For me it's kind of funny when people talk about the NES colors, because when I think of the NES games, in my brain they are all in black and white. When my father brought me a NES from the US (NTSC) it would only work in black and white on my brazilian tv (PAL-M). But the games were so awesome that even the lack of colors could not bother us (my friends and I) too much.

OT: When wee look at the sales of SMBWii we can clearly see that there is a big damand for Nintendo to go back to its roots. I don't want Nintendo to make only the old school games, I want them to make new games too. But the absence of the classics in their last 3 platforms has left a void that cannot be filled by anyone else but Nintendo.

I think Nintendo did a great job with the SNES. They were moving in the right direction, adding new layers to their classics and creating new IPs as well.

Why can't Nintendo just continue what they did with the SNES? We can only hope that one day they'll listen to us.

Btw: Nice thread!!!

Stop living in the past.

Start flailing your arms around while stuff flies out of your T.V. like everyone else.

I may be younger than most of you... but the NES was my first console so my opinion totally counts. ;) I'm really digging how the 3DS Mario games are taking heavy inspiration from SMB3 (oh god the nostalgia), and the return of Kid Icarus is more than welcome in my book. Returning Zelda and Metroid to their roots might be a trickier prospect, but I'd at least like to see Nintendo stop trying to make Metroid "cinematic". It was cooler when I had to piece together a broader narrative though the game's design and scattered data entres (Full disclosure: Metroid Prime and Super Metroid are my favorite games).

I played the NES era a lot... but frankly, with the exception of Super Mario Bros 3, which is great to this day, the SNES era crushed it! Everything, every single franchise was better! Simply no exceptions, even the great Mario 3 was obliterated by Mario...4.

The problem with gaming today (in general) is that technology is allowed to dominate over technique. In other words, people want to show off what they can do with the console rather than make something that is fun to play.

And contrary to the OP, Nintendo is probably much less guilty of this than other companies.

The success of the dirt-smoke-gun barrel-blood FPS have made copycats out of many developers, looking for that multimillion seller they need to keep them fiscally afloat for another quarter.

Meanwhile, Nintendo tries new and different things -- some of which work better than others (and some of which never make it outside of Japan (i.e., Captain Rainbow)).

It is essentially the same thing that has happened with movies -- which is why few people over 40 go to the movies regularly as there is little targeted to them. If games do not rethink their approach, they will share that same limited future.

Mike from Morgantown

1.  I know Miyamoto has become a bit vocal at times when it comes to SMB, simply because he wants to explore other ideas too.  It's kind of like a band that is stuck playing one song over and over because it's their biggest hit, yet they want their fans to hear other songs they've written as well.  The thing is, I believe that you're blowing the whole "Miyamoto hates SMB" thing out of proportion.  Has he ever in fact actually said that he adamantly wishes not to make any more?

2.  I know that Aonuma has said this before, and that he's never finished the game (which I will agree is blasphemy; it should be a prerequisite for working at Nintendo), but I also read that he did like ALttP, which surely must mean something regarding that subject.

3.  Ok, I'll give you that...

4.  Wouldn't it be the other way around?  It seems to me that the younger people would be more accustomed to the newer types of games and that the older members (who grew up playing the now retro stuff), would be more partial to the classic style.

What we need is a link... to the past!

1.  I agree that there is absolutely no reason not to make more SMB games; and no reason why they shouldn't put 110% into every aspect of them as well.  I just couldn't remember Miyamoto ever saying he wanted to be done with them as a whole.  I've heard him exclaim in interviews, "I've already made that game" and such, but then again, I've heard him quickly change the subject and refuse to talk about Pikmin as well, and we all know that is coming.  But yeah, neglecting 2D Mario for two generations was absurd.

2.  Oh I wasn't insinuating that the DS Zeldas were adequate substitutes for ALttP at all; just that Aonuma doesn't dislike that classic style altogether, from what I've heard anyway.  But it's true, actions speak louder...

3.  Ah, I see.  You're referring to people more my age, in which case I see what you mean.

Great post. How do you suggest Nintendo would drive that business strategy. Would they have product lines that are called "Retro Celebration" or something like that, would they sell them on WiiWare like MM9 and 10? Would they be like MM9 and 10 using the exact same graphics or would they be more in line with SFII HD Remix?

Do you think there is a market for these today, and do you think Nintendo can sell multiple 2D Mario games in parallel (NSMB, Mario 5) without hurting the franchise? Do you think 2D Metroid should be just Super Metroid Remixed? What about 2D Zelda? Could 3D Zelda also use a touch of nostalgia and return to roots (mystical theme and open-endedness)?

What is stopping Nintendo from experimenting with a full retro strategy and what this far can be considered a legitimate attempt in Retro goodness? 3DLand? DCKR, Return to Dreamland?

What defines retro, what are the characteristics desired, is it the pace? The reduction of all things superficial and a focus on the essentials? The colors, the themes, the music?

So many questions guys, what are your thoughts?

Man, that`s a lot of questions! :D
Let`s see if i even have an opinion for them all!

I think that the best thing about playing all those old games is that they feel unique by today`s standards. I know it sounds weird, but games have evolved so much (visuals, music, gameplay, sound effects, etc.) that when you replay those games not only there`s a sense of nostalgia but you also have to re-adapt to those old games. More than once i tried to play Mario and Zelda from NES like i played them now.
They are simple, yet deep. And more important, they achieved greatness without even trying. It was all about the experience, not this or that aspect.

There are two ways that Nintendo can go retro: they can either do it exactly like Capcom did with Megaman or they can do it like... Capcom with SF2 HD Remix; Sonic 4 from Sega and even 3D Game Dot Heroes.
I think there is a lot that Nintendo can try from. Nintendo can just make direct sequels or try and give something that feels retro but isn`t retro.
I honestly think there is a market even for 2D retro Mario and NSMB. Both games are completely different.
For example, take Sonic Rush and Sonic Rush Adventure and compare them with Sonic 4. Both 2D yet totally different. It can be done.
Yeah, i think WiiWare is the best market for them. Normally people expect something different from retail purchases and seeing as those game won`t be large in space, Wiiware is more than a good service to destribute and even make the Nintendo online service a place to look out for when you are thinking about buying your next game. In other words, make the online destribution channel as valuable and important as retail.

What`s stopping Nintendo for going that road?
I honestly don`t know. Maybe Nintendo thinks that the market just wants new games and not new retro games. Maybe Nintendo just doesn`t the appetite for those kind of games anywhere, seeing as everyone praises and claims great graphics, greater length, innovative gameplay and so on.
I haven`t played 3D Land or the new Kirby games and i never played much of the old DKCR so i really can`t comment. Sorry.

I think the best definition of retro or the best way to see it is like seeing a paradigm shift.
What changed from the games of before to the know is basically how they were built: nobody had expectation that this game must have this or that, or do this or that. Things were so limited in resources that the best thing was if it was fun and you had a good time playing it.
Who cared about graphics, music, etc.? When i was playing them as a kid, with my friends, all we cared about was just playing the game, fighting the enemies  reaching the end of the games to beat Ganon or Bowser! :D