The world of 2D platformers has changed for the better since 2006, making New Super Mario Bros. 2's job harder.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/editorial/31268
I'm in the early stages of New Super Mario Bros. 2 (review coming later this week) and one thought is coming to mind throughout it: "Wow, this feels awfully similar to New Super Mario Bros. on DS."
As I play it, it makes more sense to know why it's called NSMB 2 and not NSMB 3DS. This isn't a sequel to the Wii version; this is a sequel to the 2006 DS release. That's not a bad thing, mind you, as the original game was a competent Mario game, and after completing roughly half the game's content, NSMB 2 seems much better. The first game is not something I'd call a classic, but I recall enjoying it in 2006. The game's MetaCritic rating stands at an impressive 89. Nintendo World Report's Michael Cole gave the game a 9.0 when it released. Most people dug this game a whole lot in 2006.
But look at the competition in 2006: Yoshi's Island DS, Kirby Squeak Squad, Mega Man Powered Up (PSP). I might be missing one or two, but in that time, 2D platformers were mostly doomed to portables, and in the three I mentioned, I only think one of them (Mega Man) is a good game.
Here's what happened since then: NSMB was stupidly successful. New Super Mario Bros. Wii brought four-player mayhem to the masses in 2009, followed up by Kirby's Epic Yarn, Donkey Kong Country Returns, and Kirby's Return to Dream Land in the ensuing years. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Wario Land: Shake It, Klonoa, and A Boy and His Blob, which all flew in under the radar before NSMB Wii.
Ubisoft released Rayman Origins in 2011, and it's follow-up, Rayman Legends, almost stole the show from the next Mario game, New Super Mario Bros. U, at E3 2012. I haven't even touched on the cadre of downloadable 3DS platformers ranging from Mutant Mudds to VVVVVV. In the interest of time, I'll just skip over the multitudes of quality 2D platformers littering Steam, XBLA, and PSN.
Simply put, the New Super Mario Bros. series helped kick off a 2D platformer renaissance. The genre hasn't seen this much love since the industry went to 3D in the '90s. And that's likely why everyone is so critical of NSMB 2. It's why fans are somewhat ambivalent. We're not starving for 2D platformers. We're not starving for Mario. We're fatted platformer-loving calves.
That doesn't make NSMB 2 any better or worse. My early opinion is that is a sequel to the original, improving on certain aspects and adding new and more interesting content. It won't set the world ablaze (though it might set sales charts ablaze), and it won't have the impact most 2D Marios do.
At the end of the day, though, I'm just excited to see 2D platformers become a big-time genre again, and comparing the 2006 landscape to the 2012 landscape highlights what a great time it is to be a lover of old-school platformers.
But look at the competition in 2006: Yoshi's Island DS, Kirby Squeak Squad, Daxter (PSP), Mega Man Powered Up (PSP). I might be missing one or two, but in that time, 2D platformers were mostly doomed to portables, and in the four I mentioned, I only think one of them (Mega Man) is a good game.
Quote from: NWR_NealBut look at the competition in 2006: Yoshi's Island DS, Kirby Squeak Squad, Daxter (PSP), Mega Man Powered Up (PSP). I might be missing one or two, but in that time, 2D platformers were mostly doomed to portables, and in the four I mentioned, I only think one of them (Mega Man) is a good game.
Daxter was a 3D platformer, was it not?
Needless to say, I've thought since E3 that New Super Mario Bros. U was the more exciting and progressive title by a long shot over New Super Mario Bros. 2. But I'll still play it before the year is out.
Needless to say, I've thought since E3 that New Super Mario Bros. U was the more exciting and progressive title by a long shot over New Super Mario Bros. 2. But I'll still play it before the year is out.
NSMBU looked nice, but based on what I played of them I thought NSMB2 had better level design and more new gameplay ideas.
Really? What, other than more complex scrolling backgrounds and sharper graphics, have we seen from that game that makes it seem more progressive than the previous NSMB games? The only thing I remember sounding cool was that some journalists had pointed out that the overworld actually made up the backgrounds (so that a mountain on the overworld would be a background in a level). Has there been anything in terms of gameplay that has been shown to indicate that NSMB U will be substantively different?
It'll be funny when NSMB U comes out and it's just a marginal increase from NSMB Wii. I have a feeling everyone decrying NSMB 2 now will either come around on both games, or be Cranky Kong, sitting around all pissed off at both games.
@PixelatedPixies - I don't think I was clear, but I was referencing the people who were hating hardcore of NSMB 2 and thinking NSMB U would be the saving grace of the series.
I'm generally positive on both games, but I see the complaints people have of the overarching series (though not as much on NSMB 2 as my opinion right now as I'm more than halfway through is that it's pretty dang good).
... the New Super Mario Bros. games are like Madden.
... the New Super Mario Bros. games are like Madden.
::)
I just came to an odd conclusion, and it's that the New Super Mario Bros. games are like Madden. They're good games, which I enjoy playing and continue to buy, but their massive success is causing the developers to play it a bit too safe and preventing them from giving the series the significant overhaul it really needs.
I just came to an odd conclusion, and it's that the New Super Mario Bros. games are like Madden. They're good games, which I enjoy playing and continue to buy, but their massive success is causing the developers to play it a bit too safe and preventing them from giving the series the significant overhaul it really needs.
I think this applies to Nintendo as a whole. They took a big risk with Wii Sports and the Wii in general but once it took off everything was safe. Lost and lots of sequels and the whole Xenoblade fiasco where NOA didn't want to release it because it wasn't a sure-fire hit. Aside from Wii Sports and Xenoblade I can't think of any first party Wii game released in North America where there wasn't some sort of established brand behind and thus a pre-existing audience expected to buy it. Even something that underperformed like Wii Music wasn't really a big risk because it had that Wii Series name on it, already well established by Wii Sports. Sin & Punishment 2 didn't do too well but the reason we got the game was because the original was surprisingly popular on the VC. The game bombed but Nintendo thought there was an existing audience for it. It wasn't a risky title in that they had to hope it would create an audience. They assumed an audience was there and it just wasn't as they expected.
Everyone wants mainstream appeal. Once a company has it, they want to keep it and they're incredibly scared of losing it so they become conservative. That's NSMB and that's Nintendo. They're playing to not lose.
NSMB : Madden :: Nerf Ball : Bullet
And to be more specific:
Super Mario 3D Land is basically a dumbed-down version of Super Mario Galaxy, without the cool gravity effects and creative level design.
And to be more specific:
Super Mario 3D Land is basically a dumbed-down version of Super Mario Galaxy, without the cool gravity effects and creative level design.
I don't think I agree. Of course handheld games are less expansive and maybe a little less complicated, but that's because they should be. What I want from a handheld game is something which is snappy, easy to pick up and play, and which keeps in mind the control limitations of the system and is, therefore, designed around them.
For me Super Mario 3D Land was an almost perfect handheld Mario game. Does it share some DNA with the Galaxy games? Well, yes, at least aesthetically; but I certainly don't think of it as being dumbed down. I think the people behind 3D Land showed a great amount of intelligence. They managed to take the essentials of a 3D Mario game, marry it to some of the mechanics normally only seen in a 2D Mario game, and in the process created something which can fit comfortably into neither category. More important than any of that though, the game is packed with delicious little levels which are just as smart and fun as anything we've seen on a home console.
For me Super Mario 3D Land is as successful at being a handheld game as the Galaxy games are at being console games.
And to be more specific:
Super Mario 3D Land is basically a dumbed-down version of Super Mario Galaxy, without the cool gravity effects and creative level design.
I don't think I agree. Of course handheld games are less expansive and maybe a little less complicated, but that's because they should be. What I want from a handheld game is something which is snappy, easy to pick up and play, and which keeps in mind the control limitations of the system and is, therefore, designed around them.
For me Super Mario 3D Land was an almost perfect handheld Mario game. Does it share some DNA with the Galaxy games? Well, yes, at least aesthetically; but I certainly don't think of it as being dumbed down. I think the people behind 3D Land showed a great amount of intelligence. They managed to take the essentials of a 3D Mario game, marry it to some of the mechanics normally only seen in a 2D Mario game, and in the process created something which can fit comfortably into neither category. More important than any of that though, the game is packed with delicious little levels which are just as smart and fun as anything we've seen on a home console.
For me Super Mario 3D Land is as successful at being a handheld game as the Galaxy games are at being console games.
But why should Nintendo need to create two different gaming experiences on handhelds and consoles? Why not give handheld systems the same A-team efforts and budgets as console games? It seems handhelds are always treated like second-class citizens.
So what about New Super Mario Bros.? It was directed by a guy who assistant directed Sunshine and worked on a bunch of the GBA ports. And, as previously said, 3D Land was by EAD Tokyo, who made both Galaxy games!
I'm just finding this PSP/Vita comparison absurd. When I see Naughty Dog make Uncharted Vita, then people can think of making that comparison. Especially now, the line between handheld and home console is blurred. I mean, look at Uprising.
