Capcom’s been playing buddy-buddy with Nintendo since like, forever. I mean, back when the NES hit the scene in ’85, Capcom was there, throwing down games like no one’s business. Mega Man, Bionic Commando — all those classics. Sure, things got a bit dicey once the PS1 strutted in, snagging some exclusives, but hey, Nintendo consoles still got the goods.
First up, Mega Man 3 on the NES. Oh man, if you’re talking boss battles that make you want to throw your controller, this one’s got it. But in a fun way, y’know? The designs were intricate, and we got Rush, the robo-pooch, to mix things up. Like, him being a spring, a water car, an air jet—what’s not to love?
Then there’s Gargoyle’s Quest 2 on Game Boy. This one’s a bit of a hidden gem, trapped in Japan but brought to us with fan translations. It’s got the RPG vibes mixed with some 2D platforming, starring our favorite little villain, Firebrand. You’d bounce between overhead world maps and 2D fights; it was wild.
And who can forget Street Fighter 2 on the SNES? This bad boy took arcades by storm and then everyone’s living room. Like, seriously, who didn’t want to pull off Ryu’s moves at home? M. Bison was dominating, Chun-Li’s kicks were killer—pure fighting game gold.
Switching gears to Resident Evil 2 on the N64. Nintendo got a taste of that creepy, zombie-filled world, and boy, what a ride! Leon and Claire storm into Raccoon City, showcasing more intense brain-eaters and complex puzzles. It all fit in that cartridge somehow—magic, I tell ya.
Now hold up, Oracle of Ages and Seasons on Game Boy Color need a shoutout. Capcom tackled Zelda and nailed it. Twin games with time-and-season puzzles, connectable for unique experiences. Pretty slick, huh? Plans for a third game fizzled, but still, what we got was awesome.
The Minish Cap on GBA was yet another Zelda hit from Capcom. It gave us the backstory of the iconic green hat and let Link shrink to explore two worlds. A little hat that talks? It’s the stuff of legends.
Remember Resident Evil 4 on GameCube? It flipped the series on its head, bringing us back Leon and introducing a whole new kind of horror in Europe. Interactive environments and weapon customizations—this one was the real deal, even got a remake later.
Let’s not skip Phoenix Wright on DS. Before visual novels became a thing on Steam, Phoenix Wright was here with courtroom drama and eccentric characters. Honestly, who’d think playing lawyer detective would be this gripping?
And then Okami on Wii—pure art. A wolf adventure, all about Japanese mythology and watercolors. It’s like Zelda but, dare I say, with more style. Motion controls just made it pop more on the Wii.
Resident Evil: Revelations on the 3DS brought horror back to portable. Jill Valentine on a ship full of freaky monsters, mystery expanding worldwide. The 3D wasn’t super fancy, but tapping in and out of it added a neat touch.
Capcom and Nintendo? A match made in pixel heaven.
