Best 3D Mario?

[Kong Wen]

The answer is Galaxy 1 and it is not close.

What makes it better than 2?

Two things IMO: better overall level design, and lacking Yoshi, but YMMV. I still voted for both of them.

[evildevil97]

The answer is Galaxy 1 and it is not close.

What makes it better than 2?

Two things IMO: better overall level design, and lacking Yoshi, but YMMV. I still voted for both of them.

The Cloud Flower is one of the best powerups ever, though.

[SkyPikachu]

The answer is Galaxy 1 and it is not close.

What makes it better than 2?

Two things IMO: better overall level design, and lacking Yoshi, but YMMV. I still voted for both of them.

Yoshi made 2 better imo.

[The Shoemaker]

We're supposed to be able to put in two votes right? I can only ever put in one.

[Kong Wen]

We're supposed to be able to put in two votes right? I can only ever put in one.

Put a 1 in one dropdown and a 1 in another one.

[The Shoemaker]

We're supposed to be able to put in two votes right? I can only ever put in one.

Put a 1 in one dropdown and a 1 in another one.

[Claytone]

The answer is Galaxy 1 and it is not close.

What makes it better than 2?

Unlike Kong, I enjoyed Yoshi, but I generally agree with him that the level design in 1 was better. Story was better too. I don't exactly play Mario games for the story, but Galaxy 1 had a charming plot.

Mostly, it was just more impactful because it was the first. All of its ideas were novel, while 2 was largely a rehash. A good rehash, but a rehash nonetheless.

[Kong Wen]

Unlike Kong, I enjoyed Yoshi

I enjoyed Yoshi, but I didn't think he improved the game. I think the addition of Yoshi mechanics kind of diluted the tighter design of the original game and that made it feel less solid overall. Still good, but just less focused.

[The Shoemaker]

Honestly it has been too long for me to judge either galaxy games. When I played 2 though, I thought the level design was better, but galaxy 1 felt more special because of the story emphasis and novelty.

So, overall I think 2 is better, but I'm waiting for a re release to try these again.

[Kreegs]

Galaxy 2 came out at a perfect time for me. I played so much of it in college and remember getting really excited when I found out all the extra things to do after Luigi was unlocked. To this day I have completed everything except for the Grandmaster Galaxy. I have probably died about 500 times. This game took everything that was good about the original and added more. It also eliminated the hub world, which I kind of liked, but it was still a bit annoying to prance around in.

Odyssey is just an outstanding game. On multiple occasions I have expressed gleefulness out loud. Mrs. K, who was not a fan of previous 3D Mario games, is also obsessed with this game. She and I are neck and neck when it comes to total moons, with me having the slight edge 508 to 502. Having retro sections in this game hopefully earned a Nintendo employee a castle of his or her own.