Topic: The next Mario 3D platformer...

I know it's kinda early to think about, mostly because Super Mario 3D Land arrived only a year ago, but what should Mario's next 3D platformer be? Considering Wii U's capabilities, the next 3D Mario game should be pretty amazing. But where should he go next? He's been to a luxious resort, the Mushroom Kingdom, Mushroom Castle and he's been in space twice. Though Galaxy has lots of potential, I don't want to see a Galaxy 3. Maybe where Mario travels to a fantasy kingdom, and you use the Game Pad to interact with the environment, and Mario has different gameplay styles like regular Mario, a ball Mario, or a Mario made out of crayon? What do you guys want the next Mario 3D platformer to be like? I would also like to see a Zelda on Wii U, and for 3DS a Super Mario 3D Land sequel or a Super Mario Sunshine remake. Reply below please!

I think the next Mario game is going to be a lot like Super Mario 3D Land. They really seem to have found a balance between the old and the new. I loved that health bars were removed in favor of mushrooms and shrinking, and the removal of gravity mechanics ditched a small wow factor from Galaxy, but kept the floating stages idea that works well even without gravity switching. I think this is the first Mario game in a long time in which the player will be able to fully control the camera with the right stick, but I don't think it's a good idea necessarily to put in any touch screen mechanics. Maybe some quirky powerups so long as they don't make it an all-the-time thing like FLUDD or flinging star bits. I'd also like to see a more unified world map like what they're doing with NSMBU, to make the levels more memorable and less ADD.

As for remakes, how about a Super Mario HD collection with 64, Sunshine, Galaxy, Galaxy 2, and NSMBWii? That would be pretty awesome and packaging them together means no one complains about it just being another remake (none of the reasonable ones anyway...).

For the Wii U, I'd like a much less linear Mario game then 3D Land, or even Galaxy. A much less direct succession of levels would be an interesting diversion. New elements of some sort would have to be added, obviously, but other then that I'm not too sure. I'm sure Nintendo would be able to keep things interesting.

As for 3DS, yes, a Sunshine remake with improved camera, more levels and some other additions would be splendid.

If that happened, it'd be complete awesomeness, but I don't think they'd be too keen on including Galaxy, Galaxy 2 or NSMBWii due to the relative new age (although if they did, that would be awesome) and the fact that they're backwards compatible. Inclusion of remakes of 3D Land or older titles would be awesome.

As long as it's more obstacle focused like Galaxy (and 2) and less meandering like SM64/Sunshine, I can dig it.

I don't know how they can top Galaxy 2! That was the best!

I doubt Nintendo will make a 3D Mario that's better than the Galaxy games.

But I hope they do something more traditional. Take a break from gravity physics and floating islands in the middle of nowhere. A big connected over-world with a neat twist would be nice. A Mario like Super Mario 64 but instead of just the castle, you get to explore the whole mushroom kingdom. That'd be cool.

How about another trip to Dinosaur Land? I'd love to see Nintendo make a true sequel to Super Mario World

I'd even take a 2d sequel but a 3d one would be awesome

Ideally, I'd want a 3D game like Mario 64, but with the gameplay changes from 3D Land. So Mushrooms and Power Ups instead of health, no oxygen meter underwater, but with giant 3D worlds to explore and things like stars to find. Set in the Mushroom Kingdom or a non island, terrestial area too, so there's a lot of level variety and different themes.

I like the idea of a return to Dinosaur Land for a 3D game, but I would like it to be more open world. Instead of having a world map, let us fully explore Dinosaur Land in all it's HD beauty!

Of course, whatever Nintendo does here most likely would end up great. I just want an HD 3D Mario game.

What a great topic. I think the next 3D Mario should be as much a revolution as it will be an evolution of the Mario franchise, and what I mean by that is I'd like to see what has been done before applied to this title while also finding new ways to change the gameplay experience. In terms of evolutionary, I think the next game should combine the health meter of past 3D games with the health system of 3D Land/past 2D titles, ala Super Mario Bros. 2 USA. Have 3 or 4 health bars, with the top 3 seeing Mario in Super (standard) form while having only one life bar reduces Mario to Small Mario. The coins will not serve as health again, instead relying on the Super Mushroom to regain all health, with the item being scattered more generously throughout the game so it's not unfair to ask the player to replenish their health.

As far as gameplay mechanics go, the game should take a cue from all past titles, just like 3D Land did, in a way that could work for the next big Mario title. For instance, I felt the more intuitive and deeper swimming mechanics of the Galaxy titles and 64 would work more with the everlasting breath of 2D games, enabling players to explore more without having to manage their breath. Running short on air sends players into a needless and counterintuitive panic. Yes, the air bubbles alleviate that problem to some extent, but players are still required to scramble for them at more often than not. Let's say Mario is exploring a large, cavernous water world that requires a decent amount of exploration. It would just be better to play without nervously rushing for a bubble. That's just one of the many ways the next game could pull together mechanics that could work really well and perhaps better than the way they did in other games.

As for making this game a revolution, I think Wii U can answer that not only in the GamePad and the new ways to play it offers, but also in the Wii U's immense power. Larger more open-worlds would display callbacks to 64 and Sunshine, but I think Wii U could provide one giant open-overworld that seamlessly connects every individual course/level/world. I think of it as making the giant overworlds of SMW and NSMBU work in a 3D game, in a sense. Just getting to and from each course could be a platforming level in itself, if the player so chooses, and there will be methods of fast travel like a Warp Pipe tunnel system that opens up gradually as the player progresses and/or a Yoshi whistle that brings Yoshi in to quickly deliver you to the spot you choose off of the World Map. Other changes could be made to the gameplay that could prove to make huge differences like the replacement of the triple jump with a midair jump/double jump. I do think they should keep the dash button like the way they put it in 3D Land; that made me feel like I had more control over Mario, like he had more substance. The dash button could be in addition to how far you press the control stick, making for a much more effective control system.

The next 3D title doesn't have to NOT take place in the Mushroom Kingdom, per se, but seeing other Kingdoms/regions/islands would be cool also. Who knows, maybe for one of the levels, Mario could return to space for a few tasks. Mario could find himself in a parallel dimension,even, that interplays with the real world. The possibilities are endless for this team. It's all a matter of imagination. I do know that I myself would really enjoy seeing Mario visit locales like villages or small settlements of races old and new throughout his travels and interact with the denizens, possibly interacting with them to gain items, power-ups, or story-pieces that advance the game's plot. In a side note, perhaps Mario could find upgrades like better shoes that allow him to take down later enemies more easily (but that's a much more far-out idea). Time travel could even affect the places we visit, maybe seeing us talk to E. Gadd to step into a time machine that brings us back to Yoshi's Island. playing as Baby Mario or Luigi.

The GamePad itself could do a lot for the next Mario title, from playing host to world map and saved power-up to integrating the gameplay of the parallel dimension's effect on the normal world to even eliminating the need for split-screen and just giving Mario and Luigi their own screens. Yes, co-op could be the next big thing for the 3D series, and I hope that's true. To see Mario and Luigi running around together, working tandem on a 3D level would be a childhood dream turned reality.

So yeah, those are just some ideas. As for the future of the Mario series as a whole, I'd like to see either a 3D Land sequel or Sunshine remake, and I want the 2D series to step away from the "New" branding and go for more original looks and gameplay styles. Thanks for finishing this whole thing, if you did. Haha.

Good lord I hope there can be another Mario game that can give me the feeling that Mario 64 did

Well It's gonna have to be frickin' AMAZING if it wants to top the Galaxy games.

Knowing Nintendo, though, It probably will!

I'd like to see more of a multiplayer aspect ala the NSMB titles. Some more co-op then a second pointer would be nice.

Player one playing as Mario on the TV screen.

Player two playing as Luigi on the GamePad.

GLORIOUS!

All I want is an explorable hubworld again. Maybe do like Jak & Daxter and make the whole game one big connected world. There's a reason that game's the best 3D platformer in existance.

The next Mario game will most likely be a remake, just slap new on it people will swarm like fools.

No more remakes. The 3DS is loaded with remakes and ports, and many of them add nothing new (Star Fox, SSFIV). New content please.

This. I don't like the 3D games trying to be like the 2D games. The Galaxy games were far too linear.

And I don't include 3D Land with Mario 64, Sushine, Galaxy 1 and Galaxy 2. It was essentially a 2D Mario game in every way but graphics.

I'm against the hub world. I much prefer the map screen. I don't get lost trying to find unfinished levels.

Nintendo have, pretty much, done something different with Mario on every home console, so I expect something new on the Wii U. I'm just hoping for its brilliance to be more Galaxy than Sunshine.