Super Mario Maker with new Wii U twist for fun
Nintendo commemorates 30 years of Super Mario by releasing the Super Mario Maker for the Wii U game console. We at the Manila Bulletin TechLab purchased this new edition game, and provided new fun to beginners and throwback excitement to oldtimers.
Super Mario Maker gives the freedom of level designing. It allows players to create custom Mario levels based on the elements from the original Super Mario Bros, Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and the New Super Mario Bros. U.
The bundle we purchased was from Japan, with the game pre-installed into the Wii U.
Players can begin by going through the “10 Mario Challenge,” which are pre-built levels as sort of a warm-up phase. It also gives a chance to let new Mario fans get a feel how the platformer is played. Creating courses are simple and straightforward. Nintendo has provided every possible tool in designing a level. However, the game limits these tools by batches. It is a way that prevents players to be overwhelmed, letting them experiment on different tools and discover other creative means in using them. Each batch is unlocked for each day the game is played.
While dragging an object, players can “shake” those objects to change their functions. Nintendo leaves room for plenty of creativity as players are encouraged to try out different object combinations, such as giving Bowser a mushroom.
Original content can be uploaded into Nintendo’s servers via the Wii U. Other players can access these levels by getting the stage’s code or encountered randomly during the “100 Mario Challenge” where all other custom stages are sent upon upload.
It’s the “100 Mario Challenge” that takes the cake for the Super Mario Maker, continuously refilling fresh content for the game. Some game levels were challenging and fun, others were frustrating, others built puzzle stages, and those inspired by other Nintendo games, such as Metroid. Other players have taken the liberty to recreate some of the original Super Mario Bros. stages for nostalgia, and adding new twists of their own. The possibilities for unique stages can go on and on, it all depends on the player’s creative juice.
Once other players finish playing an uploaded stage, they can give it a star rating, or a medal. The more medals, the more it will show up in the featured stages. Players can also exchange stage codes to easier find certain stages.
At first players can only upload 10 stages. Later, more stages can be uploaded as players “level up” based on the amount of medals they get. It’s Nintendo’s method of quality control. So if you want to upload more stages, make sure you keep making awesome ones.