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[Randolph Freelander]

But people buy the consoles to play games such as those...

I have no data here, nor does anyone I think, so I'm speaking off the cuff and could certainly be wrong, but I'd say your assertion is true in small quantities. I expect that the vast majority of buyers of those games already had the console, or were already buying the console, and for those people, those games were no more than one factor among many as reasons to buy it. Smash Brothers and Mario Kart have been popular on every platform they've been on, but not every platform they've been on has been popular. Smash Brothers itself seems to have somewhat of a ceiling; it didn't scale particularly well with the Wii's growth over GameCube. On the other hand, Mario Kart did. Just based on that scale, you'd think Mario Kart would be the one to have a bigger impact to Wii U, if there is any substantial impact to be had. But then, you still have the historical facts to consider that Mario Kart didn't propel help Nintendo 64 nor did it help GameCube.

I simply believe that what Nintendo needs to get people to the party is a phenomenon like Wii Sports, something nobody knew they wanted until they knew they wanted it. These other games, the Marios, the Zeldas, the Smash Brothers and Mario Karts, and outside of the Nintendo faithful, they're the games that people at the party buy once they're already there. In large part.

 

[Solid Samus]

Don't even see the point debating. The Sales numbers speak for themselves and will continue to do so.

The sales numbers don't say what you think they say. The sales numbers say what any reasonable person expected them to say. 3D Mario games don't singlehandedly sell shit tons of consoles nor do the bulk of their sales happen overnight as opposed to over time. Sheesh.

 

[timetokill]

Don't even see the point debating. The Sales numbers speak for themselves and will continue to do so.

NSMB Wii is one of the most innovative games of all time, you mean? Or that it's the best Mario game perhaps ever?

 

[Queen of Hunting]

paging reggie from geoff Keighley interview at e3.

we have mario we have zelda and smash bros we dont need anything else we dont need third party people will buy a nintendeo console for these games.

erm yea show me the receipts

 

[Nicktendo86]

Was Crash Bandicoot 2 a huge monumental leap forward from Crash Bandicoot 1? How about Assasins Creed 1 to AC 2? Because that is the difference between 3D Land and 3D World

Your really gonna try and tell me its as big of a leap as Super Mario Bros to Super Mario World? Or Super Mario World to Super Mario 64? or Super Mario 64 to Galaxy? REALLY?

Well for a start the gap from smb to smw isn't fair as we had smb3 in between which bridged the gap and introduced things like flight, a map screen, backwards scrolling etc.

Sw3dl was the first true 3d version of the classic 2d gameplay, formula and level progression and that was a pretty big innovation in the world of Mario to me. Sm3dw is the first console version of that kind of gameplay. Galaxy was just the sm64/SMS style of being plonked into a level and having to find the star. The thing that made it such an amazing game was it was very very very well executed, but a continuation of sm64/SMS nonetheless. They COULD have made smg3 but decided to make something different, which sm3dl and sm3dw are.

 

[greg400]

Yeah, I'm happy about low sales for this one. As a Nintendo fan, it's been disappointing to see them rely on so many direct sequels and remakes and straight up rehashes, especially with their main franchises that used to see innovation, ambition, and creativity.

While these sales are bad for Wii U, the platform is unhealthy anyway. I'm more concerned about what good sales for 3D Land Part II would've meant for Nintendo as a whole. Hopefully Nintendo will learn they need to take risks and release games that actually excite people again, rather than a few token sequels coupled with minigame collections.

Also, the continued line-up of Wii Fit expansion, Wii Party, Wii Sports Remake did little to support their multiplayer Mario game. The Wii Moms are gone for them. If this means Nintendo changes course, then I see the lower sales as one step back to take two steps forward.

This obviously relies on the specious assumption that Nintendo will actually take away the right lessons. They need to learn that they've alienated even their most hardcore supporters leading to lower sales than even Gamecube. They need to learn that their extremely conservative software strategy is doing more harm than good.

If they are willing to learn (or get new management that is), then maybe Nintendo can turn around their trajectory of complete irrelevance in the console market.

Have you played the game? Don't even know why I'm asking, I already know the answer.

 

[Christopher]

Yeah, I'm happy about low sales for this one. As a Nintendo fan, it's been disappointing to see them rely on so many direct sequels and remakes and straight up rehashes, especially with their main franchises that used to see innovation, ambition, and creativity.

While these sales are bad for Wii U, the platform is unhealthy anyway. I'm more concerned about what good sales for 3D Land Part II would've meant for Nintendo as a whole. Hopefully Nintendo will learn they need to take risks and release games that actually excite people again, rather than a few token sequels coupled with minigame collections.

Also, the continued line-up of Wii Fit expansion, Wii Party, Wii Sports Remake did little to support their multiplayer Mario game. The Wii Moms are gone for them. If this means Nintendo changes course, then I see the lower sales as one step back to take two steps forward.

This obviously relies on the specious assumption that Nintendo will actually take away the right lessons. They need to learn that they've alienated even their most hardcore supporters leading to lower sales than even Gamecube. They need to learn that their extremely conservative software strategy is doing more harm than good.

If they are willing to learn (or get new management that is), then maybe Nintendo can turn around their trajectory of complete irrelevance in the console market.

I actually fully agree with you

 

[R0ckman]

Keep in mind something that should have alarmed people about some of the dev teams happened earlier. Fire Emblem on 3DS did quite well because they did a lot with it. We then find out it was because the franchise was threatened to be killed off otherwise. So I have to ask Nintendo... Why the fuck are they not giving it their all in EVERY SINGLE PROJECT? Why do they need to be pushed into a corner to make a game that flies off shelves?

 

[timetokill]

It's sad, but we're literally seeing people revel in low sales for an incredible, ambitious, GOTY quality game. Incredible.

Keep in mind something that should have alarmed people about some of the dev teams happened earlier. Fire Emblem on 3DS did quite well because they did a lot with it. We then find out it was because the franchise was threatened to be killed off otherwise. So I have to ask Nintendo... Why the fuck are they not giving it their all in EVERY SINGLE PROJECT? Why do they need to be pushed into a corner to make a game that flies off shelves?

Wow, you're reading into that too much. Pretty much every interview has them saying they wanted to make the best game they could possibly make. It was threatened to be killed off if it didn't sell well, because that's what happens when games don't sell well.

I feel like I'm living in some bizarro-world where people are seeing games like Pikmin 3 and Super Mario 3D World and thinking, "oh they just phoned that one in." 3D world is bursting with creativity. It has the kind of creativity in single levels that other companies make full games out of.

The obsession with presentation over gameplay and design continues, I guess.

 

[ramparter]

Where is the install base for comparison? With those abysmal Wii U numbers it did really well.

 

[Nibel]

Yeah, I'm happy about low sales for this one. As a Nintendo fan, it's been disappointing to see them rely on so many direct sequels and remakes and straight up rehashes, especially with their main franchises that used to see innovation, ambition, and creativity.

While these sales are bad for Wii U, the platform is unhealthy anyway. I'm more concerned about what good sales for 3D Land Part II would've meant for Nintendo as a whole. Hopefully Nintendo will learn they need to take risks and release games that actually excite people again, rather than a few token sequels coupled with minigame collections.

Also, the continued line-up of Wii Fit expansion, Wii Party, Wii Sports Remake did little to support their multiplayer Mario game. The Wii Moms are gone for them. If this means Nintendo changes course, then I see the lower sales as one step back to take two steps forward.

This obviously relies on the specious assumption that Nintendo will actually take away the right lessons. They need to learn that they've alienated even their most hardcore supporters leading to lower sales than even Gamecube. They need to learn that their extremely conservative software strategy is doing more harm than good.

If they are willing to learn (or get new management that is), then maybe Nintendo can turn around their trajectory of complete irrelevance in the console market.

Holy crap, there are dozens of reviews - reviews from the media and reviews from users - which say this is just as ambitious as the Galaxy games and as creative

What a ignorant opinion, the problem isn't the game but your expectations

This whole mindset that the game lacks "ambition" is so baseless, man :lol

And being happy that a game this well received bombs tells a lot about you

 

[Gleethor]

I actually fully agree with you

You're both completely missing the mark if you think the problem is with SM3DW and not Wii U as a whole. The game is utterly fantastic.

 

[Solid Samus]

Holy crap, there are dozens of reviews - reviews from the media and reviews from users - which say this is just as ambitious as the Galaxy games and as creative

What a ignorant opinion, the problem isn't the game but your expectations

This whole mindset that the game lacks "ambition" is so baseless, man :lol

And being happy that a game this well received bombs tells a lot about you

Bolded for truth. Man, how people don't seem to get this is absolutely beyond me.

It's like I said though. Two of the greatest games of all time (now 3), no goodwill, no faith to let them do what they wish with the series. Sad man

 

[Mariolee]

Yeah, I'm happy about low sales for this one. As a Nintendo fan, it's been disappointing to see them rely on so many direct sequels and remakes and straight up rehashes, especially with their main franchises that used to see innovation, ambition, and creativity.

While these sales are bad for Wii U, the platform is unhealthy anyway. I'm more concerned about what good sales for 3D Land Part II would've meant for Nintendo as a whole. Hopefully Nintendo will learn they need to take risks and release games that actually excite people again, rather than a few token sequels coupled with minigame collections.

Also, the continued line-up of Wii Fit expansion, Wii Party, Wii Sports Remake did little to support their multiplayer Mario game. The Wii Moms are gone for them. If this means Nintendo changes course, then I see the lower sales as one step back to take two steps forward.

This obviously relies on the specious assumption that Nintendo will actually take away the right lessons. They need to learn that they've alienated even their most hardcore supporters leading to lower sales than even Gamecube. They need to learn that their extremely conservative software strategy is doing more harm than good.

If they are willing to learn (or get new management that is), then maybe Nintendo can turn around their trajectory of complete irrelevance in the console market.

Have you played the game?

 

[Nicktendo86]

It's sad, but we're literally seeing people revel in low sales for an incredible, GOTY quality game. Incredible.

I know, I can't really believe what I am reading. If people actualy REVEL in a perceived failure of a critically acclaimed game, what does that say about the industry?

 

[Sendou]

Holy crap, there are dozens of reviews - reviews from the media and reviews from users - which say this is just as ambitious as the Galaxy games and as creative

What a ignorant opinion, the problem isn't the game but your expectations

This whole mindset that the game lacks "ambition" is so baseless, man :lol

And being happy that a game this well received bombs tells a lot about you

Best part is starting a post like that with "As a Nintendo fan". That's the closest you can get to insulting when talking about these things.

 

[Silent_Ocarina]

I hope people realize that the low sales of Super Mario 3D World has more to do with the failures of the console as a whole rather than the quality of the game.

 

[Chindogg]

Was Crash Bandicoot 2 a huge monumental leap forward from Crash Bandicoot 1? How about Assasins Creed 1 to AC 2? Because that is the difference between 3D Land and 3D World

Your really gonna try and tell me its as big of a leap as Super Mario Bros to Super Mario World? Or Super Mario World to Super Mario 64? or Super Mario 64 to Galaxy? REALLY?

AC2 was lightyears more improved from AC1. Better AI, better weapon options, much improved combat, the villa improvements, removing a lot of the super tedious travelling. The difference in games are night and day.

 

[Loco4Coco]

Keep in mind something that should have alarmed people about some of the dev teams happened earlier. Fire Emblem on 3DS did quite well because they did a lot with it. We then find out it was because the franchise was threatened to be killed off otherwise. So I have to ask Nintendo... Why the fuck are they not giving it their all in EVERY SINGLE PROJECT? Why do they need to be pushed into a corner to make a game that flies off shelves?

Who said they're not? I think this is more of you being tired of Nintendo franchises not Nintendo "giving it their all".

 

[Darryl]

It's sad, but we're literally seeing people revel in low sales for an incredible, GOTY quality game. Incredible.

I can see why a lot of people would've been frustrated by Nintendo earlier at launch and earlier in the year because they thought they didn't get it anymore. Now we know the string of high quality releases on the 3DS wasn't a fluke. 3D World should've proved that they're on the ball as ever. I really don't know what some people want from them anymore. There's every bit of a reason to be excited about their games as there ever was.

 

[metalslimer]

I hope people realize that the low sales of Super Mario 3D World has more to do with the failures of the console as a whole rather than the quality of the game.

And that this game failing will not automatically make Nintendo get super creative (well even more so than they already are). Instead, they will probably just start shitting out 2d Mario game sequels for a quick buck. The only positive thing that may come from this is Nintendo hitting pause on the amount of Mario platfomer releases. If they aren't careful they could irreparably harm the IP.

 

[rpmurphy]

Keep in mind something that should have alarmed people about some of the dev teams happened earlier. Fire Emblem on 3DS did quite well because they did a lot with it. We then find out it was because the franchise was threatened to be killed off otherwise. So I have to ask Nintendo... Why the fuck are they not giving it their all in EVERY SINGLE PROJECT? Why do they need to be pushed into a corner to make a game that flies off shelves?

Fire Emblem had some great production values, but in the end, gameplay was utterly broken with the pairing system and there was nothing else that really changed the formula. It pushed a stronger appeal towards the otaku audience with the strong moe character designs and personalities. If Mario or other Nintendo franchises go in the same direction as Fire Emblem to acquire the purchase power of older demographics, I think it will be detrimental to Nintendo in the long run and to the game market as a whole.

 

[Glorified G]

What?

Nintendo Land
NSMBU/NSLU
ZombiU
Lego City
Monster Hunter 3 U
Pikmin 3
Wonderful 101
Wind Waker HD
Rayman Legends (Definitive version)
Super Mario 3D World
Wii ____ U

2014 and later announced:
DKC Tropical Freeze
Mario Kart 8
Super Smash Bros.
X
Bayonetta 2
Yarn Yoshi
FE x SMT
Zelda U

+ Wii U VC
+ Wii VC and BC
+ CoD, Batman, AssCreed, Watch Dogs, Project Cars, NFS:MWU (definitive console version), Deus Ex, etc.

You didn't disprove his point. Yes, for a hardcore Nintendo fan that feels obligated to buy every single game published by Nintendo in a year, software is not an issue. But for most people if you take a list of 7-10 games each year that are pretty different across the board (genre specifically) only a handful is going to appeal to them.

Buying a system for a few games a year is not an investment worth having for most people.

And Legends is definitive on the Wii U if your interested in co op. Otherwise you can make the argument that the ps360 is better. Being forced to touchscreen controls in the SP and away from actually platforming is not ideal imo.

 

[Steve Youngblood]

Mario Kart Wii is a statistical anomaly. We have Mario Kart 7's far inferior sales numbers to back that up. Using MKW as a reference point is like expecting Wii Sports Club--a remake of the best selling game of all time--to have any kind of meaningful impact on the Wii U.

I really feel like we're not getting anywhere here. Even throwing out potentially anomalous data, we can conclude that Smash is at best about as big as some of Nintendo's other big franchises like Mario and Mario Kart. Great, we're in agreement. My point is that if after two years of lackluster sales where Nintendo's biggest titles haven't yet succeeded, I think we can probably call it. The only reason I allow for some possibility for Mario Kart is simply because we've seen that it can be a breakout hit, though obviously it isn't always. But as far as I'm concerned, we can conclude that the Wii U is in some serious trouble now.

Any reservations that we need to wait until Mario Kart comes out this spring is just to exercise a little more patience and I'm giving the benefit of the doubt that maybe some of those 35 million Wii Kart owners might be excited for more Mario Kart on the big screen. However, I'm personally not expecting it to move mountains.

 

[Biker19]

None of the changes that Sony made for the PS4 is going to make it significantly different from its predecessor except perhaps better software support. The only new thing, and the thing that the general audience is going to see, is the marginal improvement in graphics. The same "gimmick" that traditional consoles have relied on since the begging of time.

Going from Sub-HD & Native 720p to Native 900p & Native 1080p is marginal?

 

[greg400]

You didn't disprove his point. Yes, for a hardcore Nintendo fan that feels obligated to buy every single game published by Nintendo in a year, software is not an issue. But for most people if you take a list of 7-10 games each year that are pretty different across the board (genre specifically) only a handful is going to appeal to them.

Buying a system for a few games a year is not an investment worth having for most people.

And Legends is definitive on the Wii U if your interested in co op. Otherwise you can make the argument that the ps360 is better. Being forced to touchscreen controls in the SP and away from actually platforming is not ideal imo.

I'm not about to repeat what was already stated, go back and read beyond that post.

 

[Sendou]

Going from Sub-HD & Native 720p to Native 900p & Native 1080p is marginal?

"the general audience is going to see"

Yeah that's probably it.

 

[Shaanyboi]

Don't play "gotcha" games with me. You know exactly what i'm talking about.

3D world isn't a monumental leap forward its just repeating what Nintendo has been doing with NSMB fused with the aesthetics and level design of Mario 3D Land on the 3DS. There is a reason why its even scoring lower than the Galaxy games.

a whopping 3-points difference

I mean why does it even exist if it's only going to get 94? Should've fired whoever thought it up.

 

[Einbroch]

Even as someone who thought the reveal looked like hot garbage, after reading reviews and impressions, this news saddens me.

The game truly looks great.

 

[strangedopamine]

Where is the install base for comparison? With those abysmal Wii U numbers it did really well.

Wii U LTD: 1,173,014
3D World: 106,967
Attach: 9.12%

GameCube [Week 45 (SMS Release)]: 1,453,421
Sunshine: 280,610
Attach: 19.31%

 

[PhantomR]

Iwata is not very happy, that's for sure.

I think a lot of Nintendo employees choose to be oblivious to Wii U sales figures...for good reason. It's very easy to get disheartened (or worried about your job security) with such underwhelming sales.

You're stretchng it....considerably.

You're projecting pretty hardcore here.

 

[Tom Nook Sawyer]

Any reservations that we need to wait until Mario Kart comes out this spring is just to exercise a little more patience and I'm giving the benefit of the doubt that maybe some of those 35 million Wii Kart owners might be excited for more Mario Kart on the big screen. However, I'm personally not expecting it to move mountains.

Fair enough. But by the same token, Smash could be the breakout hit this generation, much as it took Mario Kart 6 games for it to grow to those numbers (though obviously it'd have to be on a smaller-scale given the Wii U's existing install base).

At any rate, you're right that the Wii U's fate may not be set, but I don't think any one game will be enough to turn its fortunes. The main problem is I don't think Nintendo alone can make enough games themselves to turn this ship around.

 

[Riki]

Yeah, I'm happy about low sales for this one. As a Nintendo fan, it's been disappointing to see them rely on so many direct sequels and remakes and straight up rehashes, especially with their main franchises that used to see innovation, ambition, and creativity.

While these sales are bad for Wii U, the platform is unhealthy anyway. I'm more concerned about what good sales for 3D Land Part II would've meant for Nintendo as a whole. Hopefully Nintendo will learn they need to take risks and release games that actually excite people again, rather than a few token sequels coupled with minigame collections.

Also, the continued line-up of Wii Fit expansion, Wii Party, Wii Sports Remake did little to support their multiplayer Mario game. The Wii Moms are gone for them. If this means Nintendo changes course, then I see the lower sales as one step back to take two steps forward.

This obviously relies on the specious assumption that Nintendo will actually take away the right lessons. They need to learn that they've alienated even their most hardcore supporters leading to lower sales than even Gamecube. They need to learn that their extremely conservative software strategy is doing more harm than good.

If they are willing to learn (or get new management that is), then maybe Nintendo can turn around their trajectory of complete irrelevance in the console market.

wat

 

[Freezie KO]

What a ignorant opinion, the problem isn't the game but your expectations

Wii U - Check Your Expectations at the Door

Doesn't make a good marketing slogan, does it? It's not my job as a consumer to get excited by whatever Nintendo puts out. It's their job to excite me. And there's a big problem right now if even a Wii U owner who posts on NeoGAF with a username from a Nintendo game can't be excited about their big holiday title.

And being happy that a game this well received bombs tells a lot about you

That I care more about the future of Nintendo games than a week of Media Create numbers?

--

Have you played the game?

I've been following videos and posts about the game quite a lot. I played 3D Land to full completion, and I've been playing Mario games my entire life. I feel very qualified to judge what I'm seeing and how it plays.

That said, I've been traveling for Thanksgiving. I considered passing on 3D World, but now that they delayed Donkey Kong, I'll end up getting it when I get home. I'm sure you're anxious for my impressions.

 

[Tookay]

Yeah, I'm happy about low sales for this one. As a Nintendo fan, it's been disappointing to see them rely on so many direct sequels and remakes and straight up rehashes, especially with their main franchises that used to see innovation, ambition, and creativity.

While these sales are bad for Wii U, the platform is unhealthy anyway. I'm more concerned about what good sales for 3D Land Part II would've meant for Nintendo as a whole. Hopefully Nintendo will learn they need to take risks and release games that actually excite people again, rather than a few token sequels coupled with minigame collections.

Also, the continued line-up of Wii Fit expansion, Wii Party, Wii Sports Remake did little to support their multiplayer Mario game. The Wii Moms are gone for them. If this means Nintendo changes course, then I see the lower sales as one step back to take two steps forward.

This obviously relies on the specious assumption that Nintendo will actually take away the right lessons. They need to learn that they've alienated even their most hardcore supporters leading to lower sales than even Gamecube. They need to learn that their extremely conservative software strategy is doing more harm than good.

If they are willing to learn (or get new management that is), then maybe Nintendo can turn around their trajectory of complete irrelevance in the console market.

And that's the thing. I'm not sure they have learned the right lessons from the Wii or from the 3DS, so I wouldn't be confident in their ability to learn anything from their failures here.

 

[GulAtiCa]

I've been following videos and posts about the game quite a lot. I played 3D Land to full completion, and I've been playing Mario games my entire life. I feel very qualified to judge what I'm seeing and how it plays.

..... So your saying you are basing all your judgment on videos and have not played any of it yourself?....

 

[strangedopamine]

I've been following videos and posts about the game quite a lot. I played 3D Land to full completion, and I've been playing Mario games my entire life. I feel very qualified to judge what I'm seeing and how it plays.

That said, I've been traveling for Thanksgiving. I considered passing on 3D World, but now that they delayed Donkey Kong, I'll end up getting it when I get home. I'm sure you're anxious for my impressions.

You really shouldn't be giving opinions on a game without playing it.

 

[cajunator]

Nintendo will always make good mario games. This game didnt sell because nobody in Japan has a wiiU. Its one of the best Mario games to date.

 

[marc^o^]

And that this game failing will not automatically make Nintendo get super creative (well even more so than they already are). Instead, they will probably just start shitting out 2d Mario game sequels for a quick buck. The only positive thing that may come from this is Nintendo hitting pause on the amount of Mario platfomer releases. If they aren't careful they could irreparably harm the IP.

I don't know what's the craziest thing in this post. The idea it's failing after 2 days of decent sales in Japan, the FUD regarding EAD's creativity, or the fact a monumental, critically acclaimed game everyone loves beyond reason, could harm the IP. Now that was quite something!

 

[JoeM86]

And that this game failing will not automatically make Nintendo get super creative (well even more so than they already are). Instead, they will probably just start shitting out 2d Mario game sequels for a quick buck. The only positive thing that may come from this is Nintendo hitting pause on the amount of Mario platfomer releases. If they aren't careful they could irreparably harm the IP.

Nintendo have been taking the stance of one per console for them anyway. I fail to see why people suddenly think they're churning them out.

 

[Solid Samus]

You really shouldn't be giving opinions on a game without playing it.

Makes it kind of hard to determine whether or not you'd like to purchase a game if you hold to not having an opinion before you play it don't you think

 

[Freezie KO]

You really shouldn't be giving opinions on a game without playing it.

I'm sure when I play it, the game will suddenly cease to be a direct sequel to 3D World. My playing the game will magically imbue the game with a sense of not being based on the mechanics of the 3DS game, though even the positive reviews state that to be the case.

 

[Glorified G]

I'm not about to repeat what was already stated, go back and read beyond that post.

I already did. You still didn't disprove his post. The Wii U library is small. For most people for such a small library that relies on first party support every year only a few of those games are going to appeal to most people regardless how diverse the lineup is.

By listing off 7-10 first party games for this year and next just reinforces his/her point.

 

[MagiusNecros]

Guys. It hasn't even been out a week. The holiday season hasn't occurred yet and the Wii U install base isn't big at all. Settle down. Not to mention it is focusing on Japan only sales. Come on now.

 

[Aquamarine]

You're stretchng it....considerably.

You're projecting pretty hardcore here.

I was talking about domestic employees.

But whatever.

 

[Magicpaint]

Can someone tell me exactly what was that ambitious with Galaxy? I mean Galaxy 2 is my favorite of all time, but what did Galaxy do that was so mindblowing? It had amazing level design and it seems 3D World does too. I think 4 player 3d mario is bigger than any innovation that came out of Galaxy.

It brought in a brand new aesthetic to the franchise. The gravity mechanics changed many of the rules of 3D platforming and how you approach each level that incorporated them and the soundtrack was absolutely fresh and bold. It's no Super Mario 64, but it's clear that with Galaxy they were being bold and creative. The same rings true with Sunshine too. 3D World is more like a 3D Land sequel.

 

[Barack Lesnar]

It basically all comes down to Mario Kart. I seriously think they're done if MK doesn't revitalize sales. That would be the end of their traditional console platform. It sounds weird saying it's all up to one game but think about it... they'd either have to discontinue the Wii U and launch a new console as soon as possible or just end their console division altogether -- the sales are that bad.

 

[Mariolee]

I've been following videos and posts about the game quite a lot. I played 3D Land to full completion, and I've been playing Mario games my entire life. I feel very qualified to judge what I'm seeing and how it plays.

That said, I've been traveling for Thanksgiving. I considered passing on 3D World, but now that they delayed Donkey Kong, I'll end up getting it when I get home. I'm sure you're anxious for my impressions.

That's a pretty long winded way to say, no. I would say check your opinions at the door until you've played the game. Hopefully you haven't spoiled yourself too much since part of the fun of 3D World are the surprises.

 

[Captain Chaos]

I'd say that's as many good games as N64 or Gamecube ended up having.

Sure, you're entitled to your opinion but to me that's a ridiculous statement to make.

 

[Sergiepoo]

Going from Sub-HD & Native 720p to Native 900p & Native 1080p is marginal?

I think it is, but then again I thought the the leap last generation wasn't that big of difference either. If most game journalists and even some hardcore gamers here can't tell the difference, the general public certainly won't.

Regardless, I don't think the degree of the graphical leap matters all that much more than the issue that Sony and MS are once again depending on pure hardware strength to sell their consoles. The Wii proved that you can sell a console on more than just graphics, and the fact that neither Sony or MS took this into consideration this generation is pretty frightening. It shows just how forgetful and short-sighted the industry is.