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liztoady · 15 days

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what a cheeky whojimawhatsit ✨

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liztoady · 1 month

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a lil remake of something old :)

#art #sketch #ms paint #oc #original character #original art #blue

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liztoady · 2 months

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basically I wrote this AGES ago but didn't want to publish it properly in case I got done in for plagiarism lmao

so here it is - part 1 of Lizzie's English Coursework!

there's a World of Goo one too, so I'll see if I can dig that outta the woodwork :)

hope you enjoy! <3

this is english coursework but I want to see if the internet people like it

Genre: Videogame Reviews

Audience: People familiar with videogames and gaming culture

Function: To entertain

Word Count: 1124

A retrospective on Super Paper Mario

(Nintendo Wii, 2007) 4/5 Stars

Super Paper Mario, in many ways, is THE prime example on how to NOT make an RPG.

And yet, it’s also one of the greatest stories ever told in a videogame, ever. Let me explain.

To truly understand Super Paper Mario and how this utter travesty of a gameplay experience came to have such a profound impact on those who suffered through it, we need to look beyond the sales, beyond the anti-fans and Dimentio-stans. We need to go right back to the very beginning. Today, I’ll tell you a story of a long-forgotten game…

Once upon a time, Nintendo, after the success of the first, decided to create a brand-spanking-new Mario RPG. And so, Paper Mario was born. It was a pretty quiet entry to the massive Mario conglomerate, being released late into the Nintendo 64’s lifespan. Nevertheless, early reviewers praised its unique style, characteristic charm and easy-to-understand mechanics. These core elements would soon become the basis for a much bigger, much grander sequel – Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door! It was a smash hit with fans from every angle, and still sells for ridiculous prices today because of its – well, – sheer greatness. The wit, the mechanics, the story, the graphics! Suffice to say, Paper Mario games had gained a strong foothold with fans. They craved more. Who could blame them?

So, Nintendo did the logical thing (obviously). On the 9th April 2007, they bestowed upon us the eagerly anticipated sequel, the culmination of every hit in the series so far! (Drumroll, please)

Super Paper Mario!

…I’m going to be frank with you, dear reader. Super Paper Mario is, undoubtedly, a flawed game. The controls are limited to the Wii remote’s 4 directions (yes, no c-stick support in a partly 3D game – the horror!), the geometric aesthetic can get old after a while and the pacing makes it, so you’d rather crawl into hell than go back to speak to Jasperoid again to get an unnecessarily long password that takes ages to input because the controls are do damn slow and clunky!

If you know, you know.

In short, it’s a hot mess. Even without considering the clear omission of the turn-based battles from previous titles, its clear that this game does not – and will not – ever compare to its predecessors when it comes to gameplay.

And yet? It doesn’t actually matter. This game shouldn’t even be a Mario game, probably. I bet if it was just some regular, one-off, weirdo game with some other rando on the title, nobody would criticize its flaws as much as they do. But because it’s got ‘Paper Mario’ on the title, it’s suddenly subject to a heck ton more grief (it’s a member of the Mario family, capish?).

How come I like it so much, then? So far, I’ve only been complaining about it! Well hold on to your Wii remotes, dear readers. To truly (truly) understand Super Paper Mario, I’ll tell you a story of the lost book of prophecies. It is a tale of love…

(Yes, that is how the game starts, stick with me, guys!)

The people who have played this game to completion will tell you: it’s a wild ride. Mario has never been so anime (and I personally adore it). If you don’t want to be spoiled for the ending of this over 15-year-old game, then here’s a short summary:

‘Mario, Peach, Bowser and Luigi travel through multiple dimensions ‘Rick and Morty’-style with a butterfly (and friends) to stop an evil, depressed vampire man and his cronies from destroying every reality with a world-ending black hole born out of ‘forbidden love’.

…TL;DR: Peach and Bowser get married; hijinks ensue.’

So… if that wasn’t enough to convince you, I don’t know what will. Stop reading, play it, then come back for the epic conclusion to my review.

…

…What did you think? Did you cry? Yeah. We all cried. It’s just that kind of game.

Its darker moments are, surprisingly, some of the most engaging aspects of the story: The actual deaths of characters, the deletion of entire worlds – they’re some of what people most fondly remember about this 100% very cheerful little game. I always found it very character-driven, and it somehow manages to touch on more serious topics with a gentle maturity that you wouldn’t really expect from a 3+ kid’s game.

A character’s story I personally feel is overlooked is the token dim-witted himbo O’Chunks. He’s one of Count Bleck’s main cronies and the first actual boss of the game. He’s written to be a funny, crude character who shouts hilarious catchphrases like ‘GRAH-GOOGLY’ and farts himself away when he’s beaten. At first glance, he’s the epitome of ‘kids-game humour’, and for the most part, he is.

Then Chapter 5-2 happens.

Just a reminder: this is a MARIO game.

This made me stop and stare when I first played. The moment was short-lived, of course – gotta keep that age rating down! – but I was still astonished that this game even attempted to address such mature themes, and with the token dimwit comic-relief! But it doesn’t end here, folks! May I gently remind you, dear reader, that this outlandish codge-up of a game is also…

…a love story?

As hopeless as the game can feel sometimes, what with the total obliteration of Sammer’s Kingdom, or the devilish Mimi’s enslavement of Mario and Co. to pay off their crushing debt (that one hits a little too close to home), Super Paper Mario is bursting at the seams with positivity and encouragement. Whether it be Tippi’s overwhelming gratitude for Mario and friends after her rescue releasing one of the seven Pure Heart maguffins, or the beautiful climax of the game – Tippi and Count Bleck’s own wedding – Super Paper Mario is a game about friendships, a whole heap of other comedic and heart-warming moments I didn’t have room to mention, and – most importantly – love.

Super Paper Mario, in many ways, is THE prime example on how to NOT make an RPG.

But it’s also one of the comfiest, darkest, over-the-top and most daring stories I’ve ever played. I’d whole-heartedly implore anyone looking for a charming story, and maybe even a bit of a cry, to give this tale a try…

…just don’t play it if you’re looking for good gameplay, K?

#spm #english #english coursework #mario #super paper mario #gaming #videogames #english language #essay #essay writing #blog

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liztoady · 2 months

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