Retro|Spective 075R: Super Mario

[QualityChimp]

There are so many.

I'm impressed with your stamina for this thread, Neon!

[Asura]

Game 102 - Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games
The third entry on the Wii, the game followed exactly the same structure as the previous entries with more mini-games based on Olympic events. It once again sold well but this time reviews were more critical of the game due it offering little new over the prior en

tries.




A mini-game title too far?

This one wasn't too bad. Fair to say that it was quite similar to the previous, but then, that's kinda what people expected. Controls were slightly improved, if I recall correctly; certainly when I boot up these games, I would play this one over the original.

Game 103 - Mario Kart 7

Game 101 - Super Mario 3D Land

Important pair of titles, these.

The 3DS was a weird console because it launched with a pretty uninspiring lineup, and it was a while before it found its feet. But even if you're not a fan of these two titles specifically, it's hard to dispute that they're each fantastic games in their own way, and they formed the first real "must-buys" on the platform.

People might forget, but the 3DS's slow start was celebrated by a certain part of the industry, gleefully cheering the death of handhelds on GamesIndustry.biz in various self-aggrandising [s]hitpieces; that core gaming on handhelds was over, that the future of portable gaming was on mobile phones and free-to-play garbage.

Seeing the platform pick up and go on to be a huge success thanks to titles like this was fantastic, because you saw these same ANALysts scramble in follow-up pieces to clarify their remarks. It was delicious, frankly.

[Nu-Eclipse]

People might forget, but the 3DS's slow start was celebrated by a certain part of the industry, gleefully cheering the death of handhelds on GamesIndustry.biz in various self-aggrandising [s]hitpieces; that core gaming on handhelds was over, that the future of portable gaming was on mobile phones and free-to-play garbage.

In some fairness, Nintendo did totally f-up the 3DS launch and they themselves acknowledged that with the sudden price cut and the Ambassador's Programme promo for the day-one purchasers who got bitten by that.

Also, I doubt we'll ever see Nintendo launch another truly original dedicàted handheld again (no, the Switch Lite doesn't count), precisely because of the sheer ubiquity of smart devices.

As for Mario Kart 7, it was obviously slick and polished all over but to my mind it just started the work that MK8 carried on - increasing the gimmickry while nerfing the gameplay and lessening the skill requirement. Fun while it lasted but ultimately forgettable. Personally, I prefer MKDS and Super Circuit but I'm probably in the minority on that one.

[Neon Ignition]

We're getting their, Nintendo's aggressive use of Mario means there's still a good chunk left to go but we're getting into probably the final 25%


With Mario Kart 7, I hit it at a point where I felt fairly on the fringe of the franchise after the prior few entries. MK7 was just... great. I loved the 3D, being in the fortunate position of never having an issue with the effect, and the game just felt all round polished and tighter than the few before it. It was a no compromise in your hand return to form, it's only over shone somewhat because of the game that followed.

[wakka]

I loved 3D Land and MK7. We never received a new 3D Mario on the DS, and I think 7 is a better game than MKDS too. I loved both and it was when these were released that I picked up my XL (I had originally had a launch unit preordered but decided I didn't want to shell out £350 to play, uh, Steel Diver so waited on revised hardware).

Also, I doubt we'll ever see Nintendo launch another truly original dedicàted handheld again (no, the Switch Lite doesn't count), precisely because of the sheer ubiquity of smart devices.

I go the other way with this. For me, the Switch has been proof that the dominant thesis of the early 2010s on handheld gaming - that mobile phones had killed it off - was wrong.

Although you can connect a Switch to a TV, it's entirely optional. It's as much a dedicated handheld as the DMG was.

[Nu-Eclipse]

I go the other way with this. For me, the Switch has been proof that the dominant thesis of the early 2010s on handheld gaming - that mobile phones had killed it off - was wrong.
[/COLOR]
Although you can connect a Switch to a TV, it's entirely optional. It's as much a dedicated handheld as the DMG was.

I see the logic, but I don't agree.

I consider the Switch to be a home console first and handheld second. It replaced their last flagship home console, the WiiU, so the lineage of the Switch for me goes with the home console side of things for Nintendo and not with their handheld consoles. The Switch Lite is clearly an afterthought to capitalize on the big brother's success.

If the Switch originally launched without a dock then I'd call it a dedicated handheld. The dock is the key differentiator here IMO - the debut advert for the Switch originally introduced us to a guy playing with it hooked up to a TV.

A 3DS-type original handheld would totally bomb in the here/now and I think Nintendo know that. The warning signs were there with the way that the 3DS originally struggled on release and it struggled considerably (people forget this, though fair play to Nintendo for turning it around). The 3DS was their cash-out moment for original handheld gaming - a space they've pretty much always dominated. They'd never be able to go up against smart devices today and they know it. The game has changed (pardon the pun).

[Neon Ignition]

I always felt the Switch felt like a more natural continuation of the WiiU than it did the 3DS. But then, anyone with memories of playing Black Ops 2 online on the toilet would do

[wakka]

We peaked as a civilisation with toilet based Black Ops deathmatching.

The Switch can be viewed either way I guess, that's the whole concept behind it after all.

For me it put to rest the idea that there was no longer an interest in 'proper' portable gaming, though.

[Neon Ignition]

Game 104 - Mario Party 9
The first entry post-Hudson Soft, the ninth Party still remained very true to what came before. This entry scored mixed reviews due to linear boards and a heavy leaning on luck on deciding outcomes.





Anything left to say on this franchise?

[Neon Ignition]

Game 105 - Mario Tennis Open
The cycle continues with the 3DS receiving its own Tennis entry. The main notable addition for this latest entry was online play, otherwise it was a very standard follow up and received mixed reviews as a result.




Love?

[Neon Ignition]

Game 106 - New Super Mario Bros. 2
New platform, new entry with this third entry focusing more on coin collection. Some unique abilities are mixed into the nine worlds on offer and the game proved to be another success story for Nintendo though criticism of the similarity to prior entries was setting in.




A Golden Experience?

[Nu-Eclipse]

Mario Tennis Open - probably my favourite game in the series. Fun to play, especially in multiplayer, but also struggled to maintain interest in the same way other Mario Tennis games did.

NSMB2 - I do remember NSMB2 coming in for significant criticism when it came out. Regardless of the signature Nintendo 2D platforming quality, it reeked of more of the same bland identikit modern 2D Mario and it certainly didn't compare favourably to the more dynamic SM3DL. Throw in a thoroughly pointless coin-grab game mechanic and overly priced DLC packs (obviously now forever lost with the 3DS eShop's closure) and 2D Mario started to look like it was running out of ideas.

I was able to get a physical copy of it on release for £20 so no real qualms on my part!

[danstan21]

I remember thinking Nintendo had finally hit the bottom of 2D Mario's barrel when they first showed NSMB2's gameplay - literally just more of the same, but now with more coins!! It didn't help that it was actually the third NSMB, so the name was both nonsense as well as startlingly bland.

And yet - in retrospect, that fairly shallow gimmick and the now-infamous DLC challenge levels give it a distinct identity over the other NSMB games. I've played all of them, and my memories for the other three (NSLU exempted) are completely muddled - couldn't even tell you which power ups were in which. But 2's garish golden sheen and endless *coin-getting noises* mean its highlights are firmly stuck in the grey matter forever

[Neon Ignition]

Game 107 - Paper Mario: Sticker Star
The fourth entry in the series saw the franchise shift to handheld with the 3DS. This entry further pushed the concept of the entire world being paper made and saw players deploy stickers as a main gameplay function. Though generally well received this entry drew some criticism due an uneven difficulty and an overuse of Toads over the series prior more varied creatures.




One to stick with?

[Neon Ignition]

Game 108 - New Super Mario Bros. U
The most recent entry in the New series is a decade old itself now, with DLC based on Luigi released the following year and included as standard in later rereleases. The game sold around 5m units on WiiU making it a strong hit considering that systems sales numbers whilst the rerelease on Switch has sold nearly 15m. Two new modes and four player support are the core changes for this fourth installment which was well reviewed but again drew some scrutiny over how similar to past entries it felt.




The best entry or 2D Mario to U?