5 A.M. – My alarm rings. As I push the sleep from my eyes, I scramble out of bed and dash to the computer, now the lone source of ghostly light in my dark house. My fingers are still tired and sluggish, but I will them to click their way onto the internet to see if today will finally be the day that I’ll be able to pre-order my Wii.
For weeks during late 2006 (My 7th Grade year) – this was my schedule. Finally, after a seemingly endless stream of early mornings, my dedication paid off. Looking back, I’d have to say that elation would be a relatively tame descriptor for how I felt as I filled out the forms and placed my order.
At the time, my fervor was driven by the mere fact that it was a new Nintendo console. The combination of a trusted gaming monolith with an innovative new motion-control system was enough to win my adolescent affections. For many others, however, I expect that an initial disc lineup that included Twilight Princess, Wii Sports, and a Virtual Console roster that had names like F-Zero and Super Mario 64 must’ve played a huge role in their decisions.
Recently, Nintendo has been the recipient of some increasingly negative press. After a depressing 3DS launch (Pilotwings and Nintendogs? Seriously?) and the somewhat lackluster performance of the Wii U up to this point (only about 160,000 units sold globally in Q2), many have been questioning how the Big N will fare in the future.
Given the general lack of quality launch titles and the worrisome questions floating about, one would think that I might be more hesitant in laying down the cash for the latest and greatest from Nintendo… but no. My faith unshaken, I gladly accepted my role as an “early adopter” for both the 3DS and the Wii U. That said, if someone were to ask me if he or she should pick up a Wii U or 3DS right now, my answer would most likely be “no.”
This cognitive dissonance has led me to reevaluate why, after all these years, I still feel such loyalty to Nintendo. Looking back, I played games on all sorts of consoles, SNES, Playstation(s), GameGear, so it’s not as if Nintendo is all I’ve ever known. I spent countless hours playing Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Kingdom Hearts but, for some reason, those games and systems just don’t give me the same warm and fuzzy feeling that I get from a great Nintendo title. No matter how much I like Sora and his Keyblade, my emotional attachment to Link, the silent swordsman, has always run deeper.
Especially in this era of graphically-advanced modern games, I find myself yearning for the happy simplicity of Mario. Do I have a great time blowing things to kingdom-come in Halo? Does Red Dead Redemption make me feel like a badass cowboy? Absolutely, and both are amazing in their own ways. Given the choice, however, I’d still rather be stomping Goombas. But why?
After a lot of thought, I think it’s the result of two contrasting factors. First is the Big N’s willingness to innovate. From major flops like the Virtual Boy to smash hits like motion control, Nintendo has never been afraid of trying new things. This willingness to experiment may mean that, occasionally, Nintendo will fall flat on its face (The Super Mario Bros. Movie, anyone?). However, this also means that Nintendo’s successes are just as magnificent. For example, the 3D feature on the 3DS initially seemed relatively useless to me. Ocarina of Time 3D, gorgeous as it was, didn’t really add anything monumental to the experience. But then, when I played Super Mario 3D Land, I finally understood. My faith had been rewarded.
The second factor is Nintendo’s dedication to deliver consistent quality. Even with all of their experimentation, you can always expect quality titles from familiar franchises. No matter what happens, I never feel any hesitation in purchasing a Nintendo console, because I know that Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and a variety of other classic series are waiting for me. Eventually. Release dates may vary… and patience is required.
Am I foolish for having such blind faith? Maybe. But I don’t think that I’m the only one who feels this way. Nintendo fans are a family. The camaraderie we share is precisely why the brand will live on. Through good times and bad, true Nintendo fans will always stick by the company that we grew up with.
Obviously, Nintendo isn’t perfect. They’re going to mess up now and again – release dates will get pushed back – it happens. As I said, I might not be able to say that everyone should buy a 3DS or a Wii U right now. Nintendo isn’t right for all gamers. Not everyone understands. Not everyone is willing to wait. But do you know what? That’s O.K. – it just means more for the rest of us who do.
Disagree? Agree? Share, Like, Comment, and let me know in the comments below!
Until Next Time,
Chase
