Email: Was there ever a Platform Mario in a Star-Finder Mario? I think there is

Sean, may I play devil’s advocate for a moment?  In your recent post you stated:

“How about a 3d version of a true Mario game? It would be about reaching the end of the level, of racing through it, of getting there before time runs out, and avoiding enemies as well as pulverizing them. Such a game has never come out.”

I can’t help but feel that most of what you are describing has come out before, only in limited format.  Now, I know that you stated before that you never owned a GameCube, so I have no idea how much of Super Mario Sunshine you played.  But in Sunshine there were these secret levels (sort of) that were later referred to as “void” levels because they’re just a series of platforms floating out in a big void (like outer space).

When you entered a void level the “evil” water-based Mario clone would take your water pack and you would have to race to end of the level in any fashion you could to reach the star.  But the star is really nominal.  It could just have easily been a goal post.  This is probably the closest that 3D Mario has ever emulated 2D Mario.  Notice the original Mario theme in the background played in, what is it, a cappella style?  The only thing is that there’s no time limit.  Enemies are also sporadic at best.

I tried to find the best video of at least one of these levels for you that doesn’t include the Super Mario 64-style adventuring, and this was the best I could come up with.  If you’re wondering why the guy has a waterpack, it’s because he has beaten these levels before and you re-enter a void level you get a waterpack to use again.

Nice try. But a core element of Platform Mario is that there are many ways to get to the end of the level. You can stomp on enemies or avoid them. You can go through the pipe or not go through the piple. You can run on the ground or fly through the sky. You can ride on Yoshi or not ride on Yoshi. You can shoot fireballs or not shoot fireballs.

Star Finder Mario just coerces the player in a linear 3d lane. The game won’t let you skip content by going through a pipe. Instead, they will have the pipe lead you a secret exit.

In Platform Mario, there are many ways to play a level. This is why Platform Mario is so replayable. But Star Finder Mario lacks that element.

Also, Platform Mario is FAST. There is always a sense of speed and feeling of physics. Star Finder Mario is always about pathfinding in the 3d and feeling of spatial geometry.