Super Mario Run is set to release on Dec. 15 for iOS, and there are lots of tiny details about the app that Nintendo hasn’t been totally clear on. In the interest of information, here are five facts everyone should know before downloading Mario’s mobile adventure.
1) The Truth About In-App Purchases And Price: Super Mario Run has been advertised as a one-time pay experience for $10 with “unlimited access to all three of the game’s modes in this release.” If that’s true, why does the iOS App Store page say the product supports in-app purchases?
There are a few reasons for this. Primarily, it’s because Super Mario Run is a free demo download that’s later unlocked through an in-app purchase of $10. It’s also worth noting the deliberate wording of Nintendo as well. Getting “unlimited access to the modes in this release” doesn’t exclude the possibility of additional map packs that might be purchased later on. After all, having access to base modes is one thing, but that’s quite different from allowing access to all the maps those modes might contain in the future. While paid DLC hasn’t been announced yet, the official statement certainly leaves that door open.
2) It Requires An Internet Connection: As Mashable reported last week, Super Mario Run will require an internet connection at all times regardless of the mode you’re playing. According to franchise creator Shigeru Miyamoto, this decision was made to “keep all of the modes functioning together and offering the game in a way that keeps the software secure.”
Taking the spin out of that quote, Super Mario Run takes advantage of internet algorithms to stop hackers from pirating it and offering it as a free download. We wouldn’t expect this process to consume large amounts of data, but having to keep a connection open all the time might negatively impact your device’s battery life.
3) Multiplayer Needs Tickets: Super Mario Run’s multiplayer mode is called Toad Rally, and it features time trials with friends and random players on the internet. However, to play in Toad Rally you need a ticket first.
Tickets can’t be bought through microtransactions. Instead, they’re offered as rewards for solid play in the single-player mode called World Tour. You can also get tickets by playing bonus games inside structures of your Mushroom Kingdom built in the Kingdom Builder mode. Special structures are built using coins collected on each course.
4) Miitomo Helps You Find Friends: In order to find friends to play Toad Rally with, Nintendo has suggested using accounts created in its Miitomo social app. Players create a Mii just like they would on a Wii or Wii U, and that Mii is used as an avatar for Super Mario Run and possibly other apps in the future.
While it’s uncertain if there are other ways to connect with friends, Miitomo seems to be Nintendo’s recommended method. We haven’t seen evidence of workarounds in trailers, so you might want to download Miitomo here ahead of time.
5) There Are Other Characters To Unlock: In addition to Mario, it’s also possible to unlock other playable characters like Luigi, Yoshi and Toad. Luigi and Yoshi are earned via bonus games in Kingdom Builder mode, while Toad is a My Nintendo reward. My Nintendo rewards are unlocked via points collected in Miitomo and other Nintendo games.
When you do unlock them, each character has special abilities. For example, Luigi and Yoshi are able to do their classic drift jumps over long distances.
Super Mario Run releases on iOS Dec. 15. An Android version is expected to arrive in 2017.
What do you think of these Super Mario Run facts? Are you going to download the game on its release date? Tell us in the comments section!
