Game Boy Advance (Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2) Super NES (Super Mario World) Wii - Virtual Console (Super Mario World)
10 out of 10
Mario may be the single most recognizable character in video game history. This may be the best game ever created starring everyone's favorite Italian plumber. It had level variety, new power-ups to the series, and a loveable green (sometimes) dinosaur that Mario can ride whom we came to know as Yoshi.
The storyline is the same old story since Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Entertainment System. King Koopa himself, Bowser, has kidnapped Princess Peach and it's up to Mario...And to a lesser extent, his underrated brother Luigi...To save the princess from getting some unwanted koopa love. In a side story, you're also trying to help out your new pal, Yoshi, along the way by rescuing his friends who have been captured in some of those familiar "?" boxes...But that's not much of a story element, just an excuse for the creators to justify bringing in the Yoshi character.
As with most Mario titles, the controls are very tight and easy to use. Within seconds, you'll know how to do what you need to do in order to save the princess. This game introduced a few new features to gameplay that the previous three Super Mario Bros. titles didn't have. The main one is Yoshi, the loveable dinosaur sidekick of Mario. There are four different Yoshis in the game; green, yellow, red, blue and each one has their own destinct abilities. Also introduced in this game is the Cape ability. Upon obtaining a feather, Mario dons a cape and can sail through the skies with ease.
Much like Super Mario Bros. 3 before it, the boss fights in Super Mario World consist of Bowser's children, all leading up to a final showdown with Bowser at the end of the game. A few of the boss battles are the same, but for the most part, there is variety in each fight. And, much like 3, Super Mario World has a "shortcut" to allow players to play the game from beginning to end in a matter of minutes, or play every level and spend hours getting to the final battle with Bowser. It's freedom like that which makes this one of the greatest titles, not only from the 16-bit era, but of all-time.
As in every Mario game, the level layout in Super Mario World is unbelievably great. Every level is fun in its unique way, and with the inclusions of switch palaces and alternate locations to finish a level encourage gamers to revisit completed levels to find every secret in the game. Every location in the game has its own distinct feel, and that keeps the gameplay fresh.
A Mario game would not be complete without enemies. In Super Mario World, old favories like Goombas and Koopas return alongside newcomers like Chargin' Chuck and Monty Mole. Each enemy has it's own weaknesses, and in some may not be defeated with a simple "jump in its head" maneuver. It may take the newly introduced "spin jump" to get the job done. These new enemies and new gameplay elements bring a refreshing new experience to the Mario formula. A very welcome new experience.
Super Mario World may be the best platformer you can find in video games. Many consider it to be the best 2D Mario in the series, some consider it to be the best Mario in the series, period. I'm part of the second group. With it's more than seventy well-designed levels, branching pathways, and innovative gameplay, you'd have your work cut out for you if you'd try and find yourself a better platform game. Go back and play this game one more time. You'll be reminded why Mario is the icon that we know him as today. - Ape
August 13, 1991
Novemer 21, 1990
April 11, 1992
