Gentlegamer wrote:Hype doesn't survive for two decades,
You're right- hype is the wrong word, since that's more of a short-term thing. But I can't think of the right word, so I'm gonna stick with it. But, of course undue fanaticism can survive for two decades. Happens all the time with video games. Another game I played for the first time around 2000 was Final Fantasy VII. While SM64 was revolutionizing platformers, Final Fantasy VII revolutionized RPGs. I loved FF7 and it was one of my favorite games. But if I played it in 2007, or 2017, would I feel the same way about it? Tough to say for sure, but probably not. I haven't played it recently, but most people say it hasn't aged well. Maybe it was an A+ in 1997, but a B range game in 2017--just like SM64. Some games are timeless, like Super Mario Bros 3 and SM World. Those games will always be good. Some games are great in their heyday, but they aren't timeless. SM64 is not timeless IMO.
Gentlegamer wrote:and to call the supporters of Super Mario 64 cultists is absurd.
It sure is, which is why I never said that. While my post may have sounded a bit harsh, in fairness I did still call it a B+ game. If a B+ is offensive to people, then they may be cultists after all..
Gentlegamer wrote:it is your taste and judgement that is faulty.
You're right, I'm sure taste plays a role in it. It plays a role for everyone. As I've mentioned before, I personally find 3D Mario games to be overrated, despite giving them many chances. And it all started back around 2000, when I was really looking forward to SM64 and then felt disappointed when I actually played it. It was good, but did not live up to all the build up that I had heard.
Gentlegamer wrote:And if you thought it was a mediocre game or just above average platformer in 2000 (and you don't say compared to what)
As for the "compared to what" part... Well, one problem I always have with 3D Mario is that I feel like the Mario characters and games have the personality of a dead trout. Even if Mario has better design, I've always preferred my platformers to have personality, so from that era I prefer games like Sonic Adventure, Banjo-Kazooie, NiGHTS into Dreams, and the Crash Bandicoot series. I have more fun with those, even if Mario is "technically" better.