On Remakes and Nostalgia

[Grampy_bone]

Any game company makes new game for old franchise -> They are smart and deserve our money.

Nintendo makes new game for old franchise -> ZOMG THEY EXPLOITING NOSTALGIA 2 STEAL UR $$$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

Super Mario Bros is the best selling game of all time. Yes, ever, in the history of all videogames. Go ahead, look it up.

Considering that NSMB Wii is poised to outsell Mario Galaxy (if it hasn't already) could it be that people just like 2D Mario better than 3D? NO! It must be "nostalgia" putting a gun to all these people's heads and forcing them to buy the game!

My friends and I still play Super Mario 3 and Super Mario World to this day, nostalgia or no they are damn fine games. We have all been aching for some new good sidescrolling Mario action for twenty years. Yet for whatever reason my love of 2D gaming somehow "doesn't count" because dumbfucks like Yahtzee declare it is "nostalgia." Whatever the hell that means. People just want Nintendo to fail. When you look back at the staggering popularity of 2D Mario games, the question isn't why does NSMB Wii exist, it's why did it take them twenty damn years to make it?

 

[littlerudi08107]

I've never even bothered to think about this stuff before. Thank you Yahtzee, for opening my eyes.

 

[Dommyboy]

The two reviews before were good, but I was thinking you'd touch more on about how utterly shit the Australian version is. I know Good Game gave that game what it deserved, despite how poor the show has become as of late.

The whole gaming industry is riding on nostalgia and classics in some way now, or originality is completely out the door. Even new games, like Metro 2033, remind you of STALKER and Fallout. Though I suppose I'm overdoing it, asking for somebody to basically create a new genre.

 

[Byers]

It's like one of those experimental prog rock records from the 60s that inspired countless musicians and came to be a defining influence of some truly great bands, but judged musically on its own isn't all that good.

Then why are people still playing the game and making new MODS and levels for it? And why has the game been ported to almost everything that has a monitor on it during the past 16 years?

If the game weren't that good and only became famous as a result of begin new and interesting at the time then you would have sort of expected people to have abandoned it by now instead of constantly looking for more ways to play the game.....

For the same reason we might now be getting a new Ghostbusters movie with just one of the original Ghostbusters in it. People can't let go.

 

[Byers]

[double post]

 

[theultimateend]

*sigh*

First of all, this is not a retread of any sort. You claim that this game is a remake of Mario 3? Mario is far more maneuverable in this title than he is in that game. He can wall jump, butt-stomp, and pretty much do anything he could in 3D in a 2D plane. You might immediately claim that therefore this must be a carbon-copy of the DS game. Again, no. There are many new levels, some new power-ups, a 4-player versus option, a 4-player versus component, motion controlled areas and the Super Guide. This is not the same game.

And you're really going to emphasize story and gameplay on the same level of importance? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy narrative in games as well. However, you should remember the medium we're discussing. We're not talking about movies, novels, or plays. We're talking about games. Therefore, the gameplay must always take full position of importance. Following shortly thereafter should be level-design that compliments the gameplay, not the story. In fact, narratives in games are rather unimportant in the whole scheme of things. Yes, they may give you a compelling reason to continue playing. But if the game itself is not enjoyable to play, then what's the fucking point?

The only reason I even finished the last 8 or so games I played was because of achievements and story.

Most modern day developers are fairly terrible at concocting an enjoyable game. At least the ones who have the money to advertise are.

 

[budz]

Speaking of remakes, YC (convieniently?) omitted Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, another remake/reimagination/cash-in, etc. in this article. What do you get when you mix YC's imfamous hate of the Wii + his obsessive love of the SH series (well, except for the last 2-3 releases)? Hopefully, we'll find out this week!

BTW: my SH:SM review in one word: meh.

 

[squid5580]

Donkey Kong kidnapped Pauline is the story. PacMan and his wife being chased by ghosts while they eat is the story.

I "suppose" this is intended to support your argument, but it actually doesn't; it supports mine.

If you altered those words to mean something different (Pauline is a construction worker and donkey Kong is throwing her barrels away) or removed them entirely from the universe, the objective of the games would remain the same: "get to the top of the building" and "eat all dots".

In any case, the so-called "story" ends before the game even begins, creating the setup for the game and then dissapearing completelly.

Narrative is none-existant. The game flows because the goals, not the story, drive the action. Pretty much every early videogame is an example of this and making claims of the importance of story equals dismissing gaming's roots.

It supports both actually You just want to call it a different word saying "setting" instead of "story". What do you think gives you said goals? Would a game be very much fun if you do what you have to do for no other reason that the dev said so? No! You need something more to hold the game together. Otherwise you might as well have two pixels bumping into each other. Early systems even realized this. Pong is tennis there is your "story". Battle tanks is 2 tanks fighting there is your story. You want to call it "setting" instead fine. They both mean the very same thing.

 

[Danistuta]

I hope nobody buys any more Mario games so we can finally kill off the annoying little red ****. I enjoy reminiscing on old games as much as any 20/30-something gamer. What I don't like is seeing retro regurgitation - something I believe could eventually diminish Nintendo's fanbase. I'm already shuffling away from my Wii...

 

[FROGGEman2]

You and your grilled cheese sandwiches.

 

[ToenailCar]

In regards to the whole toast analogy, you can say the same thing about pretty much any real sport too.

Why not judge games that fall under the "for the gameplay" category on their own merits rather than dismissing them outright because of their focus?
If you look at the manner in which matches play out in left 4 dead 1 compared to 2, most players seem to agree number two is quite an improvement (Or if not, in the very least quite a different experience). Being much more dynamic and varied than the first one.

Lumping the two games in with each other as more or less the same thing simply because there hasn't been much of a change in the aspects the series was never focused on or intended to develop in the first place doesn't seem all that sensible to me.

 

[GodKlown]

I scanned most of the posts to this entry. As a (unfortunate) child of the 80's, I've witnessed first-hand the rise of Mario in America. There is virtually no where left for Mario to go from here... short of The Matrix. It does go to show that even after a horrible live-action movie and a kid's variety show that Mario has more staying power than a senior with a fistful of Viagra.

While we will all acknowledge that Mario is the very cornerstone of Nintendo, it will be a very cold day in hell before anyone gives up on Mario. It is only a matter of time before AR takes Mario to the next step in digital revolution to becoming a (semi-)real interactive image.

There are only a few things that Japan has given us as icons: Mario, Godzilla, and Hello Kitty. Each successive generation seems to have it's own icon (kids from the 90's got Jet Li who isn't a video game character YET), and it appears that each of those three are in some strange competition to see which one is going to die first... I realize that Godzilla has been killed in the movies already, don't point that out since they made movies after that with Godzilla very much still alive. I agree that while it would be nice to see an end to Mario, it creates the cyclical problem of filling the void that Mario leaves. Without Mario, the vacuum will get filled by one of the other characters from that serious, except for Luigi. He's already proved he cannot stand on his own as a solid character from previous attempts. Princess Peach? Bowser? Toad? Or even worse, a Mario clone? Not completely out of the question. While we've made it to a new millennium without flying cars and transporters, we do have cloning under our belts. Short order to make a clone of Mario with some strange tie-in to Bowser... I could see that as a Capcom joint venture, turning him in to a Mega-manesque sort of creation... or else say to hell with it and just make a Mario Metroid. Yeah that's right... picture Samus saying "It'sa me, Mario!". Just remember: in space, no one can hear you complain.

Unless time claims Mario, this beast will never die. Nintendo has ridden this horse for far too long and with too few improvements on the franchise. They ran in to a wall a long time ago since you can't please everyone. If you update him, than the old-school fans ***** that he's being remade into something too modern and forgetting his roots. If they leave him as a strict 2D platformer, then people simply tune out of the old style. Aside from making him an interactive hologram, Nintendo has run themselves into a very tight corner. I serious agree it is about time to retire Mario instead of just killing him off... but then don't be surprised at the next incarnation: Son of Mario! You've been warned.

 

[Anomynous 167]

FINNALLY!
I thought Crosshaw would never make a Branston Pickle refference again, as that mere thought twisted my neck.

 

[Mr. GameBrain]

That's ridiculous to consider that gameplay must take the front for a great game. Great games, the ones that everyone plays and come back to (Uncharted, MW2, Assassin's Creed, GTA, Half-Life, Portal, etc) have a great story with great gameplay. It's not unrealistic to demand in our medium that people make games with great stories. Story is an important centerpiece for many game players, and without it, a game thats fun can be considered good (but not fantastic and deserves retreads).

Tetris wants a word with you.

But does Tetris have any presence in anyone's minds when they aren't actually playing it? Any emotional impact?

I'd argue that Tetris can change your very persepctive on life if you look deeper into it...

Failing that, playing it can also give you the Tetris Effect:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetris_effect

 

[duchaked]

okayy so as far as Left 4 Dead 2 goes he wasn't...satisfied

haha that makes sense
personally, I'm just barely getting into the series for the first time so I'm a bit behind in zombie co-op fun

I do have a lotta nostalgia for super mario brothers, but yea the "new" game's appeal seems mostly with the fact that it's on the Wii (unfortunately my Wii-owning friends aren't interested in it sigh)

You and your grilled cheese sandwiches.

lol well I love grilled cheese sandwiches...and now I'm getting hungry =/

 

[Satin6T]

i'm sorry but the mario wii still looks outstanding to me
Super Mario World 3 is by far one of my favorite games of all time
and sure we didn't need a remake but i'm feeling a total lack of platformers from nintendo currently
and this might hit the spot
DAMN THIS REVIEW FOR MAKING ME HUNGRY

and I'm enjoying L4D2 currently, i still like killing zombies
but the "new" items feel a little forced

 

[Satin6T]

well... i haven't played "new" super mario bros. wii, but i am somewhat looking forward to it. even if i do despise the wii and curse my wife for bringing that abomination into our home. the ONLY mario games i have ever liked are super mario bros. and super mario bors. 3. every other mario game ever created can go suck a cock for all i care. so naturally i'm some what excited to play a mario game that is actually what a mario game is to me... a 2D platformer. thats what i want out of mario...

i disagree with you, mario games are still brilliant if you play the right ones
and since i don't feel like making a list here
i'll just laugh at your baw avatar

 

[huckleberryhound]

Any Brits out there.


Buy Rage against the Machine's "KIlling in the name" on itunes. . . for the LULZ!!

 

[Rock 'n' Soul]

"Left 4 Dead is a piece of toast, and that's fine. But Left 4 Dead 2 is just another piece of toast from a different loaf of bread. With a sprig of parsley."

I couldn't agree more.

 

[Danistuta]

Any Brits out there.


Buy Rage against the Machine's "KIlling in the name" on itunes. . . for the LULZ!!

I couldn't agree more. I'm a Brit working in Beijing so I'm counting on you guys to represent!