Your Favorite Nintendo IP (With Poll)

[Frogger]

To make a list...

5. Donkey Kong

This is a weird choice. It's more here because there's nothing else I like better. I loved Earthbound, but I think it's flawed and is the only game in the series I really liked. Haven't player Beginnings and I thought Mother 3 was disappointing. I like Kirby, but it doesn't excite me. I don't think Star Fox has ever had a great game, largely because the franchise is stuck copying a dated gaming mechanics instead of expanding its supremely interesting universe and basic premise into the epic it could potentially be. Kid Icarus only has one relevant, flawed game. Dillon has potential, but hasn't had the time to reach it.

That leaves Donkey Kong. I absolutely love the Country games. I absolutely love the Returns games. I think that Diddy Kong Racing is better than Mario Kart 64 and I think that a Diddy Kong Racing Returns is the only game with a shot at easily being better than the absolutely superb Mario Kart 8 and future Mario Karts. While my opinions of the franchise are pretty tame, I think that it has enough absolutely great games to land itself comfortably at number 5 on my list of favorite Nintendo franchises.

4. Metroid

Metroid has only a few good games, but two of those few easily make my top 10 list with one of those constantly switching as perhaps my second favorite game of all time. Metroid Prime is unquestionably my favorite first person game of all time, and Super Metroid is probably my second favorite game of all time, constantly switching spots with a game from my favorite franchise of all time. Super Metroid is such a perfectly crafted experience with such a thick and lonely atmosphere that I think it is unmatched by any game, period. The setting is great, Samus as a player controlled character is outstanding, the level design is revolutionary, and the art direction and soundtrack are rarely matched. This could be as high as my second favorite franchise, but it's way to inconsistent, and it's been over a decade since there was a truly outstanding one, Prime, and even that wasn't as good as the utter masterpiece that is Super.

3. Super Mario

I consider a lot of games Mario games. 2D platformers, 3D platformers, isometric platformers, Mario Kart, Mario Sports, Mario RPGs, and even Super Smash Bros. Mario never fails to offer tight, expertly crafted experiences in a variety that cannot be matched by any other IP in the industry. Not just excelling in quality, but the sheer quantity of flat out A+ Mario masterpieces is one that no franchise can ever hope to match as long as gaming exists.

2. Zelda

Zelda is a far less consistent franchise than my number 1, but it is home of Wind Waker, my very favorite game of all time. The Zelda franchise, when it nails it, nails it better than anything else in the industry. Wind Waker was a half finished game, and it still manages to be the greatest game of all time. Games like ALttP and ALBW are perfect games, without flaw. The sense of adventure and freedom of exploration in good Zelda games effortlessly make up for the lack of each in the bad or mediocre ones.

1. Pokemon

I always say this Zelda has my favorite game of all time while Pokemon has my favorite franchise of all time. It's their most intelligently designed franchise. The world of Pokemon is without a doubt the most interesting and deep with lore worlds of any game I've ever played. Pokemon builds its world better and more consistently than any other IP to date. Pokemon's quality, despite my criticisms, is more consistent than any game I've ever played. And most importantly, Pokemon has the biggest well of potential I've ever seen in a franchise. The idea behind the IP and the structure of the world will one day, with the rising of technology and budget I'm sure, make for the greatest game that will ever be made. That is why it's my favorite Nintendo IP.