Random Gaming Thoughts

[Xeogred]

SMB3 has the perfect aesthetics with its wacky "blocky" styled world, and the diversity with the very distinct worlds. But after marathoning a lot of the Mario games two years ago mostly back to back, I can confidently say I like World a lot more now. And I used to think otherwise, but playing them back to back is pretty eye opening. World is HUGE and although graphically it gets a bit samey, pretty much every single level has some unique gimmick to it... which is true to Galaxy 2, 3D World, and some of the newer Nintendo stuff, so they've been that the whole time! Each level is a good length too and Yoshi is awesome. The only low point of World for is that the ghost houses are kind of annoying.

The thing with SMB3 is that most of the levels are over before they even start. Most levels are literally like not even a minute long. It feels weird replaying it. But I guess some could argue they might like that, arcade-like style to it. Like I said, I love its world the most, it has all the cool powerups, and the distinct worlds, but a lot of the levels seem really thin.

The same can be said about Kirby's Adventure whenever I go back to it, which I love dearly. But yeah the levels are tiny haha. Guess it's just a testament to some limitations of the NES and space for levels.

[prfsnl_gmr]

Since the genre has been, basically, dead for the better part of a decade, it also murders most modern 3D platformers, and I can think of only a few subsequent games that I hold in higher esteem.

No joke, I can't think of a 3D platformer I've played that was anywhere near as good as any 3D Mario. Like even Mario Sunshine is better than the best of any other 3D platformer series I've played, and I don't even like Mario Sunshine. If there's a truly awesome 3D platformer (or series) out there that is as good as Mario, please tell me. For I have not played it yet.

The original Jak & Daxter is pretty solid. Likewise, I enjoyed Maximo: Ghosts to Glory, and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is excellent. Psychonauts is also very solid, and its personality makes up for some questionable design choices. What little I have played of Sonic Colors is also really good.

None of them, however, touch the 3D Mario games, and particularly, the Mario Galaxy games.

[Xeogred]

Wasn't huge on Jak 1, but it's certainly not horrible in my book. But I liked Sly 1 a lot more. Either way to me they both felt like Rare platformers in a good way. But... I never thought any of the Rare games came close to Mario 64. I'm a huge Donkey Kong Country fan, but I wasn't as big of a fan when it came to Rare's N64 3D collect-a-thon platformers. Both N64 Banjo's are solid but there's no comparison to Mario 64.

Yooka-Laylee is looking real promising.

It's like nobody has the creativity for this genre at all anymore or something. You'd think with the major increase in tech we could get these crazy, colorful, wacky Pixar like worlds for some new platformers, but ... I guess not because we need more CoD.

[Sarge]

Sands of Time is one I replayed every year or so for a while. It's a great, great game. I kinda put it in a different category, despite all the platforming I don't think it belongs in the same category as Mario.

I've never been able to get into the Jak series, but the Sly games are my jam. Really fun stuff. I also love the Ratchet & Clank series, it's the closest thing to a 3D Mega Man we're probably going to get now.

I just don't know that there's enough room in the market for too many mascot platformers now. That might change eventually, but I think a lot of folks probably got burned out on them. I expect to see the indie space start tapping them pretty soon, if they haven't already. (3D, that is.)

[noiseredux]

from Pitchfork:

RZA has announced a new album in collaboration with iconic video game company Atari. The project will feature tracks “inspired by the sounds of Atari game music,” according to Billboard. “I’m so excited to work on these iconic games to deliver what I believe will be one of my best albums,” RZA said in a statement. “I am going to invite some of my friends to join me and it will be Game On with the first beat!” This marks the second time the Wu-Tang head has worked with Atari; in 2006, RZA provided voice-over for the Atari title Marc Eckō's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure.

[Exhuminator]

I actually like Kirby's Adventure a bit more overall, but for different reasons.

I totally love Kirby's Adventure, but it has the same problem all Kirby games have for me... it's way too easy. Which I know is part of the core design and on purpose, but still, Mario in contrast can be a lot more challenging and I appreciate that about it.

The only low point of World for is that the ghost houses are kind of annoying.

I agree, I hate the Ghost Houses, in every Mario that has them, not a fan. I feel the same way about the Pirate Ships in SMB3 and on. The Pirate Ships and Ghost Houses both share the same problem; they are very samey, and are more annoying then fun.

The original Jak & Daxter is pretty solid. Likewise, I enjoyed Maximo: Ghosts to Glory, and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is excellent. Psychonauts is also very solid, and it's personality makes up for some questionable design choices. What little I have played of Sonic Colors is also really good.

I've never played Jak & Daxter, so no opinion there. I played a bit of Maximo, and it's a good 3D interpretation of G&G, but it's not the same sort of gameplay as Mario's is. PoP:SoT is an amazing action adventure (with not so great combat), but its platforming once more is not the same format as Mario. Pyschonauts gets pretty close to what we're looking for. It's definitely a good 3D platformer. If it weren't for its final two levels being a bucket of putrid ass, we would be pretty close to Mario quality there. Sonic Colors (on Wii) is freaking amazing, but the platforming style is so different than the kind Mario 3D games use, I'm not sure I'd draw a parallel there personally.

I'll have to watch some Youtube videos of Jak & Daxter and see what's up.

This conversation has reminded me once again that I have Mario Galaxy 2 and I still have not played it. It's happening in July.

[ElkinFencer10]

Even though World is good, it has never clicked with me completely. I think it's as I stated before, I really feel like the physics are just a touch off from my ideal. SMB3 is my absolute go-to for how I think Mario should control.

I think SMB3 has better level design, too. In fact, I'm of the opinion that SMB3 is probably the best designed platformer ever released, due to every little detail being nearly perfect. One of the few perfect 10 games.

I whole heartedly agree. I also agree with the few who've mentioned how balls awful Boo houses are. Some of them have creative and inventive level designs, to be sure, but nothing will ever make dealing with Boos fun for me.

I'm also in the "no one has done 3D platforming even close to as well as Mario" boat. While I typically prefer 2D platformers any day, the Mario Galaxy games were daaaaaaaaaaaamn perfect.

[Gunstar Green]

I'm team SMB3 for life. World is a great game I just never liked it as much. 3 was just the perfect Mario game (for me) in terms of challenge and imagination.

3D platformers just aren't my thing at all. The only one I could ever get into was Super Mario 3D Land if you don't count first person stuff like Jumping Flash and Metroid Prime.

[Ack]

The first Jak and Daxter was a pretty short experience. I sat down one day on the couch, started it up, and then got up a few hours later with 100% completion. I own but do not like the first Maximo game. Something about it feels terribly off to me for some reason. I'm a little surprised not to see folks bring up the Banjo games though. I thought they were held in universal regard.

As for the best 2D platformer, I declare this a contender:



Because of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozqdqnyusjw

[Sarge]

Yeah, the Kirby games are certainly easier, although I had a pretty rough time at the end of Adventure back in the day. In the end, it's two different design philosophies. The Kirby games empower the player a lot more, encouraging experimentation with all the powers. They also trade on saccharine spectacle, attempting to wow the player with impressive graphical design.

SMB3, on the other hand, is a lot more "technical" game. It is certainly tougher than the Kirby games, although Adventure can be pretty tough in Extra mode. But it trades more on its precision platforming than anything. Not that there aren't moments of "ooh, that's cool", but just not to the level of Kirby.