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[Golds]

Looks pretty sweet.  I love the SMB3 flying ship music.

[konjak]

The game already looked fantastic but this video made it so much more.

[Derek]

Looks fantastic!

Makes me feel better that I R MR GAY.

The Japanese website's up, too!

[fish]

this game is made out of sex and win.

i was lucky enough to play it at its unveiling at E3 06 and seriously, its gonna be an absolute masterpiece. its gonna be one of those games we'll still play 10 years from now.

its IN-CRE-DI-BLE.

[papamook]

that looks awesome 

edit: wow that urmrgay outing is insane, videogame history being made right there!

[Stij]

Ah, it's good to see that Mario's still got it. Sure, they've made of lot of crappy spinoffs recently, but every once in a while we get a gem like this and I remember why Mario is still the big N's longest-running franchise ever.

[Derek]

You know what I wouldn't mind seeing?  Super Mario RPG 2 on the Wii!

That was one spinoff I really enjoyed.

[Inane]

Unlikely you'll see one, Derek. Square has seemingly devoted itself to its most profitable franchise.

[konjak]

Bah, Paper Mario 2 is the best of all Mario RPGs!

[Derek]

Unlikely you'll see one, Derek. Square has seemingly devoted itself to its most profitable franchise.

Ah yes, I heard there was a new Tom Sawyer game in the works.

[Golds]

While we're waiting for Mario Galaxy... I also saw this tool-assisted speedrun of Mario 64 where the guy beats the game with 1 star in 6:47.





Pretty crazy.  I still remember how in awe I was the first time I played Mario 64. It was a blockbuster demo unit... oh memories.  Anyway it's still definitely my favorite 3D platformer.

And yes, Super Mario RPG was awesome!  But mostly all I  remember of it now is the room where you could turn into classic pixel-art mario

Edit: Bahaha =

[Chris Whitman]

I heard there was a secret where if you beat Mario 64 in under ten minutes on a tool-assisted speed run you realize you are wasting your life.

[Stij]

Bah, Paper Mario 2 is the best of all Mario RPGs!

^this man speaks truth.

Mario and Luigi was pretty good too, but the sequel was a disappointment. Haven't tried much of PM1 so I can't say if it's good or not.

[Arne]

Intro has a nice feel of a working society, and a military invasion... something which is usually only briefly adressed if at all in the older Mario games.

I can't say the game has much attraction on me though. For me Mario was always about smashing massive amounts of blocks, not running around on sterile flat lawns like an robot out of control. Third person 3D shouldercam is inherently flawed as a method to present gameplay relevant information to the player, especially coupled with the in this context dysfunctional analog joypad. Not only is it impossible to run from point A to B without bumping into things as you accelerate from 0 to RunSpeed instantly while your legs sprawl randomly in a hope to give a semblance of a running animation in sync with the ground... you also can not aim without the use of dumbed down "hold-this-button-to-aim" controls. Sure, there are other aspects of a game than controlling your avatar well... Mr Exploration is always welcome to come and show how to make an actual game for real men, because most of the time it's Ms Story who takes us for a boring train ride while she bombards us with inane banter.

That said, I hope S.M.Galaxy has some exploration fun. It almost seems like it might. The videos I watched just showed people not being able to control the character though.

[Melly]

Looks like somebody was a bit upset with Mario's jump to 3D.

Not trying to be insulting or anything, but why not tell us a game, or explain a method through which all those issues could be fixed, since you seem to be so well versed? Or is it impossible to have a good 3D gaming experience?

[ChevyRay]

Super Mario RPG 2 on the Wii!

Weird man, that's EXACTLY what I said when a friend and I were talking about this very game here yesterday.

Unlikely you'll see one, Derek. Square has seemingly devoted itself to its most profitable franchise.

With the looks of Versus, I can't complain... but I want to.

Bah, Paper Mario 2 is the best of all Mario RPGs!

...

Mario and Luigi was pretty good too, but the sequel was a disappointment.

While it could have used a more satisfying story, I rather think it improved upon the first one by some. *shrugs*

Or is it impossible to have a good 3D gaming experience?

Way to poke the bear we trying to piss people off here?

My best 3D platforming experience would definitely have to be the PoP series for PS2. Ahhhh...




I duly await the release of this gaaaammme!!! Until then... I need a Wii.

[Melly]

Just want to hear what he would do in the developer's place.

[BMcC]

The more I see of Galaxy, the more in love I am.

And now The Airship!  OMGOSH. 

Intro has a nice feel of a working society, and a military invasion... something which is usually only briefly adressed if at all in the older Mario games.

Yeah, totally!  That struck me, too.  Very cool.  And the classic music!  Nintendo's really pullin' out the big guns, huh? 

[Inane]

Melly: Incase you didn't know, he does have design documents for a crapton of games, mostly remakes of old games, on his site. But as far as I know they're all 3D.

[Arne]

No, I'm usually just upset when the first sequel come out and breaks the spirit of the original, then I give up. I was doing other stuff when Mario 64 came out... painting Citadel miniatures I believe.

Thanks for the Ad Hominem attack. My person is irrelevant to the points of the argument. But since you asked, no, I do not think in booleans here. A 3D gaming experience (I never talked about 3D in general) is not 'impossible'.

The argument I presented was that 3rd person shouldercam 3D adventure platform games kinda stinks from an avatar control perspective, but games could have other aspects on top of that. I don't think much can be done about the flawed presentation and control concept other than trying to compensate in other areas. 3rd person 3D in a platformer may bring immersion and realism, but does it give as much as it takes in the gameplay area? I think it gives two oranges but takes away nine apples... and twelve bananas.


Edit: And I actually do have a Mario project.... three actually. Wrecking Crew, Mario Bros meets SMB and then a Mario Wars RTS thing... the latter actually 3D in the sense that 3D characters are used. I think 3D is excellent when you have a good resolution and need dynamic animations, multiple angles, rag-dolls etc.