Review: Super Mario World

Back in the good old days with the SNES first came out we knew that the next Mario was going to have to be amazing after seeing just how good Super Mario Bros. 3 was and boy were we right. In August 1991 the Super Nintendo Entertainment System was finally released overseas in the United States and Super Mario World was packaged in with the system and boy were we in for one hell of a massive first 16-bit adventure for Mario and Luigi.

Beautiful colors, massive worlds, and of course the first appearance of Mario's dinosaur companion, Yoshi. This may have been Mario's biggest side scrolling adventure yet with over 70 levels, from green plains, to massive underground tunnels. The thing that made all these worlds completely unique from any other games before it were just how colorful these worlds were, and how detailed they were for a game of it's time. Of course there were many other types of levels from underground labyrinths, haunted houses, and of course the occasional castle where you'll have to face off against one of Bowser's offspring, the Koopa Kids, in each.

Mario has become know for his various forms throughout his past adventures and this time the forms throughout the game aren't quite as impressive as what you've grown to expect after Super Mario Bros. 3. Throughout the game the only real forms are the returning fire flower and a new form, cape Mario. Cape Mario is very much similar to Racoon Mario from Super Mario Bros. 3 except for giving Mario the ability to fly and float for a short period of time, making it possible to reach higher platforms and cross otherwise unpassable obstatcles. Of course the fire flower remains the same as in previous games, allowing Mario to shot fireballs from his hands, allowing him to take out enemies without putting himself in quite as much danger.

One of the most well known new additions to this game of course was Yoshi who took away the need for quite as many forms for Mario as he could now ride on Yoshi's back allowing Yoshi to devour enemies in their path which will also allow you to at times give Yoshi more advanced abilities like the ability to to shoot fire, stomp the ground, and fly. There is even a way for you to take on all of the above abilities at once after eating a multicolored koopa shell.

Many of the enemies appearing through the game should be very familiar, from your basic Koopa Troopers to all so familiar Goomba's which were the first enemies we were introduced to back when Super Mario Bros. first made an appearance on the NES. Of course there are also a bunch of new enemies, some of which are unique to this game and are to never again be seen in a Super Mario game.

The storyline of the game doesn't stray very far from the basics, Bowser's kidnapped the Princess once again and it's up to Mario and Luigi to set off on another quest to rescue her once again. Just like in the third installment of the Super Mario Bros. series Bowser has sent his offspring to stop Mario however they soon fall and Mario ultimately faces off against none other then Bowser himself.

The over world in Super Mario World is very similar to that in Super Mario Bros. 3 except for the fact that it's eliminated much of the board game like elements from the previous game. One unique thing in the game is the fact that several levels throughout the game have multiple exits making it possible to reach special levels that could allow you to skip over most of the game and even reach the last boss without playing through the entire game. Another interesting feature is the fact that if you are to clear all the exits in the game it will change the over world a bit as it will also upgrade certain enemies and obstacles to make the game a bit more challenging and to also allow for even more replay value if you are looking for even more of a challenge.

Of course multi player returns allowing one player to play as Mario and a second to play as Luigi. The two players will take turns playing through levels making it a bit more enjoyable and interactive for you and your friends which could make the already long game even more fun as you'll want to play through again with your friends playing along side of you.

Overall Super Mario World is possibly one of the best of the 2D, side scrolling, Super Mario games to date. With the extensive game play and replay value with the addition of a new save function makes the game last longer then any Mario game before it. The colorful atmosphere makes for a perfect Mario game and of course Yoshi's introduction may be one of the most memorable moments in the Mario universe. It is deffinatly a must for fans of the series as well as collectors.