It seems like you can hardly go a week nowadays without Takashi Tezuka or Yusuke Oshino - the Producer and Director, respectively - participating in some interview about Super Mario Maker. Not that we're complaining of course, as they almost always reveal more interesting information about upcoming content or some aspect of development. Super Mario Maker really is an unprecedented work in the Mario series, there's naturally lots to talk about.
Bloomberg recently did an article covering Mario's general history, from Donkey Kong to Super Mario Maker, and Tezuka was quoted a few times throughout. Tezuka remarked how Mario was originally created as a character that was versatile and flexible, one that could change with the times:
We thought he should be a character that's free to do anything. Mario has to keep up with the times.
Later on, Tezuka talked about how Super Mario Maker's more freeform approach makes it toy-like in nature, compared to linear games that don't tend to encourage the player's creativity:
Most games tend to be about following a predetermined path to solve puzzles. There aren't a lot where you think and create on your own. I wanted to make something that's more like a toy.
Of course, the interview ended with the obligatory questions about smartphone gaming or the NX and Nintendo's plans surrounding the mystery platform. Tezuka was unsurprisingly tight lipped, choosing instead to end on a cryptic note:
We feel quite strongly about creating things that are in sync with the times.
You can find the full piece here; there's not much here that wasn't already known, but it makes for an interesting refresher of Mario's long past.
What do you think? Do you appreciate games that are 'toy-like' or do you prefer more focused experiences? What do you think a smartphone Mario game might look like? Drop us a comment in the section below.
[source bloomberg.com]
Comments 15
Make this toy portable, then, and our wallets shall roar their approval! A synchronized, superb, solemn symphony of cha-chings all around the world.
Of course I do own the home console version, it's just that I want to be able to play it on the go. Especially considering I'll be at my mountain home this Christmas...
@AlexSora89 That wouldn't be a bad idea though. Imagine a Super Mario Maker game for the 3DS in which you can use the Super Mario Land series, Super Mario Advance series, and New Super Mario Bros. series elements.
A good interview.
Hopefully, Nintendo can bring surprises next year.
Did the update ever go live today? The Nitneod news site said Dec 21, which was today. So dos the Super Mario Maker wednsite. OK it still is today for the next 30 minutes, but that's cutting it kind of close.
http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/GgDLhhrg0kXrTHZtJfRQMl7JMmn_eUOI
http://supermariomaker.nintendo.com/#/news:26
I really thought the date was the 22nd. The servers were down earlier, but it seemed unrelated.
I really hate the direction Nintendo is taking Mario platformers and rpgs these days. All of them feel so - I don't know. Just the whole clean look it has and the fact that 3D Marios are getting more and more NSMB. I just want a game like Mario 64 or Sunshine where you had to THINK and EARN your star and not just walk from point A to point B. I think Mario games these days are just way too kid-friendly in terms of difficulty (aside from the post-game extra challenges).
That's also why I really liked Captain Toad. You have to think at least a little bit and some puzzles were actually a bit difficult but smart. I don't say make Mario a puzzle platformer but make people actually WORK for a star. Explore an open field for coins, hidden secrets and so forth.
@GoldenGamer88 I think those days of Mario are gone sadly. But, they tend to make other franchise's they have a little/lot harder like donkey Kong I guess.
Personally I'm sick of Mario, last great Mario was 3d land (to me) . Not that 3d world and NSMBU didn't have their hard parts, just very much like you say, get from A to B.
Wish games like XCX or Devils Third or Bayonetta etc would sell much better on Nintendo systems so Nintendo would make more games like these, but, sadly, this 'new' Mario sells, so they will stick with that altered image they have.
The NX has a very big job to win me over, may be the first Nintendo system I don't by at launch.
This is strangely reminiscent of when Shigsy said he wanted Mario to be more "mature" a while back.
If anything, I just want Mario to be more explorative like 64 and Sunshine but to have a touch more narrative added in like Rosalina did with Galaxy. However, Shigsy hates narratives being in a Mario game so I guess that won't happen for the foreseeable future.
I would like a "Super mario 3D land"-esque sequel to SMB2, while it's not "traditional" Mario-gameplay i always liked that game the most (The first Nintendo game i played a lot of was SMB2, and the GBA-remake was my first and most-played GBA game, ah, good times...), the "new super Mario bros."-games have traditional Mario gameplay covered anyway
Keeping up with the times or jumping on the band wagon?p
The smartphone/tablet is competition for the 3ds. Not so much the games but the hardware. Not everyone can afford both and if Mario is on Smartphones for some that could be a deal breaker to buy the smartphone.
Nintendo's bubble will burst if it continues down the toy route. The last few Nintendo games have been poor but they work with the Amiibos. So I guess gamers are avoiding them but toy collectors are buying them.
The Game store are selling Amiibos for £14.99. Splatoon or Tri force did not have a decent single player mode but instead it has a rip-off toy mode.
I would like to see Nintendo games on the PlayStation.
They succeed on the toy aspect. I was playing last week and I went "This sorta feels like when I used to play as a kid" meaning with my physical toys and not games. The adjustments, the sillyness there is a more constructive and imaginative component to it yet its a short cut similar to a physical toy as opposed to full on imagination. (Just started watching ToQger which also may have contributed to me thinking about imagination)
Its impressive thats been 30 years since Super Mario Bros shows that they've been able to keep up with the times without making the Mario series needing to be onboard with current trends of other games. You only have to look at Sonic The Hedgehog to see the results of strongly tying a game's identity to the popular trends of the decade and a single trait(speed) lead to something that struggles outside the decade it was created.
I recall seeing Tezuka saying their next 2D Mario after Super Mario Maker is going to be something to top the NSMB series so I'm curious to see where they'll take it from here. Though I'm guessing its undoubtedly going to be an NX game.
@KingofSaiyans The team (EAD4) that make the New 2D games are different to the one that makes the 3D Mario games and SMB thorugh to SMW2(EAD Tokyo). If anything I think we'll see the next 3D one before the next 2D one because EAD4 is also working on Pikmin 4.
If they want to modernize, I wish they'd do away with the lives system. It's a holdover from the arcade days and doesn't have any relevance anymore. It would let them make levels more challenging without players having to worry about being punished for failing. It's part of why I like Rayman Origins and Legends way more than any of the New Super Mario Bros. games.
@able_to_think you sure about that? I remember many gamers complaining about the removal of deaths cheapens the game. Both Kirby epic yarn and the prince of Persia reboot (one more time Ubi... please?) got that criticism. Granted I don't care either way but its rare to see an advocate for doing away with lives so I'm curious.
@Ryu_Niiyama With those games the criticism was that you couldn't die at all. In Rayman or Super Meat Boy you can and will die constantly but you can keep trying again and again until you build up the skills to beat the level.
Tap here to load 15 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...