BEST NINTENDO EXCLUSIVE
Previous Winners
2012: ZombiU (Wii U) & Kid Icarus: Uprising (3DS)
2013: The Wonderful 101 (Wii U) & Fire Emblem: Awakening (3DS)
2014: Super Smash Bros. (Wii U) & Bravely Default (3DS)
2015: Xenoblade Chronicles X (Wii U) & Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (3DS)
2016: Pokemon Sun and Moon (3DS)
2017 was a great year full of exceptional games. With the release of Nintendo’s new home console/handheld hybrid, the Switch, Nintendo was no different. Breath of the Wild, the new Zelda game fans had been promised almost 5 years ago, finally made its long-awaited release. Oh, but Nintendo didn’t stop there, they gave us a Metroid II remake, a brand new 3D fighter game ARMS, and they had all sorts of companies making games for their new console as well, one example being Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle from Ubisoft. Here are the top five nominees our staff here at oprainfall voted for this year, for best Nintendo exclusive.
ARMS
NA Release Date: June 16th, 2017
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
When ARMS was originally announced, I think a lot of Nintendo fans weren’t sure what to make of it. And it didn’t look as fun and interesting as for example, Splatoon, their prior new multiplayer IP. Upon release though, people were proved wrong and it turned out to be quite the fun and strategic fighting game. ARMS is a 3D fighting game where you pick a character and fight others using different pairs of extendable arms. Players are able to punch, dodge, throw and block. Sometimes you’re even able to infect your opponents with status effects, such as freezing them. There is a lot of strategy involved when it comes to succeeding at combat in ARMS. At first glance, this game might not look like it deserves to be here. Fortunately, it ended up being a really fun fighter and as they say, don’t judge a book by its cover.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
NA Release Date: March 3rd, 2017
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
Review
As I previously mentioned, this is a title Nintendo fans have been waiting a very long time to dive into. It was well worth the wait too. You once again take on the role of Link, only this time you’re dropped into a Hyrule left in ruins, having been ruled by Ganon and his minions for 100 years and nature has overtaken the land. This new version of Hyrule is a breath of fresh air, it’s a survival Zelda game where you’re free to climb any mountain, swim across rivers, paraglide off cliffs and tame wild horses. While missing many series staples, it also introduced various new ideas, most of which worked out quite well. Nintendo did not disappoint with this long-awaited new Legend of Zelda adventure.
Splatoon 2
NA Release Date: July 21st, 2017
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
The original Splatoon arrived for Wii U in May 2015 worldwide and it was a huge success. It was a new shooter perfect for gamers of all types. Instead of realistic styled humans with equally realistic guns and other weapons, you got Inklings with ink shooting weapons in a colorful cartoon graphical style. It was a fresh new team focused 3rd person shooter, appealing to even those who typically didn’t play the genre. Covering different stages in your team’s ink and traversing the terrain as a squid, was as fresh of an idea as the ink you lay down for claiming your territory. With the release of the Switch, Nintendo announced Splatoon 2, a very similar game to the original, yet with added special attacks to old weapons, a new weapon type, new customizable Inklings with a good amount of options, additional gameplay modes and more. Oh, and let’s not forget the fact that only now Splatoon is a true portable game you can take with you anywhere you choose. Splatoon 2 came out in July this year and was as well received and successful as the original, if not more. It’s the perfect game to play and have fun with your friends or even alone in the single-player campaign.
Super Mario Odyssey
NA Release Date: October 27th, 2017
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
Review
Fans don’t get a 3D platformer styled Mario game all that often and Super Mario Odyssey is a wonderful upgrade. Running around and exploring different lands as Mario has never been more fun. Cappy introduces a different dynamic to the Mario series, allowing you to capture various objects and enemies throughout different kingdoms, thus opening up many possible powers. And this is the first time you’re truly allowed to customize Mario’s outfit to switch up his look. I know those at oprainfall who voted for Super Mario Odyssey really enjoyed all the content and features which have now become a part of Nintendo’s most well-known franchise. This extravagantly glorious and fun new adventure with Mario is why it gets nominated this year for best Nintendo exclusive.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
NA Release Date: December 1st, 2017
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
Review
The new Xenoblade is a game many among the oprainfall staff have been anxious to play. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 takes place in a brand new world, full of numerous Titans, ones much like the Mechonis and Bionis from the first game. They’re all unique and feature a wide variety of enemies and unique places to explore. You take on the role of Rex, the protagonist, as him and his blade Pyra, search for Elysium. With the new Blade weapon characters introduced in the story and even rare ones to collect, a huge world, a new graphical art style, awesome music by multiple composers (lead by Yasunori Mitsuda) plus a unique story the game is based around, this is a worthy Xenoblade Chronicles sequel.
And this year’s best Nintendo exclusive is……
Xenoblade Chronicles 2!
In the end, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 triumphs as 2017’s best Nintendo game. Our staff here found the sequel to be a wonderfully fun and engrossing game and it absolutely deserves to win for this category. Monolith Soft went back to their Xenoblade Chronicles roots in making the game much more story based and not as lacking as Xenoblade Chronicles X was. If you haven’t yet picked up this game, all of us at oprainfall would highly recommend you give it a chance.
