So it seems that Nintendo has decided the best direction to take with their two ongoing Mario rpg franchises is to mash them together.
"Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam will unite the worlds of Mario & Luigi and Paper Mario in a new RPG." [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/conferences/e3-2015/14131-Mario-Luigi-Paper-Jam-Unites-Mario-And-Paper-Mario]
This is such a baffling move to me for so many reasons. First off, why crossover Mario with more Mario? Legend of Zelda, or Metroid, or anything I could understand, but I don't see how more Mario can improve anything. I mean, Mario is always Mario, there is not really a difference in personality(what little there is) from game to game. Sure some are 2D some are 3D and some are made of paper, but really the only difference is visual.
Secondly, I don't see what added opportunities merging the games adds. It's not like this is adding a new juxtaposition between 2D and 3D, because the Paper Mario games have always had that juxtaposition and put it to good use. Really, what are Mario & Luigi bringing to the table here?
Third, I'm offended that Mario & Luigi is getting top billing here. The Paper Mario series has always been leagues ahead of the Mario & Luigi games in depth of story and gameplay as well as overall quality. Granted, I've only played the first two installments of the Mario & Luigi series, but nothing I've heard has lead me to believe that any of the games could even come close to measuring up to The Thousand Year Door. What I've played of them, I found only mildly entertaining and far too trite and shallow.
So what do you think about this development? Is it a good idea? Why, or why not? What benefits will merging the two series bring to the table? Talk to me Escapist, tell me what you feel.
"Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam will unite the worlds of Mario & Luigi and Paper Mario in a new RPG." [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/conferences/e3-2015/14131-Mario-Luigi-Paper-Jam-Unites-Mario-And-Paper-Mario]
This is such a baffling move to me for so many reasons. First off, why crossover Mario with more Mario? Legend of Zelda, or Metroid, or anything I could understand, but I don't see how more Mario can improve anything. I mean, Mario is always Mario, there is not really a difference in personality(what little there is) from game to game. Sure some are 2D some are 3D and some are made of paper, but really the only difference is visual.
Secondly, I don't see what added opportunities merging the games adds. It's not like this is adding a new juxtaposition between 2D and 3D, because the Paper Mario games have always had that juxtaposition and put it to good use. Really, what are Mario & Luigi bringing to the table here?
Third, I'm offended that Mario & Luigi is getting top billing here. The Paper Mario series has always been leagues ahead of the Mario & Luigi games in depth of story and gameplay as well as overall quality. Granted, I've only played the first two installments of the Mario & Luigi series, but nothing I've heard has lead me to believe that any of the games could even come close to measuring up to The Thousand Year Door. What I've played of them, I found only mildly entertaining and far too trite and shallow.
So what do you think about this development? Is it a good idea? Why, or why not? What benefits will merging the two series bring to the table? Talk to me Escapist, tell me what you feel.