[QUOTE="MikeE21286"]Square is just gonna re-make ever single game over and over again until they can't remake them Dencore

That's what Nintendo did to Mario on handhelds.

You got it all wrong.

Every Mario is a 100% completely new game. It just so happens they look and play the same. Don't you notice the word "NEW" in their newest DS mainstream Mario? 

[QUOTE="Xolver"]

...Is the Wii the PSP's incarnation?

FrenziedRaldo24

Yes, it does look like the Wii is ALWAYS "losing" in multiplatform games, mainly because of the controls. 

a lot of major pubs/devs had most of their resources on ps3/360 work so the wii took them by surprise. they are scrambling to get anything onto the hottest selling console now and the fastest thing they can get out are ports.

Ontain

...Just like the huge success (well, it is a success to some degree) that is the PSP. 

It's mostly because there were a bunch of developers that doubted the Wii would sell at all. So they ported PS2/PSP games as a quick cash-in.Ganon_919

There's no "were". Even Manhunt 2 is for those systems, and it's still not out. 

Aside from arcade games and a few gems, why does the Wii have so many ports?

It's almost standard now for a Wii game to be on the Wii, PS2 and PSP.

...Is the Wii the PSP's incarnation? 

Mario has made 3(yes 3, Mario64, sunshine & NSMB) games in his main series in the last 11 years. R&C did 4 games in one gen. That's not taking away from them(R&C games are great), it's just Mario takes his time and tries to evolve each game, not just churn out sequels.BuddaX

You can't discredit another series with the flaws (however you look at them) of another.

Ratchet added new features from game to game. Mario added being in a mega-size frenzy in NSMB. That, added to the fact that there are dozens of games outside the main series, doesn't support your claim of Nintendo trying to evolve Mario slowly. You can't seriously be thinking all of the time in the gaps is put into the thought of a new main Mario?

[QUOTE="Xolver"]

Okay, people. I'm not asking why or what made Mario a good game. I'm asking why it is such a great game today.

Maybe it invented side quests, but today there are sidequests in all games. Games took the idea of side quests? Maybe. It means the side quests in those games are automatically worse? Absolutely not.

So what makes the Italian guy that jumps on mushrooms and shoots fire better than the guy with feet but no legs? What makes him better than the Hedgehog? What makes him better than the cute Lombax? The bandicoot?

Mario always has around a small number of things he can do. Jump, shoot (sometimes), change size (sometimes), ride a lizard (sometimes). He can do a small number of things, all of which you do in the entire, somewhat short, game.

Other platformers upgrade the character, some of them have nice humour, some of them has a storyline which consist of more than saving the princess (in every single game), etc. etc.

BuddaX

Heh, and there are more cash-in games than main games.

Really, I just don't see what's so great. EVERY game tries something new. It's just that being a Mario fan, you find more appeal in the new things Mario brings up. 

mario invents gameplay

others copy...simple as that. they might improve, but fundamentally, its mario

darrowby88

Not saying they all do copy, but an IMPROVED MARIO is worse than the original Mario? Where's the logic in that? 

Okay, people. I'm not asking why or what made Mario a good game. I'm asking why it is such a great game today.

Maybe it invented side quests, but today there are sidequests in all games. Games took the idea of side quests? Maybe. It means the side quests in those games are automatically worse? Absolutely not.

So what makes the Italian guy that jumps on mushrooms and shoots fire better than the guy with feet but no legs? What makes him better than the Hedgehog? What makes him better than the cute Lombax? The bandicoot?

Mario always has a small number of things he can do. Jump, shoot (sometimes), change size (sometimes), ride a lizard (sometimes). He can do a small number of things, all of which you do in the entire, somewhat short, game.

Other platformers upgrade the character, some of them have nice humour, some of them have a storyline which consist of more than saving the princess (in every single game), etc. etc.

Okay, people. I'm not asking why or what made Mario a good game. I'm asking why it is such a great game today. 

Maybe it invented side quests, but today there are sidequests in all games. Games took the idea of side quests? Maybe. It means the side quests in those games are automatically worse? Absolutely not.

So what makes the Italian guy that jumps on mushrooms and shoots fire better than the guy with feet but no legs? What makes him better than the Hedgehog? What makes him better than the cute Lombax?  The bandicoot?

Mario always has around a small number of things he can do. Jump, shoot (sometimes), change size (sometimes), ride a lizard (sometimes). He can do a small number of things, all of which you do in the entire, somewhat short, game.

Other platformers upgrade the character, some of them have nice humour, some of them has a storyline which consist of more than saving the princess (in every single game),  etc. etc.

@osan0

So you credit Mario with doing exactly what it's supposed to do when you tell it to? I don't know about Daxter, but aside from some irritating games, I felt that way with pretty much about every PS2 title. Times have changed, Mario doesn't and has no reason to stand out anymore, it's just a game among many with a huge brand name.