But how does it evaluate to Nintendo consoles previous? Come with us now on a journey although time and house. Well, time at the very least.
Nintendo Home Consoles – Year 7 Key Releases
We’ve listed every console’s launch 12 months in brackets and given the exact seventh-year window for every one after that. We start with the console that put the corporate on the map.
NES (1985) – October 1991-92
Significant releases: Mega Man 4, Tecmo Super Bowl, Star Wars, Batman: Return of the Joker, Tiny Toon Adventures, Dragon Warrior III & IV
The staggered US launch date of the system makes the dates a little bit fuzzy right here, nevertheless it’s secure to say that the Nintendo Entertainment System was very a lot alive and kicking in its seventh 12 months available on the market. The Super NES launched in August ’91, however its predecessor had established Nintendo as a family identify and video games have been nonetheless promoting at a prodigious fee.
And let’s not neglect that poor PAL territories solely bought Super Mario Bros. 3 in August ’91.
Super NES (1991) – August 1997-98
Significant releases: Kirby’s Dream Land 3
The SNES had a shorter lifespan, with its 64-bit successor launching in its fifth 12 months. Consequently, Kirby’s Dream Land 3 was left to convey up the rear in Y7. Even Super Mario RPG, which is taken into account a late arrival and by no means even launched in Europe, was launched in May 1996, technically nonetheless the console’s fourth 12 months in shops.
Nintendo 64 (1996) – September 2002-03
Significant releases: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 (August 2022)
Zilch. Zip. Nada of notice. We’ve cheated with Tony Hawk above because it launched within the month simply previous to the system’s seventh 12 months. Despite internet hosting a number of the biggest video games of the medium, cartridges have been nonetheless comparatively costly to provide and the business had turned to discs — and away from the N64.
The system was discontinued in Europe in May ’03 and in November in North America.
GameDice (2001) – November 2007-08
Significant releases: Nothing to see right here…
We have not even cheated with the stunning GC — it actually had gone the best way of the dodo by the point it had reached its sixth birthday.
No have to really feel unhealthy, although, as each Wii that flew off cabinets throughout this era was additionally a completely backward-compatible GameDice. Or two GameCubes with a little bit duct tape, if we bear in mind appropriately. So, there’s an argument to be made that Wii’s Year Two was additionally GameDice’s Year Seven.
We’re not going to make that argument, we’re simply placing the thought on the market. Gotta love a GameDice.
Wii (2006) – November 2012-13
Significant releases: Pro Evo 2013, Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, LEGO The Lord of the Rings, Wii Mini
Wii’s monster mainstream success and ginormous set up base meant that video games have been nonetheless launching for it within the late 2010s. Ubisoft revealed Just Dance 2020 on the system, bear in mind.
Still, it did not fairly have the legs of a few of its handheld counterparts and Wii Y7 definitely did not boast any big hitters. Skyward Sword was Nintendo’s final important launch in November 2011.
Wii U (2012) – November 2018-19
Significant releases: Oh Gromit…
Okay, this one was a given contemplating how the console underperformed, however we weren’t going to brush U below the carpet, Virtual Boy-style.
By November 2018, Switch had put in itself on Wii U’s resting place, plucking the flowers that grew there and urgent them into Deluxe editions for its personal catalogue, and in any other case busying itself including an enormous extension, a summer time home, and a pool across the again. Its sacrifice was not in useless.
That’s the house consoles, however as we talked about earlier, Nintendo is taking a web page from its handheld chronicles relating to Switch. Let’s check out these moveable Y7s…
Nintendo Handheld Consoles – Year 7 Key Releases
Game Boy (1989) – July 1995-96
Significant releases: Street Fighter II, Killer Instinct, Kirby’s Block Ball, Tetris Blast
The above titles are important, however hardly system sellers. However, with video games like Wario Land II, James Bond 007, Harvest Moon GB, and the Game Boy Camera — to not point out a little bit sequence referred to as ‘Pocket Monsters‘ — all arriving in North America in 1998, you possibly can argue that Game Boy hadn’t even bought going correctly till its, what, ninth 12 months? Blimey.
Its successors make issues a little bit messy, too, relating to discussing the Game Boy {hardware}’s longevity…
Game Boy Color (1998) – November 2004-05
Significant releases: Nothing actually
Is it a wholly separate system or only a ‘Pro’-style improve? It had loads of its personal bespoke software program, so we’re counting it as separate from its predecessor, however you possibly can simply argue that this was an extension of the OG Game Boy.
Regardless, the DS launched in November 2004, that means the trusty GBC was nicely and actually outdated by the point it hit Year Seven.
Game Boy Advance (2001) – June 2007-08
Significant releases: Loads of licensed video games (Shrek, SpongeBob, Bratz)
Final Fantasy VI Advance launched earlier within the 12 months, however GBA’s seventh 12 months was dominated by high-profile licensed fare. Lots of film tie-ins. The DS’ ‘third pillar’ was nicely established by 2007, with Nintendo in its Touch Generations section with DS Lite.
DS’ compatibility with GBA titles helped keep curiosity in that system’s library, however Nintendo’s focus was elsewhere.
Nintendo DS (2004) – November 2010-11
Significant releases: Rune Factory 3, Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem, Sonic Colors, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, Ghost Trick, Kingdom Hearts Re:coded, Radiant Historia, Pokémon Black & White, Okamiden, Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2, Kirby Mass Attack, Professor Layton and the Last Spectre, and extra (particularly licensed video games)
The DS pulled out some heavy hitters in its seventh 12 months, with a pair of mainline Pokémon and a few very strong third-party titles, too.
It additionally nonetheless had Pokémon Black & White 2 within the tank the next 12 months. It’s simple to see why Nintendo is seeking to emulate this kind of system and software program stamina with Switch.
Nintendo 3DS (2011) – March 2017-18
Significant releases: Mario Sports Superstars, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, Ever Oasis, Hey! Pikmin, Miitopia, Monster Hunter Stories, Metroid: Samus Returns, Yo-Kai Watch 2, Layton’s Mystery Journey, Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions, Fire Emblem Warriors, Mario Party: The Top 100, Pokémon Ultra Sun & Moon, Kirby Battle Royale, Detective Pikachu
Another bumper 12 months with some massive names and wonderful video games (and Hey! Pikmin — zing!) — a number of of those releases are amongst the easiest video games on the system. Switch could have stolen the highlight, and there is an argument that a number of of those may need been higher served had they been ported to Switch, however Nintendo was justifiably cautious about throwing all its eggs in a single basket earlier than it turned obvious that the hybrid idea was a winner.
It’s robust to argue with that lineup although. And Captain Toad, WarioWare Gold, and Luigi’s Mansion have been to observe later in 2018. Until now, it is Nintendo’s strongest Year Seven ever.
So there you will have it, an especially strong displaying from the DS household of techniques — definitely the one techniques to rival the standard of output Nintendo is producing on Switch in its seventh 12 months. Let us know under what you consider Switch’s upcoming lineup, whether or not you assume there’s much more to come back, or if you happen to assume it is time for NX to take a bow subsequent 12 months.
