Slowly jumpin’ up a wall
Faster than a bullet bill
Where were you while we were doing mushrooms?
Tag Archives: Mario
Even Heroes Lose Their Save Files
Master Chief and Mario, our heroes and the greatest protectors of life on earth, decided to unwind. They sat down to play video games.
***
Mario: “Heya Chief! Hows about we play Okami. Take control of Ammy and let’s a go!”
Master Chief: “Sure, Mario I’ll show you my way mad skills. Is that what the kids say?”
Once there was a dark wasteland before the white wolf. The darkness threatened to consume the peace on the land. Then Chief took control of Ammy and suddenly blossoming flowers, flame and bright lightning cascaded together. A rainbow formed in the sky and everything shone brilliantly.
Master Chief: “I did it! I restored beauty to the land.”
Mario: “Chief, you da best.”
Master Chief: “Well, they don’t call me a master for nothing.”
Mario: “That’sa lame.”
Master Chief: “Well, I’m a professional hero who fights aliens; humour isn’t my thing. Lay off me.”
Mario: “Look! Something’s wrong with the screen.”
Master Chief: “Huh? Noooooo!”
The screen froze after Chief had unlocked the two trophies for catching all fish and beating the last devil gate trial.
Mario: “Chief, is that a tear running down your visor?”
Master Chief: “N-no… it’s nothing” [sniffle]. Come on we better get back to work. My job is to save the world. I was a fool to think I’d be good at these stupid video game things.”
Mario: “Wahoo! Let’s ago!”
Why I Love The Super Mario Galaxy Games
Why do I love these games? I find it difficult to concisely explain all the reasons, but I’ll try. I mostly love the games because of their worlds, including the art and music.
Of course, the gameplay was excellent and attracted my attention. The game started simple and gradually became challenging. It never felt unfair. I could master the rhythm and jumps, beat the game and feel like I accomplished something. Then, if I felt like a challenge, I could find purple coins throughout the worlds. However, I didn’t keep playing — didn’t fall in love — merely to overcome a challenge, an uphill climb.
I enjoyed the sights and sounds along the walk. The worlds in the Super Mario Galaxy games are beautiful. The music helped to make the worlds worth exploring. The music was lush, grand and at times orchestral. It was grand enough to inspire me to be a hero and keep playing. The music also had bleeps and bloops, perhaps a nod to the past, that provided a spacey atmosphere. The developers created a good marriage of sound and world. I felt like I was in another galaxy full of whimsy and joy.
The bright colours of the worlds enticed me to travel and traverse them. Even the enemies were cool, colourful and demanded attention. This emphasis on colour, fun and whimsical music was refreshing. The Galaxy games weren’t trying hard to be a “mature” and bloody Hollywood blockbuster. The Galaxy games weren’t grey and depressing. They were transcendent as they took me to another realm of beauty and colour. The beauty of these games even cheered me up when I was sad.
Yes, the games made me happy, and they left me in awe. The change of perspective while walking around a three-dimensional planet, full of colourful plants and creatures, was incredible. I’ll never forget touching down on the first world and then realizing I could walk around the whole thing. What an experience!
The worlds remined me of planets from the story The Little Prince. You know, the ones where the prince meets adults living in their own little worlds. Wait, I figured out why I love the Galaxy games so much. They’re joyful and don’t take life too seriously.
Filed under Video Games I Play
I Miss the Super Mario Galaxy Games
I have much to say about why I love Super Mario Galaxy and the sequel. Tune in for my blog post next week. In the meantime, I want to hear from you. Do you love or hate the Super Mario Galaxy games and why?
Filed under Video Games I Play, Video Games: Reader Q&A
Video Games Nebula 