Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Director Reflects on Gaming History
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai recently released a new video titled “Grab Bag”, where he delves into what he considers to be the most incredible year for the game industry. According to Sakurai, this year is none other than 1986, a time that saw the birth of numerous major franchises, the introduction of the NES in Europe, and the creation of the iconic Konami code.
During this pivotal year, we witnessed the emergence of beloved series such as The Legend of Zelda, Dragon Quest, Metroid, Castlevania, and Kid Icarus, among others. Sakurai highlights how many of these franchises have made their way into the Super Smash Bros. series in some capacity.
Sakurai also mentions the technological advancements that were taking place in the gaming industry during this era. With new technologies providing a significant boost in capacity, both hardware and software were making remarkable progress. He even makes a reference to the Pixar short “Luxo Jr., which played a key role in the evolution of computer-generated entertainment.
“The Year of Legend” (1986), according to Masahiro Sakurai:
- The Legend of Zelda
- Kunio-kun (River City)
- Dragon Quest
- Ganbare Goemon! (Mystical Ninja franchise)
- Valkyrie no Boken
- Metroid
- Bubble Bobble
- Castlevania
- R.B.I Baseball
- Kid Icarus
- Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels
- The Mysterious Murasame Castle
- Ghosts ‘n Goblins
- Fist of the North Star
- Zanac
- Alex Kidd in Miracle World
- TwinBee
- Ninja Hattori-kun
- Fantasy Zone
- Relics
- Slipheed
- Daiva (Story 1-6)
- Mighty Bomb Jack
- The Genji and the Heiki Clans
- Wonder Boy
- Hudson’s Adventure Island
- Ikari Warrios
- Gradius
- Arkanoid
- Rygar
- Star Soldier
- Salamander (Life Force)
- Solomon’s Key
- OutRun
- Xevious (Hidden Character)
- Gradius (Konami Code)
- Atlantis no Nazo
- Taksehi no Chousenjou
Quite an impressive list, isn’t it? If you’re feeling nostalgic for some retro gaming, you can always explore Nintendo’s library of classic NES and Famicom games through the Switch Online service.
Which year do you believe stands out as the most incredible in the history of video games? Share your thoughts in the comments below.