Super Mario World

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Super Mario World
By Chaser
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I like Karma, one condition to reading this review is that you have to at least consider if it deserves it. To do so click the Green R in my reply, then approve and write a comment. Thanks - My reply is at the bottom of the page.

Quick Info
Platform: Super NES, GBA, Wii
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-2
Genre: Platform
Price: 800 Wii Points
Release Date: 1990-92, 2002, 2007
Media: 4-Megabit Proprietary Super NES cartridge,
32-Megabit Proprietary GBA cartridge, 512KB Wii Virtual Console Download
Rating: ESRB: Everyone OFLC (‘cos I’m Aussie): G

You can find the screenshots at the bottom of the page, KTHXBAI

Controls
Sorry to all those who expected controls as I have a bad memory for these things, so from now on don’t expect ‘em in my reviews.

Introduction

Get ready to hop in to Mario’s overalls and journey off on a 96 level adventure. Re-released as a Wii Virtual Console title, it definitely is a good way to spend your 800 hard earned Wii points. The last and best Mario game of the 2D era has definitely left a sweet taste in the mouth until New Super Mario Bros. arrived and still continues to be a delicious snack in a world plagued by gaming crap. The plumber really had it nailed this time, so much that it still betters New Mario, a game that is 15 years older, why? Please, I insist, go on and read this review and you will get the answer you oh-so anxiously await.

Story

This game took a long time to become popular and at its release was shunned by the media who took favour to Sonic. The story is one reason why Mario titles will never be remembered for an original story, ever. I suppose the positive side of it is that Mario meets his green dinosaur sidekick Yoshi who really opens depth to the game and is a successful character to this day. It’s something about Mario chillaxing in ‘Dinosaur Land’ only to have the princess stolen away from him by that lumbering fool Bowser. You know the rest, trudge through a few castles and get the princess back only to be rewarded with cake, no wonder he pimps himself out to every sport known to mankind (Mario Croquet, anyone?).

Gameplay

Yep, this is premier Mario gameplay. Journey your way through a couple of worlds and try to find the course ‘exits’ (96 of ‘em in total). The courses, i.e. levels, are so much more detailed than their NES counterparts and the variety of enemies and goodies just enhance the awesome experience. Yoshi, the little green critter is the heart ‘n soul of the game and the one who refreshes it all. After all who couldn’t enjoy eating your enemies? Besides yoshis there is the ability to throw shells upwards, flying with the cape and the spin jump. The cape is a great power-up, which unfortunately did not see the light of day in New Super Mario Bros., but it could be pretty much summed up as a speedier and more sensitive version of the Racoon suit in SMB3. The spin jump is quite neat; it allows you to bounce off dangerous surfaces, break blocks and destroy tougher enemies that normally require a couple of jumps to defeat. It can also be combined with the fire power-up for a multi fireball attack in all directions. The power-up system has been refined; no longer do you need Super Mario to reach the cape and fire suit. Also there is the ability to hold power-ups in reserve and then bring ‘em out with SELECT when the going gets tough. I personally don’t like how Mario reverts back to small Mario even in his final forms, even though this was fixed in Advance 2. The difficulty of the game is bliss too and don’t think that you will be finishing off with ninety lives (New Super Mario Bros., I’m glaring in your direction). The courses looks nice, are much larger, have nice underground parts and secrets, well placed power-ups and checkpoints and the difficulty learning curve really journeys from novice to hair-pulingly difficult, S’great.

Graphics

The graphics at the time weren’t mind blowing but they sure did a good job of making a mockery of the Genesis/Megadrive’s. Nice, bright, positive spectrum colours all arranged in the usual Nintendo fashion. The sprite design is a little plain but still it was a massive leap from SMB and it comparable to the Allstars re-release. No fixes in the re-makes, which I think is a nice tribute to the original developers. The levels themselves are quite pretty, especially the backgrounds. Remember this game is seventeen years and it still does the job of providing an excellent 2D Mario gameplay experience, so I’m going to mark it up for that. Still remember in Japan this was a 1990 release, compare it to other games of the era and the difference is very obvious.

Sound

Koji Kondo at his finest. All the music here perfectly matches the level design and moods the developers were looking for. Although it is a little tedious that a lot of the music is the same theme re-worked, the variety in the themes keep it fresh. Example: the ghost house has a rework of the theme played in a warbling minor which gives a rush of anxiousness to the player or another good one is when you hop on your Yoshi and suddenly the theme is played out with bongos and it gives a feeling of ecstasy. The sound effects are GLAZINGLY good, yessir, they completely crap all over Sonic and the jump sound is a real standout, and maintains a nice sense of unrealism.

Conclusion

I hope I have given you a good picture of what to expect and a reason to buy Wii Points. Slowly but surely, this game took over the world, eventually overtaking Sonic and warranting two re-releases and thank god they did because it was a fine way to end the 2D Mario Legacy, Yoshi’s Island and New Mario aside (they weren’t true to the roots). Replay value is huge here, finding all 96 exits can keep you going for an amazing length of time. I beg you somehow track a copy down whether it is on your Wii or your SNES and please play through all 72 courses and all 96 exits and then you will understand the true meaning of platform. It was almost the pinnacle of the 2D series and it demands to be played, PLAY!

Better than: New Super Mario Bros
Worse than: Yoshi’s Island 2: Super Mario World 2

Pros +++: Amazing gameplay, nice difficulty
Cons---: Graphics were no match to the later 2D incarnations, Story is utter crap.

Chaser’s Ratings (Out of 10)
Story: 3/10
Gameplay: 8/10
Graphics: 8/10
Sound: 8/10
Replay Value: 9/10

8.5/10