E3 Commentary: Can Nintendo Survive without Zelda?

It’s admirable that Nintendo is trying to appeal to a wide variety of gamers, especially those who do not regularly play games. However, for those who are hardcore, long term Nintendo fans, we want to see those series we’ve been playing since we were kids.

Those of us who played NES and SNES (even gGmeboy) were thrilled by the announcement of not one, not two, but four different titles featuring Mario. There is the “New Super Mario Bros” for Wii, “Super Mario Galaxy 2″ for Wii (it won’t be released until 2010), “Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story” for Nintendo DS and the new Mario and Donkey Kong title that will allow for user created levels. With no Mario last year, this is a vast improvement over Nintendo E3 08.

But…

Nintendo fans want more. We’ve been waiting for Legend of Zelda. We’ve been waiting for Legend of Zelda for Wii, specifically. Instead, we’ve received a brushed over mention of the new Legend of Zelda game for the Nintendo DS. “Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.” It was barely even mentioned though. What’s up with that Nintendo?

I feel let down by the Nintendo conference. I feel like Nintendo has turned its back on its longtime gamers to give more casual gaming experiences. They want more numbers and more money by trying to get those who wouldn’t usually game to buy crappy, substandard titles real gamers do not take seriously.

I’m not sure how long I can hold on without another Zelda title. Sadly, I don’t think Mario is enough to save Nintendo. At least not from the loss of those gamers who have stuck with the company since the days of the NES.

So, longtime Nintendo lovers – what do you think? Are you with me?

Technorati Tags: Nintendo, NES, Legend of Zelda, Mario, Super Mario Bros, Hardcore Gamers, E3

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Written by Dominick - Visit Website
Dominick is in his late 20s. Having been born in the 80s gave him a unique advantage to experience the development of gaming into the massive industry it has become today. From the days of Atari to the purchase of his very first NES (before his 10th birthday), Dominick has been involved in gaming. Initially, a huge fan of Nintendo, he's delved more into the exciting world of Xbox 360, and everything Microsoft in recent years. His favorite games are Action/Adventure, Shooters (especially WWII or Historical based games) and racing games. Of course, some days he enjoys playing an old fashioned game featuring his original gaming heroes, Mario and Zelda. In a wheelchair since age 16, Dominick has the unique perspective of gaming with limited mobility. When not gaming, he is a human rights activist, a creative mind, and he enjoys spending time with his family.