Evolution Of Nintendo Graphics (NES To Switch)

[@TheDrumi96]

No one plays Nintendo games for their graphics. Its the gameplay what makes them great

[@getgunnerttv1603]

+Monsieur Leblanc mhm

[@TheNorth15]

Though you have to admit HD graphics mixed with Nintendo's artstyles looks really gorgeous. Remember the Wind Waker remaster?

[@arnaudshirt2798]

Monsieur Leblanc I'm not so sure if that's the case with breath of the wild, good graphics are a real nice adition to such a game

[@codacious14]

Monsieur Leblanc That’s just not true at all. Many Nintendo games are way superior in terms of art direction to the competition.

[@youngdefiant]

but the gameplay is bad too, bad gameplay and graphics

[@ConvictedHeart]

Nintendo is going less for Realism and more for an aesthetically pleasing style. They have chosen to emphasize aesthetics over graphics. Personally a game with a good aesthetic tends to be more memorable in my experience too.

[@raven.8073]

...but aesthetics _are_ graphics...

[@GlossArt]

Budget Seagull you've got that the wrong way around

[@raven.8073]

Do you see aesthetics? They appear on screen, as a sort of way to stylize the look and feel of a game? Technically speaking, that would be graphics. Not neccecarily graphical power, but it's still graphics, because it's what you see.

[@beenjammin3523]

Budget Seagull He means art style

[@ConvictedHeart]

Budget Seagull you're arguing the semantics of my choice of phrasing. Aesthetic doesn't simply apply to the graphics in video games. The office I work in has a certain aesthetic to it, my house had a completely different aesthetic, and a doctor's office has another completely different aesthetic. It's a style, or a personality put into the "graphics". So yes, in this context, "aesthetic" by default refers to the graphics because it must by necessity since we SEE them.

[@juancgonzalez2102]

One thing that I love about Nintendo is that they focus on gameplay first.

[@David_Quinn1995]

Saki Annette devs need to do this, I am playing stardew a 8bit game and I enjoy it for the game play.

[@OkMazzy]

Not just gameplay, but art style.

[@hrgrhrhhr]

+Cool Moo5e not exactly 8 bit

[@David_Quinn1995]

catlover67803 yeah probebly more 16 bit

[@PrinceRevolver]

The fact that Nintendo can produce artistically beautiful games with underpowered hardware compared to their competition, makes me wonder what would they create if their hardware was on par with said competition.

[@brandonjohnson4121]

Prince Revolver Sonys on par with how amazing their games look given the hardware. Microsoft, not so much. Not sure what's going on with them.

[@Arvanyev]

They would create something as visually beautiful as sunshine whose graphics still hold up to this day for the most part.

[@MrOdiot]

Or if they released their games on PC.

[@Moolassy]

Why would Nintendo do that.. Just get a rom.

[@Neo_Way]

I think you'd realize after seeing how the PS2 vs GameCube example being brought up, that power just isn't what defines how good a game looks, even if it does certainly influences that. Besides, they prioritize having their technology accessible.

[@mrchiefbs]

I followed the wii craze and only really got wii fit and wii sports for the motion controls. Skipped out on the Wii U but when I saw the first Switch commercial I knew I needed it day one. Since then iv'e grown to love Nintendo for its art style and interesting take on video games. They want to promote happy fun styles of gaming. Everyone else is focused on demanding graphics and realism. Sometimes you just wanna wind down and play zelda where you can cutely kill things and not feel bad about it.

[@diccchocolate416]

Brandon S. If you still have your Wii get mario galaxy one and two IMEDIATELY

[@jjbarajas5341]

Marina or Pearl?

[@1989-u3r]

Ben Saber super smash for me lol

[@nostalgiafactor733]

Dicc Chocolate Mario galaxy arent very good. VERY overrated. I actually think sunshine is much better because linear games like galaxy are shit

[@diccchocolate416]

NostalgiaFactor you'll have to learn how to form proper sentences before I listen to your opinion

[@HyouVizer]

link in the thumbnail is like "wtf is this mustached toddler coming towards me?!"

[@2ndGear]

It’s-a-ME!!! MARIIIO!!!

[@mushroomybod8006]

@@2ndGear come here fidhy fishy

[@MinorCirrus]

Amazing video, Falcon. In-depth, instructive, with a bit of hommage. Great job. Recently, I had a small throwback session with Super Mario Galaxy and I was really amazed by how good it still looks today, despite HD graphics having become the norm nowadays.

[@canadianbears6145]

Thanks for the vid Falcon, loved it, keep it up. It's hard for me to decide on my favorite era. I grew up on SNES and N64 and played the Gamecube throughout my teenage years. I just love how Nintendo graphics kept on getting better and better as I kept on getting older.

[@ThomasLien1]

Really like these in-depth episodes Gameranx, keep ‘em coming!

[@bobtheboozer9452]

When I saw the title I didn't think I'd learn anything new as there's so many videos covering graphical progression on here. This was really informative and provided a interesting prospective that I haven't seen covered before on this topic. Great video! Subbed!

[@ProjectGamerYT]

In before the "I don't see any difference" comments

[@luckmyst3r986]

i dont see any difference

[@AlexJasso100]

But i really don’t

[@smoovemovesjohn9340]

A noice b8

[@tacomandood7371]

inb4 "if you played PC instead of console u would notice, silly console pleb"

[@nandimoozle703]

tacomandood I play pc and prefer style over anything and Nintendo does that best, that’s why the only console I own is the switch (btw I play most games on ultra or high so I’m not on some shitty pc)

[@HasXXXInCrocs]

I love that even today you can play a super Nintendo game and be blown away by its art and style. Maybe it's because that's what I grew up with, but I just am always blown away by it.

[@napster1490]

You guys continue to impress me with your videos. I appreciate your content and want to say thank you.

[@lazydragon2551]

Videos about Nintendo gives me warm fuzzies. How they're still around from a by gone era is so cool.

[@TenBear]

Nintendo has usually done things their own way, setting trends instead of following them but the key reason of why I love Nintendo games probably more than any other is that Nintendo polish. Not just bright and bold but that extra effort put into the majority of their own titles, the effort that you can witness that makes you smile.

[@scofieldvictoria]

Nintendo may not have the super realistic graphics that are so popular, but if that's what I wanted I'd buy more Xbox games (I have an Xbox One) or actually pick up a PS4. I love Nintendo's art style and the games themselves, which is why I have 3 Nintendo handhelds (GBA, DS, 3DS) and 3 Nintendo consoles (Wii, Wii U, Switch); I also play my GameCube games on the Wii and I have a number of VC games (I've still got NES games, controllers, and the zapper in my TV stand).

[@srsamaddar]

Bright and bold Nintendo proud of you And gameranx good explanation

[@hotwaffles5897]

Super Metroid from SNES still looks amazing. The colors and the background art really pops and makes the game visually beautiful even today

[@petergohan]

Nintendo always creating new ways of gaming, that people criticize in the beggining, but copy in the end, that is why nintendo has to be on the hardware market forever, otherwise we would face another crash like in the early 80's, with more of the same everytime with no one risking anything new.

[@annoyingmish]

I like your comment about the Wii U. It's definitely a good console just marketed awfully. I truly love it and some of the best games I've played are there.

[@SKNGame]

this was a good watch made me all nostalgic. I am so glad Nintendo is still in the gaming industry. they make gaming feel so innocent and lighthearted always putting a smile on the face of the gamer whether they are old or young

[@CyanicCore]

Wow, I somehow never noticed the newer games's bright colors, great vid

[@TheMistyBlueLounge]

I absolutely love Nintendo's style. I'm not always in the mood for it but when I am the games are just beautiful, and they have a timeless appearance so you can go back to them many years later and still enjoy it.

[@michaelseymour1421]

A 30 second ad you can’t skip? Cmon gameranx

[@patrickharris1340]

Its interesting to see that nintendo makes some of the most gorgeous and vibrant games on the market with hardware inferior to their competition.

[@Heavens_Rejected]

This video got me thinking about how I react to better graphics. Starting back at the SNES and moving to the N64 was one of the earliest times I remember going WOW at graphics. I later got my hands on a PS2 and you would think I would have the same reaction with how much more power that had over the N64 but I just don't remember having that. I ended up having that reaction on Super Mario Sunshine on the Gamecube. PS3 again I didn't really have that reaction but stangly I did on the Wii and WiiU. and finally after having played PC games since slightly before the WiiU launch I get that feeling now and then on the PC, but they rarely match the "Holy crap, this looks good" reaction I had playing Breath of the Wild and Odyssey on the switch. TLDR: It's almost always been Nintendo that makes me realize how good graphics have gotten.

[@Alianger]

Some corrections and thoughts: 2:35 1985, not 1983, and it was a limited launch at first. It was not "damn close" to Space Harrier for example, but it was better than what came before on consoles. 2:50 In reality that 128 color palette was not used to its fullest because of the colors per scanline limitation (and probably some other stuff, I mean just look at some of the games - the average seems to be around the same or lower than for NES (which is around 10-15 at any one time based on various screenshots I've checked) besides the color gradients used either on a sprite or background layer). 3:25 The Master System palette is more bold than the NES one, I would say it struck a good balance between the much more muted C64 and the sometimes garish SMS. 4:50 SMB was great but even if we ignore arcade games from that year there was Summer Games 2, Winter Games, Staff of Karnath, Way of the Exploding Fist, King's Quest and also Karateka from the year before.

[@Mattstiless]

You've kinda done this video twice every year but I like it lol good job

[@ElTeeger]

Your choices of words are simply beautiful! Nice video

[@MikaelKhanSyndicate]

This was interesting, nice work, falcon!!👍🏾👍🏾😜✌🏾

[@Tool0GT92]

I'm a Sony fan now but I'll always love Nintendo

[@redexalt3637]

Tool0GT92 I feel ya. I'm an Xbox man who has sank too much time and money into my XBL account, but I jump at the chance to play a new Zelda, smash, Mario, etc.

[@thewanderers97]

and then you get IP banned by sony for no reason. like what happened to me

[@connor3198]

I'm like the opposite. I'm a major Nintendo fan, but god dam do I love my PS4. Love me some Last of Us, Horizon Zero Dawn, or Uncharted. Hyped for that new Spidey game as well!

[@deformemvita]

The one thing you can always count on with Nintendo is consistent quality. If it says 'Nintendo' you're basically guaranteed that what you're getting is well designed, engineered, and constructed. Despite their flaws and under-powered hardware; I will always have the latest and greatest from the big N because I know that I'll undoubtedly have a good time.

[@undizz1]

Poor WiiU, even the virtual boy was invited to the last screen, gathering all the consoles, but the WiiU is left out in the cold...

[@TheCatCosmo]

So sad

[@grillscout7815]

Everyday gameranx uploads a video is a good day

[@Siddif]

A wonderful retrospective that doesn’t gloss over some of the not do great decisions Nintendo have made but does praise what deserves to be praised. Managed to summarise every reason that my main console will always be the one that has Mario, Zelda etc... on it regardless of the technical limitations.

[@nielsbruijn7291]

I love nintendo games because nintendo games are not focused on the graphics but on the fun.

[@Ryattt81]

Does anybody else remember the prone position in Contra? Me and my group of pre pubescent group of friends dubbed it "hump the ground"

[@crlake]

This was really good. I enjoyed that. Thank you.

[@gladiusfinch]

Nintendo=Beatles of gaming

[@magnetometalbender5725]

GLADIUS FINCH nah nah nah Nintendo is the Michael jackson of gaming as in there will never be another

[@have_a_good_day420]

Magneto Metal Bender Imac ❤️ your comment

[@Jassine]

I'm fake

[@khoatran5371]

Falcon couldn’t tell

[@Tandiamonds]

Korean gold bot; should have known.

[@Sammy-xx8uo]

O

[@falcongamer58]

Falcon im not fake, im original!

[@tatertodd31]

Atleast you're honest.

[@kevindanielgarciacarrion9420]

It is funny how people concider the nintendo switch an underpower console by comparing it against PS4 and Xbox one when it is portable, i don't remember people complaining about the PS Vita graphics against PS3 or Xbox 360 , all they said was that the PS Vita had the best graphics to be portable a feature that the switch also has but anyone seem to notice

[@dog8438]

lokillo perez but the Switch game run Skyrim Remastered. Meaning it can actually handle big games and has tons of potential

[@retrosoul8770]

Zwenk that is true, Nintendo is "treating it" as they're "main system/console" but that doesn't change the fact that it's a handheld through and through, and thus, when judging the hardware, logic tells us to treat it that way regardless of Nintendo's marketing. It's a handheld, so thus, it's not underpowered. (not fanboying I don't even care to own one)

[@GIR00027]

Damn am I really the only one who is hyped for Metroid Prime 4 on the switch?

[@robertstimmel1100]

xXFrostyKidXx no, you're not

[@GIR00027]

Drederick Tatum well that’s where you are wrong

[@connor3198]

I'm hyped!

[@Defensive_Wounds]

1:44 - I had the NINTENDO Game & Watch DUAL SCREEN Mickey Mouse game that was this one in this part of the video with a building on fire, its date of manufacture was 1980. It looked EXACTLY like a Nintendo DS from 26 years later!!!

[@PhotoVideoGuru]

I had both Nintendo and sega growing up and very much liked them both. Including original game boy and sega game gear. Magical. Loved nes, snes, mega drive.

[@elgato6001]

I skipped the Wii U and kept on playing on other systems, but after a while I was dying to play a Nintendo game. I was about to pull the trigger on a Wii U until they announced the Switch. That little guy may not be the most powerful system out there, but it is by far my favorite with so many Nintendo games. I have all system and a custom PC, but I am proud of being a Nintendo fan with their unique games. Nintendo essentially turns me into the little kid I once was. Thanks for the video.

[@Shuki..]

a 20 min video? what is this heaven??

[@Jonas-ng4yj]

Nice video!

[@gmoney9677]

2:23 there is a picture shown of an arcade that still exists in Brookfield Illinois. It's amazing, just so amazing. If you live in the Chicagoland area 10/10 recommend visiting it's called galloping ghosts

[@ComptonEMT]

My favorite is probably still N64... To be about to play most of the multiplayer games on the platform with 4 players and no need for a period rally or swapping was beautiful... It pretty much was the start of modern non-nintendo console gaming. I miss those long nights pounding away at smash or kart or GoldenEye or wrestling games or Mario party or ... Well... Any of the great sofa games it brought to the table... All with friends drinking our jolt cola and eating Doritos. I think that era right there was one of the greatest in gaming... The golden years of gaming.

[@erikmontoya7079]

ComptonEMT Yup those where good times.

[@TheS0ris]

ComptonEMT 100% agree I'd invite my neighbour's to play with me and it was always a blast.

[@MrHeavyRunner]

Zelda was and still is best

[@retrosoul8770]

Indeed the memories are precious, but technically the Gamecube did the same thing and did it better. With 64 games, you'd have bad slowdown when playing with 4 players ala Goldeneye and Smash but on Gamecube you could play Timesplitters 2/3, Double Dash, Melee, M Party, F-Zero gx etc all at 60 frames, games were always super smooth. That's where my memories are. Played these games for yrs with my younger sis and older bro +friends. Too bad most ppl bypassed the Gc for the weaker Ps2.

[@connor3198]

That's always been Nintendo

[@judasmcswell8321]

I just love the Nintendo switch. Easily one of my favourite gaming systems of all time. I cannot wait for the library of games to build up for it

[@TheGunmanChannel]

It's weird but I find N64 graphics hold up even better than PS2 graphics, I go back to N64 games and they look fine, I forget I'm playing such an old system but playing a PS2 seems so dated and I really notice the poor graphics.

[@akinaspeedstars2462]

Im buying a switch, thanks for finalizing my decision

[@BlackOtaku22]

I think the nintendo style is an amazing choice of style. It reminds you of how you used to play with your family and friends by the crt tv with bright colors popping out of it. I think this style really stands out from the bleak and dark AAA market that we have today. Every time i play a nintendo game it really feels and plays with sort of a nintendo quality stamp.

[@Mysticnonsense]

Cant say the same about the bias of your reviews but your historical technology videos are done very well.

[@Ryan-tz6kh]

But gameranx, skyward sword was in the Wii, not the Switch!

[@dropkickpherby6994]

Fun Topic: Even though the Switch isn't going anywhere except out of stock off and on for a while, what do you think is next for Nintendo? How could they one-up the Switch/ 3DS in the years following

[@mrtree1368]

I'm happy with legend of zelda graphics on the wii anything at that level and up will always look just fine

[@liamv4153]

Love super mario oddessey so farrr!!!!

[@groove9168]

Falcon should really teach a class or something.

[@groove9168]

Hey now

[@DanielZeal]

That moment made my ears bleed.

[@Cesarser004]

Angel Leyva he does have the potential to become the next Ben Stein.

[@stixvane]

So a game on the SNES ( SF ) that came out only in Japan and later to America only after being remade was called Tales of Phantasia. Now I got a ROM hack of this game that is the original game but people painstakingly re did all the text in English. They didn't change the game in any other way and the game is amazing. OMG the game's not only fun but has to have some of the best pixel art of a time.... your character even cast a shadow and reflections on water. I was blown away that this was a SNES game.

[@PiggoRBLX]

Did you just sass Sonic?! 6:00 I AM SO TRIGGERD XD

[@9hamos8]

I am with you with what you see on Nintendo, what it is that I cherish on Nintendo.

[@jonahmoore6437]

ClayFighter was one of my favorite games to play on the SNES.

[@tylerlong2779]

The fact I’m fifteen and still love all of the Nintendo games I played when I was a kid, PLUS the games that released “before my time,” really makes me wonder why Xbox and PlayStation are leading the market. (In my opinion) Nintendo games have so much more life than most games released for the bigger consoles. All in all, I never want to see Nintendo go because I love their art style, their games are fantastic, and the gaming community, both casual and hardcore, wouldn’t ever be the same without the pioneers of the gaming revolution.

[@satyamSaha]

Tyler Long same here I’m 14 and I love retro Nintendo games too and I’ll definitely say that Xbox is not leading the market it’s dying as their platform has no exclusives and they’ve only sold half of what the PS4 has compared to last generation

[@BramOuwerkerk]

Great video

[@PimpMatt0]

My favorite kind of videos.

[@jgontko23]

Instead of focusing on realism Nintendo prefers fun and art style. "Realistic" games can't do much to distinguish one from the other and the games start to look like they are all the same. Sometimes people just want to escape reality and they don't want to see a "digital reality". This is where Nintendo keeps reminding us that games can be fun... fun for everyone.

[@EricTaylorTehuberOne]

I remember hooking up. My cube to a friend's 50 inch crt and playing Metroid prime in 480p shit looked amazing.

[@nahinraihan7751]

I love this kind of videos.

[@dylanellis4320]

Love this video, didn't think it would make me laugh! It was also very informative, as I'm very interested in game design, and I never considered what goes on behind the scenes graphically, only in programming sense! Only thing I wish was different was Mario Odyssey brought up, but I suppose that's the fanboy in me, and the fact that it's so impressive graphically. All in all good vid and Zelda was probably an all around better example.

[@bella_iris]

I'm never 100% sure if I want to commit to watching the whole video until I hear Falcon's voice. Then it's on.

[@amtshooter]

Take a shot every time Falcon says “bright and bold”

[@lukaswhelan7880]

You should've really mentioned the Wii remote, it was quite a unique controller and made games like tennis and golf more intuitive and accesible.

[@Sanoku71]

2:36 - you said we're focusing on the American releases, but the Famicom was released in Japan in 1983. The NES was released in North America in 1985. You got them mixed up.

[@MaikeruDagurasu]

This is a perfect example for why I still love Nintendo.

[@cochobear]

Amazing detail from your explanation with out been harsh or a fanboy....I completely agree that Nintendo is by their own means a wonderful factory of dreams and joy , for all ages....thanks

[@mr.roboto8911]

"BRIGHT AND BOLD." -Falcon.

[@tomcrossover7487]

ooo better grab my popcorn for this video!

[@CelahiR88]

Zelda TP is by far my favourite game, story AND graphics.

[@cadenchurchill4296]

Hard for me to believe Nintendo’s hardware ever used to be more powerful than the competition! The Nintendo Switch is not even close to being as powerful as the launch PS4 - and the PS5 was just launched. Switch is probably still my favourite. The portability is amazing and the games still look surprisingly good! Also, did anyone else always play their 3DS with the 3D effect turned up all the way? New 3DS was honestly amazing.

[@TheJuggernautBitch]

Actually Miyamoto is focused on purely delivering a fun gameplay experience. This is why Odyssey has a less prominent story, as it would distract from the gameplay. Thats why mario has no dialogue. One could almost say he is a Marionette ?

[@redpanda416]

Got say the Wii U breath of the wild and the switch version looks pretty similar, both are quite beautiful.

[@simonecolognesi5184]

Exceptional video

[@Adam_Zielinski]

Well, the Gamecube-Wii and Wii U-Switch isn't a major difference. Although Wii and Switch were both smaller than the predecessor unlike PlayStation/Xbox which largely include in Size

[@sl1ck557]

I still feel like Starfox Adventures on GameCube looks amazing graphically

[@darknightmike10yearsago]

I totally agree! I still have it.

[@yamigekusu]

One of my favorite Mario games is on the Virtual Boy! Mario Clash is one of my favorites :D

[@llla_german_ewoklll6413]

i hope that someday you will be able to carry around a little mouse and keyboard and a small screen that has a computer built in, that can handle modern computer games that have good graphics.

[@khodexus4963]

How could you skip Donkey Kong arcade cabinets? That put Nintendo on the map well before the NES. Okay seriously, no mention of mode 7 on the SNES or Yoshi's Island sprite warping? Also, the Vita hasn't done well in America, but it's inaccurate to say it was killed by the 3DS considering the Vita is massively dominating domestic sales over in Japan.

[@Xzar931]

it's fascinating that when i hear falcon in this kind of video,i enjoy it buy when he did a 'before you buy' vids, it's the opposite of it lol

[@Sp4ceG04t]

I think it comes down to care, I went along the PC Master race path due to the power of steam's library. However, after coming back to Nintendo by buying a switch I have come to find each and everyone of the games even the 3rd party games has an unquestionable amount of care put into them, and clear Nintendo support in making them the best they can be on the switches hardware.

[@Jenny-tl7gk]

My favourite era was gameboy advance with the pixel art style, kinda miss that style while playing the new Pokemon games

[@introvertedperson007]

doom and wolfenstein baby

[@introvertedperson007]

haha I would still play it.

[@connor3198]

They look great, can't wait to play them on the go :)

[@stevenrodriguez1844]

fantasy life on 3ds looks really good for what it is . and an amazing jrpg

[@lukechasse9009]

Nintendo makes itself distinct from others not by competing head to head with Microsoft and Sonys feud for money, but by making there games distinct from Sony and Microsoft with heart and soul. (That better?) ;)

[@GlossArt]

Lukeywild Nintendo is definitely trying to one up their competition, it's just that instead of trying to squeeze into the head to head "do the same thing but better looking" thing that sony and microsoft have going on, they decided to focus specifically on gameplay and fun as their main selling point. It's a shame that it gave them the whole "kids games and gimmicks" reputation but you've got to respect them for always trying to do something different

[@lukechasse9009]

Sorry for my confusing way of saying it, this is what I meant^

[@GlossArt]

Zwenk Wiel way to cherrypick examples

[@iamcll]

The grunge of the game-cube era was the best for me

[@tankedwarthog6424]

At 2:28 there is an arcade cabinet third in called mission craft next to the name it looks like Ciragan from starcraft post infestation

[@slicksilver9441]

I had an actual wrist watch with the game,"ninja gaiden". I loved that watch...lol

[@bem1434]

I love Nintendo.

[@redpanda416]

Nintendo is smart, they know their hardware is less powerful than their competitors, so they chose different game and graphic style, they make more colorful, cartoony, cell shade style of graphic, instead of photo realistic graphic, to hide their weakness. For example, super Mario galaxy would still look good today, even on a current gen console.

[@RetroJack]

Nintendo consoles might not be as powerful as others, but it's what Nintendo does with them that's amazing.