The summer of 2019 was when Nintendo mania shifted into high gear for my family. We eagerly looked forward to each Friday’s viewing of Nintendo Minute. My daughter reached the age where she started developing her own taste in games. She spent many an hour painting turf with friends in the newest Splatfest in Splatoon 2, and building so many houses in Minecraft that she could have solved the world’s homelessness if only she could move them over. My wife tried to convince us to play games of Super Mario Party as often as possible, the infuriating outcomes of which only proved the strength of our family unit. There are few things as rage-inducing as Toad’s random Super Star gifts at the end of a match. All of that is to say that my whole family had Nintendo fever bad, and in the summer of 2019, the only cure was to make the pilgrimage down to San Diego Comic-Con to the Nintendo Gaming Lounge.
After a short car ride, my family and I were searching the hallways of the San Diego Marriott hotel where the Nintendo Gaming Lounge was found. Either our brains were rattled by the excitement or there were just too many staircases because it seemed like we were stuck in our own Zelda dungeon, ascending and descending staircases searching for the entrance to the most boss gaming room of the weekend. Finally, we found the entrance but were met by a discouraging sight: a long, long line of similarly infected Nintendo fans.
For the next two hours, my family and I (along with an absolute mob of Nintendo faithful) tried our best to curb the symptoms of our Nintendo fever. The temperature rose quickly (as did people’s impatience) from having so many people in the hallways, but we made the best of it. We would sit our own Switch on every flat surface we could as we made our way through the line. Hotel furniture, trash cans, and in a pinch even my backpack allowed us to continue our grand prix in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe albeit with quite a few mid-race pauses. As the hours passed, though, my daughter got thirsty, my wife got hungry, and my back was so stiff from standing still that I couldn’t stop groaning and shuffling with each step forward in line. For a bit, we felt absolutely miserable, but as soon as our names were called and we stepped into the neon lights and electronic sounds of the lounge, every ill was made right.
As soon as we entered, we immediately rushed towards my daughter’s most anticipated game: Pokémon Sword and Shield. My wife and I watched as my daughter worked her way through the gym challenge of the Water Gym. The always-friendly staff of the event politely hinted that this particular challenge required turning on and off giant water spouts that created huge currents that blocked the way to the leader. Despite my fearful flashbacks to Ocarina of Time’s Water Temple, my daughter went forward undaunted by the H2O hazards, and after some trial and error, she made her way through. Suddenly, she was on the field of the gym, and we were being treated to the absolute musical banger of a tune that is Pokémon Shield’s gym battle theme. As the virtual crowd cheered her on and she Dynamaxed her first Pokemon, she had a huge smile on her face.
Our next stop was the haunted, hotel-themed play stations of the Luigi’s Mansion 3-themed area. My wife and I sampled this one together as my daughter cuddled into my side, a little tired and possibly unnerved by the low lights and slightly spooky music. After some quickly exchanged instructions, the Nintendo employee set us off into the game’s medieval area. Years of playing escape rooms with friends served my wife and I well as we made our way from room to room using our Poltergust G-00 and flashlights to cover one another while the other person pulled the ropes or spun the wheels required to progress. Eventually, we made our way to the hotel floor’s medieval master who proceeded to absolutely wreck us. Our flashlight beams had no effect except to cause his armor to gleam threateningly as he mowed us down. It didn’t matter though because as the spectral game over screen appeared, my wife and I could only flash giant grins from our fun time within the mansion’s halls.
With our time growing short, I made my way through the rushing waves of people to the game that was number one on my wishlist: the Switch remake of Link’s Awakening. I was all ready to get in line and play, pumped to embark on this new take on a familiar quest. The winds of change (and some absolutely adorable plastic) quickly set me on a new course. As I approached the play stations, I noticed that sitting atop them were some absolutely adorable dioramas showing off the new toyetic graphic style. As other fans searched the shores of Koholint, I snuck around as politely as I could trying to take in every tiny detail of BowWow’s doghouse, and Link’s battles with a variety of enemies.
The best scene had to be the one between Marin and Link. I loved the cute little way that the pair were looking at each other with so many feelings left unsaid, despite their conversation on the nearby log in the game. I’m sure at least one of the people playing the game must have laughed and stared as I geeked out amid the “aws” and “eeks” that escaped during my nostalgia-induced happy dance. Even before the Nintendo staff handed me the controller, I already knew that this remake was going to be magical.
By the time we left the gaming lounge, we had spent many, many hours on our feet with no food and little to drink. This type of exhaustion and hangriness would normally require a quick dose of chocolate or some fruit, but as we left Luigi, Grookey, and Link behind, we found that we had eaten well as Nintendo fans. We were happy. We hadn’t found the cure for our Nintendo fever, but we had had an amazing time together. Of course, we also quickly found a snack. It’s better to not tempt fate when it comes to hanger.
