It’s Super Mario World
Tuesday, July 24th, 2007 at 11:34am by Jack
In the middle of TIME Magazine’s ten questions with Shigeru Miyamoto I noticed this question from Shabaab in Maryland:
Many criticize the reuse of franchises like Mario. Do you prefer to create new characters or work with old ones? —Shabaab Kamal, BETHESDA, MD.
I try not so much to create new characters and worlds but to create new game-play experiences. If a new experience is better suited to a new type of character or world than one of our existing franchises, then we might create a new character or world around it.
Why did I notice it? Because throughout the years I’ve heard hundreds of people moan about how there’s another Mario title on the way, or how Zelda should hang up her hip hugging gowns and tell Link to rescue some other damsel in distress for once.
Thing is, you’re going to continue to see franchise IP pumped out by Nintendo for as long as they exist, and that’s a good thing.
Why? Because, in the modified words of President Bill Clinton, “it’s the environment, stupid!” Mario games, Metroid games, and Zelda games and the like were never really about the character. Sure, they had some personality in their appearances, but not really. In an age of realistic facial ticks and movement and voice acting, Mario and company have remained largely — although not entirely — mute.
There’s a reason for that. Mario is merely a tool with which you the gamer uses to interact with the important part of the game — the world; its characters; its music; and its emotions. It’s a symbiotic relationship to be sure — Nintendo needs Mario as the stepping stone into these new worlds for them to be successful — but once you’re in it’s the characters and enemies and worlds that are what makes the game and NOT our plucky plumber.
Also, I’d argue that those people who criticize a Mario game today for being “more of the same” haven’t done a few things. First, as is par for the course, they certainly haven’t played the game they’re criticizing. Second, if they did play it, perhaps at a friend’s house or some shoddy GameStop kiosk, they probably didn’t have the testicular fortitude to “let themselves go” and really get immersed in the game. The same phenomenon exists with people who refuse to pick a Wiimote and wave it around like an idiot. It’s too bad. I’d rather have fun that look cool all the time (although with all this mainstream press, having a Wii is pretty cool these days, huh?).
So remember, when you find yourself about to make fun of Nintendo for a “rehash” or another Mario game or whatever, just take a breath and go play the frickin’ game first. Get lost in it. Notice the little things that make the world unique. Appreciate the fact that it’s not the character you are controlling that is the important part, but the world he or she is exploring. Conquering. Understanding. I think you’ll find it’s more fun that way. It is a video GAME, right?
Regardless, all of that above said and more, Super Paper Mario is way too wordy for its own good.
July 24th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Although I usually attempt to stay away from such nonsense, on one occasion, I did get into an online argument with one such opinionated fellow, that indeed, Nintendo DID remake the same game over and over again. I took this as kind of a shock, because I never, EVER considered that concept towards Nintendo’s chronology of games. I don’t exactly remember the approach that either side took to the argument, but this entry reminded me of it, and perhaps mentioned some of the points that I maybe missed in my argument (although I’m sure that most that would claim otherwise wouldn’t be open-minded enough to recognize it as valid points).
July 24th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Oh. And I liked Super Paper Mario just the way it was. So neah.
July 24th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Super Paper Mario is the first Paper Mario game I’ve liked. It is an enormously fun game, and it quickly became one of my favourite Wii software purchases thus far.
It’s still no Twilight Princess, though…BLAKE.
Nintendo franchises are one of the things that make Nintendo so great. I have been playing Mario, Zelda, Metroid, and Starfox games since I was a little kid. I can remember when the classics were released, and I spent hours after school exploring Hyrule, Planet Zebes, Corneria, and most of all, the Mushroom Kingdom. The stories and characters - and most importantly, the memories - are too wonderful to be contained by one game. The fact that I am as excited today, at age 23, for a new Mario game as I was for Super Mario World more than 15 years ago is part of the reason I am a Nintendo fan.
Tradition. Quality. And yes, characters.
July 24th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Let’s see. Franchises owned by Nintendo: Mario, Metroid, Zelda, Donkey Kong, Kirby, Star Fox, Fire Emblem, Pikmin, Advanced Wars/Batallion Wars, (although it hasn’t been used in a while) Kid Icarus — that’s at least 10 separate (sometimes together) franchises that I can scrape off the top of my head. There’s some pretty good variety in there.
Frankly, I don’t see what people are talking about when they claim Nintendo remakes the same games and/or falls back on their mascot franchises. Isn’t this what everybody does? Warner Bros. keeps using the Looney Tunes characters. Disney keeps using Mickey Mouse and his crew. Why is it so wrong for Nintendo to keep making games using popular characters? Their fanbase obviously likes seeing more of these games.
And really, it seems to me that most game companies do this to an extent. EA certainly falls back on their primary franchises. THQ keeps making Nicktoons games. We’re on Guitar Hero 3 now from Activision. Playstation’s had how many Jak and Daxter games? Ratchet and Clank games? Metal Gear Solid games? I’m not criticizing these companies, just pointing out that it’s commonplace to reuse popular franchises.
Besides, Nintendo is making new franchises. Wii Sports, Wii Fit, Brain Age, Big Brain Academy — all new IPs. I fail to see why those don’t count? Oh, wait…because they’re not “real” games. I forgot.
July 24th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
SUPER PAPERED MARIO IS TOILET PAPER MARIO
July 24th, 2007 at 10:54 pm
FIRST~!!1!