General Mario Thread

I feel like Super Mario 64 Quantum Physics should be a legitimate field of study.

Pannenkoek should get government grants for his research.

Maybe it's just me, but I haven't heard about any retroactive backlash against Galaxy.

Neither have I, quite honestly.

Some people hate all things "linear" and bash Galaxy for that reason.

Stryder at it again with the amazing videos and amazing titles.

Ahahaha, that Mario/Peach abomination a 8:10 is amazing.

"Naturally the character has dissapwuh?"

I'm sorry to change the subject, but has anyone else noticed that Super Mario Galaxy is full of Biblical motifs? It's like a big Mario-fied mishmash of the Gospels and Revelation.

Take the intro, for example: a great big shiny star appears over Peach's castle, where Peach just so happens to be cradling a baby in her arms. Shortly thereafter, we learn that this baby's "mama" is an ethereal cosmic being that kinda sorta created the universe (because she nurtures the Lumas until they become planets and other astral bodies).

In the end, these things happen:

1. Bowser—who, not for nothing, is a fiery horned guy—is defeated, but not before his Galaxy Generator corrupts the universe to the point of collapse.

2. Everyone is going to die, but the Baby Luma willingly sacrifices itself to save them.

3. Rosalina—who appears first as a giant floating in a realm of light and then as a voice from the heavens—creates a happy, peaceful new universe where all the characters reawaken, safe and sound.

I mean, I realize that in the Bible, those two things don't happen back-to-back (Jesus's sacrifice and God establishing his Kingdom on Earth, After the End). I also realize that there are few Christians in Japan. But there's no way these similarities are unintentional, right?

When I found out that Super Mario Galaxy 2 is mostly comprised of ideas that were cut from the first game, it strengthened my theory, because Mario—and the Baby Luma, who lives inside him—actually pick up traveling companions in all the places they visit. In other words, disciples.

I'm not crazy, right? There's definitely something here?

If it's Revelation, who are the four horsemen of the apocalypse?

Bouldergeist...

Kingfin...

Firey Dino Piranha

Megaleg...

x2 Xander, Leo, Peri, and Silas.

Odin's there too, but he's just a    Darkness   -obsessed poser.

x 3 Mario, Luigi, Bowser, and Bowser. Jr?

x5 While Christianity is very much a minority in Japan, they still know that it's a thing and reference it quite a bit since it's foreign and exotic and creepy and cool. It's why Neon Genesis Evangelion is full of some many references to it.

That being said, they usually only reference it in the loosest of senses since they usually know absolutely nothing about it other than some super basic things.

I like how Charles Martinet doesn't really pitch up his Mario voice that much whenever talking fully...

Mario's voice is actually a lot deeper than Luigi's once you get past that honestly...

Also of note that, in the Japanese, Spanish and French versions of Galaxy, Melty Molten Galaxy makes a reference to Hell in its name (Hell Prominence Galaxy, Infernal Stroll Galaxy and Infernal Sheaves respectively). MMG is also the last major galaxy unlocked in the game.

Well, one Sonic the Hedgehog game going to have a stage called "Genocide City" simply because the devs thought the word sounded cool. Then Sega US told them what genocide actually meant and they were like "Oh shit, we need to change this."

Basically, what I'm saying is that you probably shouldn't read too much place names if the original Japanese uses English words.

The fact that Galaxy seems to be based on something culturally meaningful in addition to being a super fun game is a big part of the reason I love it so much.

I think my main reason for enjoying them is the glorious music.

SMG 2 might actually have the GOAT

Oh, dude, those soundtracks ain't nothin' to fuck with. I could listen to Egg Planet for hours.

I think it is safe to say they are the best soundtracks in the series. Mario's always had good music, but the orchestra and the sheer variety of tracks really elevates them to an entirely different level.

Seriously, who would have ever thought fighting Bowser would sound this intense?

Megaleg's theme, Battlerock Galaxy, Beach Bowl Galaxy, Dusty Dune Galaxy, Mecha Bowser's theme, Melty Molten Galaxy, the second Sky Station Galaxy music,^note also heard every time the Faceship reaches a new galaxy cluster Cloudy Court Galaxy, the better-than-ever Koopa Road theme, Flip Swap Galaxy, Slipsand Galaxy, Squizzard's theme, the SMG 2 Bowser Jr. stage themes, Space Storm Galaxy.... many good tracks to hear and hum.

Buoy Base. That level really needed more stages. Or more levels with the same music.

Buoy Base Galaxy is one of the most singularly perfect Mario stages in existence.

And while we're at it, I hope the Gearmos become series mainstays, like the Piantas. I'd say the same of the Whittles.