PixlBit

I wish I could say that the fact that I haven't been writing much is that I'm having a thrilling adventure, living life to the fullest, and feeling at the top of my game... but that would be a lie. A really great lie that I would gladly trade my current standing, but a lie nevertheless. I've hit rock bottom, at least from a personal standing. Yesterday, after coming home from a rough night at my 3^rd shift job, then having a hard time sleeping in the day, and finally just plain being a really cranky ass to myself and others, I kind of found it hard to be happy about anything really.

Except for a new Super Mario 3D World trailer. Actually that was the better parts of yesterday. Sure the Nintendo Direct from yesterday had a lot of things to be happy about but some how two minutes and forty two seconds worth of game play is what I really enjoyed. I enjoyed it enough to watch it at least eight times already and possibly more. The real question is why and how is this different from its 2011 counter part besides replacing a moniker?

The following statement, and first reason why this game makes my day, is incredibly oblivious and redundant to every Mario game but still bares repeating: the music is amazing. Its really hard to name a Mario game that doesn't feature great music (and the CD-i and PC games DON'T count) but there's something about 3D World's music that I really dig. Probably its continuing trend of the Japanese ska-like arrangements from 3D Land that I love. Its that weird perfect mix of atypical Mario music as well as unusual music. Its gives the 3D series of Mario games its own feel. Sure there are plenty of musical influences from Galaxy and the New Super Mario series and their will always be those classical songs that are present in every Mario game, but I'll be damed if 3D's ska filled goodness doesn't help unwrinkled my face in a dopey grin any day.

Another small yet noticeable thing that made me fall in love with 3D World was more game play from the other playable characters, specifically Peach. Its not really her game play that I noticed, anyone who has played Doki Doki Pan....er Super Mario 2 knows how she handles. What I really was noticing was the fact that she's playable in the first place. Its been a long time since Peach has been in a Mario game and her first playable appearance in a 3D one. Considering the backlash to her along with the long standing damsel in distress motif that's been heavily criticized this year, you would think Nintendo would shy away from including her. After all, her first solo adventure game wasn't greeted with open arms either. So its nice to see her back again instead of another Toad like in NSMB Wii and Wii U. Does this finally put the nail in the coffin for the DiD trope? No, a new princess gets taken in the new trailers...at least I think its a princess. But at least is a start to keep Peach at a regular character instead of always being on the sidelines.

Before I go on any further, can we stop and talk about how beautiful the game art style is? No not the graphics, they are very great gorgeous though. However, the game would not be like that if it not for its art style. A strange hybridization of old Mario atheistic to new age design. One of the small things I noticed and loved in 3D Land, and happy its making its return in 3D World, is the 2D art. They look like the original artwork for Super Mario 3, its so kitsch but in a good way. Contrasting the art design, we have the amazing 3D design which looks like anime version of Super Mario. Actually, the game really does look like the one of the Super Mario anime that was officially produced around the time of Super Mario 3 except without the Japanese folklore undertones.... and Mario shooting a gun.

My real reason for liking 3D World is a lot simpler though than the previous three reasons. Super Mario 3D World just looks like a really fun game. Super Mario 3D World is just that, a game. For all of the over complications we give video games, there are just times where I'm thankful gaming is made for gaming. I do like critical analysis of media and I have a related field in media studies. I enjoy competing in fighting games, understanding their complex mechanisms behind them, and writing about those unnoticed elements. In short, I love breaking down media and thinking about their impact in the world. But, its a tiring and grating practice at times especially when people (myself included) over think things to outlandish proportions. So I enjoy games that are made for gaming a lot because its fun for fun stake. Not everything needs a deep and complex rationale to be a game nor ultra violence to drive its point home. A lot of Nintendo games do this and its both a good and bad thing. However, I just appreciate that 3D World exists as a game that anyone could possibly have fun with. It something so stupidly simple that we often miss over our discourses over the median but its one that we should always keep in mind.

I should mention here at the end that ironically I don't have a Wii U nor I plan or buying one in the foreseeable future soon. I have much more pressing financial matters to attend to: bills, saving up for a new laptop, transportation issues, buying Darkstalkers graphic T-Shirts...OK, so that last one is rather debatable but you get my point. I can't hide from reality forever and my reality kind of sucks. So does Nintendo's reality too with everyone and their grandma foreseeing their enable demise thanks to the lackluster sales with the Wii U. Let's be honest here; despite how great Super Mario 3D World looks, its not going to be the system seller everyone is hyping it up to be. But you know what? Who cares? All I know is, I'm going to get that game someday because it looks like fun. And knowing that games that still about fun exist in a overcomplicated at times gaming world, makes my day no matter how crappy it is.