A reader imagines what would happen if Nintendo started making adult-orientated games, such as first person shooters and survival horror.
I don’t think it would be too much of a stretch to say that Nintendo is the most highly respected video game developer in the world and have been for at least the last 40 years. Other studios come and go and most modern ones only put out a new game every five years or so – so good luck looking forwards to The Last Of Us #TheLastOfUs @TheLastofUsHBO Part 3, considering Naughty Dog has two new games to make before that.
There are many things that distinguish Nintendo from other developers but one of the less appreciated is how they tackle any and every genre going. Rather than just making platformers they’ve done everything from sports sims to fighters to strategy games and role-players. However, there is one thing that connects them all: they’re all family friendly.
I do not say this as criticism but it does put a limit on what they can do and means that that good old Nintendo magic has never been worked upon survival horrors, first person shooters, or anything with a serious storyline. The reasons as to why are obvious but my hope is that one day they’ll change their mind.
Before you accuse me of being silly it’s worth pointing out that Nintendo has dabbled with these sort of ideas before. It published survival horror Eternal Darkness as a first party Nintendo game and is solely responsible for Bayonetta still being a thing, with both making it into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. They also organised a remake of Metal Gear Solid, as well as relatively serious action games like Geist and Disaster: Day Of Crisis.
The thing with all those games though is that while Nintendo published them they didn’t make them and, with the exception of Bayonetta, it’s obvious they all would’ve been much better if they did. But Nintendo themselves don’t make that sort of game and I think that’s a real shame.
My suggestion then is simple: set-up an adults only label for games that are mature rated and clearly made for kids and then allow Nintendo’s developers to go wild. It’d have to be brand new franchises, nobody wants to see GTA: Mushroom Kingdom, but that’s even better as far as I’m concerned.
Perhaps they could make a sequel to Eternal Darkness, I think that could be interesting, but what about a realistic first person shooter that played as well as Splatoon? Or a more serious fighting game by the same team behind Smash Bros., that didn’t feature mascot characters (although the Fire Emblem cast might work).
First appear at Nintendo should start making mature rated video games – Reader’s Feature
