What was Nintendo's golden decade?

[Kriven]

You can be linear and still be fun. Y'know, like SMB-SMB3.

I know, I mentioned how these games can still be linear and it's fine.

However 3D Mario games and Zelda always had that focus on exploration. It makes no sense to take that aspect out as we progress on it.

I think my post was actually more in response to Koopaul blaming Japan for "boring linearity."

Sorry I wasn't clear, it was pretty late.