Instead of popping in Skyword Sword I decided to start with Mario Galaxy. I was hooked. It was like I was instantly transported back to my childhood memories. I had not played Mario since 6 Golden Coins on the GameBoy, but this game was everything I had always imagined Mario's world to be. Seeing him in three dimensions for the first time was a mind blowing experience. He moved just as fluidly as I remembered but there were so many options now. The game is truly a masterpiece. The graphics are visually stunning as each new level creates a distinct and memorable area for Mario to explore. Returning to a stage is never a bore to collect the extra stars as their is usually some sort of twist to the level or added challenge that was not their the first time. From haunted houses to beaches, or snow covered mountains the variety never ends. Mario still has the same song and dance with Peach and Bowser, but it is on such a grand scale that I never would have expected. The new bumblebee power up is interesting as it allows you to fly without a running start. Music is orchestral and it always pleasant to hear the old 8-bit track remixed with the depth that a orchestra can provide. For pure fun you can not go wrong with this game it is a must play for sure for gamers of all ages and skill level
With the unfortunate closure of 1up.com I wanted to take a chance to expand on something that I had published on their site. Mario is the first game character I ever really grew attached to. Donkey Kong and the Smurfs were the first two games I ever remember playing on the Commodore 64. The Smurfs was a very repetitive game with the same level repeating and not providing much a challenge for myself, even as a toddler. Donkey Kong on the other hand I became addicted to. I found it very challenging as I was still very young and many skills required for games were still developing. I don't think I ever actually rescued Pauline and Mario was soon replaced by some other fascination, but that was only until I got my first NES. Super Mario Brothers was amazing there is not much I can say about that masterpiece that had not been said, but I loved it to say the least.
Something to keep in mind was that I was born in 1989 so I was playing all of the great games from the late 80's in the early 90's. The Super Nintendo had come out not to long after my family got our NES. Things were a lot different back then. Nintendo was marketing the NES SNES and Gameboy all at the same time. It wasn't like modern console launches were the old system is sent out to pasture. Being young during this time made it easy for my mother to trick me. I asked for Super Metroid and received Metroid, Link to the Past gave the Legend of Zelda. Mega Man 3 and 6 instead of 7. You get the picture. Asking for Super Mario World brought Super Mario Brother 2 and 3. I was so always so excited to get a new game, and I would imidietly set to work to discover any and all secrets that I could. Super Mario Brother 3 still ranks as one of my favorite games of all time (List to come in a future blog).
Something about the world of these games captured my imagination. The Mushroom Kingdom in particiular I would spend as much time imagining my own adventures for Mario and Friends as I did playing the actual game. I always saw that their was so much more to the world then what was stored in that cartridge. As I got older and realized that the no new Nintendo games would be played once they had been removed from Blockbuster. The N64 was on the horizon and how badly I wanted one, but my parents said I had to buy it myself that was a lot of money that I did not have. My brother said that we could pool our money to buy a new game system, but since he had more of the money he decided that we get a PlayStation. I never went back to Nintendo and that cheerful Italian plumber was left as a distant memory. My brother later moved away and bought a Wii. I was intrigued by the game play possiblites that the motion controls could provide. Intrigued by Skyword Sword innovation and the nostalgia for Nintendo characters I picked up a Wii bundled with Mario Kart and a copy of Skyword Sword and Mario Galaxy.
