NX Wishlist

Whilst the internet gaming scene churns out rumours on Nintendo’s NX faster than Charlie Harper could spread an STD , I have come up with a wishlist of must have features that the NX should have in order for me to become a day one adopter.

1. Drop the Wii branding! – Ok so this one is not so much of a feature, but after the confusion the Wii U created, I think it’s best for Nintendo to end the Wii branding with this ill-fated console which should be quite plausible considering its poor record. I quite like the name NX, though something tells me this won’t be the final name…

2. Amiibo Support – I think that this one will be a definite for sure! However, I want a greater incentive and reward for collecting Amiibo beyond unlocking a costume for your Mii.
I’m thinking more along the lines of how Link was a playable character in Soul Calibur or how you could use Nintendo characters on NBA Street, but limit these sort of cameos to those people who have purchased the amiibos. Imagine the thrill of taking on Messi and Co. with a Nintendo All Star dream team in FIFA / Pro Evo, or playing as your favourite character on an online death match on COD or Battlefield with character specific power-ups. Of course, I wouldn’t expect this to be available for every Amiibo or in every NX game as the licensing and programming could prove to be a nightmare, but the idea of a greater reward for collecting Amiibo would certainly have more appeal.

3. Physical Purchases - Although there are a number of arguments for both digital and physical purchases, I personally prefer to have a physical copy as when you buy a game digitally there’s little feeling of ownership as you have no box or cd to gaze at lovingly whilst your game loads up, plus you’ll have something to show for all the money you’ve spent and you can share your games with your friends and family.
If the rumours resulting from Nintendo’s patents for a disc less console prove true I hope that at least their titles are still offered in a physical form such as on a cartridge or SD / 3DS type card for those of us who like to get physical.

4. Improved online experience – It’s no secret that I’m not a massive fan of online multiplayer, however I do occasionally get an itch to test my mettle against fellow gamers. My experiences with both the 3DS and Wii U have been incredibly disappointing with match making taking so long that I have had to give up and either play against the Com or change games all together. In this day and age, a new console must have an effective and efficient online infrastructure and should allow us to communicate freely without having to resort to a selection of predetermined phrases.

Considering that I quite happily pay for Xbox Live and PlayStation Plus I wouldn’t be opposed to Nintendo offering and charging for a premium online service and throwing in access to a handful of games each year.
Alternatively, my vision for this would be for Nintendo to offer Stars for unlocking achievements which could then be redeemed on the eStore in exchange for exclusive DLC or Virtual Console games.

If we take into account that both Sony and Microsoft have been giving their users free games with Gold and PlayStation + for a number of years now, this could work in Nintendo’s favour, as although they will be coming to the party late, they will be brining something new to the table. The prospect of unlocking exclusive DLC or games on the Virtual Console would certainly give me an incentive to collect all items or discover all secrets beyond the satisfaction of a 100% completion or racking up a few gamer points.

5. Futureproof – Nintendo has demonstrated for some time now that they have no intention of trying to compete with Sony and Microsoft in terms of processing and graphical power. Instead they have made their hardware suit its own game ideas.
The Wii, Wii U, DS and 3DS have shown that even in today’s graphics obsessed culture games can still be great if they are fun and immersive to play. However the NX would need to be future proof and run smoothly at 60FPS and 1080p as standard if it is to be considered a worthwhile purchase if released midway into the PS4 and XBONEs cycle.

6. Handheld / Home Console Hybrid – This is the rumour that has tickled my intrigue the most. Nintendo may have hinted at this with the Wii U which let us play our games on the gamepad as long as we within the range of the console.

It’s worth noting that Nintendo has done things similar to this before with the SNES Game Boy adapter and GameCube Game Boy Advance adapter, however, what I would want is a HD system that you could play on your TV and take on the go. Like a 3DS style handheld, with sharper screens and more power, which could be connected into a dock-like console hooked up to your TV so that you could continue playing your game on the big screen with a separate controller.

7. Games - Arguably the most important thing I would want from a new Nintendo console is a great and appealing launch line up of titles. We have to look back to the Gamecube for the last time Nintendo tempted me with an appetising line up, featuring Luigi’s Mansion, Super Monkey Ball, Wave Race Blue Storm and StarWars Rogue Leader to name a few.

The Wii, Wii U and 3DS launch line-ups have been lacklustre and uninspiring. If Nintendo would launch with a new Luigi’s Mansionesque title, fresh 3D Mario a-la-Sunshine or maximize the impact of a possible handheld / home hybrid and launch with a new 3D Pokémon or Animal Crossing with MMO elements, I would have Al Gore all over me as the sea level would dramatically rise from the tears of joy pouring down my face.

Well that’s all folks, thats my wish list for the NX. What features or games would the NX need to have to seduce you into her arms?