Is the New Super Mario Bros. series underrated?

[Kokoro]

Is the New Super Mario Bros. series underrated?

I think so, since they just don't get enough credit. They aren't as positively received as the original 2D games or the 3D games. In fact, they tend to get more hate compared to those games. Some people tend to say that they are too similar to the original 2D Mario games. It may seem that way at first glance, but once you get into them, there's still noticeable differences. The controls have been refined to be less slippery, for example. Besides, them being a lot like the original 2D games should be a good thing, if anything, since those games are classics, right?

The series also pretty much started the whole 2D platformer revival, with games like Mega Man 9 and 10, Sonic 4 (and soon to be Sonic Mania), and Rayman Origins and Legends, among others, later coming out.

 

[Lord Bowser]

the first two were great, but the rest of them aren't liked as much because they're mostly rehashes of nsmbwii with some not that great gimmicks thrown in. there really just isn't enough variety in them for people to really enjoy them a lot.

 

[Xiahou Ba]

I like the New Super Mario Bros. series more than the classic series, even.

I just don't like 2 and U, but you know, my opinion may change with you know, Newer U coming out

 

[Kokoro]

I like the New Super Mario Bros. series more than the classic series, even.

I just don't like 2 and U, but you know, my opinion may change with you know, Newer U coming out

Same here, mainly for the refined controls.

I like both of those games. NSMB U might be my favorite in the NSMB series, actually.

 

[DragonFreak]

Here's my two sense: the NSMB series in general is garbage. Less so on the Wii but I would only call it "good".

The thing is the first NSMB was supposed to be a return of 2d Mario, but it more or less copied SMB3 and every single later game in the series more or less copies NSMB. The series stifles itself.

Also for those who care as much as me, but the NSMB music in general is generic and forgettable.

I just with the series wasn't created or like had effort put into it.

 

[Kokoro]

Here's my two sense: the NSMB series in general is garbage. Less so on the Wii but I would only call it "good".

The thing is the first NSMB was supposed to be a return of 2d Mario, but it more or less copied SMB3 and every single later game in the series more or less copies NSMB. The series stifles itself.

Also for those who care as much as me, but the NSMB music in general is generic and forgettable.

I just with the series wasn't created or like had effort put into it.

If anything, it was more like SMB1 than SMB3. But as I said, the NSMB games still had noticeable differences and tweaks. You have ground pounds, new power-ups, improved controls, among some other things. There's only so much you can change, really, so what do you expect?

 

[DragonFreak]

There's only so much you can change, really, so what do you expect?

Actual creativity.

I'm looking at the series as a whole not in individual parts. Each of the four games are so similar to each other they might as well be the same game. Compare that to SMB1-3 and SMW and all of those games are radically different from each other. And I like that a lot. But nope the styles of the NSMB series are practically the same and that's really my main gripe with the series.

 

[Kokoro]

There's only so much you can change, really, so what do you expect?

Actual creativity.

I'm looking at the series as a whole not in individual parts. Each of the four games are so similar to each other they might as well be the same game. Compare that to SMB1-3 and SMW and all of those games are radically different from each other. And I like that a lot. But nope the styles of the NSMB series are practically the same and that's really my main gripe with the series.

I can see what you mean there regarding all the games being very similar to each other. But really, how often do games change from game to game to the extent that SMB1-3 and World did? Not very often. Isn't calling the whole NSMB series "garbage" a little harsh?

 

[Lin Beifong]

The word that comes to mind when thinking about New Super Mario Bros. is "generic".

It seems to be a very sterile series, devoid of character and charme. You're essentially piloting a bunch of cardboard cut-outs through the ever-same environments (grassland, desert, ice world, lava world, and the desert world is always the second). It's all very "been there, done that", and personally I find that mind-numbing. Compare that to something like Rayman Origins, which is oozing character from everywhere, the art style, the dumb excuse plot, even the little insignificant animations, and you see that this series doesn't bother to do any of that, which is why people tend to find it bland by contrast.

You also have to consider where and how these games fit into the main Mario series, and what legacy they left behind. At the beginning you have SMB, the prototype that laid the groundwork for the series to stand on. SMB3 revamped the concept of SMB, introduced overworld maps and greatly expanded the library of environments. SMW overhauled THAT and added unlockable branching paths along with the now famous ridable dinosaur. SM64 made a huge leap and brought the series to 3D, while adding non-linear level progression and giving birth to the collectathon platformer genre. SMS experimented with the formula, giving Mario a tool to aid his jumping, as well as featuring probably the most unique level themes in the series (the quality of the game is debatable, but I can't help but applaud Nintendo for being willing to experiment). Then SMG came along and did its own thing entirely, with lots of gravity shenanigans and other space stuff. You look at this history and think "Damn, it's incredible how much Mario has evolved, and how colorful and unique these games are".

Then you hit the NSMBs (and SMG2 to some extent), and what follows is stagnation, stagnation, stagnation. Where previous games would deviate from the formulas of their predecessors to re-invent themselves, these games followed the formula rigidly, and as a result feel samey and stale. This is why these games are reviled among some fans; They are the face of Nintendo's turning point. The point when they stopped experimenting and putting unique spins on their base concept.

This piece of artwork from NSMBW is great because it perfectly illustrates what happened to Mario in these games. The only way it could have been better is if he was in his T-pose. There's no charme or life to this render. Nobody stands like that, unless they're getting their prison mugshot taken or something. This Mario is dead, held up by strings and wires. You can move him around and make him do stuff, but other than that there's just nothing there.



So in summary: Is NSMB a bad series?
No. It does exactly what it is supposed to do and nothing less.

Is it an underrated gem hiding some big potential under its surface?
No. It does exactly what it is supposed to do and nothing more.

Some people like it, good on them for being able to enjoy it. Some people dislike it, with good reason. It has pretty much received the attention it deserves, and is thus not underrated.

 

[freakworld]

no, not after seeing the atrocity that was nsmb2

 

[Kokoro]

The word that comes to mind when thinking about New Super Mario Bros. is "generic".

It seems to be a very sterile series, devoid of character and charme. You're essentially piloting a bunch of cardboard cut-outs through the ever-same environments (grassland, desert, ice world, lava world, and the desert world is always the second). It's all very "been there, done that", and personally I find that mind-numbing. Compare that to something like Rayman Origins, which is oozing character from everywhere, the art style, the dumb excuse plot, even the little insignificant animations, and you see that this series doesn't bother to do any of that, which is why people tend to find it bland by contrast.

You also have to consider where and how these games fit into the main Mario series, and what legacy they left behind. At the beginning you have SMB, the prototype that laid the groundwork for the series to stand on. SMB3 revamped the concept of SMB, introduced overworld maps and greatly expanded the library of environments. SMW overhauled THAT and added unlockable branching paths along with the now famous ridable dinosaur. SM64 made a huge leap and brought the series to 3D, while adding non-linear level progression and giving birth to the collectathon platformer genre. SMS experimented with the formula, giving Mario a tool to aid his jumping, as well as featuring probably the most unique level themes in the series (the quality of the game is debatable, but I can't help but applaud Nintendo for being willing to experiment). Then SMG came along and did its own thing entirely, with lots of gravity shenanigans and other space stuff. You look at this history and think "dang, it's incredible how much Mario has evolved, and how colorful and unique these games are".

Then you hit the NSMBs (and SMG2 to some extent), and what follows is stagnation, stagnation, stagnation. Where pr