it’s-a me! Mario on iPhone
The world’s most famous plumber is back. Review & tips
Playing in portrait keeps you on edge in case a shell you’ve kicked rebounds right back at you
Free (£7.99 IAP to unlock all levels) FROM Nintendo, supermariorun.com NEEDS iOS 8.0 or higher, internet connection to play
Mario’s on your iOS devices at last, in an approximation of his classic 2D platforming adventures that you can play with one hand – all you need to do is tap on the screen. The core of the game is Tour mode, in which Mario runs automatically through 24 courses (three of which are free) to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser for the umpteenth time in 32 years.
Tapping to control Mario has nuance: the longer your finger’s on the screen, the higher he jumps, and you can tap to make him spin and slow his descent. He can jump off walls, and collect power-ups to grow taller or be endowed with invincibility. There are extra characters with special moves to unlock too.
The game can only be played in portrait, which keeps you on edge in case an enemy whose shell you’ve kicked rebounds at you. There’s some replayability in collecting coins, as you can connect to friends online and compare your success in every course.
Rally the Koopa Troopas
Nintendo clearly hopes the Toad Rally mode and the map of the Mushroom Kingdom will increase the game’s value. In the latter, coins you’ve collected are used to add buildings and other items, but it’s really just a consequence of grinding away at the game, with little impact on gameplay. Toad Rally pits you against a player online to collect coins in courses that are generated on the fly from smaller segments; that seems clever until you realise they’ve grown familiar. Cheering crowds gather if you perform special moves, and join the winner’s kingdom; the more who ally with you, the larger Peach’s castle gets – but, again, it’s just a grind for numbers.
The only meaningful things you can add are pipes to three courses that’ll challenge even skilled players. It’s done by collecting five hard-to-reach coloured coins in each of Tour mode’s courses, each of which has three variations, for a total of 360 coins. In this, the game gets replayability right by focussing on a true achievement, if you’re determined.
Despite questionable long-term appeal, Super Mario Run is well worth your time, especially if you’ve enjoyed Ubisoft’s older (yet just as good) Rayman running games.