With Nintendo Finally starting to deliver the goods as regards to the Wii U, though rather a bit too late it would seem, All the great games including Super Smash Bros Wii U & 3DS, Hyrule Warriors, Mario Kart 8, Splatoon, Super Mario Maker all receiving Downloadable content to keep these games fresh and constantly playable thus increasing their longevity, I can’t help feeling that us, The Fans, could really do with some more content. Splatoon is the execption to this as it is constantly getting new weapons, maps, and game modes and Smash Bros gets updated with new characters and stages (though I would like to see more game modes to keep the game on the up) but the other games have seem to have fallen of the priority list. Mario Kart 8 has recieved 3 DLC packs to date, one of which was the free Mercedes DLC and the other 2 which you paid for and if you got both, you could extend your character roster by changing colour palates for Yoshi & Shy Guy but that seems to be the lot. There has been no DLC for MK 8 since May 2015 and though 200cc is definitely a faster and a much bigger challenge, I bet there are people out there that have finished it by now and would surely like another DLC fix to keep the high octane fun going.
Hyrule Warriors has also dropped off the grid with what was an interesting and a refreshing take on the Zelda Series (for me anyway, I like variety), with it’s 4 DLC packs including different game modes including challenges, boss battles, adventure maps and the like, I still felt it could have done with more levels and new battlegrounds to fight on. I will admit I felt a little disappointed with the Majora’s Mask DLC and really wished that they incorporated a Termina Battleground in with the game. Each keep could have been a different part of Termina, for example ‘Great Bay Keep’ & ‘Ikana Canyon Keep,’ even if it was just one new battleground, it would still be enough to keep players a little more entertained with a little more variety. Though there could have been a little ray of hope when Nintendo confirmed that characters from the new 3DS version of the games comes out next year, but what hopes of extra levels and content were dashed when they declared that the new Windwaker story would not be available on the Wii U. I just hope that they would bring us one more DLC for the Wii U that would help keep the game going that little bit longer.
Super Mario Maker is our new hope for prolonged gaming but even with the new Event courses and the official Maker Courses, that helps maintain the playing aspect however, we already have over 3 million different courses to play so any more is always nice but we already have plenty to play through. The other little gem that we received recently were more 8-Bit costumes that are rewarded after playing certain event courses and that is all well and good too but the main aspect of the game is to create levels as well as play them and let’s face it, I am sure that the many owners of the game that enjoy making levels are getting a bit fed up with the once many tools, objects and items that now seem to be quite limited and I am sure we could all use some more items and objects to the game. For example, adding water pools and lava pits to the levels to give extra possibilities for gameplay. sloped objects would make a nice uphill/downhill transition instead of the blocky obstacles that you have to jump over every time. The checkpoints were a nice touch as it allowed players to restart from the checkpoint rather than straight from the beginning again. Super Mario Maker has plenty of possibilities for DLC as new textures, level type (Cave, Castle) and more enemies and power-up can be added to the mix to give even more variety to the game.
The possibility for people to create “Worlds” by linking up multiple levels into one playable Sub mode, would also be a very nice touch and players could be awarded badges (or other type of acknowledgement item) as proof that they had played that world and also the World creators would also get some form of acknowledgement that someone has played and completed their world too. Another thing I would like to see would be a Super Mario Maker Player on the 3DS. The 3DS version would be free and would be a benefit to both Wii U users and 3DS users which would give 3DS users the opportunity to play infinite Mario Maker Levels (much like ourselves on the Wii U) and also Star them and post comments to Miiverse Which would help Wii U version owners get more Stars.
I am looking forward to the Web Portal that will be coming to Super Mario Maker that will allow us to search for our Ideal levels by clicking on our appropriate criteria (i.e. auto levels, easy levels, etc.) this is connected to your Miiverse acount and can be accessed via Smartphone and PC which means you can be searching for your next ideal course to play without having to turn the Wii U on and then type the Course ID for said level the next time you are playing super Mario Maker. I like this idea, but I hope they actually incorporate it into the game as I prefer a more direct approach of playing Mario Maker then looking on my phone every time for a level when I have the Wii U turned on right in front of me.
Intitially, Nintendo seemed to be doing the DLC thing right by giving us exactly what we want when we need it to keep playing our favourite games that little bit longer but now it seems that they are letting these great games slip from their priority list which is a great shame. I understand that they must be working exceptionally hard on the newest installments of their Franchises, like Zelda U, Pikmin 4, Super Mario Galaxy 3 (for example) but surely they shouldn’t be giving up on these amazing games already? At least wait until the NX is officially released and have the new installments available to buy before giving up on the likes of Mario Kart 8 & Super Smash Bros for Wii U & 3DS entirely.
Well that’s my little rant and opinions done for today. Please be sure to share your views and opinions in the comment section below and we will look forward to hearing what you think on Nintendo and it’s DLC scheme. Keep On Gaming!
