Gameology

The game that cemented Mario as the platforming icon he is today; Mario Bros. 3 stands as a shining example of how to take a great game and improve every single aspect of it.

Inspired by the delightful traversal mechanics of Super Mario Odyssey, Attila and Mathew discuss who much traversal mechanics matter in other games.

Despite being the so-called "black sheep" of the Mario Bros. series, Mathew and Attila look at the aspects of Super Mario Bros. 2 that made it into games to come, as well as the elements that were understandably cut.

So often, AI meant to assist the player ends up doing the complete opposite. Mathew and Attila discuss everything from rage-inducing Escort Quests to delightfully helpful invulnerable assistants in their discussion on friendly AI.

Mathew and Attila discuss the platfomer that set the bar for all others to come and made Mario a world-wide sensation. What crucial design choices led to Super Mario Bros. becoming such a sensation? What set it apart from other platformers at the time?

Should government legislation crack down on harmful game design practices? The ESRB might cover content rating, but what about the psychological traps present in so many of today's free-to-play games? Mathew and Attila discuss whether or not these nefarious practices should be subject to outside laws.

Mario 64 brought the famous plumber into the 3rd dimension, what was gained and what was lost in the transition? Mathew and Attila discuss the 3D platformer that set the golden standard for years to come.

Are Consoles going the way of PCs? Incremental hardware updates threaten to overthrow the identity of the home gaming console. Mathew and Attila discuss the implications for the industry and for consumers.

Did you experience this Wii U gem? Mathew and Attila talk about everything from the aesthetics to the sound design of this stellar 3D Mario title.

Super Mario Galaxy remains one of the best and most iconic Mario games released to date. Attila and Mathew discuss everything there was to love about this classic, as well as a few details which are not to their liking.