It takes a lot for a game to transport players back to a time where nostalgia ruled. So many games attempt to be more than they are, trying to provide a deep, thought-provoking narrative but ultimately skimping on the features that initially drew people to the medium: Fun and imagination. Leaving any qualms with the brand aside, this is easily one of Nintendo’s strongest traits. While their first-party titles repeatedly exemplify this, there are also third-party titles like The Wonderful 101 that manage to capture the gamer’s imagination like few are capable of.
From its over-the-top characterizations to creative new gameplay mechanics, The Wonderful 101 hearkens back to a simpler time when gaming was not about sequels, micro-transactions or early access betas. Rather, it was a time when innovation was king and developers were constantly looking for new ways to engage the player.
According to Hideki Kamiya, director of The Wonderful 101, if the title gets a sequel, he wants to situate gamers even closer to the zany action through the use of Nintendo’s instantly-recognizable Miis.
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It may not be the largest, most mind-blowing admission of intent, but this is a game that was built upon the whacky foundations of Platinum Games. Seeing your own likeness and those of your friends running and fighting alongside the ridiculous civilians-turned-heroes of The Wonderful 101 could be the next step that the series needs to take in order to up the camp that initially won gamers over (check out our review for proof).
Even though nothing has been announced yet, a sequel to The Wonderful 101 only seems logical. It may not have been the best-selling game that Nintendo has seen, but it represents one of the first titles that generated attention after the launch of the Wii U. If Kamiya has anything to say about it though, he'd love to see a sequel come to fruition.
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Considering he didn't end up directly taking on the role of director for the upcoming Bayonetta 2, if Kamiya aims to helm a sequel to The Wonderful 101, there's definitely sequel potential in the series. If The Wonderful 102 does in fact come into existence, it could be part of what Nintendo needs to turn around their worrisome sales forecast (i.e. more games). Nintendo's strength is in its imaginative content and Platinum Games repeatedly shows their mastery of the human imagination, making the two working together on exclusives a recipe for success. The next step though, is for the two to engage a wider audience with their content which the implementation of Miis could help in achieving.
What innovation would you like to see in a possible sequel to The Wonderful 101? Do you think Platinum Games will play a key part in Nintendo's revitalization?
Source: Siliconera