Super Mario Maker for the Nintendo Wii U is all about experimentation. This game turns players into creators by giving them dozens of level-building tools so that they can create their very own Super Mario levels. Then players can upload their creations to the game’s online community and play with thousands of other player-created levels from around the world.
Once you’ve spent time with a given toolset in the game, you’re forced to wait until the next day for new tools to arrive. The idea is that the game will ease you into the complex stuff, so you feel like an expert from the beginning.
If you’re not really into game design, this might seem boring at first. But don’t be deceived. The game comes preloaded with tons of levels, making it a nearly complete Super Mario game without even counting the hundreds of thousands of player-created levels you’ll have access to. And the level-building tools themselves are designed to be so easy to use that anyone can have fun, either building a level from scratch or modifying someone else’s existing level.
Basically, if you enjoy platformers, this game is going to have a neverending supply of content. But if you don’t want to dig around looking for new levels, the 100 Mario Challenge gives players 100 lives and a random assortment of player-created levels. There will also be a 10 Mario Challenge for expert gamers.
When you create a level, you can choose between four different Super Mario styles to emulate. And if you have amiibos, you can create levels in which you play as characters other than Mario. Super Mario Maker will be compatible with almost every amiibo released so far. It’s also heralding the release of a new 8-bit Mario amiibo, which lets you turn into giant Mario in the game.
Super Mario Maker is coming out on the 30th anniversary of the original Super Mario, and it is in many ways a love letter to the entire series. Super Mario Maker comes out on September 11. Stay tuned for our review!
