By Ryan on Dec 20, 2009

Well, I would have to say that my favourite first party Nintendo franchise is the Pikmin series. Though at this moment there are only two entries in the series, I just couldn’t imagine any other franchise besting it in my eyes. Out of the two titles in the franchise, I’d say that Pikmin 2 would be my absolute favourite. I still remember when I first got the game, I had read hundreds of reviews on it, eagerly waiting until I could get to Wal-Mart to buy the game, (I live in a small town, so getting the chance to pick up games isn’t an easy task). When I finally got the chance to go get the game I was ecstatic, I spent weeks playing the game as often as I could. I loved the entire atmosphere of the game, the imaginative characters, the challenging caves that required so much strategy to complete, and that good ol’ Piklopedia full of Olimar’s data logs. The most memorable part of the game was finding a hole in the ground and just wondering what sorts of challenges awaited me inside. Ah…the memories, I still play the game to this day, I’ve must’ve completed it at least five times to date. I’ll probably be taking a sixth time through once they reveal more on Pikmin 3, just to get me back into the feel of things before it’s release.

By bob on Dec 20, 2009

i LOVE LOVE LOVE mario bros. all the platforming stuff. new super mario bros., old super mario bros. its pure fun.

By umb on Dec 21, 2009

I agree with you all the way. Zelda is what got me into gaming. Before I played Zelda, gaming cool. After Zelda, gaming was an obsession. Everything about them is right. The elegant combat, the unique items, the puzzles,the exploration, and music have all sucked me into the world of Hyrule. I’ve never played a Zelda game that I didn’t like (eventually). Everyone complains about Majora’s Mask, but they just need to look deeper. When I first started gaming, I borrowed Majora’s Mask from my friend and hated it. Then I got it on Virtual Console a few years later and absolutely loved it. I say that Zelda games are the best games ever made, and if you don’t like them, then you must not have played them right or more likely at all.

By Radioactive Puppy on Dec 21, 2009

Ah, the Legend of Zelda. Can anything compare to it? I really don’t think so. The Legend of Zelda goes way back for me, but I can honestly say that two Zelda games stick out to me- Twilight Princess and Minish Cap.

Twilight Princess was, much like you said, and experience. Never had Hyrule looked so real, the faces so interesting and the landscape so captivating. Rushing out into Hyrule field from Odina, on Epona’s back, decked out in the Hero of Time’s classic threads, with foliage all around and that utterly fantastic Hylianische Theme- The Ballad of Twilight… it just takes you right there, in the action, ready to venture across the Kingdom. In terms of story, Twilight Princess excels, as well. Starting out as a townboy doing mundane tasks, I was introduced to a hero who was pleased with the life he had and couldn’t want more- but I soon understood why my latest Link had to journey into the world- to save the children and a possible romantic interest- and I don’t mean Zelda.

But it went beyond that, as well. I soon came to love the somewhat bratty Midna, racing to Zelda in Wolf Form to save the almost-lifeless partner on my back. Understanding what Midna was, not simply an impish girl with a thirst for power but a Princess whose throne had been taken from her, was so rewarding. Going on a quest to help my romantic interest regain her memory was a tiresome, but extremely rewarding process. Watching Link become a Hero was utterly amazing.

And of course, the gameplay. Taking out hordes of goblins with my bow and arrow, the epic duel on the Bridge of Elden, tearing apart the Twilight demons, going through unique dungeon after dungeon, including an absolutely amazing Temple of Time and Sky Dungeon, fighting bosses of fearsome size in the Gerudo Desert, Death Mountain, the Sky Dungeon, and one of my favorites, Zant in all of the past Dungeons, leading up to an absolutely epic fight against Ganondorf in all three of his forms was, to me, one of the greatest adventures I have ever experienced in my lifetime of Gaming.

And Minish Cap, well, I just love it. Not only was it one of my first Handheld Zelda experiences, but I invested so much time in it and loved every dungeon I faced- whether it be Minish-sized or large. Also, Vaati was a unique and frightening villain, one who was mysterious, yet effective. And my beautiful Minish Cap (both of them, actually) was an amazing character and a great new gameplay mechanic. I am proud to say I found every secret in that game on my own, and by the end, when I had to say that my adventure was finally over, I was a little saddened.

But that’s what Zelda games do to me- The Original, Adventure of Link, A Link to the Past, Minish Cap, Phantom Hourglass, Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, and Twilight Princess (my favorites) have presented me with quests that I enjoy so much, I’m almost disappointed to beat the game, because I enjoyed the characters, gameplay, and stories so very much.

By Zack on Dec 21, 2009

It’s Zelda for me too.

Absolutely my favourite franchise for exactly the reasons stated above. Epic adventure, fantastic music, excellent gameplay, etc etc. Like, holyshit such great games. Everyone. Although I personally don’t like Majora’s Mask, I can respect it for the great game it is.

Metroid and Mario and very very close seconds. It all depends what game I’m playing at the time. Metroid Prime, and more specifically Corruption, offers such a great gaming experience. It’s the answer to a sci-fi Zelda game.

Mario games are just bloody amazing as well. Galaxy was fan-freaking-tastic. New Super Mario Bros.(Wii and DS), Mario 64, Mario 3, Super Mario World, and so on are just great games. All Mario, Metroid and Zelda games are. You don’t get any better.

By Rafael on Dec 21, 2009

Metroid for me.

If you had asked me this question ~2 years ago, I’d have answered Mario as my favorite Nintendo series (and either Super Mario Bros. 3 or Super Mario Galaxy as the franchise’s best game). And that’s because until then I had never played a Metroid game.

All the contact I had with Metroid until then was through Samus in Super Smash Bros Melee and one time, several years ago, when a friend of mine showed me Metroid Prime on Gamecube. He was fascinated by the game, but, to be honest, I was quite underwhelmed by it. In that point in time, my FPS exposure was games such as Doom, Wolfenstein 3d, Duke Nukem 3d, Unreal, Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, Half-Life, Counterstrike. Metroid Prime was nothing like those games. I remember I kept thinking while he showed me the game: “…but there are so few enemies in the rooms… it’s such an empty world… those enemies pose no threat… you gotta scan everything!?… what a damn slow game!”. And that was my impression of Metroid until quite recently.

A few months after I bought my Wii, I was in the mood to try some VC games which I had never played before. I researched a bit on forums which games people were recommending the most, and Super Metroid was topping most of the lists. I said ‘what the hell… maybe I should give Metroid another chance… let’s see if it’s really that good’. I bought it, started it up, and oh my god… Metroid fan for life! hehe

I just love the atmosphere in Super Metroid. The exploration. The action. The fact that there’s more emphasis on exploration than action, but even still, the action is great. Also the platform elements. The secrets. The power-ups. The music. Goddamn, what a masterpiece.

After beating it and falling in love with it, I proceded to buy a copy of Metroid Prime and reavaliate it. Now that I knew that the Metroid series was actually about, I went to it not expecting Goldeneye, and instead Metroid. In 3D. And it delivered. It also went automatically to my top favorite games.

Now I’ve played almost every game in the series (still haven’t gotten to Zero Mission nor Metroid II) and yeah, best Nintendo series, no doubt about it. Super Metroid is the best game Nintendo ever made. My second favorite game ever (Starcraft is first, if you’re curious). But all other Metroid games that I’ve played are awesome (except the NES one; revolutionary, but extremely dated).

I like Zelda a lot, but the only game in the series that would land in my top favorites is A Link to the Past, even though I also like Twilight Princess a lot. I can’t really relate to people who find Ocarina to be the best game ever. It never crossed my mind ‘wow, I’m playing one of the best games ever!’ during any of the times I’ve played it since it came out. That line crossed my mind during Super Metroid and Metroid Prime, though. I dunno, I can’t find anything objectively wrong with Ocarina. But it never had that big of an emotional response with me. Nor most games in the Zelda series, except maybe A Link to the Past.

So, Metroid as number 1 Nintendo franchise for me. Mario as number 2. Smash Bros would be number 3 (Brawl as the best game).

By IronROB on Dec 21, 2009

For me I guess the no.1 spot in my list of favortie Nintendo franchises(and individual games)goes to Metroid, of all the sci-fi video games its the one I favor the most.

The freedom in exploring scary caves,secret enemy bases and such stuff all alone are very appealing to me. The universe of Metroid is IMO one of the most thought out and interesting Nintendo universes.

Second would be good’old Mario(including Donkey Kong and Wario save for everything WarioWare),Mr. Video Game and his never-dissapointing plattforming games has always put a smile on my face at least once everytime I play a Mario game.

Third would be Kirby,he is the no.1 of all of Nintendo’s cute characters for me.
I really love the games and the offcial Coro Coro something mangas but unlike many other fans I absolutly hate the anime, one of the worst things to ever happen to Kirby.

Fourth is the MOTHER/Earthbound series.
There is so much love I can say about the games but I will just say my favorites in order:
1.Earthbound/MOTHER 2
2.MOTHER 3
3.MOTHER
I have moved on to other,more better RPG’s now but the MOTHER franchise will always remain my top one of RPG’s.

These are my top four favorite Nintendo games,I have more favorites of course(including obscure and individual ones)but I am not going to say them all. Maybe some other time.

Oh and sorry if I have misspelled a bit here and there, I’am kinda tired.

By Valay on Dec 21, 2009

It’s been really neat to read all of your responses, guys!

For me, though, Zelda will always stand out as the series that made me a true gamer. Before Ocarina of Time, I played games casually, mostly on handhelds. There were a few titles that I played with friends, like Smash Bros., Super Mario 64, etc., but Ocarina of Time really started my gaming “career.”

I still remember the first time I stepped out onto Hyrule Field. That magic was very memorable for me. Seeing the scope of the land, all of the area to conquer on foot, and areas to visit made it a memorable scene.

I definitely have to say that I appreciated Ocarina of Time for the fantastic adventure it provided.

By L.A.C. on Dec 26, 2009

Without shadow of doubt: Legend of Zelda.
With Super Mario a close second.

My favorite game of the series is Ocarina of Time.
The levels, the map, the characters, bosses, everything was so epic.
Levels had a balanced difficulty, just like bosses and enemies.
The bosses were awesome: From Phantom Ganon to Volvagia to Bongo Bongo to Ganon.
While I’m at it, this game featured easily the most epic Ganon fight ever.
There were so many characters to befriend with: From Saria and Malon to Ruto, Darunia and Zelda herself.
The map wasn’t the biggest in the Zelda series, but it served it’s purpose well and it felt very big on foot.
The story was magical.
You were simply playing the origin of the whole legend, which made it very interesting and unique.

While I’m at it, one of the things that made it so special was that they finally showed the birth and backstory of Ganon, the Triforce and the whole legend of Hyrule.
One of the things I loved the most was that Ganondorf orchestrated the whole plot himself, instead of relying on others to do the dirty work.

I’d like to point out too, that while OoT is my favorite game of the series, TP is a very, VERY close second.
Nearly every boss battle was epic: Morpheel, Argorok, Stallord and Ganondorf, etc.
The thing that I think it doesn’t put TP over OoT is the characters.
Even though Link had many friends to save (Colin, Ilia, Malo, etc.) the game didn’t felt like the whole land needed the hero.
He didn’t had much people to get to know.
And to make it worst, Hyrule Field was dead (as far as people is concerned) and Castle Town’s people were generic for the most part.
But don’t get me wrong, the gameplay completely owns OoT’s.

In the end, Ocarina of Time is my favorite game with Twilight Princess nearly in the same position.

By Fanaticit on Dec 29, 2009

There are other Nintendo titles?

The true joy that comes from video games of any kind is the fun factor, “Is this game fun to play?” And almost every title that fits into first party Nintendo franchise has provided that.