Nintendo has been milking their franchises for almost thirty years. The time to deny that is kind of over. Nintendo came up during a time when creating Iconic character was a very big thing. The 80's and 90's were a prime time to catch the eye of a child and the family home. 2D animation was at its peak and Disney was making a killing and look at them now. Creating iconic characters is seemingly a lost art. Sure you'll find one or two gems, but it is really lacking, especially in Japan.