The Japanese publisher has embodied the sleeping giant persona most of this year. Far from the flurry of last year's 3DS showcase, and with Wii U's oddly ambiguous debut over, the big N slipped into a near-coma as its newest handheld's release schedule went empty, and its home console slipped closer to retirement. And then, like a sudden raging torrent, we were battered as releases hammered down, every one a cracker. It might be ticking the traditional box for brands - Mario, Zelda, Mario Kart - but the games themselves were unorthodox in design specifics and breathed new life into classic franchises. Then came the impressive 3DS Ambassador list of games - proving that Nintendo knows how to say sorry to its fan-base. The year ended with a reminder that no-one quite does it like Nintendo, and the company can still can be relevant in this day and age.
