Nintendo is constantly releasing sequels to its most popular franchises. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Metroid: Other M, and Super Mario Galaxy 2 are just four of the many Nintendo games that continue to breathe new life into their respective series. But what about the infamous reboot? A Boy and His Blob was an excellent remake of the Nintendo Entertainment System classic, and it provided a gameplay experience that surpassed that of its predecessor’s. What other games could use a remake on a Nintendo console?
One game that is begging for a reboot — if only to right the wrong that the original title bestowed upon gamers — is Yoshi’s Story. Though the game has a fan base—a very small fan base—even those who enjoyed Yoshi’s Story have to admit that it didn’t quite follow in the footsteps of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island. What was originally supposed to be a sequel to the popular Super Nintendo title left a lot to be desired. The game had a lot of charm but completely lacked challenge. The gameplay itself was also questionable, relying on fruit collection rather than clever platforming.
By updating the graphics to today’s standards while retaining the themes of each of the game’s worlds, Nintendo could easily recreate Yoshi’s Story and turn it into a fun platformer. The gameplay style would also require a good sprucing, as collecting 30 pieces of fruit was one of the main problems in Yoshi’s Story. Nintendo could throw in fruit collection as a sidequest for each of the game’s levels or perhaps give Yoshi special abilities based on the fruit he eats. As long as the title stayed closer to Yoshi’s Island, fans would certainly appreciate it more than the Nintendo 64 original.
Speaking of the Nintendo 64, one title that comes to mind when talking about the Big N’s third home console is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Though that title is currently getting a stereoscopic 3D makeover for the upcoming Nintendo 3DS, imagine how amazing it would be if you could play The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 2D. A Link to the Past has gone down as one of the greatest Zelda games ever created. Take that game’s colorful 2D visuals and throw in Ocarina of Time’s story, locales, and time-traveling formula and you’ve got a 2D remake of one of the greatest fantasy action-adventure games of all time.
Even by today’s standards, it’s nearly impossible to find any fault in Ocarina of Time. That’s why a 2D reboot would undoubtedly be appreciated by fans. And heck, if Nintendo doesn’t want to tamper with the legacy of Ocarina of Time, they could always create a 2D Majora’s Mask, or an entirely new 2D Zelda game altogether.
One Nintendo series that has lost some of its magic over the years is Mario Kart. Super Mario Kart featured tough-as-nails gameplay; Mario Kart 64 was addictive and quickly became a party game for the ages; and Mario Kart DS features what can only be considered arguably the greatest track design in the series. The other installments in the long-running franchise are fun, but they are nowhere near as memorable as the three aforementioned titles. Perhaps it’s time Nintendo tweaks the formula a bit, goes back to basics, and provides a highly challenging Mario Kart experience once again.
Mario Kart Wii was fun and all, but the overall track design left much to be desired, and the AI could only be described in one word: cheap. Nintendo has streamlined the Mario Kart formula to the point of exhaustion, allowing players who trail behind to collect pity power-ups (I’m looking at you, Spiny Shell!) and weasel their way to first place. There’s no skill in that, and there’s definitely no satisfaction. While many players prefer the modernized Mario Kart Wii, there are still those of us who hope for a throwback to the days when Mario Kart was difficult and you had to earn your victories.
One title that, without a shadow of a doubt, needs a reboot is Battletoads. It was difficult, crazy, and just plain fun. Sure, Rare was behind Battletoads, but if memory serves correct, the Microsoft-owned developer can still create games for Nintendo handhelds. Words cannot describe the awesomeness that a Battletoads remake would exude. With the right graphical upgrades and new gameplay elements Battletoads could pave way for a successful modern beat ‘em up.
Over 2,000 signatures currently fill a petition to bring a new Battletoads game to the Xbox 360 or Nintendo DS. We all know online petitions don’t mean squat, but the New Battletoads Game petition serves another purpose: It shows that legions of gamers want a new Battletoads title. It’s certainly long overdue. Here’s hoping gamers everywhere see Battletoads DS at their favorite game retailers someday.
A video game reboot can go in several different directions. It can stay close to the formula set forth by the original. It can steer away from it significantly. It can succeed. And it can most certainly fail. Luckily for gamers, most developers have been taking to heart the fans’ suggestions and providing solid remakes over the last few years. Nintendo consoles have hosted countless epics since the days of the NES. Franchises such as Zelda and Battletoads would do well to receive the remake treatment. While the poorly received Yoshi’s Story and the slowly declining Mario Kart could certainly use a bit of a gameplay facelift. Whether these games will ever be rebooted remains to be seen, but we can sure hope.
