Metroid is debatable. Only the original sold really well, almost 3m. The sequels managed to sell over a million but that's not much of a success. Not for Nintendo these days. Even 3m would seem like small potatoes on Wii.

Animal Crossing and Mario Party are both much bigger. I suspect Kirby as well but Kirby hasn't seen a console platformer since N64. A DKCountry game would likely also be bigger but again, not since N64 has the world seen one.

But Metroid is still bigger than Star Fox, FZero, Fire Emblem and recent Pokemon Colloseum games which is why it's probably more recgonized.

DK is the sleeping giant. And many forget that Metroid series also saw a big hiatus for some time only to strike back as strong as ever, which made MP my favorite game last gen. DK is due to have a resurrection and it will be one of the biggest ones yet. DK is far from dead, and it's the 3rd biggest franchise for the core.

DK has potential, definitely.

Too many people count Star Fox out. I have no doubt that if Nintendo EAD developed the newest Star Fox, it'd have more potential than any Metroid. When Nintendo actually made it themselves, Star Fox sold ~3mil on the SNES (more than any Metroid), and 4mil on the N64.

Anyway, the trio is Mario, Zelda, and Metroid because they're fan favorites (and Star Fox / DK haven't seen good games since the N64). It has little to do with sales, honestly.

I personally love Zelda more than Mario, Smash Bros. series third and Metroid Prime series fourth.

I think most hardcore gamers would put Mario #1, Zelda a close second and the Metriod Prime series a distant 3rd.

I don't know what would qualify as "hardcore gamers," but why do you think they'd put Mario over Zelda? On most internet polls, and looking at fan reactions in general (see Twilight Princess unveil) Zelda is always above Mario.

I used to think Star Fox, now i think metroid. Seriously, though. SF64 was awesome, and i really enjoyed adventures. But assault? yuck.

True, but did they really forget it? DK still shows up in Mario Kart. =) They just dont know what to do except make more adventure games with DK. They infused him last gen with Donkey Konga, they just havent plugged him in this gen yet.

Metroid became a core franchise thanks to its huge resurgances on the Gamecube.

On every Nintendo system I think you can place titles from these franchises as the stand-out games that people think of when they think of that generation.

For me:

NES: Super Mario Bros (1 or 3?)
SNES: Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
N64: Super Mario 64 / Ocarina of Time
Gamecube: Metroid Prime
Wii: Super Mario Galaxy

Mario, Zelda, Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart and Pokémon are Nintendo's biggest franchises with many "hardcore" fans.

Metroid is one of the most critically acclaimed franchises, but not very popular.

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