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Remembering Super Mario World

Remembering Super Mario World (Part 2)

by Justin Berube, Zachary Miller, and Matt West - September 30, 2015, 1:07 pm EDT

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.

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Talkback

fred13September 30, 2015

I remember spending a lot of time on Star Road (We called it Star World) we knew there was something extra special about it, but we couldn't figure out what it was...until we discovered how to get to that star in the middle that took you to the crazy levels. And after you beat all those crazy levels (I don't know what to call them we also referred to them as the Ninja Turtle levels because of their names "Tubular", "Outrageous" ect.)
I also remember when I discovered that every single "red" level and every single ghost house had 2 exits. I spent a lot of time opening up every secret level in that game.
To this day when we go visit my parents my dad and I will usually pull out the old SNES and play some Mario World.

ShyGuySeptember 30, 2015

The first time I played it, the spin jump baffled me. Still don't care for it.

Spak-SpangSeptember 30, 2015

Super Mario World may just be the best platform game ever created.  It holds up still today, both graphically and with game play.  World took everything that was in Super Mario Bros 3 and polished it up, and refined it...and simplified elements that could be simplified.  Yes, there are fewer power ups but that made designing levels more focused. 


Almost each and every level has something unique about it...and challenges the players in unique ways, but the game also builds upon each level so that you can revisit some core game challenges that were fun. 


Super Mario World and Link to the Past are two games that I consider perfect.

MythtendoSeptember 30, 2015

Super Mario World is still my favorite Mario game. SMB3 is good, but SMW improved on it in almost every way. Between the SNES, GBA, Wii VC, and Wii U VC, i've beaten this game dozens of times over the years and always enjoy it (though Tubular can choke on a meatball and die, I always hated that level because of how hard it was). Giving secret exits to levels, fun new enemies like Chargin Chucks, giving you a partner/sacrificial lamb in Yoshi (and I would always go out of my way to get Blue Yoshi since it can fly with any Koopa shell). The game's graphics still hold up (I don't think SMB3 still holds up as well, unless you mean the improved graphics it got in Super Mario All-Stars). I could not say enough good things about this game, I love it and will continue playing and beating it at least twice a year and would have no problem buying it again if Nintendo released it on 3DS (whether it's the SNES version or the GBA version).

And I liked the spin jump.

BranDonk KongOctober 04, 2015

Spin jump kills the Dino Rhinos so they don't crap out a baby who shoots flames at you...and it breaks blocks to get keys in a lot of levels...very useful.

jarodeaOctober 06, 2015

My favorite Mario and platformer.  The exploration, massive world, and long varied levels are why I love it.  The Star World and Special World blew me away as a kid (I don't think I ever beat the last special world level) and are what makes a platformer great imho.

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