Preview - Mario Maker

I’ve played a lot of Mario games, each one an enjoyable experience. In fact, I can’t think of a Mario game that I considered to be inherently bad, especially not any of the 2D titles. Each game always seems to have creative and memorable level design.

That aside, perhaps you think you can do better; or maybe you have a crazy idea for a level that could never be found in a normal Mario game. Well, if you do, Nintendo’s got you covered! Nintendo announced many games at this year’s E3, one of them being Mario Maker; a tool that will allow anyone to create their own custom Mario levels! Granted, this idea really isn’t anything new. Mario fans have been making rom-hacks of different games for a while, but it’s nice to finally see Nintendo make an editing tool of their own. 

  

From what has been shown so far, the software allows you to build, edit, and play 2D Mario stages in two separate graphical styles: that of the original Super Mario Bros., and that of New Super Mario Bros. U. Although the separate styles add little more than art-style and music changes, I still think it’s a nice touch that gives Mario Maker a “Super Mario Generations” feel. 

An 8-bit option isn’t the only nice touch Nintendo has put into the game so far, however. One of my favorite Easter eggs in Mario Maker is the Luigi mushroom. 

  

The Luigi mushroom can appear randomly in any of the mushroom blocks you place in a level. When Mario collects this strange looking ‘shroom, he transforms into Skinny Mario. This skinny new state of being allows Mario to inherit Luigi's higher jump, but also Luigi's lower traction. In addition, the Luigi mushroom also makes Mario skinny; and that’s hilarious. 

Another thing to note is that Mario Maker also allows you to customize enemy placement and abilities. You can create stacks of goombas, koopas, piranha plants, and even hammer bros.! Not only that, but you can also give any enemy wings. That’s right. Mario Maker gives you the ability to create flying hammer bros. Yikes! 

In any case, I’m excited to see what other additions Nintendo will make to this software and you can count on the fact that I’ll be creating my own crazy levels when Mario Maker is released in 2015. For more coverage on Mario Maker in the future, be sure to keep up to date with the Nintendo Alliance!