I can't remember the last time playing a game was a gleeful as NSMBW. It's not perfect, but the chaos with everybody talking is part of what makes it so fun. If you're the type of person the has to win or else you're not having fun, well then it's not a good game for you. But if you can shrug off a cheap death and laugh at the antics of your friends, then this game is as close to perfect as I've played.
I probably would give it a 38 or 39 out of 40, but you have to factor in how they do their scores. It's not one person giving it a score out of 40, it's 4 people giving it a score out of 10. Personally, if I'm at a 9.5, but I have to pick a 9 or 10, then I would pick 10 for this because it's a unique experience. Look how many 9's they give. It seems like for them, a 10 is basically saying, this is something special. So, basically a 40 doesn't mean perfect, it means that all 4 reviewers agree that it deserves special recognition.
Famitsu is known for being stingy with the 10/10 ratings but I can't understand all the rage about the recent dramatic increase in awarding games that score. I always figured that 10/10 didn't mean perfect - it meant masterpiece, triumph, or something along those lines. Maybe the reviewers at Famitsu feel that there have been more masterful games released in recent times. It's just their opinion - you don't have to agree with it, but your disagreement doesn't automatically mean that Famitsu's review scores are invalid/sold for ad space.
@天: There was a time when regardless of your taste in games, you could look at every game on Famitsu's perfect list and, even if the game wasn't your cup of tea, see the merit. Those days are long gone.
@UltimatePancakeSensation: Looking up at the list in the post above, I can see merit in the games listed there that I've played (the first 10 on the list). Even though I didn't like FFXII very much I can still appreciate the good design of the game.
@UltimatePancakeSensation: I think I actually agree with Famitsu this time. For a 2D Platformer, NSMB Wii is at the very top. It's the most-polished game of its kind, by far.
I'm really enjoying NSMBW, but I cant think of one memorable level to be honest.
Its great fun with your mates, it certainly doesnt lack in good platforming level design, its just very safe, throwing things i've seen/played a hundred times before.
Still, it got my girlfriend to fire up her wii for the first time in months, so its all good by my books.
Hahaha what, I can't believe they've given some of these games perfect scroes, yet landed Ucharted 2 with a 37/40, just wow... Don't get me wrong, I like the New Super Mario Bros. Wii, but it's nothing new, Mario Galaxy was FAR more deserving of that score.
But I guess they're probably quite bias towards Western games, or don't even count them at all due to cultural differences in opinions of "what's cool".
I didn't know Famitsu used the same review system from EGM. Who stole it from who though? EGM had been
around since 89. They didn't start using the 4 person rating system till like 92 though. Famitsu been around since 86, but since I never looked at an issue of Famitsu. I wouldn't know.
I think the people bemoaning the fact that Famitsu gave it a 40/40 score is missing the point. What is impressive here is that four individual reviewers, independent of any of the others, thought highly enough of the game to give it their highest recommendation 10/10. How often in life do you have such universal agreement on anything? (4 out of 5 dentists recommend....) or any of your friends all agreeing on heading to the same restaurant? Almost never. The fact that four of them came to the same conclusion should be enough for anyone to realize that they have to play this game. 40/40 be damned, the point is, this is a great review of a great game.
@NeVeRMoRe666: Actually, I think you're the one that's missed part of the point. I think no one can really deny that the new Super Mario deserves the perfect score, but the problem is that it's also part of a list that's now starting to appear to grow unusually quickly.
Just look at the dates on the list. Half of them are now from either 2008 or '09. Famitsu's 40/40 was actually revered, for the reasons you argue. And look at it now. Maybe it's a sign of the times, I don't know. Maybe they really, truly deserve that score. Maybe they don't. Either way, it's starting to feel diluted.
@Zero1328: In a way, I can see your point. But I think people who worry about such things (no offense meant obviously) miss the point of the reviews. Does it really matter if it gets diluted? Should they be withholding perfect scores to inflate their own notoriety? If every reviewer gave it a 9, the game would have received a 36/40, a mark I don't think it deserved. Yet, what is amazing about any of the games is that 4 reviewers did find it worthwhile enough to give it a ten, regardless of whether it adds up to 40 or not and subseqnetly makes the list we are so hotly debating over.
The point I'm trying to get at here is that the minor point gradients between perfect and very good don't matter in the grand scheme of things. A good score denotes a good game. The "perfect score" debate is relevant. What matters is that, from the reviews, we know we should be playing these games instead of talking about them or where they score.
@NeVeRMoRe666: I understand what you're saying, and I agree with the whole grand scheme of things, idea. I'm not really akin to the whole numbering thing, myself, but the thing is, the point of these discussions is that it's specifically about those minor details, and what those minor differences can mean. Yes, "good" is "good." You can't argue that. But what does "good" mean, now? How did it become, "good"? What leads it there?
A 40/40 is interpreted as beyond "good". Perfection. So what does "perfection" mean, now? You say it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. What's the difference between a gold and silver medal? A few milliseconds? Who cares? It doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.
Apparently, many people care. They like seeing those minute differences, because that's what perfection means. The increasing frequency of these "gold medals" really dilutes what "perfection" can mean to a person. Maybe not to you and me, but certainly to some people out there, and that's what I meant.
Lately, there's been accusations of reviewer bias, not limited to just Famitsu. Maybe they're becoming more frequent. I'm not sure. Regardless, the scores are an example of how times are changing, for games. Are more games actually becoming better, or is the curve beginning to flatten, with "good" and "perfection" becoming more blurry? I don't know. I'm not sure if anyone does.
OH WAIT. Final Fantasy XIII comes out this year in Japan — whatever will Famitsu do?
They're gonna be rebels and give it a 39. That one lone point will cause the greatest nerd rage. It will be to the point that even the mountains will quake and the oceans will be at the mercy of the salty tears that will flow from the cheeks of otaku everywhere. Even the deaf will hear the roar "Fam... itsuuuuu?!"
I'm going to have to actually play it before I can make a solid judgment, but I have yet to really be impressed with this game. It seems very much like NSMB for the DS which personally was a let-down. I enjoyed it, but something about it didn't seem right. It was definitely no Super Mario World.
@dowingba: I think that's an entirely reasonable position to hold. I'm not denouncing the game in any way yet, just saying that none of the videos I've watched have really piqued my interest. So far the only reason I DO want to play it is because "it's Mario."
I'll definitely try it out, but I'm not in any real rush. And when I do if it turns out to be way more awesome than I expected, then I'll be very happy. Otherwise oh well.
11/24/09
I probably would give it a 38 or 39 out of 40, but you have to factor in how they do their scores. It's not one person giving it a score out of 40, it's 4 people giving it a score out of 10. Personally, if I'm at a 9.5, but I have to pick a 9 or 10, then I would pick 10 for this because it's a unique experience. Look how many 9's they give. It seems like for them, a 10 is basically saying, this is something special. So, basically a 40 doesn't mean perfect, it means that all 4 reviewers agree that it deserves special recognition.
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But Famitsu have always been selective with their 10/10's. Brawl and MGS4 getting perfect scores from 4 different reviewers? Not a chance
11/24/09
I've played this game, and it is far from perfect.
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I would have taken off some points for the unnecessary motion controls, though.
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Agreed. It is a good game, but not deserving of a perfect score. By far.
#speakup
11/24/09
Its great fun with your mates, it certainly doesnt lack in good platforming level design, its just very safe, throwing things i've seen/played a hundred times before.
Still, it got my girlfriend to fire up her wii for the first time in months, so its all good by my books.
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But I guess they're probably quite bias towards Western games, or don't even count them at all due to cultural differences in opinions of "what's cool".
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around since 89. They didn't start using the 4 person rating system till like 92 though. Famitsu been around since 86, but since I never looked at an issue of Famitsu. I wouldn't know.
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Just look at the dates on the list. Half of them are now from either 2008 or '09. Famitsu's 40/40 was actually revered, for the reasons you argue. And look at it now. Maybe it's a sign of the times, I don't know. Maybe they really, truly deserve that score. Maybe they don't. Either way, it's starting to feel diluted.
11/24/09
The point I'm trying to get at here is that the minor point gradients between perfect and very good don't matter in the grand scheme of things. A good score denotes a good game. The "perfect score" debate is relevant. What matters is that, from the reviews, we know we should be playing these games instead of talking about them or where they score.
#speakup
11/24/09
A 40/40 is interpreted as beyond "good". Perfection. So what does "perfection" mean, now? You say it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. What's the difference between a gold and silver medal? A few milliseconds? Who cares? It doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.
Apparently, many people care. They like seeing those minute differences, because that's what perfection means. The increasing frequency of these "gold medals" really dilutes what "perfection" can mean to a person. Maybe not to you and me, but certainly to some people out there, and that's what I meant.
Lately, there's been accusations of reviewer bias, not limited to just Famitsu. Maybe they're becoming more frequent. I'm not sure. Regardless, the scores are an example of how times are changing, for games. Are more games actually becoming better, or is the curve beginning to flatten, with "good" and "perfection" becoming more blurry? I don't know. I'm not sure if anyone does.
#speakup
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They're gonna be rebels and give it a 39. That one lone point will cause the greatest nerd rage. It will be to the point that even the mountains will quake and the oceans will be at the mercy of the salty tears that will flow from the cheeks of otaku everywhere. Even the deaf will hear the roar "Fam... itsuuuuu?!"
11/24/09
Sounds far better than that crap 2012 movie
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Just play it. Yeesh.
11/24/09
I'll definitely try it out, but I'm not in any real rush. And when I do if it turns out to be way more awesome than I expected, then I'll be very happy. Otherwise oh well.
11/24/09
didn't you see the "you must be this stupid to post" sign?
now, seriously, you said it the simplest way possible: - the only reason I DO want to play it is because "it's Mario." -