MFGG - Mario Fan Games Galaxy

Review Information

Game Reviewed	Mario Floating Islands, by Blaster
Review Author	ByeBye
Created	Feb 13 2025, 4:05 AM

General Commentary and Game Overview

Ever wondered what a fan-made Super Mario 64 successor might have looked like if it were made in Game Maker by a one (most likely child) team? Well, Mario Floating Islands is exactly that, a 3D platformer from 2007, running on sheer ambition and love for Mario. It’s clunky, it’s weird, and it’s oddly charming. Even today, 3D Mario fan games are a rarity, so this was way ahead of its time. Sure, it’s a bit of a mess, but there’s something magical about games that just go for it.

Pros

+ A 3D Mario fan game from 2007?! That alone is wild to see.
+ It’s got that nostalgic, amateur charm; you can feel the passion.
+ The music selection is surprisingly fun.
+ The boss fight? Actually pretty solid all things considered!
+ Infinite stars — collect to your heart’s content (but be prepared to be locked out of levels)!
+ Levels may be rough, but they do offer variety in structure and obstacles.
+ Feels like a bizarre Mario-themed walking simulator at times, and honestly, that’s kind of fun.
+ The mismatched graphics (SMRPG Mario, flat Goombas, SMW springs) are a beautiful mess.
+ Feels like a relic from a simpler time when anything was possible with enough determination.

Cons

- The camera is way too close at first, and even when adjusted, it sits too low to the ground.
- Judging where platforms begin and end is a guessing game.
- If you collect too many stars, you can’t redo levels — you need the exact amounts to enter doors.
- Mario himself is perpetually blurry, like an eye test that never ends.
- Star Door 6’s stage has moving platforms straight out of a fever dream.
- Moving platforms in general seem to take the most questionable paths possible.
- The gameplay feels a bit repetitive; there aren’t a lot of standout moments.

Impressions

Gameplay 4 / 10	The fact that Mario Floating Islands even exists as a 3D Mario game made in Game Maker is an achievement in itself. Movement is functional, and while the physics are far from refined, you can get around well enough. Despite the game feeling somewhat samey, there’s still a weirdly enjoyable charm to wandering its odd floating islands. However, the platforming suffers from depth perception issues, awkward camera placement, and finicky moving platforms. If you go in expecting smooth Mario 64-style controls, you’ll be in for a rude awakening. But as an experimental 3D platformer, it’s a fascinating ride that shows just how far fan made games have come.
Graphics 5 / 10	This game is a mosaic of different Mario art styles, and somehow, it all comes together in the most wonderfully amateur way. The environments are crude, Goombas look like cutouts (Mario Party Advanced, I think?), and Mario himself is permanently blurry, but it all adds to the charm. It’s a time capsule of early 3D fangame development, where limitations were ignored in favor of sheer enthusiasm. The only real downside is that the camera doesn’t do the game any favors — it’s too close to the ground, making jumps harder to judge than they should be.
Sound 6 / 10	One of the game’s stronger points! The music selection is surprisingly enjoyable, and while sound effects are a little inconsistent, they do the job. It’s clear the developer put effort into making the soundtrack feel fun and by-the-books, which helps smooth over some of the game’s rougher edges. It might not be orchestrated brilliance, but it’s catchy and familiar and MIDI enough to make your floating island adventure a bit more engaging.

Final Words

Mario Floating Islands is a weird, nostalgic little piece of Mario fan game history. It’s broken, clunky, and full of bizarre design choices—but there’s a real charm to it. Even today, 3D Mario fan games are a rarity, so seeing something this ambitious from 2007 is nothing short of impressive. It may not be a hidden gem, but it’s an artifact worth looking at.

And hey — still looking forward to the full release!

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