5. New Super Mario Bros. sequel ... furrealz
This one isn't crucial for Nintendo to remain on top, but I think I speak for everyone on earth when I say "give us the sequel to New Super Mario Bros. already!" The DS immediately captivated many upon its first interaction with the public and gaming press at E3 2004. But adding to the excitement of the unique system's potential was the announcement of a new 2D Mario title. While Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy are three stellar titles, many have been craving a side-scrolling supplement to the portly plumber's three dimensional outings since 1990's Super Mario World. We waited with bated breath, counting down the months and weathering the numerous delays. And when May of 2006 arrived, we were treated to a wonderful slice of fan service. The hop and bop antics didn't quite rock the gaming world the way they did in 1985, but that doesn't mean the game was any less fun.
Since that time, Nintendo has not produced much more than survey-related taunts and a few casual comments about the series. In the absence of any evidence to its development, a vacuum of speculation has been created. Thoughts range from a similar re-imagining applied to Super Mario Bros. 2 or Super Mario World to a stylus-based realization of the Mario 128 demo. Either way, Nintendo could only benefit by breathing some life into this one. At least have a representative give us a vague Reggie-esque "Oh yeah, we're working on it."
