Post date: Sep 10, 2014 12:48:10 AM
Favorite Genre: The "Platformer" sub-genre underneath the Action genre.
Favorite Game Within the Genre: New Super Mario Brothers 2.
Why?: New Super Mario Brothers 2 is my favorite game because, simply, it is stimulating and also give me something entertaining to do (until, of course, I finish the game). The format is easy to understand. There are clear objectives to reach the end of each level while collecting coins and potential power-ups, without dying. Groups of levels combine to make "worlds", and there is a master objective of rescuing Peach from Bowser (by completing the levels).
The relative simplicity of the game while still keeping the player engaged and constantly looking to achieve a goal, or achieve a goal more effectively (by being faster or collecting more coins) is what makes New Super Mario Brothers 2 my favorite game.
How it Fits in to the Genre: The game is played by having to reach from one end of a "platform" (the ground, floor, etc) to the other. The mascot character is either Mario or Luigi, and they have to run and jump to get across the level, while collecting coins, power-ups, and dodging obstacles, such as creatures, holes or lava.
There is "fighting" at the conclusion of some levels, in where the mascot character has to jump on the antagonist or associate of the antagonist, or run from to wear it down, in order to defeat and move on to the next section, or world. These three aspects, of having the "platform", the mascot character, and some degree of fighting, by definition, makes the game a "platformer" game.
Similar Games: Some similar games from the same genre include, of course, the original 1985 Super Mario Brothers, along with Super Mario World 3D. The original has a similar gameplay, style and plot to the newer counterpart. The main differences lie in the graphics, and of course, the levels are different, although the concept of levels, worlds, warp zones and level style are similar. There is also a greater emphasis on collecting coins.
Super Mario World 3D, as it suggests, has a similar concept to the Super Mario Brothers series. The outstanding difference is that in the Super Mario Brothers series, movement is limited to 2 dimensions within the world. In Super Mario World 3D, players can move left, right, up,down, etc. They can move about the environment. There are additional and different game objects, as expected. The overlying concept of levels and worlds, along with warp zones and saving a princess from Bowser remains the same.
Platforms and Popularity: New Super Mario Brothers 2 was released on August 19th, 2012 in the United States (7/28/12 in the initial Japan release). It was released for the Nintendo 3DS, and is the first game in the series to be made for that gaming platform.
The game was popularity quickly built up after its release, and continued to strengthen in 2013, and remains as a popular buy today. 7.82 million copies have been sold worldwide. Nintendo's president Satoru Iwata has called the game "a key title for the Nintendo 3DS".
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmhKjgcY3vI
Quote/Statistic is from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Super_Mario_Bros._2
Pictures: http://hothardware.com/newsimages/Item26465/Super-Mario-Bros-Original-main.jpg
http://wiiudaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/super-mario-3d-world-wii-u-5.jpg?3be88a