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"Goodbye Mr. Mario"

Violence isn’t the best policy, but Nintendo’s recent aggression worldwide does show that sometimes it does pay off. Nintendo always have and always will rely on a storming, unbelievable title to sell the machine. Although Europe is suffering (expect a catch up in the new year) Nintendo have stormed the two other areas in the world. Metroid Prime is selling bucket loads in America and has meant Nintendo can hold second position (for a short while at least) and that is no small feat especially when you consider the gap between Gamecube and the X-box was far greater than the one in Europe. In Japan the success story is even larger, the GBA has taken pole position as the biggest selling system and the Gamecube in late November was within touching distance of the PS2… that is incredible! The Japanese success stories are due to the 2 Pokémon releases on the GBA and the 3 Zelda releases on the Gamecube… it looks like Nintendo franchises are doing it again! Although there has been one unexpected occurrence for Nintendo.

If you had to choose a representative character of gaming who would you pick? I’m putting money on, Nintendo fan or not, you’d pick Mario. It was the character that propelled the most innovative games company onto bigger and better things, it was the character that invented and revolutionized many genres including interactive 3D worlds and platformers themselves. For people like me Mario will always be the pinnacle of gaming excellence, I was bought up with the game, I learnt to play games with him, I went to see the film and I loved the Mario/Sonic fights. Even today Mario Sunshine had me smiling from ear to ear, I truly admire this plumber. But my Dad constantly goes on about Pong, and as great as the game is for the industry… I just don’t see the attraction. But Mario is a star and he is always around, be it karting games, 3D platformers, Tennis games, 2D platformers, party games etc…. so surly he should live forever.

Or not.

The unexpected occurrence for Nintendo was the under whelming response to Mario’s triumphant return to 3D platform gaming. Yes it sold well initially but Mario trailed off… in all 3 areas Europe, America and Japan… Mario didn’t cut it as Nintendo had hoped. Maybe it is because Mario’s main fan base is now in their late teens and they just don’t want to play these games anymore, they know he is fun but they are more into their Grand Theft Auto’s than the ability to jump on enemies as a podgy Italian plumber… water cannon or not. But it isn’t necessarily a disaster, Mario Kart and Mario 64 managed to attract a third generation of gamers, just as Mario World against Sonic attracted a second and Donkey Kong started it all. So all Nintendo have to do is attract the young gamers of today. Then the GBA thing begins to make sense. In an attempt to re-create the Mario buzz would be to ‘re-release’ Mario… and that is exactly what Nintendo did. Mario Brothers was re-released on the Gameboy Colour and Mario Brothers 2, World and World 2 all appeared on the GBA. So Super Mario Sunshine should have sold well… and to an extent it did… it sold phenomenally for a game but not phenomenally for a Mario game (admittedly it didn’t sell as poorly as the superb Paper Mario).

It is rather depressing really, seeing such a figure of the gaming industry begin to slide down sale wise… and knowing Shiguru Miyamoto and how he reacts to criticism and poor sales, he’ll be taking this to heart. Nintendo always invented things in the past to keep Mario in the limelight; Mario Kart is a good example as is Smash Brothers and Mario Party but so far all Nintendo have confirmed is a collection of sequels, Mario needs something new. The mysterious Mario 128 could well be that game; Shigeru Miyamoto is leading the project and whether it is a puzzler or another platformer it apparently has a certain ‘freshness’ that was lacking in Sunshine. Releasing so many Mario titles could indeed keep the plumber amongst the greatest selling games of all time but the disappointing sales of Sunshine begs the question ‘Do Nintendo need Mario anymore?’ Nintendo are changing their image and it has slowly progressed over the years. Game wise we have the exclusive Resident Evil games to the Nintendo published horror title Eternal Darkness. A second, blue, Nintendo logo has appeared, representing a darker side than the friendlier red image. In America Resident Evil 0 and Metroid Prime are being advertised heavily in order to attract more teenagers and adults to the Nintendo fold. It is a new side to Nintendo and although Nintendo will always aim to attract Children a mass of Mario games really won’t do much good for the older side to the Japanese giant.

So with Mario’s sales slipping and Nintendo’s image changing what room is there for our world re-known plumber in this increasingly aggressive market? Well he is vital for so many reasons, those who do like platformers, in the know or not, will be interested in Mario and the industry needs Mario titles in order for developers to be inspired, take certain aspects and incorporate them into their own games. It is highly unlikely that Mario will disappear from Nintendo release lists but I wouldn’t be surprised to see less Mario Tennis and Golf games and the annual Mario Party ritual change. There was a stark warning from the start, making us wait for Mario was probably one of the most ingenious hype ideas Nintendo have ever come up with (it could have been ready for launch there was no-need for Luigi’s Mansion) but it also proved to the world that Nintendo don’t need Mario to sell.

Some may disagree, some may say without Mario Nintendo are relying on the smash hit success of Zelda to attract gamers year in year out. But then they are missing some vital factors… as Mario sales slip new franchises are being born which; in a few years will be some of Nintendo’s biggest titles. With Pikmin 2 confirmed it is obvious Nintendo will seriously push the Pikmin franchise, winner of some awesome awards mainly surrounding innovation. It was an addictive title despite being a bit short lived (although if it did take a while it wouldn’t have had the same experience) and could well take off dramatically in the near future. The same can be said for Nintendo’s new smash hit Animal Crossing and we’ve just seen Retro revive Metroid… and the twin RPG’s Zelda and Pokémon are still going strong. So Nintendo do not necessarily need Mario but lets face it, there is so much background and dedication to the character that he is an intricate part of the company itself. Ask someone what they think of when we say Nintendo and straight away you think Mario, he represents Nintendo and even if he disappears millions will still relate Nintendo to that overweight acrobat who likes to dabble in the odd plumbing. Whereas Mario’s influence on the Gamecube at the moment is even higher than Resident Evil (10 games either released or announced featuring Mushroom Kingdom characters) but whether with the new adult side of Nintendo this amount of Mario games will continue remains to be seen.

But the question remains? Will Mario continue to be the huge money earner with hundreds of spin off titles or will he be dumbed down in order to widen Nintendo’s appeal? I really would hate to see such a star go out on a low.

Here’s to the future

Dringo.

Dringo wrote:

> James Bond?

He got his character from the third person perspective in the FILMS! :-P

>Joanna Dark?

We only recognise her through magazine artwork and cutscenes.
The masses wouldn't recognise her.

Besides, despite Perfect Dark being a phenomenal success, she's barely recognised beyond hardcore N64 fans...
Same can be said for Halo - hugel popular game but masterchief doesn't mean jack to most players.

Sonic, on the other hand, along with Mario, Link (the fact that loads of people think that the little green clothed guy is Zelda says it all!) are instantly recognisable from their franchises, even for people who have only played it briefly or seen a few screenshots.


If people find Samus instantly recognisable after playing on their Gamecube, then it would be a safe bet that it was Smash Brothers they'd just been playing!



As for Mario's lapse in popularity (the main topic), his standalone game wasn't the biggest hit for the Gamecube this year, he's still the most recognisable character.

Perhaps Sunshine's Water gun was a put-off for most buyers, or perhaps it wasn't enough of a leap from Mario 64 and too short-lived to live up to the huge expectations of Mario 64's sequel.
Either way, Mario is still going to head other games like Mario Tennis, Mario Golf, not to mention the next Mario Kart.

Turbonutter wrote:
> Dringo wrote:
> we don't get a mario game
> every year ala GTA/Tekken/Tomb Raider
>
>
> What, you think that's a good thing? It's all the more loss for you
> mate.

I'm not the one wasting my money on the same game that has a handful of new features and a new face year in year out (except with Tony Hawks).

Sibs wrote:
> I still don't understand how a character that runs, jumps, and plays
> as much sport as Mario can still be overweight...
HAven't you seen an italien eat before?

Dringo wrote:
> we don't get a mario game
> every year ala GTA/Tekken/Tomb Raider


What, you think that's a good thing? It's all the more loss for you mate.

Turbonutter wrote:

> On a side note, my mate Pete is describing Mario Sunshine. Collecting
> coins? Again?? And you lot accuse us of having no originality.

Then your friend misses the point... whereas the goal is identical to mario 64 in collecting shines (stars. The way you do it is very different with the new jumping abilitity and retro sections to the game... the goal is similar but that is the mere storyline so there is a point to what you are doing... the gameplay isn't...

which is why it is original... and the attack upon originality is hardly heard these days considering Sony and friends are producing many new and innovative ideas... sadly the problem remains that tomb raider, Tekken, Metal gear, GTA etc... are Sony's main titles... yet Nintendo are advertising their main titles in Japan as the innovative Final Fantasy game, PN3, Viewtiful joe, Dead Phonix and Killer 7 all original concepts in their own right. Mario Sunshine is a sequel to Mario 64 yes but there was a 6 year gap... we don't get a mario game every year ala GTA/Tekken/Tomb Raider

It's true about going into 3D.
Mario did it well, keeping all the elements that made the game great to begin with.
Sonic, on the other hand, lost everything that made it a good 2D game. It came down to collecting things, no speed, no hidden areas, no exitement and no actual platforms.
And I do enjoy taking my time. In fact, my pet hate in a game is being rushed (the underwater levels in sonic for example). Mario was my first great gaming experience and I'll never forget it.

You've really confused me now.
I think the old 2D sonic games were the best, but I'd much rather play Sunshine now.
Let's leave it at that.

Soinic/Mario is more a matter of preference really.

To complete a Mario game, you have to be slow and careful while most of the time solving puzzles in the landscape etc. Sonic however, is more reliant on speed and skill to complete. Sure, the levels can mostly be completed by holding right, but you need real talent to get past the end-level bosses.

Each is as good as the other, but in different ways.

On a side note, my mate Pete is describing Mario Sunshine. Collecting coins? Again?? And you lot accuse us of having no originality.

In fear of getting into another Sonic/Mario fight I'm just going to say you're wrong.

Mario has equally as many sequels, a 3D design in a 2D game and of course the Mario franchise invented platformers in the first place. His jumping and additional abilities increased the depth far beyond Sonic and Mario actually made a successful leap into 3D.

Sonic's class though.

Mario, in my opinion, is far out-shined by Sonic. In fact, that hedgehog is probably the greatest character ever created.
Not just him either, the level design of the 2D oldies was perfect, tonnes of secret areas and places to find and the sheer speed reached throguh the loops and over jumps was overwhelming.

In Strafex's defense I don't think anyone but hardcore games remember Jo Darks name, let alone her appearance...

And Bond is only known because of the films that preceded the games.