Super Mario World review

     With E3 2013 having just come and gone I feel like many people would be expecting some kind of post-show discussion going on right now, but really what more is there to say that hasn't already been said? Microsoft's press conference was exactly what everyone predicted it would be, even with the addition of Killer Instinct to this year's showing; Sony pretty much followed them up by saying “we're not them”; and Nintendo just followed through with even more sequels to their established franchises. All in all, it was a pretty underwhelming year again. So, why not? Let's do another retro review, this time from a game I've mostly forgotten about.

     When I first got my SNES, there were two games I remember getting along with it. The first was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters, a game that can best be described as a horribly unbalanced Street Fighter clone that my 5-year old mind found endlessly entertaining, and secondly was a certain game that featured a certain familiar plumber riding a green dinosaur. At this point in time, the only exposure I had had with the Mario franchise had been Mario Kart 64, so with my primitive child-like mind I thought all Mario games were about kart-racing, but then again I just didn't care at the time. I took it for what it was worth and tried to enjoy it even if my death was an incredibly common occurrence.
      So, how would I say it holds up to this day? Well, it's still playable for starters. The controls are as tight as ever, ensuring that if you die, it's your fault so blame can't be placed on the developers due to your poor handling. It's balanced out by frequent checkpoints mid-level, though at some points they can get incredibly spaced-out, especially in later levels where it can feel like forever before finally reaching one. This is made more aggravating since it's only possible to save the game when you finish a Ghost House, Switch Palace, Fortress, or Castle, so it can get very aggravating to beat five or six levels, only to die at a boss and be sent back to the previous save spot. Alleviating, this however, is the presence of secret exits which can be discovered by utilizing different keys that are left around the levels to access new areas. This comes at a slight cost, however, in that it is actually possible to reach the final area in only a couple of hours. Still, if you're a completionist, unlike me, you'll do your absolute best to find every single secret exit.

     Other than that, there really isn't a whole lot to say about it. The music is still incredibly catchy and as memorable as ever, plus the game looks especially well to this day even though it was released back in 1991. Then again, most games released on the SNES tend to stay looking good, mostly due to the fact that it is hard to make a video game sprite look bad. However, there is one major thing I dislike about early Mario games, and it's that many of them have a very generic atmosphere to them. With the exception of Yoshi's Island and Super Mario Bros. 2, the grand majority of Mario games used the same color palette to death. 

While the vast majority of other Nintendo titles have their own visual personality, such as Donkey Kong's lush jungle environments, Metroid's solitary and alien worlds, and Kirby's toy-box like feel, Mario always felt very basic by comparison, lacking much of the flair that these other titles featured.
     So,while many hail it as a classic, I feel that Super Mario World feels like a rather basic platformer, especially when compared to other titles such as Yoshi's Island, Megaman X, or Donkey Kong. Overall, a solid title that's lacking the refinements brought about by later games.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island Review

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

     Growing up dirt-poor in rural Georgia, there wasn't really much in terms of gaming entertainment that I was able to be exposed to. All I had at the time was a Nintendo 64 with Mario Kart and a Super NES with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters and the original Super Mario World and while I can safely say that I was never bored, it meant that I had to suck it up and play games that I could find dirt cheap at the local flea market. It was here that I ended up forming a lifelong bond with a little gem known simply as Super Mario World 2, though being the retarded child I was, I saw the two and thought: “ooh, a new game, can't wait to take this home and be forced to delete the old saves so I won't have the story spoiled for me!”

     Don't believe the lie of Yoshi's Island, it's a sequel in-name and nothing else. It lacks most, if not all of the refinements brought about by the original, instead opting out for a revamped style of play and art-style that can best be described as every sickeningly sweet kindergarten drawing brought to life. Still, we're here for the gameplay and it's one of, if not the tightest controlling games I've ever played. Even today, they still hold up incredibly well, allowing for easy and quick maneuverability through the environment. Which is a good thing too, because while some levels will feel like a breeze completing, others can best be equated to the ninth circle of platforming hell, where bottomless pits, spikes, and lava become your best friend. Still, it never feels like the game is punishing you for the programmers' mistakes but rather your own.

     That being said, the game is far from perfect. Most of the bosses are fairly simple to beat and usually end up being larger versions of standard enemies. Furthermore, many people will argue that the sound of baby Mario wailing for help as he floats around waiting for you to pick him up is one of the most annoying noises to ever be produced by a piece of electronic equipment. It's also very easy to accidentally get knocked around shortly after taking damage from any source, which is made even worse if you get hit without the kid on your back keeping you from getting him back.

     I'm knit-picking at this point honestly. Even playing it now, it still holds up unbelievably well, considering that it's been out for over eighteen years and still looks great despite it's age. Heck, I still pull it out every now and again when I get bored of the current tripe the industry likes to pump out. Simply put, it's one of the most finely-crafted experiences to ever grace the SNES and I don't say that lightly. It's charm continues well into this day and serves as a clear reminder that games can be about pure honest fun as opposed to pretentious drama-fests that the creators only pumped out to satisfy their own egos or some insipid expansion pack meant to cash in on some fanbase's loose wallets.

New game reviews here!

Alrighty, I'll try getting them out at least on a regular basis as opposed to pumping em out once at a time only to watch em die. My first review will be Yoshi's Island after which I have no idea what will come next.