Mario Run? An App that’s a Mario game? No 3DS required? Playable anywhere on your phone?
Mario Run is a dream come true for long time Mario fans and mobile phone users alike, and it’s no surprise why! A Historic Day In The Mushroom Kingdom!
Image Courtesy of Nintendo
First off I have to acknowledge the historical significance of Super Mario run. This is Mario’s first game ever on a mobile phone platform. Nintendo has been notoriously strict with use of their intellectual properties outside of their own realm of software and hardware until very recently. This is one of the products of that loosening of rules and hopefully Nintendo will see just how successful their characters can be on other platforms besides their own. Super Mario Run and Pokémon Go are excellent starts in what is sure to be a fantastic line of Nintendo Apps.
A Remixed Mario Experience
Super Mario Run’s composition is interesting at least from a longtime Nintendo fan’s point of view. It is stylistically similar to any given entry from the New Super Mario Bros. series, but also incorporates some of the throwback sprites reminiscent of Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World’s art style. This granted is what Nintendo has been doing with a lot of their Mario games lately. What sets this game apart is the remixed gameplay style.
Image Courtesy of Nintendo
Mario Run has Mario & friends constantly moving forward and only gives the player the option to jump by tapping on the screen (and do wall-jumps and the like accordingly), in a fast-paced dash across the Mushroom Kingdom to save none other than Princess Peach. Interactions with enemies are also fairly different, as your basic ground enemies will just be vaulted over if you don’t react while approaching them, a big departure from the norms of the series. The game mechanics make it feel like a stripped down and sped up version of Yoshi Touch & Go, which relied heavily on the “always moving” and touch screen aspects as well.
Much like New Super Mario Bros. the player in Super Mario Run is also challenged with not only beating the levels but also finding a variety of hidden coins scattered throughout. A task that’s easier said than done. There’s no time to explore when Mario is always running.
Game Modes
Image Courtesy of Nintendo
The game has two main modes accessible from the main menu with the first being Tour. Tour is your standard access to the main game, levels, and coin challenges. This is likely where you will spend most of your time playing. The alternate mode is a new and interesting take on the first. Toad Rally is a mode that allows you to play against ghost data of other players and compete for the most style points while playing through the level. The winner receives more Toads cheering, and in turn, more Toads that help you unlock decorations for your main menu. Both are fast paced fun and offer quite a bit of replay value.
How many Coins is this going to cost me?
In short $10, but it’s an interesting decision as this is sort of uncharted territory for Nintendo. A new Mario game on a Nintendo console can run you anywhere from $40-$60 but though this is an official Mario game, it is significantly smaller than most even with it’s replay value. $10 for an App seems like a bit much, but given the content of it, it’s well worth your money. Super Mario Run has actually risen to the top of Apple’s Top Grossing list even though the first world of the game is free to play. This game will likely be one for the record books.
Overall
Whether this is your first Mario game, or you’re a long time Nintendo veteran, Super Mario Run is a blast. The learning curve is incredibly small, as the game operates only on tapping the screen, a feature Miyamoto himself was fairly proud of and the whole experience feels familiar, but somehow refreshing. The one shortcoming of the game is that it is currently only available on iOS devices, leaving out Android users for the unforeseen future. Hopefully this will be remedied soon though. I came into the game with fairly low expectations, and was completely blown away. I have taken at least three breaks writing this article to keep playing the game, so be warned, if you buy it be prepared to have a Mario obsession for a little while. Check out the trailer below and see why people are running to get Super Mario Run! Except you don’t really have to run, just have an internet connection.
Video Courtesy of Nintendo Mobile
What’s the next Nintendo property you would like to see in App form? Are you happy with these new entries into the Nintendo worlds? Let me know in a comment below!
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