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Forums - Nintendo Discussion - Best year of a Nintendo system prior to Switch's 2017

2006, launch of the wii. Zelda Twilight Princess with motion controls and Wii sports along witb Red Steel and Dragonball Bodukai Tecnkaichi 2. Best year Nintendo ever had. Even though it was only two months or so.



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I'm gonna shoutout Wii's 2010.

We got Mario Galaxy 2, Monster Hunter Tri and Sin & Punishment Star Successor in the West, Xenoblade in Japan, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Kirby's Epic Yarn, COD Black Ops, Goldeneye 007, No More Heroes 2, Red Steel 2, Sonic Colours, Sonic All Stars Racing, Disney Epic Mickey...

There was just so much good stuff to play from both first and third parties.

SNES 1994 and N64 1998 were awesome as well.



LegitHyperbole said:

2006, launch of the wii. Zelda Twilight Princess with motion controls and Wii sports along witb Red Steel and Dragonball Bodukai Tecnkaichi 2. Best year Nintendo ever had. Even though it was only two months or so.

Considering I gave an honorable mention to GameCube's 2001 (less than two months in North America), I can't really argue with Wii's 2006.

Wii had more on offer in 2006 on launch day than Switch on launch day in 2017. Twilight Princess vs. Breath of the Wild is debatable, but I think very few would pick 1-2 Switch over Wii Sports. Add on the games you listed and others like Cars as a pleasant movie tie-in and the Wii had some strong offerings out the gate.

I gave GameCube a shout out for SSBM and Luigi's Mansion while there was also Animal Crossing in Japan on GameCube that Holiday and there are other games like Pikmin and Rogue Leader.



Lifetime Sales Predictions 

Switch: 161 million (was 73 million, then 96 million, then 113 million, then 125 million, then 144 million, then 151 million, then 156 million)

PS5: 115 million (was 105 million) Xbox Series S/X: 48 million (was 60 million, then 67 million, then 57 million)

PS4: 120 mil (was 100 then 130 million, then 122 million) Xbox One: 51 mil (was 50 then 55 mil)

3DS: 75.5 mil (was 73, then 77 million)

"Let go your earthly tether, enter the void, empty and become wind." - Guru Laghima

2013 for 3DS in North America was insane.

Fire Emblem Awakening, Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, Animal Crossing New Leaf, Mario & Luigi Dream Team, Pokémon X and Y, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds.



SNES's 1994 is legendary imo. Saw the release of DKC, FFVI, Super Metroid, Demons Crest, Earthbound, Killer Instinct, Breath of Fire 2 and many more.



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As I look up specific years I realize that there are a lot of good options.

Here’s a dark-horse candidate: 2000 on N64. Check out this list…

Perfect Dark
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Banjo-Tooie
Ogre Battle 64
Excitebike 64
Mario Tennis
WWF No Mercy
Mario Party 2
Sin and Punishment (Japan only)



Veknoid_Outcast said:

As I look up specific years I realize that there are a lot of good options.

Here’s a dark-horse candidate: 2000 on N64. Check out this list…

Perfect Dark
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Banjo-Tooie
Ogre Battle 64
Excitebike 64
Mario Tennis
WWF No Mercy
Mario Party 2
Sin and Punishment (Japan only)

Japanese releases of Paper Mario, Mario Party 3, and Pokemon Stadium 2 as well. 



Lifetime Sales Predictions 

Switch: 161 million (was 73 million, then 96 million, then 113 million, then 125 million, then 144 million, then 151 million, then 156 million)

PS5: 115 million (was 105 million) Xbox Series S/X: 48 million (was 60 million, then 67 million, then 57 million)

PS4: 120 mil (was 100 then 130 million, then 122 million) Xbox One: 51 mil (was 50 then 55 mil)

3DS: 75.5 mil (was 73, then 77 million)

"Let go your earthly tether, enter the void, empty and become wind." - Guru Laghima

A couple of honourable mentions I haven't seen mentioned yet:

SNES 1995: Not quite as packed as 1994, but it had the triple whammy of Chrono Trigger, Yoshi's Island, and Donkey Kong Country 2, three of the very best games of the 4th generation.

N64 1997: Starfox 64, Goldeneye 007, Turok, Diddy Kong Racing, Doom 64, Blast Corps, Extreme G...



Veknoid_Outcast said:

I'll also pay tribute to my personal favorite: 1998 on N64. A lot of these games are not only great, but they mean a lot to me on a personal level.

  • The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
  • Banjo-Kazooie
  • Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
  • F-Zero X
  • 1080 Snowboarding
  • Turok 2: Seeds of Evil
  • WCW/nWo Revenge
  • Body Harvest
  • Fighters Destiny
  • BattleTanx
  • Wipeout 64

Proud to say I still own physical copies of them all :)

Yeah, I also thought about 1998.  The first Mario Party released that year too in Japan.

curl-6 said:

[...]

N64 1997: Starfox 64, Goldeneye 007, Turok, Diddy Kong Racing, Doom 64, Blast Corps, Extreme G...

This has to be the year when Rare just gobsmacked me with how incredibly talented that company used to be.  And then Banjo the very next year.



archbrix said:
curl-6 said:

[...]

N64 1997: Starfox 64, Goldeneye 007, Turok, Diddy Kong Racing, Doom 64, Blast Corps, Extreme G...

This has to be the year when Rare just gobsmacked me with how incredibly talented that company used to be.  And then Banjo the very next year.

Yeah Rare were the heroes of the N64 in my opinion.

Nintendo themselves put out some amazing games, but they could only do so much on their own, and third party support was sparse. Rare came to the rescue with a consistent stream of games, most of which were excellent.