Almost every storyline in Mario is "Go save the princess", but the story isn't too important there. The Zelda series does plenty of that too, but each game supposedly has a different Link and takes place within a different time period. I guess the story is pretty individualized for each game, but it is the same basic thing.

Yes and no. The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: the Adventure of Link is a continuous story. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the past and Links Awakening are seperate from the first two games but they are a continuous story on their own. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask are a different story line but they are continuous. I am not sure where Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, Season Oracle of ages/Oracle of Seasons, Minish Cap, or Phantom Hourglass fit in all of that, since I have never played any of those.

Wind Waker takes place after Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask.
It's kinda like a trilogy.

What's the best introduction to Mega Man and Metroid? I'm considering getting a points card so I can get ExciteBike, Mega Man, Metroid, and Kid Icarus.

Not sure about Mega Man, but Super Metroid is amazing.

Kid Icarus, Mega Man, and Super Metroid, then.

Mega Man 2 and Metroid 1 since you can't afford Super Metroid if you only get 1 card...unless they make cards with more than 2000 points now.

I second that. Mega Man 2 is really where you want to start the series. The difficulty isn't too bad (especially on normal difficulty) and it has a rockin' soundtrack. It's such a good game!

Thanks.

I've just decided that I'll wait til Kid Icarus 3DS comes out, since I'd rather have something more modern. I won't get Mega Man, since I already have the remarkably similar (and more awesome) Darkwing Duck. I won't get Excite Bike, since I already have the remake.

Concerning Metroid, I'm still undecided. Also, I'm unsure whether I'll get Mario Golf and Mario Tennis, since they don't have motion controls.

How do you know that Darkwing Duck is more awesome if you've yet to play a Mega Man game?

Metroid 1 and Mega Man 1, of course. The beginning is always the best introduction.

Also, Mega Man is far more awesome than Darkwing Duck.

I owned the MM Anniversary Collection for awhile. It failed to hold my interest. I'm just wondering whether to give it another chance.

I don't see why not. Only $5, and there's not really much else you seem to be particulary interested in. Who knows, perhaps you'll like it more this time and have a new series to get into? If not, you won't have to worry about playing it again.

Objection: pick up Mega Man 2 and Super Metroid first. The worst games in a saga are always the best introduction for hate them.

My recommendation in this post: Dynamite Headdy. Pure innovative platform love!

Are you saying that the first Mega Man game is the worst? No, not at all! It may be a little more difficult than the other titles and has less polish, but it is not the worst. In fact, "worst" is a word I wouldn't desribe any of the Mega Man games with. Yeah, you can throw out complaints about 6 and 7 too, but those were also good games.

MMX6. Ow.

Agreed...and Mega Man 8...and Battle Network 4...and one of the GB games, I can't remember which.

I'll get Metroid, Kid Icarus, Mega Man, and Ice Climbers

Excite Bike doesn't look all that great compared to the remake.

Good man. Yeah, Excite Bike is pretty pointless if you already have the remake. It doesn't do enough different to differentiate it, and what it does do, the remake does better.

Just a warning, though: All 4 of those games are patience-testers. I hope you got insurance, because that controller is almost guaranteed to go through the wall.