Summary
After doing battle for home console supremacy with Sony and Sega during the 1990s,Nintendobegan the 2000s with the promise of new hardware with the GameCube and a monumental graphical leap from the Nintendo 64. But with Sega about toleave the hardware businessand Microsoft taking their place, the new big three of the industry became clear. It was the start of a very special decade for video games, but an even more fascinating one forNintendo.
Throughout the 2000s, Nintendo supported multiple home consoles and handheld devices. Whether it was the GameCube, Wii, or DS, Nintendo explored a huge variety of different genres and styles during this time. As a result, they actively developed some of the most interesting games of the entire decade and continued to show why they are one of the most dominant forces in the business.
As one of the last major releases for the N64 before Nintendo transitioned to the GameCube,Majora’s Maskleft an indelible mark on the platform. Developed in just 15 months, this dark adventure sees Link enter the land of Termina as he hopes to stop the moon from crashing into the world and ending all civilization. It is a decidedly more mature story than the franchise had seen by this point, focusing on the fragility of life and the importance of living fully.
By making use of the Ocarina of Time, Link can travel between three apocalyptic days in order to save Termina. It’s a brilliant and richly complex game that also puts masks at the forefront, as each one offers a unique ability for Link to use. Majora’s Mask wasa massive technical achievementfor the team at Nintendo and is readily available on modern hardware with Nintendo Switch Online.
For as long as Nintendo has been around, Mario has been their one true mascot. But while Mario tends to get most of the attention, it’s his brother Luigi who often gets lost in the shuffle, a fact that made the release of the GameCube in 2001 even more interesting. For the first time, a Nintendo platform launched withouta game featuring Marioas the lead, instead featuring a ghost-hunting masterpiece starring Luigi.
Luigi’s Mansionfeatured Mario’s hard-luck brother as the star, as he was tasked with saving his sibling. This charming and hilarious game gives Luigi a vacuum known as the Poltergust 3000, one that he can use to do battle with and capture all sorts of nasty ghosts. It’s a delightful bit of fun and is still worth revisiting today.
Samus Aran wasn’t exactly a household name in 2002, having been dormant sinceSuper Metroidin 1994. After skipping the entirety of the fifth-generation of home consoles, Nintendo brought the iconic bounty hunter back in a big way withMetroid Primeon the GameCube. But while previousMetroidgames took place from a 2D perspective,Primeputs players directly into Samus' boots by adopting a first-person viewpoint.
Developer Retro Studios crafted an absolutely stellar experience from start to finish, with a wholly connected world that is a joy to uncover. Every part ofMetroid Primefeels absolutely fantastic, from the shooting to the exploration, all the way to the stunning visual design of the planet Tallon 4. It was recently remastered for the Nintendo Switch and is still just as amazing today as it was in 2002.
After SpaceWorld 2000, where Nintendo showed off a spectacular CG sequence showing a highly realistic Link fighting Ganon, expectations for the next Zelda game were rather high. So when it was finally unveiled at SpaceWorld 2001,the cel-shaded, cartoony graphicswere a bit of a surprise. And when it finally launched on the GameCube in 2003, it shattered all those doubts and became one of the best titles on the console.
Set across the Great Sea,The Wind Wakerexplores a fascinating era of theZeldatimeline. The sunken remains of Hyrule, buried under the Great Flood, serve as a haunting reminder of just how much this version of Link and Zelda has lost. It also features some of the best dungeons in the entire series, with a strong feeling of weight to the combat. Add in one of Koji Kondo’s greatest soundtracks and there’s a surefire classic.
A key aspect of the war between Nintendo and Sony in the 90s relied on third-party support, where the PS1 was able to secure some high-profile exclusives that the N64 missed out on. But perhaps the most heartbreaking one wasMetal Gear Solid,the stealth-action masterpiecethat helped elevate the PS1 into something even greater. Six years later, Nintendo would have some measure of revenge when Konami produced a from-the-ground-up remake ofMetal Gear Solidexclusively for the GameCube.
Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakestook all the improvements from the PS2 sequel,Sons of Liberty, and folded them into this new version of the PS1 classic. The ability to hide in lockers, a first-person view for shooting, hanging on ledges, and breathtaking new visuals was a slam dunk on Nintendo’s console. It also brought back the entire original voice cast and expanded on the story to include elements from games that had been released sinceMGS1.
Pokemonwas adept at releasing a third version of the monster-taming series by 2005, something that is quite evident with the quality of Emerald. This enhanced version ofPokemon RubyandSapphirewas released on the Game Boy Advance in 2005 and is still one of the best RPGs one can find on the platform, with one of the best stories in the series.
Getting to pick your gender was still relatively new forPokemonby this point, but it was something that was thankfully kept forEmerald. Other new features include some upgrades to the Legendaries, and the return of some Johto Pokemon in the Safari Zone. It also has one of thebest selections of starting Pokemonin the entire series, just one of several reasons thatEmeraldis in dire need of a re-release or remake of some kind.
AfterThe Wind Wakersurprised players by presenting a cel-shaded version of Link in a cartoon world, Nintendo opted to go somewhat more traditional for the nextZeldagame. Released on the GameCube and the Wii, Nintendo’s then-next-gen console,Twilight Princessechoed the darker, more mature tones seen inMajora’s Mask. It was a version of Hyrule that felt decidedly more grown-up, a reflection of the Zelda fanbase beginning to get older at the same time.
This outstanding title features oneof Link’s greatest adventures, as he sets off to save the Twilight Realm from Zant. Along the way, he’s joined by one of the best companions in the series, a delightful character named Midna. Her transformation from antagonist to one of Link’s trusted allies is fantastic to watch, culminating in one of the best final battles against Ganon and an emotionally charged ending that still resonates today.
The seventh generation of video game consoles was rather unique, as both Sony and Microsoft were leaning into a more realistic style. But while the industry was seemingly overflowing with dark military shooters, Nintendo was doing what they always do by just being themselves. And perhaps no other game proved that more thanSuper Mario Galaxy, which launched on the Wii in 2007 to universal critical acclaim.
Super Mario Galaxy is a special game, one that has an emotional stranglehold on an entire generation. Itsstunning mix of gorgeous visualsand top-notch platform action is a perfect fit for Galaxy’s spectacular stage design, as it features some of the best courses in the entire franchise. The music is also a key highlight, as Koji Kondo’s beautiful soundtrack is one of his greatest accomplishments.
Mario Karttook something of a hiatus from home consolesafterDouble Dash, as the sixth entry was a Nintendo DS exclusive. While it’s hard to doubt the impressive feats the DS was capable of, a new console version of the racing series was sorely needed, which Nintendo rectified in 2008 withMario Kart Wii.
Like most Nintendo games,Mario Kart Wiihas aged in such a wonderful way. It still feels just as fast and thrilling as contemporary racing games, with blistering speeds and some of the best tracks in the entire franchise. This classic racer has proven to be so popular and beloved, that many of its tracks have been remade for the Booster Pass forMario Kart 8. It’s a testament to the lasting appeal of this classic game.
2DMariogames were exceedingly rare in the late 2000s, restricted mostly to Nintendo’s handheld devices. The 3D wave that started in the 1990s affected the series in a huge way, but Nintendo was ready to take the little plumber back to his roots on the WiiwithNew Super Mario Bros.
Ultimately,New Super Mario Bros. Wiiwas an example that future 2D titles in the franchise would follow. The presentation was lovely, as it featured a sense of quirky attitude and some outstanding courses. It also introduced a few new power-ups, including the Propeller Mushroom and the adorable Penguin Suit that allows the player to smash through bricks and shoot ice balls. It was remastered for the Switch alongside its equally fantastic sequel, making it easily accessible today.
