@MBirdy88 said:
This.
Only kids want to "Grow up and remove all immature content" ... when you are a comfortable adult.... you shouldn't mind nintendo's game themes.... infact they are quite nice.
I say it again... only kids and teens obsess over "being adult" .... childish in itself.
Nintendo's game themes certainly are nice... to point of complete mind numbing boredom. Some people enjoy complexity, darkness, conflict and emotionally mature themes, inappropriate (for multiple reasons) to a children's game.
Nothing wrong with Nintendo making family friendly games but they have never, ever moved me in the same a title like, say, Bioshock, Portal, or The Last Of Us has. And they almost certainly never will. The closest they come is when they go for pure abstract atmosphere, mainly in Metroid but somewhat in Zelda (Windwaker springs to mind). But lack of compelling characters and plot is a bit of a downer.
The uber defensive sheep aside, it is indeed one of their main flaws as a game developer, imo. The shallowness and fluffiness of nearly all their titles' stories, themes and worlds. They could really enrich their amazing gameplay if they cared about putting in some sort of effort in those areas, just a little bit of interesting or unexpected conflict.
How about a Mario game where Toad(s) is sick of being a fucking servant and teams up with Bowser and the koopas to bring down the monarchy? Maybe they happily vote for Bowser as their new ruler? And maybe Luigi thinks they have a point? And maybe Mario (aka the player) has to choose whether to choose his bro vs. his ho, social stability vs a more just world? (That's an intentionally absurd example, please don't take it so seriously... just an idea of some sort of conflict, choice and originality they could introduce to their game stories)
Using the example of 2D platformers last gen, New Super Mario Brothers Wii was one of the best one I played, mechanics wise. But I prefered the XBLA title Limbo, out roughly the same time. Mechanically it was worse, but it's dark concept and visuals made it a much more interesting, rewarding and memorable game, rather than my 50th time bouncing on Koopas and saving the Princess.
I must repeat, the gameplay was better done in Mario. But I can't remember much of it, and was pretty bored in a "Been there, done that" way with it. While Limbo was lesser in gameplay but has stuck with me to this day. The poor child, the terrifying world, the dark ending and the endless horrible deaths are completely inappropriate to children, but enriched the game for me. What a messed up but enjoyable title.
People are allowed to want that sort of thing from Nintendo. They are allowed to want more meaningful and conflicted stories, themes and worlds from them, rather then the same old shit of saving princesses and being the squeaky clean good guy.
Though I do admit it's very unlikely to ever happen, and they should just look elsewhere for that type of thing.
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