Top Ten Exclusives of the Nintendo Switch's First Two Years

As of this past Sunday, the Nintendo Switch is now officially two years old. With it we've seen no shortage of great games for the system, and that doesn't seem to stop anytime soon. However, before we look towards the future of the Switch, let's turn to the past--more specifically the top ten exclusives for the system of its first two years. While you won't see The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on this list due to it also being available on the Wii U, you will see a tremendous amount of quality in these titles--and maybe more Mario than you'd expect, too!

10) Mario Tennis Aces

We start out with a game I was pretty harsh towards when it originally released. Now, since many patches and content updates (from where it was once unbalanced and missing essential features previous games had), Mario Tennis Aces is very much a game worthy of the Mario Tennis series name. Whether you're playing a standard round of tennis or special Mario Tennis rules with power shots and the stamina gauge, Mario Tennis Aces brings with it some high octane, high adrenaline, high value entertainment. Since launch, new modes, an abundance of new monthly characters, and balance changes have made appearances all for free, making was what once a lackluster Mario Tennis game a rather excellent one.

9) Super Mario Party

Party hearty, Mario and friends--and you're free to RSVP and join the celebration, too. While lacking the typical amount of boards seen in previous Mario Party games, the four boards within Super Mario Party are fantastic to themselves, offering a lot of action for their size. One could argue that it's their smaller sizes that allow more events and action to take place! Containing around 80 satisfying mini-games, Solo and Team boards, a fun and engaging four-player co-operative River Survival mode, and much more, Super Mario Party brings enough goodness to in its [party] favor to make it one of the best entries in the series yet.

8) Octopath Traveler

Shifting gears from parties to RPGs, Octopath Traveler is a gorgeous 2D sprite-based RPG from Square Enix that follows the story of eight travelers with their own unique vignettes and adventures. Octopath Traveler is obviously a looker with its unique visual style (your mileage may vary on how you like it--but I'm absolutely in love), but the role-playing systems within the game such as Boost Points allow a deep amount of strategy where you chain attacks to inflict the most amount of damage to enemies and assist your party members in the intense battles the game delivers. Throw in one amazing musical score, and Octopath Traveler strikes a fine balance between retro and modern that all RPGs fans need to experience for themselves.

7) Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Continuing with the RPG theme we have going here, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 features a colorful and charming cast of characters, a collectible Blade system that becomes incorporated into battle, and expansive lands and areas to explore. However, these lands are teeming with indigenous and hostile wildlife, so explore carefully and cautiously! Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is quite the meaty game, offering a robust lineup of Blades to acquire and enhance, side quests to take on, and a main campaign that will take dozens upon dozens of hours to complete. Though undocked performance on the Switch is a bit shaky, being able to hold a massive role-playing adventure like this in the palms of your hands is truly impressive, much like the overall adventure itself.

6) Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle

Take command of three Mushroom Kingdom or Rabbid characters as you launch them into strategical battles X-COM style! Really, that's what Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle essentially is--X-COM in colorful Mushroom Kingdom clothing. The odds are stacked against you in battle, but with a smart strategy, the odds will turn in your favor. Explore interactive environments filled with puzzles between said battles, discovering treasure and chests along the way. The addition of the Donkey Kong-themed DLC make an already enticing package even more irresistible, as does the completely Grant Kirkhope-composed soundtrack. The idea of Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle was laughable for many, but after witnessing the astounding quality of the game, it's Nintendo and Ubisoft that are laughing now--and players of this hilarious and charming game as well!

5) Splatoon 2

Time to get wet and messy... with ink! What else did you think, you sickos? (...Or maybe it's I who is the sicko...) Nevertheless, Splatoon 2 features a full fledged campaign that puts Splatoon players in their paces with creative levels, rewarding scenarios and challenges, and some truly intense boss battles. The multiplayer is just as messy and fun as ever with four on four skirmishes in ranked and unranked play across a regular rotation of maps, some returning from the original Wii U Splatoon. An all-new co-operative mode encourages teamwork against hordes of enemies and bosses alike, and while this mode isn't always available, it is quite special of a gameplay experience when it is live. Whether you're splatting to see who can paint the most ground in their team's colored ink before time expires (the main multiplayer mode of the Splatoon series) or deeply engaged in customizing your Inkling to your liking, there's a lot on offer and a lot to love with Splatoon 2.

4) Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! & Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee!

The duo of games that got me back into being hyped for the Pokemon series, Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! deliver a nostalgic trip through the Kanto region with some remarkable improvements. The lack of random battles makes searching for that rare, elusive Pokemon you wish to catch all the less tedious, and it also allows you to avoid battles when you desire nothing more than to evade that hundredth Zubat you faced in the original Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow games. For new players, the Let's Go pair offer plenty to be excited over--from the accessible and friendly Pokemon GO-style catching mechanics to the easier difficulty. While these might put off longtime Pokemon players, there are plenty of traditional features available to them, and even still, the newly announced Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield are the main course for these players regardless!

3) Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Now, this one might be cheating a little--or at least bending the rules a bit--but Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the definitive version of Mario Kart 8, featuring more characters than the Wii U game, a brand-new Battle Mode, and several unique gameplay features and mechanics like auto-acceleration, smart-steering, and a new item. I argue that Deluxe is different enough from the base Wii U version of Mario Kart 8 to be acceptable for this list. And, it's really difficult not to want to put Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on such a list like this because it's just so bloody good. (Oh, I'm talking like I'm across the pond all of a sudden! See how awesome you are, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe!) Containing all of the tracks both base and DLC from Mario Kart 8, the aforementioned bigger and better Battle Mode, and more characters than you can shake a stick shift at, and you have the definitive Mario Kart experience--and one of the best kart racing games of all time.

2) Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

We go from the definitive Mario Kart to the definitive Super Smash Bros. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate contains over 70 characters in its rosters--literally EVERYONE is here--and the majority of stages featured in past Super Smash Bros. games--that's over 100 stages to smash on. The brand new World of Light mode with over 1200 unique character and object spirits to collect to power up your fighters is my personal favorite single player campaign implementation in the series yet, and the other assortment of modes and features within Ultimate are nothing to whiff at either! This is definitely the ultimate Super Smash Bros. experience, and Masahiro Sakurai and his team aren't pleased to be finished there, as DLC soon drops this April featuring Joker from Persona 5.

1) Super Mario Odyssey

Since The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is also available on the Wii U, that leaves us with SuperPhillip Central's second favorite Nintendo Switch game as the number one exclusive on this list. Returning to the open sandbox worlds as seen in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine, the massive platforming playgrounds available to Mario are some of the best levels ever seen in the 30+ year franchise. The exhaustive amount of mobile options allowed to Mario make the portly plumber the most nimble he's been in quite some time. The new capture ability allows for even more unique gameplay scenarios, as Mario inhabits the bodies of enemies and objects, using their abilities to progress in levels and solve puzzles.

The gargantuan amount of Power Moons featured in Super Mario Odyssey mean that any player can get the requisite amount necessary to proceed through the game, but for completionists and players who want a stiffer challenge, then they can go after all of the Moons--or at least the more difficult to acquire ones. Regardless of your skill level, it's hard not to be wowed by the magic that is Super Mario Odyssey, SuperPhillip Central's pick for best Nintendo Switch exclusive.

Honorable Mentions: ARMS, Kirby Star Allies, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate

Microsoft's First-Party Attitude Represents My Larger Issue With the Company

Microsoft Studios head honcho Phil Spencer recently mentioned to OXM that a console manufacturer doesn't need its own studios to create excellent games. The issue I take with this statement extends further into Microsoft's philosophy with the Xbox. Instead of putting money into their own studios, they simply purchase exclusives, whether they be entire games, downloadable content, or advertising rights. I cannot tell you how many third-party multi-platform game commercials I've seen where at the end the Xbox 360 or Xbox One logo shows up.

The problem in this situation is that-- borrowing a term here-- "moneyhatting" exclusives is much more costly than having capable studios you own that make games for you. As the "boss" of the studio, you have a greater influence on the type of product they create. Then again, looking at Rare, perhaps that's a bad thing to be under the influence of Microsoft-- being forced to make nothing but Kinect Sports and avatar games, having all of your other projects never getting the greenlight.

The point here is that Microsoft is doing what they've done since day one of their entry into the video game home console business. They have been throwing money to further themselves into the industry, going so far as to lose boatloads of money just to get ahead of the competition. Who needs competent first-party studios when you can just buy exclusives? Why compete when you can simply buy market share through immense marketing campaigns and third-party exclusives?

Microsoft just doesn't feel like a company that is interested in gaming. It's just a means to an end to them. It's just a way to get extra dough. I know that's what companies want-- money-- but Microsoft isn't even coy about it like Nintendo and Sony are (the latter publishing and providing a myriad of new IPs this past gen), who seem to show outward passion for their first-party content, studios, and the industry at large. Conversely, Microsoft simply comes across as a company that kills studios in order to increase their market share.

Now, if the most recent moneyhat situation was reversed, and Titanfall was a PlayStation 4 exclusive, I'm sure there would be many folks who wouldn't be so upset. I'd be one of them because Sony doesn't just rely heavily on third-party exclusives through outright buying them like Microsoft does, so it wouldn't appear that Sony was overcompensating for their own lack of first-party talent.

I guess what I'm getting at, through all of this banter, is that I'd love to see Microsoft invest more to create homegrown talent. That's why I loved the Xbox 360 starting off, even though Microsoft was paying for exclusives left and right, especially Japanese exclusives. Because as of right now, Microsoft just seems like a crooked politician, buying its way into office, or in this case, as many homes across the globe as possible.

Do you agree or disagree with this opinion piece? If so or if not, leave your thoughts in the comments section below. Just remember to be respectful to each person you comment to!

Top Five Wii Exclusives

The Wii set the world on fire in sales, and it has an exhaustive library of games to choose from. As I did last week and the week before I am going to post a list featuring the exclusives of one of the big three's main consoles. Today it is the Wii's turn to shine. Which games will make the list? There is no need to wait. Just read on right now!

5) Donkey Kong Country Returns

When Rare was purchased by Microsoft it seemed that the Donkey Kong Country series was in jeopardy and was never returning ever again. Then one E3 Nintendo revealed a trailer for Donkey Kong Country Returns, made by none other than Metroid Prime series developer Retro Studios. The game plays just like the Super Nintendo trilogy of DKC games. There were deviously placed obstacles and bonus areas, plenty of tricks and traps to watch for, and clever level design that continuously offered a new gimmick each stage. The game brought with it incredibly mine cart levels, intense rocket barrel sections, and cooperative play for up to two players. Donkey Kong Country Returns simply outclasses two of the three games of the original DKC trilogy; only Diddy's Kong Quest beats it.


4) New Super Mario Bros. Wii

Speaking of cooperative play, New Super Mario Bros. Wii had four player action with Mario, Luigi, and a pair of Toads. The levels were expertly designed featuring motives such as grasslands, jungles, deserts, beaches, icy plateaus, and lava oceans. The Koopalings were back from their extended hiatus and came back in force. The controls were not as tight as previous games in the franchise, but they were serviceable nonetheless. Jumping off the head of your partner to reach an out-of-the-way star coin, entering the secret ninth world of ultra-hard levels, and running from a gigantic Bowser in the final showdown while leaping carefully from moving platform to platform all make for wonderful memories of this marvelous title. New Super Mario Bros. Wii got a metric ton of sales, and they all well deserved as this 2D Mario is one of the best the series has ever seen.


3) The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Let me preface this by saying that if you are "waggling" to play this game... you're doing it wrong. Stop blaming the game because you blow at it. That said, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was named SuperPhillip Central's Game of 2011, and it was a remarkable title. The addition of Wii MotionPlus was used for a plethora of tasks such as controlling the Beetle item, swimming, swinging from vines and ropes, and of course, battling with Link's sword. Enemies were not fodder this time around that could be generally defeated by lazily swinging around the Wii remote like Twilight Princess. No, you needed smart swings to fell them. An enemy who holds two blades horizontally could be taken out with a horizontal shot of your own, aimed right in the middle of the foe's two blades. While the game had some tedious hand-holding as well as extensive padding late in the game, Skyward Sword still ranks as one of my favorite 3D Zelda games. The world is interesting, the characters are lovely, and the music is one of Nintendo's best soundtracks.


2) Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Essentially a love letter to Nintendo fans all over the globe, Super Smash Bros. Brawl is one of the meatiest games I can think of. It had everything and more. There were over 500 trophies to collect, various modes like the all-new Subspace Emissary, Classic, All-Star, Event, Boss Battles, and Stadium, stickers, a myriad of items, 30+ characters with Final Smashes, ultimate moves which are acquired by breaking a Smash Ball, 30+ stages such as Delfino Plaza, Mario Circuit, Mushroomy Kingdom, Smashville, Skyworld, Distant Planet, Port City: Aero Dive, Luigi's Mansion, Lylat Cruise, etc., there was the ability to create stages, and there were over 200 songs to unlock and listen to. Then there's the Challenges which are like achievements except these aren't just for you to brag pathetically to your friends about. You can actually unlock in-game content with them. Super Smash Bros. Brawl trumps Melee in nearly every department, and with bated breath I await Super Smash Bros. 4. Make it happen, Sakurai!


1) Super Mario Galaxy 2

Not only was it SuperPhillip Central's Game of 2010, but it is one of my favorite games of all time. Why? It only has some of the tightest, most responsive controls around and some of the most marvelous level design in 3D platforming existence. The story is pretty much a non-thing with Peach once again being captured by Bowser. Thankfully the game spits you out right into the thick of the gameplay, allowing you to get your feet wet almost immediately. The great galaxies (or levels) the game offers has a wide variety of themes, areas, and trials for Mario or Luigi to triumph over. Some galaxies switch between a fiery motive and an icy one while another reintroduces the portly plumber to his old friend Yoshi from his Super Mario World days. After the initial 120 stars have been recovered, you have just begun. There are 120 green stars to retrieve, placed in precarious locations around the numerous galaxies. Super Mario Galaxy 2 shows that Nintendo is on top of their game when it comes to whimsical game design, and that they are the masters of pumping out compelling software for their systems.

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I always feel sorry for those who hate on the Wii. Such ignorance means they will never get a chance to enjoy the abundant range of titles the console's library has. Such a waste. As for those who love the system like I do, there is always something new to discover; a niche title that went under the radar that you just came across or a popular game that you just happened to miss. Which Wii exclusives do you deem the greatest? Hit me up with a comment below to start the discussion.

Top Five PlayStation 3 Exclusives

I really like my PlayStation 3, but it is an older model and I cannot help but think it is a ticking time bomb just waiting to die on me. Apparently QA on hardware was something the big three did not deem important this generation. Regardless, like two Tuesdays ago when I listed my favorite Xbox 360 exclusives, today I am filing through my library of PS3 games and listing the best out of those. With a greater diversity of exclusives than the 360, this list will show why Sony's black box is the ultimate in HD gaming.

5) ModNation Racers

I have mentioned the ModNation Racers series multiple times in my various blog entries, and now it has shown up again. The big draw behind ModNation is the ability to design your own racers, karts, and tracks with the easy-to-use creation mechanics. Then the fun is sharing them online with either friends or total strangers. The choice is yours. If you lack a creative bone in your body there is always the opportunity to gain inspiration from the campaign mode where you vie for first place and even perform unique challenges as you race. The only drawback to ModNation Racers comes from the huge load times. Perhaps the power of the cell isn't even enough to hold the beast that is ModNation.


4) God of War III

Kratos may be the most unlikable character I have ever played as, but his third epic adventure to seek revenge on the Gods of Olympus including Zeus himself. On his quest he will journey through both heaven and hell in his search for unbridled vengeance. There is nothing like scaling the back of a behemoth-sized titan and gouging its eyes out with Kratos' dual-wielding chains of pain. God of War III possesses glorious to view vistas, incredible depth and detail, and amazing graphical effects that really push the PlayStation 3's cell processor to its limits. Rumor has it that a fourth installment in this popular franchise is set to be unveiled some time very soon. Seeing as how the story of Kratos pretty much concluded, will we see a new protagonist?


3) Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time

Ratchet & Clank is one of many Sony IPs that I adore. Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time escalates things to new heights with Ratchet and Clank being separated after the events of Tools of Destruction. Ratchet has a plethora of high-powered weaponry to take down the sinister Dr. Nefarious' goons with which the lovely lombax can level up with continued use, a staple of the series. Meanwhile, Clank can alter time, slowing it down, solving crafty and clever puzzles as he searches for a way to find and reunite with his friend. The range of colorful and vibrant levels in A Crack in Time is only matched by some of the best Ratchet games like Going Commando and Up Your Arsenal. For those looking for a platformer on a console with few to mention, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time is a perfect game to plop down and play.


2) Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Nathan Drake's first adventure was quite good, but it was missing some elements to make it a classic. Not so with his second outing in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Faced up against a rogue mercenary with a rebel army of hundreds, Nathan follows the trail of his "ancestor" Sir Francis Drake in search of the mysterious Shambhala, a secret city hidden away for centuries. Our smarmy hero will venture from war-torn cities to icy mountains in his journey. The intense gun fights of the first game are present and accounted for and offer tons of strategy just to survive. The ledge-grabbing, chasm-jumping platforming has also returned. What makes Among Thieves a classic is the perfect blend of action and adventure elements as well as the excellent pacing and set pieces. Uncharted 2 is definitely the best of the trilogy, and sitting down with a copy and playing will show that Naughty Dog did not just get lucky with Crash Bandicoot or Jak and Daxter.


1) LittleBigPlanet 2

The first LittleBigPlanet introduced the world to Sackboy, a character made of felt and yarn that you could customize with various costumes and articles of clothing. LittleBigPlanet 2 raised the stakes with more creative level design, more options for players to craft their own levels, and shed the platformer-only gameplay of the original. Now you can create shooters, arcade-style mini-games and much more. The wonderful story levels made by Media Molecule are worth the price of admission alone, but the ability to make your own masterpieces with the vast assortment of creation tools just elevate LittleBigPlanet 2 as a terrific platform for games. Sharing levels with the large community, playing with three other happy gadders as you assist one another through areas, and collecting the plethora of prize bubbles are just a few of the activities that can be accomplished in this cute, charming title. It remains my favorite PS3 exclusive (it was also named runner-up for Game of the Year at the SPC Best of 2011 Awards last December).

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Sony has done an admirable job of pushing new franchises along with old favorites in their lineup of exclusives for the system. While the PS3 does not have any third-party games on the list like the 360 had (Metal Gear Solid 4 does not count as that is a C-rate movie with some game elements), the system has provided me with hundreds upon hundreds of hours of fun times. What five PlayStation 3 exclusives are your faves? Let me know in the comments section.

Top Five Xbox 360 Exclusives

By now you know my stance on Microsoft's Xbox 360. It is the worst console I've ever owned and the worst mainstream console on the market. It is heralded as the hardcore gamer's console, and seeing as I dislike so-called "hardcore" gamers and everything they stand for, the 360 gets a strike. Poor exclusives, pay-to-play online, and the shoddiest hardware period make a trifecta of answers as to why I dislike the platform. The former is the subject of today's post. While the 360 has the weakest exclusives this gen, the system does have some titles worth playing that are only available for it. Let's discover which ones are my top five.

5) Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise

Professor Pester and his army of sour pinatas are at it again, and it's up to you to turn them over to the side of good and sweetness. Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise is everything great about the series and more. With dozens of new pinata species to coax on your side through various means such as having two flowers of any kind in your garden or have a specific number of a certain type of pinata in your garden, Trouble in Paradise will have you playing for hours. The new sand and snow environments allow for not only new ambiance but also new pinatas to come visit and eventually (hopefully) stay as residents. Then there's all that romance and pinata-on-pinata action that Viva Pinata is known for.


4) Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts

Many fans of the bear and bird were upset that the Xbox 360 installment of the series drove so far away from the franchise's roots. Instead of being a pure platformer the game was a vehicle-building and riding game. The goal of collecting Jiggies was the same, but the means of doing so was different. They weren't hiding in the various worlds waiting to be collected. Instead, you talked with the numerous characters around the levels and accepted their challenges. There were objectives like transporting a flurry of soccer balls into a goal net, racing against Mr. Fit, and taking to the skies to defeat Mr. Patch. Being creative with your vehicle choices was just the start of the strategic thinking necessary to ace missions. You needed to actually perform well to get top times and be awarded with those coveted Jiggies.


3) Perfect Dark Zero

This choice is not necessarily the most popular one, but I actually enjoyed Perfect Dark Zero more than the Halo games. Yes, Joanna Dark turned from a British spy to an American teenager, but I liked the mission structure with its various objectives instead of Halo's run-through-and-kill-wave-after-wave-of-enemies formula. On harder difficulties you not only had more objectives to complete, but you also took more damage. The multiplayer is the coup de grace as it had huge maps to explore with high-powered weaponry, bots (I love bots), and vehicles including a jet pack. Many hours were wasted jumping in online and playing with friends and total strangers and enjoying almost every moment of it. The hate for this game must stem from the fact that the Nintendo 64 original was so spectacular and the Xbox 360 prequel fell short of that.


2) Tales of Vesperia

In Japan the Xbox 360 was and will always be on life support. To combat this Microsoft attempted to buy support as they had little faith in their first-party studios to create content that would appeal to the East. One of their purchased titles was the timed exclusive Tales of Vesperia (the PlayStation 3 version of the game is only available in Japan), a beautiful anime-styled RPG with clever dialogue, memorable characters, and an engrossing battle system. The colorful areas of Tales of Vesperia come alive wonderfully on the Xbox 360 hardware, and while the system isn't known well for its range of genres, Vesperia helped for at least a week in putting the 360 on the map in the Land of the Rising Sun.


1) Dead Rising

Meet Frank West. He's covered wars, y'know. He's a photojournalist who unwittingly gets caught right smack dab in the middle of a zombie outbreak in the city of Williamette, Colorado. Armed with nothing more than a camera, Frank will have to utilize any and every item available to him inside the mall where he takes refuge in like chainsaws, lawn mowers, baseball bats, trash cans, soccer balls, and even toys such as teddy bears. In his journey to discover the truth behind the zombie epidemic, he comes across men and women who have succumbed to their insanity and have become psychopaths, ready to kill everything under the bloody sun. Did I mention that Frank was timed during all of this? It's something that critics of the game don't like, but while this time system was sometimes overwhelming with having to rescue civilians and meet people at specific times of the three day cycle, it makes Dead Rising one intense and exciting game to play. Note: the Dead Rising series did come to Wii, but the game was so different that I still consider this original version as an Xbox 360 exclusive.

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Next week I will be covering the top five PlayStation 3 exclusives, so please look forward to that. As for now, what Xbox 360 games that are exclusive to the system do you love the most? Leave me a comment below and join the debate!