Nintendo is one of those companies that even when they do something wrong (like not allow Youtube parters to play their games), their products make it so you simply cannot stay mad at them. While I am sure Nintendo has a few haters out there (at least 1, right? Maybe?) The Game Awards 2014 certainly showed that Nintendo is still one of the most dominant game companies in the entire industry.

Many people believe that as time goes on certain things lose their appeal, however, Nintendo proves that wrong in a heartbeat. Having been founded in 1889 as a toy company before switching to gaming in the 1970s, surely Nintendo has lost their touch, right? Wrong, Nintendo released their first video game console, the Nintendo Entertainment System, in 1985, and now over 30 years later they have been awarded the title of Developer of the Year by The Game Awards 2014.

One of Nintendo’s most popular franchises, Super Smash Bros, was also given an award today in The Game Awards 2014. The newest game in the franchise (which started in 1999, mind you,) Super Smash Bros Wii U, not only won the title of Best Fighting Game but also defeated its handheld counter-part, Super Smash Bros 3DS, for the title. Are you noticing a pattern yet in the lifetime of Nintendo products?

Wait! Nintendo’s reign of victory didn’t end in the fighting genre, but they also got the gold medal (err.. silver award?) in the racing & sport genre’s with another new addition to an old franchise, Mario Kart 8! The Mario Kart franchise started in 1992 with Super Mario Kart and is still one of the greatest racing franchises today, equal if not higher in popularity then the previously mentioned Super Smash Bros franchise!

While Nintendo dominated in rewards for the day, they also gave their fans possibly the greatest gift they could give, a sneak peak of the newest Legend of Zelda title! As one of Nintendo’s longest-running and most popular franchises, the Game Awards 2014 simply wouldn’t be a gaming show without mention of Nintendo’s powerhouse Legend of Zelda, with the original being released in 1986! Not only did Nintendo show off possibly the greatest Legend of Zelda game yet, but they also got “It’s Time” musicians Imagine Dragons to perform a tribute performance to Legend of Zelda. The performance by Imagine Dragons was spectacular and I truly hope it is able to be purchased somewhere in the near future.

While Nintendo didn’t say too much about the new Legend of Zelda, they did show gameplay which can be seen here. Nintendo was also kind of enough to state that the Wii U gamepad can be used to pinpoint locations on the vast map to help explore the huge world, the Sailcloth item (made popular in Windwaker) will be returning in the new title to once again allow Link to glide over the world, and finally, Epona (Link’s horse) will help avoid obstacles, giving Link more freedom to use his sword and shoot arrows while riding.

While The Legend of Zelda sneak peak was the biggest reveal by Nintendo tonight, they also released some news for fans of Star Fox and Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. The upcoming title in the Star Fox franchise will be released on the Wii U in 2015, before the new Legend of Zelda. Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, the 3DS remake, will also be available before the new Legend of Zelda in 2015.

Nintendo proved today something that I feel many people forgot, they proved that they have been in this industry for a long time and not only are they not going anywhere, but they are still one of the biggest powerhouses in the industry. While Nintendo does many stupid things, they also release some of the greatest and most uniting video games currently in existence. Even the most casual or competitive gamers (even my grandfather who isn’t into gaming) can get together and enjoy a nice match of Super Smash Bros or an intense race in Mario Kart. Nintendo games are truly timeless classics, and I feel like I speak for nearly everyone when I say Nintendo, please don’t change.

Written by Nerd Bacon