SW VOTE: What is the greatest game franchise of all time?

@Ballroompirate: I don't understand how Mario and Link's clothes are relevant considering the evolutions within those respective series and the video game industry at-large that those franchises have brought forth. Clothes or the face of a character is a minor, irrelevant aspect to focus on.

1. Souls

2. Devil May Cry

3. Metal Gear Solid

1) Halo

2) Gears of War

3) Forza

Great Mario actually changes on a game design level, while Zelda changes on a superficial level.

Clearly the cosmetics have a more profound impact on a game than the actual game play itself.

1) Final Fantasy

2) Macross

3 ) Mario Bros.

Show me a Mario game (Kart, Tennis and Golf don't count) where Mario doesn't collect stars, combat that basically consists of gathering suits/powers and jumping on goombas ect ect, facing bowser/rescuing peach.

Mario games barely have evolved in the gameplay department, specially considering on how long Mario has been around.

"Mario doesn't collect stars," Take any Mario that isnt 64, Galaxy 1+2 or Sunshine.
"combat that basically consists of gathering suits/powers and jumping on goombas ect ect", yes Mario is a platformer where the main mean of attack is through you guessed it jumping. Not to mention, spin attacks in galaxy, punches, kicks and dives in 64, throwing in SMB2, spraying water in sunshine.
"facing bowser/rescuing peach." plot related issue, and yes the plot is almost always the same in most games. But story has always just an excuse for the actual gameplay. But while I am there, SMB2, Super Mario 3D World had nothing to do with saving princess peach.

Super Mario Bros 2 (yes I know it was a different game in Japan, but the point still stands), involved none of those.

@Maroxad: So much wrong in such a futile post

Games that has Mario collects stars or coins- is in all of them, in fact I can't recall any Mario game that doesn't do this, unless you count Tennis and Golf. Although trying to talk sense into a fanboy with a Mario avatar is pretty much useless.

Mario easily.

It became synonymous with Nintendo.

1) Mario

2) Zelda

3) Fallout

Doesn't collect stars: Super Mario Bros 1, 2, 3, Mario World, Yoshi's Island. You don't collect anything, you beat levels. The collecting stuff happened in 3D games. Coins and stars are not created equal nor carry the same weight. The stars are mandatory for completion in 3D games. The coins are their to service the lives system. Coins have stuck because Mario has always had a lives system. Stars are 3D specific, because that's just how they made their 3D games.

Great Mario hasn't messed with an element of his gameplay that is basically non-existent in the first place. It's a platformer, not an action game. Regardless Mario's had enemies that require you to slap something back at them, use a spin attack, use an environmental prop, or just straight up not fight them. Also Sunshine. The entire combat is built around a water gun.

Otherwise why reduce Mario to this and not Zelda? Zelda is always Link saves Zelda from Ganon. **** even the games where Ganon isn't the "bad guy" he's the final boss when you get Skyward Sword/Link Between Worlds (homeboy just turns himself into pig ganon). Here are bunch of dungeons, guess what we're just going to do the Ocarina thing over and over and over again. You go find an item, you use that item, you fight a boss using the item you find, hit the boss 3 times, get your heart, leave.

In the game play department Mario went from actual level by level games(Mario Bros-Yoshi's Island) to collect-a-thons in the transition from 2D to 3D. Zelda is Link to the Past just being done in 3D over and over again. Mario has had the initial 3D game, a game about using a water gun(Sunshine) for all your platforming/mission solving, to a physics based platformer revolving around gravity and spherical worlds(not in 64, not in Sunshine). The entire level design language is different from Mario 64 to Sunshine to Galaxy. New Super Mario Bros is shameless retreading. 3D World and Land are some hybrid shit between 2d and 3D thing going on, using Galaxy design principles.

More to the point it's just as contradictory to bitch at the Mario fanbase for a "lack of change" and then honestly try to pimp out Zelda as this constantly evolving franchise for changing it's paint job. That's not change when the game is still the same. You are ignorant of Mario games, especially modern ones.

:|

God, su much ignorance and blind fanboyism...Jesus, that's it, i'm out of this discussion, i'm not going to even put a facepalm pic...this is too much mindless and ignorant hate for a franchise that has so many innovations over the decades, what the hell do you want? a Mario game with guns? swords? Just go and play some Paper Mario if you don't want to jump over enemies...hell, in fact, i'm going to play some Paper Mario, a true RPG franchise :D

1. Mass Effect

2. KOTOR

Only two I like enough to reccommend.

@madsnakehhh: Do you even know what a Fanboy means? cause I take it you don't, hating something ISN'T a Fanboy.

Example

Fanboy- A passionate fan of various elements of geek culture (e.g. sci-fi, comics, Star Wars, video games, anime, hobbits, etc.), but who lets his passion override social graces.

Hell-O........ the New York Yankees. 27 world championships

The only correct answer is Metroid.

Zelda isn't nearly as consistent. From Metroid 3 onwards (Metroid and Return of Samus were not bad games) things only either improved or remained largely the same.

Mario platformers come second.

1. Super Mario
2. DotA
3. Dragon Quest

1. Metal Gear Solid

2. Halo

3. Shin Megami Tensei

By coins you mean those 3-5 coins on each map right? Well, Super Mario Bros 1, 2, 3 did not have those. If you mean those small coins, that you collect 100 of to get an extra life, you really are grasping for straws. You should probably read champ's post, he described it quite well.

Mario Fanboy ehh? What was my top 3 franchises now again... hmm...

1. The Legend of Zelda
2. Wizardry
3. Ultima

And this is why I keep this avatar, even though I prefer other franchises, or even characters in the mario universe such as Wario. It exposes idiots and allows me to make fun of them. Not to mention, last gen we Zelda gave us a rehash of a rehash (Twilight Princess) and a disgrace on the franchise (Skyward Sword), whereas Mario gave us Super Mario Galaxy, of which had more variety in it than the entire Zelda franchise as a whole.

Sorry guys, your votes simply won't count unless you give me three names each. The points curve would be meaningless otherwise :p

Lol ok, keep telling yourself that champ XD, so let me get this straight you just use a Mario avatar to lure people who bash Mario, then try to make fun of them, yet you say some of the dumbest shyt I've seen posted on here and I quote "whereas Mario gave us Super Mario Galaxy, of which had more variety in it than the entire Zelda franchise as a whole." Also to point out the major Bullcrap you just said, for LoZ being your "fav franchise" you just ragged it pretty hard.

Also

@ConanTheStoner you left for awhile? oh didn't notice or cared lol

Ballroompirate sure says some of the dumbest shit I've ever read here.

Says the guy who praises the most random games like RE6?

Not sure if serious

You like that same game though.

I like it true, but it's not in my top 5 RE games nor is it no where near my top 20, 30 or hell even my top 50 games list. I also don't praise every entry of CoD, although the next one has me intrigued for some odd reason...

I also respect that you like those games, but if you're gonna call me out on saying dumb crap, please don't pretend you're a saint on here. Unless you wanna bash uninspiredcup, one of Sniper chans alts or jankar, then go right ahead cause no one has snooped to their lvl of b*********** on here.

True I say some dumb shyt, but who doesn't on here on that very short list?

Complaining that Mario games are the same because you jump on enemies or "collect" things is like saying Tekken is repetitive because you kick people, Metal Gear solid because you hide behind projectiles, and Halo because you shoot stuff. The question is, how do you collect those stars in the 3D Mario titles? You don't simply run up and grab those suckers. The obstacles that lie in the way of those stars present some of gaming's most memorable, original, innovative gameplay elements (diverse and in spades) as well as the industry's standard for exceptional platforming. It is easy to falsely debunk the Super Mario series' originality by saying something like, "all you do is collect stars and jump on stuff." But when you actually try to use evidence from the actual gameplay to substantiate that claim, you fall flat.

Tekken has what 9 games compared to Mario's what 30 something games?

You're comparing games with not even half the amount of Mario games.

@Ballroompirate

No Fair... I wana play too. :(

@Lulu_Lulu: I'll tag you in!

@Ballroompirate

No Way... I don't want to be on your team.... I love Mario. It totally eveolved.... From what I hear.

@The_Deepblue: Except Metal Gear has evolved...away from hiding by allowing you to go through guns blazing :P.

@hiphops_savior

Is that really "evolution" ?

Ewwww

@Ballroompirate

Say you were the Creative Director... How would you make this Happy Go Lucky Italian Plumber evolve ?

Clearly by changing the color of his pants.

@commonfate

Would different coloured pants have special game mechanics ?

Give him a little break for starters, fun fact since 2007 there's been 8 Assassin's Creed games, while there's been 25 Mario games.

Anyways would buy day 1

@Ballroompirate: My comment was mainly alluding to 3D Mario games. There have been a total of six of those. As far as 2D Mario...eleven of those, I think--ten if you do not count Yoshi's Island, though it is officially considered canon by Nintendo. So that is a total of 16-17 Mario platformers in around thirty years. I am doing this off the top of my head, so someone can correct me if my numbers are off. But my point stands regardless of number of entries. In fact, it only helps. That a series can continually evolve over the course of thirty years is noteworthy.

@Ballroompirate

lol. So basically you just want them to stop ?

But more importantly, where Luigi in that Picture ?

I said take a break and I agree that pic needs more Luigi.

@Ballroompirate

I know.... But taking a break won't do anything. So after taking a Break... What would you do ?

During the break I'd actually try different ways of making Mario and crew have a darker tone, by that I don't mean "blood,guts, explosions ect ect" I mean in color and graphics, sorta like that pic I showed earlier. Maybe toy around with how a Mario meets Mirror's Edge or a Mario game meets Wind Waker would be pretty dope.

@charizard1605: I already did, i was just having fun. Sorry

After reading through this thread, I think it's safe to assume that the guy doesn't play Mario games, or at least he hasn't played one in about 15 years.

I wouldn't expect a good answer on where the series should go from someone who is so lacking in knowledge of the series to begin with.

Also, 3d Mario platformers (arguably the main Mario games) aren't lost for direction in the slightest. EAD is one of the last devs in this industry that would need advice from armchair developers. I WISH other devs knew how to keep things as fresh as they do while maintaining the highest quality standards.

2d Mario needs a break and a complete overhaul though. The games are rock solid. They deliver everything that a top tier platformer should. They're just incredibly stale. The need new art, new music, new "physics" and some fresh ideas.

Actually I just played MK8 last week and I played Super Mario 3D World back in March.

You should probably remove those knee pads

1. Uncharted

2. Half-Life

1. Super Mario

2. Legend of Zelda

3. Final Fantasy

I don't know what MK8 has to do with this discussion at all. Mario Kart is its own thing. It's obvious that this discussion is centered around Mario platformers.

And you can't blame me for your poor retention. Maybe you did play 3D World, but your posts would lead anyone to believe otherwise. One would think that the multiple responses you've received in this thread would serve as a hint. Guess not.

Based on your childish attempt at an insult, I'll assume that you think I'm some raving Mario fanboy. However, if you read my post, you'll see I'm coming from a balanced perspective here.

I'm not around these boards too much these days. I can't tell the trolls apart from the ignorant, or the flat out dumb. I'd wager you're just trolling and if so then congrats. You 'win'.