Dark themes can still be geared towards children. Sure, you might think there's some Nightmare Fuel, but, then, Disney has that. Complex plots can be aimed at kids, too.
Disasturbator
I'm so confused after reading this thread.
New theme music also a box
Eh, the only Mario game besides SSB that's markedly Darker and Edgier than the rest was the Super Mario Strikers games, and that was mostly limited to the uniforms and and more EXXXTREEEMMMEE!!!! angle it took(still fun, though). Mario Galaxy could count too, with the godforsaken ending of it. And I shouldn't forget Super Paper Mario, either. Sonic is an example of Cerebus Syndrome gone horribly wrong, which is why Sega wants to start over with Sonic Colors and Sonic4.
Youkai Serious
Dr. Robotnik was a halfway-competent villain.PUNCH
They assed first. I am only retaliating in an ass way. -The Dead Man's Life
Not Quite Batman
I think Super Mario RPG is the darkest of the Mario games.
"Religion isn't the cause of wars, it's the excuse." —Mycroft Next
Satellite Spark
...Oh hey, you're that guy who said that Sonic should go back to being Shadow The Hedgehog levels of Darker and Edgier, aren't you?
edited 7th Nov '10 1:20:00 PM by CandyCrazy
o-o
Super Mario RPG for the win.
ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᔪᐃᑦᑐᖅ
Knouge forever!!
Yes, candy crazy, I am.
I am completely, utterly, and thoroughly done with Sola Sonica and 2D
Your army sucks.
You do realize that Shadow The Hedgehog is widely considered how NOT to do Darker and Edgier right?
Sorry, I can't hear you from my FLYING METAL BOX!
Yeah.
Doesn't stop it from being a pretty cool game, though, even if it is Narm.
"Who wants to hear about good stuff when the bottom of the abyss of human failure that you know doesn't exist is so much greater?"-Wraith
Bunny
Where's that damn fourth Chaos Emerald?!
One of my few regrets about being born female is the inability to grow a handlebar mustache. -LandstanderI never really found that line narmy.
"Who wants to hear about good stuff when the bottom of the abyss of human failure that you know doesn't exist is so much greater?"-Wraith
It's less that the games are "for mature audiences" and more that they both have plotlines that skew on the darker side of things, which is notable due to how light-hearted the series' in general are.
Sonic does/did try to induce Darker and Edgier plotlines, but they're generally about as mature as a regular Shōnen movie plot, in my opinion.
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
It's only considered narmy because the voice actors, for whatever reason, feel like they need to emphasize the word, as if to say "Look! Swearing! In a SONIC game!".
edited 7th Nov '10 2:41:04 PM by Customer
Only Sane Fox
To answer the thread title question, I say "no". Both franchises are aimed at everybody, hence the ratings the games get from the review boards.
Accidental mistakes are forgivable, intentional ones are not.
I liked Shadow, too, despite its silliness. The annoying thing was having to play it ten times, though, especially considering that a fair few of the levels were not all that interesting to look at and several of the missions involved searching a rather large level for that last enemy, which can take ages when searching several corridors that look exactly the same.
hnnnng
I think if you go by the ACTUAL definition of "Mature", mario is definately moreso. You don't need "grimdark", death, and profanity to be mature.
Sonic is only superficially mature. Nintendo doesn't try to be "edgy", and I feel that makes them, and by extention their games, more mature.
edited 7th Nov '10 5:38:35 PM by Boredman
cum
A-HYUK!
Well, damn.
360 Gamertag: Electivirus. 3DS friend code: 5412-9983-8497. PSN ID: Electivirus. PM me if you add me on any.
AXTE INCAL AXTUCE MUN
deathonabun: ...damn...
Customer: DAMN!
Electivirus: ...damn.
Damn. You're going straight to hell!
Bunny
We'll show Satan the REAL SUPERPOWER OF TEAMWORK!
[[youtube:11CNj690xII&feature=related]]
One of my few regrets about being born female is the inability to grow a handlebar mustache. -Landstander
o-o
I cannot see any videos in this thread. Just huge white spaces. Fix your formatting!
ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᔪᐃᑦᑐᖅ
Huh? I'm seeing them.
Bunny
I see 3 videos.
Regardless, you might enjoy the links for your viewing pleasure.
One of my few regrets about being born female is the inability to grow a handlebar mustache. -LandstanderTo be honest, while the swearing was a little odd, it wasn't that bad.
Shadow's line, "Where's that damn fourth Chaos Emerald?" didn't seem to be emphasizing the "damn" that much to me, and, if I was in that situation, I would emphasize it as well.
Also, the line, "Doctor, you're going straight to hell!" was actually done really well, in my opinion. Of course, YMMV.
Also, I can never hate the game as long as The song for Iron Jungle
exists.
edited 7th Nov '10 8:46:08 PM by Chagen46
"Who wants to hear about good stuff when the bottom of the abyss of human failure that you know doesn't exist is so much greater?"-Wraith
A-HYUK!
didn't seem to be emphasizing the "damn" that much to meThat's the power of Pine-sol, baby! Memetic Mutation for ya.
edited 7th Nov '10 9:52:12 PM by Electivirus
360 Gamertag: Electivirus. 3DS friend code: 5412-9983-8497. PSN ID: Electivirus. PM me if you add me on any.
Despite my giving both franchises the Grimdark treatment, both are on a similar level of family friendliness, especially when some Dis Continuity is applied to the Sonic franchise. Though Mario does have those super mushrooms...
I wonder how making adult-oriented series appeal to the lunchbox set would work? Grand Theft Tonka? Resident Naughty?
Jill: Bawwy, zombies at...uh...3 pwus 8 is...11 o'cwock!
Barry: Fanks Jill, I get my slingsho...oh NO!
Zombie Toddler: NOM NOM NOM!
Barry: I gotta owie :'(.
edited 7th Nov '10 2:08:20 AM by DarkDecapodian
Aww, did I hurt your widdle fee-fees?