Most everyone has interacted with gaming giant Nintendo in some form or another, whether you grew up playing Mario in the '80s or joined the Pokémon Go craze in 2016. Jeremy Snead's Playing with Power: The Nintendo Story is a fun, nostalgic journey through Nintendo's long history from a Japanese playing card company to one of the most successful video game companies in the world.
Narrated by actor Sean Astin, this docuseries takes the audience from 1989 to the present day, detailing the triumphs and trials of a unique brand. It is of note that although Nintendo is a Japanese brand in origin, this docuseries predominately focuses on the American Nintendo branch and its impact on the U.S. gaming industry.
Nintendo has been a staple in the video game world for decades, and Snead's docuseries highlights exactly why. He takes the audience through Nintendo's rise, dominance, fall, and resurgence, situating Nintendo not only within the industry but within the larger culture. For kids of the '80s and '90s, revisiting the consoles and games that came to define Nintendo and made it a household name is a fun trip down memory lane.
Throughout Nintendo's history, the one constant has been their dedication to the gaming experience. Their focus on quality over quantity has led to impressive innovations that forever changed the way video games are played and garnered the respect of even Nintendo's rivals. Although Nintendo created some of the most innovative consoles and games in history, not every product was a success, and their continued standing as a leading force in the industry has not always been guaranteed. Snead examines everything from the technology to the marketing strategies behind Nintendo's main releases, providing insight into what made certain products iconic while others fell flat.
You can feel the love of video games and Nintendo from everyone involved in this docuseries, including the various gamers, industry experts, former Nintendo employees, and even some Nintendo competitors who are interviewed throughout the five episodes. Playing with Power: The Nintendo Story delivers exactly what you'd expect – an entertaining dive into a pioneering company that defined an industry. For anyone interested in either Nintendo or the history of the U.S. gaming industry, this docuseries is worth a watch. Recommended. Aud: C, P.