Retro|Spective 075R: Super Mario

[Nu-Eclipse]

I assume you mean figuratively? Because SMK on SNES has divergent item probabilities based on player position in the field too.

You know full well what I mean. Stop twisting.

How it is on MK64 and every other MK game since is absolutely nothing like how it is on SMK. MK64 took it considerably further. It's a night and day difference.

[Neon Ignition]

One of the biggest Mario Kart issues has always been Nintendo over compensating in trying to address race leaders. It's how we get to the blue shell issue when really the genuine answer for that one remains - git' good. If you're leading multiple laps when the game is only doling out coins and bananas to you whilst the rear players are getting multi-boosts, bullet bills etc... you deserve to be in first place and not atomic blasted back to 5th.

[Nu-Eclipse]

One of the biggest Mario Kart issues has always been Nintendo over compensating in trying to address race leaders. It's how we get to the blue shell issue when really the genuine answer for that one remains - git' good. If you're leading multiple laps when the game is only doling out coins and bananas to you whilst the rear players are getting multi-boosts, bullet bills etc... you deserve to be in first place and not atomic blasted back to 5th.

Racing skill required for a racing game instead of broken power-ups and gimmicks??

DON'T TALK SUCH NONSENSE, MAN!!

[Asura]

One of the biggest Mario Kart issues has always been Nintendo over compensating in trying to address race leaders. It's how we get to the blue shell issue when really the genuine answer for that one remains - git' good. If you're leading multiple laps when the game is only doling out coins and bananas to you whilst the rear players are getting multi-boosts, bullet bills etc... you deserve to be in first place and not atomic blasted back to 5th.

Have you tried playing every other racing game that is not MarioKart?

[Mayhem]

I'd actually argue, having rinsed every MK game from the SNES original up to the initial Wii U entry, that the rubber banding and ability of AI opponents to come back from being hit was at its most insane in the original SNES version. Everything else just looks like vague computer cheating, in SNES MK it was computer cheating!

My summary of MK64 is... better multiplayer, not as good single player compared to the SNES original.

[Neon Ignition]

Rubber banding is a pain but the blue shell was always such a blatantly blunt tool. Something that took a sledgehammer to the gameplay and even then it wasn't a fair manner to keep players closer together. Arguably a solution more broken than the problem it aimed to fix.

[Nu-Eclipse]

I'd actually argue, having rinsed every MK game from the SNES original up to the initial Wii U entry, that the rubber banding and ability of AI opponents to come back from being hit was at its most insane in the original SNES version. Everything else just looks like vague computer cheating, in SNES MK it was computer cheating!

I'd honestly argue it was worse on MK64. I'm not saying it was great in SMK on the higher ccs but you could still lap CPU racers. In MK64 the rubber-banding is outrageously blatant - they've stopped trying to hide it at that point!!

My summary of MK64 is... better multiplayer, not as good single player compared to the SNES original.

Four player experience is obviously better than a two player experience by default, but MK64 Battle Mode is straight-up dogsh1t, so one could argue that this depends on how you look at it.

[Asura]

Four player experience is obviously better than a two player experience by default, but MK64 Battle Mode is straight-up dogsh1t, so one could argue that this depends on how you look at it.

I was always more into the race modes. But thinking back, I'll offer you a concession on Battle Mode - the map selection was bad, and that had a strong effect on the entire mode.

Of the four maps, two of them, the skyscraper and the donut; both of those are really flawed play-spaces that just don't work for battle mode. The Double Deck map is better, but I've always felt that Block Fort is by far the best of the set, so much so that I recall we rarely played the others.

[Nu-Eclipse]

I was always more into the race modes. But thinking back, I'll offer you a concession on Battle Mode - the map selection was bad, and that had a strong effect on the entire mode.

Of the four maps, two of them, the skyscraper and the donut; both of those are really flawed play-spaces that just don't work for battle mode. The Double Deck map is better, but I've always felt that Block Fort is by far the best of the set, so much so that I recall we rarely played the others.

All of the maps in MK64 Battle Mode are just outright awful. They are all WAY too big and detract from the tight tactical hit-and-run element that made the Battle Mode in SMK perfect.

Battle Mode in Mario Kart has generally never recovered the quality it showed in SMK. It has continued to be bad in every MK game since.

[Neon Ignition]

Game 33 - Game & Watch Gallery
Released for the Game Boy, this title was the second title made but this time it featured Mario characters in the lead roles and brought together four game and watch games in a single collection. The games included were Manhole, Oil Panic, Octopus and Fire with players able to play updated versions or the originals featuring Mr Game and Watch.







Did you get much out of these revived titles?

[Atticus]

I remember one review describing Super Mario 64 as a huge playground. Sums it up perfectly. Just pure joy everywhere. Playing the Japanese version at launch I remember telling a colleague how PlayStation didn't stand a chance with this on the market. Not the first or last time I've got it a bit wrong. It was also in that transitional 2D-3D period of wow factors. Only VR has had that effect on me since.

I loved Mario Kart 64 too. Played so much multi-player and one of the few games I hammered time trial/ghost mode (memory pack required iirc) on too.

[Neon Ignition]

Game 34 - Game & Watch Gallery 2
Some BS (not an insult) games for the Satellaview aside that were reskins of existing titles, the next game was another Game and Watch collection - the third despite the title. Same as before, Mario and friends fronted several G&W games compiled on a cartridge for Game Boy Color, this time the games were: Ball, Chef, Donkey Kong, Helmet and Parachute.







Did this entry's Mario branding ever draw you in?

[Nu-Eclipse]

I think that most of the G&W Galleries are available on the 3DS eShop. Individual games are available also, I believe?

On my list to get before the eShop closes.

[Neon Ignition]

Game 35 - Yoshi's Story
The N64 was getting into full swing and a sequel to Yoshi's Island seemed like a slam dunk. With Story deploying the rendered visuals that were popular at this time however the game deviated from its predecessor by removing Mario and focusing on slower, more puzzled based gameplay. The game was pitched at an easy difficulty and was quick to go through leading to a much more mixed response.







What is your Story with this game?

[Neon Ignition]

Game 36 - Wrecking Crew '98
Made for Nintendo's download service but released in Japan on cartridge for the SNES also, this sequel saw Mario return to the Mushroom Kingdom to discover that Bowser has created new hideouts and bases which are cutting out the sun. Mario sets off to destroy them in a release that also included the original game and a multiplayer mode.






Despite the games limited release, ever get to try it?