Former design icon and current maker of pretend videogames Shigeru Miyamoto has been casting a critical eye over his team's earlier Wii games, claiming that something was "missing" from Twilight Princess and that Super Mario Galaxy felt conservative.
"What I've been saying to our development teams recently is that Twilight Princess was not a bad game, by any means. But, still, it felt like there was something missing," explains the Wii Fit creator. "And while, personally, I feel like Super Mario Galaxy was able to do some things that were very new and were very unique, at the same time, from another perspective, certain elements of it do feel somewhat conservative in terms of how far we branched out with design. And so this is something I've been talking to both of those teams about."
These comments are very telling of Nintendo's current attitude. Both Twilight Princess and Mario Galaxy were, waggle aside, rather traditional videogames. That Shigeru Miyamoto is being so critical of these proper games -- arguably two of the very best titles available on the Wii -- says a lot about Nintendo and Miyamoto's approach to the games industry now.
Twilight Princess and Mario Galaxy are conservative and lacking. Wii Fit and Wii Sports Resort? That's the future, folks!
Someone pass me a sick bag ...
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
8:06 AM on 10.30.2008
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And you know what, Miyamoto? IT WAS FUCKING AWESOME. Sometimes we don't really care about innovation, as long as the game is still fun. And Super Mario Galaxy balanced the traditional Mario platformer with new gameplay elements perfectly.
Maybe he was bored with constructing the massive worlds. Maybe he just wants to go back to the days of 2D?
I loved Mario Galaxy, really liked Twilight Princess, but can see why Miyamoto thinks both series need shaking up. If by missing something, he means min--games, then sure, he's a jerk. But if by missing something he means the Portal gun, online multi-player, brand new scenarios and gameplay mechanics, then I'm all for it.
TP&MG; Best wii games ever.
I saw nothing in the interview that wasn't typical Miyamoto patter. I am sorry, but these constant criticisms against games for "not being innovative" are pathetic.
Innovation does not automatically = great. Lost Odyssey is one of these non-innovative RPGs that Miyamoto is critical of, but that doesn't take away from what is one of the most beautiful games of the year.
I also loved Super Mario Galaxy, but I'm not sure how much they can do different with the franchise. The fact that the game took place in space made it refreshing enough. Maybe if they stopped using the "Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach" formula?
Galaxy...I enjoyed it...even though I didn't finish it. I really should. I'm not too far from the end; I just got distracted by other games.
So, if he doesn't like how they turned out, maybe they should work on a Zelda and Mario game that does change up the way we look at them...instead of pushing out Wii Music and Animal Crossing: It Looks Like The Other Two But Has Chat Capabilities.
Wheeeee...I mean...Wiiiiii...
Mario Galaxy was great fun, but it didn't really exploit the new gameplay mechanics to the fullest extent of their potential either. Also, by and large, the level design wasn't anything you couldn't find in one of the earlier Mario games, only this time around it took place on spheres. It definitely took more chances than Twilight Princess, but overall, it was still a pretty standard platformer.
So I can certainly see where Miyamoto is coming from. I don't get how that's supposed to imply that he's satisfied with his casual shit, or if he even thinks they can, or have to be, held to similar standards, but whatever. I'm just eager to see if this attitude bears fruit.
Twilight Princess was pretty good, but it was the same thing we'd done in Ocarina of Time.
Mario 64, I played that religiously until every star was mine.
Ocarina of Time, I played that religiously until I walked up and down every inch of Hyrule.
Mario Galaxy, I stopped playing as soon as I could skip to and beat the last Bowser battle.
Twilight Princess, I almost gave up on half way through.
I want to blame my more critical eye, but part of me knows its his fault. His vision is faltering. The magic just wasn't in these games. And if he can notice that and accept it then maybe he can make games as amazing as M64 and tLoZ:OoT.
Yep, that's exactly what he said. -_-
Aren't there people on this board who criticize those games for being just like their predecessors all the time? 5 bucks says they still criticize Miyamoto for this.
Yep, that's exactly what he said. -_-
Aren't there people on this board who criticize those games for being just like their predecessors all the time? 5 bucks says they still criticize Miyamoto for this.
Seriously though, just because a game isn't innovative like Portal or LBP does not mean it sucks. I thought Twilight Princess was fun but it had it's boring parts. I would have actually liked it MORE without all the waggle. Super Mario Galaxy was really fun but there was nothing new. And you know what? That's fine.
I however have no idea how I'm supposed to "have fun" or "enjoy" innovative "games" from Nintendo like Wii Fit.
Oh how the mighty have fallen.
I'll take this comment in a positive light, the light that Jim only uses for valve and koei games (no offense, I like Dynasty Warriors and Half-Life 2 as much as everyone) and say I'm looking foreward to what the new Zelda and Mario games are
All I heard in the early going of the launch of the Wii was that there weren't enough games, and that the first party crap being released was just more recycled garbage. Now we get some new, uh, organic garbage and we so long for the recycled stuff that we forget how we felt before.
I wouldn't worry about a Zelda taken over by mini-games or a Mario game with integrated Wii Music stuff. I think they know the two audiences -- while they may overlap -- don't want those things to be forced together.
No one can because Miyamoto didn't say it. Could this interview be taken anymore out of context by Mr. Sterling? He was talking about how to make core games better, and Jim twisted it all around to put yet another negative slant on anything Nintendo. Its just getting pathetic at this point. Is Destructoid turning into a online trashy tabloid that makes up shit just to get more hits now?
If anything should be taken out of this interview it should be that Nintendo themselves are not even satisfied with the core games they make, and want to constantly make them better each time out. How can anyone take that, and make it sound like Miyamoto is trashing the hardcore, and only talking about WiiMusic, and WiiSports. He didn't even mention those games in these quotes for god sakes.
Carry on.
I 100% agree.
Twilight and Galaxy were great games, all he's saying (as far as I can tell) is that he thinks they could have been even better, hes a perfectionist. Or would you rather he didn't care about making games and just churned out 'nintendo-mascot-franchise-sequel-X' forever?
It's the same as when Kojima rattles on abotu how Western developers are outdoing the Japanese these days. I think he's wrong, but I'd rather he say that than "I am Japanese, and therefore, I rule."
However, if the next Mario and Zelda games play like Wii Fit or Wii Music, I will rip up my Nintendo fanboy card and never praise Miyamoto again.
No you love intentionally irritating Nintendo fans with BS like this that has nothing to do with what was actually said. Just to get more hits. Its one thing to have a opinion Jim, but its another to make shit up out of nothing. Its pathetic!
If this is the case, then thanks for bringing me closer to that goal. <3
Pretty much everythign he says here I agree with. Or more accurately, everything he mocks here, i agree with. Nintendo (read : Atari in the mid 80's) is going down a slippery, slippery slope.
Since Ocarina of Time, Miyamoto has not directed the Zelda games. its like blaming him for the Zelda games that Capcom made for the handhelds.
Jim sterling, Wfolse1, SephirothX, atastysammich, swe3tmadness and flaming burrito are forgetting that Miyamoto is the one who brought Mario into 3D, revolutionized camera control and the joystick control. Ocarina of Time brought innovation in connecting a 3D world with Hyrule Field and the way inventory was accessed and used.
Some people say that Mario Kart, Smash Brothers, Mario Galaxy, Zelda, Fire Emblem are just more of the same.
Then others say pass me a sick bag when Nintendo wants to innovate. Damned if you do and damned if you dont.
Before you attack innovation, just try to go back and read old reviews of Super Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time.
Sure Wii Fit and Wii Music appeal to casual gamers. But Wii sports is revolutionary. The Wii Version of Madden 09 is just plain more fun than the other versions.
Don't forget it used to be named 'Revolution'. He just wants to evolve Mario and Zelda again to new hights. Please, complain.