Top 5 Side Characters That Could Be Nintendo’s Next Big Hit
Nintendo has been responsible for some of the most iconic gaming franchises in the video game landscape. However, one arguably just as important factor to that is all the memorable characters that they have created: from Mario, to Link, to Donkey Kong, to Kirby, they have created dozens of lovable characters that inhabit worlds of equally colorful characters
Though, like with the previously released titles such as Captain Toad’s: Treasure Tracker and Princess Peach Showtime, would it not be awesome to see other side characters see their own video game releases? With such creative and diverse characters, the possibilities are endless on what Nintendo is able to expand upon, and with this short list here, I will list off some possible money making ideas that surely Shigeru Miyamoto will listen to.
#1 Any F-Zero Character (F-Zero)
F-Zero is a series ripe for expanding upon its world. I know it sounds a bit cheap to speak generally on the series, but fans have been no stranger to expressing their interest in the series’ return. With an obvious idea that has come about has been to create an open-world, almost Grand Theft Auto experience playing in the life of a bounty hunter. While this could star the face of the series, Captain Falcon, perhaps this could be the chance for other series favorites to shine. Such as Blood Falcon, Black Shadow, Samurai Goroh, Dr. Stewart, Jody Summers, any of them is fair game!
#2 Funky Kong (Donkey Kong)
Donkey Kong’s iconic and funky mechanic, Funky Kong, has been an extremely popular character who’s been one to rely on. Including his track record as being regarded as the meta in Mario Kart Wii. As well as his notable appearance being the New Funky Mode in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, or his most recent appearance being part of the Booster Course Pass of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, to massive fan applause.
He is arguably the most primed to have his own solo adventure as he takes players from the lands to the sky. He’s been known to create many vehicles, and even weapons, in Donkey Kong 64’s case shows that he is a very capable Kong. Ideally, the game itself could be a lot like Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, without all the baggage of ruining interest in the series.
#3 Viridi (Kid Icarus)
A personal favorite of mine, as I think Kid Icarus: Uprising is one of the highlights of the Nintendo 3DS. Kid Icarus is a series almost begging for another entry in some form, and while it would be ideal to see a new title of Pit’s adventures, Uprising introduced a ton of amazing characters who could be awesome in their own scenarios. The idea of a life-simulator game akin to The Sims but way more chaotic and explosive, starring a character who doesn’t particularly have an interest in humans, sounds like it would need the talents of a seasoned game developer to turn that into something that makes sense.
Though with the most notable part of Viridi’s character being the creation of the Reset Bomb, highlighting that in a whole game may cause the rating to go up a little higher than would be preferred. With the concept of letting the player blow up a decent bit of population may sound a little violent to advertise with other of Nintendo’s big releases, they have been no stranger to dabbling in higher rated titles, such as with the Bayonetta franchise.
#4 Waluigi (Super Mario)
Of course, this character had to make it here eventually. With the Super Mario franchise, there are dozens of characters that exist who could star in their own side games themselves; however many have gotten to in the past. From Wario, Yoshi, Luigi, Peach, Toad, it feels as if every substantial Mario character got their own spinoff to even a sub-series.
Though one who is always asked about to star in their own entry is the purple cheater himself, Waluigi. While he is absolutely not cracking my top 10 favorite Super Mario characters, it would be an understatement to say that it would be worth it for Nintendo to give him a shot in his own game. Even if it only becomes funnier the way they treat him, when he was effectively replaced by a bee in Mario Kart 7.
Still, as for what the game could be, I think you can get by simply by creating a pinball game that expands upon the iconic race track that was introduced in Mario Kart DS. With wacky mechanics that express how weird and quirky Waluigi as a character is. It could be an evolution of Mario Pinball Land (does anybody even know that game exists?).
#5 Chef Kawasaki (Kirby)
While he may not be the most popular Kirby character, I think Chef Kawasaki is a fun pick to have out there, as the cooking genre has really been needing a new hero out there. Especially ever since what happened to old Cooking Mama. The Kirby series has also not been too afraid with wanting to dabble, or at least market their other characters for titles. Such as King Dedede playing with drums, Meta Knight seeing full campaigns in a couple of Kirby entries, and we are primed to see them attempt a full-on experience with Bandana Waddle Dee or even Magalor.
However, I do feel our lovely chef would not see his own standalone release right away, as like with King Dedede, I could see the Kirby team messing around with this fun idea as a side mode to a main series Kirby title. Perhaps seeing a separate Deluxe release later on with expanded ideas and production value.
These are just a few ideas that Nintendo is more than welcome to steal from me. As it’s very much expected Nintendo is going to make a full-blown $80 title focused entirely on Scoot from Animal Crossing, instead.
