Thursday, September 04, 2008

Round 1 - Bracket C - Match 3

3. Super Mario Bros. 3





Vs.




6. Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

I find it odd to introduce matchups like this when the games are so different. Well, both Super Mario Bros. 3 and Castelvania: Aria of Sorrow are 2D side-scrolling games, so that is a start. One comes from a very classic franchise, and the other comes from a slightly lesser but still classic nonetheless franchise.

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Mario has spanned decades of gaming on every Nintendo system possible. His greatest game may be argued as the first Super Mario Bros., but the third installment really works much better. The world map is an incredible way of breaking between levels, allowing you to pick up a lucky item or earn some extra lives while scoping out the territories ahead. It also gave a better look at the Mushroom Kingdom (a complete look that is missed by those bastards who use the warp whistles to go quickly to the later stages). It is much more fun do play every single level in the game, especially with a pal controlling Luigi.

He can run, he can jump, he can fly, swim, turn to stone, toss hammers, throw fireballs, hop around in a frog suit... basically Mario is the perfect choice to save the kidnapped princess, again. I should not really have to say anything about this game because virtually everyone has played this game in their lifetime. It may be the most recognizable game in this challenge, and looking at the full list, it might as well be. Another timeless gem.

This game made the favorite list because I have these memories as a child playing through the first level, grabbing the leaf and flying up into the clouds, gathering an unnecessary amount of coins, dropping behind the white rectangles, and grabbing the star at the end of the level. I do not have to be in any kind of a mood to play this game, it can just be done by picking up the controller and getting down to business.

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Of all the Castlevania games, I choose one that does not even star a Belmont as the main character (granted Julius makes an appearance and becomes playable after complettion). Another thing, Aria of Sorrow does not even give the main character the classic vampire killing whip. Instead, Soma Cruz wields a variety of weapons (the best being the Claimh Solais) like swords, knives, spears, and a handgun (which is garbage and a cheap way to defeat the antagonist at the end).

Another crazy thing about this very anti-Castlevania Castlevania game is that Soma can steal the souls of defeated enemies and use their powers as his own (like shooting fireballs, stealing health with each hit, and turning into a bat). You can gain experience points with defeated enemies, adding a nice RPG element to the action game. These souls also help in solving the few puzzles presented and advancing through the castle.

Although I have never played this actual game on the GBA, and I have the ROM on my computer (I am not advocating downloading ROMs, however convenient they may be) and it might as well be the most played game on my computer. I have played it at least once a year and find it all exciting everytime, there are really no dull moments since progressing through the game always gives you something new. Replay is also great as Julius, because you get to start off all pimped out.

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I find it unlucky for C:AoS (I just got that pun; "Chaos" is the final-final boss) being paired against SMB3 in the first round because of how great of a game I find it to be. It is a fresh and different Castlevania that helped repopularize the genre. However, Mario is Mario, and SMB3 is like the Holy Grail of NES games. I wish I had my NES up at school right now.

Winner: Super Mario Bros. 3

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