KojiKnight
Member
I know I know, two threads in a row now I've created have had to do with nostalgia, but in this case I had a flash when watching some 3DS promo videos... They games look very PS2 ish. Some would argue that the graphics aren't better than the PSP, and they may have a valid point to that...
Where sony aims for graphics "akin" to it's last or even current gen for it's portables, Nintendo's have always been an extra generation behind. The GBC came out in the N64 era and looks reminiscent of NES games, GBA to SNES, DS to N64, and now 3DS to PS2/GCN.
I can actually clearly remember when I first saw the GBA... "Holy shit! These games look just like SNES games!! I love my SNES! I have to get it!". While not as strong, I clearly remember the same thoughts for the DS and N64-like graphics. I would go so far as to say I definitely bought the GBA with the thought it would get lots of SNES style games, thankfully it did... but since I bought it on launch, I bought it only on hope and nostalgia.
I definitely wouldn't go so far as to say that it's a conspiracy, I would think it's a happy accident in Nintendo's favor. The price of technology being a sweet point coupled with an added generation behind leads to a system that is both cheap and also one that gently tugs on your past senses. Compare that to the PSP and Vita, both obviously aiming for the same types of games as their current console counterparts (PS2 and PS3 respectively). Both don't quite reach those heights and are thus looked down on.
While price obviously plays a big factor in this equation as well, it just seems like PSP and Vita ports of console games always come off disappoining, where as DS/3DS ports of more "classic" games (and sequels and other titles that are heavily based on those older consoles) come off stronger, even if some things were lost or added in the translation.
(edit) I perhaps didn't make my point as clear as I thought I had... Some clarification.
No doubt Nintendo makes great games, but the best Nintendo portable games tend to be 2nd or 3rd party. Everyone is acting like Nintendo is the only one that makes portable games.
They do, however, control the hardware, and in controling the hardware, they control the types of software that come out. My point wasn't "hur hur, Nintendo is using you!" or "Nintendo doesn't make good games, they just use tricks!". My point was that maybe a key factor in why Nintendo's portables tend to beat the snazzier Sony portables may in fact have a lot to do BECAUSE of the limitations mimicking older, nostalgia ridden consoles instead of INSPITE being inferior.
TLDR: Is part of Nintendo's success with handhelds BECAUSE of the limited hardware mimicking older consoles and not so much success IN SPITE of it.
Where sony aims for graphics "akin" to it's last or even current gen for it's portables, Nintendo's have always been an extra generation behind. The GBC came out in the N64 era and looks reminiscent of NES games, GBA to SNES, DS to N64, and now 3DS to PS2/GCN.
I can actually clearly remember when I first saw the GBA... "Holy shit! These games look just like SNES games!! I love my SNES! I have to get it!". While not as strong, I clearly remember the same thoughts for the DS and N64-like graphics. I would go so far as to say I definitely bought the GBA with the thought it would get lots of SNES style games, thankfully it did... but since I bought it on launch, I bought it only on hope and nostalgia.
I definitely wouldn't go so far as to say that it's a conspiracy, I would think it's a happy accident in Nintendo's favor. The price of technology being a sweet point coupled with an added generation behind leads to a system that is both cheap and also one that gently tugs on your past senses. Compare that to the PSP and Vita, both obviously aiming for the same types of games as their current console counterparts (PS2 and PS3 respectively). Both don't quite reach those heights and are thus looked down on.
While price obviously plays a big factor in this equation as well, it just seems like PSP and Vita ports of console games always come off disappoining, where as DS/3DS ports of more "classic" games (and sequels and other titles that are heavily based on those older consoles) come off stronger, even if some things were lost or added in the translation.
(edit) I perhaps didn't make my point as clear as I thought I had... Some clarification.
No doubt Nintendo makes great games, but the best Nintendo portable games tend to be 2nd or 3rd party. Everyone is acting like Nintendo is the only one that makes portable games.
They do, however, control the hardware, and in controling the hardware, they control the types of software that come out. My point wasn't "hur hur, Nintendo is using you!" or "Nintendo doesn't make good games, they just use tricks!". My point was that maybe a key factor in why Nintendo's portables tend to beat the snazzier Sony portables may in fact have a lot to do BECAUSE of the limitations mimicking older, nostalgia ridden consoles instead of INSPITE being inferior.
TLDR: Is part of Nintendo's success with handhelds BECAUSE of the limited hardware mimicking older consoles and not so much success IN SPITE of it.
