Date: 2008-11-02 11:52:02 Created: null
For Nintendo DS
So, Mario, we meet at last.
My console experience only began with Henrik's PlayStation 2, so before July 2006 my longest exposure to The Plumber has been through Mario Kart. And that only started during 2005.
Platformers? I always liked Superfrog, thank you.
Anyway, what's it like to get into a franchise everyone your own age started playing 20 years ago?
Kind of strange, really.
I play. It's good gameplay. You know it's fun. It's sp polished and worked through it radiates.
And yet, what the hell? Why don't I feel more in control? Is it just that I need to learn? We shall see. I've only reached the third world yet.
It's good, no two ways about it. But it's still a conscious act for me to think so, rather than a gut feeling.
July 25th, 2006
I think I'm starting to get the hang of this. Went back to the first levels, stocked up a bit on lives and then pushed forward about a world without too much problem. Not constantly gaining lives like some people, but I'm moving forward and starting to feel more in control at least.
July 28th, 2006
Yep, definitely getting the hang of it, late last night I beat it for the first time. Once you get over that initial hump (which seems to be a single one for all Mario games) you're on a roll and won't stop rolling until you're past the final boss. I went back to the very first level and stocked up on lives a couple of times, so I'm a long way behind those who finish their first run with 60+ lives without looking back a single time ...
And yes.
Yes, it's fun.
Particularly fun when you get into the groove and roll through stages at a steady pace, picking up coins and mushrooms and not dying much. It may be easy, but I think of it more as Nintendo maximising the core fun of the game and allowing the largest possible number of people to enjoy it.
That's why the last four worlds rolled by over a few days after the few weeks it took to move through the first two.