It took nearly two months of intermittent play, but I've finally gone through the entirety of SNES Online's launch library. Join me one more time as I talk about Super Mario World. BACKGROUND:
Mario is one of those game series that I enjoy a lot, whether it's the 2D platformers, the 3D ones, or the 17 million spinoffs Nintendo has been churning out for the past 30 years. It's certainly a franchise that consistently and and reliably delivers a good time, especially in terms of the main series games. While I much prefer the 3D Mario games, I am certainly no stranger to the 2D titles, having played the first three games, The Lost Levels, and even one of the New Super Mario Bros. titles extensively. Out of all of those, Mario World is still my personal favorite, so I was quite excited to play it again (without emulating it illegally this time). SUMMARY: If you've played a Mario game before, you know the plot at this point: Peach gets kidnapped by Bowser, Mario comes to the rescue. Having played a ton of these at this point in my life, I'm already desensitized to it, so there's really no sense in me going on a diatribe about it. After the game sets the scene, you're thrown into an overworld much like that of Mario 3, which means you've got yourself a world map with all the levels laid out. The immediate difference between this game and Mario 3 is that the entire map (and the levels) aren't all revealed at once, so you can't exactly plan your route ahead. This is where the fun of Mario World lies. Many levels throughout your journey feature multiple "exits" — that is, there can be more than one path in order to reach the end of the level. The next level you play through is determined by which exit you take in the previous level, which means you can take a drastically different route getting to Bowser's castle compared to, say, my last playthrough. It's much like the warp zones of the first Mario, except you end up in more unique levels as opposed to simply skipping ahead through the game. You can also activate colored switches that unlock new paths in levels you've previously visited, uncover shortcuts across worlds, and find yourself taking on surprise challenges (like optional boss fights) by exploring these various exits and combing through levels in general. It's no Metroidvania, but there are a ton of secrets to uncover, and with the myriad of paths you can take, you have the freedom to either go for 100% or tear through everything by taking the least amount of exits. Individual levels are your bread and butter 2D platforming gameplay, but things have changed since the last few games. For example, you now have a spin jump, which allows you to break blocks, kill stronger enemies, and even navigate hazards like Thwomps. You also now store extra power-ups you acquire, and unlike Mario 3, you can activate them mid-level instead of in the overworld. Speaking of power-ups, you still have the classics like mushrooms and Fire Flowers, but in addition, you have the Cape (which grants flight the same way the Super Leaf does in Mario 3, but controls much differently), and the now-iconic Yoshi. Your dinosaur buddy can help you out with its ability to eat enemies and objects, spit out certain projectiles, get past hazards, and can even give you an extra jump. It's a fresh new addition (at the time, anyway) that changes the game significantly without being too overpowered. Other than these new mechanics, Mario World is still the Mario you may have come to know. Jump, stomp, pick up and throw items, collect coins, get to the end before time runs out. While all the new shit changes the game quite enough, the level designs do well to also pick up the pace, featuring new enemies, level mechanics, layouts, and more to test your skill. At the end of each world, you'll be taking on one of the seven Koopalings, and while they aren't particularly challenging boss fights (which is Mario tradition at this point), the fights themselves are fairly unique from one another, so it's still fun to take on. As I mentioned, there are also optional boss fights to find, and of course, Bowser himself. Mario World also improves on the previous games in terms of presentation. Not only is the 16-bit overhaul a clear step above, level aesthetics are now more varied than ever, with the game taking you over mountains, through forests, across rivers, into ghost houses, and so much more. The music is also fantastic, and features tracks that have now become iconic Mario staples. VERDICT: Though many would argue that Mario 3 is the best 2D Mario of all time (and I'm inclined to agree), I think Super Mario World comes pretty damn close to taking that spot. More than just an improvement visually, the game features an openness that rivals that of Mario 3, rewarding exploration in a satisfying way, and encouraging you to forge your own path. The new mechanics and level elements are an added bonus, making the very journey of going your own way fun yet fairly challenging all throughout. If you ask me, the first four Mario games are essential playing, so if you haven't already, you really ought to check out these games. You can start pretty much wherever you'd like, but I personally recommend playing them in order. That'll do it for the SNES Online blog series for now. Once Nintendo releases more games for the service, I'll be back with more of these. For now, I hope my deep dive into the wonderful world of Super Nintendo has encouraged a few readers out there to check out these games. - end -
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Categories
All
Archives
July 2024
Derryck
|