So this isn’t the first time I’ve seen a graphic like this, which chronicles the progression of various Nintendo characters from their 8-bit inception to their days punching each other out on the Wii. It’s pretty cool, but nothing extraordinary, but viewing it today for some reason, brings up an interesting question for me.

Where does Nintendo go from here?

I think that this might be part of the reason Nintendo stopped giving a shit about graphical advancements, because frankly, if their cartoon lineup of characters start getting more and more realistic, they’re going to switch over from cute to creepy. Case in point? Check out Mario as “real person.” Yeah, that’s what I mean.

Link and Samus I believe could benefit from a graphical overhaul, though they would have to lose their vaguely anime-ish stylings, and as it’s been proven, real life Link either looks lame or way, way too feminine. Samus? Yeah, I could see that working.

But what of Kirby, the pink piece of bubbelgum, what does he evolve into? And Donkey Kong? Does he transform into a real silverback gorilla wearing a tie? And poor Mario, who if he does loose any of his cartoonishness, will end up looking like this.

This is why I think Nintendo views graphical advancement as a threat to their brand. But when Soap MacTavish and Nathan Drake and Kratos start looking photorealistic in five years, and Nintendo’s stable of cartoons will be aging awkwardly. I think we’ve reached their graphical apex, and I’m extremely curious as to what this chart looks like in another 20 years.

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