The Theory of Nintendo Console Evolution
Greetings, fellow denizens of the 64 boards! What I have to say may seem too radical - too outlandish - to be believed, but if you'll bear with me, I believe it could have as great of an effect on our small band of brothers as my legendary Modest Proposal thread. If the forthcoming revelations have been voiced by some prior oracle, my apologies. If Surri closes this thread, he's a poophead.
Take a look, mes amies, at what may or may not be your favorite video game company- Nintendo. Recall the halcyon days of your childhood, foetushood, glint-in-mother's-eye-hood, or pre-glint-in-mother's-eye-hood, and the celebrated Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Fast forward six years to the SNES (we won't be considering handheld consoles here). From there, another five years- BAM! The console of our happiest hours, the Nintendo 64. Then the Gamecube, then the Wii- right?
I think that the consensus on these boards (we're way smarter than the other people on these forums, so we're the only ones who count) is that the N64 was the best. If you don't believe that, at least acknowledge that Super Smash Bros. is the best of the three Smashes. If you don't believe that, go back to the Mêlée boards. What made the console/game so good, so superior to both its forebearers and descendants? Certainly not the graphics. The same people designed the games. Could it simply be nostalgia? Surely not!
I propose- now bear with me here- that we look at the controllers. "But, battlecow!" you say. "The N64 controller is garbage! The stick wears out faster than a condom utilizing oil-based lubricants!"
Well, that's what you thought. Until now.
What differentiates the N64 controller from other Nintendo controllers? The answer is staggeringly obvious. It has three grips. The import of this might not strike you immediately. Then think about this- the NES- an OK console, in my humble opinion- had a controller with one single grip. The SNES- a Superior NES- had two. It peaked at three with the N64. Things went downhill with Mêlée and its console; only two grips were utilized. Then that odious Barwl came about. How many grips does a Wiimote have, children? HOW MANY?
I think I've made my point. What's the significance, though? What relevance does this earth-shattering revelation have to today's world?
Imagine this- a controller with four grips. Could such a thing be manufactured? If it was, how great would the resultant smash game be?
Just a little something to think about.