Jim Sterling: Mario just ain't what he used to be...

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/6147-Old-Man-Mario

Went into this video with a bit of skeptisism thinking it was going to be a poor rant like most of his videos, but for the most part i think he has a point.

Nintendo isn't giving Mario the treatment he deserves lately. Once upon a time Mario could be called upon to inovate within each title. Now we're getting two almost oxymoron titles with New Super Mario Bros 2 and New Super Mario Bros U...Its depressing on some level, and not because (as he points out) theirs something fundimentaly wrong with the games, its that he keeps going to the same old ground, and is being overtaken by games that do many things better. Super Meat Boy and Rayman Origins spring to mind.

What say you, System Wars. Is Mario set for a fall from grace, or is Sterling full of **** like usual and Mario has never been fresher?

Nintendo announcing two NSMB games around the same time (NSMB2 and NSMBU) is the first time I actually felt that Nintendo was milking Mario. That being said 3D Mario is still terrific with titles like the Galaxy games and Super Mario 3D Land, and I'm not going to really get up in arms over Nintendo making 2 NSMB games. The games sell like hotcakes and I'm not going to hate a company for wanting to make money.

Mario's problem isn't that he ain't what he used to be, it's that he's exactly what he used to be. For me though, that's ok. I enjoy a good Mario romp every once in awhile, not enough to mandate playing every game of his, but enough to keep me coming back from time to time.

Mario certainly isn't what he used to be, but he's still doing very well. The fact is that nonsports Mario games are, at worst, a bit bland and too nostalgia driven. But they are always quality titles (you really can't say this with a lot of long time series). ... and with the Galaxy games and 3D Land, there is still some pretty top notch content coming from the plumber. '

What needs to happen in the future:

The Mario Bros series needs to redeem itself, and become top tier gaming again.

The 3D series needs to keep proving that Mario games can still be art.

If he were just talking about the NSMB games he would have a point, but the Galaxy games and 3D Land all felt very fresh.

2D Mario: Yes.

3D Mario: No and in fact better then ever.

3D mario continues to be some of the most unique and innovative games today.

2D mario are just casual cash-ins.

Mario is has been turning into Nintendo's Call of Duty for years. For every Super Mario Galaxy, there's 5-10 games like Mario Party or NSMB that are either blatant rehashes or are passable but just plain lack creativity (like most of the Mario sports games).Timstuff

NSMB2 is the only one I'd call a quick cash-in.

Mario is has been turning into Nintendo's Call of Duty for years. For every Super Mario Galaxy, there's 5-10 games like Mario Party or NSMB that are either blatant rehashes or are passable but just plain lack creativity (like most of the Mario sports games).Timstuff

2D Mario: Yes.

3D Mario: No and in fact better then ever.

Seabas989

This sh*t is all because of NSMB2, lol, we all knew how it would be.

it seems Jim is in a killing spree now because he gave The Last Story a 4. Hate everywhere!

In all honesty (and yes, I think Mario is getting a bit stale lately in the 2D offerings), can anyone here think of any new innovations the Mario series could do on the 2D plane? Everything I've ever come up with over the years has been done in recent games.

usually I would make a rubuttal to this, but anything about Mario not innovating like he used to I'm going to agree with.

The Last Well Done Mario Game was Super Mario Galaxy 2.

3D Land was the worst Mario Game I've Played, NSMB2 looks like they're reusing a LOT of stages from the SNES game, NSMBWU will probably be the same only with Yoshi's Island Stages.

Things aren't really looking up for the Plumber at the moment.

usually I would make a rubuttal to this, but anything about Mario not innovating like he used to I'm going to agree with.

The Last Well Done Mario Game was Super Mario Galaxy 2.

3D Land was the worst Mario Game I've Played, NSMB2 looks like they're reusing a LOT of stages from the SNES game, NSMBWU will probably be the same only with Yoshi's Island Stages.

Things aren't really looking up for the Plumber at the moment.

LegatoSkyheart

For a character as old as he is to be going as strong as he is is a testament to his greatness. Sure, some of the 2D stuff isn't as innovative as it used to be but he still rules gaming. The galaxy games were the best this gen had to offer.

2d mario games are still the best platformer out there. sales will prove it as usuall all platformer fan tends to buy and enjoy mario most. new super mario wii sold in the 20 million range. rayman origin no matter what reviews say about it is no where near the quality and fun factor of mario platformer. heck it dint even sell well platformer fan ignored that title.

2d mario games are still the best platformer out there. sales will prove it as usuall all platformer fan tends to buy and enjoy mario most. new super mario wii sold in the 20 million range. rayman origin no matter what reviews say about it is no where near the quality and fun factor of mario platformer. heck it dint even sell well platformer fan ignored that title.

pc-ps360

The physics are always the best and the gameplay is always so tight. No other platformer can come close.

usually I would make a rubuttal to this, but anything about Mario not innovating like he used to I'm going to agree with.

The Last Well Done Mario Game was Super Mario Galaxy 2.

3D Land was the worst Mario Game I've Played, NSMB2 looks like they're reusing a LOT of stages from the SNES game, NSMBWU will probably be the same only with Yoshi's Island Stages.

Things aren't really looking up for the Plumber at the moment.

LegatoSkyheart

No other title in the series blended the 2d and 3d styles of gameplay more seamlessly than it

I've retired 2D mario games. Galaxy was pretty awesome.

That is harsh and very unfair. Mario games have set high standards over the years. I felt Super Mario Land 3DS and Mario Kart 7 were well excuted games. Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 are the best this gen but I would say that New Super Mario Bros WiiU feels like a cash in to sell the WiiU seeing as the 2D series sells so well. Mario has always maintained a decent standard for me and I expect Paper Mario to be good.

mario is still good, if not hes better then ever. if hes not your taste anymore thats fine, but numbers dont lie

Mario is perfectly fine when Nintendo actually tries. Games like NSMB2 are just cash grabs. Once your character becomes a household name you'd be stupid not to stick his face on anything possible and rake in the dough.

Super Mario 3D Land was top notch and Paper Mario Sticker Star is looking good, so no he still rocking in some places at least. Nintendo needs to move on from NSMB through.

Mario is a goddamn junkie.

I bet this guy was just waiting for a Mario game to be poorly received. "Ain't what he used to be" refers to only 2 years ago, I guess?

I don't get excited about Mario games anymore. They need to make a true Mario game that will make the Wii U a top seller.

I don't get excited about Mario games anymore. They need to make a true Mario game that will make the Wii U a top seller.

HaloPimp978

A true Mario game?:?

[QUOTE="HaloPimp978"]

I don't get excited about Mario games anymore. They need to make a true Mario game that will make the Wii U a top seller.

Wanderer5

A true Mario game?:?

Damn, Sterling. All this for ONE game (NSMB2)?

Without Mario, Nintendo would be dead, and Ninty already has killed off enough franchise (F-Zero and Star Fox, anyone?), and no other IP would be saving their ass. Not even Pokemon.

[QUOTE="Wanderer5"]

[QUOTE="HaloPimp978"]

I don't get excited about Mario games anymore. They need to make a true Mario game that will make the Wii U a top seller.

candyassgames

A true Mario game?:?

Don't think that what a true Mario game suppose to be but well considering how hard NSMBWii supposedly was, maybe the same will be for U.

[QUOTE="candyassgames"][QUOTE="Wanderer5"]

A true Mario game?:?

Wanderer5

Don't think that what a true Mario game suppose to be but well considering how hard NSMBWii supposedly was, maybe the same will be for U.

Our jaded troll (that's what I'm calling him from now on) is back in another account, why am I NOT surprised? :|

Our jaded troll is back in another account, why am I NOT surprised? :(nintendoboy16