Wozza's Blogs

Mario = Timeless

Published: Wed 30 Jul, 2008 | 16 Comments
Tags: Mario, Super Mario Bros 3, Super Mario World, Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy, Wozza, Luigi Was Always Better

Out of all the games, how many do you beat more than once? If you are like me, not many. However there are certain titles that regardless of age, I pull out of the collection time and time again. These are games with simple yet addictive gameplay that put a smile on my face during even the worst gaming blues. These are Mario games.

 

Every time I pop Super Mario Bros 3 or Super Mario World in, it’s like being transported back in time. The games are familiar yet always challenging. There are always new shortcuts and secrets to be found. Hell I’ll even waste a few good minutes in the racoon suit seeing how long I can juggle a turtle shell in the air for by hitting it with my tail. The only downside is humming the tunes at work the next day.

 

 

Graphically both games are bright and colourful. The level design is the real star though. Miyamoto and co really went all out on these games, levels range from adventurous to downright devious; I still get the chills entering a ghost house in Super Mario World. It’s not just us old timers either, if you haven’t played these games yet you’ll be sure to enjoy them (almost) as much now as if you played them ‘back in the day’.

 

Super Mario Bros 3 and Super Mario World are the pinnacle of 2D gaming. Both games are easy enough to pick up but will throw some downright evil levels at you before you’re through.

 

Then of course there is Super Mario 64. What can I say about this game? It was a benchmark title in the history of gaming, and many gamers entertained themselves for hours running around the castle grounds before even starting on their quest. Sure it doesn’t have the ‘Wow!’ factor it once had, but to tell the truth, I still find it incredibly fun just to run around.

 

Replaying Super Mario 64 is an absolute joy. Graphics have moved on, but the sheer joy you will experience exploring the games environments is still there. I still get the warm fuzzies wondering around the castle – it’s like coming home. Of course I’m talking about the Nintendo 64 game, I could never get the hang of it’s Nintendo DS sibling…

 

 

What I really enjoy though is getting each star in the most efficient manner. Cheeky jumpers will find all kinds of shortcuts in this game, and even when not collecting stars it can be fun to whiz through the levels executing all kinds of crazy jumps flawlessly. Everyone knows about sandbox games, well this is an adventure playground game complete with slides, flying foxes and underground tunnels. Mint!

 

Despite no desire to replay Super Mario Sunshine (I loved the bits without the backpack though!), I have a feeling that Super Mario Galaxy will be a title I will play the bajeezus out of. Again the level design is out of this world (groan) and jumping between planets, or jumping and circling an entire planet is digital bliss. Sure a few planets fall a little flat, as does the hub world, but other planets more than make up for this. The controls are perfect and again the game is one big playground. Scrap that, it’s like one big playground and I’m a kid with an overactive imagination again.

 

Mario is exploited and whored around a lot of titles, but every now and again, when a REAL Mario game is released – it’s simply sublime. Bring on Super Mario Universe (or something).

 

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