At the end of 2016, fans received the exciting news that the industry’s most iconic character would finally make the leap from consoles and handhelds to tablets and smartphones. “Super Mario Run” was unveiled at an Apple keynote, and the months that followed stirred a mix of anticipation and skepticism among long‑time Nintendo enthusiasts. After all, could the traditionally conservative company adapt to this “new language,” delight veteran fans, and capture the hearts of a whole new generation that never grew up with the Super Nintendo? Read my full review below to find out!
If you’ve mastered World 1‑1 of Super Mario Bros. and know every secret exit (“Secret Level”) in Super Mario World, you won’t find anything wildly unfamiliar: Super Mario Run is—quite simply—another Mario adventure. Playing it safe, Nintendo crafted graphics that practically emulate the look of New Super Mario Bros. and its sequels.
Colors pop with vibrant cheer, and each level is brimming with creative, detailed backgrounds and level design. Performance issues? None to report on modern devices like the new iPad and iPhone 7, where I tested extensively. On larger screens, the game becomes even more breathtaking.
The iconic sounds are all here: the triumphant fanfare when you grab a Star, the heartbeat‑racing warning when the timer is about to run out, and the classic power‑up jingle for mushrooms. Each stage includes at least one homage to Mario’s past—whether it’s a Boo, Lakitu, Bullet Bill, a flying ship from Super Mario Bros. 3, or a castle ruled by Bowser. Every level feels like a greatest‑hits compilation of the series, and it’s delightfully nostalgic.
Concerns about the controls vanish the moment you play. While you don’t steer Mario freely as in console titles, his auto‑run mechanic is every bit as fun as manual movement. Taps for jumping are responsive, and the special item blocks and coin rails add exciting twists to the action.
Super Mario Run stands out among “endless runners”—those auto‑scrolling mobile games—by offering true Mario platforming challenges. Your job is timing jumps perfectly to collect coins, stomp on Goombas, and dodge hazards, all while advancing through side‑scrolling levels that culminate in flagpoles or boss encounters.
Your goal? Reach the goal line with as many coins as possible and top your own high score. But beyond collecting the standard yellow coins, the real thrill lies in chasing the elusive colored coins hidden in each stage. A built‑in tutorial (with full Portuguese localization) makes sure players of all ages can dive right in.
There are three main modes in Super Mario Run:
1. **World Tour:** The classic campaign, where you race through levels collecting coins and facing bosses.
2. **Toad Rally:** A competitive mode where you run against the ghost runs of other players, trying to impress Toads with fancy moves and high coin totals. Win, and you earn special Toads to expand your Mushroom Kingdom.
3. **Kingdom Builder:** Use the coins and Toads you’ve gathered to customize and expand your own kingdom with decorative buildings and fun structures.
At first glance, it might seem like just another mobile spin‑off, but Super Mario Run surprises with its depth. Later worlds demand pinpoint timing and perfect memorization. While the total number of levels is modest, mastering each one—especially for all five special colored coins—takes plenty of playtime and skill.
Verdict
- Graphics
- Interface
- Entertainment
- Gameplay
- Features
Summary
“Super Mario Run” is far from being the nightmare that many imagined, despite not reaching the complexity of a Mario game at the level of the Nintendo 3DS titles — something that it never intended to be from the beginning. The game has flaws in several areas, but it is a good debut title in the series on mobile devices and demonstrates the full potential of Nintendo’s franchises.
The game presents very well-developed gameplay by taking advantage of a simpler smartphone genre and excellent graphics, reminiscent of classic games, but with a more modern look. The racing and campaign modes are fun, varied and absurdly exciting. You will be entertained sooner than you think and spend a good amount of time trying to perform at your best.
