Comments on: New Super Mario Brothers http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/07/06/new-super-mario-brothers/ A blog on virtual worlds, games, and digital content, from Matt Mihaly Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:31:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Eric http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/07/06/new-super-mario-brothers/#comment-266 Sun, 09 Jul 2006 08:41:35 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/07/06/new-super-mario-brothers/#comment-266 The unique features of the DS are great for many games, even ones that traditionally just get played with buttons - Kirby's Canvas Curse is a great re-envisioning of the 2D platformer, for example, where the touchpad both successfully replicates classic gameplay elements and creates new one. Not to mention games like Trauma Center, that flat-out wouldn't be possible without the touch screen and really demonstrate its value in terms of sparking creativity in developers. But for a game like NSMB, the goal isn't re-envisioning the 2D platformer with new gameplay elements, it's just trying to be the best nostalgic throwback it can be, and it does a great job of that. Personally, I LOVE what Nintendo is doing with the DS, branching it out into so many different audiences. There's stuff on there for modern, hardcore gamers, stuff for people who haven't played a game since the NES, and stuff for people who have never touched a videogame before. It makes me very excited about what they'll do with the Wii, precisely for what Scott said - they *aren't* trying to wow an audience with increasingly detailed graphics. They just know that fun sells. The unique features of the DS are great for many games, even ones that traditionally just get played with buttons - Kirby’s Canvas Curse is a great re-envisioning of the 2D platformer, for example, where the touchpad both successfully replicates classic gameplay elements and creates new one. Not to mention games like Trauma Center, that flat-out wouldn’t be possible without the touch screen and really demonstrate its value in terms of sparking creativity in developers.

But for a game like NSMB, the goal isn’t re-envisioning the 2D platformer with new gameplay elements, it’s just trying to be the best nostalgic throwback it can be, and it does a great job of that.

Personally, I LOVE what Nintendo is doing with the DS, branching it out into so many different audiences. There’s stuff on there for modern, hardcore gamers, stuff for people who haven’t played a game since the NES, and stuff for people who have never touched a videogame before. It makes me very excited about what they’ll do with the Wii, precisely for what Scott said - they *aren’t* trying to wow an audience with increasingly detailed graphics. They just know that fun sells.

]]> by: Scott http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/07/06/new-super-mario-brothers/#comment-264 Sat, 08 Jul 2006 06:17:25 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/07/06/new-super-mario-brothers/#comment-264 I'm a huge fan of the 2D Mario games, I thought they did a great job bringing back this style of game. Like you said, they didn't overuse any of those DS features. While I definitley support innovation and technological advancement in gaming, I think we would get some more wholesome and fun games if things moved a little slower. Some limits can really enhance creativity I think, and time can be spent elsewhere when you arn't trying to wow an audience with increasingly detailed graphics. I’m a huge fan of the 2D Mario games, I thought they did a great job bringing back this style of game. Like you said, they didn’t overuse any of those DS features. While I definitley support innovation and technological advancement in gaming, I think we would get some more wholesome and fun games if things moved a little slower. Some limits can really enhance creativity I think, and time can be spent elsewhere when you arn’t trying to wow an audience with increasingly detailed graphics.

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