Nintendo is arguably the most widely celebrated and beloved company in the video game industry. With a legacy and influence on the medium that spans four decades, the developer has supplied the gaming space with some of the most critically acclaimed classics of all time. From trendsetting titles like the original Super Mario Bros to epic blockbusters like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, quality products seem limitless when it comes to the minds at Nintendo.
However, when it comes to some of its marketing and business practices, an eyebrow or two have been raised over the years. One way is specifically in regards to how Nintendo celebrates anniversaries for its IPs, or often how it doesn't. The Super Mario Bros. franchise had its 35th anniversary in 2020, and while Super Mario 3D All-Stars was a welcome bundle, the puzzling omission of Super Mario Galaxy 2 seems like a counterproductive move. There are ways which Nintendo can improve these anniversary collections, with a recent Crash Bandicoot "Crashiversary Bundle" being a prime example of how to do it right.
Nintendo's Lack of Proper Anniversary Collections
As stated, Nintendo has a treasure trove of legacy titles to fall back on if it ever chose to capitalize. Essentially the equivalent to video games of what Disney is for animated films, Nintendo has dozens of franchises that have capture imaginations and amassed legions of loyal players over several years. In fact, one of its most appreciated series, The Legend of Zelda, just reached its 35th anniversary.
Although technically speaking the year is only half over and Nintendo could have more up its sleeve, what has been offered so far is lacking to say the least. With the The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD and the surprise reveal of a Zelda-themed Game & Watch, it isn't a stretch to say that fans felt a little bit let down. Super Mario 3D All-Stars, despite lacking other notable games, was at least something fans of the franchise had been clamoring for and was a logical release for the occasion. Because of the treatment Mario got, fans of The Legend of Zelda were expecting something similar, with perhaps an anniversary collection that contained Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and The Wind Waker all rolled into one package.
While it shouldn't be assumed because of all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into these games, its reasonable to assume re-releasing older games shouldn't be that difficult of a task. Nintendo's reluctance to perform is made only more confusing by the fact that fans are practically screaming for a compilation of older Zelda games. It would be an easy way to put together a new release that would surely rake in massive profits. Metroid is another example of Nintendo not throwing fans a bone, with a rumored Metroid Prime trilogy ready to go and just sitting on a shelf somewhere. While it makes sense to release something close to Metroid Prime 4 in order to build hype, that game is likely years away, and releasing the collection early wouldn't hurt to help fans that are dying for something new related to the franchise.
Looking at the 'Crashiversary Bundle'
With all of Nintendo's inconsistent business practices in mind, Activision recently put out a collection that shows exactly how something like this should be handled. For a bargain price, gamers can purchase a ton of Crash Bandicoot games all at once, including Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Crash Team Racing, and Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time in one neatly organized package. With Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy already containing three games in itself, that is five titles for one low price. This gives new fans the opportunity to jump into the entire series, and older gamers who perhaps missed the initial releases a chance to grab the whole set.
There are a few variables at play here that put Nintendo's recent efforts to shame by comparison. For one, the discounted price when considering the amount of content being delivered. These are brand-new, fully remade games (plus one entirely new installment) being sold for a lower price. Meanwhile, Skyward Sword HD is a re-release of a decade old game at full price, with few improvements made overall. Another point is the consistency in how every recent Crash Bandicoot game is present here, leaving nothing out so that any potential buyer receives the full experience the series has to offer. Once again returning to Nintendo, this is a far cry from how Super Mario Galaxy 2 was left out of Super Mario 3D All-Stars.
To be fair, Nintendo may have more announcements and surprises saved for the second half of 2021 and beyond. But going off of what has been presented so far, the lack of true collections for its older games leaves a lot to be desired. If anything, the great work on Crash Bandicoot should be examined by Nintendo as an example of how to proceed going forward. Deliver value, at a decent price, with a package that is worthwhile and that fans are clamoring for.