@dartmonkey Nintendo of America and Nintendo of Europe certainly are. And I would think it would make even more sense to recommend them over Nintendo of Japan (and certainly SoJ), given most people in here appear to be writing in English too. At least that's my thinking on it anyway. But Sega's still cool too.
How odd that on a site called Nintendo Life, you, "A reformed Sega kid" going by your profile, recommend Nintendo Life visitors follow Sega of Japan but not Nintendo of America on Bluesky.
Nintendo Life . . .
I'll go follow some of these people and companies on my Twitter account though, assuming they are on there too, which is highly likely. I don't have Blusky, and I don't care to sign up to yet another "social" media site/app/account.
To be honest, I think it would be fine in any form IF it's done right and everything looks gorgeous and just the way you would imagine a classic game like this looking in modern times in your head when done perfectly.
Honestly though, I rarely see that being the being the case, so who knows what I would go with if nothing is really going to look exactly as I would like either way.
But, for God's sake, none of that fugly bloom--I don't think I've ever seen an example of "bloom" that I actually liked--and not a mix of different visual and graphical styles and different resolutions that don't really go together properly.
Just pick one, commit to it 100%, and do it right.
From what I could tell, that's an actual ad trailer (these were peppered throughout the showcase), not just having your game showcased as part of the show. So, if correct, I think that makes more sense. I might be totally wrong though.
Before that, genuinely, I think Nintendo should aim to make sure Switch becomes the highest selling console of all time. It's almost guaranteed anyway, but I'm be making dang sure it's in the bag.
It's just a thing that everyone is going to take note of, both now and in the future, and I think it's the perfect way to setup and hype the Switch 2--the follow up to the Switch, the greatest selling console ever made. Also, bragging rights are always a bonus.
If the Switch doesn't become the highest selling console of all time now, I think Nintendo should actually be slightly ashamed. It only needs to sell like 15-16 million more units in the next years or two. Surely it should be a formality. And surely Nintendo should actually have this goal firmly in mind just for the sheer hell of bragging rights too.
Well, I tell you, if it's like a cross between Doom and Quake, which could make sense with it being described a Doom in a medieval setting, it could be rather awesome potentially. Of course, I'm not a huge fan of the modern Doom design template, so it might not be for me regardless.
I'd like a bit of both. Sometimes I find the freedom to do anything and go anywhere just unfocussed and dull. Most of the time I find being told exactly what to do and when to do it frustrating. But I'd say the best Nintendo games don't actually do either of those too often. I mean, someone could say Super Mario World is very directed and guided because it's largely a simple linear game, but I'd actually argue there's a kind of sandbox in the game design that opens up possibility without just leaving it all actually open and unfocussed. Thoughtful and intentional design with an actually quite easily understandable end goal and the option for the player to try a few strategies and different approaches to achieve that end goal is when it works best imo.
If Miyamoto really is that deeply involved, and indeed he was a major influence on The Super Mario Bros. Movie too, my hopes for this live-action Zelda movie are definitely raised higher than they were before. I'm still not entirely convinced yet, and won't be until I see the first images or trailer, but I have my fingers crossed they can do this beloved franchise as much justice as they absolutely did The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
I'm not feeling too optimistic about the upcoming Zelda live-action movie--just because--but, after the first animated The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which I personally and genuinely consider to be one of the best cg animated films I've ever seen and right up there with best Pixar animations in every way that matters to me, and which is easily my favourite movie based on a video game ever, I am extremely hyped for the next Illumination Mario movie. I just hope they can deliver the same magic twice.
It should, and more. It really should make a push for Switch to become the highest selling console of all time imo. A decent price cut and I think it could do it.
I'm not really hearing anything yet that would convince me a whole lot of people are going to feel compelled to buy a Switch 2 when they already have a Switch and/or whatever other of the big three consoles. I personally think Nintendo's next system needs to be more than just a Switch+ basically. And, hey, maybe the reports are wrong anyway, and there's more to it than just pretty much being a Switch+. I mean, honestly, I would love to see some evolution of the Labo VR concept they touched upon, with maybe full-on VR support in one way or another for Switch 2. I guess we'll all know soon enough what it will be. . . .
Edit: Actually, I didn't. Just had to add in some personal details and go through the process. Bit a pain, but I did get a free copy of the ebook, so not too bad.
Mother 3 is one of thee most profound video games I have ever played, and it's just bonkers to me that it's trapped behind multiple barriers for most people.
Also, I'll just post this link here, since it details at least one way to actually play the game for English speakers:
For me it would be somewhere in the '90s, mainly because of the SNES and then the transition into the paradigm-shifting 3D era with the likes of Saturn, PlayStation and N64. There's not been a more game-changing moment in the history of the medium than that jump from 2D to 3D, which I personally think the N64+Super Mario 64+the N64 analogue controller really epitomises more than anything else. I guess all the mobile revolution stuff was a major deal too--although I find most mobile games pretty crap--and I think the dawn of modern VR with the Oculus CV1 was also another moment that will ultimately go down in history as the birth of likely the most profound change in all of gaming and entertainment that we've ever experienced, once VR truly matures and we all realise just how big a deal it is. Online/digital in general is also significant, but that's been more of just a gradual evolution as the Internet has grown to me, so it's not really marked by some major milestone moment imo, with maybe the advent of Steam being one of the standout things in terms of something new in gaming there.
So, yeah, somewhere between 1990 and 2000 I'd say. Maybe pick a year where there were a bunch of just top tier SNES games released one after the other (plus Genesis, PC Engine, Neo Geo and arcade, etc), or go with the probably the first year or so of the 3D era and many defining and paradigm-shifting 3D games released there (even though most of them in all honesty were rather clunky early efforts, and even the best examples of 3D games weren't truly on par with the best that 2D had to offer at the time imo).
Genuine question: Did the remove the slowdown from Super R-Type. Because, seriously, it doesn't stand the test of time without that at least being fixed.
@Anti-Matter I actually totally agree. Charle's voice is great for video game Mario's wahoos and stuff, but Chris' voice was just spot on for movie Mario imo.
PS. Not exactly related to his voice performance as Mario, but The Super Mario Bros. Movie sits as I think my favourite animated feature film of all time at this point. I've watched it like 15 times already--it's so easily rewatchable. Just love it. Cannot wait to be able to hopefully finally watch in it proper stereoscopic 3D on my Quest 3 at some point too--Nintendo/Illumination/Meta!
@Blackjay What you see as coasting, I see as some extremely tight writing at times that knows exactly what it's doing and why. In fact, some of it is so smart yet simple, imo, that I expect it went right over some people's heads. Like almost every single line [and accompanying action] from Toad, which acts not only as some light-hearted humour and just great character building much of the time, but often as pretty much the narration of the story and motivation behind what happens, such that all the other exposition and so on that many other films waste time with isn't even necessary at all.
For example, we don't need anything other than "Our adventure begins now!" said with the naivety and enthusiasm of an innocent and overly-excited child running haphazardly into whatever potential situation [and dangers] to [not] explain and justify every single thing behind what happens from that point onwards.
Why is there no big narrative setup once Mario arrives in the Mushroom Kingdom-it's an adventure! Why does Mario just go along with it--it's an adventure! Why does Peach so easily join forces with Mario--it's an adventure! How come this and that thing isn't explained--it's an adventure! Children don't need to explain why they go off on adventures, why the do what they do, how things work in their fantasy world; they just go off on them because they're adventures, do what they do because they want to, and it works because it's in their imagination and they accept it is possible with the rules of the world they have created.
That is all the thirteen year old kid in the audience needs to know too. It's completely sincere and honest, and the writers knew it. It allows them to condense the film into something kids won't get easily bored of or distracted from, makes it very quick and simple to endlessly rewatch, and it's leagues beyond minutes of dry dialogue and exposition force explained to me by some character I don't even care about as to why some person or event is very important and meaningful and blah, blah, blah.
Like I said, both me and the wife couldn't even get through Elemental, for multiple reasons, and we often found Across the Spider-Verse, while not bad, just visually quite ugly as well as just trying too hard to be all deep and important when it really wasn't. Yet, I've watched The Super Mario Bros. Movie about fifteen times so far, and I've enjoyed it every single time. Job well and truly done by both Nintendo and Illumination.
You don't have to agree, and you can label the writing however you want, but that's my take on it. And it getting completely snubbed in the Oscars Best Animated Feature category is a joke.
@Blackjay Animation can reach any heights. But basically ignoring everything else other than the writing when it comes to the Best Animated Feature awards is utterly absurd.
And, to be very clear, the writing in The Super Mario Bros. Movie is not remotely bad, it's just kept intentionally very simple, lighthearted and quick-paced, and actually kinda ideal for the audience it's targeting. There is a major difference between unintentionally bad writing and very intentional and targeted writing that knows exactly what it's trying to do and why and nails it pretty much perfectly.
The movie got totally snubbed for all the wrong reasons.
Just like Lara Croft being at the very top of this list is a joke, the Super Mario Bros. Movie getting entirely snubbed at the Oscars was a joke. The awards were/are a total joke.
@Blackjay If we're basically only awarding animation Oscars based primarily on the writing, especially when considering most animations are made for kids and families, the problem as I see it is still the same. You don't go to animation school for four years to perfect your writing skills, but to learn and master the actual important parts of the craft of animation. They're animated movies, not 1984 or Gone with the Wind. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is as good a kids/family animated film overall as I have seen for what it was trying to be, and its writing did everything it needed to do to serve the audience it was aimed at, hence the actual moviegoers going back to watch it countless times and it making over $1.3 billion at the box office alone and it becoming the 16th highest grossing movie of all time. To be snubbed at the Oscars in the Best Animated Feature category, especially given some of the animated films that got picked over it, is a total joke.
@Bratwurst35 Following suit does not mean something was good or bad, just currently trending, so it inevitably gets copied.
The quality of art, character design, world design, and animation in The Super Mario Bros. Movie really is leagues beyond both the Spider-Verse films. And if animation films can't get recognised for that, then there's something very wrong with how they're being recognised, hence my point. I think the Spider-Verse movies got an easy ride for other reasons that aren't really a whole lot to do with the quality of art and animation, but really just because it was simply visually something different (but not necessarily in a good way: There's many moments I can directly point to where that movie just looks noticeably bad) and some other fluff stuff. It ain't enough to pull the wool over my eyes.
If playing it safe means we get brilliant animated films like The Super Mario Bros. Movie, I'll take that over the likes of Spider-Verse and Elemental every single time. As did and I expect will however many people who helped take The Super Mario Bros. Movie to number 16 on the top grossing movies of all time chart with over $1.3+ billion at the worldwide box office. I honestly pray Illumination does pretty much exactly the same job next time around and basically doesn't change their formula at all for the next Super Mario Bros. Movie.
The fact The Super Mario Bros. Movie wasn't even nominated in the best animated movie category at the Oscars is utterly absurd. Some of the actual nominations were genuinely worse movies in pretty much every way other than whatever message they were trying to send out into the world. I mean, this is the animation category, and the 3D visuals and actual animation in The Super Mario Bros. Movie are up there with the very best the medium has ever produced in that regard. And I say that as someone with an honors degree in animation. To not even get a nomination, especially given some of the other animations that did make the list, is a complete and utter joke.
I'll tell you this for nothing, Elemental was so meh that both me and the wife couldn't even make it through the whole movie, and Across the Spider-Verse is actually a kinda ugly film with some terribly lazy art and animation. It doesn't get a free pass for looking like some animation degree student's final project and whatever presumably very deep and important thing it was about (I honestly can't even remember, other than it being the slightly lower quality sequel to Into the Spider-Verse).
And, yeah, Mario is by far the most iconic video game character of all time. It's not even close. These people have absolutely no clue. What were they doing, trying to tick boxes or something.
God, there's so many. I can't even choose just now to be honest, especially given all the real-world considerations that come into play, like licensing and such. I doubt Nintendo would let them do anything officially, so any Nintendo games probably go out the window right away. I'd have to think about it.
@Fiskern Definitely a better film overall than the two Sonic movies imo, so I'd really like to see a sequel to that.
Also REEEALLY cannot wait to see what Illumination does with the sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which I personally rank as the best video game movie I have ever seen, and even one of the best animated movies of all time in general for me. It's so easily rewatchable, and just of the highest quality all round, that it's kind mind boggling actually.
I enjoyed the first couple of films, although I felt the first was definitely better than the second, so it will be interesting to see how the third holds up. But, I have a feeling Sega's doing a bit of "Sega" here and it's just going to get more convoluted, full or random fluff that just pulls down the quality and more focused pure vision of the original outing, and ultimately leaves me feeling kinda disappointed that they didn't just stop sooner when they were on a high.
Honestly, just more of the same and I will be chuffed. It was by far my favourite animated film of 2024. And it's a total joke that it didn't even get nominated in the Oscars animation category. Some of the other animations that did don't even come close to the overall quality of The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Now, I just want to be able to watch the frikin' thing in stereoscopic 3D at home, for God's sake!
I just want to be able to watch/download the 3D version of the frikin' movie and view it on my VR headset. When the hell will I be able to to this, Nintendo/Illumination!
"No one has come close to exhausting its full capabilities"
I think that's quite possibly true in some ways. So, looking forward to seeing what more can be done on NES from you guys there.
And I'd say it's even more true of the SNES. So many of its modes and features go largely ignored and/or untapped even to this day. I think this system in particular still has a whole lot more left to give.
Someone really needs to make a SNESmaker.
If the community of more "casual" developers ever gets a user friendly SNES development tool like that, I think we'd see a whole lot of awesome games for this system that really isn't getting its relative fair share of indie/homebrew love in modern times.
Now, any new SNES games made on some kind of SNESmaker are likely not going to be technically system pushing, as that's almost certainly going to require some hardcore Assembly coding, but it could result in just a lot of great new titles that could stand up against many of the more standard-affair games that came out for it back in the day for sure.
Even now, about three years after first looking into this SNES development stuff, I still have my fingers crossed some kind of more casual-friendly SNES developer software along the same lines as NESmaker is eventually going to happen. . . .
The digital versions being much cheaper than physical versions, being granted the right to keep the games I purchase digitally for all time (and download them to that end), and being allowed to transfer my old digital games to other people when I get bored of them or even trade them in for some cash back, just like I can do with physical games. Without those things digital is abusing us imo.
Oof! Classic Sega right there: Have a success with something that was actually good, milk it too much, make another one and then shovel out another one and a spin-off and so on too quickly, dilute what once was pure, everything starts turning to crap, the most loyal fans will still lap it up regardless and convince themselves it's greatness, and repeat.
Comments 495
Re: Feature: 20 Great Gaming Accounts You Should Follow On Bluesky
@dartmonkey Nintendo of America and Nintendo of Europe certainly are. And I would think it would make even more sense to recommend them over Nintendo of Japan (and certainly SoJ), given most people in here appear to be writing in English too. At least that's my thinking on it anyway. But Sega's still cool too.
Re: Feature: 20 Great Gaming Accounts You Should Follow On Bluesky
How odd that on a site called Nintendo Life, you, "A reformed Sega kid" going by your profile, recommend Nintendo Life visitors follow Sega of Japan but not Nintendo of America on Bluesky.
Nintendo Life . . .
I'll go follow some of these people and companies on my Twitter account though, assuming they are on there too, which is highly likely. I don't have Blusky, and I don't care to sign up to yet another "social" media site/app/account.
Re: Talking Point: HD-2D Or 3D - How Should Square Enix Remake Chrono Trigger?
To be honest, I think it would be fine in any form IF it's done right and everything looks gorgeous and just the way you would imagine a classic game like this looking in modern times in your head when done perfectly.
Honestly though, I rarely see that being the being the case, so who knows what I would go with if nothing is really going to look exactly as I would like either way.
But, for God's sake, none of that fugly bloom--I don't think I've ever seen an example of "bloom" that I actually liked--and not a mix of different visual and graphical styles and different resolutions that don't really go together properly.
Just pick one, commit to it 100%, and do it right.
Re: Random: Here's How Much It Costs To Showcase A Trailer At Summer Game Fest
From what I could tell, that's an actual ad trailer (these were peppered throughout the showcase), not just having your game showcased as part of the show. So, if correct, I think that makes more sense. I might be totally wrong though.
Re: Random: SNES Title HyperZone's Hidden 3D Mode Can Be Played With 3D Glasses
I wish this were properly supported.
Re: Feature: We Look To The Past To Predict Every First-Party 'Switch 2' Release Until 2029
Before that, genuinely, I think Nintendo should aim to make sure Switch becomes the highest selling console of all time. It's almost guaranteed anyway, but I'm be making dang sure it's in the bag.
It's just a thing that everyone is going to take note of, both now and in the future, and I think it's the perfect way to setup and hype the Switch 2--the follow up to the Switch, the greatest selling console ever made. Also, bragging rights are always a bonus.
Re: Video: Luigi's Mansion 2 HD Gets A Brand New Overview Trailer
The Luigi's Mansion games lost any magic for me when all the ghost designs became totally bland and [no pun intended] soulless.
I think this guy understands what I'm talking about, both with the ghosts and also even some of the little details:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V-GAneYbbU
Watching a full walkthrough of the first game, I totally agree that something has been lost in the sequels:
https://youtu.be/jBrmkgz67v8?si=jvJi4ItbMWIztECZ&t=1030
Re: Nintendo Switch Surpasses 140 Million Sales As Company Acknowledges Successor
If the Switch doesn't become the highest selling console of all time now, I think Nintendo should actually be slightly ashamed. It only needs to sell like 15-16 million more units in the next years or two. Surely it should be a formality. And surely Nintendo should actually have this goal firmly in mind just for the sheer hell of bragging rights too.
Re: DOOM: The Dark Ages To Be Announced This June, According To New 'Exclusive'
Well, I tell you, if it's like a cross between Doom and Quake, which could make sense with it being described a Doom in a medieval setting, it could be rather awesome potentially. Of course, I'm not a huge fan of the modern Doom design template, so it might not be for me regardless.
Re: Random: Sakurai Likens Boss Battles In Nintendo Games To Tutorials
I'd like a bit of both. Sometimes I find the freedom to do anything and go anywhere just unfocussed and dull. Most of the time I find being told exactly what to do and when to do it frustrating. But I'd say the best Nintendo games don't actually do either of those too often. I mean, someone could say Super Mario World is very directed and guided because it's largely a simple linear game, but I'd actually argue there's a kind of sandbox in the game design that opens up possibility without just leaving it all actually open and unfocussed. Thoughtful and intentional design with an actually quite easily understandable end goal and the option for the player to try a few strategies and different approaches to achieve that end goal is when it works best imo.
Re: Random: Sakurai Cut Dolby Surround From Kirby Game To Trim Player Wait Time
I would have kept it in for the benefit of Dolby Surround sound.
What's the greater loss to you, one or two seconds when you boot up the game or no surround sound. . . .
Just my personal thought on it.
Side point: I wish more SNES games had used Dolby Surround sound, since that was an actual USP capability of the console at the time.
Re: Sony On Zelda Live-Action Movie: Miyamoto Has A Really "Strong" Vision
If Miyamoto really is that deeply involved, and indeed he was a major influence on The Super Mario Bros. Movie too, my hopes for this live-action Zelda movie are definitely raised higher than they were before. I'm still not entirely convinced yet, and won't be until I see the first images or trailer, but I have my fingers crossed they can do this beloved franchise as much justice as they absolutely did The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Re: Chris Pratt Expects "Lots" Of Mario And Nintendo Movies Over The Next Decade
I'm not feeling too optimistic about the upcoming Zelda live-action movie--just because--but, after the first animated The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which I personally and genuinely consider to be one of the best cg animated films I've ever seen and right up there with best Pixar animations in every way that matters to me, and which is easily my favourite movie based on a video game ever, I am extremely hyped for the next Illumination Mario movie. I just hope they can deliver the same magic twice.
Re: Zelda Master Sword Replica Joins Tamashii Nation's 'Proplica' Line In 2024
Certainly looks lovely in the pictures.
Re: Nintendo Acknowledges That Successor Announcement May "Impact" Switch Sales
And a significant price drop would also impact it positively too.
Nintendo has a very real opportunity here to make the Switch the highest selling console of all time (both home and handheld).
But, hey, Nintendo . . .
Re: Talking Point: Will Nintendo Wring One More Holiday From Switch Before Revealing New Hardware?
It should, and more. It really should make a push for Switch to become the highest selling console of all time imo. A decent price cut and I think it could do it.
Re: Round Up: The Reviews Are In For The Knuckles Paramount+ TV Show
Looks like IGN is the one you don't wanna trust here.
Re: Rumour: 'Switch 2' Said To Be Fully Backward Compatible With A Larger, 1080p Screen
I'm not really hearing anything yet that would convince me a whole lot of people are going to feel compelled to buy a Switch 2 when they already have a Switch and/or whatever other of the big three consoles. I personally think Nintendo's next system needs to be more than just a Switch+ basically. And, hey, maybe the reports are wrong anyway, and there's more to it than just pretty much being a Switch+. I mean, honestly, I would love to see some evolution of the Labo VR concept they touched upon, with maybe full-on VR support in one way or another for Switch 2. I guess we'll all know soon enough what it will be. . . .
Re: Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Will Restore Missing Posters In Patch 3
It was all just an innocent mistake. . . .
Re: Unofficial Metroid Pixel Art eBook Is Currently Free, But Be Quick
Dang, I missed it.
Edit: Actually, I didn't. Just had to add in some personal details and go through the process. Bit a pain, but I did get a free copy of the ebook, so not too bad.
Re: Nintendo Event Cancellation Suspect Charged For Sending Threats Via Contact Forms
Now, this is the kind of thing that I think warrants a wee stint behind bars and long-term psychiatric monitoring.
Re: Mother 3 Is Getting An Adorable New Set Of Plushies
None of the toys matter to me. It needs and official English release. And, really, at this point, a remaster along this lines of this or something:
https://youtu.be/1OGSXeko-iY?si=ReuNlaqL69Bb76_o
Mother 3 is one of thee most profound video games I have ever played, and it's just bonkers to me that it's trapped behind multiple barriers for most people.
Also, I'll just post this link here, since it details at least one way to actually play the game for English speakers:
https://inceptionalnews.wordpress.com/2015/05/11/mother-3-is-brilliant/
Re: Random: Sakurai Talks About "The Most Incredible Year For The Game Industry"
For me it would be somewhere in the '90s, mainly because of the SNES and then the transition into the paradigm-shifting 3D era with the likes of Saturn, PlayStation and N64. There's not been a more game-changing moment in the history of the medium than that jump from 2D to 3D, which I personally think the N64+Super Mario 64+the N64 analogue controller really epitomises more than anything else. I guess all the mobile revolution stuff was a major deal too--although I find most mobile games pretty crap--and I think the dawn of modern VR with the Oculus CV1 was also another moment that will ultimately go down in history as the birth of likely the most profound change in all of gaming and entertainment that we've ever experienced, once VR truly matures and we all realise just how big a deal it is. Online/digital in general is also significant, but that's been more of just a gradual evolution as the Internet has grown to me, so it's not really marked by some major milestone moment imo, with maybe the advent of Steam being one of the standout things in terms of something new in gaming there.
So, yeah, somewhere between 1990 and 2000 I'd say. Maybe pick a year where there were a bunch of just top tier SNES games released one after the other (plus Genesis, PC Engine, Neo Geo and arcade, etc), or go with the probably the first year or so of the 3D era and many defining and paradigm-shifting 3D games released there (even though most of them in all honesty were rather clunky early efforts, and even the best examples of 3D games weren't truly on par with the best that 2D had to offer at the time imo).
Re: The First Third-Party iOS App Store Hosts A Free Nintendo Emulator (Europe)
@Clyde_Radcliffe Emulators are not illegal. Of course, any actual Nintendo stuff in them is walking a tightrope.
Re: Nintendo Expands Switch Online's Super Nintendo Library With Three More Titles
Genuine question: Did the remove the slowdown from Super R-Type. Because, seriously, it doesn't stand the test of time without that at least being fixed.
Re: Random: Chris Pratt Looks Back On The Mario Movie With A 'Brilliant' Dad Joke
@RevengeFan Unfortunately, not where I am.
Re: Random: Chris Pratt Looks Back On The Mario Movie With A 'Brilliant' Dad Joke
@Sherlock- Good point.
Re: Random: Chris Pratt Looks Back On The Mario Movie With A 'Brilliant' Dad Joke
@Anti-Matter I actually totally agree. Charle's voice is great for video game Mario's wahoos and stuff, but Chris' voice was just spot on for movie Mario imo.
PS. Not exactly related to his voice performance as Mario, but The Super Mario Bros. Movie sits as I think my favourite animated feature film of all time at this point. I've watched it like 15 times already--it's so easily rewatchable. Just love it. Cannot wait to be able to hopefully finally watch in it proper stereoscopic 3D on my Quest 3 at some point too--Nintendo/Illumination/Meta!
Re: Random: Chris Pratt Looks Back On The Mario Movie With A 'Brilliant' Dad Joke
Now they just need to give me a way to watch it in stereoscopic 3D on my frikin' Quest 3 already!
Seriously, how in the living Christ is using a $3500 Vision Pro the only way to currently watch this 3D movie in 3D as of April 2024. WTF.
Re: Super Nintendo World Footage Showcases A Near-Complete Donkey Kong Expansion
Looks like it's coming along nicely.
Re: Random: BAFTA's 'Iconic Game Characters' Poll Has Us Scratching Our Heads
@Blackjay What you see as coasting, I see as some extremely tight writing at times that knows exactly what it's doing and why. In fact, some of it is so smart yet simple, imo, that I expect it went right over some people's heads. Like almost every single line [and accompanying action] from Toad, which acts not only as some light-hearted humour and just great character building much of the time, but often as pretty much the narration of the story and motivation behind what happens, such that all the other exposition and so on that many other films waste time with isn't even necessary at all.
For example, we don't need anything other than "Our adventure begins now!" said with the naivety and enthusiasm of an innocent and overly-excited child running haphazardly into whatever potential situation [and dangers] to [not] explain and justify every single thing behind what happens from that point onwards.
Why is there no big narrative setup once Mario arrives in the Mushroom Kingdom-it's an adventure! Why does Mario just go along with it--it's an adventure! Why does Peach so easily join forces with Mario--it's an adventure! How come this and that thing isn't explained--it's an adventure! Children don't need to explain why they go off on adventures, why the do what they do, how things work in their fantasy world; they just go off on them because they're adventures, do what they do because they want to, and it works because it's in their imagination and they accept it is possible with the rules of the world they have created.
That is all the thirteen year old kid in the audience needs to know too. It's completely sincere and honest, and the writers knew it. It allows them to condense the film into something kids won't get easily bored of or distracted from, makes it very quick and simple to endlessly rewatch, and it's leagues beyond minutes of dry dialogue and exposition force explained to me by some character I don't even care about as to why some person or event is very important and meaningful and blah, blah, blah.
Like I said, both me and the wife couldn't even get through Elemental, for multiple reasons, and we often found Across the Spider-Verse, while not bad, just visually quite ugly as well as just trying too hard to be all deep and important when it really wasn't. Yet, I've watched The Super Mario Bros. Movie about fifteen times so far, and I've enjoyed it every single time. Job well and truly done by both Nintendo and Illumination.
You don't have to agree, and you can label the writing however you want, but that's my take on it. And it getting completely snubbed in the Oscars Best Animated Feature category is a joke.
Re: Random: BAFTA's 'Iconic Game Characters' Poll Has Us Scratching Our Heads
@Blackjay Animation can reach any heights. But basically ignoring everything else other than the writing when it comes to the Best Animated Feature awards is utterly absurd.
And, to be very clear, the writing in The Super Mario Bros. Movie is not remotely bad, it's just kept intentionally very simple, lighthearted and quick-paced, and actually kinda ideal for the audience it's targeting. There is a major difference between unintentionally bad writing and very intentional and targeted writing that knows exactly what it's trying to do and why and nails it pretty much perfectly.
The movie got totally snubbed for all the wrong reasons.
Just like Lara Croft being at the very top of this list is a joke, the Super Mario Bros. Movie getting entirely snubbed at the Oscars was a joke. The awards were/are a total joke.
Re: Random: BAFTA's 'Iconic Game Characters' Poll Has Us Scratching Our Heads
@Blackjay If we're basically only awarding animation Oscars based primarily on the writing, especially when considering most animations are made for kids and families, the problem as I see it is still the same. You don't go to animation school for four years to perfect your writing skills, but to learn and master the actual important parts of the craft of animation. They're animated movies, not 1984 or Gone with the Wind. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is as good a kids/family animated film overall as I have seen for what it was trying to be, and its writing did everything it needed to do to serve the audience it was aimed at, hence the actual moviegoers going back to watch it countless times and it making over $1.3 billion at the box office alone and it becoming the 16th highest grossing movie of all time. To be snubbed at the Oscars in the Best Animated Feature category, especially given some of the animated films that got picked over it, is a total joke.
Re: Random: BAFTA's 'Iconic Game Characters' Poll Has Us Scratching Our Heads
@Maulbert High art . . .
Re: Random: BAFTA's 'Iconic Game Characters' Poll Has Us Scratching Our Heads
@Bratwurst35 Following suit does not mean something was good or bad, just currently trending, so it inevitably gets copied.
The quality of art, character design, world design, and animation in The Super Mario Bros. Movie really is leagues beyond both the Spider-Verse films. And if animation films can't get recognised for that, then there's something very wrong with how they're being recognised, hence my point. I think the Spider-Verse movies got an easy ride for other reasons that aren't really a whole lot to do with the quality of art and animation, but really just because it was simply visually something different (but not necessarily in a good way: There's many moments I can directly point to where that movie just looks noticeably bad) and some other fluff stuff. It ain't enough to pull the wool over my eyes.
If playing it safe means we get brilliant animated films like The Super Mario Bros. Movie, I'll take that over the likes of Spider-Verse and Elemental every single time. As did and I expect will however many people who helped take The Super Mario Bros. Movie to number 16 on the top grossing movies of all time chart with over $1.3+ billion at the worldwide box office. I honestly pray Illumination does pretty much exactly the same job next time around and basically doesn't change their formula at all for the next Super Mario Bros. Movie.
But, hey, each to their own.
Re: Random: BAFTA's 'Iconic Game Characters' Poll Has Us Scratching Our Heads
The whole awards stuff these days is a joke.
The fact The Super Mario Bros. Movie wasn't even nominated in the best animated movie category at the Oscars is utterly absurd. Some of the actual nominations were genuinely worse movies in pretty much every way other than whatever message they were trying to send out into the world. I mean, this is the animation category, and the 3D visuals and actual animation in The Super Mario Bros. Movie are up there with the very best the medium has ever produced in that regard. And I say that as someone with an honors degree in animation. To not even get a nomination, especially given some of the other animations that did make the list, is a complete and utter joke.
I'll tell you this for nothing, Elemental was so meh that both me and the wife couldn't even make it through the whole movie, and Across the Spider-Verse is actually a kinda ugly film with some terribly lazy art and animation. It doesn't get a free pass for looking like some animation degree student's final project and whatever presumably very deep and important thing it was about (I honestly can't even remember, other than it being the slightly lower quality sequel to Into the Spider-Verse).
And, yeah, Mario is by far the most iconic video game character of all time. It's not even close. These people have absolutely no clue. What were they doing, trying to tick boxes or something.
Re: Talking Point: What Games Would You Like To See Given The 'Gold Master Series' Treatment?
God, there's so many. I can't even choose just now to be honest, especially given all the real-world considerations that come into play, like licensing and such. I doubt Nintendo would let them do anything officially, so any Nintendo games probably go out the window right away. I'd have to think about it.
Re: That's A Wrap! The Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Movie Is Done Filming
@Fiskern Definitely a better film overall than the two Sonic movies imo, so I'd really like to see a sequel to that.
Also REEEALLY cannot wait to see what Illumination does with the sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which I personally rank as the best video game movie I have ever seen, and even one of the best animated movies of all time in general for me. It's so easily rewatchable, and just of the highest quality all round, that it's kind mind boggling actually.
Re: That's A Wrap! The Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Movie Is Done Filming
I enjoyed the first couple of films, although I felt the first was definitely better than the second, so it will be interesting to see how the third holds up. But, I have a feeling Sega's doing a bit of "Sega" here and it's just going to get more convoluted, full or random fluff that just pulls down the quality and more focused pure vision of the original outing, and ultimately leaves me feeling kinda disappointed that they didn't just stop sooner when they were on a high.
Re: Zelda Live-Action Movie Director: "I Want To Fulfil People's Greatest Desires"
The Maze Runner trilogy. Well, I fear this is going to be garbage.
Dangit. I would have rather had Illumination create another masterpiece.
Re: Soapbox: 30 Years Later, Super Metroid's Foreboding Atmosphere Is Still Unmatched
One of thee absolute greatest 16-bit games of all time.
Re: Planet Of Lana Brings Off-Earth Odyssey To Switch Next Month
Man, this is a pretty game. It's like Inside if it were set in a bright and happy world (aesthetically speaking).
Re: Talking Point: What Do You Want To See From The Next Super Mario Bros. Movie?
Honestly, just more of the same and I will be chuffed. It was by far my favourite animated film of 2024. And it's a total joke that it didn't even get nominated in the Oscars animation category. Some of the other animations that did don't even come close to the overall quality of The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Now, I just want to be able to watch the frikin' thing in stereoscopic 3D at home, for God's sake!
Re: Nintendo's Free Super Mario Bros. Movie Guidebook Is Now Available In English
I just want to be able to watch/download the 3D version of the frikin' movie and view it on my VR headset. When the hell will I be able to to this, Nintendo/Illumination!
Re: Pop Up Parade "Pull Back" Kirby Car Now Available To Pre-Order
Actually pretty cool.
Re: Feature: Meet Morphcat Games, The New-Gen NES Devs Pushing The 8-Bit Envelope
"No one has come close to exhausting its full capabilities"
I think that's quite possibly true in some ways. So, looking forward to seeing what more can be done on NES from you guys there.
And I'd say it's even more true of the SNES. So many of its modes and features go largely ignored and/or untapped even to this day. I think this system in particular still has a whole lot more left to give.
Someone really needs to make a SNESmaker.
If the community of more "casual" developers ever gets a user friendly SNES development tool like that, I think we'd see a whole lot of awesome games for this system that really isn't getting its relative fair share of indie/homebrew love in modern times.
Now, any new SNES games made on some kind of SNESmaker are likely not going to be technically system pushing, as that's almost certainly going to require some hardcore Assembly coding, but it could result in just a lot of great new titles that could stand up against many of the more standard-affair games that came out for it back in the day for sure.
Even now, about three years after first looking into this SNES development stuff, I still have my fingers crossed some kind of more casual-friendly SNES developer software along the same lines as NESmaker is eventually going to happen. . . .
Re: Talking Point: What Would Make You Happy To Give Up Physical Games And Go 100% Digital?
The digital versions being much cheaper than physical versions, being granted the right to keep the games I purchase digitally for all time (and download them to that end), and being allowed to transfer my old digital games to other people when I get bored of them or even trade them in for some cash back, just like I can do with physical games. Without those things digital is abusing us imo.
Re: New 'Plucky Squire' Gameplay Demonstrates Its Ridiculously Cool Concept
The main gimmick looks kinda cool.
Re: Random: Some Rare Fans Are Upset About The Latest Switch Online Announcement
Rare Replay coming to other systems really would be great.
Re: Forget The Sonic Movie, The First Trailer Is Here For Knuckles' Spin-Off Show
Oof! Classic Sega right there: Have a success with something that was actually good, milk it too much, make another one and then shovel out another one and a spin-off and so on too quickly, dilute what once was pure, everything starts turning to crap, the most loyal fans will still lap it up regardless and convince themselves it's greatness, and repeat.