Video Game #21 (Mario)

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The iconic character in video game history made its mark in a Donkey Kong arcade game as the ID of Plumber. He became more than that in the decades to come. From Platformers, any sport in the books, RPG’s even, you name it and they have it in store for you to try.

Mario transcends in the world phenomenon to be engaging to video game goers alike including myself. One of many was Super Mario 64 that taught children how to learn basic instructions. A simple matter of review, using it to progress through the game to defeat a long stride video game bad guy Bowser to save the princess. Toadstool was its original which still is used from time to time, but now she is namely Peach as many of you know her by.

Super Mario RPG was the first RPG in the Mario series in my opinion to show off that part of the generation of traditional games such as Final Fantasy and various others. You get a sense that Bowser isn’t really a bad guy in this one, better yet he joins you to take out a sinister threat that made his castle not usable for his evil ways. To make matters more interesting, a non-Final Fantasy character to this day I am not sure where he came from goes by the name Culex. It ironically plays Final Fantasy music when being fought which at the time was really cool. Onto the next genre of the series.

Super Smash Bros. is accountable as one of the best things to happen in video game history. It brought characters from iconic to unknown individuals that would end up eventually in their own game to become popular for a time. Various companies competed with this with games such as Soul Calibur, Mortal Kombat, and more. A world phenomenon saw an even bigger picture on this given game that it made gaming communities to come together to create branches of various communities which is amazing.

Returning to RPG’s, Paper Mario really out done itself in its time. The 1st one is what you could expect: memorable Mario characters, areas, Bowser himself, and others. In the 2nd Paper Mario (known as Thousand Year Door), things took a very different turn which makes it the most intriguing thing in a Mario game. Very sinister plotting in this game was really something. When you come across something that is dangerous, they really mean it. When you successfully collect all seven relics known as Crystal Stars, the Thousand Year Door opens in a dark and disturbing matter. When entered, it plays a stinger that says you should not be here. Even your party members say something feels wrong and we probably shouldn’t be here. That means something in a video game, but you continue onward to see horrors that will transpire at the end of the tunnel. It turns out there was a being known as an Eldritch Abomination that came out of the tomb. It took over the host (that being Peach), and became the one thing Mario wanted to save only to see her as this thing taken over. For the first time in his hero career (and plumber), he lost. Eventually something remarkable happened. The people including his brother Luigi were encouraging him to not give up on the struggle against the ancient being known as the Shadow Queen. Mario did succeed but made it so he got help by others to guide through the fight. So it comes to show you that even Mario cannot always be on a winning streak and must call it quits from time to time.

I name many others but I would be ramble on and on so I made it clear that Mario became an icon in many ways in every video game goer’s view. To the question being what did you see when Mario came into the world of gaming? What is your favorite Mario genre and game thus far? Do you think it will continue to strife through more decades to come?

Thanks for your time and have a great week.

Video Game #19 (Donkey Kong)

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Donkey Kong is an extravaganza to behold. From the arcade to the long platformer of the decades to racing for a time to various cameos. Aside from Mario as the plumber to save the distressed Princess Toadstool (eventually would be called Peach), Donkey Kong left himself a mark in video game history.

It begins in a arcade room filled with wonders beyond imagining. I was considered to be the last generation to witness such toys to see and play with at that given time. It was a good feeling, because now looking back it took away the activeness of going somewhere and play round after round and have a good time. Doesn’t seem the case nowadays, however parties are gathered from peoples houses to play this given genre and many others from that arcade room. Over time it would consider to be history in the making as they all say. Back to the present.

My story really starts at a game of this given franchise called Donkey Kong Country. Whether it was day time or night time, Donkey Kong Country rings sounds to my ears. Very memorable platformer in its prime (still is to this day). Made various sequels to which I did not play because it felt not the same to me. Still great games, just the first one was enough.

Jumping to the second generation of Nintendo, the N64. Good old Donkey Kong 64, a game that always has something fun and entertaining to see, watch and play of course. From levels, mini-games, multiplayer, bosses, puzzles, you name it, it was all presentable very well. The only thing to this day is how I never understood this was the case, but you have to do those very old arcade games to get those N64 coins to just to complete the story to fight the final boss (granted he was worth the patience). People are glad that those are still presented from time to time in current video games.

I like to finish up by saying Diddy Kong racing would have been a fantastic spin-off if it kept going instead of disconnected from being bought out by another corporation. But at the time, it was what it had to be done I guess. Still bothers me that it could have been more if it was just their own corporation to be left alone and continue without interruption. Sadly, I am just one individual and have no control of that kind of stuff. So we are presented of what we have and enjoy it.

What was your most memorable moment of Donkey Kong franchise from its birth in the arcade room? Is it still doing fine in the gaming industry today in your mind? As always, have a great week.