Hmm... I'm always cautious about these comparisons because they can be misleading. Still, it does feel like they put down a little more of a story for the old games, even if it's just to fill up the manual.

The newer games almost become philosophical in terms of story, because they're so barebones. The princess is kidnapped by bowser, because that is their nature. Peach's nature is to be kidnapped, Bowser's nature is to do the kidnapping. It's no different than the rain falling or the wind blowing.

Not that these games have ever needed too much of a story, but as I grow older, I do appreciate the effort.

no game really "needs" story, mario or otherwise.

but it's just nice to have, isn't it?

This feels a bit like Batman and Spiderman origin stories. Everybody knows the deal by now, no need to elaborate. Mario will be saving the princess.

Some games absolutely NEED story, Mario is probably one of the farthest from needing it.

Honestly, I most likely wouldn't play a game if there was no story whatsoever. I mostly play games to experience the story. Gameplay is just what I have to deal with to get through the story.

Same

its not that the story even needs to be super detailed or complex. just anything thats even 0.00001% more than "bowser kidnaps peach" would be perfectly fine. thats what super mario odyssey and paper mario 1 did, and everyone loves those games.

i cant agree.

to me, story is just a bonus to contextualize fun gameplay.

of course stories are great, but gameplay matters the most.

if you have a good story but bad gameplay, nobodys gonna care about the story anyway. just look at sonic and the secret rings, good plot but nobody cares about it cuz theyre too busy being mad that the controls are bad and the missions are annoying.

i know, but at least the teeniest, tiniest bit extra would be fun.

I'm perfectly happy with something as simple as the old Sonic games, like, 'Robotnik is back and kidnapping animals again, go fuck up his shit'. As long as there's at least a nugget of a story that explains why I'm there, what I should do, and what my motivation is.

I mean, in 64, Peach had baked a cake but meanwhile Bowser showed up and trapped everyone in paintings, Sunshine is about a similarly ruined vacation as Super Mario World, Galaxy is i'm pretty sure about an errant asteroid that is sent from outside our solar system holding an ancient technology that threatens the entire existence of mankind and its up to a scrappy band of dudes and some English-accented space lady to save the day (or something). Odyssey is about how forcing someone to marry you isn't a good look and also we all have to juggle a lot of different roles in the modern age. Game's still got plenty of lore!

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>Still, it does feel like they put down a little more of a story for the old games, even if it's just to fill up the manual.

The manuals had extra lore for sure, even about many specific characters. All the stuff in OPs post about SM3 and SMWorld however was told through "cutscenes".