"Metroid Prime (that's the 3D Metroid series) - No visible sales decline."

2 sold less, but that was due to the sharp decline of the Gamecube at the time and due to the innovation of travelling between the worlds (and in a way that got in the way of exploration). 3 still sold less than one, but had the innovation of more story and cut scenes, plus the innovation of different planets also got in the way of exploration.

 *Reads rather long post*

Yep, agreed with every single word there.

Nintendo really should put any new idea they want to try into a new IP, instead of trying to integrate it into an existing one and possibly ruining the game in some way.

If they put new ideas into an existing IP, it shouldn't be anything too drastic.

Like Malstrom would say, Nintendo needs to know when to expand on what makes their original games great and create new gameplay with new IP as supposed to franksteining what made the original games great and forcing 3D, stylus, motion controls on games.

By your logic, what do you think the sales of Skyward Sword with its new control scheme will be? O_O

I disagree. While many whined that it wasn't an FPS, many liked that it was basically Metroid from a new perspective. Plus the game had legs, which would mean people had plenty of time to hear about what the game was like, but chose to buy it anyway.

The are some flaws here tbh for one Galaxy outsold Sunshine and had the gravity concept which completely opens up level design and the water gun also wasn't a very innovative mechanic and didn't have as much bearing on the game in the end GC sales didn't help either, TP is a launch title for the Wii and seen by numerous as one of the best in the series while PH and ST although being good games have some significant flaws which hold them back and on top of that the handheld and console market operate off different traits. DD is down to the decline of the GC, it came in a time when the GC was really struggling plus I wouldn't really call the two drivers an innovation.

Metroid has never really been a high seller and often sells slowly the series isn't as accessible to many and is really relegated to a cult following, Smash Bros is much like any other good fighting franchise it stays consistent Melee and Brawl are very good games with different approaches it's here where you've missed the innovation somewhat. Melee is very aggressive, sharp and technical and a big step up over Smash while Brawl employs a more passive balanced approach, these two are like Third Strike and IV similar template but used on differing approaches.

NSMB is really the main one that stands out for selling no matter what.

Did you miss that I wrote the exploration was gimped in the second game, due to how the two worlds were implemented?

Plus that "people will buy this game because it's their only alternative" is bullshit. I've seen it used to justify throwing weaker games to Wii owners and then complain that they don't sell.

Games are not a necessity. This isn't food where you have to have something. When Nintendo meant they were competing with all forms of entertainment, that means there are other ways to entertain people if they don't like a game. That means that people will not settle for what's available. If that was the case, Double Dash wouldn't have declined, as it was clearly the only Mario Kart game GC owners could buy. It did decline, and you pointed out why. Same with Mario  Sunshine.

Why didn't you mention Starfox?

But I like my choo-choo trains in Zelda!