When the first screenshots for New Super Mario Bros. 2 were revealed last month, I had this crazy notion that Nintendo discovered a way to add DLC to NSMB on the DS. It wasn't until I saw that big "2" that I realized it was a full-blown sequel.

A new Mario game -- not some odd spinoff but a true Mario platformer -- ought to be cause for celebration. Instead, I was deeply concerned that I had trouble distinguishing this sequel from its predecessor. Why should I be? Isn't it typical for a new game in a series to look similar to the ones prior? Well, not when we're talking about Mario.

For over 25 years, the mainline Mario series has remained so revered and influential because each new entry is a Madonna-like reinvention. The core gameplay remains the same, but there are so many tweaks that range from the subtle to the overt, not the least of which are the sweeping visual redesigns. Each game's aesthetic is a unique signature, the mark of a self-contained adventure that feels familiar yet wholly unique, a testament on Nintendo's behalf to never cut corners when it comes to its premier franchise.

However, if those New Super Mario Bros. 2 screens are anything to go by, Nintendo has gotten lazy.

_{[Image by Orioto]}

Three years ago, I wrote an article entitled "Inconstancy in the Mario universe," in which I compared the various Mario platformers and analyzed the themes that I felt each best expressed. The environments have such a beautiful whimsy about them, and that essence trickles down and permeates every other aspect of the games.

The original Super Mario Bros. introduces us to the fantastic wonderland that is the Mushroom Kingdom. Super Mario Bros. 2 flips the script and sends us to Subcon, a dream world where all our preconceived notions are challenged. Super Mario Bros. 3, with its checkerboard and wavy line motif, is a stage production littered with props. Super Mario World takes us to Dinosaur Land, populated by tough reptilian baddies yet tempered by very colorful, geometric backgrounds.

The Game Boy games likewise stand out in their own way, as do the later 3D-roaming romps. Not even direct spin-offs like Wario Land and Yoshi's Island are content to rehash. In terms of pure visual design, there is no consistent template. Each game features drastically altered sprites, worlds, music, enemies, and so forth, all while retaining that quintessential "Mario-ness." Very few videogame franchises, especially ones that are over two decades old, have been able to embrace variety so effectively.

I consider 2005's New Super Mario Bros. as somewhat of an anomaly; as an overall package, its purpose was to reignite the same passion we felt when we played Super Mario Bros. back in 1985. Do I consider it as striking, visually or otherwise, as other Mario platformers? No, but as a reintroduction to the 2D action that had been absent for over a decade, it served its purpose. Certainly, I had hoped, New Super Mario Bros. would be the start of a new generation of inspired variety.

Nintendo's E3 2009 conference raised the first red flags. Two new Mario games were presented that day: New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Super Mario Galaxy 2. Let me address the latter first.

Not since The Lost Levels has there been a direct thematic Mario sequel -- think along the lines of Final Fantasy X-2 or XIII-2. As amazing as the first Galaxy was, did we really need another one? I must admit, I was quite worried about how fresh Galaxy 2 would feel, considering that it was originally conceived as an expansion pack of sorts. My fears were allayed by the polish of the end product. Mario visited completely new planets, acquired imaginative new powers, and soared the stars to one of the greatest game soundtracks ever composed. This was no retread. Crisis averted.

But Galaxy 2 is a 3D game, and comparing 2D and 3D Marios is like comparing two completely different series. For the more classical sensibilities, New Super Mario Bros. Wii was also waiting in the pipeline. And just as Galaxy 2 gave me reason to pause, I wouldn't blame anyone who saw the New Super Mario Bros. Wii reveal and thought it looked like a hi-res port of the DS game.

Remember how for months, many gamers, those who consider themselves on the pulse of the industry, honestly thought it was just a multiplayer version of NSMB? Is it really their fault for not paying close enough attention, or should Nintendo shoulder some of the blame for making a game that, at a casual glance, looks exactly like what folks thought it looked like? This was Mario's grand side-scrolling return to a home console, yet it was hampered by its very deliberate association with an earlier handheld title.

After playing through NSMB Wii, I was disappointed that, yes, the graphics are indeed higher-polygon, better-textured versions of the assets found in NSMB. There were no sweeping visual or thematic changes, as I've come to expect from a new Mario platformer. The worlds -- Grass, Desert, Ice, Beach, Forest, Mountains, Sky, and Fire -- are identical to those from the DS game and are even visited in nearly the same order. The backgrounds, colors, architecture, it's all the same! Where are the bizarre locales, like Giant Land and Pipe Land from Super Mario Bros. 3, or Pumpkin Zone and Mario Zone from Super Mario Land 2? Where is the imagination?

Fast-forward to the present, is New Super Mario Bros. 2 the big update we've been waiting for? With a scant four screenshots to go by, the jury is still out until E3, but the present evidence doesn't paint a rosy picture. I'm looking at the same Grass, Desert, Ice, and Forest environments from the last two games, only now Mario is rocking the Raccoon Tail, a reveal marred by the fact that it was already used as a hook for Super Mario 3D Land. Nintendo must have forgotten that it already played that trump card.

Three games in and this sub-series is failing to live up to the "New" in its moniker. I fondly recall the ever-more elaborate sprite work, rich colors, and inspired designs from one Mario to the next, yet modern Nintendo insists on sticking to a very safe, very clinical, 2.5D polygonal style that evokes none of the spirit of the old days. You don't have to be a nostalgia junkie to notice the lack of effort.

The above are the four NES-era Marios laid side by side. With the exception of The Lost Levels -- it gets a pass for being the second Super Mario ever made -- each is visually distinct from one another. In fact, if someone who had never played a Mario before looked at these screens, he or she would most likely infer that they are associated with different games.

The most remarkable thing about this comparison is the technical and artistic progression. The original may not be the most basic NES game in existence, but it ranks pretty low. In Japan, Super Mario Bros. 3 was released a mere three years later, yet the difference is staggering. It's sometimes hard to believe they all ran on the same hardware.

The above are the three "New" titles. Wouldn't even a seasoned gamer have trouble telling the games apart from a quick glance? You'd have to know what to look for specifically, which requires a more careful observation. Oh sure, the original sports a much lower resolution, but the visual uniformity is readily apparent. And unlike the NES games, these all run on different hardware. You'd assume that Nintendo would feel some impetus to mitigate confusion.

There is one more "New" game I failed to mention: New Super Mario Bros. Mii. A remixed version of NSMB Wii with the ability to play as (duh!) Miis, it was among the Wii U "experiences" present at last year's E3. How does it stack up visually?

Take a guess! Which is Wii and which is Mii? Hard to tell without other Miis running around, huh?

To be fair, NSMB Mii wasn't pitched as an actual Wii U title. However, there will be a Wii U Mario title, and it's rumored to be based upon Mii. How different will it be? How much will remain the same? We won't know until E3, but you'll have to excuse me if I'm not brimming with confidence.

As much as I lament the visual conformity, I miss the attention to the finer details even more so. There are some elements you don't notice until they are gone or altered, but once they are, you feel a slight disturbance. For example, you would be surprised at how something as simple as the end-of-level markers can have punctuate a game's spirit and ideals.

In the original Mario, you jump on a flagpole and get the flag. In 2, you lift a crystal ball and enter a bird's mouth. In 3, you run off the set and grab a flashing card. In World, you jump through a gate, timing it just right to hit the bar and earn the chance to enter a bonus stage. In Land 1, you aim for the higher of two doorways in order to enter the bonus stage. In Land 2, you try to ring the out-of-reach bell to enter the bonus stage.

In New Super Mario Bros., you... jump and get the flag. In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, you... jump and get the flag. In New Super Mario Bros. Mii, you... jump and get the flag. Even in the non-"New" Super Mario 3D Land, you jump and get the flag. We have yet to see a full stage run of New Super Mario Bros. 2, but I guarantee that you'll finish a level by jumping to get a flag. We get it, Nintendo. You guys really like your flagpoles. Care to mix it up a bit?

When it comes to Mario's 2D adventures, Nintendo doesn't want to push the envelope anymore. I do not deny that the newer games at their core still contain a few sparks of brilliance, but it's almost as though the company is just running through the motions because it can score 20 million sales without a sweat.

This is a rant about visuals, but please spare me the "gameplay over graphics" rhetoric. I know, it's odd to hear me say that. Nonetheless, when you are the leading name in a genre, the standard against which all others are measured, it's all the more important to make a good first impression. It's like how we're told to "dress for success" when coming to work -- if you don't take care of your physical appearance, how can anyone be certain that you aren't slacking in other areas? As I said in the beginning, it's a trickle-down effect; it'll eventually take its toll on other key areas, "gameplay" included.

In an age when 2D platformers are marginalized as cheaper, less-rewarding products, no one should be allowed to coast on past successes. You only have to see a game like Rayman Origins in motion to feel cheated that the venerable Mario is not being raised to that same standard. C'mon, Nintendo! Step up!

Legacy Comments (will be imported soon)

Lord of the Thunder

I'm gonna have to agree with this article, the NSMB series is kinda disappointing.

Spectreman

Gameplay > graphics!

myosan8bit

It's a cash cow Nintendo need to bring in the bucks...as long as it's a good game(I'm looking at you Vita) more Mario is fine by me but I still prefer Super Mario World for SNES for both art style and music.

Tony Ponce

@Spectreman

Ding ding ding! And we have the very first commenter who demonstrates that he did NOT read the entire article.

wiimancj

maybe because we've only seen 4 screenshots

JuNk3T

man they should bring back the watercolour-ish look of super mario world 2. Why can't nintendo put the say visual flair from the zelda series (and probably pikmin 3 when it is revealed) into mario?

Pencoin

I've noticed this myself, personally I think it's to appeal to the 'mainstream family audience' fair to Nintendo to get a lot of money but I would like something unique in mario for once. I feel 3D land suffered from this as well.

Tony Ponce

@wiimancj

And it just so happens that those four screenshots showcase level designs that appeared almost identically in the previous two games. How hard would it be to show off a completely new area? That only requires a SINGLE screenshot.

JuNk3T

This also reminds me of Skyward Sword, did they really have to repeat the grass, water, and sand levels so much, could they have not introduced a little more variety?

Tony Ponce

@JuNk3T

That's not the same argument at all, though. Those areas are unique to Skyward Sword and don't ape the artistry, layout, or design of previous Zelda games.

Scissors

You nailed exactly how I feel. It's an insult to the Mario franchise to do this, yeah the NSMB games are fun, but the laziness is a stain on this innovative series. I've played every Mainseries Mario, and enjoyed all of them, but I'm not too excited about NSMB Mii & 2.

I'd love to see another sprite based Mario, or one with hand drawn graphics like Wario Land Shake it.

Sat

Agreed 100%. I'm proud to own the whole "canon" Mario plateformer series, but I'm not even sure I want the upcoming 2D games. Bland, bland, bland...

Mr Omega

The 2D games really seem to just be pandering to those nostalgic about the old days. The 3D games still seem to be doing just fine in terms of pushing things and experimentation. That doesn't excuse it, but I don't think it's the big terrible sign some would think. Plus, the games have been very good, so it's not like there's a decline in quality.

To me, the issue is just that they're selling these at the standard retail price. As much as I adore the Mario series, after Megaman 9, it just becomes impossible for one to ignore the fact that retro/throwback games at full retail price have a serious hurdle to overcome to justify the price. I'm not going to pass judgement on NSMB2 until it comes out, but so far...

Shinta

Nintendo isn't lazy at all. I think you're completely misreading what's going on here Tony.

Yes, it looks like it's less original than past Mario games. However, the reason is the rough 3DS launch, without question. The message Nintendo finally got is that they NEED software on their systems, every single holiday shopping season and system launch. They normally take their time, and completely reinvent the wheel nearly every single time. But consumers have spoken. They don't care to wait for that these days. They want it now, and there's no other choice for them.

Getting down on Nintendo is unfair here. They're simply doing a normal sequel, like almost every other company out there. Instead of radically reinventing the game every single time, they're just using the same mechanics and giving some new levels and probably some power ups.

And you'll have a Mario near, or at launch.

And as far as 2D being more boring than 3D, it absolutely is, and I'm sure Nintendo is bored to death with it. They go out of their way to push the envelope and innovate on their core 3D Mario games and they never sell as well as this recycled, boring 2D shit. They're rarely rewarded for it, and I don't think they care about it, and I can't blame them. They want to do new types of platforming, in 3D. If only most of their audience would bother to keep up.

Kyousuke Nanbu

I feel the same way, I've always found the NSMB aesthetic to very bland and boring, whereas nearly all Mario games had something very unique, Mario 3 looking like a play set for example and Mario 64 literally redefining what a 3D platformer is.

3D land was also pretty bad, it was pathetically simple and quite boring and despite falling under the LAND banner, it featured nothing that made those games unique like different gameplay mechanics, tatanga, hell even different power ups(Mario Land 2 had bunny ears for example), its just your typical Mario platformer.

DrNo0

How many times are they going to keep calling it new

Alan Argentina

You know, I guess I never really thought about it. Everything Mario has become so comfortable for me that, maybe with the exception of U.S. spec Mario 2, all the 2D Mario games blend into a single Mario aesthetic. Considering Mario has been a constant for as long as I've been gaming, he always just seems to be both there, and ostensibly Mario regardless of his surroundings.

Maybe this is both a bane and a boon. For me, putting Mario anywhere, or next to anything, is Mario (within reason). He's the chunk of bacon in an ever changing sea of tofu, take a bite of tofu from his immediate surroundings and it's going to taste like bacon. At the same time, I suppose this also means that, for me, Mario can do nothing outrageous, as even the outrageous would become standard Mario aesthetic simply by virtue of it being a Mario game.

Interesting shit, Ponce. Got me thinking.

RockWallofMight359

They're still fun games. Besides, after 30 years how do you expect them to alter the art style without harming the Mushroom Kingdom's aesthetic integrity?

Vanor

Going by Miyamoto's behavior and by what he says, it's clear that he hates making 2D Mario and wants people to play the 3D Mario games exclusively, instead. He said that he'd give NSMB Wii the same attention and care that he was giving Galaxy 2...but that didn't happen, clearly. He phoned in NSMB Wii and only focused on Galaxy 2...which was a bomb considering he said up and down that he wanted 2D Mario fans to play 3D Mario, even going so far as to package an instructional DVD with some copies of the game overseas...Galaxy 2 only sold a few million copies while it got left in the dust by the ho-hum NSMB Wii, which was the first 2D Mario title on consoles in close to two decades.

What should be obvious to people is that NSMB 2 was announced at a business meeting. The business side sees the huge sales of of the 2D Mario games and the meh sales of the 3D games (Super Mario 3D Land was another failed attempt to get people to buy into 3D Mario but it failed as well). Miyamoto has some kind of weird obsession with 3D for some reasons and has shoehorned it into games where it doesn't belong (such as Mario with the 3D Mario games, which he tried to use to replace 2D Mario, which has only resulted in decline for Nintendo).

Just read up all the Iwata Asks interviews going so far back as the last couple of years. The man (and Iwata) keeps turning himself into knots trying to convince people that 3D in the future (when it's really the internet), but sales numbers say otherwise. In recent interviews where people point out that the 3D aspect of the 3DS may be harming its sales he keep being evasive about the issue instead of trying to just accepting the possibility of this.

This really shouldn't come as a shock. Sometimes people get divorced from reality and sometimes people get drunk off their celebrity and fame. It's possible that Miyamoto (and much of he senior developers at Nintendo) have become disconnected from reality and only see themselves as making games to please themselves instead of making games to please their audience, which is why we see such two-faced treatment of their greatest franchise, 2D Mario.

Then again, this is the guy that called the people who enjoyed Donkey Kong Country morons because apparently people played that game for its graphics and not for its fun gameplay. The irony is years later the man himself can't offer any new content propositions that set a fire off in the market unless it's a sports simulator.

The sooner Miyamoto & Company leave Nintendo, the sooner we can have actual gamers making games again instead of old-fogey-technocrats treating their IPs and audience with blatant disrespect.

Tony Ponce

@Shinta

Consumers can wait just fine. They had to wait over a decade for a new 2D Mario. If Nintendo needs a little more time to develop something fresh, let them. The company has made no secret about holding off games until they are ready. I would rather Nintendo treat Mario with the same loving concern than shit out another quick and dirty sequel.

What you are describing is the very definition of milking. The mass audience clearly has a preference for 2D Mario over 3D Mario, yet instead of dedicating more attention and resources towards that which the audience demands, Nintendo seems to want to force 3D down our throats while only offering a cursory acknowledgement of 2D's appeal.

Nintendo SHOULD be making new kinds of platforming, but those new ideas shouldn't be withheld from the 2D space. Again, look at Rayman Origins. If Ubisoft is doing THAT, what's Nintendo's excuse?

FireFox516

YES! This is exactly the problem I have with the "New" Mario Bros. games. They're not bad by any stretch of the imagination, just... vanilla. They play it way too safe, and don't have any of the creativity or ingenuity of, say, Mario Bros. 3 or Mario World.

The level designs and overworld maps don't really encourage exploration (and when they do, it's not particularly interesting, unless Star Coins are your thing) and the environments just feel flat.

wiimancj

@Tony Ponce

That's true.
But I still think that we need to see a proper trailer.

Ninty's games always surprise me.
Sometimes even trailers don't do them justice (eg Kid Icarus Uprising, this game was craaaay)

Scissors

@Kyousuke Nanbu

I have to agree SM3DL was a technically impressive game that was too easy to be enjoyable. To me the game is little more than eye candy. I didn't even finish the all the bonus levels, I gave up out of boredom. I don't get it either the return to the Tanooki suit was to please the old Mario fans, but the game was made so boringly simple that any oldschool Mario fan would have been disappointed by the lack of challenge.

UnfathomableResistance

I share a similar feeling (very strongly, I may add) towards Nintendo's Mario Kart franchise: I am under the impression that it doesn't matter if the gameplay is EVER altered, all Nintendo has to do is slap the Mario Kart brand name on the box, and the money starts rolling in. Needless to say, it irritates me.

I have no doubt that I'll cave in and purchase the next batch of "New" titles (the inner child demands so), but I am at the very least a tad concerned that perhaps Nintendo may be losing some of its "edge" (again, the Mario Kart franchise as an example). Hopefully, Nintendo will not lose track of what is most important, and will always remember that gameplay is the top priority to crafting a fun video game for all ages. But if this trend of disrespect and complete laziness towards the graphics continues...
The thought causes me to shutter profusely.

JohnGrisham

I find these newer games to be boring.

Rayman Origins >

Phoenix Gamma

Problems with NSMB2's visuals:

1) Prerendered backgrounds. Even Sega dropped prerendered backgrounds jumping from Sonic 4 Ep I to Ep II.

2) Nintendo hasn't pushed Mario's art style in years, barring the spinoffs (Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi deviate a little. Strikers deviated a LOT). The most we got was some pretty lighting in the Galaxy games.

3) Nintendo's afraid to push the side scrolling Mario games too far. The furthest they've taken it is 4 people at once. It's not like, say, Yoshi's Island, which is fucking bonkers in almost every aspect from art style to mechanics to level layout. When all you're doing is making the same game over and over, why change the visuals?

Jonny Taylor

Anyone got any mini bowser nudes?

Albert Marsh

Why does Diablo 3 look so bland? Why does Mass Effect 3 look so bland? Why does Halo 4 look so bland? Why is the gaming media nothing more than shills for for corporations and anti-consumer? The gaming media hates Nintendo with a passion. Nintendo has proven to be very successful over the years without having to buyout the gaming press. The gaming press hate this because it makes them feel weak and pathetic.

The Silent Protagonist

I think its much ado about nothing until we see it at E3.

Let's face it, Wii U needs a sure thing. NSMB Wii sold like hotcakes and its far and away the most successful entry in the series when you go by the numbers worldwide. There are people turning over Gamestops every day to find a copy still. Nintendo news a system-seller for Wii U on day one - NSMB Mii is probably a likely launch game.

Local multiplayer IS NSMB Wii's hook and very much what sets it apart from from the DS entry. I'd wager the case is the same for NSMB Mii - because how many people complained that Yellow Toad and Blue Toad (AKA Aligold and Buckenberry) added no personality to the mix. Putting in your Mii addresses that, though not by way of creating a new character or other Mario characters we'd like to play.

I don't think Nintendo's dumb enough to put two new NSMB games and have them be similar, but I also think they're not dumb enough to release another console without a system seller. The fact we have a big push for Mario this year shows me they're not taking any chances with Wii U, any Mario game for 3DS is just going to be icing on the cake anyway as 3DS is doing well.

Noir Trilby

Agreed. As dun as NSMB Wii was for me, the art style was bland and characterless. And I'd love a side scrolling Mario to look as beautiful as Rayman Origins or an Orioto painting - preferably an Orioto painting.

Smackybutts

2.5D games usually yield visually bland results. Strider 2 and Einhander being the only exceptions that come to mind. This is essentially what 3D is about, though. Instead of just Capcom-style recycled sprites, you get entire recycled asset libraries, with texture upgrades if you're lucky.

In a perfect world, Vanillaware would do a Mario one-off.

Tony Ponce

@Albert Marsh

Read into it whatever you like. It seems like you decided to get all defensive without even considering whether the argument has merit or not. You just figured, "Oh? Something not positive about Nintendo? Must be an anti-Nintendo agenda!"

I wish I could live in your perfect fantasy world.

Devin Lee

yeah but hasnt NSMB2 been rumored as a built in title for months now? it looks like it will be the WiiUs wii sports

Captain of the Zanarkand Abes

I love the new games, wii in particular, and im no graphics whore but good god, nintendo! Wheres the pizazz!? Sure some inspiration is taken from 3 but i hate how safe the game looks. I hope new 2 has multiplayer like new wii, no flagpoles, and make yoshi always be with you like in world, not like a unique yoshi level in wii.

But given how marios pumping games out like theres no tomorrow and usually ending up with perfect scores and fun gameplay, this stuff is mere nitpicking for me, i can see what you mean about how "every friggin game looks exactly the same" concern is coming from though. They should give mario a new art style, like more cartoony with the SMW artwork in mind.

Tony Ponce

@Devin Lee

NSMB2 is a 3DS game, chief.

Baines

I hate to say it, but maybe Nintendo needs to look for any promising non-Mario 2D game that they can buy/order converted into a Mario game.

It worked with SMB2. It was a fairly well accepted breath of fresh air, and I think it may even have helped SMB3's reception by not putting the series in a rut. Some now classic elements even originated in that game.

And Nintendo certainly isn't above sacrificing new franchises in order to release new games in iconic series. (Or even sacrificing one franchise for another that they want to push more at that moment.)

SeymourDuncan17

@Albert Marsh

You're obviously blinded to some degree. All of those games look pretty different from their counterparts. Look at the above screenshots from the recent "New Mario Bros." games. C'mon.

@Tony Ponce

I agree with a handful of things in this article. But, I fucking LOVE New Super Mario Bros. Wii. I loved the hell out of it. Yes, we had the same themes, but with new twists and level layout. Fantastic level layout, I might add. And that was enough for me.

Although I will say the "new" Super Mario Bros. games coming indeed look very lazy at this point. No doubt I'll buy the 3DS game (lol @ the Wii U title), but still.

Stealth

no no no no no

this article is pure fallacy

tony I expect better from you.

MattEdWithCheese

Well given that NSMBWii was the best selling game of all time in Japan, I'd assume that "More of the same" is all that the mainstream Japanese market want. Y'know; like Call of Duty is in the west but severely less vapid...

mix

RockWallofMight359

@SeymourDuncan17

It's the opposite for me if they announce online coop for the Wii U game.

Stealth

And tony, I mean no disrespect, but with 4-5 screenshots known

your really just talking out of your ass.

Your going to tell me it looks bland based off 4-5 screenshots? really?

I mean come on.....

Stealth

Racoon and flying returned after 15 years

A level in which it seems like you can move between the foreground and background

A level where it seems like all the enemies are invincible

How is that bland again?

I mean for goodness sakes wait until the game is out

mix

Dammit, hit the button too fast.

I forgot to say that Super Mario Bros 2 is hands down my most favorite Mario game. I have never really noticed the similarities of the past games as you noted (I only have NES/SNES Mario games with the addition of SMG2) but felt the Wii changed up Mario quite a bit as did the 64 version but now it seems that Nintendo doesn't want to go outside of their comfort zone.

Captain of the Zanarkand Abes

One more thing, "new" tagline should go, its been since 06, but whatevs.

Sir Tobbii

I remember saying this when NSMBWii was announced, figured it would be a one-time thing, like The Lost Levels.

But hell, even SM3DL had the same type of environments in terms of textures and style. With games like Kirby's Epic Yarn and even Donkey Kong Country really changing up the visual design for Nintendo's games this generation, it's sad to see this being the case for Mario.

Stealth

do people realize new super mario bros ds and wii combined sold over 50 million units?

Do people understand this?


They are giving the people moe of what they want

D Chap

yep, I will not be buying this one.

Sir Tobbii

@Stealth
I love how you 100% completely ignored teh point of this article, he's talking VISUAL STYLE. Not gameplay.

EKGProd

Man do I ever agree. I think New Super Mario Bros Wii is the worst Mario game of all time. I was thinking this very thing as I was playing it. It was so bland, so basic, so...boring. A Mario game, made by Nintendo, was...boring, both visually and literally. I never thought those two words would every be put together, Mario and Boring, but that's what Mario Wii was.

It was as if Nintendo didn't even try. They just rehashed old ideas and assets and farted out a 6 hour Mario game that they knew would sell like crazy. Up until that point in time, the last thing in the world I would have EVER called Nintendo was lazy when it comes to Mario games. They set the standard for creativity, variety, and gameplay. Yet, there I was, playing one of the most bland platformers I've ever played.

Then, a year or two later, I played Donkey Kong Country Returns, and I was blown away. Here was the amazingly fun, varied, and meaty platformer I was looking for. He was the Mario game I wanted, one that didn't treat all its players like children, and wasn't afraid to ratchet up the difficulty. Here was a game that had a ton of variety in the places you saw and the things you did, and enough creativity to fill a stadium...And it wasn't made by Nintendo directly, it was made by Retro Studios.

Again, never in a million years would I ever think that someone else could do Nintendo better than Nintendo, or a platformer better than Mario. And that's exactly what Retro did. So, here we are, ready for Nintendo to deliver us yet another boring, copy-pasted 2.5D Mario game that will surely go on to sell 20 million copies. The only thing different this time is I really, really don't care.

Nintendo managed to ruin the magic with their own laziness. Ever since I was a kid, I never thought Nintendo would ever let me down. New Super Mario Brothers Wii didn't just let me down, it burnt part of my childhood. Harsh, but true. I can't being myself to play any new 2D Mario games that Nintendo decides to release anymore, I won't let them tarnish anymore of my childhood memories.