• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Which 3D Mario should I start with?

B

big fake

Member
I've never really played many Nintendo games in my day sadly, and only owned a Wii for a small period of time growing up. I've been trying to play more of the well known and touted Nintendo franchises, or atleast a handful of the best.

After Odyssey's amazing showing at this year's E3 I have been really tempted to play a 3D Mario game from the old days. I'm torn between Sunshine, Mario 64 and Galaxy 1/2. I'll be playing these games from emulation when I get to whichever one.

I was wondering, GAF, which one would be the best for me to start with before Odyssey comes out this Fall?

EDIT: Clarifying because of limited time I want to allocate to other games, I really only have time for one of these games leading up to Odyssey.

EDIT 2: I've made a strawpoll for this and I've narrowed it down to Galaxy 1/2 and 64. I hope you guys vote so this goes along smoother!
http://www.strawpoll.me/13253206
 
N

NinjaCoachZ

Member
Chronological order, always. 64 is an all-time classic that's great to start out with and you best get to experience how it all evolved.
 
J

James Scott

Banned
Have you played any of them before? You can play them all on your Wii.

If you're getting Odyssey I'd probably recommend against playing through all of them leading up to it. It's a good way to burn yourself out.

They're all good, though. Sunshine is the most flawed due to the lack of polish and bloat, but it has some of the most fun movement mechanics. Galaxy 1 and 2 are pretty fantastic. Feels great to play. Only issue is the lack of a way to gain speed that Mario Sunshine and 64 both had.
Mario 64 holds up super well. Love it. Camera is a bit wonky but Mario's moveset is still GOAT
 
T

Team Filler

Member
Give Galaxy 2 your undivided attention first since it's the best, then work backwards and finish with 64.

Also give both 3D Mario Land and World a playthrough, they're both great as well.
 
P

PetrCobra

Member
Mohasus said:
Skip sunshine.
Click to expand...

Oh no, don't do that.

Anyway, I would start with Mario 64 just because that way you don't have to go back to old school after you played something more recent. I don't mind doing that personally but I know some people do. Otherwise, any of them really. They are all pretty different.
 
B

Barryman

Member
I dunno, just pick one you want to play and play it. It's not like there's a deep continuity that will be ruined unless you play chronologically.
 
D

DragonGirl

Member
The Galaxy games and 3D World are fantastic. For the most part, 64 holds up very well. Play Sunshine to see where it all went wrong.
 
J

jdstorm

Banned
Mario Galaxy 1.

Its the best currently available 3D Mario and its on a platform you own.

After that you will have a choice between Mario 64 or Galaxy 2.

That should take you up until Mario Odyssey launches in a few months. Also play Splatoon 2 when it comes out on switch, since its "Hero Mode" is going to be Mario esque.
 
J

jg4xchamp

Member
Play them in order. Mario 64 n the Galaxy games are masterful. Sunshine n 3D world were a bit disappointing to me; but I'd take them over a shit load of other games that get gassed up.
 
B

Bronetta

Ask me about the moon landing or the temperature at which jet fuel burns. You may be surprised at what you learn.
giphy.gif
 
T

Triforce141

Member
Any of them's not a bad choice, though if you play Sunshine, practically ignore any of the optional content like hidden levels.
 
H

hwy_61

Banned
Are we including 3D world as one of the main Mario games? I always considered it a one off. Not saying 3D world isn't amazing, i just don't put it in the same category as Galaxy, 64, or sunshine.
 
U

ubiblu

Member
Just follow the release progression: Mario 64 -> Sunshine -> Galaxy 1 & 2 -> (pretend 3D World doesn't exist) -> Odyssey.

hwy_61 said:
Are we including 3D world as one of the main Mario games? I always considered it a one off. Not saying 3D world isn't amazing, i just don't put it in the same category as Galaxy, 64, or sunshine.
Click to expand...

I completely agree, but beware: the official Nintendo graphic will be posted to dispute your claim.
 
T

TwistedFreeze

Member
All of them, really. 64, Sunshine, Galaxy, and the 3D games. For Sunshine, though, don't go out of your way to 100% it, it becomes a miserable time when you go for that

hwy_61 said:
Are we including 3D world as one of the main Mario games? I always considered it a one off. Not saying 3D world isn't amazing, i just don't put it in the same category as Galaxy, 64, or sunshine.
Click to expand...
If Nintendo sees it as a main Mario game, it counts. That and, well, it's a 3D platformer starring Mario so...
 
G

Galang

Banned
I'd say try 64 and then Galaxy 2. Then Galaxy 1 > 3D World > Sunshine.

If you had to only play one then go with Galaxy 2 above all else!
 
D

Dark Cloud

Member
ubiblu said:
Just follow the release progression: Mario 64 -> Sunshine -> Galaxy 1 & 2 -> (pretend 3D World doesn't exist) -> Odyssey.



I completely agree, but beware: the official Nintendo graphic will be posted to dispute your claim.
Click to expand...

3D World exists and it's better than Sunshine and 64. Just skip Sunshine and pretend it doesn't exist.
 
B

big fake

Member
TwistedFreeze said:
All of them, really. 64, Sunshine, Galaxy, and the 3D games. For Sunshine, though, don't go out of your way to 100% it, it becomes a miserable time when you go for that


If Nintendo sees it as a main Mario game, it counts. That and, well, it's a 3D platformer starring Mario so...
Click to expand...
I'm not interested in that for the fact of emulation reasons for Wii U being finicky for me. I'll get to them one day for sure!
 
O

ohlawd

Member
play in order

64 -> Sunshine -> Galaxy 1 -> Galaxy 2 -> 3D Land -> 3D World

by the time you finish, Odyssey should be out :D
 
M

mazpratim

Member
If you like the exploring and collecting aspects of the game, i highly recommend playing Banjo-Kazooie and Tooie someday as Mario Odyssey is heavily influenced by those games
 
1

120v

Member
Galaxy 2 is the pinnacle of 3D mario IMO. or you could interchange that with Galaxy 1 if you must; both are fine

Mario 64 is one of the greatest games ever made but i don't know how somebody would find it in 2017 as an intro. 3D Land/World are kind of their own thing.
 
B

BooJoh

Member
Ignore anyone saying to skip "X game." They're all great games. Personally I feel like the Galaxy games are a chore to play because of the unusual control scheme and at times terrible camera, but I would never say to skip them. All of the Mario platformers are great.
 
B

big fake

Member
I made a clarification in the OP about how I really only have time for one of the mentioned above due to backlog constraints.
 
G

Gartooth

Member
Pick either Mario 64 because Odyssey is going back to that style, or Galaxy 1 since that was EAD Tokyo's first 3D Mario game.
 
J

James Scott

Banned
big fake said:
kvpaw.gif
Click to expand...
To dump your copy so you can use the emulator.
You'll likely need one of the various Wiis to dump the other games too.
BooJoh said:
Ignore anyone saying to skip "X game." They're all great games. Personally I feel like the Galaxy games are a chore to play because of the unusual control scheme and at times terrible camera, but I would never say to skip them. All of the Mario platformers are great.
Click to expand...
They're all pretty fun. Even 3D "not a real 3D Mario" World has some great design.
I'm not sure if Galaxy holds up, been meaning to play through it but I adored it when it came out.
 
Y

Yoshimitsu126

Member
Sunshine looks the most like Odyssey. You travel big sandbox world and have an additional gimmick although I can tell the hat will be way better than FLUDD.
 
T

TwistedFreeze

Member
big fake said:
I made a clarification in the OP about how I really only have time for one of the mentioned above due to backlog constraints.
Click to expand...
Hmm...then, in that case, play the Galaxy games. Odyssey is a lot like 64 in that it's a rather open sandbox game whereas Galaxy is more focused on tight creative platforming sections so you'll get a taste of two different but insanely good type of Mario games
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

LTTP: Super Mario Odyssey
LTTP Review 2
75
4K
mayham2199 replied
Kirby and the Forgotten Land reached my heart
Spoilers
3
450
Kuranghi replied
Solar Ash - one of the best 3D platformers of all time
LTTP
25
2K
diffusionx replied
Rumor : Possible info on next Mario Kart and 3D Mario game
33
3K
ADiTAR replied
The gap between Super Mario Bros and Super Mario 64 is 11 years
2
65
3K
Astral Dog replied
Top Bottom