Some people aren't too happy with the few screens of New Super Mario Bros. 2 that we've seen. I honestly don't get the argument. The game takes on the graphic style of the first game. It seems like that's how the 'New' series of Mario games run. Am I silly for not expecting more?
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Incidentally, neither did Super Mario World.
@BigLord
No. It's retail too.
It's like an Xbox 360's GAMES ON DEMAND.
Retail and Digital.
I think part of why many (myself included) find it somewhat bland is because like others have said it looks identical aesthetically and designwise. Even as far as level themes go they look the same, snow world, poison swamp, etc. And personally im not going to be satisfied till we get some completely new world themes or at least until we see a return of the worlds from super mario bros 2.
while i do appreciate the looks of Rayman, i think Mario is designed with a deep market study in mind, hence they know players will enjoy it. I dont think Mario graphics will get dense or detailed heavily, as they never where. One of the features is to keep things very very clear-Mutant muds also takes this approach-.You might disagree with me on this but rayman can get a bit confusing visually at points, and similar games also do, wich might slow gameplay. I think one of the core features of a mario game is to have simpler and crisp visuals, that lay the action and platforms in a solid way. Is great for new players and does not alienate old ones. Bland is different from familiar, and since mario is part of a coherent universe(somewhat) we have to expect similar lands. I do not find the new graphics bland, particularly on NSMB ,they did their part and on DS was quite good-it was also appropiate ,colorful and bright on Wii. I would appreciate another aproach, but i would disagree on finding the graphics "bland". A bit stale, but not bland.
Yes!
Still excited to play this game. Don't care how visually bland some people think it might be. The gameplay will still be better than 90% of the other platformers out there, including Rayman Origins. Moving on.
It looks the same because the 3DS is basically a Gamecube (graphics wise). If they make a 2D Mario on Wii U, I expect it to have a similar art style, but the graphical fidelity to be even higher than the Wii game (which, while very simple, looked very good).
But honestly, people are going to complain no matter what, because some gamers are all about the graphics, and little else.
This artstyle is capable to producing some really incredibly well looking things, but the levels have to be designed without typical lazinness, and they should all be models.
If you look at things like the World Maps in NSMBW, or NSMBW themed things in Mario Party 9, they look pretty awesome.
I don't find it particularly bland, but I REALLY haven't seen enough of it to make a good call yet.
Seems I've missed something since most everyone else is making a call...
Even if it is a little bland, nothing wrong about it. You want rich and "stepping up", play the other amazing 2D platformers on the Wii, like DKCR, Kirby Epic Yarn, Warioland. These are all much better than Rayman Origins and unavailable on other consoles. That's the truth...
Super Mario Bros. 1, 2, 3 and World felt different from each other. Every game had it's own level themes and designs, music, power ups and even it's own gameplay. New Super Mario Bros. for the DS was, at the time, no exception. But then New Super Mario Bros. Wii came. It is a fun game, but it felt exactly the same as the DS game, with a few improvements. Even the main music theme is the same as the DS game.
If you play Mario Bros. 3 and Mario World, you know your playing a Mario platformer. They have many similarities, but they look and feel completely different. New Super Mario Bros. Wii didn't have that and was more or less the same thing as the DS. While it didn't ruin the game, but it did make me a bit sad.
I also wonder why they keep naming it the "New" Super Mario Bros. series. I thought the title New Super Mario Bros. for the DS was a clever title. But since there are a lot of "New" Super Mario Bros. games, the "New" in the title starts loosing it's effect on me.
I honestly thought the graphics in NSMBWii were really excellent. Very simple, as I said before, but EVERY character, enemy, item and background model was super smooth. No blockiness, no jaggies, no nothing. It was pretty to look at, just not SUPER detailed. But then again, go back and look at SMB1, 2, 3, and 4 (World). Those games all also had simple art styles, even the SNES All-Stars remakes. So it fits with the theme of the series of 2D games.
I still say the Wii U 2D Mario, if they indeed make one, will most likely (should at least) look even better than the Wii game. One would expect. People can't be shocked by the graphics for the 3DS game though, when the 3DS is slightly graphically weaker than the Wii, as it is. Like I said, it's similar to the PSP, in that it's in between GC and Wii, just like the PSP was between PS1 and PS2.
i don't think people are complaining about the graphical fidelity of the games, more the design. same worlds and uninspired art direction etc...
dumb article without a lick of truth
I want the games to be in 2D. =(
That'd be awesome. And hopefully, beautiful~ ^^
Also, I want a Sequel to Mario 2. I want Wart, Mouser, etc, to return. It'd go like this: Bowser tries to kidnap Peach, but suddenly, Bowser is caught and kidnapped by Wart (for some reason), and Mario has to save Bowser.
Best Game Ever~
It's disappointing for sure. I mean a new system and an old game? Looks like another cheap knock off, a lot like Animal Crossing Wii was. It's the first Mario game on the new system it deserves better.
Well the New series sells TONS AND TONS on the DS and on the Wii I can see why they are doing it again
. The 3ds needs big hit sellers to widen the audience and the Wii U needs something to make it's sales stronger than ever.
I only hope there is only one New Super Mario game for the 3DS and Wii U
This. The people denouncing those who have complaints with the blandness of the series as being 'graphics whores' or whatever aren't really listening to them. It's got nothing to do with the graphical fidelity, the smoothness of the character models, or anything like that. It's all about the art-style that Nintendo has chosen. Using it for NSMB on the DS? Fine, great! It was new, we hadn't seen it before, and although I wasn't a fan of it it worked. Having four games that look near identical aesthetically is just not acceptable, and reeks of laziness. You only have to look to Yoshi's Island or the more recent Wario Land Shake It and Rayman Origins to see how 2D platformers can both impress and vary hugely in their style. The New Super Mario Bros. series' style was never that captivating to begin with, and now it has just grown extremely tired. I don't think it's too much to ask that Nintendo's flagship character's titles are a little less 'safe' and a little more impressive artistically.
I honestly don't care if they use the same art style, but Nintendo really has to start changing up world designs. There are only so many things you can do in a jungle, ice stage, desert stage, etc. Make a space stage! Make a mushroom city stage! I dunno, I just think they need some freshness, and they wouldn't need to change the aesthetic if they did this.
@jesse himself@Poopaloop
Agreed, i think a few people to confused on what people find bland about it, then again those that do usually dont know the difference between graphical and art design either.
Seems like pretty much the same game, just with a couple new little power-ups or whatever.
I agree with the article. Miyamoto and Nintendo became lazy. Is there anybody still remember how they celebrate 25th anniversary for Mario? How disappointing!!!
Before reading a single comment, I must say... New Super Mario Bros has always been bland. Not really a pretty series. Just basic. Which is wack, but hey - IT SELLS!!!-_-
I am well aware of the difference. I also happen to know that many people who HAVE complained about the graphics, were doing it because they're graphics whores, not simply because they want different world designs.
I agree that Nintendo should change up the worlds. Then again, I think they don't need to get ridiculous about it, like a modern city stage, etc. Keep things that fit in the Mushroom Kingdom (as so few recent Mario games have actually taken place there). I would love to see them do another Pipe Land or Giant Land or why not Subcon as a hidden world, etc.
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