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I have what’s a good news/potentially bad news situation on my hands here. Yesterday, SEGA announced another set of Wii and DS Sonic games called Sonic Colors. Now they’ve revealed who the development teams are which are working on them.

First, the good news. Sonic Colors for Nintendo DS is being developed by Sonic Team in association with Dimps. You may commence with the rejoicing and the dancing and the good times. At least until you read the next sentence. The Wii version of Sonic Colors is being developed by just Sonic Team. You may cease all rejoicing at this time if you so choose.

I mean, it might not turn out to be awful on Wii. There’s always hope that Sonic Team can get it together and deliver something which is more than just playable but they haven’t shown such an aptitude as of late. All we can do is keep hoping with the expectation that said hopes will be mercilessly crushed.

Sonic Colours Update – Okay AAUK, Who Is Doing It? [Sonic City Blognik vie The Sonic Stadium -- Thanks Connell!]

The answer is yes.

Sound off in the comments!

Oh, I have to write more? Shoot. Okay, I will elaborate on why this is, but just know that there won’t be some kind of surprise ending at the conclusion of this feature. The “yes” may turn into a “YES!”, but, other than the enlarged typing, my opinion will not be swayed. NOT BE SWAYED, I TELL YOU!

In our perfect 10 review of Super Mario Galaxy 2, fellow editor and object of my man crush Dale North excitedly called the Wii sequel the “Best Mario Game Ever!” Obviously I agree with this. But I think it is even more than that. For me, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is the greatest platformer ever made. The best. The #1 platform game of all time. No question.

I know saying things are the “best thing ever” is a daily occurrence for me — just today I have already eaten the best bowl of cereal ever, heard the best song ever, and even drove down the best street I have ever driven on — but don’t let my hyperbole-fueled views diminish your trust in my positive opinions. Although I tend to get excited about everything (did I mention this keyboard I am typing on right now is INCREDIBLE?!), when I mean business, I mean business. And with Super Mario Galaxy 2, I mean business. Serious business.

So, why is Galaxy 2 the best platformer ever created? And what makes a platformer a platformer? Hit the jump for the reasons I think Super Mario Galaxy 2 is pretty much the perfect package. (Also check the end of the post for a bonus list of my top ten favorite platformers of all time!)

The definition of a platformer

What exactly is a platformer? Originating in the ‘80s, the term simply describes videogames involving jumping on, well, platforms (e.g. the original Super Mario Bros., Adventure Island, etc.). The definition may sound overly basic — and, sure, there are more complex sub-genres such as Mega Man and Castlevania — but that’s pretty much the best way to describe what a platform game is and should be.

In a way, the aforementioned sub-genres are part of the problem, one of the reasons the definition gets a little muddled. A lot of platformers now are becoming more complicated, with a heavy reliance on weapons and back-tracking. Not to say that is a bad thing, but with more and more games combining multiple genres, one can start to miss the pure, unadulterated fun of just grabbing a controller, running towards a set goal, and jumping over multiple obstacles.

That’s why Mario games are so great. Even after all these years they like to stick to the basics. Mario may find a variety of power-ups during his adventures, but the games he stars in don’t veer too far from what a platformer should be all about: mainly jumping from one platform to another.

Mario is the king of the genre!

The original Super Mario Bros. is arguably the most famous platformer ever made. And although Mario has been featured in many, many different games over the years, his best appearances are still in platformers.

While there have been a couple of missteps along the way (despite how much I enjoy it, Super Mario Sunshine is rather sloppy when compared to typical Mario standards), the traditional Mario platformers have all refreshingly stuck to the basic rules of what makes a true platformer so great.

Because of this, Mario will always be the king of the genre. While other games that started as platformers moved on to different things (Jak & Daxter comes to mind), Mario trusts its core gameplay and remains wonderfully retro.

The rules of platforming

For a platformer to be a real platformer, it needs to avoid certain things and, more importantly, follow a set of rules.

1. Jumping has to be the primary gameplay focus
2. Levels needs to be mostly linear (no backtracking and open-worlds allowed!)
3. Level design is of the utmost importance

Knowing these rules, some games considered by some people to be platformers really aren’t: Cave Story, Super Metroid, Castlevania, even Mega Man. As much as I love these games, they fall more into the sub-genre of platformers, as there are many focuses outside of just jumping through levels. Cave Story and Super Metroid are full of backtracking in an open-world structure and Castlevania relies too much on weapon collection and defeating enemies. Heck, the jumping in the original Castlevania is so frustrating and hard to manage, calling it a platformer is almost a knock to the genre! A platformer with bad jumping is like a cupcake with Vegemite frosting. It doesn’t work (and makes me throw up a little just thinking about it).

But why do all these specifics matter? Well, they really don’t — a good game is a good game regardless — but it helps to understand what a platformer really is to understand why Super Mario Galaxy 2 is the best the genre has ever seen.

Why Super Mario Galaxy 2 = the ultimate platformer

So let’s apply these rules to Super Mario Galaxy 2!

1. Jumping has to be the primary gameplay focus
Outside of the analog stick on the nunchuck, the “A” button on the Wiimote (a.k.a. the jump button) is easily the most used button in Super Mario Galaxy 2. Why is this? BECAUSE THE GAME IS ALL ABOUT JUMPING, as a platformer should be!

Every single level in Galaxy 2 involves some form of precise jumping from one platform to another. Whether it is a literal floating platform like in the old Mario games, a massive flying spaceship, or an orbiting planet, jumping from one thing to another is the game’s primary action.

2. Levels needs to be mostly linear (no backtracking and open-worlds allowed!)
The best platformers (and maybe all true platformers) separate their games into completely individual levels. Even when platformers moved into the 3D realm and simple left to right movement evolved into a free-roaming paradise — such as the revolutionary Super Mario 64 or Banjo-Kazooie — their main levels still remained separate entities (e.g. Tick Tock Clock in Mario 64; Treasure Trove Cove in Banjo).

With Super Mario Galaxy 2, this rule most definitely applies. There may be a few stars you can collect on the same level or instances when replaying the same stage will yield further rewards, but the entire game is separated into dozens and dozens of completely separate, completely varied levels.

3. Level design is of the utmost importance.
Most importantly, what separates a good platformer from a genius one is the level design. And this is where Super Mario Galaxy 2 shines. I would comfortably go so far as saying Super Mario Galaxy 2 has the best, most creative level design in the history of videogames. It really is that good.

Each level in the game is a true master class in design. Just when a sequence would blow my mind with its creativity (Spin-Dig Galaxy), another level would come along and impress even more (Flip-Swap Galaxy) … and then impress even more (Beat Box Galaxy) … and even more (Chompworks Galaxy) … and then even more (Melty Monster Galaxy).

By the time the game was over I was exhausted by how much fun I had. It truly left me wondering how Nintendo is even going to think about topping this game with future titles.

Let’s imagine all of Nintendo’s brilliantly creative ideas are kept in a jar. In my mind, this jar was not only emptied into Super Mario Galaxy 2, the game’s designers actually took their fingers and soaked up every last ounce of creativity along the edges, like hungry people do when trying to get that last bit of peanut butter.

Nintendo always manages to surprise me, so I am sure their next Mario game will be stunning, but, man, it is hard to wrap my head around how Galaxy 2 could ever be topped.

_{Random editor’s note: I LOVE THIS LEVEL!}

The great comparison!

To prove my point even more about Super Mario Galaxy 2 being the best platformer ever created, let’s look at a (semi-random) list of other excellent, timeless platformers … and how Galaxy 2 manages to school them all.

Banjo-Kazooie
The original Banjo-Kazooie is an incredible, expansive platformer with some of the best music on the Nintendo 64.
Why SMG2 is better: As charming as the levels are in Banjo, Galaxy 2 takes things up a hundred notches. And I would never, ever criticize the addictive music of Banjo-Kazooie … but the gorgeous full orchestrations that score Super Mario Galaxy 2 are beyond incredible.

N+
One of the most challenging and skilled-based platformers ever made, N+ flourishes in its remarkable simplicity and daunting design.
Why SMG2 is better: N+ is definitely more challenging than Super Mario Galaxy 2, but Galaxy 2 rewards its player with more organic level design and a much fairer learning curve. Also, variety!

Drill Dozer
Drill Dozer may have not been played by many people (for shame!), but the Game Boy Advance game is an incredibly solid platformer. It is so old-school that it feels like it could have been released on the Super Nintendo — which is most definitely a good thing.
Why SMG2 is better: Again, Drill Dozer is great, but Super Mario Galaxy 2 does everything better. EVEN STUFF WITH A DRILL!

All the other Mario games
Super Mario Galaxy 2’s biggest competition, funny enough, comes from all the other platform games in the Mario series. They are all fantastic in their own ways, but …
Why SMG2 is better: … Super Mario Galaxy 2 seems to combine the best of each of them. I can’t fault Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, or even the original Super Mario Galaxy on any level — they are all absolutely perfect games — but everything they do great Galaxy 2 just does a little better. Every wonderfully creative stage from all of the old Mario games is topped during one of the many varied, instant classic stages in Galaxy 2.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 really is the new standard for what all platformers should be.

The gauntlet is thrown down!

Okay, now it’s your chance to tell me what you think. I welcome the inevitable disagreements about my bold declaration, but, before you hit the comments, think about the giant smile on your face I know you had when playing a large majority of Super Mario Galaxy 2. Think about how many times your jaw dropped at some of the game’s staggering level design.

It’s pretty hard to argue the game isn’t the perfect (and best!) platformer.

Let’s discuss! If you do disagree, what other platformer do you think is better and why? What do you think of Super Mario Galaxy 2 in general? Do you think it deserves its current place as the highest rated videogame of all time? And where would you rank it on a list of your favorite platformers?

BRING IT ON!

———-

BONUS LIST!

For the curious (and as promised before the jump), here is a list of My Top Ten Favorite Platformers of All Time! (Keep in mind I took out all sub-genre titles, including Mega Man 2, amongst others.)

1. Super Mario Galaxy 2
2. Super Mario Galaxy
3. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
4. Super Mario Bros. 3
5. Super Mario World
6. New Super Mario Bros. Wii
7. Banjo Kazooie
8. Super Mario 64
9. Drill Dozer
10. N+

What do you think?

A developer has told us that one of his company’s games — a title with similar gameplay concepts to popular puzzle game Tetris — has been pulled from the Android Market. This dev received an email that said that their game was suspended from Android Market due to a violation of the Developer Content Policy. They note that there’s no reference to “Tetris” in their game.

Wanting to get to the bottom of this, this developer contacted Google. Google promptly answered that The Tetris Company, LLC notified them under DMCA to remove various Tetris clones from Android Market.

Is there a copyright on the game play? I don’t know. Maybe there’s some kind of patent out there that this dev and the others that have made Tetris clones somehow missed.

Here’s the developer’s feelings on this matter:

It’s a shame that The Tetris Company, LLC uses its power to stop developers from creating good and free games for Android users. Without resources for a legal fight, our application and many others will cease to exist, even knowing that they are legit. Users will be forced to buy the paid official version, which is worse than many of the one available for free on the market.

They go on to point out that other countries won’t eve be able to play the official Tetris as Google Checkout doesn’t exist in all territories, meaning that purchases can’t be made there.

Wasn’t there always Tetris clones? And can The Tetris Company legally lock down on this?

Do you like art? Do you like videogames? Do you like the art created in the production of videogames? Would you like to see George Wendt in a movie about beans? I can help you with the first three.

This Saturday, the Gnomon Gallery will be opening a show of concept pieces from God of War III. On display will be paintings, 3D renders, even charcoal sketches which will presumably demonstrate the creative process behind generating the look of one of gaming’s most iconic franchises. 

You can see a few more of the pieces which will be on display below. 

The Art of God of War III [Gnomon Gallery]

So am I the only one who started immediatly thinking of their zombie surviaval fantasies when you saw Gearbox trademark “Z-Day”? I so can’t wait!

The latest Bit Transmission is out, P.A.D harasses Jace Hall, Ben checked out Crackdown 2, Sonic 4 is getting exclusive stages on the iPhone, Tokyo Game Show 2010 has a ugly logo and more happened on 05/26/10.

Destructoid Originals:
Bit Transmission episode 8
Jace Hall, meet P.A.D’s Jon Carnage
Game SERIES Debate to the Death! Golden Sun series

Community:
Community blogs of 05/26/10
Forum of the day: Alan Wake

Previews:
A leap and a bound back to Crackdown 2

Contests:
Contest: Win an Xbox 360 and UFC Undisputed 2010!
(UPDATE) Win an Alpha Protocol Themed iPod Touch now!

News:
Splatterhouse set for Halloween release
Sony credits the PS3 Slim as their turning point
Wii Fit and DDR might wind up in Naval boot camp
Save ten bucks on Episodes from Liberty City today
Rock of the Dead seemingly coming to 360 and PS3
Scratch: The Ultimate DJ coming to iPhone, iPad and PC
Free: Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Lite for iPhone
Rumor: Team ICO HD Collection rumored for Q1 2011
THQ announces THQ Partners
Singularity gets another trailer, watch it if you want
Wild Arms dev hiring for a PS3 and PSP world project
Free App of the Day: SemiRPG
A good old game of Cops & Robbers in Kane & Lynch 2
Taiko no Tatsujin drummed up for iPad
Sonic 4 getting two exclusive stages on iPhone
Square Enix’s Yoichi Wada is all about Heavy Rain
Rumortoid: Natal will cost $149, release Oct 26th
Kung-Fu Live attempts to steal Natal’s thunder on PS3
New to Steam for Mac: Half-Life 2, EVE Online: Tyrannis
Class of Heroes dev to release a free PSP RPG
Test Drive Unlimited 2 dated, pre-order items revealed
Tokyo Game Show 2010’s visual is an ugly idol
New to Steam for Mac: Half-Life 2, EVE Online: Tyrannis
Red Dead Redemption getting its own short film soon
Arkham Asylum 2 will be Hamill’s last as The Joker
Gears of War 2 wants you back, baby
Uh, yes please! Gearbox trademarks ‘Z-Day’

Offbeat:
Ryu Hyabusa is coming to Super Mario Crossover
Adorable takes on BioShock, L4D and more in stickers
This is probably the worst Wii peripheral ever
What the final LOST episode means for videogames

Media:
Atlus bringing 101-In-1 Sports Megamix to North America
Casual games boost cognitive function, says study
More Sonic?! Sonic Colors announced for Wii and DS
Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals announced for Nintendo DS
Pac-Man has a match-3 party on the iPhone, iPod Touch

*Header unrelated.

Rockstar Games is going all out with its promotion of Red Dead Redemption, even though the game seems to be selling perfectly fine through word of mouth. As a matter of fact, it’s getting a 30-minute short film that’s poised to premiere on FOX this Saturday. They really want all eyes on their newborn child, huh?

Since these are videogames we’re talking about here, you’ll need to stay up until midnight to watch. Alternatively, you can wait it out for someone to upload it moments after the original airing.

John Hillcoat of The Road fame directed this presumably big-budget machinima production, which I’m not sure how to feel about. At any rate, the characters and world of Red Dead Redemption are enough to have me interested. I am, however, a tiny bit worried about this being dialed down too far for television.

Gears of War 2 is still very much alive and kicking as far as online multiplayer communities go. I know this because I’ve totally been playing the game lately, not because some nicely formatted email worked its way into my inbox. Not a chance!

The sixth title update, which is making the rounds today, does a few interesting things — like add Social matches (aka player matches) into the mix. Some general tweaking of the other match types has been included to differentiate this new one from the classics.

Here’s where it gets kind of strange. You need to own all of the Gears of War 2 add-on packs to access this Social Xbox LIVE option. This isn’t an issue for those with Game of the Year Edition, and thankfully, you can now get every last bit of DLC together for only $10 — not too terrible, eh?

Hmm. What else? If you’re still here, click through for the full patch notes. Also, triple XP goes into effect tomorrow morning and will last until June 1. Sounds like decent enough incentive to me.

Title Update 6

• Adds a new public multiplayer match option called Social Xbox LIVE (aka player matches), open to anyone who owns all downloadable maps (that is, All Fronts Collection).
  • You can join Social Matches in progress and can quit any time without penalty, although players who quit early don’t receive earned experience (XP).
  • Social matchmaking lets your party join a match in progress. If a match is not found, your party hosts a new match, filling any empty player slots with bots.
  • Social Matches automatically cycle to the next map without further matchmaking.
  • Teams are rebalanced between matches based on XP level without splitting parties.
  • If you quit, your spot is taken by a bot until a new player joins the match. That new player can join while the match is in progress.
  • If you join a match in progress, you are assigned a team based on XP level and party size.
  • If you join a match in progress, you replace a bot at the earliest opportunity: at the first bot’s death for respawning game types (for example, Annex) and at round completion for Warzone, Execution, and Wingman.
  • Social leaderboards become part of the War Journal.
• Renames Public Matches to Ranked Xbox LIVE Matches to differentiate these from Social Xbox LIVE Matches, and adds some improvements to these matches.
  • Improved host selection using bandwidth testing and previous hosting data has been added.
  • Before the match begins, teams are balanced based on XP without splitting parties.
• Renames Private Matches to Custom Xbox LIVE Matches and makes these matches invite-only.
• Adds the ability to join Horde sessions that are in progress.
  • In Social Horde, you can join a session in progress through matchmaking.
  • In Ranked Horde, you can join a session in progress only through invites.
  • If you join a session in progress, at the end of the session you receive the score you achieved during the time you spent in the session.
• Improves the precision of weapon selection using the D-pad.
• Improves client-side hit detection for ballistic weapons.

Exploit Fixes

Title Update 6 fixes these possible exploits, where under certain circumstances:

• Execution rules could be ignored when using certain weapon types.
• On the Subway map, you could get outside of the playable environment by sliding into cover and rolling between a train car and the side of tracks.
• On the Blood Drive map, you could get outside of the playable environment in various locations.
• Players could grief other players on Submission, Annex, King of the Hill, and Guardian games by preventing the objective from being completed while racking up points. Title Update 6 adds match time limits to each of these game types to prevent this practice.

General Fixes

Title Update 6 fixes these other issues as well:

• An issue that could cause your profile to be overwritten, erasing XP, level, and achievement progress.
• An issue that could cause a campaign save slot to be overwritten if you previously chose to continue without saving and then signed in.

Balancing

Title Update 6 makes these balancing changes:

• Changes the Gnasher Shotgun pellet pattern to increase hit consistency.
• Changes the Guardian game type to select the leader based upon XP level (highest to lowest).

With a few unannounced projects kicking around over at Gearbox Software, it’s nearly impossible not to wonder what’s next from the studio who most recently brought us the much-loved Borderlands. Based on a recent trademark, it’s looking as if something called Z-Day is one of the mystery products.

Assuming the “z” isn’t short for, oh, “zooplankton” or some such weirdness, I think it’s a relatively safe bet Z-Day is going to be about zombies. Although, a game about the constant fear of being eaten as a microscopic organism could be pretty rad too.

File this one under “wait for E3 at the earliest,” because Gearbox isn’t talking now.

Is Z-Day A Zombie Shooter From Gearbox? [Siliconera][Image]

With a few unannounced projects kicking around over at Gearbox Software, it’s nearly impossible not to wonder what’s next from the studio who most recently brought us the much-loved Borderlands. Based on a recent trademark, it’s looking as if something called Z-Day is one of the mystery products.

Assuming the “z” isn’t short for, oh, “zooplankton” or some such weirdness, I think it’s a relatively safe bet Z-Day is going to be about zombies. Although, a game about the constant fear of being eaten as a microscopic organism could be pretty rad too.

File this one under “wait for E3 at the earliest,” because Gearbox isn’t talking now.

Is Z-Day A Zombie Shooter From Gearbox? [Siliconera][Image]