Yes but I think the hype isn't that high. One of the greatest things about SM64 was that it has the weight of an entire console on it's shoulders. It was previewed and talked about endlessly. But until you played it you had no idea where video games were headed. One you knew you couldn't let go. It is the lack of that expierience as much as anything that held back Sunshine.

Sometimes I think that Nintendo is playing it too cool with their big games. Imagine the promotion MS would be doing if it were there game. That would be a level of hype that was be hard to meet.

Err sorry, Im just over excited. Yes its just my opinion and I never pretended otherwise.

Heres to hoping 1UP goes bankrupt before they get a chance to review the game XD

Personally I think it probably will live up to the hype, of course there is always the possibility that for some reason it is shit but from all the previews I doubt it.

As far as worrying about what a reviewer is gonna score the game, I don't pay attention to that stuff anymore. Review scores are all BS anyways. If you are going to listen to somebody you don't even know for advice on which games you will like at least ignore the score and just read the review.

Anyways, I have to agree that considering how little effort Nintendo has put into hyping the game so far its pretty impressive how much hype there already is. With that in mind, if/when they do start to hype the game it could get out of hand. So if the question is can it live up to the current hype? Well then I think most certainly. But I don't know what Nintendo has planned so I don't know about future hype.

What I can tell you is that casual gamers who practically never play video games are interested in the game. My example is anecdotal, and thus admittedly non-conclusive, but when my mom calls me specifically to ask "When is that new Space Mario Game coming out?" well that surprises me. For a bit of background info I did show her the videos from E3 if I remember correctly, back in mid-late July.

Now the reason this is interesting is because a 2 minute video impressing on someone who is less than a "casual gamer" enough for them to not only remember it but be interested enough to ask some 2+ months later is quite impressive. And while I won't be able to show the video to every casual gamer I think a similar effect can be generated by a well targeted ad campaign that taps into the nostalgia of Mario. And I don't see why Nintendo wouldn't do a nostalgia based ad campaign for Mario as it really is associated with fond memories for millions of people and a lot of those people don't play many (or any) games anymore.

Personally all it took for me to fall in love with it is just seeing it in motion...From that moment i knew without a doubt that this would be something special..If there was a game more than any other that had a chance of making me say "this reminds me of why i love videogames" this is it...so the answer to the question is yes..absolutely..

What type of thread is this? Its mario..

I don't think I've been this excited about a game since Mario 3 when I was 11. Halo 3's hype can't even compare to that game back then. :)

I still don't get people that say that.

a) It was significantly longer than the original Super Mario Bros

b) If you wanted to finish it PROPERLY - Coin complete - there was a LOT of gameplay in there. It took me several months of regular game time to properly complete it. 

...

Sure if you ran through the levels as quick as you could, skipped all the bonus worlds - you could "reach the finish" very quickly.

Did people do the same in Mario 64, or actually try and get all the stars? 

Maybe Nintendo should have made a "100 coin" entrance fee to the last level - or added multiple endings. I was a bit sad that once you coin completed the game (and bought everything) it didn't unlock anything cool. Another ending or special level would have been perfect.

Aye, I only got a 2 star ending for NSMB(All levels/exits, not all coins), but my friend had got all the coins so I did the mass purchase to get all 3 stars, hoping for a new level. Nope, nada.

Was actually pretty long in comparison, and quite fun for it. Just wasn't Mario 64 limited.

 Woot?!? Standing on top of the castle with Yoshi wasn't cool? And you let people call you a fanboy?