Super Mario Maker
2015
- platform
- action
- kids
- single player
The story
Super Mario Maker lets people’s imaginations run wild. For the first time ever, friends can have fun playing through levels they create for one another. The Wii U GamePad controller makes it so easy for anyone to create levels; it may feel like simply sketching out ideas on paper. Players can enjoy a seemingly endless supply of inventive Mario levels from players around the world. The game includes a book totaling about 100 pages that illustrates the boundless possibilities in Super Mario Maker. Nintendo will also release two special Mario amiibo figures to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original Super Mario Bros. game. Tapping these amiibo in Super Mario Maker adds a Big Mushroom power-up to your course, allowing Mario to grow big and bust blocks from any direction, as well as adding a retro visual filter to the game, reminiscent of older cathode ray tube televisions. In addition, many other amiibo will also be compatible with Super Mario Maker through the use of a new item called the Mystery Mushroom. This item allows Mario to take the appearance of many other characters, such as Link, Kirby or Wii Fit Trainer, complete with character-specific animations and sound effects. These character costumes can be unlocked by completing the 100 Mario Challenge mode and many can also be unlocked if the player taps the amiibo of the character to the Wii U GamePad.
What it’s like
Bright, flat pixel sprites sit on tidy side-scrolling stages in four classic looks, from the original 8-bit scrolls to the bouncy late-era style, with the blip of coins, the squash of stomped enemies, and a chiptune pulse that loops under every build. Editing feels like sketching on graph paper: you drop blocks, pipes, and goombas onto a grid, then press play to see whether the jump lands. The mood is playful tinkering, a sunny workshop that suits a lazy afternoon, a rainy Sunday on the sofa, or a few quick levels before bed. Pacing is brisk and retry-friendly, with short courses, timed challenges, and an endless stream of community stages to dip into. Emotionally it stays light and encouraging, with a hint of mischief when someone builds a fiendishly cruel trap. Violence is cartoonish: enemies are stomped or burned, Mario bounces off into pits and lava, and there is no blood, gore, or sexual content, just the odd frustrating death. It fits players who want creative, low-stakes fun, parents and kids building courses together, and anyone who enjoys the satisfying loop of designing a level and watching strangers try to beat it.
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