Nintendo will always be set apart by its specialized brand of video gaming and unique characters who help make the history of Nintendo consoles special when compared to others. As such, there have been hundreds of characters embraced by the video game company since its inception.
While characters like Tom Nook, Mario, and Little Mac endure into the modern era and are well-known figures across the globe, there are also plenty of mascots from the childhoods of many who have been long forgotten. Thankfully, Super Smash Brothers tends to revitalize some of these characters s from the retro and vintage realms. But they always live in the memories of those who remember them vividly.
Exeggutor
It might seem hard to believe, but Exeggutor is actually a Generation I Pokemon. It can be hard to forget about its early prominence in favor of later creatures that took over the Pokemon brand, like Pikachu and Bulbasaur.
Granted, a multi-headed Pokemon with a palm tree resemblance is not really an obvious contender for memorable Nintendo characters. But it's a nostalgic one all the same.
Dixie Kong
The universe of the Donkey Kong video games is one that is rife with memorable characters who have endured in the realm of Nintendo. From Donkey Kong himself to Diddy and Funky, there are a myriad Kong of characters to adore.
Dixie Kong, however, is one who has received less and less prominence over time. It's a shame, too, because her aesthetics are entirely unique in the Nintendo universe and she could stand to receive some more attention.
Happy Mask Salesman
In the Legend of Zelda video game series for Nintendo, there are myriad characters who could trigger the childhood memories of lifelong video game devotees. Happy Mask Salesman, though, is the character who might embody this sentiment the most.
In today's day and age, a mask salesman might have better success. However, his unusual wares and slightly unpredictable personality allow for him to become a nostalgic Zelda character.
Toadsworth
Over on the Super Mario side of things, it wouldn't be an old-timey Nintendo mascot list without reverence for some of the forgotten members of the Mushroom Kingdom. Few embody this as strongly as Toadsworth.
Even in games where characters like Toadette managed to receive some attention, Toadsworth is still lacking. Those who played Mario games as kids will be enchanted to see that mustached patriarch return.
Bessie
It's not the most common thing to see Animal Crossing characters retire. Characters like Booker, Hopper, and Kapp'n are sooner repurposed than removed from the game entirely.
However, every now and then, a villager doesn't make the cut to future Animal Crossing games. One such character from the quaint, charming game is Bessie, the sweet cow who was deemed redundant in a world run by Maples and Margies.
Petey Piranha
Returning to the Super Mario games for a moment, Petey Piranha originally stems from the iconic classic, Super Mario Sunshine. The anthropomorphic plant has a massive mouth and leaves that serve as wings.
He is one of the most colorful, easily recognizable characters in all of the Mario games. However, he's also had trouble maintaining the zenith he found in the early-to-mid-2000s.
Mother Brain
In the Metroid video game series for Nintendo, there are a great many boss antagonists faced by the characters and players. One such nefarious character that is easy to forget, though, is Mother Brain.
Mother Brain comes directly from the collective childhoods of many Nintendo aficionados. Equal parts icy, poultry, and inexplicable, Mother Brain remains a character that could really dig up some old childhood memories of Nintendo fans.
Matt
Anyone who dabbled in the Wii era of Nintendo's history has spent time with the game known as Wii Sports. As such, they've spent some time with the generic Miis who play sports with the gamers.
The best one is Matt, though. Matt was deft at boxing and tennis, but could also hold his own in baseball, bowling, and golf, too. Matt is easily the best character Wii Sports ever managed to conjure up.
Mr. Game & Watch
For Nintendo gamers who've played Super Smash Brothers, Mr. Game & Watch is one who has not necessarily gone away. But for any young people who enjoyed the Game & Watch series, it's a long-forgotten, nostalgic mascot.
Granted, he is choppy, terrifying, and impossible to fully grasp without the mind melting into madness. Still, though, he's a classic character from the younger days of Nintendo!
Professor E. Gadd
Lastly, no list of long-forgotten childhood Nintendo characters would be complete without Professor E. Gadd. The derring-do scientist from Luigi's Mansion and plenty of other Mario spin-offs and crossover-based games is one that is an iconic figure in the Super Mario franchise.
His menacing giggle and somewhat spooky, aloof persona is hard to forget once grown-up Nintendo gamers are reminded of him. He's responsible for the supernatural, unexplainable side of the Super Mario series, even though he proclaims himself to be a man of science. He also refuses to do any of the grunt work himself, so maybe he's been forgotten by Nintendo gamers for good reason.