Dawn of the Geeks

Circuit City had New Super Mario Bros on sale for $25 so I picked it up. It’s a mishmash of features from various Mario games and some new things. But at the core it’s a back to basics side scrolling goomba stomping good time.

Although I like Super Mario Galaxy I’m tired of complicated 3D games where much of the game is fighting the camera and awkward controls. I’d like to see a Wii version of NSMB with 3D graphics but the same 2D game play. Mostly because I prefer to play games on the TV rather than a hand held. In the mean time I spend my monies on Virtual Console games like Donkey Kong Country and the original SMB games. I have all of them and the Japanese version of SMB2. The Japanese version of SMB2 is just mean. By the second world there are already hidden blocks that you have to hit just right so you have enough room on the screen to go back and jump on top of it so you make it over the otherwise impassable pit.

Ever since 3D graphics started becomming the rage 2D side scrollers have tended to go away. And there’s really no reason for it. Take advantage of the increased GPU power to make better looking graphics but keep the controls simple. I don’t always want a challenge. Sometimes I just want some fun.