Nintendo: From Past to Present

February 4, 2010  
Filed under Opinion, Top Stories

By: Adara Jackson

When people think about Nintendo some things that pop into mind happen to be Pikachu, Zelda’s silver sword, and red turtle shells.  Nintendo launched Duck Hunt, Super Mario, Donkey Kong, Zelda, and Pokémon into the gaming world.

 Nintendo first released the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) in 1985. It’s been 23 years since then and Nintendo has released masses of video game consoles.   When the NES released it sold out immediately despite its 2-D game graphics and rectangular controllers.  Super Mario Bros was the one game for the NES people couldn’t get enough of making it the most sold game for that console. 

Then in 1989 Nintendo released the Game Boy. It made Nintendo major money because, even though it had a small and gray shaded screen, people went crazy for it. Tetris was the hit game for the Game Boy. People loved stacking blocks and listening to the fetching tone that played throughout the game.

Fast forward to 1996, Nintendo released the Nintendo 64. It upgraded the graphics from 2-D to 3-D.  The console came in a variation of colors including green, red, orange, purple and black.  Nintendo got rid of the gray and black cube controllers and added an analog stick, made it easier to hold, and now offered the controllers in an assortment of colors. It took video game playing to the next level.  This is the console that makes my palms sweat and mind go bananas.

1996 also gave name to the beloved game series Pokémon which is about Ash and Pikachu going on an adventure to “catch’em all!”  After the game was released the TV show and books came soon after.  Pikachu dolls were everywhere and kids all around the world begged parents to experience the Pokémon phenomenon. 

About 5 years later Nintendo made the move from cartridge game playing to disc game playing with the Game Cube.  The game graphics were better than the Nintendo 64 and the controllers got more complicated.  Super Mario Sunshine, Pikmin, Zelda: Twilight Princess, and Mario Kart: Double Dash made the Game Cube one of the most favorable Nintendo consoles to a numerous amount people.

With motion sensor controllers and crisper game graphics Nintendo released the Wii in 2006.  Nintendo got rid of the bulky controllers and adapted to a slimmer, sleeker and wireless remote that made it easy and fun to move around. Wii Fit made exercising fun and accessible to those who didn’t have a gym near them.  The Wii made gaming a real life experience.

Nintendo has come from old cartridge games to CDs, big and bulky controllers to small and slim, and mediocre graphics too fun and cleaner graphics.  Nintendo has made a lot of advances in the video gaming world.  In the future we will hope Nintendo brings more fun entertainment to families and gamers all around the globe.

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