{"id":134877,"date":"2023-09-20T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-20T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/#article-155426"},"modified":"2023-09-20T17:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-09-20T17:00:00","slug":"soapbox-can-you-really-spoil-a-mario-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/2023\/09\/20\/soapbox-can-you-really-spoil-a-mario-game\/","title":{"rendered":"Soapbox: Can You Really ‘Spoil’ A Mario Game?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Mario<\/a>
Image: Nintendo Life<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they’ve been chewing over. Today, Kevin ponders if it’s even possible to spoil a game about a tubby plumber who jumps around a lot…<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

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Super Mario Bros. Wonder<\/a> is right around the corner, and I think I speak for just about all of us when I say that I am very<\/em> excited. When a Wonder-dedicated Nintendo Direct<\/a> was announced last month, said to preview the upcoming game\u2019s features and gameplay more in-depth, I debated on whether or not I should even watch it. After all, it\u2019s almost here, isn\u2019t it? Is it worth ‘spoiling’ my appetite?<\/p>\n

And it got me thinking: is it even possible to spoil a Mario game?<\/p>\n

Spoiler alert:<\/strong> It totally is.<\/em><\/p>\n

Traditionally when we think of spoilers, we tend to think of ruining big surprises in a story\u2019s narrative structure. A character\u2019s death in a TV show, a major plot twist at the end of a movie, just anything you would tag as a spoiler to be polite. \u201cWait, that guy was a vampire the whole time?!\u201d \u201cOops, my bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

So of course, one could technically spoil a Mario game, such as the upcoming remakes of Super Mario RPG<\/a> and Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door<\/a>, which both have rich memorable stories and iconic character moments.<\/p>\n

But I\u2019m talking more about spoilers on a fundamental level, as they relate to the mainline platforming Mario games<\/strong>. Seeing something or knowing something ahead of time can spoil any<\/em> kind of surprise element.<\/p>\n

Going in blind<\/h2>\n
\"Can<\/a>
Image: Universal Pictures \/ Nintendo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I think back to one of my favorite games to be released within the last 10 years: Super Mario Odyssey<\/a>. At first, we were told nothing aside from the fact that it was a new 3D sandbox Mario game, in the vein of Super Mario 64<\/a>. And then in typical Nintendo fashion, further details relating to the game\u2019s core mechanics were revealed later on, such as the capture ability, as well as a few key areas in the game. Now, I wouldn\u2019t go so far as to say that those<\/em> are spoilers \u2014 something as fundamental as that is core to the game\u2019s basic pitch to the audience. It was just enough, in my opinion, to whet our appetites, and to get us curious about the possibilities.<\/p>\n

When the game finally released and I had actually beaten it, I was very pleased with how little I knew of it going in. Sure, Bowser stealing Princess Peach is a plotline we\u2019ve seen many times before (too many, some could say) but the vast majority of the game\u2019s charm came from, \u201cI wonder\u2026 will this work? \u2026Oh my gosh, it did!<\/em>\u201d Trying new things, seeing what happens, and exploring exciting new locations are what I would consider ‘light spoilers’ if shown in advance.<\/p>\n

Without spoiling it myself (albeit nearly six years on from release), one of the best moments of the game was arriving at Bowser\u2019s Kingdom, and seeing what the devs did with it that time around. I hardly even recognized it! And that\u2019s not to even mention the game\u2019s thrilling climax, and how they capitalized on the core mechanic there. Just\u2026 *chef\u2019s kiss*<\/em>.<\/p>\n

And it wouldn\u2019t have had quite<\/em> the same impact if I knew more about it ahead of time.<\/p>\n

Sharing is caring<\/h2>\n
\"Can<\/a>
Image: Nintendo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I can definitely see how some would consider this take to be a bit curmudgeonly. \u201cOh, am I not supposed to talk to my friends at all about the game just so I don\u2019t ruin the \u2018surprise\u2019 that you have to jump on a boss\u2019s head three times to defeat him?\u201d<\/em> Sharing your progress with others playing a game alongside you is fun, and can honestly elevate the experience. Remember being on the playground as a kid and swapping stories and strategies with your friends? It\u2019s fulfilling to talk about things you are excited about, with people you care about.<\/p>\n

Of course, there\u2019s no need to be completely tight-lipped, but I do think if you want someone to get the most out of something that you have already<\/em> enjoyed yourself, it\u2019s best to let them go off on their merry way! The best part of an adventure is getting lost, trying new things, and finding your way, after all.<\/p>\n

Say less<\/h2>\n