Earlier this week, we heard from Nintendo that they intend to release at least two or three games on the mobile platform each year. Some titles, like Fire Emblem Heroes, make complete sense for the space. These games work, and they work well.
Others? Considering Nintendo’s existing roster of games, we’ve collected a few we hope they never, ever bring to the mobile scene.
Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze are exceptionally good games. They are where the franchise belongs in terms of pure quality. Brutally tough but fair platformers with that Nintendo polish.
They also have no business being crammed down onto a small mobile screen with touch controls. Precision platforming with virtual buttons? Imagine the broken phones! My goodness, no.
Super Smash Bros.
While we’re on the topic of virtual nubs and tiny screens, imagine Smash Bros. on a phone. It was tough enough on the 3DS, but saved thanks to physical controls. If you made me stare at a super tiny screen while navigating small spaces with virtual buttons (thus covering the screen more), my head would explode.
Star Fox
On one hand, I would be okay with a virtual nubs experience for this one. The on-rails flying is rarely about precision. It’s about picking paths, dodging obvious objects and blasting baddies. I think it would stink because of the motion control inherent to all phones.
I can easily see Nintendo looking at mobile, looking at Star Fox and deciding to go Wii U again and make us twist and turn physically to fly. Imagine doing that on a plane? Train? The toilet? No thanks.
The Legend of Zelda
This one could work. Other adventure games exist in the mobile space, and Zelda‘s rarely about being precise.
However, I don’t think Zelda makes sense in quick bursts like, say, Fire Emblem or Super Mario Run. Those games are great because they can be picked up and put down at a moment’s notice. Zelda requires players to be patient, observant and committed. I just don’t see that working on smartphones for a franchise like this, and I’d rather they spend the effort designing a game for a more fixed, uninterrupted platform.
Metroid
Don’t do it. Don’t. You want hordes of angry fans all over you for bringing Samus to a non-traditional platform before selling her next full adventure on the Nintendo Switch, you go ahead and make a Metroid mobile title. If that’s what you really, really want Nintendo? You do it.
We won’t clean up the mess, though. Good luck.
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