Raidenex
09-05-2004, 11:27 PM
There are some games that you play that stick in your mind forever - they are the ones you go back to over and over, and occaisionally cherish.
I think i've mentioned before somewhere that I sold my Nintendo 64 in order to afford my PlayStation2, and i've regretted it since. Recently I downloaded Nemu64 (a N64 emulator, duh) and i've been playing what has to be the greatest platformer of all time again - Super Mario 64. That game is the penultimate of 3D platforming - and it was one of the first to come out.
To explain things more, Mario (to me, at least) has always been about completion. You could finish, say, Super Mario World fairly easily - go through all the levels and kick Bowser's butt - but the game isn't over then. No, you've still got the secret exits from levels, the 5 Dragon coins, the hidden Yoshis, the Star Road - the list goes on, and on. Ultimate replayability, and excellent level design.
With Super Mario 64, Miyamoto did something that I don't think many people are capable of - he translated a 2D experience into a 3D one. In Super Mario 64, there are tonnes of things to do - just on the 'world map (Peach's Castle)'. The levels are insanely designed, but perfectly so - you notice little touches like when you fall from a particularly hard puzzle, you land in water so you don't get hurt - but if you fall from an easy bridge, you tumble into the abyss. It's perfect level design, and with 120 stars to collect, its replayability is just as good as Super Mario World.
Now, i've got other 3D platformers - and sure, I enjoy my Crash Bandicoots, and Jak and Daxter - but none of them share the same brilliance with the N64's launch game.
Now this is just one of many games that I feel has gone 'above and beyond' so to speak - but instead of hogging this thread, I want to hear what you think are the 'gaming greats', and why.
I think i've mentioned before somewhere that I sold my Nintendo 64 in order to afford my PlayStation2, and i've regretted it since. Recently I downloaded Nemu64 (a N64 emulator, duh) and i've been playing what has to be the greatest platformer of all time again - Super Mario 64. That game is the penultimate of 3D platforming - and it was one of the first to come out.
To explain things more, Mario (to me, at least) has always been about completion. You could finish, say, Super Mario World fairly easily - go through all the levels and kick Bowser's butt - but the game isn't over then. No, you've still got the secret exits from levels, the 5 Dragon coins, the hidden Yoshis, the Star Road - the list goes on, and on. Ultimate replayability, and excellent level design.
With Super Mario 64, Miyamoto did something that I don't think many people are capable of - he translated a 2D experience into a 3D one. In Super Mario 64, there are tonnes of things to do - just on the 'world map (Peach's Castle)'. The levels are insanely designed, but perfectly so - you notice little touches like when you fall from a particularly hard puzzle, you land in water so you don't get hurt - but if you fall from an easy bridge, you tumble into the abyss. It's perfect level design, and with 120 stars to collect, its replayability is just as good as Super Mario World.
Now, i've got other 3D platformers - and sure, I enjoy my Crash Bandicoots, and Jak and Daxter - but none of them share the same brilliance with the N64's launch game.
Now this is just one of many games that I feel has gone 'above and beyond' so to speak - but instead of hogging this thread, I want to hear what you think are the 'gaming greats', and why.