Unpopular opinions about the Mario series

Mario should never focus on story as it has no real storytelling potential that hasn't already been done before and no doubt done better by other games.
 
Speaking for the community as a whole I believe that story isn't essential on the most part and N can make perfectly great games without one but if they do it well it can give a HUGE boost
 
Varian said:
I wouldn't call story in a Mario game a bad thing, it can certainly help the experience. But I don't think Mario particularly needs one either, it's the gameplay that truly matters.
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It could also bore you with how uninteresting it would most likely be. Mario has no real story potential and with how dime a dozen plots in video games are these days, I see no reason for them to bother other than to satisfy a very small group of people who are clearly asking for the wrong things of this franchise.
 
Mcmadness said:
It could also bore you with how uninteresting it would most likely be. Mario has no real story potential and with how dime a dozen plots in video games are these days, I see no reason for them to bother other than to satisfy a very small group of people who are clearly asking for the wrong things of this franchise.
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I mean that's true. I myself wasn't a fan of SPM's story and setting, and I don't think that's the direction a potential Mario story should take.
 
I still say that the majority who are opposed to Mario having a story haven't found that one game that really resonated with them (in that area) yet. Me, I've found several, and the ones without the story have become less interesting in comparison since I did. You're free to not care for the stories the Mario universe can provide, but at least let the RPGs have them. And even if not directly having a story, it would be nice if the other games at least made nods to the story-driven ones like they do with other spinoffs like Mario Kart. The worst part of having detailed stories in the RPGs is knowing the rest of the series will give fuck-all about it and act like it never happened.
 
I bet you they have, I know I have. And it's not a Mario game.
 
I was referring to within the Mario series. Just because other series do it more often, or Mario usually doesn't bother with it, doesn't mean the series is fundamentally incapable of it, and even if you don't find the ones they've done special, that doesn't invalidate people who do. And believe me I've seen stories in other mediums that are great, but they don't really dull the shine of the Mario stories to me because they're like apples and oranges.
 
It does however when talking about whether or not a series largely known for not having them should even bother, and if what can do is not all that great then the answer to that is a very clear no.

And it can barely even be called just an opinion because I guarantee I can point to any Mario plot and point at something else that was practically just like it, even down to the goofy cartoonish characters.
 
Mario's strengths are in its episodic little character interactions chapter-by-chapter than something overarching imo. I remember Vivian's kerfuffle or Shy Guys robbing Toad Town much more than...Sir Grodus and the ancient map. Even Paper Mario 64 didn't have a gigantic grand story, it was literally a time Bowser beat Mario with the star rod and lifted Peach to the sky, that was really it if I recall correctly.

Super Paper Mario was something I felt was taken far too far in the dramatic fanfiction direction complete with all the RPG cliches and it didn't even feel like an official Mario product at points. At least with something like Partners in Time, that's something I can imagine happening in, say, a Mario cartoon. Certainly not Super Paper Mario.

Count Bleck With Claws said:
I still say that the majority who are opposed to Mario having a story haven't found that one game that really resonated with them (in that area) yet. Me, I've found several, and the ones without the story have become less interesting in comparison since I did. You're free to not care for the stories the Mario universe can provide, but at least let the RPGs have them. And even if not directly having a story, it would be nice if the other games at least made nods to the story-driven ones like they do with other spinoffs like Mario Kart. The worst part of having detailed stories in the RPGs is knowing the rest of the series will give fuck-all about it and act like it never happened.
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Speaking for myself, I've not been impressed by story in Mario games because I've read and experienced products (books, movies, video games) with far better storytelling potential than Mario that better resonated with me because of their handling of themes and character personalities deeper than Mario could. Like, for example, Tales of Symphonia had xenophobia and a world imbalance and prophecies that ended up hurting the protagonists, without giving too much away about its plot.

Some games simply don't need a story. Mario Kart has done fine without it (although it could use better single player content and that potentially include a potential throw-away story). Same with most Mario Sports titles. Would it have been cool with a throwaway story? Maybe. Is it essential? No.
 
I'd say a story, or at least a focus on one, helps with the RPGs because it helps alleviate the typical monotony turn-based RPGs have. The main series probably doesn't need it but Super Mario Odyssey's final act was great and I'd appreciate more of that.
 
Pokerninja2 said:
If they're gonna add Yamamura do it like R.O.B. in Mario Kart DS where he doesn't touch the steering wheel. Just make him a tiny ass bird who just sits in the kart's seat as it magically propels itself forward.
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Great idea. It'll be a great idea for a unique looking character. Not like another baby or metal character (barring Rusty Copper Luigi). I also am wanting a kart controlled by three Mini-Marios too, that's not a thing done in any Mario Kart game.

Varian said:
I wouldn't call story in a Mario game a bad thing, it can certainly help the experience. But I don't think Mario particularly needs one either, it's the gameplay that truly matters.
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It can help but it's always going to have a tradeoff. You can't just slap a stupid incoherent story and expect it to work. It has to mesh well with the overall theme of the game. I find that Super Paper Mario's story clashes with its theme rather than complements it.

It's clear in Mario series, the gameplay already takes a priority. In Nintendo Directs, they always talk about gameplay first, never about what kind of story a game will have.

Mr. Mr. Prosecutor Grubba said:
Speaking for the community as a whole I believe that story isn't essential on the most part and N can make perfectly great games without one but if they do it well it can give a HUGE boost
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Story isn't essential, that's true. You have to take in the framework of a game to figure out if a story is necessary. In Mario's case, it's not.

Count Bleck With Claws said:
I still say that the majority who are opposed to Mario having a story haven't found that one game that really resonated with them (in that area) yet. Me, I've found several, and the ones without the story have become less interesting in comparison since I did. You're free to not care for the stories the Mario universe can provide, but at least let the RPGs have them. And even if not directly having a story, it would be nice if the other games at least made nods to the story-driven ones like they do with other spinoffs like Mario Kart. The worst part of having detailed stories in the RPGs is knowing the rest of the series will give fuck-all about it and act like it never happened.
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I've had stories that resonated with me. DDR Mario Mix. Mario Tennis Aces. Mario Party 7. Mario Party DS. They're silly, stupid stories that fit well enough for what kind of setting we're dealing with. It'll be nice if RPGs had a bit of a story going along but it'll work better if they're stupid rather than whatever the mess that was Super Paper Mario's story.

The Mario series would benefit for having nods from other games not just the MaRPGs. The sources they take from are limited to just a few games and that just irritates me we're not getting much heads-up on not just Mario & Luigi, but Wrecking Crew, Super Mario Bros. 2., and Yoshi Safari. It'll be cool if we got tracks based on those games, not another generic track like Cheep Cheep Lagoon or Water Park (seriously is that the best name they can come with that one??).

Pokerninja2 said:
I'd say a story, or at least a focus on one, helps with the RPGs because it helps alleviate the typical monotony turn-based RPGs have. The main series probably doesn't need it but Super Mario Odyssey's final act was great and I'd appreciate more of that.
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I think there are many turn-based RPGs with a scrap of a story and they work fine, maybe some critically acclaimed stuff.
 
Eh, the Pokemon games I've played don't put much emphasis on story (Ruby and SoulSilver) and still had an addicting gameplay loop.
 
somebody once told me the story doesn't matter
and that gameplay where it is at
he was looking kind of swag with a Bowser avatar
in the shape of a square on the left side

well, the games start coming and they dont stop coming
fed to the wii and i loved paper mario
didnt make sense just to play for fun
your thumbs get smart but your heart gets dumb
so much to play so much to do
so whats wrong with liking the plotlines
youll never like if you dont love
youll never play if you dont feel

hey now youre a gamer, get the game on, go play
hey now you love story, plot, and originality
bowsers gettin kind of old
only cool new villains break the mould

it was a cool place down in flipside, but then it got warmer
the rpgs were cool till the series got older
but the new spd beg to differ
judging by the toads in the modern pms
my temper fuse is getting pretty thin
fawful seems gone so im going for a swim
what i loves on fire, how about yours?
storys the way i like it and i never get bored

hey now, i love story, when the games on, so cool
hey now, im a gamer, and count blecks my fav
new characters are dope
only truly lovers touch my heart



hey now, it's not just gameplay, cause the plotline counts too
hey now theres a fanbase for all sorts of cool plots
and all that glitters is lore
maybe marpgs will get them back
 
*shrek busts out of the outhouse*
 
if there's a marpg where mario gets to talk in full sentences the entire time


i take back every sort of garbage i said about the story and i will say story matters better than gameplay at every turn
 
Striker Mario said:
The Mario series would benefit for having nods from other games not just the MaRPGs. The sources they take from are limited to just a few games and that just irritates me we're not getting much heads-up on not just Mario & Luigi, but Wrecking Crew, Super Mario Bros. 2., and Yoshi Safari. It'll be cool if we got tracks based on those games, not another generic track like Cheep Cheep Lagoon or Water Park (seriously is that the best name they can come with that one??).
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I'd kill for some Super Mario Land throwbacks too
 
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I will offer a sacrificial Batadon to the altar composed of Kaitensuru Honō.
 
Mr. Mr. Prosecutor Grubba said:
somebody once told me the story doesn't matter
and that gameplay where it is at
he was looking kind of swag with a Bowser avatar
in the shape of a square on the left side

well, the games start coming and they dont stop coming
fed to the wii and i loved paper mario
didnt make sense just to play for fun
your thumbs get smart but your heart gets dumb
so much to play so much to do
so whats wrong with liking the plotlines
youll never like if you dont love
youll never play if you dont feel

hey now youre a gamer, get the game on, go play
hey now you love story, plot, and originality
bowsers gettin kind of old
only cool new villains break the mould

it was a cool place down in flipside, but then it got warmer
the rpgs were cool till the series got older
but the new spd beg to differ
judging by the toads in the modern pms
my temper fuse is getting pretty thin
fawful seems gone so im going for a swim
what i loves on fire, how about yours?
storys the way i like it and i never get bored

hey now, i love story, when the games on, so cool
hey now, im a gamer, and count blecks my fav
new characters are dope
only truly lovers touch my heart



hey now, it's not just gameplay, cause the plotline counts too
hey now theres a fanbase for all sorts of cool plots
and all that glitters is lore
maybe marpgs will get them back
Click to expand...
This was painful to read.
 
It's just All-Star but with lyrics that don't flow quite as good. Not the worst thing I've read all things considered.
 
AAAAAAAAAAA-AAAAAAA HOLY SHIT!!! AND WE'LL ALWAYS LOOOOOOVEEE YOUUUU!!!! I can't believe you did this to me goddamnit how could you do this to me?!?
 
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