Mario Baseball

[Mr_B]

Gotta love it.

love what? I'm lost

[jarrod]

Gimmicky. Weak level design compared to Mario 64, not even variations in the missions so the second half of the game is boring as all sin, the game gets very repetitive very quickly. It just feels like it was rushed out the door for launch.

While I agree Sunshine was a terribly uneven game, it's still has it's merits. The controls are almost intuitively perfected, easily the best among 3D platfomers. FLUDD brings some interesting new mechanics, both offensive and movement based. The engine is actually pretty great (despite some weak texturing) with stunning water physics and amazing draw distance. And most importantly, the void levels are simply unparalled for 3D platforming. In fact they're the highpoint of the game and easily trounce anything found in Mario 64, or any other 3D platform game to this day. Where Mario Sunshine falls apart though is when taken as a whole. While some of the earlier level designs are pretty good, they get progressively worse and the final stages are really crap. Yoshi was totally illconcieved. And probably worst, the emphasis on collection to artificially extend gameplay almost killed the game (this is a big problem in Wind Waker also). Blue Coins were just a bad idea, no question.

Mario Sunshine is really an unfortunate game, it has moments of unparalled brilliance but is overall pretty unstatasfying and mediocre. In some ways it reminds me of Sonic Adventure 2, which is also extremely up (Sonic/Shadow levels) and down (everything else).

A huge disapointment in the face of Donkey Kong 94. Hell, they should have just ported that over with better graphics. I wouldn't have complaine.

Okay now, come on. I mean, it's coming from NST afer all... NST! Y'know the guys who managed to ruin Crystalis, Ridge Racer, Panel de Pon, Wave Race & 1080... and yet MVDK is actually good. No it's pretty great really and quite honestly one of the better games released this year. Sure it's not the timeless classic DK94 was but it's still better than almost every platformer we've gotten this generation. And considering the source it came from, I'd say that's a triumph itself.


I've gotta say though, your evalution of Mario games comes off as pretty cursory and illinformed. You're listing some games as bad that haven't even released yet (Mario Party Advance) and others which are actually top stuff (Mario Golf Advance Tour). I'm a little wary of your cutoff point for the Mario Party games too as they've really gotten progressively better, with MP5 showing a larger leap forward than all previous games combined. While Mario might be stagnatingly overused, Nintendo's still pumping out solid games for the most part (barring Pinball Land, blech!), which is more than I can say for most platform mascots these days. Sonic, Crash, Spyro... I'm looking at you.

[Roufuss]

I think there is something wrong with it - the lack of the fucking analog swing. Really, people, this is the superior way to swing golf clubs in videogame form. Click-click-click is a step backwards. This goes for you too, Hot Shots Golf.

I'd still rather play Mario Golf or Hot Shots Golf: Fore than Tiger Woods.

Realistic golf just dosen't do it for me.

[Tommy Tallarico]

Arguing about Nintendo's lack of innovation is mute.

Moot. You kind of sabotaged your entire argument right from the start there.

[Bacon McShig]

Some of you were talking about the possible cast of characters in this game, did you happen to look at the screen shot? There are only TWO people in the infield/outfield, Bowser as pitcher and Mario Batting. There is probably a catcher as well. So its like 4 people total on field rather than 9. So this game could have a very low number of characters, when it should'nt.

I think that's probably more because the game's only a fraction completed and thusly they've only modeled the absolute mainstays so far. I'm sure it'll end up at a full 9 on the field, there was another shot I saw that had the good guys on defense and all the positions that could be seen in the shot were filled properly.

Same as the above, theres no reason to play Mario Golf in the eyes of Tiger Woods or Links 2004. So while theres technically nothing wrong with it, it does nothing special or different to make me want to play it. It's very mediocore and the fact that they already released practically the same game on N64 means it's just deja vu for Nintendo fans.

Once more, the stigma that Nintendo is kiddy has some merit, and the GC is a lot of kids' first console. It's new to them. And for fans of the original, it gives them a chance to revisit it with new courses and vasty improved graphics. If you're really expecting a whole lot more than that to a followup of a golf game, or any sports game for that matter, you better dislike every sports game update ever, otherwise you're being rather hypocritical in singling out and picking on Mario Golf (or Tennis). One installment in those series a generation = milking? Come on now, that's reaching.

[Mr_B]

Moot. You kind of sabotaged your entire argument right from the start there.

Eh, you knew what I meant!

[Opaque]

Eh, you knew what I meant!

You sure are excited about getting shot down!

[Diff-chan]

I have herpes!

[AstroBlue]

Gimmicky. Weak level... etc... wouldn't have complained.

That was fairly amazing, considering you pinpointed all the reasons why those Mario games sucked. *

* Although the Delfino Plaza theme is still the best ever piece of music in videogame history.

[toxic]

I'd still rather play Mario Golf or Hot Shots Golf: Fore than Tiger Woods.

Realistic golf just dosen't do it for me.

I don't understand the idea where "realism = better". Often times realism just means it has added more frustrating elements.

Hot Shots Golf is a great example of fun, simple gameplay ... add in multiplay, and you have a great title.