Looking at: Mario platformers

Super Jump Man

Mario is, hands down, the most well known video game character ever made. If you ask people who have never touched a gaming console in their lives to tell you one video game character, they'll probably at least somewhat describe the red suspenders wearing plumber. 

2015 marks Mario's 30th anniversary, and to mark the occasion I thought I'd rank the Mario platformers, worst to best, since these are Mario at his finest. Here are all eleven 2D mario platformers, starting at the bottom:

11 - Super Mario Land (Gameboy)

I'm placing this one at the bottom for two reasons:

1) It's the only one on the list I've never played very much

2) It's not all that great regardless. 

I realized while researching this game that SML is actually the first Mario game I ever did play, specifically on my friend Josh's black and white gameboy at recess in grade 1. Unfortunately that gameboy just wasn't really up to the task of creating a full Mario experience, and while the game may play decently, there's a host of issues, ranging from limited level design, and the smallest amount of levels in a Mario game, to the worst iteration of the Fire Flower. It was a valiant attempt at porting the entire Mario experience to handheld, but it just wasn't as good. 

10 - New Super Mario Bros 2 (3DS)

New Super Mario Bros was a breath of fresh air, and I'll get to it later, but it's sequel on the 3DS failed to pack any sort of punch. By filling the game with thousands and thousands of coins, it pointed out how trivial both the coin collection system had become, but lives became completely pointless, since you'd have well over thirty by the end of the first world. Compound that with a lack of challenging levels and a bunch of rehashes from NSMB and NSMB2 just isn't that great of a Mario game. It's enjoyable, sure, but there are so many better choices. 

9 - Super Mario Bros 2 (NES, SNES)

Ok, right off the bat, this game shouldn't even technically be on the list, since it's not really a Mario game. It's actually just a re-skin of a completely unrelated game called Doki Doki Panic. The story goes that Nintendo was worried that the actual Mario Bros 2 was to difficult for Western audiences, so they pallet-swapped this unknown game and sold it as Mario Bros 2. 

All that aside, it's not a totally bad game. I gets a bad rap because of how different it is from the rest of the series, but it did help to establish some things that have since become cannon, like Luigi's better jumping ability at the cost of control, or Peach's limited floating ability. Still, it's a weak platformer and the grab-and-throw mechanic doesn't really fit well with Mario, especially not on the NES. 

8 -  Lost Levels (SNES)

The actual followup to Super Mario Bros, only released in the west as part of the Mario All Stars pack for the SNES. Nintendo were worried it was to hard for Western audiences and they were kind of right. The Lost Levels are brutal, cranking the difficulty up to 11 almost immediately and only getting harder as you go. It plays just like the vanilla Mario, and that's great, but it's insanely hard, to the point where it stops being fun. 

7  - New Super Mario Bros. U (WiiU)

Much like the above mentioned NSMB2, this one is lower on the list for just being a follow-up to a better game. Good levels, and a Luigi-themed expansion pack, coupled with the four player multiplayer makes this a completely competent game, but it hardly utilizes it's hardware, and at best feels like an expansion pack for Mario Wii. There's nothing wrong with NSMBU, but there's nothing that really sets it apart either. 

6 - Mario Land 2 (Gameboy)

Mario Land 2 might be the most unknown game on this list, but that's a shame since it's really good. Completely disregarding the NES Mario games, ML2 wasn't afraid to put the Gameboy through it's paces. Using sprites from the recent SNES Mario title helped the game look better then it was, and as a potable Mario experience, it's amazing for it's time. 

5 - New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)

Four player co-op Mario might be one of the best and worst ideas the series has ever had. The chaos and carnage created with Mario, Luigi, and two Toads on screen at the same time is something that has to be experienced for real. Not content to just let four people play Mario at the same time, NSMB Wii was a well balanced and well made Mario game that's just fun to play, either by yourself or with friends. 

4 - Mario Brothers (NES, SNES)

The original that started it all, created a legend, and made Nintendo a houshold name. Amazingly, the original Mario Bros holds up pretty well, even thirty years on. It's simplistic, crude, and short, but works in every way. People have often said that Nintendo is afraid to innovate, but that might be because they got it so right on the first try. The platforming in Mario is sublime, and it became the standard of all platformers to follow. 

3 - New Super Mario Brothers (DS)

"New" is something of an odd adjective to place in the title of this game, and yet it fits so well. NSMB was exactly what the Mario franchise needed after so many 3D outings, a complete tear down and return to form with a shiny new coat of paint, and that's exactly what this DS title offered. The gameplay was largely the same as the old Mario games, but it's what it added that made it stand out. The art style was an interesting mix of 3D models on a 2D plane that made the game look better then it really was, but it was the level design itself that stood out. Each level is memorable, even if it doesn't have any sort of gimmick, because of how well put together they are, using angles and shapes the old Mario games barely dreamed of. With plenty of secrets, collectibles, and a player VS player mode, this really is one of the all time best Mario games, best DS games, and best platformers ever made. 

2 - Mario Bros 3 (NES, SNES)

Creating so much of what would eventually become Mario standard, and kicking ass while doing it. Mario 3 was so good that it got it's own HD remake back before that was cool. The level design is a how-to of great design, with each level introducing a new challenge while still keeping in line with the world it exists in. Mario 3 also introduced the idea of non-linear level progression with the over-world map, and added mini-games into the mix as well. Never mind the fact that the game is just really fun to play, with a host of cool power-ups and items, awesomely surreal levels, challenging boss fights, and plenty to see and do. Mario 3 is legendary not only for what it introduced, but also for just being a really amazing game. 

1 - Super Mario World (SNES)

I have lost count of how many times I've beaten SMW. Seriously. It's been out for 25 years and I've beaten it so many times I can't remember any more. 

Super Mario World should be in a museum as a piece of art, and it's damn near perfect from ever angle. The art style is iconic, with expert sprite work that looks great and moves fluidly. The back grounds are colorful and varied, making each level feel different from each other. The platforming is nearly flawless, with jumps that will challenge you and the ability to glide opening up new possibility every few levels. 

It's the levels themselves, I think, that make SMW the masterpiece that it is. There's an obvious pace to the main levels, slowly introducing new ideas as you go and making you figure everything out. Even better is the amount of levels there are to unlock, with entire worlds hidden away behind mysterious keyholes and out of place pipes. 

I really could ramble on forever about what makes Super Mario World so great, but I'm afraid of being accused of having rose tinted glasses. I re-played Mario World again recently, just to see, and while my reflexes aren't what they were when I was seven, the game was still incredibly enjoyable. It's available on the E-shop now, and elsewhere if you know where to look, and I encourage anyone that enjoys Mario games, great design, wonderful artwork, or just a fun game to give it a try. 

Game Over

There it is, my ranking of the Mario 2d platformers. I'd rank the 3d games, but there's not really enough of them, so here it is in short order:

Mario Sunshine

Super Mario Wold Wii U

All of the other ones

Mario 64

Galaxy 2

Personally, to me, Mario is at his absolute best when it's in the 2D realm. Not that I have anything against the 3d games, but platforming just works better in 2D, and it always will. 

The more astute of you may have noticed there are some games missing. The Yoshi's Island series isn't on here since, despite Mario appearing as a baby, the games aren't really about Mario, and even the Nintendo Wiki puts them in a different category. Same goes for any game involving Wario, although he's in a completely different place now. 

All told, this is just my personal opinion on one of the greatest and longest running franchises in gamine. If you have differing opinions that's fine, it just means you're a human. At the end of the day, any Mario game is, to me, a good Mario game. 

Looking at: Goldeneye and Perfect Dark

A Rare Treat

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Microsoft have recently teased that Rare Studios could be making a comeback in the new year. This is probably a good move for Microsoft, since the X1 has been selling like shit and they could use a win. What better way to do that then reviving a much beloved developer from our youth and having them take another crack at some of their old IP's? I'm skeptical, since reboots are always a gamble, but if the new Rare can muster some of the old Rare's magic, they might just have a chance.

Today I decided I was going to look back at my two favorite Rare games from their golden age, their N64 shooters. Rare created most of the best games on the N64, including the Banjo-Kazooie games (which I've unfortunately never played) Jet Force Gemini, Conker's Bad Fur Day, and of course Donkey Kong 64, but I've always loved their shooters the most.

Goldeneye 007

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Ignore Bond's elongated mouth.

Being born in the 90's meant that I grew up with Pierce Brosnan as my James Bond. Although his four movies are usually reviled as some of the worst, I still like them and how Brosnan portrayed Bond. He had this regal air of absolute cool, and never once wavered in the face of duty. Out of the four Brosnan movies, Goldeneye is probably best remembered, and that's not always because of the movie itself.

Goldeneye is the embodiment of what game development in the 90's was all about. reportedly, eight of the ten developers hadn't even worked on games before, and Rare's only previous experience was developing 2D side-scrollers for the SNES. Nintendo had landed the contract to make the tie-in game for Goldeneye and somehow the job went to Rare. Most of the game was just throwing things together to see if they worked, and when broken down it becomes apparent just how cobbled together the game really is.

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Sean Bean has never looked so good.

Levels have a tendency to be scatter-brained, with random useless rooms and doors thrown in at random. The AI is dumb as shit and has the aim of a stormtrooper, and there's significant slowdown when to much stuff is on screen. But Goldeneye is a game that only sort of works because of it's flaws. The random levels means there's more places to hide from enemies. The crappy AI means that the rudimentary stealth system does actually work. It's all scatterbrained, but there's an undeniable charm about the whole production, like a middle school play that's so funny because of how crappy it is.

Then there's the multiplayer. Goldeneye is probably solely responsible for the entire concept of a console FPS being successful. Years before COD was even an idea, Goldeneye was selling out based on it's multiplayer suit. People loved it, and for good reason. There were great, well designed maps, a slew of weapons, and enough modifiers to make sure that no two games were exactly alike. It's antiquated by today's standards, but most of modern multiplayer owes a lot to Goldeneye.

If nothing else, Goldeneye is a reminder that, when handled properly, you can make a great game out of a movie licence. It's still fairly enjoyable by today's standards, with multiple difficulty settings for each level and challenge modes too. Grab some friends, find a CRT TV, and get lost in the good ol' days.

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This never get's old. ever.

Perfect Dark

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Both words incredibly apt.

How fitting is it that "Perfect" is right there in the title of the game? Perfect Dark is just that, the perfect N64 game. Everything about it is great, and it stands out as one of the console's best games, impressive since this is the console that gave use Mario 64 and Zelda: Ocarina of Time among others.

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Image from the Xbox360 HD re-release. And my dreams.

From a gameplay standpoint, there's not a whole lot different between Perfect Dark and Goldeneye. Their both FPS games with rudimentary stealth, they both have expansive multiplayer suits, and they both prominently feature British people shooting guns. Where Perfect Dark set's itself apart is it's polish. This is a finely tuned game, refined to perfection and pushing the N64 to it's absolute limits.

Whereas Goldeneye was sort of cobbled together, Perfect Dark is a thoughtfully laid out and constructed game. The levels are seamless and have a flow to them that helps to push along the action. There's voice acting this time, and an actual story that moves you from level to level with actual purpose. Instead of just lowering your weapons off screen, each gun now has it's own unique reload animation, and most of them have multiple functions. Best of all it the ability to bring up an inventory menu, meaning you don't have to cycle through twenty items to get back to your assault rifle. It's so much better then Goldeneye in every way that playing Goldeneye after Perfect Dark proves difficult.

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Blocky as hell, but a blast to play.

Perfect Dark is a shining example of console games, an absolutely enjoyable and well made game that never ceased to impress. It may not have aged well but it still remains one of my favorite shooters, even today.

Rare Sighting

So that's my take on my two favorite Rare games. After the N64, Rare were bought by Microsoft and, like a trained bear, made to do some horrible things. Every year it seems less and less likely that Rare will ever make a comeback, and it begs the question: would it still be the same? Regardless, I hold out hope that one day we'll see games as good as Rare one made. Until then, I'll keep my N64 running, and my cartridges dust free.

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AGH! You get lost abomination!

Looking at: Donkey Kong 64

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True story: I stole my original copy of this game. Not from an actual store, but I borrowed it from a classmate and never gave it back. That kid was fucking crazy anyway, so I feel no remorse for my actions.

So Rare!

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Even the main menu is filled to the brim.

Donkey Kong 64 turns 15 today. Good lord, and I thought the tenth anniversary of MG3 and Half Life 2 made me feel old. DK64 was released at the tail end of the N64's life cycle, and represents what can happen when a developer pushes a piece of hardware to it's absolute limits.

They're name holds little weight nowadays, but there was a time that Rare software was the absolute kings of gaming. Everything they released was pure gold, and they're responsible for some of the best and most innovated games of their time. Classics like the genre redefining Goldeneye 64 and it's followup Perfect Dark, or the interesting and uniquely adult Conker's Bad Fur Day. These are all great, but Rare's best work was their series of platformers, the Banjo Kazooie Games and a followup to the SNES classic Donkey Kong series, Donkey Kong 64.

It's unfortunate they've completely dissappeared, nothing more then a faded memory of a golden age long gone. Rare's legacy goes on, even if the company doesn't, and their games will be remembered for a long time as timeless classics.

So They're Finally Here...

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Clockwise: Tiny Kong, Lanky Kong, Donkey Kong, Chunky Kong, and Diddy Kong.

DK64 opens with an absolute bang. The original Donkey Kong Country started with an elderly gorilla player a victrola, violently interrupted by Donkey Kong chiming in with a cool jungle beat. DK64 opens with an instantly recognizable hardcore 90's rap that introduces the major players, their abilities, and their combat effectiveness. It's almost a tutorial to a certain degree, and it remains a catchy tune even today. I'm just going to post the video in it's entirety below, but don't blame me if it get's stuck in your head.

Even the main menu is an indication of the game. It's huge, and filled with options. This wasn't a simple upgrade from 2D platformer to 3D, this was a new game for a new age, and it wanted to make sure you knew that. 

DK64 is massive in every respect. It's one of only three N64 games to require the expansion pak. It pushes the N64 to it's absolute limits, with absolutely astounding things for the time. The lighting was top notch, casting dynamic shadows as you moved, and it's physics was ahead of the curve for the time. Character animations are great, and it's all the more surprising since there are five main characters, each with completely separate move sets. 

The world is probably the biggest part. Like many early 3D platformers, DK64 features an overworld that connects the self-contained levels. People that thought Mario 64's game world was big were blown away by DK64's scope. The overworld is massive and has a tonne of hidden secrets to find and plenty to explore. The levels are equally big, and one DK64 is easily the size of two or three Mario 64 levels. There's a lot of life in the levels two, with things happening all over the place and plenty of nooks and crannies to explore. 

OHHHH...BANANA

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You'll need to visit Cranky's lab regularly for upgrades.

Like every Donkey Kong game, Bananas are the goal here. Once again the evil Lizard King K. Rool has stolen all of DK's bananas and it's up to you to get them back. Where DK64 deviates from every other Donkey Kong game is it's cast. This time around you have access to five different Kongs, each with different abilities. There's Donkey, of course, he's the most well rounded of the crew. There's Diddy, fast and agile and able to charge enemies and use a jetpack. Lanky Kong, who can strike from a distance using his extending arms and can walk up sloped surfaces. Chunky Kong who can dish out massive amounts of damage, lift heavy boulders, and grow to humongous sizes. And Tiny Kong who can float in the air, walk up walls, and shrink to fit in small places.

All of the characters get time to shine, and you'll need to learn to play as each Kong to get the best experience. Every level contains areas specific for each Kong, and switching between them is easy thanks to the barrels placed around. It can get frustrating finding yourself in an area with the wrong Kong, and there's quite a bit of back tracking, but exploration is encouraged, and the levels are well designed enough that this isn't a huge hassle.

What is a hassle is the game's upgrade system, that requires you to unlock upgrades for the Kongs individually. Often you won't be able to use a Kong's best abilities until you've hunted down enough of their specific coins to buy the upgrades. Even after acquiring the upgrades you'll still have to hunt down the specific item that the Kong requires to use the upgrade. It's probably the most frustrating part of the game, and can really grate on your nerves after a while.

Lovely Bunch of Coconuts

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Each of the characters has a special ability, like Diddy's jetpack.

The other major problem with DK64 is that it's perhaps too open. There's vary little in the way of direction, and you're often left wondering where to go. There's no real plot to DK64, rather just one long, drawn out fetch quest. It's a fun fetch quest, with plenty to see and do, but it all boils down to finding the banana and retrieving it. Mario 64's stars at least gave you a hint as to where to go and what to do, but the best DK64 offers is cryptic advise that rarely helps that much.

There's other issues with DK64, mostly just due to age. It's a game not really meant for the N64, with a confusing array of controls that can get easily muddled. Graphically it hasn't aged well, although it retains a certain charm to those who lived through the days of blocky 3D. The lack of proper structure is probably the worst thing about it, and it's fun enough that you can look past that.

There's also a mulitplayer suit included, which has some really fun games. It's fairly standard death match or survival stuff, and you get access to all the characters from the campaign as well as their various abilities. It's fun, and a reminder why Rare games were once the kings of slumber parties and casual get-togethers.

All in all, DK64 is a great relic of older platformers, and definitely a contender for best N64 game. It may not have the long lasting legacy of titles like Mario 64, or Goldeneye, but it's a really fun game with plenty to do. It was ahead of it's time, and remains a great game, even fifteen years later.