Let's all convince Sofox that Super Mario is pretty cool.

[Josie]

Real talk I'm not actually sure Galaxy is as stupendous as everyone remembers.

[Mirai]

It depends on which Galaxy you're talking about.  I started Galaxy 1 after Christmas and finished the story mode in March or April.  (Can't remember which, and yes, I'm fully aware of how behind I am with gaming.)  The soundtrack alone sold it for me.  Gameplay is well-polished, and plot points were very tastefully done for the minimalistic story of a Mario platformer.  The same goes for Rosalina's Little Prince-esque story and the introduction to the Lumas which was like playing a litter of puppies throughout the game.

Galaxy 2 on the other hand...  It's the same basic formula, but it's off.  Gameplay feels a lot clunkier due to the obnoxiously higher difficulty early on and awkward use of Yoshi (which I didn't like in Galaxy 2 or Sunshine).  Lubba is like a Snarf or an Orko greeting the player between levels.  The soundtrack (so far) is forgettable, and the charm of Galaxy 1 just isn't there.  It feels like small, somewhat nitpicky things, but they come together and result in the same problem I had with Sonic Adventure years ago where the second game is a technically-fine new take on a well-polished composition that just lacks the same magic.

[Sofox]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv-dEz9HW10[/youtube]

P.S. If anyone is a fan of Protomen-esque rock projects based on geekery, Jonathan Mann's Mario Opera is going to be played up in NYC at Joe's Pub this Saturday.

Heh, that actually is a neat video. By sheer coincidence I'd been thinking of it on the day you posted it.

im confused does sofox not like to play super mario games or something

Not really, I mean it's not like I've never played them. And a few weeks ago I got playing Mario 64 on a cousin's N64 and actually found it pretty good. But generally I've no compulsion to play any of the Mario games or pay much attention to them, and like I said the only one I've ever finished was Super Mario Brothers 2 (the Advance version for the Game Boy Advance).

[Fadflamer]

You've never experienced the joy of snorting a line of Mama Luigi's spaghetti off of the ass of a hooker named Peach, have you

[SoNick]

I'm a little thrown off by the idea of someone who enjoys video games but has not played many Mario games?
I mean, he's like an ICON of platform gaming. Pick up Super Mario World and Super Mario 64 and if you've got some friends over then New Super Mario Bros. Wii. You won't be disappointed.

[Keith Stack]

If you think Robotnik is a nasty bad guy, wait until you get a load of Bowser's pure, unfiltered cruelty.

[Josie]

Is thje bad news that his hair is pink?

I'm talking specifically about Galaxy 1.  I don't think anyone is hoisting Galaxy 2 onto their shoulders and marching through the streets, cheering.

[Mirai]

It saddens me that you weren't moved by the puppy-like Lumas.  JOSHI, HOW COULD YOU HATE PUPPIES. D:

In all seriousness, I don't follow the problem.  Given, I'm not arguing that Galaxy 1 was the end-all perfect game of all time, and I wouldn't try establishing a best-ever Mario game as there's too much variety amongst the genres and gaming eras.  (Though, I would argue that the variety is one of the biggest pluses for the franchise as a whole.)

However, I would say that it had many quality elements and was a thoroughly enjoyable entry.  I'd just as quickly sing the praises of Mario 64, many of the 2D platformers, and at least five or six of the various Mario RPGs.

[Josie]

Yeah I mean don't get me wrong, it was a good game.  But some people treat it at THE BEST mario game, or even game of the year every year, and that's just... I don't think that's the case.

Granted, it's been a while since I've played it, but... that's sort of my point! I have absolutely *no* desire to replay that game.

[SoNick]

I must add that I wasn't all that impressed by what little I played of it in a store kiosk. I mean, it looked like it'd be fun for a bit but it's not "greatest game in the series" good based on that alone.

Of course, the kiosk may have just been on a bad level.

[Southbird]

I think Galaxy represents the absolute best that a 3D Mario game has to offer. The control is elegant, the music is awesome, it's a real fresh spin on a lot of the classic dynamics. But I'll entertain the possibility that you might just have to be a hardcore Mario player who has gone through and appreciated the evolution of the franchise.

Galaxy 2 was kind of a shallow clone of Galaxy 1. It had some good stuff in it, but diminished the heart.

[SoNick]

That's the thing, though. Sonic and Mario were my childhood! I reading internet arguments about which series was better and thinking "I enjoy both of these things. Why argue?" I've played every main-series game up through Sunshine and I played MANY of the side-series games. While again it may have just been the level the kiosk was on, I just didn't feel all that compelled to pick the game up. It just felt like a Mario version of the "Mad Space" level from Sonic Adventure 2 but with proper physics instead of "Sonic Adventure"-era Sonic physics. This isn't -bad- mind you and it is a neat thing but it just doesn't feel like as big of a deal as everyone on the internet makes it out to be I guess?

[Southbird]

I can't tell you what to think obviously, and it's not like anything works for everybody other than breathing, but you are judging an entire game from a kiosk demo. The visuals in the game are pretty and the music is really a beautiful orchestra if you give it a chance. There's a few pain in the ass levels (isn't there always?), but it's really worth giving it a chance and actually trying to sit down and play it.

I suppose I don't know what "The Internet" is saying about it. I don't know if I'd call it the greatest Mario game ever. (I probably would eternally hold that as Super Mario Bros. 3 myself.) But I do think it's an excellent 3D Mario game that's pretty easy to pick up and run with. Mario 64 was really special for the time, but it's frustrating to play. Excusable I suppose because 3D was certainly a relatively new contraption, especially for Nintendo. I had way too many control issues with Sunshine and found it aggravating. Galaxy seemed to just figure everything out, finally.

[Keith Stack]

Sometimes I get really excited by the idea of replaying Galaxy, but then I remember that robot that wants you to blow up his garbage.

[yaj]

Mario was an invention a sense- from the Landlord of Luigi's Mansion.

[Mirai]

Sometimes I get really excited by the idea of replaying Galaxy, but then I remember that robot that wants you to blow up his garbage.

That, or the daredevil run in Melty Molten Galaxy.  Bloody HELL...

[Keith Stack]

[James]

I think Mario would have to give Sofox the best blowjob for him to be liked.

[yaj]

lets all pet sofox.

[Sofox]

Keith..... why?

I... and petting? Where's this coming from?

[Fadflamer]

No one's throwing out, "Well, he's not Bubsy."

[Mirai]

Bubsy

Careful.  If you say that name too loudly, you'll summon Ulillillia in his hex-coded flames of glitch-exploiting glory.

[Fadflamer]

Bubsy

Careful.  If you say that name too loudly, you'll summon Ulillillia in his hex-coded flames of glitch-exploiting glory.

What could possibly go wrong?

[Vexiss]

make me one

[Mirai]

Bubsy

Careful.  If you say that name too loudly, you'll summon Ulillillia in his hex-coded flames of glitch-exploiting glory.

What could possibly go wrong?

This is Ulillillia you're talking about.  If there's a glitch in the plans, he will stop at nothing to find it.