Super Mario Series

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

In defense of Ninja Gaiden not winning GOTY, it lost to Resident Evil 4.

Ninja Gaiden came out in 2004, whereas RE4 was a 2005 release (albeit an early one). They weren't even eligible for the same year. Ninja Gaiden Black came out in 2005, but of course I wouldn't expect a revamped version of an already existing game to qualify for a GOTY award. I was talking about the original release.

Half Life 2, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and, uh, Halo 2. It had a lot of competition and hype. Even so many years later, I'm pretty sure its losses are understandable.

I'm not talking about it losing out to those games. I specifically mentioned about how it wasn't even NOMINATED for any major GOTY awards. Not winning I'm fine with. It's not even getting recognition in the first place that ticked me off.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 lost to Skyrim, Mass Effect 2, and Red Dead Redemption. Outside of Wii specific awards and places like Metacritic, Mobygames, and Gamerankings (which HAVE to give to the highest rated game on review average) it didn't pop up a whole lot in discussions that year.

Here's the difference between SMG2 and NG that you aren't paying attention to. SMG2 got nominated for several GOTY awards (and I mean overall, not just for the Wii exclusively). Big sites like GT,  IGN, and GameSpot all featured it as a contender in their nominations. Even if it didn't win most of them, it still got that level of recognition as being among the best of the year.

It also had some of the highest review scores AND sales of any game in its year. It got tons of praise and discussion throughout the year, even before it came out. Check out most journalists lists of most anticipated games from that year. It's on more than a few of them. I just don't really see how you can argue that the game didn't get enough recognition, and furthermore that it's less understandable than NG getting snubbed when that game actually didn't get any recognition in terms of either sales or discussion, despite being one of the best reviewed games by both critics and gamers alike in its own year (it actually has a higher Metacritic score than even some games that got nominated over it). The difference here is that, despite what you say, the platforming genre is still really popular and well respected, as is the Mario property. You've cited a few examples of certain ass-hole critics who snubbed the game, but they only remain to be a few. The mass majority of critics gave it the praise that it deserved. If anything it's more that they over praised games like RDR rather than under rating SMG2, which probably should have won more GOTY awards, but still got clear recognition as one of the best games of the year, all the same. Ninja Gaiden is from a genre that many largely look down upon, especially back then when there were even less great character action games to go on, so despite the game being great, nobody wanted to risk their credibility by actually acknowledging it as being on par with the best of the year.

[Spark Of Spirit]

The listing years don't always line up. Some games win in one year on one site and win in the next on another year, and it's not a territory thing. There's no way to see what specifically each game lost to, but you can make an educated guess. 2004 and 2005 were packed years for game nominations. It wasn't like the year where everyone was going nuts over Uncharted 2 and Arkham Asylum and it was pretty much one or the other winning everything.

Plus, the game was difficult. That's a flaw to game journalists, remember? 

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

That's a "flaw" now.

If you go back in time by 10 years, the game was actually PRAISED for its level of challenge.

My, how the times have changed.

[talonmalon333]

In defense of Ninja Gaiden not winning GOTY, it lost to Resident Evil 4. Half Life 2, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and, uh, Halo 2. It had a lot of competition and hype. Even so many years later, I'm pretty sure its losses are understandable.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 lost to Skyrim, Mass Effect 2, and Red Dead Redemption. Outside of Wii specific awards and places like Metacritic, Mobygames, and Gamerankings (which HAVE to give to the highest rated game on review average) it didn't pop up a whole lot in discussions that year.

I think Skyrim was a year later. I know because Skyward Sword came out in 2011, and it was always a big competition of which was the better high fantasy game.

I wouldn't complain if Skyrim did beat SMG2, though, if they came out the same year.

[Foggle]

Ninja Gaiden Black came out in 2005, but of course I wouldn't expect a revamped version of an already existing game to qualify for a GOTY award.

The Last of Us Remastered begs to differ...

[Spark Of Spirit]

Ninja Gaiden Black came out in 2005, but of course I wouldn't expect a revamped version of an already existing game to qualify for a GOTY award.

The Last of Us Remastered begs to differ...

The Naughty Dog effect.

[talonmalon333]

I'm guessing you guys don't like that game.

[Spark Of Spirit]

I watched my father play through it. It was okay for what it was.

It seemed better than Uncharted 2, anyway.

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

To its credit, from what I've seen and heard about it, the gameplay is much more versatile and skill-based than any Uncharted games. It at least doesn't feel like you are just playing through an interactive movie throughout the whole experience.

[gunswordfist]

my mama had the game and from what i played, there's no cutscene gameplay.

[Foggle]

I'm guessing you guys don't like that game.

I actually thought it was great. But a remaster doesn't deserve GOTY awards.

[Daikun]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLGMPLmgpv8

[talonmalon333]

You know, people like to talk about how much Sonic's design changed. But really, did it change all that much? Not nearly as much as Mario has over the years, but Sonic gets discussed more.

[Spark Of Spirit]

Mario has looked pretty much the same since the SMB3 box, though.




Sonic doesn't even look the same one decade after his first game.




In Sonic's case, there was a problem because at his peak of popularity he was the former design and his more recent design is equated with his fall in popularity. Of course, that's silly. Green eyes and a slimmer design has no bearing on game quality, but just try telling that to some fans. It will be a long time before they finally get over it.

Mario's early designs were relegated to arcades and two early console games. It was solidified rather quickly.

[talonmalon333]

I'm just curious. What's the minimum amount of stars that are required to beat Sunshine?