This is a fascinating work of fanfiction insofar as I can't believe it exists, but obviously it just doesn't work on a conceptual level. Mario's contrast to the anime-style visuals borderlines on the comedic such that any tension the games setting can evoke is completely undermined. He is unceremoniously transplanted into a totally different kind of game; the plot itself being a standard Sen-style RPG Maker horror (think Misao or Mad Father). The "creepypastas" that would define mid 2010s internet culture- Sonic.exe, Ben Drowned, etc. worked on some level because they were appropriating the original games' context. The game world itself is being corrupted with the presence of the horror. By contrast, Music Box is just taking Mario and putting him in a Victorian-style mansion and having him deal with a setting completely unfamiliar to the actual games. I guess Luigi's Mansion would be the closest thing tonally, but Mansion didn't have anime characters running around.
Mario's personality in this game wavers between passive observer and tortured soul; which I guess is okay, because if you think about it, what really is Mario's personality? The Music Box simply wouldn't work if Mario was just the ceaseless automaton he is in other games. Problem is, Mario is... Mario. He's a plumber in a red hat and overalls, with a huge moustache and nose. You can't divorce that iconic look from the memories it evokes of playing the Mario games. As a result, watching Mario brood and grimly comment on some mutilated dead bodies is impossible to take seriously. It is just impossible not to laugh or find it amusing.
Music Box also runs into the problem that the games its based on aren't particularly good as "games." What endeared people to Sen's games was atmosphere and worldbuilding- something that this game fails at right from the start. Take that away and you're stuck with the extremely mediocre gameplay these titles have. The clunky exploration sequences and endless backtracking to solve puzzles bored me out of my mind. In true RPG Maker horror fashion, there are multiple red herrings that lead to you immediately dying and having to reload your save. These were mostly hilarious, but many of them are impossible to predict; meaning you need to save every time you reach a new area or you risk losing a bunch of progress.
For the reasons I have outlined, the game is very tedious if you can get past the absurdity of the concept. I played through to the first ending I could reach (of which there are multiple), which was this really strange rip-off of Puella Magi Madoka Magica before I called it quits. I don't think I'll ever revisit it; even though the game has a huge, branching storyline that encompasses multiple timelines and a sequel.
I will end this review on a positive note by saying "Immortal" is a banger and the game gets an extra star just for the opening music video.
Mario's personality in this game wavers between passive observer and tortured soul; which I guess is okay, because if you think about it, what really is Mario's personality? The Music Box simply wouldn't work if Mario was just the ceaseless automaton he is in other games. Problem is, Mario is... Mario. He's a plumber in a red hat and overalls, with a huge moustache and nose. You can't divorce that iconic look from the memories it evokes of playing the Mario games. As a result, watching Mario brood and grimly comment on some mutilated dead bodies is impossible to take seriously. It is just impossible not to laugh or find it amusing.
Music Box also runs into the problem that the games its based on aren't particularly good as "games." What endeared people to Sen's games was atmosphere and worldbuilding- something that this game fails at right from the start. Take that away and you're stuck with the extremely mediocre gameplay these titles have. The clunky exploration sequences and endless backtracking to solve puzzles bored me out of my mind. In true RPG Maker horror fashion, there are multiple red herrings that lead to you immediately dying and having to reload your save. These were mostly hilarious, but many of them are impossible to predict; meaning you need to save every time you reach a new area or you risk losing a bunch of progress.
For the reasons I have outlined, the game is very tedious if you can get past the absurdity of the concept. I played through to the first ending I could reach (of which there are multiple), which was this really strange rip-off of Puella Magi Madoka Magica before I called it quits. I don't think I'll ever revisit it; even though the game has a huge, branching storyline that encompasses multiple timelines and a sequel.
I will end this review on a positive note by saying "Immortal" is a banger and the game gets an extra star just for the opening music video.