@margot on cohost

bite-size adventure, fully completable in under half an hour
lots of secrets scattered about, enough that even experts don't know them all
fun change of gameplay mechanics in two stages
several unique concepts that haven't been seen since
- one of few games that does not feature bowser or the mushroom kingdom
- see also: link's awakening and ganon / hyrule
kickin' rad music
one of the best ending themes ever
replayability (hard mode, full level select)
short enough that you can just play it every now and then, hard to burn out on

it isn't #1 on my list (no points for guessing that game) but it might be a #2

@margot9/10/2023, 10:14 PM

absolutely, and the sequel is ALSO one of the best mario games imo

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in reply to @xkeeper's post:

Aleph Ren @aleph-ren9/10/2023, 9:54 PM

spore is better

X @xkeeper9/10/2023, 10:05 PM

my only memory of spore is the video of robin williams playing it, where he makes one with a long enough neck that its head wraps around to to its ass, which he proudly names a "politician"

in reply to @xkeeper's post:

Ashley @AshCarnelian9/10/2023, 9:45 PM

I agree with all your points except I don't like the platforming physics and it sort of kills it for me

MY hot take is the best pre-SMW mario game is Mario 2 (doki doki panic)

X @xkeeper9/10/2023, 9:48 PM

the secret to the platforming physics is to not hold b. it's counterintuitive compared to every other game, but the run physics are weird, especially when changing directions. not holding b makes them a lot more consistent in my experience. but it's definitely weird even then, yep

i think for me it's hard to really rank them definitively; 2 and 3 are both excellent, but very different, games

Blue Mue @blue-mue9/10/2023, 10:14 PM

you can really feel the same vibe from the subsequent super mario land 2, and wario land games (wario land 2 is still my favorite). I think they were all designed by the same people, as opposed to the usual mario people? very unfortunate we won't be getting games like that ever again.

X @xkeeper9/10/2023, 10:17 PM

wario land 2 was the first of the wl games i've played, and i think it nails what it goes for perfectly (but god, my kingdom for a little more subtle visual tells on breakable stuff rather than having to constantly guess...)

wario land 3 was a little too complicated and having to start over with no abilities really felt rough after 2. i liked what it was going for but it was a bit much

Blue Mue @blue-mue9/10/2023, 10:29 PM

wario having a health bar was a big step in the wrong direction. wario's gotta get smacked by a hammer and go all flat or get set on fire so you can do puzzles. Money being the "health" is way funnier. plus it keeps you in the game

X @xkeeper9/10/2023, 10:37 PM

yeah 4 havin a health bar was always a big "uhhh did you forget who wario was here" moment for me

noah @noahtheduke9/10/2023, 10:43 PM

no points for guessing that game

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, of course!

Jk that’s just mine

X @xkeeper9/10/2023, 10:46 PM

oh, i mean favorite game of all time, period

it isn't hard to guess. it's on this very page

noah @noahtheduke9/11/2023, 1:50 AM

ah yes of course

Rachel Stantz @arjache9/10/2023, 10:57 PM

It’s one of my favorite Mario games, but it was painful to play on the original Game Boy when it first came out because of the motion blur. It’s tough to platform if you can’t see where you’re going!

X @xkeeper9/10/2023, 11:01 PM

the original green experience is really hard to get these days, yeah. even back then it varied a lot based on how bright things were (and if it was in direct sunlight) and what your contrast knob was set to

the pocket was a lot more consistent

Cania @Cania9/11/2023, 2:58 AM

okay so i think that SML2 takes the cake for me. i recently replayed it and holy moly did i forget how inventive and weird that game is. doing different weird shit every 10 minutes. and like four different ways of being a little guy in a big world.

but i love both of them dearly - the only thing i don't like about SML is that the fireballs don't really bounce properly.