The reason I liked the original Xenoblade game on the Wii was because it was a return to classic Japanese RPGs from the SNES like Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger. It stood out from the western/PC RPGs and stuck to what JRPGs are known for and what they do best- it created an immersive fantasy world with fantastic music and a focused linear narrative. The difference from the 16-bit games is that now the dialogue was delivered through voice acting and the scenes were played out through high-quality animation (I know there is something to love about the classic retro style, but like you say, the only games made in that style today are indies that don’t justify a full price). On top of that was a party and battle system based on unique character classes and teamwork strategy, just like the classic JRPGs.

Xenoblade X for Wii U is not like the first game. It instead is an example of the Japanese trying to emulate the west instead of sticking to what they’re good at. So now we are left with an inferior pseudo-western RPG littered with unwanted Japanese weirdness and half-assed online multiplayer. Western/PC fans laugh and have no interest, while people expecting a JRPG like the Wii game are left confused and disappointed. So who are the people buying and playing this game? That’s simple- it is the Wii U owners who are starving for the “anti-lame” game. Xenoblade X is like Zelda on the N64 and Metroid on the Gamecube.

So I disconnected the Wii from my living room for the first time in 9 years, but I’m now thinking it will return very soon as I don’t see any reason to keep using the Wii U. Mario Kart 8 came pre-installed, and we had a great time with the multiplayer, however my friends and family were never “amazed” by this new version. They actually remembered the Wii game being better- they do not care about shiny HD graphics. As for the backwards compatibility letting the Wii U effectively replace the Wii, I hesitate because my Wii has a wealth of virtual console games, and due to Nintendo lacking a proper account system, it’s a one-way trip to transfer them to the Wii U.

I like your point of ‘anti-lame game’. It sums up Nintendo. “Lame”. Kirby? Lame. Mario? Lame. Zelda? Lame. Metroid? Lame. Metroid Federation Force? LAME LAME LAME.

Remember when Nintendo was cool?

I can’t.