If you could only play one 2D Mario game, which would it be?

[Teggy]

The only side-scrolling Mario game I have ever played (and I haven't finished it yet) is Yoshi's Island DS.  There are too many Mario games - if you were to choose 1 of the side-scrolling 2D Mario games across all the systems (NES, SNES, GB, GBA, DS), which would be the most fun?

I know that leaves a lot to personal preference, so I will leave this as a guide - extreme difficulty is a big minus, and some semblance of a story is a plus (although I know story is pretty rare in Mario games).

[unbreakable]

I really loved the Mario game which came with the SNES.

[JuniorDan]

[The Grue]

It would be a toss-up between 1 and 3.  I am still amazed how well the first one holds up to play even today.  The third one was a ton of fun as well, with the racoon tail and all.

[Farscry]

Either Super Mario 3 or Yoshi's Island (the original on the SNES, not the GBA port).

[depward]

Yeah, Super Mario 2.  Different... but awesome (three comes in second...).

[kronovan]

That's a tough 1 as it would really be a tie for me between Super Mario World [SNES] and New Super Mario Bros [DS]. The 2 player ability in SMW would probably make it edge out NSMB.

BTW What does this have to do with Master Chief? 

[Teggy]

BTW What does this have to do with Master Chief? 

Sorry, I don't have a 360 yet.  Hope I didn't interrupt your playtime.

[EddieA]

My vote goes to Super Mario World.

[Teggy]

People seem to be skewing (until the last couple of posters) to the NES games.  Did they not improve on the SNES? I guess that would be the "World/Land" games?

[Kevin Grey]

Yoshi's Island, no question.  An absolute masterpiece that hasn't aged a day. 

[metallicorphan]

hmm,guess it would be between mario 3 and mario world


(i just bought super paper mario for the Wii today along with Halo 3(which isnt for the Wii))

[CeeKay]

the only Super Marios I ever completed are Super Paper Mario on the Wii and the first Super Mario Bros on the original Gameboy, so I'd have to go with the Wii version.

[Ridah]

Yoshi's Island was radical, I go with that one.

[Laner]

SMB2.  Just don't care much for the "classic" Mario gameplay - SMB2 was different enough to be enjoyable.

[WinoMcCougarstein]

Super Mario World.  3 would be my second choice.

[SuperHiro]

Super Mario World.  3 would be my second choice.

word

[wonderpug]

Can I cheat and pick Super Mario All-Stars?

If not, I agree with:

Super Mario World.  3 would be my second choice.

[kronovan]

BTW What does this have to do with Master Chief? 

Sorry, I don't have a 360 yet.  Hope I didn't interrupt your playtime.

Heheh, I meant it tongue in cheek. I don't have a 360 either....but since everything is Halo and Master Chief right now. 
Personally....I think In a 1 -on- 1 fight, Mario would take down Master Chief with a single shine to his gold visor, flung at high velocity ninja style!

[disarm]

it's a tough call between SMB3 and Super Mario World.  both are fantastic games, but i think i'll give the nod to SMB3...spent far more time with it than any other mario game

[Teggy]

So the most votes so far are for Super Mario World, followed closely by SM3. SM3 is not on VC yet and SMW is, although there is the GBA version of SM3.

[Kevin Grey]

I can only assume that most people haven't played Yoshi's Island.  There can be no other reason why it's not at the top of everyone's list. 

[wonderpug]

I can only assume that most people haven't played Yoshi's Island.  There can be no other reason why it's not at the top of everyone's list. 

I confess I haven't.  I should try and find it instead of replaying SM3 & SMW for the umpteenth time. 

[Kevin Grey]

I can only assume that most people haven't played Yoshi's Island.  There can be no other reason why it's not at the top of everyone's list. 

I confess I haven't.  I should try and find it instead of replaying SM3 & SMW for the umpteenth time. 

Yes.  Yes you should. 

[warning]

I can only assume that most people haven't played Yoshi's Island.  There can be no other reason why it's not at the top of everyone's list. 

It's the only one I've really spent any time with.  It's a gorgeous game.

Also: why isn't this a poll?  Hmm?  HMMMMM?????

[CeeKay]

I can only assume that most people haven't played Yoshi's Island.  There can be no other reason why it's not at the top of everyone's list. 

didn't it come out for the VC awhile back?

[Farscry]

I can only assume that most people haven't played Yoshi's Island.  There can be no other reason why it's not at the top of everyone's list. 

didn't it come out for the VC awhile back?

Yup. Just avoid the crappy GBA port.

From a pure gameplay standpoint, Yoshi's Island is superior to SMB3. However, SMB3 is a classic in its own right and a great game too. Given the choice, I'd probably stick with Yoshi's Island. I played that sucker until I had perfect 100's on every world, including the bonus levels!

[unbreakable]

Oh wow, how did SMB3 slip my mind?  That's one of the coolest games evar.

[Teggy]

Yup. Just avoid the crappy GBA port.

What is bad about the GBA version? On Wikipedia it seems to imply the game was virtually untouched in the port, other than some shoe color changes and the addition of some bonus levels.

Also, I am confused by Yoshi's Island DS, which I have.  Was this a slight modification of the original Yoshi's Island, where they added in the new babies, sort of like how you start out as Yoshi in Super Mario 64 DS?  Or are the levels brand new and different?

[Kevin Grey]

Also, I am confused by Yoshi's Island DS, which I have.  Was this a slight modification of the original Yoshi's Island, where they added in the new babies, sort of like how you start out as Yoshi in Super Mario 64 DS?  Or are the levels brand new and different?

Yoshi's Island DS is a sequel to Yoshi's Island.  All new levels, babies, etc.  Not as good as it's predecessor (but, really, what is?) and gets way too hard at the end but it's still really good. 

I don't know what's wrong with the GBA port.  It was my first exposure to the game (didn't have a SNES) and it's utterly fantastic. 

[wonderpug]

I can only assume that most people haven't played Yoshi's Island.  There can be no other reason why it's not at the top of everyone's list. 

didn't it come out for the VC awhile back?

Yup.

You sure?  I'm looking on Wikipedia's list and I only see Yoshi's Story from the N64.

[Farscry]

Hmmm, I must be mixed up. Could swear YI was on the VC. Yoshi's Story is horrible and wasn't even worth the rental I paid for back in the day.

I remember reading that the Yoshi's Island port on the GBA suffered from some control imprecision, sound degradation compared to the original, and graphical hiccups. Maybe I read a lousy review (from a "gaming journalist"?! Impossible!)

[Kevin Grey]

I remember reading that the Yoshi's Island port on the GBA suffered from some control imprecision, sound degradation compared to the original, and graphical hiccups. Maybe I read a lousy review (from a "gaming journalist"?! Impossible!)

Controls were perfect, as were the graphics.  Maybe SNES was somehow *better* but you would never know it going by just playing the GBA game.  Sound is probably the same thing that affects all SNES ports- sound/music chip on SNES was superior to the GBA's.  However the music still sounded fantastic and it has my favorite Mario soundtrack ever. 

[Farscry]

Cool, sounds like the review I read was being nitpicky then.

[wonderpug]

I remember reading that the Yoshi's Island port on the GBA suffered from some control imprecision, sound degradation compared to the original, and graphical hiccups. Maybe I read a lousy review (from a "gaming journalist"?! Impossible!)

Controls were perfect, as were the graphics.  Maybe SNES was somehow *better* but you would never know it going by just playing the GBA game.  Sound is probably the same thing that affects all SNES ports- sound/music chip on SNES was superior to the GBA's.  However the music still sounded fantastic and it has my favorite Mario soundtrack ever. 

Hmm...wait for it to make it to the VC or dig through some used game bins and dust off the GBA Player...

[unbreakable]

Cool, sounds like the review I read was being nitpicky then.

Or the reviewer had a busted GBA.

[Teggy]

Here's a bit from IGN on the limitations of the GBA cart:

In terms as a Super NES port, the Game Boy Advance pulls off most of the original game's levels extremely well. It has some issues with camera scroll due to its lower screen resolution. The GBA developers kept the art assets at a one-to-one ratio, but because the GBA does not have as much height or width resolution, the visible screen area is a bit less than what was intended by the original level designers. The GBA programmers attempted to remedy this issue by using a "smart" camera system that scrolls the view up or down when players need to see above or below them. But it's not perfect, and players will have to move Yoshi in specific directions in order to see the blind edges. The slowdown also needs to be mentioned...it's not terrible, but it is obvious when it happens.

But they still gave it a 9.4

[coopasonic]

Topic: If you could only play one 2D Mario game, which would it be?

I would be playing the "scratch my eyes out" game. Yah, so apparently I'm not big on retro gaming... or 2d platformers.

[JCC]

I have Yoshi's Island for the GBA. It's fun and I enjoyed it (but didn't finish it) but I didn't think it was as good as the more traditional Mario games.

[Laner]

I can only assume that most people haven't played Yoshi's Island.  There can be no other reason why it's not at the top of everyone's list. 

didn't it come out for the VC awhile back?

Yoshi's Story came out recently on VC.  Yoshi's Island is still MIA, AFAIK.