When Shigeru Miyamoto arrived at the Apple Keynote event to announce Super Mario Run as the first Nintendo mobile game it was a huge deal. A company with such a long history and rich IP was making the jump to mobile to capture both the casual and harcore gamer.
If Nintendo can pull it off, especially with its most recognizable character, it could continue the Nintendo revolution into 2017.
Months later Super Mario Run is available on all iOS devices but is the twist on the classic Nintendo title worthy of the Mario name despite a hefty price tag?
CONTROLS/GAMEPLAY
Super Mario Run does a great job of encapsulating how simple mobile games should be. Literally, all Super Mario Run players have to do is tap the screen to make Mario jump and even then, the game does all the work for you.
Mario runs straight on his own and even vaults over small enemies and obstacles so really the whole point of the game is to jump and collect as many coins as possible while completing each level before you run out of time.
When I first picked up the game, I found the controls not as responsive as I would have liked but I adjusted and everyone will too once you get the timing down.
Super Mario Run does throw in some wrenches in gameplay with wall jumps and levels that offer different paths for players to take, offering some great replay value. And on the subject of level designs, there is enough variation to not feel stagnant. We have the usual Mario levels filled with pipes and Goombas, there are stages in the sky, the boss castle stages that offer somewhat of a challenge and more.
A great example of this level variation is in one of the haunted house stages where the level does not move but Mario continually goes past the screen and turn up on the other side all the while you’re avoiding Boos.
CONTENT
The full Super Mario Run game includes 24 levels scattered across six worlds in the main campaign. You can complete the main campaign in about two hours. You may not think this is a lot (and it’s not) but that’s just if you’re going through each level without trying to collect every coin.
There’s a lot of great replay value in going back to a stage and collecting Pink Coins, these special coins scattered in various parts of a level. Not only will you be rewarded for collecting them all, you will also gain access to Purple and then Black Coins that change the layout of stages and offer more of a challenge.
For the completionist, these are great and you’ll have to continually change your strategy with each failed attempt. Even for myself who doesn’t consider themselves a completionist found myself going back to try and gain each special coin.
Toad Rally and Kingdom Builder are two game modes included in Super Mario Run and offer different experiences. Toad Rally lets players go head-to-head against the “ghost” of an opponent to see who can get more coins and Toads.
This mode offers some variation in the gameplay as coins aren’t the only measure for victory as jumps, wall jumps and other factors bring praise from random Toads who help determine the victors. Players will also befriend these Toads to help them build up their Kingdom, which brings us to the Kingdom Builder mode.
Kingdom Builder lets players purchase buildings and decorations to customize their own world. This is a much more calm and laid back experience than the campaign or Toad Rally and lets players attract Toads to their Kingdom. This is also a place where you can recruit characters and puts more emphasis on grinding levels for coins and Toads, adding to the replay value of Super Mario Run.
VERDICT
Super Mario Run is Nintendo’s first mobile game but it’s a great first step in what looks to be a great marriage between Nintendo and mobile gaming (especially when Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing gets to mobile in 2017). The main campaign is a nice twist to the usual Mario platformer and the added Toad Rally and Kingdom Builder adds a lot more casual gaming feel.
While the campaign may be too quick to complete, it’s a great mobile game for those commuting or those who want to put just 10 minutes into the game at home.
There’s a ton of replay value with the hunt to collect all the special coins and unlocking all the characters and the brevity of the levels makes grinding for Toads and coins a lot easier.
While the $9.99 price tag may make some people balk at the idea of purchasing (I would have preferred a $4.99 price point) it’s the only version you should be playing. The free version doesn’t offer nearly as much as the full game and if you’re looking for a good Mario game on your phone, Super Mario Run is the way to go.
