Jedi Council Forums - Iconic Elements of Games- Now Discussing: The Mario Series

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Author	Topic: Iconic Elements of Games- Now Discussing: The Mario Series
The2ndQuest Title: Manager: -Literature -LACWAC -Games Registered: Jan '00	Date Posted: 8/3 8:12pm Subject: Iconic Elements of Games- Now Discussing: The Mario Series - Date Edited: 8/3 8:12pm (1 edits total) Edited By: The2ndQuest
	I think it'd be interesting to see what facets of various games (or their series) stick with people, and see what different people take away from the same thing. What levels, design elements, moments, challenges, stories, characters or atmopshere is most iconic to you about them? What did you take away most from them? What represents them in your experience? We'll kick things off with a big one: The Mario series. I'd prefer to focus on the platformer and RPG titles, since they're more representational of the series than the sports, party and Warioware shoot-offs. So, Mario Bros, SMB, SMB2, SMB3, The Lost Levels, SMW, Yoshi's Island, Mario Land, Wario Land, Mario 64, Sunshine, Galaxy, RPG, Paper Mario, etc, etc. I know a few notable ones to me include Isle Delfino in general (not a surprise given my gushing in the SMS thread), the castle of M64 (just seeing it and being able to explore in and around it is memorable), the evil frelling sun scaring the crap out of 8 year old me in SMB3, as well as World 7/Pipe Land in SMB3 just for being so tricky and complicated (not to mention it's radically different level design by focusing on a single component element of a typical Mario level). And, of course, few will ever forget World 1-1 & 1-2 of the original. -----signature----- "When your future self tells you to do something, YOU DO IT." K'Kruhk, 140 ABY:"Why haven't I come forth earlier to share my Jedi knowledge with Skywalker? Well, it's kinda a long story, see, I had this freaking sweet hat..."
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MarcusP2 Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Jul '04	Date Posted: 8/3 9:35pm Subject: Iconic Elements of Games- Now Discussing: The Mario Series
	The music and sound effects...I've only played SMB1, SMB3 and SMW but the thing I remember the most is that coin sound and the music in world 1-1. -----signature----- Darth Revan Fan Club: Technical Specialist Uncle Eddie was my favourite wrestler Gentle Giant owns my bank account.
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henchman24 Registered: Feb '08	Date Posted: 8/3 9:38pm Subject: Iconic Elements of Games- Now Discussing: The Mario Series
	I remember playing 64 at a frantic pace just to get all 120 stars, it was an obsession. This is the only video game that has ever driven me to actually "master" it(though I am sure I am far from it). Conversely I also remember how often I would just goof off on many of the zones because they were so much fun. Mario 64 is the best video game ever made, on the best platform to date. No single game, from any platform, has improved on any aspect of Mario 64 outside of graphics. Long live shooting oneself out of a cannon!! -----signature----- time and relative dimension in space
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Boba_Fett_2001 Registered: Dec '00	Date Posted: 8/4 7:41am Subject: Iconic Elements of Games- Now Discussing: The Mario Series
	MarcusP2 posted: The music and sound effects...I've only played SMB1, SMB3 and SMW but the thing I remember the most is that coin sound and the music in world 1-1. Pretty much what I was gonna say. The music, especially the main/original theme, might just be the most iconic element of the series. -----signature----- Everyone is entitled to my opinion. Go Toronto sports teams! All Hail Cliegg's Blue Leg!
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FlareStorm Registered: Nov '00	Date Posted: 8/6 9:08pm Subject: Iconic Elements of Games- Now Discussing: The Mario Series
	Was it really good music, or did we hear it so much that it is permanently ingrained in our heads and we think it is to justify wasting our sad, pathetic childhoods on video games?
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zacparis Title: Manager • Video Games Registered: Sep '03	Date Posted: 8/6 9:40pm Subject: Iconic Elements of Games- Now Discussing: The Mario Series
	Never played a single Mario game. -----signature----- Xbox Live/PSN = MedievalSam http://twitter.com/lastplayed
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The2ndQuest Title: Manager: -Literature -LACWAC -Games Registered: Jan '00	Date Posted: 8/6 10:15pm Subject: Iconic Elements of Games- Now Discussing: The Mario Series
	I think there's a lot of legit tunes in the series, though sometimes the 8-bit/etc presentation can offset people's perceptions. But just browse ocremix.org's selection of remixes. The Mario tunes work wodnerful as rock, jazz, pop or even christmas carols. Versatile stuff. Though I'm sure some tracks do exist in such as a way due to familiarity as you suggest. But I think that's just an enhancer most of the time. -----signature----- "When your future self tells you to do something, YOU DO IT." K'Kruhk, 140 ABY:"Why haven't I come forth earlier to share my Jedi knowledge with Skywalker? Well, it's kinda a long story, see, I had this freaking sweet hat..."
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FlareStorm Registered: Nov '00	Date Posted: 8/6 10:52pm Subject: Iconic Elements of Games- Now Discussing: The Mario Series - Date Edited: 8/6 10:52pm (1 edits total) Edited By: FlareStorm
	zacparis posted: Never played a single Mario game. I have some of those Mario remixes, I love them.
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Jedi_Keiran_Halcyon Registered: Dec '00	Date Posted: 8/7 12:12am Subject: Iconic Elements of Games- Now Discussing: The Mario Series
	FlareStorm posted: Was it really good music, or did we hear it so much that it is permanently ingrained in our heads and we think it is to justify wasting our sad, pathetic childhoods on video games? I think the music by and large IS that good, and I think it's because with the limited audio palette, composers HAD to concentrate on creating memorable melodies (focus on melody is also why they're so easy to rearrange in different styles). Games nowadays have a fuller range of instrumentation to experiment with, so they focus more on the overall sound (ambient and otherwise) than on particular melodies. Not to say that all or even MOST 8-bit music was good - there was a good deal of crap, too. But the 'classics' are, IMO, well-deserving of their renown. Back on-topic: I'll second everything listed in previous posts, except the Sunshine stuff because I never played that game (Mario with a backpack made it feel like a side-game like Paper Mario or something, rather than THE "Mario game" for the Gamecube). I'd also include the opening of Galaxy - just a great introduction to a great game - excellent music, instant-classic designs, and becoming acquainted with the mind**** gravity physics. It's the first Mario game I played all the way through the first time I played it (I don't mean one sitting, but with the others I played a bunch but didn't actually play to the end until months (or in the case of the NES games even years) later). I never finished the game, but the first level and the desert world of SMB2 are also pretty classic, though even after all these years for some reason it's still weird to think of it as a 'real' Mario game as compared to SMB, SMB3, SMW, SM64, and SMG. -----signature----- Personally if treating homosexuals with respect and dignity is the definition of 'anti-Christian' then I hope that Obama is the friggin' anti-Christ. - FIDo
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The2ndQuest Title: Manager: -Literature -LACWAC -Games Registered: Jan '00	Date Posted: 8/7 7:50am Subject: Iconic Elements of Games- Now Discussing: The Mario Series - Date Edited: 8/7 7:51am (1 edits total) Edited By: The2ndQuest
	Yeah, I think that focus on melody over ambience has led to more memorable tunes on the whole from those eras of gaming- they didn't really have a choice. Metroid is one of the few I can think of where they managed to do ambient music for certain levels very effectively. You should give SMS a chance- think of the backpack as a suit or hat power-up for hovering, speed and high-jump. The hovering in particular really evolved 3D platforming- and you don't realize how much you've become used to it until you play the void zone retro levels where they take it away from you. -----signature----- "When your future self tells you to do something, YOU DO IT." K'Kruhk, 140 ABY:"Why haven't I come forth earlier to share my Jedi knowledge with Skywalker? Well, it's kinda a long story, see, I had this freaking sweet hat..."
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Jedi_Keiran_Halcyon Registered: Dec '00	Date Posted: 8/7 5:38pm Subject: Iconic Elements of Games- Now Discussing: The Mario Series
	I found this quote in the SMS thread but I think my response fits more appropriately here: The2ndQuest posted: But, dammit, I will finish this game. Then it's on to tackling Galaxy, though Galaxy has yet to captivate me as much as Sunshine has- I think it's because the smaller level designs lack a desire for exploration. You can only go so many places, but with Sunshine, I've tried to explore every nook and cranny, trying to see how far around the corner or out to sea you can go before hitting an invisible wall, or seeing just how much of the distant or even nearby levels can be seen from the current one. Finding the limits of a virtual world has an appealing Truman Show-esque-in-nature creepiness to it that I adore. As much as I enjoy the exploration in SM64, I think one of the things that makes SMG so appealing for me is that it IS very linear, more in the style of its 8-bit and 16-bit predecessors. -----signature----- Personally if treating homosexuals with respect and dignity is the definition of 'anti-Christian' then I hope that Obama is the friggin' anti-Christ. - FIDo
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The2ndQuest Title: Manager: -Literature -LACWAC -Games Registered: Jan '00	Date Posted: 8/7 5:59pm Subject: Iconic Elements of Games- Now Discussing: The Mario Series
	Don't get me wrong- SMG's strength is in it's tight, brief-but-challenging puzzles ala the void zone retro challenges in SMS and the 8-bit/16-bit games. And on that appeal I'm sure SMG will do well to win me over- I just need to get more into it. Much like how Sunshine doesn't really reveal it's better elements till you've got a couple dozen shines, with the extra nozzles and Yoshi, etc. -----signature----- "When your future self tells you to do something, YOU DO IT." K'Kruhk, 140 ABY:"Why haven't I come forth earlier to share my Jedi knowledge with Skywalker? Well, it's kinda a long story, see, I had this freaking sweet hat..."
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FlareStorm Registered: Nov '00	Date Posted: 8/8 2:22pm Subject: Iconic Elements of Games- Now Discussing: The Mario Series
	I remember my parents being mesmerized watching me play SMB1 due to the cutting edge graphics and eye-hand coordination that was needed compared to what we had before (Atari 2600) They'd try to play and still do once in a while. Dad can usually get to 1-2
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Corellian_Outrider Registered: Mar '02	Date Posted: 8/9 5:28am Subject: Iconic Elements of Games- Now Discussing: The Mario Series - Date Edited: 8/9 5:46am (1 edits total) Edited By: Corellian_Outrider
	Super Mario World was my first and also my favourite Mario game. I own three different versions of this game: the SNES, the GBA edition and also the virtual console. It is hard to narrow down why it is one of my favourites but a major factor why would have to be Yoshi. With places like Yoshi's Island, Vanillia Dome, Forest of Illusion... hunting down those secret places and Star Roads... it is a large game. The music... the music reminds me of being in primary school again. It is catchy, as it the nature of the music for these games, I like it how it alters when you are riding Yoshi (Sunshine does it as well which I also think is a fun game). The levels that stands out to me on SMW are Yoshi's Island 2 (where you first find Yoshi) and Vanilla Secret 3 (there are a lot of Dolphins in this level and few land which makes it fun). There are a lot more but those are the main two for me. I agree with The 2nd Quest about Peach's Castle in SM64, inside and outside the castle. Finding all 120 stars and flying about outside and falling from the very top is fun. SMS, there are a lot of elements that I love about this game. Just the heights of some of the levels and looking down. The theme park location. Each place feels connected with the rest of Isle Dephino. I find the atmosphere of some of the levels to be relaxing, it is a holiday from the Mushroom Kingdom. SMG, I find is a great game on the Wii. It is beautiful and the story and backstory is enjoyable. Though there is one major nagging thing that doesn't do it for me: No Yoshi (not counting the planetoid). The sequel on the way will solve that problem, which reminds me, I can't wait to try out the New Super Mario Bros. on the Wii! A side note on music, I love it how you can listen to some of those tunes again and updated on SSBB for the Wii. -----signature----- "Certainty of death? Small chance of success? What are we waiting for?" "You take on One.You take on All" "Creation is an act of sheer will and next time it will be flawless"
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Jedi-Anakin-Solo Registered: Dec '01	Date Posted: 8/9 6:36am Subject: Iconic Elements of Games- Now Discussing: The Mario Series
	I've never been able to beat a Mario game. I've played them all and come close twice. I had the first SMB on Game Boy Color, so it would actually save. I'm stuck on the next to last level right before the castle like right in the middle of the level nowhere near any mushrooms, so I can only get so far before I come across a couple Hammer Bros. that own me. I've also made it to the final Bowser fight on SMW but never could beat it. God, the hours I must have logged in SMW back in the day... Actually, I take the first part back. I think I beat the first Super Mario Land on Game Boy. It was a lot easier than a normal Mario game, though. -----signature----- Proud Co-Founder of the F.A.D.A. ™ (Fans Against Dead Anakins) Charles Nelson Reilly won the Tour De France with two flat tires and a missing chain. ?_?
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MariahJSkywalker Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Mar '05	Date Posted: 8/12 11:25pm Subject: Iconic Elements of Games- Now Discussing: The Mario Series - Date Edited: 8/12 11:29pm (1 edits total) Edited By: MariahJSkywalker
	I found an SNES at a Goodwill last year and bought Super Mario World for 3 bucks off Amazon. When the title screen came on, I cried. Mario games=my childhood. Seriously, my earliest memory that I can remember is playing SMB1 and Duck Hunt. -----signature----- many people here should be fixed, but that's another story.-KW Smut Peddlin' Squaw of the Knights of the 3SA/JCC Sarcasm Table R.I.P. Snowie
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