ARS: The idea of Nintendo creating a compilation of Mario games to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. is exciting. Surely the company has vaults filled with memorabilia, fascinating documents and stories, and thoughts from the creators of the game. If Nintendo had the urge to create a true testament to how popular and enduring the Mario character has become, it would be an impressive thing.
Sadly, the company took the lazy way out with the Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary package for the Wii. The content included is limited and obvious, but to everyone's credit the price is low. Still, when you're trying to honor your most popular creation, thrift shouldn't be your biggest accomplishment.
NL:
As part of the inevitable circle of life in gaming, we come to a compilation of remasters. In some respects Nintendo was a trailblazer, as remasters and upscales are all the rage in modern gaming; with good reason, too, as playing a better version of a great title isn't exactly a chore.
It's Super Mario Week at Review Crew, which means that we'll spend the next three episodes looking at old school games starring Nintendo's favorite Italian plumber. Up first it's Super Mario All-Stars, a compilation featuring upgraded versions of Super Mario Bros. 1, 2, 3 and The Lost Levels. Did critics love this 16-bit collection of 8-bit games, or did they view this as a cynical cash grab from Nintendo? We turn to Electronic Gaming Monthly, Nintendo Magazine System, SNES Force, Die Hard Game Fan and other classic magazines for the answer.
Mario 1,2,3....but with Super Mario World Sounds & Art Style.
How could you not like that.
THIS REVIEW: "What a thrill, all of my bad memories of 8 bit in living color ... boing, boing, happy, happy. I'm sorry, but the old Mario games just haven't stood the test of time. The music and sound FX are great, but the control is too lose [sic] and it's all just too cuddly. I believe it's time to retire Mario for a more nineties character." -Skid
Yet we're still downloading and playing them today. This guy was proven wrong... so wrong.
I strangely prefer the 8 bit versions than the 16 bit. Might be nostalgia factor.
I was just about to say the same thing.These remakes look and play better but it's just not how my mind remembers them.Anyone who grew up on or are just now playing them for the first time must think we are crazy for liking the old games better and they are probably right.lol
Mario 3 on the NES, SNES versions looked a not to clean and rent a mario, prefer them in their original forms, still played it, who didn't but I'd take the original games in this case every time.they were great in the first place, some things don't need constant tweaking, George Lucas I'm looking at you, the fact he put new Anakin at the end of Return of The Jedi was outrageous, little of topic but hey ho, as you were.
In the 8th episode of Impossible Gaming, Tristan of Punch Nerds tries his luck at one of the most difficult Mario games to date, Super Mario Bros The Lost Levels. All the while, Chadley is ruthlessly mocking him from the sideline. The two converse about over the level running, Tristan turning into a savage beast and Chadley in a coma.
I agree so much potential, but instead it's the same game for the SNES. Dvd and soundtrack is an OK add on but meh.