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DeguelloNWR on 05 January 2008
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Famine said:
DeguelloNWR said:

If a picture can tell a thousand words, one might argue that Mario Galaxy's Gameplay IS its Story, as a moving interactive picture. For many simple and complex minds, this is sufficient, especially when those visuals are as creative and vivis as Mario Galaxy's. If Mr. Barlog wish to be lead like a sheep through his entertainment, well, that is reflected in his method of storytelling, no?

And remind me, Famine, to tell your future boyfriend/girlfriend that being kidnapped would not be a sufficient enough reason to attempt to rescue him/her. I'm sure that would go over like salmon pancakes.


Talk about being philosophical. Too much analysis and emphasis where it isn't warranted. The story is about Mario rescuing Princess Peach, which is something that has been repeated: Same hero, same damsel in distress, same head villain. Again, your post too is about the gameplay, and if that's the case, well then you and Mr. Barlog are in complete concurrence.

Regarding your last point, yeah, because my earlier posts are geared toward real-life situations.

Remind me when you slaughter your family and come back from the brink of hell that revenge isn't really too virtuous.


You, like Mr. Barlog are having the same misconception. You are simply looking at the beginning and end without see the MIDDLE.

Super Mario Bros: Bowser Kidnaps Princess Peach and takes her to his castle, through the various worlds of the mushroom kingdom, until he finally reaches Bowser's Castle, does battle, and is victorious.

Super Mario Galaxy: Bowser attacks a star festival, kidnaps Princess Peach by lifting her castle into OUTER SPACE and banishing Mario to a small planet. After restoring a ship's galactic traveling power, he attempts to rescue Princess Peach by going to the Center of the universe and tossing Bowser into the sun. He is victorious.

These are quite different, as anybody can clearly see. Simply because they have the same bread on one end and the other, doesn't mean the sandwich is the same. A grilled cheese sandwich is not a peanut butter sandwich. I am not in agreement with Mr. Barlog, as I see gameplay and story vitally connected. What the player does in the game is its story. The desperate attempts to make that jump, the frustration of repeated defeat at the hands of a boss. All you really need there is an interesting concept, like jumping between planets, and you're good to go.

Does it really bother you than it's the same person being rescued and the same villian fought?  Would the game have been better if it were exactly the same, but those two names are different?  Isn't that kind of shallow? 

And my last point was not towards anything in your real life situations. You asked why was Mario doing what he's doing, and the answer is simple. Bowser kidnapped her, and he is thus motivated to rescue her. If that's not sufficient, maybe he could brood about it for an hour before he starts. I'd hope being kidnapped would be sufficient to receive help, and across the globe it is universally accepted to do so. But Revenge is not so universal, particularly for its basic selfish drive.