With the Nintendo Switch on the way, I thought it’d be fun to revisit Nintendo’s previous platforms and see which games Negative World thought were the cream of the crop. This isn’t exactly a traditional top 10 list, instead I am going to take the single highest rated game from each Nintendo platform and compare them against each other, because uh... well, it won’t really make a very strong point, but it’ll be fun nonetheless, no?

Rules:
1. I will only select original games (no remakes / re-releases, compilations, etc.)
2. I will only select games that have at least 10 ratings.

Let’s go!

So there you go, the highest rated games from each Nintendo platform put up against each other.

But wait Zero… aren’t you missing a platform? Well, yeah, the ol’ Virtual Boy. The thing is, even if I included it, it doesn’t have a single game with at least 10 ratings. And even if I made an exception for it, it still wouldn’t have made the top 10. With that said, Virtual Boy Wario Land has an 8.77 between 9 ratings here at Negative World, so it’s worth mentioning. There you go Virtual Boy, I didn’t ignore you.

Are there any of our picks that you strongly agree or disagree with?

@Zero

Don't be silly. He's a dark reflection of you, the player. Genius design choice.

In OoT, isn't it called "Dark Link," not "Shadow Link"?

Funny how the mid boss of the Water Temple is tougher than the end one.

@Mop it up

SILENCE.

Yeah, I think "Shadow Link" only shows up in Zelda 2. And he is tough.

In all seriousness though doppleganger characters can be fun but Shadowlink was only ever well done in Four Swords Adventures IMO.

As an aside: SA-X>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Dark Samus.

@Shadowlink Anything that penalizes gamers for building their character up is bad design.

Spirit Tracks > Ocarina of Time confirmed.

@Zero
But is a higher level of challenge in an easier-than-average game really a penalty?

Or a reward?

@Zero

Yeah that doesn't really make sense. By that logic, games shouldn't get harder as you make progress.

@Shadowlink No, games getting harder as you progress is a difficulty arc based on skills you learn as progressing, perfect game design.

Games arbitrarily having parts where things are harder when your character is more powered up through optional side quests that they did is bad design, because it breaks the whole purpose of doing optional side quests, which is to trade time and effort for the ability to power up your character and give you an edge.

Bad design.

4 Swords Adventures > Ocarina of Time confirmed.

@Zero

Well, then Ocarina of Time still has solid design then. Because you can destroy Shadow Link (er, Dark Link?) easily with the Biggoron Sword. Which, of course, is acquired via a set of optional side quests, created for the very intention of powering up your character and trading the player's time and effort to give them an edge in battle.

Ocarina of Time > Ocarina of Time confirmed.

10.) DS: Disagree: - It was a bit hard for me to choose from my favs, but I'd go with Professor Layton.
9.) Gameboy: Mostly agree - Wow, this one is so hard. Link's Awakening is my favorite Zelda, but I still have a place in my heart for Metroid II.
8.) Wii U: Don't disagree, but I might give the edge to Xenoblade Chronicles X.
7.) 3DS: DISAGREE - Fire Emblem: Awakening is by far my favorite 3ds game.
6.) NES: Don't disagree, but Metal Storm mofos!
5.) GBA: DISAGREE - I'd probably go with Fire Emblem, but since I already have Awakening on my list I'll go with Advance Wars.
4.) GCN: Wow, my first straight up AGREE.
3.) Wii: Another mostly agree. I;d love to represent Zelda: Twilight Princess somewhere, but I don't love the waggle of the Wii version.
2.) SNES: DISAGREE - SUPER METROID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1.) N64: DISAGREE - Super Mario 64 by far. It's still the best game ever made.

@Zero

You still have that edge. Just not in that one part, which is a deliberate commentary on fighting yourself. So it hasn't broken anything.

But y'know, it doesn't really matter how much crazy nonsense you spout. Scoreboard!

Zelda cartoon > Ocarina of Time confirmed!

10) DS: Pokemon Black -- Never played it. Mine's probably one of the Castlevania trio. Or the Phoenix Wright trio. Or Radiant Historia. Or maybe Mario Kart DS and its glorious snaking. Lots of choices, most of which aren't even first party.

9) Game Boy: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening -- Probably would have picked Pokemon Gold, but I finally played Link's Awakening on the 3DS VC and I think that tops the system for me.

8) Wii U: Super Mario 3D World -- Nothing beats Smash 4. Nothing comes close.

7) 3DS: A Link Between Worlds -- Yeah, probably! Best Zelda game, also probably the best implementation of 3D on 3DS.

6) NES: Super Mario Bros. 3 -- I think so, yeah. Could be Mega Man 2/3 or even SMB Lost Levels. Or Zelda.

5) GBA: Mother 3 -- Never played it. Not really sure what I'd give top GBA game to. I guess I'd go with Metroid Zero Mission, though even that doesn't stoke my passions like most games on this list.

4) GCN: Metroid Prime -- Great game for its time, but nah. I'd probably go with Super Mario Sunshine, despite its many, many, many flaws. Melee is a contender. I'd even say Spider-Man 2 is a dark horse candidate.

3) Wii: Super Mario Galaxy -- So many great games to choose from...seriously, this library was absolutely stacked. There are probably ten candidates for my top overall game. I'd put Galaxy 2 slightly above the original, but my favorite overall would probably be Mario Strikers Charged, with Sin & Punishment 2 in the running as well. Galaxy 2 is in the conversation.

2) SNES: Chrono Trigger -- Close, but no cigar. I'd go with Kirby's Dream Course, Super Mario World, or Kirby Super Star.

1) N64: Zelda: Ocarina of Time -- Not a bad game but not in my top ten on N64. Super Mario 64 is on top, no question.

So is Pokemon Black anyone's top DS game...??

@TriforceBun Hmm. Gamedadgrant gave it a 10, but then again he gave a bunch of DS games a 10. Next highest score is a 9.8 from "Annchovie" and it is her? highest rated DS game on here, but she? only has 2 posts so I doubt she will comment on this thread. Davoid gave it a 9.5 and it is his highest rated DS game on here but he has barely rated on games so who knows if it is his favorite DS game period. A few other 9.5s but they don't seem to be the highest rated DS games of those users.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

10.) DS: DISAGREE: - But largely because Black/White was the one generation of Pokemon I skipped. My favorite DS game was probably Phantom Hourglass.
9.) Gameboy: DISAGREE - I have to give it to Pokemon Gold/Silver.
8.) Wii U DISAGREE - Super Smash Bros for Wii U wins this one for me.
7.) 3DS: AGREE
6.) NES: AGREE
5.) GBA: DISAGREE - Another one I haven't played, but The Minish Cap is my favorite Zelda game, and Zelda is my favorite franchise, so I doubt I'd pick Mother 3 over TMC (especially when I didn't really like Earthbound)
4.) GCN: AGREE
3.) Wii: DISAGREE - But only just. I preferred Super Mario Galaxy 2.
2.) SNES: DISAGREE - I haven't played much of Chrono Trigger, but what I played doesn't come close to topping Donkey Kong Country 2 for me.
1.) N64: DISAGREE - As much as I love OoT, I prefer MM slightly, and I think I prefer Banjo-Kazooie over both.

I disagree with like all of these, lol. blegh.

@TriforceBun, @Zero

I mean, yeah. Kinda? I don't know. I mean, it's a GREAT game. At the time (and maybe even now?) it felt really new and fresh. It was an exciting new world and new Pokémon, and it had features for days. I poured a LOT of time into it.

But I always cite Dawn of Sorrow as my favorite DS game, mostly due to the circumstances of my life at the time it released, and my nostalgic memories of playing through it. I can't shake my own personal history loose from that game. Plus, that game is just classic and the music is PHENOMENAL. It'd be a contender even if I didn't see it with rose-tinted glasses.

I dunno, the problem with the DS is that the library is so vast and rich. One could throw a dart at a list of DS games and the chances of hitting a classic or well-executed new idea is pretty likely. It's really hard to pick an objective favorite (best).

Kid Icarus Uprising was robbed.

Nice list though!