Analyzing Mario

What makes Mario a special character for you?

I have been thinking why he is such a popular character and have not been able to come up with anything except a nostalgia factor.

For me Mario is quite hollow. And I don't think that Nintendo should be using him in so many games.

I think that Mario should retire and give the position of iconic character to Sir Ike of the Fire Emblem series.

Discussion is most welcome.

Ike... replacing... Mario?

...

...

:lol:

Ike is FAR from iconic. This better be a joke topic.

There's just something "magical" about Mario that makes people like him. He comes from a series that is overwhelming with creativity... and well, I can't say the same thing about Fire Emblem.

Where did I go wrong when I'm not having any fun playing a Mario game?

I think that Mario should retire and give the position of iconic character to Sir Ike of the Fire Emblem series.

Discussion is most welcome.

Heinous-Uranus

That's like replacing Bob Barker with Drew Carey.

Yeah the only reason Mario is popular is because has been in good games for a long time... Other than that his character is nothing special.

your kidding about all of this... right?frob1965

No, Ike is my icon.

Ike only fights for his friends so no.ZumaJones07

Plus you cant get any sympathy from him

Remember this member is the one that brought us these craptastic posts that were eventually locked:

http://www.gamespot.com/forums/show_msgs.php?board_id=909104101&topic_id=26469885

http://www.gamespot.com/forums/show_msgs.php?board_id=909104101&topic_id=26469869

Crazy Spyro fanboy...

That's like replacing Bob Barker with Drew Carey.

Whistlebuta

I hated that! The show is now unwatchable IMO.

I get it. You just don't like Mario. Are you jealous that his games ALWAYS outsell Ikes games?
pjacobson21

I'm jealous that Nintendo lives and Amiga died.

I'm jealous that because so many adult gamers are excited about controlling this Italian plumber, I have less games of good plotting, good characters and good dialogue. Games like FE:Path of Radiance.

[QUOTE="Heinous-Uranus"]

I think that Mario should retire and give the position of iconic character to Sir Ike of the Fire Emblem series.

Discussion is most welcome.

Whistlebuta

That's like replacing Bob Barker with Drew Carey.

best analogy used...Price is Right isn't "Price is Right" anymore without Barker there...just like Nintendo wouldn't be Nintendo without Mario...he's the essence of everything it means for video games to be fun...how many games (SMB, SMB2, SMB3, SMB:World etc..) do you know of that are still fun to go back and play this very day.

[QUOTE="pjacobson21"]I get it. You just don't like Mario. Are you jealous that his games ALWAYS outsell Ikes games?
Heinous-Uranus

I'm jealous that because so many adult gamers are excited about controlling this Italian plumber, I have less games of good plotting, good characters and good dialogue. Games like FE:Path of Radiance.

Path of Radiance was one of the worst fire emblem games. FE 7 and 6 were great.Falco_648

Path of Radiance was one of the best games I've played in a long time. It had good themes and a nice set of characters. And some of the dialogue was actually witty. The second half was quite bland though.

Radiant Dawn, now that didn't live up to the standard set by the prequel.

mario is a cool character, hes creative, he rocks, at a certain point he is heroic and badass... extremely badass

he rox man D: and you suck

What makes Mario so special? Simple: He's the most recognizable video-game character of all time. A lot of gamers have played Mario games when they were young so over the years of being in great titles like Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy, he formed a sentimental bond with you. The titles he's in a typically fun and simple to play, but also have a lot of depth, in terms of level design and gameplay. His bright red outfit and large blue eyes mixed in with his silly mustach and overalls make him stand out and very appealing.

I do understand what you're saying though. Mario doesn't talk in his games (besides the wierd noises he makes that is) and a lot of the story in his games are simple, repetetive and don't have any depth. Along with the story, Mario lacks depth as well. It's hard to relate to Mario becuase he doesn't speak or show any real human emotions that a well-developed character in a, let's say, a movie does.

What makes Mario so special? Simple: He's the most recognizable video-game character of all time...

I do understand what you're saying though. Mario doesn't talk in his games (besides the wierd noises he makes that is) and a lot of the story in his games are simple, repetetive and don't have any depth. Along with the story, Mario lacks depth as well. It's hard to relate to Mario becuase he doesn't speak or show any real human emotions that a well-developed character in a, let's say, a movie does.

Lyphe2k

What makes Mario a special character for you?

I have been thinking why he is such a popular character and have not been able to come up with anything except a nostalgia factor.

For me Mario is quite hollow. And I don't think that Nintendo should be using him in so many games.

I think that Mario should retire and give the position of iconic character to Sir Ike of the Fire Emblem series.

Discussion is most welcome.

Heinous-Uranus

Mario is likeable and can be used versatiley because his stature enables him to do many superhuman things. Because he is small and full of spunk, he can run, jump, wall-jump and swim with endless energy, and is kind of bouncy in a way - as are most of the denizens of Mushroom Kingdom - you jump on a Toad and you bounce off of their heads.

It doesn't matter that he's a plumber in his late thirties or forties, he's a cool character with a very cool universe built for him and all of his friends, and I for one think that it's pretty imaginative - mushrooms, dinosaurs, pipes, coins, blocks - it is the definition of a platforming adventure world.

Fire Emblem does not appeal to everyone, and Ike appears in the 9th and 10th game in that series - it's kind of hard to make him the face of a long-running strategy/rpg series when he had no part in the games until over 20 years into its existence, let alone a series of games that revolve around different fantasy nations and characters each title.

And this was a pathetic and worthless topic.

Ike only fights for his friends so no.ZumaJones07

lmao yes thats true. and no if mario 'retires' then there woulnt be any happy people left in this world

That'd be like completely getting rid of Pikachu from Pokemon...

You can't just replace Mario with someone like Ike....it's just...no...it's just common sense....

And I guess it wouldn't be iconic character, it'd be "Ike"-onic character :|.

It's not only his long standing "biggest video game character ever" status that makes Mario what he is (in my opinion), it's also his simplicity. He always does what's right, he doesn't overthink things, he's just all action. He's kinda like a Paladin without the holiness and there's something endearing about that.

Also, it's not always depth and a great story that make a game great. Sometimes it's just that the game is just plain fun to play. That's what Mario games are about, fun.

No.

[QUOTE="pjacobson21"]I get it. You just don't like Mario. Are you jealous that his games ALWAYS outsell Ikes games?
Heinous-Uranus

I'm jealous that Nintendo lives and Amiga died.

Do not even try to bring Amiga into the discussion. That company deserves way more respect than this crappy attempt at calling for attention by a nobody.