My exact thought reading this rant. That game was seriously good.

Mario Odysee, was a good Mario game overall however it seemed like they were going for a more Hollywood vibe then Mario vibe in this game and feel like it strives away from what Mario was and is. It's one thing if Super smash bros does that, another if Mario drives away from what Mario is in its own game. Also the levels look more like Sonic then Mario.

Gameplay wise and mechanics it's a great game, almost perfect, but it almost looks like Mario is going the direction of Sonic during the ps2 and Xbox 360 times, not necessarily broken games, but experimenting with new things but in a way that it doesn't quite feel like how Mario is suppose to feel. Almost like how Sega tried making a shooter with Shadow the hedgehog for one. If they'd fix up the environments and the soundtrack it could easily be the best in the series.

I did say it was almost perfect. I'm not hinting that it was a terrible game even. But it's steering Mario in a different direction, that doesn't feel quite like Mario, more like a hollywood movie. I just wish a 3d platforming Mario game could get the Mario Wonder treatment. With colors, great platforming fun like super Mario 64 (which I know hasn't aged itself) but in a modern twist. That is what they should do at some point. sooner, not 3 console later.

I just wish a 3d platforming Mario game could get the Mario Wonder treatment. With colors, great platforming fun like super Mario 64 (which I know hasn't aged itself) but in a modern twist. That is what they should do at some point. sooner, not 3 console later. That is the one thing they seem to miss out on.

Galaxy was actualy pretty good, but the main focus of that game was to sell the Wii remote pointer, rather then focusing on the platforming. At the time I wouldn't say it was bad for what a Mario game should look like but it wasn't really about Mario platforming but more about selling the Wii remote technology pointing it at the stars. I remember watching the trailers on the Nintnedo channel on the Wii and they really made sure to highlight the Wii remote pointer and collecting the stars.

I agree that Super Mario 64 particularly hasn't aged, wouldn't it be great if Nintendo made a modern tripple a continuation of a game like Super Mario 64 with a better camera and better controls? They wouldn't even have to call it Super Mario 64 2, call it something else, but make the colors similar, but more next gen to that. Improve the polygon resolution, make the textures better quality. It's really not that hard, it's a game that Mario desperately needs but Nintendo hasn't done properly for the franchise.

I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that the people running Nintendo going form the N64 to the Gamecube had changed but the Mario creator was there (I atleast think he was) to work on Mario Sunshine, I don't get how they went from Super Mario 64 to Sunshine regarding the game mechanics such as the water flood.

born in year 1999 and my first Mario game was Super Mario advance 2 super mario world for the gba, then New super mario bros ds, I didn't actually get to play Super Mario 64 untill I got it on the wii virtual console. But the way I remember super mario world on the gba, including the cover art it was amazing. even looking at it now it just looks so nice. I was atleast 5 or 6 when I got into Mario, I use to be a big fan of Mario generally untill I realised Mario games were slowly losing the vibe from past, if not entirely.

I feel one of the main reason I know so much about Mario now is because back then I would go on the Wii consoles internet channel and google search about all the Mario games, and other times I would just go on the Wii shop channel and explore. Was a good time for me as a Mario fan.

Galaxy and Galaxy 2 are far superior to Wonder

The Two main points

1. on the nes Mario started as a 2d platformer, and on the SNES, Mario evolved to the hardware and possibilities of the hardware and while introducing new characters it and powerups it stayed to its roots, on the N64 Mario went 3D because that was essentially the point of the next gen consoles and the game was great, although dated now, after came super Mario sunshine for the gamecube, what happened here? why didn't we get a real 3d Mario platforming game on the Gamecube instead of this water cleaning mess, this is when Nintendo started downgrading the Mario games from their true pottential. Then on the Wii, while Mario Galexy would had been better as a spin off, not that it's a bad game, it feels more like a spinoff or small experiment when you look at the history of the games. Sunshine also seems to had been a small experiment.

2. The problem with Super Mario Wonder isn't the game itself. I would even say it's the best 2d Mario game of all time. But you're telling me this couldn't had been done on the Wii U or the Wii? It shouldn't be $60 because the game is so basic being 2d. Now if it was 2.5 d looking as vibrant and exciting, then we'd be going somewhere, because then it would look more like something form the Super Smash Bros Brawl campain. But as it is, it doesn't take advantage of the hardware that I bought, which would be fine if it wasn't a full $60.

I agree with your point that 3d Mario games suck, because they do. Why tho? because it appears to me that Nintendo abandoned making real 3D Mario platforing games since the N64, everything after, while it may be 3d- either it has a special gimmick or- they over simplify the 3D platforming viewing experience. While Super Mario 64 may not be HD, it looks more interesting as a 3d platformer then say Super Mario 3d world, due to it being soo over simplified for even the Wii U console specs. Not all the games are necessarily bad, but they aren't complete Mario experiences, alot of them are games that are trying to sell a gimmick, rather then the ip itself. Mario Sunshine started the trend with the water flood tank.

In your title you do mention "good games" were absent for a period, while you probably mean: "Mario games with the classic style", that's where a lot of miscommunication is coming from.

Nintendo pricing (especially further removed from launch) is pretty much space-magic.

I can relate tot odyssey graphics being more 'hollywood', but after I was a bit disappointed with sunshine (and have since come around to love it), I immediately fell in love with galaxy. Then galaxy 2 came around, wow. While it's style is more modern then SM64, it does not feel as out of place as odyssey graphics to me. It felt too easy, but all Mario games feel too easy, I'm just a better platform-player nowadays.