf.

But now matter in which direction they decide to take the story, it should be done on the big screen. Zelda deserves this.

1: Metroid

Source

Now with Zelda on the second place this leaves only one obvious choice for Number One. And of course it's not Mario. Now I know that Metroid would probably the hardest property to do right as a movie or TV-Series, but if done right it would be absolutely phenomenal. The producer of the Castlevania Netflix series has already attested his interest in doing a Metroid adaptation next, and if I take a look at how great his first outing is, I'm confident that he would be the right man for the job. Also a violent and dark Metroid series just appeals to me.

A Metroid adaptation would be especially hard to pull of because a huge part of the atmosphere in those games is the fact that Samus is alone. She is the lone hunter on this hostile alien worlds. Metroid is a prime example of a game were the gameplay creates the atmosphere. Adapting that into a non-interactive medium would be pretty hard.

But such a series would be the perfect opportunity to expand the lore of the Metroid Universe. And hopefully better than Other M did. The producers could focus on the Galactic Federation and Space Pirates, fleshing out those two waring factions. Also I think Mother Brain and Ridley deserve some deeper character work. Even though the Manga adaption already steered in that direction.

Also one thing I'd like to see from a Metroid adaptation is the attempt on making a completely silent episode. Just Samus alone on a hostile planet. No inner monologue or other characters to converse with. Just the best bounty hunter of the galaxy doing her job.

Now what do you think? Which games deserve a movie or TV-Adaptation? In in what direction should it go?

And as always

thanks for reading

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - The Master Trials Review

Source

Breath of the Wild was a new start for the series in many ways. It was a return to the roots of the Zelda series, but at the same time the next step in its evolution. After years of repeating the Ocarina of Time Formula of a semi-Open World Breath of the Wild, for the fist time since the first game, offer a truly open Hyrule. From the get go you could go anywhere you wanted. The only restricting factor was you.

But this open approach to the game design wasn't the only way in which Breath of the Wild broke with Zelda tradition. Earlier this year Eji Aonuma announced that this would be the first Zelda title to receive paid DLC. And the reception to this was... mixed.

And understandably so. The initial announcement was kept very vague. We only knew that the first part of the DLC would arrive in Summer and the second one, containing a new Storyline and Dungeon, would come around the end of this year. And then we were told that you only can purchase both DLCs together as a season pass for 20$.

This is quite the heavy investment for something we know so little about. Luckily over time Nintendo unveiled more and after e3 we had a pretty good idea of what to expect. And while I'm really looking forward to the second DLC The Champion's Ballad, which will serve as an epilogue to the main game, the first offering The Master Trials still looked somewhat sketchy.

It released on June 30^th and after checking it out thoroughly let's find out if it is enough incentive to return to Hyrule once more or if you'd better wait until you spent your hard earned money on it.

The Master Trials: 

We'll start with the cold hard facts. The Master Trials consists of two big pieces of content surrounded by several smaller additions and quality of life improvements.

Master Mode serves as this games Hero Mode, but instead of simply upping the Damage Monsters deal and maybe mirroring the game world, like in older games, it does a lot more. Of course the higher damage is still a core part, but in addition the game also shuffles monsters around. For example you'll now encounter a Lynel right there on the Great Plateau. Also nearly all monsters in the game have been upgraded. This means instead of red Bokoblins you'll encounter the Blue Version from the get go. Also all Monsters now have regenerating health. So no hit and run tactics. And lastly the Mode introduces a new type of foe. Golden Enemies are even stronger than the silver variant. Fighting a Golden Lynel is an incredible feeling and the surest way to breaking all of your weapons trying to empty it's massive health bar.

All in all Master Mode makes an already challenging game even more challenging, but for me it's not really an incentive to start a new playthrough immediately. It doesn't add anything truly new to the game, which alters the experience. Since its launch I have spend over 300 hours in Breath of the Wild and just adding a higher difficulty isn't enough to spend another 300. At least for me.

Also it sill leaves a bad aftertaste that a feature that was included in older titles from the start is now sold as DLC, even if Master Mode is better than the older Hero Mode.

The other huge new addition to the game is the Trial of Sword. After installing the DLC and starting the game a voice informs you that Link is now ready to finally unlock the true power of the Master Sword. Of course you have to acquire the Master Sword first. When returning to the Deku Tree after receiving the message, he'll tell you about the Trial of the Sword. To enter this challenge you'll simply have to return the Sword to it's pedestal.

The Trial itself takes place in an interesting environment. It's clearly inside a Shiekah Shrine, but there are also pieces of the Overworld inside. This creates a really cool artificial looking place. Having the futuristic looking walls coupled with trees and Bokoblin Camps is a cool visual.

But I have completed Breath of the Wild, found all 120 Shrines and have all Armor upgraded to the maximum, is this Trial even challenging for me? Well if you ask yourself this then I have good news. Yes it absolutely is. Because it uses a simple, yet effective little twist, that already created on of the best Hidden Shrine Quests in the Game.

You see once you enter the Trial of the Sword you'll be stripped of all your equipment and inventory. Link starts this challenge completely naked. You have to complete the challenges ahead with only the items you find on your way. And the challenge ramps up pretty quickly. Soon you'll face black Lizalfos, Hinox and so forth. And with no armor these enemies will hurt you a lot.

The Trial of the Sword is great content and a lot of fun, simply because it's the quintessence of what makes Breath of the Wild so great. You continuously need to adapt to your surroundings using only your wits and the items you find along the way.

Because of that I don't think it's fair to compare the Trial to the simple gauntlet style challenge caves of older games. These could be ''outleveled'' to some extent. Here you'll have to truly master the game in order to complete the Trial. And even the reward is not too shabby. After beating the Trial of the Sword the Master Sword will unlock it's true power. From that Moment on forth it will always deal it's full 60 damage even when you're not fighting Guardians. It still has to recharge after some time, but now it's actually a very powerful weapon all over the World.

Apart from this two bigger features the DLC also includes the new Heros Path feature, a teleportation rune and new outfits for Link to wear.

The Heros Path is a cool feature that maps the path you have taken while traversing the vast world of Hyrule. It's especially helpful in narrowing down places you haven't visited and should be a great help in finding the last couple of missing Shrines. But this feature shouldn't be sold as a DLD, period.

The Traveler Medallion is in the same vein. It allows you to place down a rune anywhere in the World to which you then can teleport. With 120 Shrines and 15 Shiekah Towers there are enough places to teleport too already, but nonetheless this rune is a welcome improvement. It can help in a lot of cases, especially with those hidden shrine quests which can only be solved at specific times.

But both these features have the problem that they should have been included in the base game or at least be patched in for free. Quality of Life improvements should never be sold separately. This is maybe acceptable in Free to Play games, but not in a title which is sold at full price already.

The last part of the Master Trials are several new outfits for Link. These include Tingles Outfit.

Majoras Mask.

Midnas Helmet.

Korok Mask.

And the Phantom Armor.

What I really liked about the new outfits was how they got included. You don't simply get them handed over to you, but you have to find them first. This suits the kind of game Breath of the Wild is extremely well. It starts with side quests appearing in your logs. These then lead you to a journal in which you find hints on where to find the armor pieces.

Including DLC Armor this way is perfect, because it creates a new incentive to venture out in the world and explore it again. It was a lot of fun tracking down the Treasure Chests and figuring out the hints. My only gripe is that the Treasure Chests containing the Armor pieces could have been spread better across the whole map. They are pretty concentrated in one area.

Conclusion:

Since starting the practice Nintendo has been pretty hit and miss with their DLC. For every Mario Kart 8 or Hyrule Warriors we get a New Super Mario Bros. 2 or Fire Emblem: Shadows of Valentia. And sadly I have to say that the Master Trials falls into the latter category. Both big features of the DLC have been part of the base titles in the past. And even though the Trial of the Sword and Master Mode are superior to their counterparts, the Cave of Ordeals and the Hero Mode, in older titles the Upgrade doesn't justify the price. The same goes for the Heros Path and the Travelers Medallion which both are Quality of Life improvements, which shouldn't be sold to you after already paying full price for the game. So the only part of the DLC that I fully can get behind are the new costumes, which were perfectly included. A new incentive to once again venture into Hyrule and explore the beautiful landscape is always welcome. Sadly the other parts of the first DLC Breath of the Wild offers to us don't do that for me.

Now before you misunderstand me. I'm not saying that the DLC is completely bad. Master Mode is brutal and the Trial of the Sword dungeon is a great expansion of one of the most entertaining Hidden Shrine Quests in the regular game. But still the Master Trials offers mostly features that have been part of the base game in the past. And because Nintendo decided that you can't buy DLC for this game separately, I'll have to treat as if it cost's 10$. And when I look what Mario Kart 8 offered for 12$ I have to say that Zelda falls short... by a lot.

With this the second DLC launching later this years has to really outperform my expectations and maybe I'll change my opinion. Maybe with the full package the DLC will be worth the 20$ you pay for it. But for now I only can recommend it to Hardcore Zelda fans, who don't have enough of the game and are looking for even more challenges.

Conclusion (One Sentence): 

The Master Trials mostly offers features which have been part of the base game in older titles and doesn't feel like it's truly worth half of the 20$ you pay for the DLC, but it offers a new challenge for Fans which still want more out of the world of Hyrule.

And as always

thanks for reading

Picture Source