After Legend of Zelda, five Nintendo franchises that should head to the big screen
The big screen adaptation of The Legend of Zelda, one of Nintendo's most beloved video game series, now has a release date: March 26, 2027. Details were first unveiled in November 2023 by series creator Shigeru Miyamoto. The film will be directed by Wes Ball, who is known for Maze Runner and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. The highly-anticipated adaptation comes after the huge success of The Super Mario Bros Movie, which made more than $1.3 billion worldwide after its release in 2023. Nintendo has many other beloved characters and video games in its vast library. Here are five that should get the big screen treatment after The Legend of Zelda. The first game in the Metroid series was released in 1987 on the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America. Since then, it has become a series with a rabid fanbase that follows each prospective new game with unbridled excitement. The game follows Samus Aran, a female bounty hunter who dons a power suit that enables her to shoot energy projectiles. In her post-apocalyptic world, Aran faces off against the titular Metroids, a jelly-like predatory species that feed on life energy. The latest game in the series, Metroid Dread, was released in 2021 and sold more three million units, proving just how popular the series still is. The alien worlds of the game and its brave protagonist would make for an exciting film adaptation. Previously a cult favourite, Animal Crossing became a global hit during the first months of the Covid-19 pandemic with the release of New Horizons in 2020. The game sold more than 47 million units, making it one of the most popular games on the Nintendo Switch. In it, players create a character then move to an island which houses several animals. The objective is to clean up the island, build houses and places of leisure for the animals and have fun beautifying the place. An Animal Crossing animated film seems inevitable as the popularity of the series continues to grow. Not quite as popular as Super Mario with non-gamers, Kirby is still a beloved character with many fun games since his first appearance in 1992 on the Game Boy. The pink blob can fly around, punch and swallow his enemies whole to absorb their powers. Kirby's popularity really skyrocketed after his inclusion in the Super Smash Bros games in which he became a go-to character to choose for novices and experts alike. A Kirby film would probably be a fun animated production that could feature other Nintendo characters too. One of Nintendo's more recent successes, Splatoon came out in 2015. The third-person shooting game in which two teams battle it out to paint a level with their team's colours. Some characters have powers such as transformation or more powerful tools of painting. Splatoon is very much Nintendo's cute answer to the rising popularity of shooting games such Call of Duty and others. There's no killing or harming in Splatoon, just a fun experience of spraying paint. There have now been three games in the series as it continues to grow and cement its place in the Nintendo library. The style lends itself to an animated film adaptation which would be energetic and funny. A somewhat forgotten character is Star Fox, once one of Nintendo's most famous during the N64 era. The character had seven mainline releases between 1993 and 2017. Star Fox is primarily a rail shooting game that evolved into a flying game. In it, players control the titular Star Fox who is aided by his anthropomorphic animal friends. Much like Kirby, Star Fox's popularity grew as he remained part of the Super Smash Bros games. All the different animal characters in the games have well established traits that make it perfect for an animated film adaptation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
2 days ago
- The National
Switch 2: The best games available on launch day, ranked
The much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 launched worldwide today. Following the immense success of the first Switch console, which sold 152.12 million units since 2017, gaming enthusiasts are looking forward to getting their hands on the new and improved version. What's a console without games, though? And Switch 2 has an impressive selection of new games to play. Here, we list some of the most significant game releases, and what fans can expect from each experience. 1. Mario Kart World The biggest game release alongside the launch of the Switch 2 is Mario Kart World, the first new mainline entry in the Mario Kart series in over a decade. This instalment introduces open-world tracks, off-road mechanics, elimination modes and supports up to 24-player races. It also features unlockable costumes, which offer a fresh take on the beloved racing series. 2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom Remastered Both beloved titles from Switch return with enhanced graphics and performance, taking full advantage of Switch 2's upgraded hardware. These remasters provide an opportunity for players to revisit the game's kingdom of Hyrule with improved visuals and smoother gameplay. 3. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond This game marks protagonist Samus Aran's most ambitious adventure yet. Set in the alien world of Viewros, the game adds psychic abilities to her arsenal, allowing for new puzzle mechanics and combat strategies. The storytelling adopts a darker tone, with cinematic cutscenes and dialogue-driven encounters. The visuals are powered by Unreal Engine 5, showcasing realistic environments, particle effects and fluid character animations. 4. Donkey Kong Bananza In Donkey Kong Bananza, players are treated to vibrant worlds with levels that include jungles, volcanoes and futuristic cities. Each level is fully destructible, offering multiple paths and secrets depending on how the player interacts with the environment. The game supports two-player co-op, with other characters joining the adventure. Kong's new abilities such as wall-climbing and explosive stomps, allow for exploration opportunities. 5. Super Mario Party Jamboree With more than 200 mini-games and 10 new boards, Super Mario Party Jamboree renews the party game genre. The boards are now interactive with dynamic weather and events that can change the outcome. There's also a 100-player online tournament mode, which adds a competitive experience. Characters in the game now have personal items that allow them the option of strategic plays. The custom mini-game playlists, meanwhile, will let players create their own party experience. 6. Hades II Hades II is a roguelike action game that follows Melinoe, the immortal Princess of the Underworld and sister to Zagreus, as she embarks on a quest to defeat Chronos, the Titan of Time, who has imprisoned her family. Building on the success of the first game, Hades II introduces new weapons, abilities, and a deeper narrative rooted in Greek mythology. Players can explore expanded realms, engage with diverse characters, and experience dynamic combat infused with dark sorcery and Olympian boons.
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Khaleej Times
Gamers line up for Nintendo Switch 2 launch with global shortfall expected
Gaming fans queued up for the launch of Nintendo's Switch 2 on May 5, which is widely expected to be in short supply globally amid pent-up demand for the more powerful next-generation gaming device. "The level of demand seems to be sky-high," said Serkan Toto, founder of the Kantan Games consultancy. In the Ikebukuro shopping district of Tokyo, dozens of successful applicants to a sales lottery by electronics retailer Bic Camera lined up before the store opened to collect their devices. "I feel like I'm going to cry," Yumi Ohi, a 30 year-old delivery contractor, told Reuters. Ohi had missed out in other lotteries and had come from Saitama prefecture, adjacent to Tokyo, to receive her Switch 2. Nintendo has sold 152 million Switch home-portable devices since launching in 2017. It became a games juggernaut with titles, including two The Legend of Zelda titles and COVID-19 pandemic breakout hit Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The Switch 2 bears many similarities with its predecessor but offers a larger screen and improved graphics and debuts with titles including Mario Kart World. "The much larger audience of Switch users should translate to stronger adoption in the opening part of its lifecycle," said Piers Harding-Rolls, an analyst at Ampere Analysis. "Nintendo is better prepared this time around" to deal with the high demand, he said. The launch of the $499.99 (Dh1,836.43) Switch 2 is a test of Nintendo's supply chain management during US President Donald Trump's trade war. Nintendo last month forecast sales of 15 million Switch 2 units during the current financial year, as well as 4.5 million Switch units. President Shuntaro Furukawa said Nintendo will strengthen production capacity to respond to strong demand and focus on sales promotion in an effort to exceed the forecast. "Given it's a special occasion, I wanted to buy (the Switch 2) right away on its release date," said Shinichi Sekiguchi, a hotel receptionist in his thirties. Nintendo said it received 2.2 million applications for its Switch 2 sales lottery on its My Nintendo Store in Japan. Pre-orders at Target sold out in less than two hours. "You are looking at weeks or months until you can walk into a store and buy a Switch 2," said Toto of Kantan Games. Investor expectations for the new device are similarly lofty. Nintendo's shares are trading near highs and have gained almost 30% this year. Concerns include whether momentum for the Switch 2 will be sustained after hardcore gamers have upgraded. "The volume of first-party games on offer at launch isn't as strong as it could be, so some more casual users may wait and see how the games available build over the next one to two years before making the leap," said Ampere's Harding-Rolls. Ampere forecasts Switch 2 sales to exceed 100 million units in 2030. Mario Kart World has a U.S. sticker price of $79.99, generating debate over the price of games. Nintendo is also attracting third-party titles to the system. "I've been around since the era of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and games from (that period) were expensive too so I think it's somewhat within the acceptable range," said Akitomo Takahashi, a salesman in his forties. Takahashi said he was keen to play action role-playing game Elden Ring on his Switch 2.
The National
2 days ago
- The National
Nintendo Switch 2 goes on sale worldwide to global fanfare
Gaming fans queued up for the launch of Nintendo's Switch 2 on Thursday, which is widely expected to be in short supply globally due to high demand for the next-generation console. "The level of demand seems to be sky-high," said Serkan Toto, founder of the Kantan Games consultancy. In the Ikebukuro shopping district of Tokyo, dozens of successful sales lottery applicants lined up before the store opened to collect their devices. "I feel like I'm going to cry," Yumi Ohi, a 30 year-old delivery contractor, told Reuters. Nintendo sold 152 million Switch consoles since its launch in 2017. It became a juggernaut with titles including two games from The Legend of Zelda series and the coronavirus pandemic-era hit Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The Switch 2 bears many similarities with its predecessor but offers a larger screen and improved graphics and debuts with Mario Kart World. Last month, Nintendo forecast sales of 15 million Switch 2 units during the current financial year, as well as 4.5 million Switch units. Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa said the company will strengthen production capacity to respond to demand and focus on sales promotion in an effort to exceed the forecast. Investor expectations for the new console are also lofty. Nintendo's shares are trading near highs and have gained almost 30 per cent this year. Switch 2 price The console has different price points in different regions. In the US, the Switch 2 will cost $449.99 for the base model and $499.99 for the Mario Kart World bundle. In the UK it will retail at £395 ($517.83), or £429 with Mario Kart. In Japan, there are two version of the base model. The first is a Japanese language-only version which will cost 49,980 yen ($339.36) and a normal base model that costs 69,980 yen. Thebundle will cost 53,980 yen.
