Replaying this in 2022 is pretty depressing. The game is great, but it's clearly built around the level creation and sharing features. Now that the servers are shut down, the game feels like an imitation of itself. The story mode feels more like a showcase of all the cool things you can do in creative mode rather than a game in its on right. I really hope people figure out fan servers for this at some point.
Additionally, now that I am no longer a child, I notice how much the story's levels rely on stereotypes. They can range from kinda cringe to actively harmful, like the only black character in this game being a car thief and a thug. I don't think the people of MM were being actively malicious but it still feels awkward to play.
Also the lives system feels incredibly out of place in a game like this. Why do I have to replay the entire level for failing a single section 4 times? Is this an arcade game trying to get my quarters? Or an NES game trying to pad the playtime of its up to 1 MB cartridge?
Additionally, now that I am no longer a child, I notice how much the story's levels rely on stereotypes. They can range from kinda cringe to actively harmful, like the only black character in this game being a car thief and a thug. I don't think the people of MM were being actively malicious but it still feels awkward to play.
Also the lives system feels incredibly out of place in a game like this. Why do I have to replay the entire level for failing a single section 4 times? Is this an arcade game trying to get my quarters? Or an NES game trying to pad the playtime of its up to 1 MB cartridge?