New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 8/10

What happens when a franchise succeeds for so long with so many games? The expectations become higher and higher to a point that it cannot be reached. This is where New Super Mario Bros. Wii comes in. The game has received minimal criticism for being too much like the other 2-D Mario games. And it was also picked on because of lack of online. Then it was picked on for not being fresh. Of course, these are the same critics that praise Halo 3, Modern Warfare 2, Grand Theft Auto IV, Fable 2, among other sequels that greatly resemble the original. Does that make all the games I mentioned bad? No, it just means that the gaming critics from all over the internet are not being consistent in their critiquing. For crying out loud, GTA IV got perfect scores all over the place, but it looks and breathes exactly like Vice City and San Andreas; its just been expanded immensely.

This is what New Super Mario Bros. did: took the well-known Mario platforming concept and didn’t change it, but expanded upon it. Why is this an issue? Did the magazines and website expect perfection from this game? Why is the game being off-line such an issue? Are we afraid of having more than one person playing on the same television? Nintendo hasn’t been a fan of online gaming, and we’ve noticed this time and time again. Some of the Wii’s best works can be so much better with a superior online feature (Super Smash Brothers Brawl: best example ever). However, Nintendo is the well-known king of offline multiplayer, and sticking to what you are best at should never be an issue.

Some of the best multi-player games of all-time didn’t need online, they needed multiple people playing each other at the same time, and you let differing styles of play, differing personalities, and differing skill levels provide the fun and nirvanaian (I made up a word, deal with it) frustration provide all the mayhem of the evening. Goldeneye 007 and Mario Kart 64 are two games that I would still prefer to play over most of the XBox Live offerings. This is where New Super Mario Bros. Wii comes in. This game feels, smells, and frustrates just like the classic 2-D Mario games of the 90s, and the difference is the art style, and the ability to have up to four people join in on the fun. The end result is yet another fun 2-D Mario game that is sure to become a classic just like the other ones. The difference is, now four people can experience the Super Mario magic. While it doesn’t have the fresh new feeling of Mario Bros. 3 or Mario World, this game is just as fun, just as chaotic, and just as creatively clever.

Why even explain the plot? Peach gets kidnapped again and Mario must save her. The single-player alone is longer than most quests on any of the big three systems today. While most franchises and video games rely on multi-player for the lasting effect, New Super Mario Bros. Wii contains one of the deepest and longest singer-player quests since BioShock back in 2007. There are 8 worlds to explore, and a hidden 9th one lurking about. Within these worlds lies a heavy variety of levels. While you will feel like you’ve played this type of game before, you will also realize that the processing power of the Wii allows for 2-D platforming to reach new levels. I don’t want to spoil the surprises as to how, but let’s just say the barrage of enemies at some instances is something that could not happen on the SNES.

The worst part of this game has got to be the graphics. The art style doesn’t really contain the artistry or pizzazz of Mario Galaxy, Yoshi’s Island, or even Super Mario World. It’s the 3-D sprite of Super Mario in a 2-D world. The game doesn’t look sloppy, but it doesn’t really contain an art style moreso than it’s a sprite thrown in a pretty-looking environment. Remember the sketchy, seemingly hand-drawn colors of Yoshi’s Island? New Super Mario Bros. Wii lacks that personality. But the game runs well and controls beautifully. While a lack of ability to use the Virtual Console remains puzzling, the game’s rendition of the Wiimote serves fine, with the holding of the controller resembling that of the old-school NES. The game is kept simple, and so are the controls. You can learn how to play this game in a heartbeat.

Your typical Mario music is present here, with new songs and classic mixes joining in. The soundtrack is not as epic as Mario Galaxy (in terms of quality, composition, delivery, and theming) but it’s still a fun game to listen to. The sound effects are also Mario-like, with nothing outstanding, but nothing distracting either. We should hear Bowser and his kids talk more often though. One final note: it is great that we see the return of Yoshi and the kids to the 2-D franchise, but where is the love for Wario and Waluigi?

The gameplay is essentially flawless. Each world after the first contains a great mix of easy and excruciatingly difficult levels. Most levels contain their infamous moments and memorable frustrations. The game sometimes feels like the original Mario Bros., then can sometimes run like Mario Bros. 3 and to an extend Super Mario World. Many classic enemies are back and there are some new ones meshed in as well. If you are a fan of good platform action, this game a must-buy from the get-go. If the single-player isn’t enough, then there is the multi-player to win you over.

This game, as long as you have the right people, is absolutely hilarious and fun when other people are involved. With the others playing as Luigi or a Toad, the game actually becomes harder because you have your own allies getting in the way or distracting you from reaching the goal. Teamwork is a must and if you all have differing styles of play, then it’s going to lead to funny arguments and hilarious fights within the levels themselves. The levels do not really change when four people are involved, but the flow and pacing becomes affected if you have a slower one ruining the run of the current level. If they lag too behind, they die, which will lead to more arguing and more hilarity. There is even a subtle trick system that can lead to extra points.

Bottom Line: The game is fun alone, with a friend, or three of them. New Super Mario Bros. Wii takes gameplay elements from generations of platform gaming and packs it all into a nice long quest full of challenges, secrets, and fun. The hardcore old-school gamers should be pleased as Mario returns to his roots after all these years dwelling into 3-D on home consoles. Despite all the little nitpicky things said about this game from other critics they all agreed to one thing: this game is fun and feels like the older games. That alone should tell you that it is a worthy purchase.

While the game lacks a graphical personality like the NES and SNES counterparts, the game is still a well-crafted package of Super Mario fun. Mario has survived all these years because Nintendo always finds different ways of enhancing and changing the Mario experience. While in this case the change is just an addition of more players, it’s a welcoming change and one that’s never quite been handled by any other franchise. All this complaining from gaming critics is proving a couple of things:

1) They hate the Wii’s current mammoth success (And this is indeed true, just look at the Wii bashing you find nowadays.
2) They set the bar much higher for Super Mario games, while giving other games (Like GTA IV) a pass on flaws.
3) Unlike most franchises, everyone has their personal taste as to how a 2-D Mario game should look and feel.

Some complained over lack of Yoshi. Some complained over lack of Peach. Some complained over lack of Wario. Some moaned that the game wasn’t hard enough. Some thought that this was a mere rehash. Basically, everyone has their personal interpretations of what would be the perfect Mario game—and shouldn’t be so harsh when these expectations were not met. This game boasts over 70 creative levels, 200 Star Coins to collect, a multi-player mode to boot, and you still find reason to say there was minimal effort? Plus this lack-of-online complaint is really lame. Why on earth would you want to play Super Mario with a random stranger? Mario platforming wasn’t meant for online gaming when compared to other games and genres; it just wouldn’t be that satisfying.

To me, the perfect 2-D Mario game would be one that features over 150 levels and can allow for you to play updated versions of classic levels found in previous installments. Despite my dreams of that Mario game currently not being met, my expectations for this Mario game were, and then some. As long as you enjoy a really good video game with the old-school touch, then there is no reason why you couldn’t enjoy New Super Mario Bros.

Modern Warfare 2: 8/10

Modern Warfare 2 is starting a dangerous trend in gaming. Some game franchises and companies are creating a new way of making its money; and it’s a method that does not require as much effort from the execution part when compared to the setup portion. I personally call it the Blockbuster Hype Effect, which is when a video game is hyped so immensely, so intensely, it generates enough sales to make back its money and then some by the end of the week. Hollywood movies do it all the time, and beginning with Halo 2 certain video games are puling off the same feat. Modern Warfare 2 makes over 550 million within the first few days. Did Activision have to improve the game over the previous installment to make it a success? Of course not, what it needed was hype, heavy marketing, and the rest is history.

Does that make Modern Warfare 2 a bad game? Of course not, the game is still one of the better shooters you’ll see on the XBox 360 and the PS3. Could it have been better? Yes. Could the game have benefited more from changing the rules a little? Yes. Is this game better than the original Modern Warfare? No. Is it all Activision’s fault? Nope. Am I asking too many questions? Yep.

The plot of the game is over-the-top yet simple: evil Russians framed an American spy for staging a massive massacre in Russia’s homefront, staging a chain reaction leading to Russia attacking the United States beginning on Washington D.C. The goal is to find a way to reveal that America did not attack Russia, and that someone from the side of the United States may be in on the framing. The plot alone sounds like that of a massive blockbuster film. Adding to the Hollywood Blockbuster image of the game is the musical score being composed by Hans Zimmer, whom has scored Pirates of the Caribbean, Gladiator, The Lion King, The Rock, among other movies.

One of the biggest weaknesses of the franchise is your inability to truly be attached to the character you are controlling simply because you play so many of them, and because most of them die off within a couple of missions. Gaming franchises like Zelda, Grand Theft Auto, and Final Fantasy rely a lot on storytelling and characterization to progress the video game along. With Call of Duty, the plot and characters are nothing more than mere setting, basically mapping out why you are doing what you are doing. This approach to gaming on one hand allows for a less-talk-more-walk approach to gaming; but on the other hand you won’t find a single moment in this game that comes close to hitting the emotional impact of Majora’s Mask’s end of the world, Final Fantasy VII’s most popular death, or Super Mario RPG’s finale.

The game isn’t all bad though. Modern Warfare 2 boasts a shorter single-player campaign than previous installments, but its still one heck of a trip. And hey, at least it’s not Halo 3. Modern Warfare 2 throws you all over the world, in multiple different settings, and a good portion of the game has you performing other activities that don’t involve mass shooting. There is a bit of espionage involved as well. The game flows beautifully in terms of graphics and playcontrol, as Infinity Ward didn’t deviate too far from the original Modern Warfare in terms of how the game handles. The game is quite relentless, and very intense. You will die multiple times, but luckily for the less-skilled, the game sprinkles all sorts of checkpoints throughout the missions, taking away a bit of the challenge and frustration.

There is plenty of negativity in this review, and that’s partially a shame since the game does play well and is worth the price tag especially if you are affiliated with Xbox Live. The more you enjoy multi-player online, the more worthy this game will become in your collection. But all this comes at a price: the multi-player in the Xbox 360 hasn’t been lacking. As a matter of fact, people are still playing Halo 3 and the original Call of Duty. So what is going to make this multi-player shooter any different? Its immersive, but just how long can you run with that excuse?

Age of the long single-player campaigns is a bit on the dying side; as there are very few video games that can truly boast a massive single-player. This is a trend that will have an effect on the blockbuster-style of releasing video games. With multi-player suddenly being the driving force, there is much less focus on other aspects of the game. How much better would Modern Warfare 2 be if they put forth the same amount of effort on their single-player as compared to their multi-player? The Xbox Live aspects of this game are fun, addicting, and just as good as Halo 2, 3, Call of Duty 4, Gears of War. But notice this: all the previous games mentioned, with the exception of Call of Duty 4, are known much, much more for multi-player. What happens when you can’t connect online? While it’s not an issue that most people have to ponder, it’s interesting when you realize just how much of the game you actually get to play once the internet is involved.

The last first-person shooter to truly bring something fresh and amazing to the genre is BioShock. And here is where the new technique of selling games succeeds: it doesn’t matter, people will still buy it. Just like how most people went to see Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen before the bad press and word-of-mouth spread, Modern Warfare 2 was destined to be a smash hit. Luckily for us the game isn’t bad, but down the road, who knows what filth will sell within the first weekend before we realize what a crappy game it truly is. Halo: Reach, I am looking in your direction.

Bottom Line: Modern Warfare 2 is just like the typical recent Xbox first-person shooter: its good, has a strong multi-player, short single-player, yet doesn’t really bring anything new to the table. The Call of Duty franchise still lacks the character appeal of Halo, and has yet to really distance itself from the other shooter franchises. And its extreme hype is a bad sign of things to come, when companies may not dwell as much effort to a game and prefer to maximize its hype for ultimate profit before the realizations occur. Call of Duty is still the best in the shooter business, with Halo being a bit overrated and the other franchises still trying to topple Call of Duty 4.

But, with the competition heating up from BioShock, Halo, and even Metroid (see their latest trailer? Wow), who knows who may emerge as leader come the end of 2010. The competition in this genre is much too strong for the games to become more and more similar to previous installments, you have to really aim high in order to stand out. Call of Duty 4 accomplished this. BioShock accomplished this. Modern Warfare 2? Fell just a bit short. Graphics are amazing, so is the music, and so is the little amount of gameplay featured, but it missing something special to stand out. Despite that small setback, the overall production of Modern Warfare 2 is impressive, as a massive story is unfolded right in front of your eyes and you get to participate in it in a variety of ways with a variety of characters.

I am just afraid of crazy hype and what it can do to a business that’s currently experiencing the best years quality-wise since the SNES era. I am afraid that video games will dwell the path of movies: reviews won’t matter, because the first weekend denotes a profitable product. And while Modern Warfare isn’t a Transformers-like turkey, I fear as to what other heavily-hyped games in the future may bring. In the meantime, I’ll continue enjoying the first-day-received Call of Duty.

Wild Girl - Grand-Palais - Paris

Je trouve souvent impressionnant l'esthétisme dépouillé
de certaines jeunes femmes asiatiques ...

Grey fur Bolero Girl - Opéra - Paris

Helena - Rue Montmartre - Paris

I work in Fashion.
I wear Fur Jacket, Bag and Shoes by BARBARA BUI.
Military Pants by NOTIFY.
Scarf by LOUIS VUITTON.
Belt by HERMES.
Jewelry from NEW-YORK.
Perfume: a mix a different by HERMES.
My look is City-Casual-Rock.
I love chocolate. I hate lies.
My message to the world: Always !
If I had 1000€, I would buy Shoes by Azzedine ALAIA

Alice - Rue Tiquetonne - Paris

I work as Shop-Assistant at Kiliwatch Store.
I wear a Duffle coat by MAJE
Jeans by MELTING POT.
Sneakers "Wonder Woman" by SPRING COURT.
Bag by my own brand "Lili fait et rit ..."
Créatrice pour les petites et les grandes ...
lilifaitetrit@gmail.com

Inspire

Some quick inspiration to make you dream and move you swiftly through your day.

Quote from W.B. Yeats taken in Sligo, Ireland at his final resting place.

What inspires you?

Jabot Dress Girl - Grand Palais - Paris

Happy Turkey Day

Happy Thanksgiving United States! I wish I was there to watch the Macy's Parade and chow down on a delicious plethora of food, but I can send my love over the ocean. I will be celebrating Thanksgiving on Saturday and longing for home a lot (I am really going to have to busy myself this holiday season, if I expect to get through it).

In honor of turkeys and all their great feathers, I thought I'd post a festive idea for your hair! Feathers are one of my favorite accessories to use. They are elegant and soft and add a little surprise to your normal look without going overboard.

You can find this headband on sale at Embellished. Enjoy!

Travel Confession #2 and Giveaway Winner

One of my favorite things to do is watch out the window as I am flying. I love soaring over the clouds and feeling free. When I was little I used to want to be like Jasmine and go on a magic carpet ride, I was so disappointed when I learned you couldn't actually hold a cloud. Needless to say, I always have the window seat on flights. And the best feeling of all is seeing my beautiful Charlotte, NC skyline go by me when I fly home. Because no matter how many places I travel nothing will ever feel quite the same as my beautiful Carolina!

And not to keep you waiting any longer lovelies...the winner is of the Mental Embellisher giveaway is...

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:7ered by RANDOM.ORG

Post #7: Abigail! Congratulations. You can check out Abigail's blog here: Ample Goodies.

There are so many great options, what will you get? Be sure to post your styling of your awesome prize! I can't wait to see it!

Plastic Flat Girl - Paris

Edita Vilkeviciute - Supermodel - Paris

Red Boots Girl - Rivoli - Paris

Japanese Boy - Les Tuileries - Paris

Tugba & Théo - Rue Berger - Paris

Tugba
I am a Fashion Student.
I wear a vintage Jacket DRALON found in Turkey.
Black Plastic Shoes.
Black stretch pants-Legging.
Bag ?
Perfume: "Allure" by CHANEL.
Fashion is a to escape from daily life.
My look is practical and happy.
I love white color. I hate bad faith.
If I had 1000€, I would buy ELIFE sneakers made to measure !
My message to the world: Watch 2012 with maya calendar.

Théo
I work as a Ready to wear corner store assistant.
My shirt is by H&M.
Jeans by D-SQUARED.
Belt & Shoes by D&G.
Watch by AUDEMARS PIGUET.
Perfume: "L'Homme" by YSL.
Fashion is to express yourself.
My look is trendy.
I love Zidane. I don't like hypocrisy.
If I had 1000€. I would buy Sneakers and jeans by
D-SQUARED & D&G !
My message to the world: Love Fashion !

An Embellished Christmas

The countdown is officially on for the biggest shopping weekend of the year! Its time to start thinking about your wishlists and gifts for this holiday season. After the rough economic year we have had, everyone has learned how important it is to act locally. Small business owners are what keeps America afloat, plus they provide something unique for you to own. Since Embellished readers come from all corners of the globe, I'm making an international wishlist.

*photos compliments of respective shops*

Las Vegas: Circle Line Studio, wall decal

England: Eclectic Eccentricity, feather bracelet

Canada: Beadsss, Fleur de Lis Necklace

Brooklyn: Pink Baby Mouse, Daschund Pillow

Indiana: My Lavalier, Je t'aime Necklace

South Carolina: A Heron Designs, Shakespeare Ring

New Jersey: Urban Heirlooms, Skeleton Key Clutch

Colorado: Tha Meow Designs, iTouch Case

Israel: Tattoo Socks, Tattoo Stockings

What's on your wishlist?

Chloé - Rue Tiquetonne - Paris

I am a Student.
I wear a Jacket by C&A.
T-Shirt & Scarf vintage.
Jeans by PROMOD.
Shoes & Bag by I don't know ...
Perfum by CHLOE.
Fashion means nothing to me.
My look is a No-Look.
I love to have fun.
I hate waking-up early.
My message to the world:
"Pas de prise de tête !"

Aubame - Rue Tiquetonne - Paris

I am a student.
I wear a leather jacket by GUESS.
Pants by ADIDAS.
Shes by VAN'S.
Cap no brand.
Watch by D&G.
For me Fashion is to express yourself.
My look is casual-cool.
I love everything's cool.
I don't like hypocrisy.
I I had 1000€, I would buy black patent DIOR Shoes !

The 25 Greatest Mario Games of All-Time (So Far)

New Super Mario Bros. has just come out on stores to high acclaim, minimum criticism (which most of it is absolutely nuts by the way), and high sales. It is sure to hold the Wii owners over before the potentially-epic 2010 gaming year that the Wii is going to deliver. Upon first impressions, I have absolutely loved this game, and the multi-player is a mix of absolute addicting fun and incredible frustration. Where its going to place among the best Mario games in history, I’ll need more time to decide this.

But wait? What are the greatest Mario games in history? That’s a baffling mystery. But have no fear, I am here. Using the sophisticated power and technology of my computer (and a box of crayons) I have compiled a list of the best of Super Mario. They range from his platform classics, to his sports games, to his underrated classics, and even a Mario game without his name on the actual title.

Without further interruption, it’s yet another list!!



#25: Dr. Mario

This underrated puzzler was Super Mario’s response to Tetris. While the game doesn’t have the addiction and depth of Tetris, it still boasts a tougher challenge and also a much groovier soundtrack. There has been a version of Dr. Mario in every single system and is becoming more a staple to Nintendo gaming then Tetris is.


#24: Mario Party

This game was the surprise hit that absolutely nobody saw coming. Adding to the obvious premise that the Nintendo 64 was the ultimate multiplayer experience for the last part of the 90s, Mario Party combined multi-player thrills with baseball-its-ain’t-over-until-its-over gameplay. The game is mapped out like an interactive board game, and long after you’ve found every single game board you still have a high replay value with the extensive amount of mini-games you can collect and other small goodies. This was the perfect game for anyone with plenty of siblings and friends.


#23: Super Mario Land

The very first Mario game on a handheld system was by far the most unique. Without the touch of Miyamoto, Nintendo RD&1 provided 12 levels of bizarre gameplay as Mario is thrown into a brand new universe that gamers had never seen before. None of your typical enemies are present, and Mario can be seen flying a plane and navigating a submarine! Like I said, it was different, but was still a nice bit of fun and a grand way to start Nintendo Game Boy’s historic run towards total handheld dominance.


#22: Donkey Kong 94’

Nintendo Game Boy is full of forgotten gems (as I had described in a previous article nobody read) and this one by far is one of the best forgotten gems out there. While the game starts out in a similar Donkey Kong manner, after the fourth level you are thrown into a massive world with over 90 levels to fight through, encounters with Donkey Kong, and even some mayhem with Donkey Kong Jr. It was long, difficult, and plenty of fun. That’s what she said.


#21: Mario Golf

Golf games rarely work. The only exception is the wonderful Golden Tee Golf series you can find in arcades everywhere. However, Nintendo (the kings of making boring and unpopular things bearable) transformed the sport of golf into a delightful Mario game with enough simplicity for your beginners and plenty of depth for the experts. This little blend of simple depth is a formula repeated in most sports games nowadays, and especially in latter Mario sports games (some of which will make the list further down)


#20: Super Mario Kart

The original that started it all. This game revolutionized gaming with its stellar gameplay and background work, which used Mode 7 technology. There has been dozens of imitators, and none of them can top even the original, which is over 17 years old. Selling 8 million copies on the Super Nintendo, this is one of the best-selling video games in the early years of Nintendo, and remains one of the favorites of the old-school gamers. There is a massive franchise that started because of this polished gem.


#19: Super Mario Bros. 2

So this isn’t the ACTUAL Super Mario Bros. 2 (the real one is excruciatingly difficult) but it’s still an incredibly fun game to play, and would be the first to give Luigi his modern-day appearance and abilities.


#18: Mario Golf: Advanced Tour

Mario Golf’s sequel was a small hit in the Gamecube, but the Game Boy Advance version was far superior for multiple reasons. First off, the game was deeper with its gameplay. Second off, the game carries an RPG-like quest that allows for improvement on your game. Third off, it just has much more replay value than the Gamecube counterpart. Developed by the underrated madmen company Camelot, Mario Golf: Advanced Tour is a game that should be imitated much more often.


#17: Mario Strikers Charged

Remove those annoying cheap shots, and this could have been the best Mario sports game of all-time and one of the better sports games you’ll ever play. Nonetheless, the game carries a gritty attitude, a gritty art style, and contains gritty gameplay that’s just absolutely brutal for a Mario game. You can slam characters to electric fences, trip them, throw bombs at them, etc. Oh by the way, this is soccer. A sport never embraced in America, the Mario Strikers franchise has actually seen decent success in the states, but much moreso around the world. This game is addicting fun, and definitely a step away from the norm in Mario gameplay.


#16: Mario Kart Wii

If you want frustration, then look no further. The only racing game in which you can go from first to last and then back to first in a matter of one lap, Mario Kart Wii allows for the most unskilled of gamers to still look like pros as long as you have enough luck and willpower. While the game boasts pretty much no learning curve, the tracks themselves are very fun to race in, the items add to the mayhem, and the customizable options add the little bit of depth that this Mario Kart desperately needs. What makes this game one of the biggest success stories of all-time is its amazing multi-player mode, which finally allows for the Wii to compete with the competition in terms of online gaming.


#15: Mario Tennis

The best Mario sports game of all-time, and one of the best sports games you’ll ever play. Mario Tennis is incredibly easy and fun to learn, but only the truest of true can master the game and nail every trick shot. There is a large assortment of characters to choose from and an extensive amount of secret ones as well. Adding to the fun is that each character has their specialties, which depending on who you have alters your strategy in the game. This game put Camelot on the map and finally provided Virtua Tennis some competition.


#14: Mario Party 2

Everything that was wrong and was right about Mario Party was improved upon in Mario Party 2. The most underrated Mario game on this entire list, Mario Party 2 is so much fun, a Friday night back then just wouldn’t be complete without a 30+ turn showdown against some friends. The mini-games were better, the maps were better, the cutscenes were better, the amount of secrets was better, and the game itself is easily the best game of its kind. Every other Mario Party absolutely pales in comparison to this one, and why its not in Virtual Console baffles the mind.


#13: Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

The handheld sequel to the original smash hit is also an improvement in every possible way. Super Mario has a crisper look, the classic enemies have returned, and yet Super Mario Land 2 still carries the unique and bizarre gameplay that the original was known for. Super Mario in this installment gets to enter a whale, gets to fight in outer space, enters a robotic version of himself, and even becomes extremely small and fights ants. Games like this just aren’t made anymore, whether by Nintendo or any gaming company.


#12: New Super Mario Bros.

It took 14 years before Super Mario returned to the side-scrolling action, but the wait was nearly worth it. In a time in which 3-D is conquering the gaming industry and even the 2-D classics, New Super Mario Bros. reverses the trend by going back to the basics, while maintaining a new look. 70+ levels and multi-player modes galore later, we have a worldwide smash that continues to sell today. The gameplay is old-school but fresh, the music is chipper, the graphics are phenomenal, and the success and impact pretty much guarantees that this will not be the last time we see Mario in 2-D, and it won’t take over 10 years before it happens again.



#11: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Of all the Paper Mario games in the series, this one stands as the best, funniest, and most successful one to date. The plot of Mario rescuing Peach takes a different turn and throws Mario into a massive quest full of whimsical gameplay, clever visuals, and fun usage of the paper effects you see throughout the game. One (of many) of gamecube’s flaws can be traced to the lack of RPGs, and this game nearly filled the void by being so much fun. It’s a shame Super Paper Mario drifted away from the formula.


#10: Super Mario Sunshine

Nintendo is known for drifting away from the formula for some experimental gameplay and risky gambling. Super Mario Sunshine is one of these examples. Instead of expanding upon the flawless gameplay mechanics of Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine instead equips you with a muck-cleaning weapon, a tropical overworld, and a new style of platform gaming. The game, despite being so different, runs smoothly, has a lot to do, and reunites you with Yoshi, a Nintendo staple. Where the heck is Luigi though?


#9: Super Mario Bros. DX

I know most gaming magazines and websites will list Super Mario Bros. as one of the best Mario games of all-time. I mean duh, of course. However, while the original Super Mario Bros. did definitely re-introduce the world to gaming and would forever change the industry, I am instead giving it to the Game Boy Color version for one main reason: Super Mario Bros. 2: The Lost Levels is included. This Game Boy Color remake of the original classic is not only a good translation, but also throws in all sorts of goodies including hidden Yoshi coins, fortune cookies, printable stickers, and even an entirely new game. This wasn’t just an incredible game, it was a must-own and truly worth every penny.


#8: Mario Kart DS

This game not only is the deepest of the Mario Kart games, its also the very first extremely successful Nintendo online game. The tracks are incredible, the music is excellent, the amount of unlockables is fantastic, the amount of skill required was the most demanding in the entire franchise, and of course the online mode was something not to be missed. This Mario Kart hit all the right notes, and to this day is considered one of the premiere racing games in history.


#7: Mario Kart 64

Perhaps it’s the nostalgia talking, but even after all I’ve said about Mario Kart DS, Mario Kart 64 is my absolute favorite of the Mario Kart games. Surely the DS version is tougher, longer, and contains more stuff, but Mario Kart 64’s racing tracks remain the best one of them all, and the best collection of courses in the history of racing games. You get the absolutely goofy tracks like Moo Moo Farm and Wario Stadium, but then you have the killer-tough courses like Banshee Boardwalk, Yoshi Valley, and the power slide-friendly Mario’s Raceway. The items were at their best and non-cheapest here, especially with the red and green shells proving much more damage than a wimpy flip. And unlike the cruel blue shells in later installments, the purple shell is actually avoidable. And I didn’t even touch the multi-player mode, which not only is among the best in history, but was the first to prove that 4-player gaming at one time is possible, is fun, and is incredibly addicting.


#6: Super Mario Bros. 3

Prior to the Wii, this was the best-selling video game of all-time, and the most-beloved of the Mario games. However, as time moves on, the nostalgia of the SNES version seems to age better than this instant classic. Nonetheless, Super Mario Bros. 3 is an extremely fun game full of killer items, dozens of secrets, very varied gameplay, and a fun multi-player mode to boot. Super Mario Bros. 3 was the beginning of Nintendo thinking bigger and bigger in terms of where to take the side-scrolling Mario franchise.


#5: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

For anyone that truly knows me, they know I have a deep fondness of this classic title. Mario’s first array into RPG gaming remains one of the best RPG experiences I’ve ever had the pleasure of facing. I’ll never forget the first time I rented this game back in 1996, not quite sure how to handle Mario in such a different environment. The music is amazing, the characters and humor is memorable, there is so much to do, there are so many secrets and hidden goodies, so many Nintendo (and Final Fantasy) references, and overall, its just a gaming treat. Of the 5 remaining games on this list, this is the least played by far, and hopefully with Virtual Console everyone will realize just how special this game is. Where in the heck is Geno and mallow these days?


#4: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island

It hurts a lot to place this down at #4, when it is a fantastically flawless game. Heck, the top 4 Mario games each deserve a perfect score. This game is massive, it’s colorful, and its very different from your average Mario game. Instead of controlling Mario, you are controlling Yoshi as you navigate him through over 50 huge levels full of details, puzzles and surprises. The egg-throwing mechanics is something not used enough in video games, and the coin collecting side-quests warranted nice rewards. The boss battles were extremely creative, and the overall tropical theming of the game is just a delight to witness.


#3: Super Mario Galaxy

The old-school gamers are fuming right now because this Wii title has hit so high on the list. But the explanation is simple: Super Mario Galaxy combines old-school gameplay with a totally new-school look. For the first time ever, we are seeing Mario in not just a quest to rescue Peach, but an epic quest in outer space, with creativity and incredible details around every corner. Of all the games on this list, this is the one that should be experienced on an HDTV the most, and of all the games on this list, this one boasts the best soundtrack and some of the coolest levels you’ll ever see. Platform gaming yet again hit a new peak as Miyamoto and company outdid themselves in this production. The only setback (which was a microscopic one) was the difficulty, but granted its everyone first time playing as Super Mario in space (with clever gravitational pulls) and with the Wiimote, its a bit understandable. Imagine making the first Mario game compatible with the Wiimote difficult--it merely wouldn't be duplicating the same amount of acclaim, praise, and success. We can only imagine what Super Mario Galaxy 2 will bring us.


#2: Super Mario World

While Super Mario Bros. 3 expanded Mairo gameplay to new heights, Super Mario World improved upon everything Mario 3 contained, and then added some. The graphics and art style was superior, the soundtrack was superior, the level design was better, the game was somewhat tougher, and the overall game was just much bigger. The introduction of ghost houses, fortresses, sunken ships, and the infamous Star Road would influence Mario games for years to come. This game has so many secrets, it would be argued for years just how many levels were actually in Super Mario World. And then there’s the introduction of Yoshi. Super Mario World isn’t just one of the best Mario games ever, but its easily one of the 10 greatest video games of all-time.




#1: Super Mario 64

The list has come to this, Super Mario 64. The old-school side-scrolling fans are screaming bloody mary and wondering why a 3-D Mario game has entered the top position. I have argued this for years upon years, but Super Mario 64 is still the best game I’ve ever played. Its influence on gaming can be felt to this day, from the platform games to shooters and even Grand Theft Auto. 3-D gaming was proven possible and not a chore at the same time thanks to Super Mario 64. Goldeneye 007, Ocarina of Time, GTA III and above, Metroid Prime, and even Halo probably wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the graphical, technical, and gameplay achievements that were accomplished with this perfect game.

The story is the same, but the means in which you must save her are different. You no longer have a beginning to an end, you have to walk around, find objectives, explore, collect, discover, and take multiple leaps of faith. Super Mario 64 had 15 massive worlds full of exploration, traps, pitfalls, surprises, and things to collect. The worlds range from a place full of lava, to a massive maze, to a very creepy haunted house, to a pirate ship in the sky, to a world in which you can be incredibly small or incredibly big, a sunken ship, and even a world that takes place inside a massive clock. The variety was incredible, from the level design to even the amount of moves you had. This remains the only Super Mario game with more than 30 possible moves and combinations. He can backflip, crawl, moonwalk, triple jump, sidejump, punch, wall kick, body slam, and so much more. Grand Theft Auto IV’s biggest issue was that the main character still performs only a small handful of fighting moves. 1996 Super Mario can take on 2008 Niko.

Super Mario 64’s impact on gaming, Nintendo, and Super Mario himself cannot be avoided, cannot be duplicated, and should be celebrated everytime a new Mario game comes out. This is the best of the best, a must-own, and to this day, the most rewarding experience any video game can possibly offer. Potentially until Super Mario Galaxy 2, that is……


Well, I hope you enjoyed my list of Mario games. If you didn't, oh well. Super Mario has been around for generations, and his appeal is as strong as ever. He is a video game character that will not go away for a very long time. And as long as games like Mario Galaxy and New Super Mario Bros. Wii continue appearing with his face on it, I would not want to see him go away.