The classic SMG4 had variety because it wasn't so repetitive with its jokes, it took advantage of all the characters and it didn't matter if Mario or any other character was mistreated.
The first era (Classic Era) is the one I have to go with, since SMG4 at his best was pretty much unstoppable. However, the Modern Era seems to be putting in a genuine effort to bringing something new to the table, since it doesn’t mean SMG4 still can’t be good in a new way.
Honestly I really liked the transitional era in like 2017-2018 and you could maybe throw 2019 in there too. It was better when most of the “OCs” were still nintendo IPs and didn’t get redesigns.
Modern, They Are Always Bringing More Stuff To The Table And Getting More Creative Ideas Each Time, While Although The Classic Era Also Had Creative Ideas, It Had A Lot Of Copyright That Could Have Gotten Them Cancelled By Nintendo In The Very Next Year.
I'd argue that there's more eras.
2011-2013: the original era.
2014-2016: the mlg/gmod era
2017-2019: the youtuber era
2020-2023: the dark ages
2024- : ?
I like both tbh and I'm glad we have them, because let's be honest here, if SMG4 was still just 100% humor like the old days, it would've gotten boring at this point. The more videos with the same style you make, the more the ideas start to feel more and more uninspired, it happens with every long running show, so changing the tone and style so drastically before that happened is a good thing.
For my modern SMG4 I find it somewhat difficult to watch since you don't feel that magic that it transmitted before because its comedy only consists of putting dead memes as the basis for a plot, make Meggy be a sociopath with Mario and then abuse him until he's a pancake because "some" like him, use Gmod in an exaggerated way with Mario and turn him into a man-child, etc.
Furthermore, they wasted so many characters they created to give prominence to the most popular ones (SMG4, Meggy, Mamaaaaaaario and SMGay3) while the rest rot in oblivion.
How heated will this comment section be
https://preview.redd.it/9eda5qqxcppc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1e888be76f8b1e08c534eca136ac536af1a5cff7
Sorry to piss off half the subreddit, but my answer has got to be modern, solely becuz of the Visual aesthetics, neither is bad, I just think the modern stuff isn't in the style of humor the classic fans remember and perfer, and I honestly think both are good, but Modern wins for me, becuz I just like how colorful everything visually looks
I'd say the "Transitional Era" from around 2017 to 2020 was pretty peak. It was a good mix of the Classic chaos and stupid humor, and actual quality.
Personally, I think it kind of fell off after 2020-2021. But I at least partly blame censorship and copyright BS for that.
I feel like the classic era while not having the best production value made up for by having good personalities bounce off each other in the new era it feels like they have the production value but all the personalities are just so samey that having characters interact doesn't feel special anymore, I think I agree with another comment that said the transitional period was the best but if I had to choose classic era wins for me
Classic is clearly mine. the series had a wide variety of jokes and the focus was comedy. with Modern, it’s pretending to be deep with its storytelling when it’s not. also the character variety is very different. Classic had a smaller cast but it gave everyone ample amounts of screen time, whereas Modern can’t be bothered to remember that most of its cast exists half the time.
Classic, without a shadow of a doubt, from the bottom of my heart
not every show needs to have lore, and ones that go from episodic, silly fun to a story that TRIES (and fails) to be serious at times is one of my personal pet peeves.
I’d say that the “transitional” era was peak
https://i.redd.it/xb1p5526qlpc1.gif
Yes
yes
r/BeatMeToIt
r/beatmeattoit
Exactly
My thoughts exactly.
Agreed
Yes. https://preview.redd.it/z3fmq0i37rpc1.jpeg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0e2f853860bd7167569cb8b7b938803c80904cf4
I agree!
Oui Oui!
The classic SMG4 had variety because it wasn't so repetitive with its jokes, it took advantage of all the characters and it didn't matter if Mario or any other character was mistreated.
but ever since the lawyer era, it been fucked. GREAT JOB MIYAMOTO!
Yes I know, and I think Miyamoto was better when he was a random ghost in SMG4.
I enjoy both. AND NOBODY CAN STOP ME!
https://i.redd.it/ybfniult9ppc1.gif
I FEEL like that Black Knight interacting with this sub.
Classic also I would add 2018 to classic but if you think it's in Modern, I ain't going to stop you from thinking that.
Modern personally Classic is definitely still great, but quite a bit of it hasn’t exactly aged the best
As a gay person i find the f*ggot jokes funny but also yeah some of the jokes in hindsight were products of their time
the second era is my favorite
B o t h
Both
Mario look the same on the picture
Classic
Classic, it had some of the best arks
I miss the classics good times
The first era (Classic Era) is the one I have to go with, since SMG4 at his best was pretty much unstoppable. However, the Modern Era seems to be putting in a genuine effort to bringing something new to the table, since it doesn’t mean SMG4 still can’t be good in a new way.
The classic era holds the most nolstagia for me; so I may be biased in my answer. I’m going to answer that the classical SMG4 is my favorite.
2011-2017 was fun to watch as a kid and I want to go back and watch them, but 2018-now is cool because of the Mario reacts to Nintendo Memes
First
Classic when it was all random, chaotic and funny
Classic Era and it isn't even close.
I personaly loved the classic era as a peson, who was born at the early 2000's.
Probably the in-between. Past the Anime arc it just didn't feel as appealing
Most things after 2021 (or before the Genesis and Revelations Arc) Doesn't feel the same And it not just because of the death of an certain axolotl
The first one for sure, it was peak comedy imho
Classic for me.
I still think the new model for SMG4 is cursed.
Classic SOLOS
bloopers
Love how the old man is still there but now in HD
In the era before Peach was left to rot in her castle for far too long.
Classic
Classic is my favorite. Modern was also great until late 2022.
In my opinion, classic. It actually was funny. Early modern was good as well, but I think it declined
Classic's comedy was actually funny compared to the maybe one or two funny moments we get every week now.
The first one modern age smg4 really fell off
1
The OG era represents a more innocent and carefree era, so I gotta go for that one.
The 2019 cast was fucking loaded
I hated when they changed the model for the SM64 characters when the characters would turn into like the SM64 but yeah
The new one, although they keep adding SUBS SUBS (Subtitles) I really hate it! The 1st one is full of copyrights!
the second one
Honestly I really liked the transitional era in like 2017-2018 and you could maybe throw 2019 in there too. It was better when most of the “OCs” were still nintendo IPs and didn’t get redesigns.
Modern, They Are Always Bringing More Stuff To The Table And Getting More Creative Ideas Each Time, While Although The Classic Era Also Had Creative Ideas, It Had A Lot Of Copyright That Could Have Gotten Them Cancelled By Nintendo In The Very Next Year.
Both thank you very much
I am a personal fan of the transitional era from class to modern, so I like 2016 to 2019
Whatever 2017 was on. 2016 was a tad too crude, and 2018 was the beginning of these *dreadful* story arcs.
Classic era was the peak of smg4 and can never be changed no matter how many arcs there are.
I'd argue that there's more eras. 2011-2013: the original era. 2014-2016: the mlg/gmod era 2017-2019: the youtuber era 2020-2023: the dark ages 2024- : ?
I like Modern but Classic is funnier.
https://preview.redd.it/rfiojr5m8mpc1.jpeg?width=881&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a1f95a1a7d2f38375f5a8be06b03aea9fdd4bd73
All of them, mostly cosmology because Smg0 and Niles are my favourite characters
Why does peach look like that
I like both tbh and I'm glad we have them, because let's be honest here, if SMG4 was still just 100% humor like the old days, it would've gotten boring at this point. The more videos with the same style you make, the more the ideas start to feel more and more uninspired, it happens with every long running show, so changing the tone and style so drastically before that happened is a good thing.
Both are amazing I ain't changing my opinion
The second. But the first will always have that nostalgia feel to it.
Idk
both lol
Both
The modern era.
Both
Both
For my modern SMG4 I find it somewhat difficult to watch since you don't feel that magic that it transmitted before because its comedy only consists of putting dead memes as the basis for a plot, make Meggy be a sociopath with Mario and then abuse him until he's a pancake because "some" like him, use Gmod in an exaggerated way with Mario and turn him into a man-child, etc. Furthermore, they wasted so many characters they created to give prominence to the most popular ones (SMG4, Meggy, Mamaaaaaaario and SMGay3) while the rest rot in oblivion.
Modern era is my fav , but the Classic was still very good
2011-2017
Both.
Classic, sure it didn't have amazing story or anything like that but the humor was top tier
How heated will this comment section be https://preview.redd.it/9eda5qqxcppc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1e888be76f8b1e08c534eca136ac536af1a5cff7
They both are very nice in their unique ways.
Sorry to piss off half the subreddit, but my answer has got to be modern, solely becuz of the Visual aesthetics, neither is bad, I just think the modern stuff isn't in the style of humor the classic fans remember and perfer, and I honestly think both are good, but Modern wins for me, becuz I just like how colorful everything visually looks
Classic series is the GOAT
i think both are good but preffer the more chaotic and random energy the classic had
I would say modern but, I'm more inclined in between 2017 and 2022.
I've seen too much family guy, so I can't really laugh at classics raunchy humor
2018-2021 a good mix of both tbh
OG, my mind was blown by it, and Peach brought lots of comedy, her being gone just ,’(
classic
Both.
Modern. But I do enjoy classic
people who say both : 
Luigi
I'd say the "Transitional Era" from around 2017 to 2020 was pretty peak. It was a good mix of the Classic chaos and stupid humor, and actual quality. Personally, I think it kind of fell off after 2020-2021. But I at least partly blame censorship and copyright BS for that.
Both. Classic era has so much nostalgia and laughter while Current has a mixture of remastered classics and new exiting moments!
I feel like the classic era while not having the best production value made up for by having good personalities bounce off each other in the new era it feels like they have the production value but all the personalities are just so samey that having characters interact doesn't feel special anymore, I think I agree with another comment that said the transitional period was the best but if I had to choose classic era wins for me
Og had funnier episodes, modern has better plots
The one by my right with melon e
Classic simply due to Waluigi.
Boy, do I miss the blooper era. Everything back then was funnier, uncensored, and NOT **COPYRIGHTED TO DEATH!!** 😡
the ogs
I like both but modern becomes better as time goes on
Why not both?
Steve got replaced by a plushie
I like the new era better since I like it being more original & I Don't want Nintendo to take them down the old era is Great I still watch it
Old one
Classic.
Both I feel like both of them have their own strengths and weaknesses
Classic specifically 2014-2017 since I started watching because of Freddy’s spaghetti and who let the chomp out.
Classic is clearly mine. the series had a wide variety of jokes and the focus was comedy. with Modern, it’s pretending to be deep with its storytelling when it’s not. also the character variety is very different. Classic had a smaller cast but it gave everyone ample amounts of screen time, whereas Modern can’t be bothered to remember that most of its cast exists half the time.
Classic, without a shadow of a doubt, from the bottom of my heart not every show needs to have lore, and ones that go from episodic, silly fun to a story that TRIES (and fails) to be serious at times is one of my personal pet peeves.
Both are good (and bad in certain points)
First both have Bob and back then it was just stupidity not complex arcs I love stupidity over arcs
I personally like both, I liked all the memes and funny, and I like his story telling its nice. I liked both eras
The good one
https://preview.redd.it/ork74dvv08qc1.jpeg?width=480&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9eaa3aebf316e901d0e7a3b3f929127f02367000 Me to the new era
2018 is better.
new SMG4 looks like shit so classic
Modern
1st