John's Fan Creations Thread (Reviews, Sprite Art, and More!)

[Denny Hamlin]

Well, I would apply for the 'Shroom, but I don't know to properly do the application. I got hung up when I was deciding whether to use Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

Anyway, like the title says, I'm gonna be writing little reviews about different stuff. Games, Movies, Characters, that kinda thing. Of course, I need time to actually write the reviews, but the first one shouldn't take too long to write, so expect it soon! Who knows, I might use it as my demo when/if I apply for the 'Shroom!
Stay fresh, Mi Buckos! - Long John Spaghetti

 

[Anton]

I use google docs to write Half-Baked Reviews because I can access it on my phone when I'm out and about, plus it's free.

If you still want to apply, all you have to do is send a message to LudwigVon, or me and I can send it to him, including this information:

1) What position you want to apply for
2) How often you plan on submitting sections (every month, bi-monthly, etc.)
3) Accept the condition that we will consider your behavior in the community as a factor in your approval and continued submissions
4) Provide a full-length demo of your proposed section

With most applications we receive, we ask them to format it for the wiki (a lot of people format it for the forum, which won't work on the wiki), and to consider including images. It's easier than it sounds, but if there's any questions feel free to ask

 

[Denny Hamlin]

Hey, Hey, Hey, everyone! Welcome to the first issue of John's Semi-Professional Opinions! Today, I'm doing something special to celebrate! Since this is my first review, I've decided to review the very first video game I have ever played! Grab your hats and hold onto 'em: It's John's Semi-Professional Opinion of New Super Mario Brothers!

Plot


The story of New Super Mario Brothers is pretty much what you'd expect out of any other Main Series Mario game. Princess Peach has gotten herself kidnapped (again) and it's up to the Mario Brothers to save her! This time, however, Peach has gotten kidnapped by Bowser Jr, which is the first time that's happened in a 2D Mario game.



Gameplay


Even Miyamoto-San has stated that New Super Mario Brothers was supposed to be a re-imagining of the original game, so the gameplay is supposed to be similar to Super Mario Brothers on the NES. Well, the game does just that and more. The gameplay is super-smooth and really satisfying. Mario & Luigi still retain their Super & Fire forms, but this time, they have 3 new power-ups to help them. First up, the Mega Mushroom. While in Mega Form, Mario & Luigi can crash and smash to their heart's delight. You can't run while in Mega Form, but that's to keep you from moving too fast, since you already go faster while in Mega Form. Also, the power-up only lasts a few seconds, but again, that's so that the power-up isn't so overpowered (See what I did there?). The next new power-up is the Mini-Mushroom. In this almost sub-atomic state, Mario & Luigi can go into Mini-Pipes, Jump way higher than before, and even run on water. The only real downside is that you can't stomp on enemies, but then again, you're smaller than a Goomba. Also, you still die in one hit, akin to having no power-up, but again, smaller than a Goomba. The last new power-up is the Blue Shell, my personal favorite. While wearing this surprisingly non-spikey shell, Mario & Luigi can skiddash all over the level like a Koopa out of control while mowing down any enemies in their way. The worst part about it is that the Blue Shell is super rare, so don't expect to have it while in a Boss Fight.




Nostalgia


Being the first game I ever played, New Super Mario Brothers will always hold a place in my heart. I first got the game V.I.A my aunt at my Grandfather's funeral. My cousin wasn't really interested in the D.S. anymore, so I got her's, and low and behold, it came with New Super Mario Brothers.




Final Verdict:


10/10: A+




...And that's it for the first volume of John's Semi-Professional Opinions! Hopefully this won't be the only one I do, so until next time, ciao!​

 

[Farrah Goodfairy]

Well I suppose there's a difference between a subjective review (how much you like it) and an objective one (how well you think it was designed, and, if applicable, how well it has held up to this day).

Ranking NSMBDS subjectively: it gives me nostalgia and I do have a blast playing it, but it's not all that special to me. Rating: 6.5/10

Objectively: The gameplay is alright but I wouldn't say it's the best 2D Super Mario game we've seen, not even amongst pre-2006 ones. The story is next to worthless. The graphics were alright for the time do not hold up well to this day. Rating: 4/10

I can't say I know much about writing in The Shroom but if I were writing an article reviewing a game I wouldn't want to send the message that it's a good game when that's just a personal preference and I realise that it was poorly made.

 

[Denny Hamlin]

Yea, Issue 1 was heavily rushed (I did it in less than 30 minutes), but Issue 2 will most likely be higher quality.

 

[Gay Rights Luigi]

I recently got this game and it is kicking my ass! You can tell I am a 3D, RPG, and Ghostbusting Mario player. While my favorite 2D will always be either Bros 3 or World, NSMBDS is a fun little challenge for me. Just don't vs. me, I suck~ A main problem for me is that the Mega Shroom is used in only... three levels? Another one was that with the world 2 boss, I accidentally defeated it. I just kinda stood waiting for it and bam, it died under my feet?! Also Bowser Jr. isn't even a boss. So levels hard, bosses easy. But, I like it~

 

[YoshiFlutterJump]

I can't say I know much about writing in The Shroom but if I were writing an article reviewing a game I wouldn't want to send the message that it's a good game when that's just a personal preference and I realise that it was poorly made.

There's nothing wrong with sharing opinions. An objectively correct opinion simply cannot exist, and it's not wrong just because you disagree with it. No opinion is unanimously agreed upon and it's not misinformation to share them. Also...

Objectively: The gameplay is alright but I wouldn't say it's the best 2D Super Mario game we've seen, not even amongst pre-2006 ones. The story is next to worthless. The graphics were alright for the time do not hold up well to this day. Rating: 4/10

This is not objective at all. Even disregarding the fact that you can't have a truly objective opinion, this is entirely dependent on what you find important in a game (subjectivity). What you are calling "subjective vs objective" is actually "fun factor vs other factors", which are both entirely subjective.

Don't say that something is objective when it isn't. True objectivity simply does not exist, and if somebody likes something that you don't, you can just say that you disagree and explain why, instead of saying that the other person's opinion is not objective and yet yours somehow is.

 

[Farrah Goodfairy]

I'm not saying it's objective in the sense that people don't have the right to find the gameplay the most enjoyable 2D Mario Platformer so far, I'm saying that when I do my best to remove my personal bias and judge the design of the gameplay rationally in accordance to how well the developers designed the game to capture and entertain audiences, and how well that design is improved by later games, it doesn't come out as the best. Thus this is not dependent on what I find important but rather what I judge should be important to the kind of game NSMBDS was intended to be. Of course I as a human being can never perfectly remove bias, but I don't see any harm trying.

If someone were to present to me a part of NSMBDS which goes against the aims of the developers or the appeal of the game, I would want to change my objective opinion of the game, to account for that poor design, but assuming it didn't affect my own enjoyment, it wouldn't change my subjective opinion.

My aim is not to say that everything I believe about the quality of video games is objectively correct and anything different is objectively incorrect, but rather to observe that I am personally influenced by factors which don't reflect the wiseness of the developer's choices, and to try to judge the game without that bias. I'm talking about objectivity in arguments rather than in facts. I can't get a ruler out and measure how good NSMBDS is, but I can put my personal preferences to one side and consider the game from a less biased viewpoint.

This is somewhat similar to https://movietime.guru/editorial-cl...rsus-objective-in-film-criticism-aa5e7016daca

 

[Denny Hamlin]

Hey, guys, and welcome to the second issue of John's Semi-Professional Opinions! Before we get started, I want to apologize for last issue. It was really rushed and sloppy. However, this time, things will be different. Grab your Pickaxes, everyone, because as requested by Shy Guy on Wheels (@Dr. Eggman), it's John's Semi-Professional Opinion on Minecraft!

Plot

I know what you're thinking: "But, John! Minecraft doesn't have a plot!". Well yes, but actually no. Minecraft does have (somewhat of) a plot. Your end goal is to kill the Ender Dragon. Sure, there is no dialogue or cutscenes or anything like that. It's just your main goal in the end: Kill the Ender Dragon. However, this end goal is optional can be ignored if so desired.

Gameplay

Minecraft has the biggest level in all of gaming history: It literally goes on forever. You couldn't even reach the end without hacks, and even then, Mojang fixed the same