Despite what the propaganda might tell you otherwise, there is NO game more new, OR super than this one. Finally the days of shoveling slop and goop since (checks shelf) 2012? Well they’re hopefully done and buried, sorry to all the New Super Mario Bros. 2 lovers, genuinely, it’s just my go to for Mario’s era of crud.
It’s crazy that they went from the textbook definition of safe with NSMB to this, it feels like it would be easier to name what wasn’t new about this game, and I probably won’t even do that! Who cares! I love this game! To contain my love for it though I should probably actually say something about it, like how visually vibrant and expressive this game is. I’ve seen a lot of people compare it directly to NSMB which IS really funny, but even despite how unimaginative and dull those games visuals were (besides the first 2) this game is still fucking beautiful even when not compared to other games in the series, especially with this fucking elephant. The elephant is probably one of the best things they’ve ever made for a Mario game, I was almost sad that there were only a few new power ups in this game but it didn’t even matter because they’re all pretty great and useful and a lot of interesting ways, but the point with the elephant is how much attention was given to it. The unique animations for doing almost anything as an elephant like going through doors or down pipes, or the fact that the music shifts dynamically for when you’re an elephant is just lovely.
Speaking of music… music? When was the last time a 2d Mario game had more than 3 songs that already existed 30 years prior? You got a pass on that once, not 4 times. Though the music in those games is totally fine for me it was just totally fine. Serviceable. Can barely remember anything besides the one song they never. stop. using. This games soundtrack is fucking GREAT, and huge! It’s like 200 tracks including jingles and whatnot, so there are probably around like 150 actual songs, most of which are completely original. It has the best 1-1 theme, it has the best second stage just in general, the final boss without saying anything about it really emphasizes the 2 points I’ve made to an extreme degree. I’ve just been listening to it since I beat it pretty much and it’s just delightful, brings a smile to my stupid face. Also related to music and sound, your reward for 100%’ing the game is great. I’ve seen people complain about it and I think for most games and especially games like this, when you get 100% most people are not gonna be playing it much if at all after the fact, for a decent amount of time. So I think for what it is it’s perfect, it’s a very charming reward and remember these games are pretty much made for 40 year olds to play with their 5 year old children and those 5 year old children will love this shit. Even if you’re a group of friends playing together it’s still just so much fun, this goes for the game as a whole.
A few other ancillary things, I thought the online would be a little underwhelming since they seemingly could have put “true” online co-op in the game pretty easily, which I still think would be a good thing, but I actually ended up loving the way the online works. Just playing together with random people and emoting to each other and helping each other and fucking around and finishing the stage together is actually really fun. Standees are actually useful and you will forever love people that actually used them properly, and just the fact that you still can play online with your friends is great, being ghosts is just part of that Halloween charm I guess. I might even just be happier with it how it is versus having it be “proper”. Peach not being the boring damsel anymore is pretty fun since it’s just bowser “fucking shit up” now… in his own special way. Having the other playable characters was great, I initially was saying to myself “but I HAVE to be Mario, it wouldn’t be right” I switched his dumb ass out for Toadette stage 2 good RIDDANCE. It is weird that Yoshi is just the easy mode but not as easy as Nabbit easy mode, but I also don’t care because Yoshi has almost never been as expressive in any game before… almost. He does look a little fried though, something’s definitely going on with him. The only real complaint I could possibly make isn’t even a complaint, mores being spoiled by 3D Land/World but I do wish there was a bonus world in this game, besides the secret world which is also really good. Fuck that final final act though, easily the most trouble I’ve had with one of these 100% stages, thank you to the Luigi named srpoopalot I may have never made it out without your kind patronage.
In short I like Mario. I was a child at one point after all so it’s almost mandatory. Adults like Mario too, did you know that? Crazy that they can make games for 5 year olds also really fun for 25 year olds. Also one more thing that has been fucking pounding along in my mind the last couple days, this game was directed by Shiro Mouri who went from programmer on a handful of pretty non-mentionables minus a couple, to co-directing a link between worlds and then to directing this? So this guy co-directed one of the best Zelda games and directed one of the best Mario games and had no other roles besides programming? (besides directing NSMBUD but I like to think everyone in that office was fucking chain smoking for weeks because no one gave a fuck) Guys, your kitchen is fucking DUSTY let this guy in there like 2 or 3 more times PLEASE. If you’re like me and you’ve been on your knees for the last 12 years crying and begging for a NEW 2D Mario game then this is it. Like seriously, this is the best 1-1 song right?
It’s crazy that they went from the textbook definition of safe with NSMB to this, it feels like it would be easier to name what wasn’t new about this game, and I probably won’t even do that! Who cares! I love this game! To contain my love for it though I should probably actually say something about it, like how visually vibrant and expressive this game is. I’ve seen a lot of people compare it directly to NSMB which IS really funny, but even despite how unimaginative and dull those games visuals were (besides the first 2) this game is still fucking beautiful even when not compared to other games in the series, especially with this fucking elephant. The elephant is probably one of the best things they’ve ever made for a Mario game, I was almost sad that there were only a few new power ups in this game but it didn’t even matter because they’re all pretty great and useful and a lot of interesting ways, but the point with the elephant is how much attention was given to it. The unique animations for doing almost anything as an elephant like going through doors or down pipes, or the fact that the music shifts dynamically for when you’re an elephant is just lovely.
Speaking of music… music? When was the last time a 2d Mario game had more than 3 songs that already existed 30 years prior? You got a pass on that once, not 4 times. Though the music in those games is totally fine for me it was just totally fine. Serviceable. Can barely remember anything besides the one song they never. stop. using. This games soundtrack is fucking GREAT, and huge! It’s like 200 tracks including jingles and whatnot, so there are probably around like 150 actual songs, most of which are completely original. It has the best 1-1 theme, it has the best second stage just in general, the final boss without saying anything about it really emphasizes the 2 points I’ve made to an extreme degree. I’ve just been listening to it since I beat it pretty much and it’s just delightful, brings a smile to my stupid face. Also related to music and sound, your reward for 100%’ing the game is great. I’ve seen people complain about it and I think for most games and especially games like this, when you get 100% most people are not gonna be playing it much if at all after the fact, for a decent amount of time. So I think for what it is it’s perfect, it’s a very charming reward and remember these games are pretty much made for 40 year olds to play with their 5 year old children and those 5 year old children will love this shit. Even if you’re a group of friends playing together it’s still just so much fun, this goes for the game as a whole.
A few other ancillary things, I thought the online would be a little underwhelming since they seemingly could have put “true” online co-op in the game pretty easily, which I still think would be a good thing, but I actually ended up loving the way the online works. Just playing together with random people and emoting to each other and helping each other and fucking around and finishing the stage together is actually really fun. Standees are actually useful and you will forever love people that actually used them properly, and just the fact that you still can play online with your friends is great, being ghosts is just part of that Halloween charm I guess. I might even just be happier with it how it is versus having it be “proper”. Peach not being the boring damsel anymore is pretty fun since it’s just bowser “fucking shit up” now… in his own special way. Having the other playable characters was great, I initially was saying to myself “but I HAVE to be Mario, it wouldn’t be right” I switched his dumb ass out for Toadette stage 2 good RIDDANCE. It is weird that Yoshi is just the easy mode but not as easy as Nabbit easy mode, but I also don’t care because Yoshi has almost never been as expressive in any game before… almost. He does look a little fried though, something’s definitely going on with him. The only real complaint I could possibly make isn’t even a complaint, mores being spoiled by 3D Land/World but I do wish there was a bonus world in this game, besides the secret world which is also really good. Fuck that final final act though, easily the most trouble I’ve had with one of these 100% stages, thank you to the Luigi named srpoopalot I may have never made it out without your kind patronage.
In short I like Mario. I was a child at one point after all so it’s almost mandatory. Adults like Mario too, did you know that? Crazy that they can make games for 5 year olds also really fun for 25 year olds. Also one more thing that has been fucking pounding along in my mind the last couple days, this game was directed by Shiro Mouri who went from programmer on a handful of pretty non-mentionables minus a couple, to co-directing a link between worlds and then to directing this? So this guy co-directed one of the best Zelda games and directed one of the best Mario games and had no other roles besides programming? (besides directing NSMBUD but I like to think everyone in that office was fucking chain smoking for weeks because no one gave a fuck) Guys, your kitchen is fucking DUSTY let this guy in there like 2 or 3 more times PLEASE. If you’re like me and you’ve been on your knees for the last 12 years crying and begging for a NEW 2D Mario game then this is it. Like seriously, this is the best 1-1 song right?
6 Comments
@Snigglegros I’m always droogling over some good slop and goop
you of all people... admonishing mario for slopping and glopping...
@moschidae Categorically false, unless it's about NSMB2. We like GOOD slop and goop here
So excited to finally play this, each review makes me more excited to see the game myself. Great write up!
@DeemonAndGames Thank you! Hope you can get around to it soon! It's a real treat :)
Snigglegros
6 months ago