Zero Punctuation Season 9 Episode 40 Super Mario Maker
- Not Rated
- October 14, 2015
Zero Punctuation season 9 episode 40 is all about Super Mario Maker. This episode sees the return of Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw, the show's acerbic and irreverent host. Known for his rapid-fire delivery and scathing wit, Yahtzee takes on Nintendo's Super Mario Maker, a game that allows players to create and share their own Mario levels.
From the outset, Yahtzee is skeptical of the game's concept, calling it a "toy box" rather than a proper game. He asks why anyone would want to spend hours creating levels when they could be playing a fully-realized Mario adventure.
But despite his reservations, Yahtzee dives into Super Mario Maker with characteristic gusto. He spends hours creating levels, experimenting with different mechanics and designing fiendish challenges. Along the way, he offers his trademark commentary, deriding the game's cheery aesthetics and pointing out its various flaws.
One of Yahtzee's major criticisms of Super Mario Maker is the lack of an overarching narrative. Unlike other Mario games, which have a clear story and sense of progression, Super Mario Maker is purely a collection of individual levels. Yahtzee draws a comparison to old-school arcade games, which also lacked a narrative and instead focused on skill-based gameplay.
Another issue Yahtzee has with Super Mario Maker is the amount of user-generated content available online. He complains that most of the levels he comes across are poorly designed or downright unplayable. He suggests that Nintendo could have done a better job curating the levels, perhaps offering a system for users to vote on their favorites.
Despite these criticisms, Yahtzee ultimately concludes that Super Mario Maker is a valuable addition to the Mario canon. He lauds the game's infinite replayability and the creativity it encourages in its players. He also admits that the game has given him a newfound appreciation for level design, noting that it's much harder than it looks.
Throughout the episode, Yahtzee peppers his commentary with his trademark humor, making fun of everything from Mario's absurdly large nose to the game's propensity for "Satanic" level design. His quick wit and irreverent style will keep viewers laughing and engaged even as he critiques the game's flaws.
Overall, Zero Punctuation season 9 episode 40 is a must-watch for anyone interested in Super Mario Maker or game design in general. Yahtzee's trademark critique and humor provide valuable insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the game, making for an entertaining and informative viewing experience.