Colne Crusader Wed Oct 10, 2012 6:47 am[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Platform: Super Nintendo/ Super Famicom
Release Date:Nov 1990 Japan. Aug 1991 North America. April 1992 Europe.
Back in the late eighties, Nintendo's NES was massive in Japan and the States, and the Super Mario Brothers games were renowned as the finest examples of home gaming software around. You only have to watch American movies from the era to see the huge number of "In film" references to the NES that displayed it's relevance to American Home life. I don't think the NES was as successful here in Blighty, but usancient distinguished gamers at least, were au fait with the brilliance of the little Italian drainage expert and his "Wardrobe borrowed from the set of Rainbow" clad brother Luigi! Who knew that Rod, Jane and Freddie would be so influential!
Anyway!!!! When information started trickling through from Japan of the forthcoming Super NES console there was much merriment, and the people did danceth in the street, and many wenches were enjoyed!! Ahem!! Sorry! When news of a new Mario game as a launch title was unveiled, there was even more excitement. This was a time remember, when consoles were released in Japan, but then us Europeans had to wait upto 2 years for the machine to reach our shores! There were no simultaneous worldwide release dates in those days! Sure, there was the Grey Import market, but most of us waited for the official stuff! As a result of this wait, Super Mario World, or "Super Mario Brothers 4" as it was dubbed became highly revered and we just couldn't wait for it to arrive!
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So what of the game?! Well, I don't think I need to explain the mechanics of a traditional Mario game too much, but this of course was a traditional side scrolling platformer. Simply negotiate the terrain from left to right and move onto the next world! Sounds simple enough!! The game takes place in Dinosaur Land, the home of Yoshi, our little dino chum. The Evil Bowser has reared his unsightly mug once again, and it's up to the boys to save the Brontosaurus esque ones from his dastardly shenanigans! in similar vein to the previous game -Mario Bros 3-, the game hub is presented as a map from which you can wander to the next level of choice should you have opened the path to it!
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The perfect controls of Mario 3 are present here. There are differences in the gameplay however, provided by the introduction of the dinosaur Yoshi, and Mario's ability to ride the little blighter makes for a completely different way to negotiate some stages. Also there are new costumes. Collecting a feather provides a cape which provides Mario with the ability to fly which also changes play dramatically when used! Also, Yoshi can eat most foes and obtain various powers by holding the various coloured shells of downed koopas in his mouth. Various other strategies provide many ways to tackle each encounter within a level.
The ultimate aim is to reach the Castle of Bowser at the end of the game. There are a whopping 96 levels to negotiate. You don't have to play them all to reach the end, but the longevity is provided by searching for the alternative hidden exits that exist on certain stages that will unlock a path to another section! Along the way you will encounter familiar outdoor and cave type environments, but you will also have to negotiate some Ghost Houses which provide many of the games most challenging sections! There are also various castles which house the game's boss minions! It's compelling stuff! I simply could not rest until I had found all 96 levels, and some of them are quite fiendishly hidden! Very satisfying when you find them let me tell you!
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Graphically the game wasn't the best example of what the SNES could do, but the graphics were colourful and crisp, and took advantage of the increased processing power of the new machine. Graphical effects were shown off too, such as the Snes's renowned Mode 7 graphical sprite rotation! innovative in it's day!! The visuals still look vibrant even today!! The music and sound effects are excellent! There are some great jolly tunes and standout moments include a great sort of Jazzy, Honky Tonk Piano number that remains one of my best memories of gaming! Effects are bouncy and bubbly!
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Super Mario World to me is perfect!! Simple as that! A masterpiece on a brilliant console, from a wonderful era of gaming, that stands up even today as a flawless experience! The genius Nintendo design is here in abundance and the subtleties of using the various abilities of Yoshi and Mario make for some absolutely classic gameplay. Searching for the various hidden exits provides a great deal of longevity and I would implore you not to use a guide if you haven't mastered this game before because it is very very satisfying when you find them! The physics of Mario are perfect. You never feel cheated or frustrated. The level design is flawless. It is all flawless!! This is the best Mario game ever created in my opinion! Some may not agree, as many people have left 2D platforming behind in this modern age, and that is fair enough but I will love it forever!! Mario World can be found very high on the top games of all time lists of many websites and magazines and quite rightly so in my opinion!
There's only one score I can give it....
A perfect 10 out of 10!
Platform: Super Nintendo/ Super Famicom
Release Date:Nov 1990 Japan. Aug 1991 North America. April 1992 Europe.
Back in the late eighties, Nintendo's NES was massive in Japan and the States, and the Super Mario Brothers games were renowned as the finest examples of home gaming software around. You only have to watch American movies from the era to see the huge number of "In film" references to the NES that displayed it's relevance to American Home life. I don't think the NES was as successful here in Blighty, but us
Anyway!!!! When information started trickling through from Japan of the forthcoming Super NES console there was much merriment, and the people did danceth in the street, and many wenches were enjoyed!! Ahem!! Sorry! When news of a new Mario game as a launch title was unveiled, there was even more excitement. This was a time remember, when consoles were released in Japan, but then us Europeans had to wait upto 2 years for the machine to reach our shores! There were no simultaneous worldwide release dates in those days! Sure, there was the Grey Import market, but most of us waited for the official stuff! As a result of this wait, Super Mario World, or "Super Mario Brothers 4" as it was dubbed became highly revered and we just couldn't wait for it to arrive!
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
So what of the game?! Well, I don't think I need to explain the mechanics of a traditional Mario game too much, but this of course was a traditional side scrolling platformer. Simply negotiate the terrain from left to right and move onto the next world! Sounds simple enough!! The game takes place in Dinosaur Land, the home of Yoshi, our little dino chum. The Evil Bowser has reared his unsightly mug once again, and it's up to the boys to save the Brontosaurus esque ones from his dastardly shenanigans! in similar vein to the previous game -Mario Bros 3-, the game hub is presented as a map from which you can wander to the next level of choice should you have opened the path to it!
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
The perfect controls of Mario 3 are present here. There are differences in the gameplay however, provided by the introduction of the dinosaur Yoshi, and Mario's ability to ride the little blighter makes for a completely different way to negotiate some stages. Also there are new costumes. Collecting a feather provides a cape which provides Mario with the ability to fly which also changes play dramatically when used! Also, Yoshi can eat most foes and obtain various powers by holding the various coloured shells of downed koopas in his mouth. Various other strategies provide many ways to tackle each encounter within a level.
The ultimate aim is to reach the Castle of Bowser at the end of the game. There are a whopping 96 levels to negotiate. You don't have to play them all to reach the end, but the longevity is provided by searching for the alternative hidden exits that exist on certain stages that will unlock a path to another section! Along the way you will encounter familiar outdoor and cave type environments, but you will also have to negotiate some Ghost Houses which provide many of the games most challenging sections! There are also various castles which house the game's boss minions! It's compelling stuff! I simply could not rest until I had found all 96 levels, and some of them are quite fiendishly hidden! Very satisfying when you find them let me tell you!
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Graphically the game wasn't the best example of what the SNES could do, but the graphics were colourful and crisp, and took advantage of the increased processing power of the new machine. Graphical effects were shown off too, such as the Snes's renowned Mode 7 graphical sprite rotation! innovative in it's day!! The visuals still look vibrant even today!! The music and sound effects are excellent! There are some great jolly tunes and standout moments include a great sort of Jazzy, Honky Tonk Piano number that remains one of my best memories of gaming! Effects are bouncy and bubbly!
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Super Mario World to me is perfect!! Simple as that! A masterpiece on a brilliant console, from a wonderful era of gaming, that stands up even today as a flawless experience! The genius Nintendo design is here in abundance and the subtleties of using the various abilities of Yoshi and Mario make for some absolutely classic gameplay. Searching for the various hidden exits provides a great deal of longevity and I would implore you not to use a guide if you haven't mastered this game before because it is very very satisfying when you find them! The physics of Mario are perfect. You never feel cheated or frustrated. The level design is flawless. It is all flawless!! This is the best Mario game ever created in my opinion! Some may not agree, as many people have left 2D platforming behind in this modern age, and that is fair enough but I will love it forever!! Mario World can be found very high on the top games of all time lists of many websites and magazines and quite rightly so in my opinion!
There's only one score I can give it....
A perfect 10 out of 10!
. Top stuff!