Press Start: My Favorite Nintendo Console Games

Happy birthday, Nintendo! This week, Nintendo is celebrating its 131st birthday, and for the rest of Press Start this week, I want to walk through my favorite Nintendo game on each system. Today, I'll be going through my favorite home console Nintendo games. Here we go!

NES: Super Mario Bros.

To be honest, I haven't completed a ton of Nintendo Entertainment System games, but one I find myself consistently returning to is the original Super Mario Bros. This game still holds up today. It's fun to run through using all of the warp pipes, and it's also a good time to methodically explore each level. Super Mario Bros. is extremely replayable, and it's not nearly as punishing as many games on the NES tend to be. Mario's first major platforming adventure is a classic for a reason!

SNES: EarthBound

EarthBound is an incredibly special game to me. I played it for the first time on the Wii U, and I instantly fell in love with its quirky charm and funny dialogue. The game is not afraid to be different, and its unique personality helps it stand out in the JRPG genre. The characters and plot threads are extremely memorable, and even with the game's constant humor, it manages to include a handful of impactful, heart-warming moments.

N64: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Ocarina of Time will always be the defining Zelda game for me. So much of what Zelda still is today, even in a post-Breath of the Wild world, still comes from Ocarina of Time. The combat is simple and tight, the world -- while it doesn't feel as huge as it used to -- is still a blast to explore, and the story is epic from start to finish. Besides being one of the defining Zelda games, Ocarina of Time is still one of the most influential and defining games in the 3D space, and I love returning to it once a year to experience it all over again.

GameCube: The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker

While I don't love it quite as much as Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker is a special and memorable Zelda adventure in its own right. The cel-shaded art style still looks great in 2020, and combined with a beautiful score and lively facial animations, Wind Waker is easily the most charming Zelda adventure. I'll always have fond memories of sailing the Great Sea, sneaking through the Forsaken Fortress, and experiencing that epic finale for the very first time.

Wii: Super Mario Galaxy 2

I honestly don't have a huge attachment to the Wii library of Nintendo first-party games. I finished Super Mario Galaxy 2 for the first time this year, and I fell in love with it. The first Galaxy is great, but I feel the level design is even riskier and more realized in the sequel. Yoshi's addition opens up an entirely new gameplay style, and the levels feel grander in scope overall compared to the original. The Galaxy games are each accompanied by a fantastic score, as well.

Wii U: Super Mario 3D World

Some of my fondest multiplayer memories come from playing through Super Mario 3D World with my sister back during Christmas of 2013. As a big fan of 3D Land on 3DS, I was thrilled when Nintendo decided to create a sequel with full multiplayer on Wii U. The game didn't disappoint -- the cat suit power up was a fun game-changer, the levels were snappy and very unique from one another, and it was very rewarding to find every green star and stamp hidden away in each course. I can't wait to play this game again on Switch early next year!

Switch: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

My favorite game on Switch happens to be my favorite game of all time. It's been out for almost two years, but I'm honestly still surprised Super Smash Bros. Ultimate even exists. Bringing back every single character and almost every stage from series history was an incredible feat, and the roster still has at least five more characters to come. Plus, the gameplay feels the best to me out of any Smash Bros. game. It's the perfect speed, and the game feels balanced for the most part. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is an amazing celebration of video games, and I'm excited to see it grow even more with more DLC in the pipeline.

Come back tomorrow to see my favorite Nintendo handheld games!