| couchmonkey said: We regularly hear about Nintendo's third party software issues which are legit but maybe not as bad as people think. How about the first party problems? Switch started off extremely well with Zelda: BOW and Mario Kart 8, but I am starting to sense cracks in the upcoming lineup. Keep in mind, I'm looking at this from a sales perspective (I'm on VGchartz after all). I know I'll buy a Switch and love many of these games, but to sell 100 million Switches they need outstanding first-party software. Wii know they can do it! Let me know if I missed anything. ARMS - seems to be having a so-so launch, I don't expect this to do much. It is nice to see Nintendo try a new IP, though. Splatoon 2 - looks fine. I can't figure out what makes this better than the first game, but Japan loves it, and I think it'll be interesting to see if this can do bigger numbers on Switch than Wii U. I'm not worried about it. Mario Odyssey - I am worried about this one. Nintendo really should be going 2D with Mario, the proof is in the sales figures. I was giving Odyssey the benefit of the doubt because Nintendo made great strides in open world with Zelda, but I think the game might have serious issues with the cornball theme song and strange mix reality and fantasy. Nintendo needs Mario to perform, they have no other guaranteed hits until Pokemon. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - This will add some nice variety to the lineup, but we know this isn't a system seller. Fire Emblem Warriors - Good for Japan, but not a system seller globally. Metroid Prime 4 - this will add some needed variety to the lineup, but I'm concerned to hear it's not coming from Retro. Pokemon - nice, it will ensure great sales for a while as long as they deliver. This is where it gets risky - does anyone think MP4 or Pokemon will be out first half of 2018? If not, what will carry momentum through next year? I have little faith in the 2017 game lineup to do that job (Zelda and Mario Kart maybe, but they'll be a year old). Ironically, I think Skyrim and maybe Rocket League will do as much to save Switch in 2018 than anything Nintendo has scheduled. |
- I think 2D Mario (NSMB in particular) sells great to people who already bought a Nintendo platform but it doesn't sell consoles by itself. If I had to define it, it would be as a fantastic support title with loooooong legs that's an almost defualt purchase title in-between big releases. It's like Tomodachi Life; it sold over 5m but seriously, do you think a ton of people saw an ad or gameplay for Tomodachi Life and thought "I gotta get a 3DS...NOW". That being said, I believe 2D Mario can be a system seller but it really needs a new approach because the last time I personally think a 2D Mario game sold hardware was with the DS.
- I don't mind that MP4 isn't coming from Retro after seeing what the former Metroid Prime guys did on their own with ReCore. After that, I'm convinced that the success for the series had more to do with Kensuke Tanabe than any of the key people that left Retro Studios. As long as he's producing the game, it'll be fine. It's like with Samus Returns; some people are worried that it won't be as good because MercurySteam is developing it but as long as Sakamoto (who still does great 2D Metroid games) is producing it, I think it'll be fine. I mean, I don't think many people would be worried if a new Smash game were being developed by some nobody company as long as Sakurai were the guy in-charge of the project.
As for 2018, I think the heavy hitters will probably be Animal Crossing, Metroid Prime 4, whatever Retro is working on and a Smash game (either a deluxe version of 4 or Smash 5). Pokemon will probably be a 2019 title and I think MP4 probably started development in mid to late 2015.
