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3DS

Super Mario World Review Revisit

by Danny Bivens and Bryan Rose - April 2, 2016, 3:23 am EDT
Total comments: 5

NWR staff and community members alike take another look at Mario's first 16 bit adventure.

Considering that it was the launch title for the Super NES back in 1991, it only makes sense that one of the first SNES Virtual Console titles to hit the 3DS is Super Mario World. Mario’s first three adventures are considered some of the best titles to ever hit the NES (yes, even the vegetable throwing original sequel!). Neal Ronaghan, our site’s director, made clear his thoughts on the game in his mini review of the Wii U port back in 2013, saying “Super Mario World is, rather bluntly, one of the best platformers out there, and in the upper echelon of Mario games”. Neal’s thoughts pretty clear, but how about others on staff? We asked them, along with several NWR community members, their thoughts and experiences with the 3DS version of Mario’s fourth platforming adventure.


Bryan Rose, Reviews Editor: I first played Super Mario World in 1992 when I got my Super Nintendo for the first time. For years, that was the only game I ever played on the SNES, aside from Street Fighter II here and there. Twenty four years later, SMW fits like a well worn glove. It’s instantly familiar, and it’s charm still resonates just like it did when I turned on my Super Nintendo for the first time. The game can be challenging, but it hits that difficulty mark well in that it doesn’t become too tough. If you want to beat the game in 30 minutes or less, it’s rather easy to do, but to clear every level, find every exit and uncover all areas...that takes a great amount of time and skill! The reason why I love Super Mario World years later is because it’s so diverse, and each experience feels new. Each playthrough is different, and my goal in what I want to do in each playthrough changes every time I start a new save. The experience always changes, even though the levels and enemies are the same. It’s not too different than what you’ll find on the Wii U Virtual Console version, but if you’ve never played this game...what are you waiting for? Super Mario World to this day remains one of my favorite video games of all time, and it’s faithfully represented in this 3DS port.

Danny Bivens, Associate Editor (Japan):Without a doubt, Super Mario World is one of the greatest games ever created. At this point in time, it has seen life on numerous Nintendo platforms so gamers may be wondering if this new version is worth taking a look at. The answer here is definitely yes! The Virtual Console version on the New 3DS still retains everything that made the original release so fantastic - great controls, a sharp, colorful visual aesthetic, amazing music and tons of secrets buried in many of the levels. The polish from top to bottom make it easy to simply keep coming back to this classic. My only complaint with this version doesn't have anything to do directly with the game, but rather the way it’s emulated. Be absolutely sure to run the game in Pixel Perfect mode for the optimal visual experience! If this isn’t turned on, the sprites and text are a bit washed out which really takes away from the art style. Fortunately, this situation can be remedied rather painlessly as turning on the option takes literally seconds. Other than that, simply having a portable version of Super Mario World on the go for the first time in a decade and a half is almost reason enough to pick this up. If you already own it on Wii U, it might be a little redundant to go for it again, but if you’ve been holding back on purchasing a re-release for a few years, now is the time.

Casey Gibson, Contributor: The agonizing wait for SNES games to hit the 3DS eShop has finally come to an end. Among the first batch of games to arrive is the 1991 launch title, Super Mario World. It’s hard to believe this game was released just shy of 25 years ago as it still stands up exceedingly well to today's offerings; a true master class in the platforming genre. Super Mario World offers a collection of masterfully crafted levels with tons of secret exits that will keep you on your toes. We’re introduced to a number of new features not previously found in the series such as the Spin Jump, the Cape, Ghost Houses and Yoshi, many of which would become staples for the franchise. Beautiful sprites coupled with an iconic soundtrack is more than enough to pull on the nostalgia heart strings for veterans, but at the same time is fresh and doesn’t feel dated for newcomers. Whether it’s your first play through or if you just want to take a stroll down memory lane, the 3DS version is a great route to go. It runs smoothly, looks great and has the convenience of portability along with the option to use save states, if that’s your thing. Super Mario World is a seminal title in the series and is an absolute must play for any Nintendo fan.

Alex Mateo, Contributor: Super Mario World is the one game that I revisit at least once a year, and that is because it has withstood the test of time. Sporting detailed 2D spritework, gorgeous colorful backgrounds, and a catchy soundtrack, SMW is a beautiful game from start to finish. Mario controls with masterful momentum, making the running jumps feel exhilarating and successful platform landings feel gratifying. Each level is well-designed, continuously introducing new mechanics that teach and test players. Castle levels, in particular, showcase some of the most challenging elements, including rotating spike balls, moving blocks, and crushing spires. Mario’s arsenal of power-ups grows with the addition of the high-flying cape and the lovable gluttonous dinosaur mount, Yoshi. The strength of the power-ups lies in allowing gamers freedom in how they want to experience SMW. Less experienced gamers can use power-ups to assist with getting through each level, while players who have mastered their mechanics can breeze through levels. Those seeking challenge can even ignore power-ups altogether. The secret exits and hidden shortcuts through the overworld add layers of excitement. It is liberating to be able to play the game in so many ways, whether playing normally, running the fastest route, completing every exit, or locating the 5 Dragon Coins in each level. Topped off with the ability to save state anywhere, Super Mario World is a great choice for on-the-go Mario.

John Herbrand, Contributor: The first thing I noticed about Super Mario World was the interconnected world map. It’s a feature that’s only been repeated in New Super Mario Bros. U, and even that just placed the standard grass/ice/desert/etc. worlds next to each other and connected the dots. True to its name, Super Mario World’s overworld feels like, well, a world, one which must be navigated by crossing bridges, trudging through murky caves, and exploring your way out of a tangled forest. And you’ll want to explore to the best of your ability: roughly five out of the eleven total hours I spent completing the game were on finding every secret exit and playing the secret levels they led to, with it all leading to a final reward that’s…way cool. Those are my fondest experiences with Super Mario World: grabbing a cape from the Top Secret Area and riding Yoshi around Dinosaur Land in search of new hidden adventures to tackle. The game runs wonderfully on the New 3DS and features an optional “Pixel-Perfect” mode that slightly shrinks the size of the screen in order to display the game at its original resolution, which looks strikingly clean. Restore points are also included, and I admit I did end up creating my own checkpoints for a few of the more, shall we say, insane secret exits (looking at you, Cheese Bridge Area). While discovering these secrets is definitely the highlight of Super Mario World, the boss battles deserve special mention. There are some really creative fights with the Koopalings that buck the standard “Hit ‘em three times” rule. A little detail I loved is how Mario destroys each of their castles differently, ranging from detonating some explosives to scrubbing it out of existence entirely. It’s charming, clever and always put a smile on my face – just like the game itself.

Talkback

MrPandaApril 02, 2016

Great reviews for such a classic game!  It was my pleasure to contribute!

Mop it upApril 02, 2016

Where is Insanolord's review?!

MythtendoApril 02, 2016

In my mind, this is easily the best Mario game ever (yes SMB3 is good, but SMW is better in every way). I've bought this game on every platform Nintendo has released it. Since I don't know if i'll ever get a New 3DS though, I may not get this release because Nintendo chose to make them exclusive to the New 3DS (I highly doubt the original 3DS isn't powerful enough to emulate the SNES).

Quote from: Mop

Where is Insanolord's review?!

I had a pretty hectic time with my family and wasn't able to play enough of it to feel comfortable reviewing it. I think most people here have a pretty good idea of where it'd have fallen, though.

supermario2kApril 04, 2016

I love Super Mario World, it is not just my favorite Mario game, but probably my favorite video game of all time.

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