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Super Mario World Discussion (Nintendo SNES) [game]
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04/29/13, 07:45 Edited: 04/29/13, 07:48
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Yeah, this game sits in an odd position for me. On one hand, it's very nostalgic and I have fond memories playing it back when I first got my SNES. There was a certain amount of intrigue and mystery about the game. The graphics were of course better than any other Mario before it, and the amount of secrets got cranked to 11 compared previous entries. The music was good stuff too - the 'Forest of Illusion' track in particular just makes childhood memories rush back to me like none other.
On the other hand, I felt this game also took several steps backwards, compared to Super Mario Bros. 3. I mean, now there were only TWO power-ups in the whole game (Cape and Fireball), instead of the 5 or 6 that were in the previous game? What's that all about? No cool, "hidden" two-player mode between Mario and Luigi when they are on the same space on the map screen? You don't even have an inventory on the map screen anymore, only allowing you to keep several items available to use before you enter a level! I was upset by these 'drawbacks.' Still, very good game and I enjoyed it.
But then Yoshi's Island came out years later, billed as the sequel to the SNES launch game, and it blew me away. Sure, it was a totally different game (kinda) but it just felt fresh, new, imaginative, and best of all? It didn't feel like it was trying to be Super Mario Bros. 3 again, which is ultimately what Super Mario World felt like it was trying (and failing, IMO) to do.
So yeah. It's in an odd spot. Good game, had lots of fun with it, but it sits well under the shadow of both the game that came before it, and the one after it. For me, anyway. Not sure where it sits for me in a ranking of all the Mario games. |
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GameDadGrant said:On the other hand, I felt this game also took several steps backwards, compared to Super Mario Bros. 3. I mean, now there were only TWO power-ups in the whole game (Cape and Fireball), instead of the 5 or 6 that were in the previous game? What's that all about? No cool, "hidden" two-player mode between Mario and Luigi when they are on the same space on the map screen? You don't even have an inventory on the map screen anymore, only allowing you to keep several items available to use before you enter a level! I was upset by these 'drawbacks.' Sure, but how much do those things really matter? Were all those extra powerups really a big deal? The P-Wing was neat, but essentially a one-level Super Guide. The Tanooki Suit was just a raccoon tail with a cute but mostly pointless extra ability. Frog Mario was funny but total crap out of water (and arguably worse than Fire Mario underwater, too). The only suit I ever missed from SMB3 was the Hammer Suit, but that thing was so rare that most people never even knew about it. As far as I'm concerned, the addition of the Yoshis more than makes up for dropping all those superfluous suits. (This is also one thing the New games get right: the powerups are numerous AND totally rad). The map-screen inventory was a loss (I'd say a minor one) but I still think the new in-play powerup storage slot was a genius move that makes up for it. Getting hit now automatically reverts you to regular old small Mario, and you have to grab the powerup that you had stored before it drops, usually in an area dangerous enough for you to get hit again. It's a great risk-reward mechanic. The Mario Bros-style versus mode was fun, I'll give you that. I'm glad Nintendo has made simultaneous co-op a priority in Mario games recently. There are a ton of little things that put World on top for me, but the kicker that puts it ahead of SMB3 is the addition of Secret Exits and all the great things intertwined with them. Wacky shortcuts back and forth through a World Map that had a sense of place and character. Nonlinear, puzzle-style ghost houses full of secrets. The meta-puzzle of the Forest of Illusion. The super special Star Road! Suddenly there was more incentive to explore than extra lives and fleeting powerups. I do think SMB3 does a slightly better job of varying up its level designs and themes throughout, but that's really all it has on World for me. |
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