In the first part of a small series with contributions from multiple staff members, Tom Whitehead explains why Nintendo — and gaming as a whole — are such a big part of his Holidays.
Given the choice, I typically opt for single player games. While I enjoy a variety of systems and game genres, including consoles such as the PS4 that are obsessed with you sharing and playing everything online, I'm pretty happy putting on a pair of headphones and tackling a world on my own. Whether aiming for all the extras in something cute and bubblegum like Super Mario 3D World, frantically tapping buttons — but with skill — in Bayonetta 2 or taking on something altogether more grim but nevertheless intoxicating like Metro Redux, I typically fly solo. In some respects my relationship with games, in terms of how I enjoy them, is similar to that I have with a good book. I want to minimise distractions and immerse myself, always hoping that the game won't let me down.
Yet, when it comes to this festive time of the year I know that there'll be plenty of multiplayer gaming, with the Wii U likely to be front and centre. It's something I'm really looking forward to, as well, as having moved away from my family last year — my parents, brother and I have always been close — I've had plenty of time to play immersive single player games on my lonesome. I'm not asking anyone to play the world's smallest violin for me, but aside from some hugely enjoyable but rare gaming sessions with the NL crew I've had little opportunity to enjoy the multiplayer treats on offer.
While the technology changes, meanwhile, the basic idea is the same as always. There are some games — typically of the faster, more complicated variety — that my brother and I will play together, there are others that my Mum will also play as she continues to get into more games (she's a keen 3DS and Wii U gamer), and a small band that we'll all play, four family members (occasionally more) all jumping in at once. When we do this, it reminds me of amazing memories from when I was a child, but also provides a real moment of bonding; we can watch movies, play board games and other things, yes, but games — particularly those from the party masters at Nintendo — add a raucous, fantastical element that triples the volume in the room.
It's incredible that I remember playing games with my brother on the ZX Spectrum at this time of year — we're talking late '80s — or a bit of Micro Machines, Columns II and PGA Tour Golf '94 on the Mega Drive, or waggling our way through Wii Sports more recently. It's a pity that tens of millions aren't continuing to share those sorts of experiences on the Wii U, too; I imagine we'll be tackling Wii Sports Club bowling as a group, while my Dad and I seem to treat our duals in Golf as a genuine contest — I really want to win, anyway. Nintendo Land is also a big winner — every year we try to conquer The Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest and don't quite get all the way through. Wii Party U is also fantastic, and I was a cynic on that one until — again — I played it with family.
Driving home for Christmas — while listening to this song — was a lovely feeling, but beyond all the amazing food and company it gets me out of the bubble of daily life, which I suspect is important for a lot of people. The internet can be a wonderful place, but it can also be demanding, cynical and disheartening; we can't live without it, but this is a time of year when we can stop arguing about irrelevant things and simply enjoy and appreciate what we have. For me, that includes truly enjoying games, without worrying about what score to give it or whether it'll sell enough to help 'save' a system. My family, generally, don't care about any of that, they just want to play fun games with me, and I with them.
All four of us and extended family will be gathered around the TV a lot, I expect, throwing around gentle smack talk and waving arms around as India the Labrador looks on slightly bemused. Nintendo and the Wii U will be the go-to system for that, which is an under-appreciated part of the company's DNA; it thinks about these vital moments, when headsets and online co-op aren't what counts.
It's a season of sharing, and that includes gaming experiences.
Comments 23
I sure loving gaming with friends and family over the holidays. No homework to worry about, extra time off work. It's a wonderful thing.
I love gaming at Christmas. So many good memories of Nintendo games too. Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, Metroid Prime, Mario Galaxy. This year it will be Captain Toad, which I wasn't expecting just a few days ago.
More Wii Sports Club bowling with the 60 year-olds (mom and 2 aunts) this Christmas while the kids (that includes me) will play MK8, 3DW, and SmashU. too bad Captain Toad is delayed to January 9 here in Italy, and I'm getting it on the eShop so I can't get it here earlier from Amazon not-Italy.
I used to be all about the Mario Party and the Mario Kart. I don't have as much time these days, but this year that's definitely the plan. Time to get back to basics and enjoy gaming with the fam.
Oooo… with a side of Nintendoland.
The launch of Wii U was probably one of the best video game experiences of my life (and there's some big competition from my youth). My young kids, wife, and I played Nintendo Land for days on end and then later, my 4 year-old son and I bonded while gaining "master" badges for stages in Metroid Blast and Zelda before I'd drive him to pre-k. Just awesome family time. Really great and we haven't done it enough lately, so I'm really looking forward to the next couple of weeks.
Nintendo Land does a remarkable job of balancing the whole asynchronous play thing and adjusting stages for 1, 2, 3, and 4 players in the more complex games, but it's not always perfect:
On Battle Quest, the last stage (spolier: of the original stages) is MUCH harder with 3 and 4 people because of the way (spoiler) Ganon fights and how everyone shares hit points. The (spoiler) second set of stages is incredibly hard! I think we'll tackle that again at least once before 2015 but we are probably rusty now.
Happy X-Smash for everyone.
So TW drove home for the holidays and the first thing he did upon arrival was go back to work posting this? Typical TW.
I think Christmas eve in my home will see a LOT of SSBU, hopefully we can finally try out 8 player, only got up to 5 on Thanksgiving. Christmas at my parents may see some Lego LotR (got it for my nephew) and the usual Sports Resort on the old Wii. Like many people over 60 my parents play a lot of Wii Fit/Sports games but have no interest in Wii U, if they even know it exists. Day after Christmas at my sister's (3 days, 3 homes, none alone is big enough to hold the 15 of us for very long) will be Wii Sports bowling. I don't know why but everybody always plays 300 pin bowling there, that's all we ever do.
After that 3 day marathon Disney Infinity 2 on PS3 and Skylanders Trap Team on Wii U should keep the kids busy for awhile. Don't know how we'll squeeze in Captain Toad. Gonna be a battle, or a lot of Gamepad play while DI is being played.
All offline.
I love playing through my new games, and my backlog during Christmas. Happy holidays everyone.
I love multiplayer as much as the next person, but I prefer cooperative to competitive.
@aaronsullivan I'm glad to see some love for Nintendo Land.
I'll bring getting older games like Lego City Undercover, Rayman Legends and NES Remix. But I plan for new games like Captain Toad and Pokemon.
That was a nice read. Thanks!
Definitely looking forward to checking out my new games and you can bet I will be addicted to them all through Christmas break!
Can't wait to see what the future holds
My Christmas game lineup depends upon what I get for Christmas and what the Nintendo Download update for Christmas Day provides. Outside of that I expect a lot of Mario Kart 8 and Hyrule Warriors as for the latter I finally feel like I'm making progress with Adventure mode again (maybe my characters will be levelled up enough to tackle the Master Quest map given at the moment Agitha provides a roadblock). Also continuing slowly with Captain Toad that arrived today and maybe I'll actually get to start Bayonetta 2.
Captain Toad is pretty amazing - it is a relative lower budget title but the charm in the game is just irresistible, and it is going to last during the entire festive season!
It's a must for me to get my family to game on the Wii U this holiday. Especially the ones that aren't gamers. Some Smash Bros. Captain Toad and MK8 should do it.
@WaveyChristmas Sonic pinball actually had good reviews back then, but the first level of the game was a sewage drainage system. The graphics was dark and dull...
Settle it in SMASH!
@Peach64 I'm so pleased to see Captain Toad get a lot of love here. It is ready an unexpectedly great game that is very cute but very addictive and challenging at the same time. I didn't expect much from it when it was first announced but this definitely falls into the category of good Nintendo Surprises.
People like to mock Nintendo because they are somewhat behind on their online network and online multilayer, and how big they are on families. But I love that they keep local multiplayer alive. Games like Smash and Mario Kart 8 are great online, but there's just real magic when they are played together in person as a group activity. Christmas morning being a shining example of how Nintendo can provide real family/group fun that creates gaming memories that can last a lifetime.
I have particularly fond memories of playing Nintendo games at Christmas. My Dad got me an N64 for Christmas '97 and I can remember how wonderful and amazing Super Mario 64 was, as well as Diddy Kong Racing (especially the Christmas themed tracks!). My favourite series to play at Christmas is Zelda. I loved playing Majora's Mask when it first came out and spent all day Boxing Day playing it whilst stuffing my face full of mince pies.
I want a Kameo like adventure game for the WII U. That's what i'm missing like Spyro games.
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