Review Information
Game Reviewed (DEMO) Catch The Mario, by MarioMania2460
Review Author Vitiman
Created Jan 30 2018, 11:31 PM

General Commentary and Game Overview
Only every so often does a game get submitted to MFGG that really makes you think about the continued development of fangames and electronic entertainment as a whole. More than 50 years of combined research & development, creativity, and the limitations of technology have resulted in a stunning approach to fun and a cherished art form that simply did not exist prior.

Catch The Mario is one such game that caught my eye for how powerful and moving it truly is. Sure, at first glance it may appear as a re-skin of a Game Maker tutorial with very little added functionality beyond some graphics and a sound effect or two, but this game surprised me with how much depth and emotion it has.
 
Pros A revival of the idea that a fangame can be beyond the human trivialities
The devices of creativity have been utilized here in such a grandiose fashion, that it's hard to ignore
The game speaks to me on a spiritual level, and evokes that which I thought had left me during my enlightenment period several decades ago
Mario makes funny sounds when you click on him
 
Cons The graphics CAN be viewed as appalling and clashing from a certain angle, I suppose
There COULD be very little to take from this game seeing as it's a tutorial edit, but only if you're really negative and can't look on the bright side
This whole thing MIGHT be an insult to what constitutes as an original fangame, I guess...
 
Impressions
Gameplay
10 / 10
Absolutely incredible. When you click on Mario, he disappears into the other realm, making a funny noise just for you. This creates an emotional bond between yourself and the Mario, allowing you to feel what Mario feels as he goes into the great beyond. A simply breathtaking experience for anyone who chooses to allow themselves to feel it, and an unprecedented amount of excitement and anticipation as you click on more Mario heads to absolve them of their duty of living in the sky world.

Truly this is the peak of gameplay, as clicking on a Mario and removing it from the play field is about as fun as some of MFGG's other classics of the past, such as the iconic Dodge the Shy-Guys or the incredible and innovative Paper Mario World. Nothing truly compares to Catch The Mario, a game that has taken MFGG, nay, FANGAMING AS A WHOLE, to new heights.
 
Graphics
9 / 10
A bright blue sky. Wooden blocks. Mario ball. This game has it all, and so much more. Well... actually, that's it. But, minimalism is the art of not getting ahead of yourself, and while this game may be lacking in graphical fidelity or non-clashing structure or really anything that isn't the aforementioned blue sky, wooden blocks, and Mario heads bouncing around, it makes up for it in precision of use, a form of true definitive actuality that rises the graphics beyond mere sprites in a video game into the world of pop culture, forever to be embraced by an adoring public.
 
Sound
8 / 10
Although the sounds in this game are very brief, there are many. Throughout the game, you hear a soothing and calming track from Mario Party on the N64; the Minigame Rules screen to be precise, and Mario playfully says "Woo-hoo!" as you click him into the oblivion. The angry Mario heads will say "Bye-bye!" as they taunt you for daring to click on them instead, making you realize your mistake as the default Game Maker high score table opens up and you have to accept defeat for now.
 
Replay
10 / 10
I could play Catch The Mario for decades from now. This game has redefined what it means to me to make a "fangame", and it shows that you don't need lavish graphics, overly polished sound, a well made engine, general structure, any sort of form, enemies or goals or levels, a captivating story, or even originality by design to make a fangame that gets accepted to MFGG. I find that reassuring, because it can open up the borders to brand new fangames for MFGGers to play.

I can see it now, this is truly the golden age of MFGG.
 
Final Words
9 / 10
Catch The Mario proves that a fangame can change a person, subvert a genre, and turn the world of MFGG upside down in a showcase of excellence and pure delight.

It also proves that perhaps it's best to read between the lines of a review and not just look at a numerical score system for validation.

Comments
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Murio
Sep 16 2018, 9:47 AM
What is this review
 
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Vitiman
Oct 24 2018, 6:18 AM
Quote (Murio on Sep 16 2018, 4:47 AM)
What is this review

A satirical examination of overly positive/handholding critiques of modern games, as well as a joke on the reader to read between the lines of a review to find poorly hidden sarcasm with every positive point as a precaution to not take reviews at face value.
 
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Murio
Nov 28 2018, 8:36 PM
Quote (Vitiman on Oct 24 2018, 8:18 AM)
A satirical examination of overly positive/handholding critiques of modern games, as well as a joke on the reader to read between the lines of a review to find poorly hidden sarcasm with every positive point as a precaution to not take reviews at face value.

Thank you for the elaborate explanation
 
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