Mario

[Mad Dog McMutt]

What is your absolute favorite 2D and 3D Mario (platformer) games? Mario is probably my favorite franchise ever due to each game (the platforming ones) being really good except for maybe a couple. Sorry if a thread like this has been done before. My favorite 2D Mario game is Super Mario World. The music is amazing, the levels are designed really well, and I feel like it took the Mario 3 formula and evolved it. Super Mario World is a perfect game in my opinion that oozes charm. My favorite 3D Mario game is probably Galaxy, just for really thinking outside of the box with its design. I love how you run around planets going upside-down. Choosing the best 3D Mario game is difficult in my opinion.

[Andrew NDB]

I'd probably say my 3D favorite is Galaxy. It's the only one I can say that I got, started playing, and couldn't stop playing until I beat it. Odyssey isn't bad, either.

2D, probably SMB 2.

[Mayhem]

Super Mario 4 and Galaxy.

[sdp]

I don't think I care for 2D Mario games anymore, they were great back in the day but I don't feel much replaying them. It's not like newer ones are much better, I recently beat Mario Wonder and it's not as good as any of the classic ones so it's just a generic platformer in a way. And I don't mean that in a bad way, it's just how I feel now. As a kid I loved SMB123World. But I guess if I had to choose a favorite I'd go for SMB2 USA, it's just so unique. I'm sure as a kid I would've chosen World.

As far 3D Mario it's easy Mario 64, it's just a very well crafted game and none of the other 3D Mario's have gotten close to it, not even Galaxy. It's just basically the one Mario game with actual 3D levels, I guess Sunshine as well but I think most of us consider Sunshine inferior. Galaxy and Odyssey feel far more linear and have less full 3D worlds to explore.

[CyberCubed]

For 2D: Mario 3 and Mario World are the best of 2D Mario. Mario Wonder was really good for a new game though. Yoshi's Island is an honorable mention then Mario 1/2.

For 3D: Galaxy 1 and 2 are the pinnacle, then either Odyssey or 3D World. Mario 64 was groundbreaking for its time but obviously 30 years later a lot of its gameplay elements are a bit dated. Then 3D Land (3DS) and then Mario Sunshine.

Really though there's never been a bad mainline Mario game. When Mario Sunshine or Mario Bros. 2 are considered the "weakest" Mario games, and they're still good games, it shows how high Nintendo's quality is.

[Barkworm]

While I have wonderful memories of playing Galaxy, Galaxy 2 was the better game overall. Both are fantastic, of course.

2D, as far as actual Mario platformers are concerned, Super Mario World. Other than that, Yoshi's Island by far.

[Mad Dog McMutt]

Originally Posted by Mayhem

Super Mario 4 and Galaxy.

Is Super Mario 4 referring to Super Mario World?

[Mad Dog McMutt]

Originally Posted by sdp

I don't think I care for 2D Mario games anymore, they were great back in the day but I don't feel much replaying them. It's not like newer ones are much better, I recently beat Mario Wonder and it's not as good as any of the classic ones so it's just a generic platformer in a way. And I don't mean that in a bad way, it's just how I feel now. As a kid I loved SMB123World. But I guess if I had to choose a favorite I'd go for SMB2 USA, it's just so unique. I'm sure as a kid I would've chosen World.

As far 3D Mario it's easy Mario 64, it's just a very well crafted game and none of the other 3D Mario's have gotten close to it, not even Galaxy. It's just basically the one Mario game with actual 3D levels, I guess Sunshine as well but I think most of us consider Sunshine inferior. Galaxy and Odyssey feel far more linear and have less full 3D worlds to explore.

I don't remember the levels being too linear in Odyssey. It has been about 5 years since I played it though.

[oldmanwinters]

Depending on the day, I'd pick either a full playthrough of the US versions of Super Mario Bros. 2 or 3.

[Mayhem]

Originally Posted by Mad Dog McMutt

Is Super Mario 4 referring to Super Mario World?

Yes heh… says so on the box!

(admittedly I had the SFC version!)

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by Mad Dog McMutt

Is Super Mario 4 referring to Super Mario World?

In Japan, Super Mario World is actually called Super Mario Bros. 4. I didn't even know this until a couple years ago.

[ToTheNines]

3D, I’ll be a hipster and say Super Mario 64.

2D is so hard to choose…

- World is such an incredible game, that’s my knee jerk pick.

- SMB 2 is one of the first, possibly THE first, video games I ever played. I also remember both my parents playing it, which was incredibly rare to see either of them care about a game at all. I used to main Peach (still do).

- SMB 3 is also an incredible game and is one of the first games I beat that wasn’t a stupid baby game. This one I spent many hours playing with my sister and cousins once I was a little older. Great memories.

[sdp]

Wonder wasn't that great, I dislike the new Mario Voice Actor. The game got a bit boring, I don't feel the need to go back to it and get all the wonderseeds or whatever. Yeah they were a neat gimmick, the levels aren't fun without the gimmick and the gimmick can get boring. but I mean the lack of any real story, the fact that it has like 10 characters to choose from but they all basically play the same besides Yoshi/Nabbit. It feels just as bland as the other NSMB games people complain about. It's not a bad game it's just nothing special.

For whatever reason I find the story mode in Super Mario Maker 2 (which I guess nintendo counts as a mainline game) far more engaging even if it's also not much of a story at all and despite the restrictions of the level maker some of those levels are far more memorable.

3D Land was another one of those games that were just kinda there, there's nothing bad about it but nothing memorable either. But since nintendo does like to call it a mainline game then I guess I should complain.

3D World I haven't really played much to judge, I know people call it the best 3D platformer but I have my doubts. And since I'm talking about every Mario game nintendo considers mainline I might as well:

Mario Land 1 > Land 2, yeah it's different but it plays far more like a Mario game than the big sprite floaty sequel that is just way too easy. People just choose 2 since it looks like Mario and has cool power ups and enemies but Land 1 is the better platformer.

SMB2 Japan sucks, I don't think anyone has ever defended this game. Yoshi's Island is not that good, take the graphics and nostalgia away, and it's the least of the classic era 2D Mario's I would like to replay. There's a reason no one really talks about the Yoshi 2D spin-off games despite them playing like Yoshi's Island for the most part.

Super Mario Run is officially a mainline game, it's a fun mobile game, I actually spent countless hours playing it while not at home just unlocking all the characters. There's nothing specifically special about it but it's short and sweet and makes it a fun game to pop up for a minute or two of gameplay. Oh and all the characters here control different, my favorite is Daisy.

Originally Posted by Mad Dog McMutt

I don't remember the levels being too linear in Odyssey. It has been about 5 years since I played it though.

Galaxy 1 has some 3D exploration planets but many are guided 2D and Galaxy 2 is mostly guided levels you don't have any big open areas to explore. Odyssey does seem to have more open areas to explore but it's still not like Mario 64 or even Sunshine sadly.

Donkey Kong Bananza seems to have large open worlds though also a bit guided, only mentioning that here since it was made by most of the Mario 3D team.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

In Japan, Super Mario World is actually called Super Mario Bros. 4. I didn't even know this until a couple years ago.

I'd still say if they continued the numeral entries it'd be like this:

Mario Bros. - 0

SMB 1

SMB 2 (or "The Lost Levels" if you prefer)

SMB 3

Super Mario World - 4

Super Mario World 2 - 5

Super Mario 64 - 6

Super Mario Sunshine - 7

Super Mario Galaxy - 8

Super Mario Galaxy 2 - 9

Super Mario Odyssey - 10

With all the other entries being "Side" games.

[sdp]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

With all the other entries being "Side" games.

Not to Nintendo, they very much consider the New Super Mario Bros games mainline game as well as the other handheld games. They've been inconsistent with some games like Yoshi's Island which is usually not considered part of the Super Mario series anymore, so you'd have to get rid of that one. Super Mario Galaxy 2 is another game Nintendo sometimes doesn't like to acknowledge for whatever reason when doing their retrospectives.

Mario Land 1 & 2 were not usually considered at first but Nintendo does mention them as being mainline for the past 10 years or so.
Hell the latest poster and stuff from the Mario 40 actually excludes Galaxy 2 (despite the game getting remastered) and Yoshi's Island, but does include the game boy games, the New SMB games and even Super Mario Maker.

Spoiler:

[CyberCubed]

3D Land (3DS), and 3D World + Bowsers Fury are basically main series games, just 3D levels set in stages. 3D World is also better than Odyssey.

Mario Land 1 and 2 on Gameboy were also mainline games, the first new 2D Mario games for Gameboy and they introduce Daisy and Wario to Mario canon which makes them important.

There's also 4 different New Super Mario Bros. games for DS/Wii/3DS/Wii-U, but they're all largely interchangeable. Only the Wii-U version is on Switch right now.

Finally Mario Wonder is the newest 2D Mario, and the first original once after 15 years straight of NSMB.

Yoshi's Island also of course spinoffs the entire Yoshi series, which has Yoshi's Story on N64, Yoshi's Island DS and New Island, Yoshi's Wooly World, Yoshi's Crafted World, and the upcoming Yoshi and the Mysterious book.

Then of course there's the Luigi's Mansion series, the Wario Land games, DK games, Mario RPG's, etc....but that's when you get to non-platformers.

[Mad Dog McMutt]

SDP that is a very hot take preferring Mario Land 1 over 2. I love them both, but 2 felt so much bigger and ambitious. 2 did have a really difficult final castle though. Probably the hardest final castle in the whole Mario series in my opinion. I am surprised at seeing Mario 2 chosen so much. I like it, but it's a pretty hard game in my opinion. The only other more difficult Mario game than 2 is The Lost Levels which was 2 in Japan.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by sdp

They've been inconsistent with some games like Yoshi's Island which is usually not considered part of the Super Mario series anymore, so you'd have to get rid of that one.

I wouldn't miss it, to be honest. But at least it tried to do something different.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 is another game Nintendo sometimes doesn't like to acknowledge for whatever reason when doing their retrospectives.

Yeah, despite it JUST being re-released a few days ago on Switch 2. As you mention. I mean, we can collectively look back on Galaxy 1 and 2 as SORT OF one game, I guess.

Speaking of Galaxy... does anyone know if there's any improvements in Galaxy 1 within the new Galaxy 1 & 2 pack for Switch 2 vs. the 3D All-Stars version? It's a shame that one of the three games on that might already be obsolete.

Originally Posted by Mad Dog McMutt

SDP that is a very hot take preferring Mario Land 1 over 2.

I don't know. SML 2 might have been technically better in some respects but SML 1 was pretty amazing for its day. Plenty of memories about huddling under the flashlight in my bed playing it late at night on Gameboy when I was supposed to be sleeping. It was a lot of fun.

[sdp]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Speaking of Galaxy... does anyone know if there's any improvements in Galaxy 1 within the new Galaxy 1 & 2 pack for Switch 2 vs. the 3D All-Stars version? It's a shame that one of the three games on that might already be obsolete.

The Galaxy on 3D All-stars is basically just an emulated game with barely any fixes just higher resolution and i think widescreen.
Galaxy on Switch 2 is more of a remaster, it has brand new textures and improvements like some smaller added features like soundtrack, easy mode, new pages to the rosalina book, rerendered cutscenes, the game can now go up to 4k natively. I don't know if you'd consider that worth it to upgrade or not, depends how much you love Galaxy 1.

It's $70 for both games or $40 for just Galaxy 2 (which has the same improvements).

[CyberCubed]

Galaxy 1 on the new collection is remastered with better textures. It's much better than the All-stars version. Galaxy 2 looks amazing as well.

Hard to believe these were Wii games as they still look good to this day.