Super Mario Galaxy: Let the reviews begin.

[Bond]

Originally Posted by BreakABone

Why is that?
Most sites/magazines generally dubbed a Mario games or Super MEtroid (occassionally Link to the Past/Ocarina of Time) greatest game of all time. And well we know Mario is pure platforming. Metroid is a pretty nice split.

I just don't see why you would be against the idea..

To me, the greatest game of all time should be something more epic, with an amazing storyline, intricate characters, etc. Much like the greatest movie of all time is often viewed as The Godfather and sometimes Shawshank Redemption.

[Angrist]

Yes, but the whole nature of games is different from that of movies. Games are about playing. An epic storyline and intricate (whatever that means) characters have very little to do with the gameplay.

And apparently most people agree, because the highest game on the list that has a remotely good story and characters would be Half Life 2, at no. 10.
So get over it, games are mostly rated based on their gameplay.

[Dyne]

Originally Posted by gekko

Waggling sucks, using the Wii Remote to collect gems sucks, and this stupid gravity thing doesn't feel right.

Well the first two is solved by friends. You do have those.. right?

[Bond]

Originally Posted by Angrist

Yes, but the whole nature of games is different from that of movies. Games are about playing. An epic storyline and intricate (whatever that means) characters have very little to do with the gameplay.

No form of entertainment is based solely on one thing. It is a combination of several factors that make something great.

And apparently most people agree, because the highest game on the list that has a remotely good story and characters would be Half Life 2, at no. 10.

Ocarina of Time has a fairly good story and character development.

[thatmariolover]

Rating systems are flawed, and I won't argue with you about that. There needs to be a more standard way of critiquing games and averaging the scores.

Putting that aside for the moment, however, Mario Galaxy is one of the best games I've ever played. No, I don't think I would rate it the best ever, but it's towards the top of my list. It is that fun.

[gekko]

Originally Posted by Bond

To me, the greatest game of all time should be something more epic, with an amazing storyline, intricate characters, etc. Much like the greatest movie of all time is often viewed as The Godfather and sometimes Shawshank Redemption.

Wrong medium, this isn't film.

[DeathsHand]

Originally Posted by gekko

Wrong medium, this isn't film.

So games that focus heavily on story and characters (RPGs, adventure games, Metal Gear, Silent Hill, etc) are completely missing the point, developers who strive to create an "interactive cinematic experience" are completely missing the point, and fans who write fanfiction and such are completely missing the point?

[gekko]

Missing the point? No, you're missing the point comparing games to film.

[DeathsHand]

Originally Posted by gekko

Missing the point? No, you're missing the point comparing games to film.

I didn't compare games to film...

[Bond]

To further my point, here are IGN's closing comments on their Mass Effect review:

"In a year that has seen the Xbox 360 library finally round itself out with a series of quality Japanese RPGs, BioWare has shown just how far ahead of the curve it is with Mass Effect. The cinematic design is nothing short of masterful. This is a game that takes the aspects of film that make cinema so compelling and crosses it with the interactivity of games with unprecedented success. Linear storytelling feels quaint by comparison.

Mass Effect is game that is greater than the sum of its parts..."

[BreakABone]

Originally Posted by Bond

To further my point, here are IGN's closing comments on their Mass Effect review:

"In a year that has seen the Xbox 360 library finally round itself out with a series of quality Japanese RPGs, BioWare has shown just how far ahead of the curve it is with Mass Effect. The cinematic design is nothing short of masterful. This is a game that takes the aspects of film that make cinema so compelling and crosses it with the interactivity of games with unprecedented success. Linear storytelling feels quaint by comparison.

Mass Effect is game that is greater than the sum of its parts..."

I'm not quite clear how that furthers your point?
MAss Effect has good story telling elements and?

But back to your original problem just because Super Mario Galaxy is the best reviewed game (so far, I'm pretty sure it will drop eventually) and it only counts the last ten years or so doesn't mean it is the best game of all time or greatest game of all time.

It makes it the most critically acclaimed game of all time.

I think your problem with this game (other than this game) is that it does not have the values many have recently come to associate with popular games. However, it seems to be a more recent trend and in all honesty, I do not see the problem with simplistic game making.

The same way there are rather simple movie premises that just work. Here is another example, the highest rated movie on RottenTomatoes isn't The Godfather or your other pick... it is actually Toy Story.

I love Toy Story one of my favorite movies of all time, but you can not tell me it has a deep plot and intriciate characters. So why shouldn't Mario be treated the same way

[bobcat]

Originally Posted by Bond

To further my point, here are IGN's closing comments on their Mass Effect review:

"In a year that has seen the Xbox 360 library finally round itself out with a series of quality Japanese RPGs, BioWare has shown just how far ahead of the curve it is with Mass Effect. The cinematic design is nothing short of masterful. This is a game that takes the aspects of film that make cinema so compelling and crosses it with the interactivity of games with unprecedented success. Linear storytelling feels quaint by comparison.

Mass Effect is game that is greater than the sum of its parts..."

Sounds like a movie :P

[Bond]

Originally Posted by BreakABone

I'm not quite clear how that furthers your point?
MAss Effect has good story telling elements and?

The closing comments on Mass Effect basically said everything I did a few posts back in different wording.

But back to your original problem just because Super Mario Galaxy is the best reviewed game (so far, I'm pretty sure it will drop eventually) and it only counts the last ten years or so doesn't mean it is the best game of all time or greatest game of all time.

Ok.

It makes it the most critically acclaimed game of all time.

That's fine.

I think your problem with this game (other than this game) is that it does not have the values many have recently come to associate with popular games. However, it seems to be a more recent trend and in all honesty, I do not see the problem with simplistic game making.

Right... movies started out in silence and in black and white. Now they're in full color and there's sound. You'd consider that a good thing... correct?

The videogame industry is very new, very young. Storytelling, intricate character development, voice acting, etc. are just starting to become within reach. Once developers are able to harness those features that make movies such an enthralling entertainment experience and mix that with the interactivity that videogames offfer - it's going to create the pinnacle of gaming.

Will there always be a place for basic platformers? Sure, just like there will always be a place for slap-stick movies. I'm looking at the grand scheme of things here.

[Angrist]

Sure, if they ever make a game that has: A. Awesome, top notch, never boring gameplay and B. Epic storytelling, voice acting and character development... then yeah, I'm sure it has a big chance of becoming the best game ever. So far, no game has really managed to combine those 2. Some got really close though.

[bobcat]

I guess if you were to choose.....would you go for gameplay or story? For me gameplay without a doubt. I know this is a bit of a skewed analysis but I think we need to establish what is most important here