Even more memories of the game that created Yoshi.
Matt West, Associate Editor
My first memory of Super Mario World is when my cousin told me he had a Super Nintendo at school. I had no idea what that was, as the NES was my first console, and I just assumed that that was how video games were always going to be played. He invited me over to his house to play and my mind was blown. The SNES and Super Mario World became my new obsession, and it wasn't too long after before I found myself opening my own new SNES and copy of Super Mario World for Christmas.
There are a few things that Super Mario World did that I will always remember and be thankful for. First, the evolving world map was an amazing concept, and unlocking its secrets became the talk of the playground. Finding the secret levels and hidden paths have always been a part of Mario games, but the way Mario World changed its map as you went along was new and fresh and something that I wish hadn't completely disappeared until New Super Mario Bros U's release over 20 years later.
The new enemies and power-ups were fantastic as well, although not quite as interesting as the ones in Super Mario Bros. 3. The Cape Feather and P-Balloon were interesting concepts that made levels feel much more vertical than most that had come before them. Enemies like Chargin' Chuck and Wiggler are still some of my all time favorites in the series.
And finally, my favorite contribution from Super Mario World, Yoshi. My favorite video game character was introduced in Super Mario World and he changed the game in some really cool ways. Eating enemies, some of which would give Yoshi new abilities, was a really cool feature. Finding the secret levels with different-colored Yoshi was also a highlight, and this game set the stage for Yoshi to get his own spin-off titles, a few of which have been fantastic games in their own right. Yoshi was a fantastic addition to the series, and has become my main character in most of the Mario spin-off titles like Mario Party, Mario Kart, and Mario Golf. I know I'm not the only one that loves Yoshi, and we have Super Mario World to thank for his existence.
Super Mario World isn't my favorite 2D Mario game. That honor belongs to Super Mario Bros. 3. But it is most definitely my number two on the list by a wide margin, and it's the last 2D Mario game that I felt really pushed that side of the franchise forward in a meaningful way.
Zach Miller, Associate Editor
Like so many of us, Super Mario World was my introduction to the Super Nintendo. From the start of the game's opening attract sequence, I knew that this was something special. The graphics, of course, made my young eyes pop, but the music was also so different and catchy. It was love at first sight.
The game starts off brilliantly with Mario riding a dinosaur (Yoshi!) and getting a new power-up (the cape!). There are slopes, fruit, Chargin' Chucks, and oh my gawd guys, a giant Bullet Bill! Super Mario World introduced so many new things that I was constantly floored. Finding all the secret exists was such a time-sink, but I loved it. The Special World continues to inspire. The ever-changing map screen was an evolved form of the Super Mario Bros. 3 map--more organic and interesting.
Years later I still play Mario World from time to time. It's become apparent that the game is actually fairly conservative--there are only two power-ups (Fire Flower and Feather), one new move (spin jump), and then of course Yoshi. The Ghost Houses are maybe a little overused. The castle levels are still gorgeous and daunting. To me, the best part of Mario World is the hidden exists which are often cleverly designed. The famous "back door" into Bowser's castle, using a shortcut through the Star Road, is another bit of inspiring level design.
While I prefer the cavalcade of powers offered in Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World is a better-designed game overall. I had always hoped we'd see another Mario game using these sprites, but alas that never happened. Now we have Super Mario Maker though, so I can make my own Mario World stages if I feel so inclined.