Round of 16: How Many Bits in a Mario?

[The Shoemaker]

It didn't single-handed save the entire video game industry, though.

If SMB hadn't, something else would have. An industry with this much potential would not have been ignored by investors forever. SMB deserves credit for that for timing, but not for its quality, which has been trumped by many, many, many other games - both ones it was contemporary to and ones that came later.

But something else didn't, SMB did. Quality aside, like you said, SMB deserves credit for its timing, and for its impact and influence on the genre in particular and the industry as a whole. Definitely a giant entry, and fully worthy of a BGE Top-8 finish.

For me, voting for influence stops around the Top 32. At that point I think about what games I really enjoy playing, and would play again, over what a particular game did for the industry. I'm not criticising your stance, but I don't really think of a game's influence when I'm playing it.

I also think Super Mario Bros. doesn't have very tight controls compared to Super Mario World, or even Super Mario Bros. 3.

[Kong Wen]

For me, voting for influence stops around the Top 32. At that point I think about what games I really enjoy playing, and would play again, over what a particular game did for the industry. I'm not criticising your stance, but I don't really think of a game's influence when I'm playing it.

I totally agree with this reasoning, but I also feel like this sort of voting is one of the reasons BEST X EVER polls can be boring sometimes. Like yeah citizen kane was important but it's kind of an arduous watch and is nowadays a boring choice for best movie ever just because it's not exciting when it wins.

Just a couple cents. shruggo

I agree with you, and this is one of the reasons it's good that not everyone votes the same way. One of the big reasons we keep what "BEST!!!" means up in the air and subjective, rather than saying "vote for the most influential game of all time". I tend not to vote that way unless my choices are really close. Then I might let it flip a tie.

[Spore]

For me, voting for influence stops around the Top 32. At that point I think about what games I really enjoy playing, and would play again, over what a particular game did for the industry. I'm not criticising your stance, but I don't really think of a game's influence when I'm playing it.

I totally agree with this reasoning, but I also feel like this sort of voting is one of the reasons BEST X EVER polls can be boring sometimes. Like yeah citizen kane was important but it's kind of an arduous watch and is nowadays a boring choice for best movie ever just because it's not exciting when it wins.

Just a couple cents. shruggo

I agree with you, and this is one of the reasons it's good that not everyone votes the same way. One of the big reasons we keep what "BEST!!!" means up in the air and subjective, rather than saying "vote for the most influential game of all time". I tend not to vote that way unless my choices are really close. Then I might let it flip a tie.

[The Shoemaker]

For me, voting for influence stops around the Top 32. At that point I think about what games I really enjoy playing, and would play again, over what a particular game did for the industry. I'm not criticising your stance, but I don't really think of a game's influence when I'm playing it.

I totally agree with this reasoning, but I also feel like this sort of voting is one of the reasons BEST X EVER polls can be boring sometimes. Like yeah citizen kane was important but it's kind of an arduous watch and is nowadays a boring choice for best movie ever just because it's not exciting when it wins.

Just a couple cents. shruggo

I agree with you, and this is one of the reasons it's good that not everyone votes the same way. One of the big reasons we keep what "BEST!!!" means up in the air and subjective, rather than saying "vote for the most influential game of all time". I tend not to vote that way unless my choices are really close. Then I might let it flip a tie.

I also meant to mention that you were probably not going to base your vote heavily on influence, but were just making sure people knew that could sway a vote towards a game.

[A Beta Fu7ure]

SMB sucks

Could you offer a little more criticism to back this up? It seems to be a popular opinion among your generation and I'm always interested in hearing the reasoning behind it.

[SkyPikachu]

SMB sucks

Could you offer a little more criticism to back this up? It seems to be a popular opinion among your generation and I'm always interested in hearing the reasoning behind it.

For its time I'm sure it was amazing but every other mainstream mario game I've played is better. There's a ton of things that are in World (my original mario) that SMB doesn't have that makes it feel like it's far far worse. Not being able to save and the fact you can't go backwards really ruins it.

Sucks is probably a strong word as I'd still play it plus I voted for it in earlier rounds (voted 64 in the last round though) it just feel like it's not a complete game and there's so many thing that bother me about it that I can't put my fingers to plus the graphics are gross. I know you can't compare the NES graphics to the SNES (world) graphics but SMB3 looks so much better than 1.

I believe that not growing up with it does have a huge deal with it and I understand it changed the face of gaming a lot and started a franchise I love but the game itself (which is what I'm voting for here) isn't that fantastic. Maybe if I was 7 in 1985 I'd feel differently and like it as much as I like World.

[The Shoemaker]

SMB sucks

Could you offer a little more criticism to back this up? It seems to be a popular opinion among your generation and I'm always interested in hearing the reasoning behind it.

It doesn't suck, it's just a game that has been trumped by every single other Mario platformer since. I do appreciate the classic, simple level design it has. Ultimately I like Super Mario World better for its cohessive feel, variety of power ups and things to do, its visual style and music. The only thing I can say about Super Mario Bros. that really shines is that it's forever a game that is super easy to just pick up and play. No opening story or level select, just press start and you're right in there.

[A Beta Fu7ure]

SMB sucks

I know you can't compare the NES graphics to the SNES (world) graphics but SMB3 looks so much better than 1.

Am I the only one that doesn't think this? I've always thought of Super Mario Bros as an aesthetically beautiful game whose graphics are not only iconic but timeless to an extent..while I've always considered SMB3's graphics to have been some of the ugliest in the series and feel that they have aged even less well.

[The Shoemaker]

Am I the only one that doesn't think this? I've always thought of Super Mario Bros as an aesthetically beautiful game whose graphics are not only iconic but timeless to an extent..while I've always considered SMB3's graphics to have been some of the ugliest in the series and feel that they have aged even less well.

I think Super Mario bros. looks bland and has some grotesque models. The Super Mario Maker version looks not bad.

[Sharecrow]

Am I the only one that doesn't think this? I've always thought of Super Mario Bros as an aesthetically beautiful game whose graphics are not only iconic but timeless to an extent..while I've always considered SMB3's graphics to have been some of the ugliest in the series and feel that they have aged even less well.

No, I think SMB holds up rather well aesthetically. And it's still fun. I'm not sure I share your dislike of SM3's graphics, but I can kind of see where you're coming from.