Nintendo Games That Were Ahead Of Their Time

Key Takeaways

• Nintendo’s innovative gameplay loops revolutionized the gaming landscape with titles like Super Mario 64 and Zelda: A Link to the Past.
• Super Smash Bros. unique fighting mechanics birthed an iconic franchise appreciated for innovative gameplay and crossover appeal.
• Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow kick-started the most valuable entertainment IP, with its monster-catching formula being replicated in future games.

Nintendo is known by many as one of the biggest video game companies of all time. The company single-handedly brought video games back from the brink of extinction, forming many IPs that have become video game royalty for numerous reasons.

The company has always prioritized innovative gameplay loops in its first-party titles, making it clear why most of its games are known for revolutionizing the gaming landscape. From fun platformers to amazing adventure games, Nintendo has dipped its hands across numerous genres to stellar results.

8 Super Mario 64

Nintendo’s First Attempt At Making A 3D Platformer Was A Gaming Revolution

Super Mario 64 is one of the most important 3D platformers ever made. With the gaming landscape evolving, fans wanted their titles to discard their 2D roots since the hardware allowed for complex visuals. Mario’s rival, Sonic, floundered with the launch of Sonic Adventure, a game that needed more time in the oven.

Meanwhile, Super Mario 64 wowed everyone with its smooth movement mechanics, excellent over-the-shoulder camera, and innovative level design that made the most of this 3D landscape. It showed developers what 3D gaming could achieve and served as a template for most video games to build upon in this new generation.

7 The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past

An Adventure Game That Broke New Ground For The Genre

The Legend of Zelda needed to make a major splash on the SNES to let gamers enjoy a grand adventure for the ages. This was achieved with A Link to the Past, an amazing video game that featured an iconic art style, simple yet engaging combat, and exploration that rewarded players for finding secrets.

The world may be split into zones, but A Link to the Past feels a lot like a segmented open world, which lends a much-needed sense of scale to hammer in the epic nature of this adventure. To this day, A Link to the Past is loaded with charm and technical excellence.

6 Super Smash Bros.

Debuted Unique Fighting Mechanics That Have Become Iconic

Nintendo prided itself on developing games for all ages. So, it was easy to see why a fighting game would be a tough sell on this console. However, Masahiro Sakurai put forth an irresistible pitch that birthed one of the most iconic fighting game franchises of all time.

Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 64 was a joy to behold, serving as a crossover fighting game with minor platforming elements that was an instant hit. Knocking enemies out of a stage instead of just beating them to a pulp was something that fans couldn’t get enough of and helped Super Smash Bros. stand out as one of the most unique fighting games available, courtesy of its innovative gameplay mechanics.

5 Pokemon Red, Blue, & Yellow

Kick-Started The Rise Of The Most Valuable Entertainment IP Of All Time

• 	Pokemon Red and Blue	Pokemon Yellow
  System	Nintendo	Nintendo
  Platform(s)	Nintendo Game Boy	Nintendo Game Boy
  Released	1998-09-28	1999-10-18
  Genre(s)	JRPG	JRPG, Adventure, Strategy

Pokemon is the most valuable entertainment IP of all time, but this franchise had to start somewhere. During the time of the Game Boy, Nintendo funded the development of a monster-catching title by Game Freak that quickly established itself as one of the greatest JRPGs ever made.

The idea of capturing Pokemon of all shapes and sizes that players could use in battle was amazing and helped establish a formula that has been replicated in future games with a few innovations added to the mix. Pokemon‘s modern reputation may not be sparkling, but fans still remember the magical times when they played Pokemon Red, Blue & Yellow and amassed a team of powerful Pokemon that could wipe out the toughest trainers in a flash.

4 Wii Sports

Popularized Motion Controls And Allowed For Fun Party Gaming Experiences

Wii Sports is a video game that broke new ground when it came to displaying what motion controls could bring to a gaming experience. It single-handedly turned the Nintendo Wii into a party console that fans could boot up to have a great time with their friends.

Featuring a litany of simple yet engaging games that gamers could play through, Wii Sports broke new ground for motion controls in video games. It compelled other rivals to try their hand at motion control gaming to mixed results.

3 Super Metroid

This Game, Along With Castlevania, Coined The Name For A Gaming Genre That Fans Can’t Get Enough Of

It’s only a given that a game known for coining the name of a genre was ahead of its time in more ways than one. Super Metroid was a classic evolution of 2D action-platformers, introducing new powers along the way that players could acquire to unlock paths and uncover secrets that they couldn’t reach before.

It’s a simple yet excellent way to reward players for making progress and keeping track of the map and every corner that they couldn’t explore before. This formula helped both Super Metroid and Castlevania create the Metroidvania genre.

2 Super Mario Bros.

Helped Restore The Gaming Industry’s Reputation After The Video Game Crash Of ’83

After the video game crash of 1983, most people assumed that the gaming industry was dying out and that this form of entertainment would soon be a thing of the past. However, Nintendo proved everyone wrong by making major waves in the Western market with their innovative gameplay offerings.

One of the most popular video games that has gone down in video game history is Super Mario Bros., a game that almost everyone has played at least once. This retro platformer was a breath of fresh air at the time, letting players take on several challenging levels before finally saving Princess Peach from Bowser’s nefarious hands.

1 The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time

One Of The Greatest Video Games Ever Made, Bringing Forth Many Innovative Mechanics

With the launch of the Nintendo 64, it was clear that the company needed to do something magical to help their illustrious Legend of Zelda series gain a major footing on this home console. However, no one expected Nintendo to blow everyone’s expectations out of the water with a game that sits comfortably as one of the greatest action-adventure games of all time.

Ocarina of Time genuinely feels like an open-world game at times, inspiring other developers to create adventure games that try to channel the magic of this title. Even after all the time that has passed since this game’s release, there’s something about Ocarina of Time that keeps players coming back for more.