PixlBit

Games of the Decade #18/Blog a Day #13

Hello everyone, how are you?

2015 was probably one of the worst years for Nintendo. Probably the worst one. By this point it was apparent that the Wii U was a failure and Nintendo couldn't turn that around. All third-party support was gone and it was up to Nintendo to support the system with their own games. But that's not to say Nintendo didn't release any new games that year. In 2015 Nintendo gave us a game that we always wanted and that game was Super Mario Maker.

                     Welcome back to Soup- uh I mean the music is pretty good too ♥

No backstory this time since there is pretty much none to talk about this time. Note that there won't aways be a backstory for these posts. If you're the creative type, you're gonna be spending most of your time in the Course Maker. The best thing about Super Mario Maker is that you can create your own levels using any of the 4 available gameplay styles. They are in the Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros. U style. Each one looks just like the game they are based on and they also have the same physics and they play in the same mechanics from those games. 

You can also add things that were never in those games, like Boos never existed back in Super Mario Bros. unless you played one of the different modes in Super Mario Bros. Deluxe but in this game you can do just that. One of the best things here is that you can mix and match things like making enemies big, stacking enemies and so forth. Want to make a cannon fire out Goombas? You can do that. All the things in the game are meant to work with each other which is really impressive and you can come up with some really crazy courses. After making a course you can then upload it so everyone can try it out.

One of the best things about the game is the various costumes you can make Mario wear. Ever wanted to see Sonic the Hedgehog in a Mario game? Now you can with the Sonic costume. How about Link jumping in a Mario game? Blasphemy right? You can do that in Super Mario Maker. Ever wanted to see Mario drive a Mercedes Benz? Well that one is a strange one but yes you can absolutely do that too. The costumes only work in the Super Mario Bros. style but that's honestly the best feature in the game. People have even made levels based on the various costumes too like Metroid themed levels and whatnot.

                                 It's really surreal seeing Mario promote Facebook

The worst part of this game is that you can make your own courses. "Wait, how is that bad?" You might ask. Well, because Nintendo has given us the tools to make our own levels, that means anyone can upload a level, which isn't bad. The bad thing is that people have uploaded some really tough levels that are guaranteed to make you toss your controller at a wall. You can only upload levels if you are able to clear them yourself so at least Nintendo thought that through. But that still isn't good enough if people are able to clear their hard courses which shows a flaw in that system.

If you're not the creative type and want to play right away, then you can head over to the Course World. It's here where you'll find all sorts of user-made levels that creators have uploaded for everyone to try. You can find all sorts of levels from easy levels, to hard levels, and "Kaizo" levels. The latter levels really test your skills. However there are all sorts of really amazing and creative levels. There are levels I've tried that auto complete themselves without you ever touching a button. To other creative levels that test your knowledge and others that are inspired by other games and even movies. Some have even made levels that recreate famous songs too. You can find all sorts of great user-made levels.

Nintendo has even published some special courses as well that you can try. Nintendo has even partnered up with certain people and brands and has allowed them to publish their own special levels and a good number of them offer a new Mario costume as a reward.

"But Captain N, where can I try this game?" On the Wii U obviously. I have never seen this game go on sale but if you have a Wii U and fancy making your own levels, I highly recommend getting it. Especially a physical copy since that includes a booklet. There's also a 3DS version as well but that one is missing features from the Wii U version. They also made a sequel called Super Mario Maker 2 for the Nintendo Switch but unfortunately I haven't gotten around to picking it up. I will one of these days.

                                     This level really tests your patience and sanity

Final Thoughts: Super Mario Maker is a very special game, tell me, have you always wanted to create your own Mario levels? Now you can and Nintendo is giving you all the tools you'll need to make your dream levels a reality. The only limit is your imagination obviously, and maybe any limitations the tools might have because there are some limitaions on what you can do. Like no slopes.

If you've ever wanted to see how creating levels for a game works, this game gives you great insight at game development. In fact, the tools used in Super Mario Maker are the same ones Nintendo uses to make these games. So in a way they are selling their (Mario) game development software. The developers have even gone on to say thatthey are really surprised and impressed at the levels people have made and that serves as inspiration for them so they can make better levels in future Mario games.

Super Mario Maker is also one of the small handful of games that make excellent use of the Gamepad, everything was tailor-made for it. Unfortunately this game released really late into the Wii U's lifecycle and while the game sold well, it couldn't turn around the situation for the system. But I will say this, if there is one thing this game made me want is more "Maker" games. Imagine a Kirby Maker, Zelda, Metroid, or even a Donkey Kong (Country) Maker? Get on that Nintendo.

 

   I'm still surprised at how only a handful of people have cleared my level after all these years

Well that's it for this one. I'll be seeing you soon for the next one as soon as I can clear this level...

 

*All images except the first one were provided by my Wii U and Super Mario Maker*