Here at Wii Fanboy, we like to think we offer ... balanced, objective coverage of Nintendo's world-beating home console. So, just as we'll happily scoff at Super Mario Galaxy bagging a ludicrous 11/10 in one publication, we'll also take time out to archly snigger at the non-specialist press who just don't "get it."
Like Variety, for instance. The entertainment industry newspaper has just posted its review of Galaxy, and it's not a favorable one. Naturally, we respect anybody's right to make negative comments about the title -- and plenty of reviewers have done just that already -- but some of Variety's observations do somewhat miss the point.
Complaints about poor storytelling are weak enough, given that Mario games have never been designed with compelling narratives in mind. Elsewhere, the game is criticized for graphics that "simply aren't up to par with [those] on the Playstation 3 or Xbox 360," and is also described as "evidence of how bad the Wii is for third-person action games." Which sounds more like a broader statement about the Wii hardware, rather than the game itself.
Still, before you begin punching out that rage-filled, vitriolic piece of hate mail Variety's way, your bottom lip trembling and the tears barely dry on your cheeks, judge for yourself and give the review a proper read.
And then mail it anyway.
[Thanks, Bobby!]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-15-2007 @ 4:10PM
Jumbo said...
Lets not forget the "SPONSORED BY SONY" logo in the top corner.
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11-15-2007 @ 4:29PM
sketchampm said...
http://nsidernews.com/wp-content/uploads/sonysponsored_super_mario_galaxy_review.gif
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11-15-2007 @ 4:41PM
Silver R. Wolfe said...
Oh stop it. It's not some kind of conspiracy. It's simply an advertisement logo.
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11-15-2007 @ 4:42PM
Jamesology said...
Does anyone else get nausea from playing this game. The camera movement is getting me sick.
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11-15-2007 @ 4:44PM
Jay said...
I suspect a cover up here. I didn't see the "Sponsered by Sony" logo on the SMG article, but pretty much all the other pages on the website have it (Just click the V Home Entertainment logo). Looks like they removed it recently from the article.
Could this be another one of the infamous Sony marketing ploys??
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11-15-2007 @ 4:44PM
Mike said...
Hey, love the 'surprised lady' picture! That is the same graphic that books in the 'Head First' series use.
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11-15-2007 @ 4:52PM
Boomaga said...
I'll continue never going to Variety for all of my cutting edge video game news ever again!
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11-15-2007 @ 8:02PM
Ralph said...
Variety's (namely Ben Fritz's) problem is that the review is looking at Super Mario Galaxy the wrong way. The criticisms are almost totally based on story and graphics, and barely focus on gameplay.
I'm guessing Ben Fritz's favorite game is Heavenly Sword. Now there's a beautiful game for you. (What? You're saying that Heavenly Sword has repetitive/boring gameplay? Nah, that doesn't matter these days anymore.)
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11-15-2007 @ 8:09PM
Sonic_13 said...
That's just what happens when someone reviews a game based on small screenshots.
"This game is horrible! It's small, has no story line, and doesn't even move!"
Please, if anyone is subscribed to this magazine, cancel your subscription and tell them its because of their awful review.
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11-15-2007 @ 8:38PM
Jay said...
I left a mean comment under the review, but I don't feel satisfied. I want to write variety and ask them to fire this dickweed for posting a fake review. Seriously, that's such bullcrap. I mean, it's such an insult to our intelligence as gamers, and if we let jerks like this walk all over us, then we can just look forward to more of it in the future.
I mean, I know it seems ridiculous to get all up in arms about a review, but what if somebody posted a fake review about Ford Trucks saying that they sucked, and that they made people crash all the time for no reason. And that Chevy was way better. Ford people would freak out over that.
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11-15-2007 @ 8:47PM
Daniel said...
Well I think if you read the WHOLE article they make some VERY valid points. While they did kinda miss the point of the game, they are on the ball with their critiques.
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11-15-2007 @ 9:13PM
masami_eiri said...
11/10
lol
italian...
we must always exaggerate... XD
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11-15-2007 @ 10:11PM
mr_sauce said...
Out of all the words in the English vocabulary, you (Chris Greenhough writer of this article), couldn't find a better word to use other than the word " snigger" ?? I mean c'mon what's wrong with the word "snicker" ? I think you should choose your words more carefully. You never know who you might offend.
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11-15-2007 @ 11:46PM
Damian G. said...
Posted at 10:11PM on Nov 15th 2007 by mr_sauce
Oh, come off it!
That article was a farce, but must we be so politically correct? We should be less prone to taking offence and use truly offensive terms niggardly. ;-)
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11-16-2007 @ 11:35AM
Mezstizo said...
Super Mario Galaxy will be successful no matter what that Nobody said. I laugh at the thought of him sitting in his tiny cubicle thinking that his review really matters. He must think that all of us gamers will come to our senses after reading his contribution to soceity and parade him down the streets on our shoulders.
What a turd!!!
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11-16-2007 @ 12:59PM
Serious Kano said...
Haha, "lifeless". Wonderful^^. Every sentence shouts "I hate Wii", thats for sure.
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11-16-2007 @ 2:04PM
whoamygod said...
it's a mario game. i knew it would be worth the $50 ($25), so i bought it. i wasn't expecting there to be a story and i prefer it that way. and yeah, the graphics comparison is pretty dumb. this game rules. don't worry about reviews.
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11-16-2007 @ 3:28PM
FX-1 said...
Why do we always get the retarded end of everything? I mean, seriously, it seems like all the criticism of games that media of any kind throws out there is always crap about how Nintendo sucks and how the 360 is so great. G4, a.k.a. the most suicidal station on TV, continues to supprt PS3 for whatever reason. Everything they do anymore that's related to games is some form of "I hate Nintendo!" s***. Even regular people, it seems if you're not a WiiFanboy user, then all you're allowed to say about games is "Nintendo sucks" and think of different excuses for why 360 and PS3 are better choices. Someone please explain to me the logic in this. Not to mention the current generation of Sony fans are the rudest consumer loyalists I've ever seen. Did we do something off long ago to get karma this pissed at us? What the heck?
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11-16-2007 @ 3:36PM
FX-1 said...
Why do we always get the retarded end of everything? I mean, seriously, it seems like all the criticism of games that media of any kind throws out there is always crap about how Nintendo sucks and how the 360 is so great. G4, a.k.a. the most suicidal station on TV, continues to supprt PS3 for whatever reason. Everything they do anymore that's related to games is some form of "I hate Nintendo!" s***. Even regular people, it seems if you're not a WiiFanboy user, then all you're allowed to say about games is "Nintendo sucks" and think of different excuses for why 360 and PS3 are better choices. Someone please explain to me the logic in this. Not to mention the current generation of Sony fans are the rudest consumer loyalists I've ever seen. Did we do something off long ago to get karma this pissed at us? What the heck?
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11-18-2007 @ 2:51AM
MidnightScott said...
Wow seriously...
Reading a Videogame review in a Non-Videogame Magazine is about as pointless as reading a review of Fashion in a magazine about Music.
Seriously, these magazines fail to appease videogame fans.
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11-19-2007 @ 4:15PM
Alisha Karabinus said...
mr sauce, if someone is offended by "snigger," I suggest they spend a little time with the dictionary.
I'm sure if he'd used "snicker," someone would have similarly accused him of shilling for candy bars! OMG EVERYTHING HAS EXTRA MEANING.
sigh.
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11-28-2007 @ 9:13AM
James said...
I loved PS2, but sony really bombed with the PS3, and perhaps that is the reason why they would post such a bogus review, SMG is on par with Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario 64, and doesn't really deserve such a bashing in reviews. When it comes down to it, Nintendo Wii has 2 things over Playstation 3:
-Innovative Control System
-Affordability
Nintendo, outside of the original system, hasn't ever really been on the forefront of revolutionary gaming, I remember when playstation was revolutionary for gamers, and rightly so...it was a great system, as was PS2. However, Nintendo has pulled the proverbial "Rabbit out of the Hat" with the Wii, and has taken the reigns here as far something new and exciting. I think in the end, I just dont think the average joe can justify 500 dollars for a gaming system. The sad thing is that Sony has probably lost alot of money over PS3 and is continuing to lose more as they drop the price of it. Maybe if they could revamp it to make blu ray an optional upgrade rather than the standard, and create a smaller housing for the system they might get going in the right direction.
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12-07-2007 @ 11:28AM
James said...
P.S. Nintendo Wii Freekin Rocks!
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5-18-2008 @ 12:01AM
sketchampm said...
Guys, POST THIS PICTURE!!
SERIOUSLY LOOK AT THIS!
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