Super Mario Run: Nintendo's Review Pros and Cons

Super Mario Run

Emblematic character of the video game, Mario always represented the little more of Nintendo, this hero who can, by itself, make sell consoles. For its chicken with golden eggs, the Japanese firm prefers to develop games exclusive to its own machines. Yet Nintendo has decided to review its policy to take advantage of the growing enthusiasm of the players for the mobiles. Thus was born Super Mario Run, a title billed 9,99 €, relatively high price for a smartphone application. This data obviously did not fail to make talk of very many players who are not necessarily aware of what is proposed to them by Big N. We will therefore try to make a point on this title that would like to receive as much love That a certain Pokémon GO.

Tapping With Finger

 
As the name suggests, Super Mario Run is a runner, kind of how popular on smartphones. It must be said that its relatively simple principle lends itself well to our tactile interfaces: a hero runs all alone through levels full of pitfalls that must be taken care to avoid tapping. As disappointing as it may be for purists, the new Nintendo mobile game takes up this concept while relying on the visual style of New Super Mario Bros. U. But it is not a simple clone of Temple Run for as much, many adjustments in terms of gameplay have been achieved.

So yes, the title is playable at a finger, but developers have taken care to densify its gameplay as much as possible. When a simple tap is made, our plumber jumps, but it is also possible to carry out a whole lot of techniques more or less complex to realize. For example, if you leap against a wall, Mario will then slide along the wall and jump again if you type again. With its precise and demanding timing, the whole thing therefore sometimes approaches the rhythm game. The newcomers will not however be lost, the whole is as accessible as difficult to master perfectly.

Mario goes around the worlds

The first screen that will be offered to you is that of the mode "Tour of the Worlds". It is used as a classical fashion, with its 6 universes each comprising 4 stages. You have seen just that, so it only makes 24 levels during each one between thirty and a hundred seconds - as much to say that we expected more.

Let us now throw ourselves into our first level, resuming the traditional appearance of the Mushroom Kingdom. The whole is pretty and we take a certain pleasure to make twirl the little Mario in all the senses. Your goal is simple: to reach the end of the level. For this you have two lives available, but also all classic power-ups starting with the star that will allow you to run through the gumbas without fear. Once arrived at the end flag, the following course unlocks and so on. If you are the type to rusher without dwelling too much on the secondary objectives, you can complete the 24 levels in an hour and a half. Otherwise, rest assured, Nintendo has reserved for you some more complex challenges.

Indeed, two secondary objectives are presented: pick up as many coins and, if possible, catch the five pink tokens. If the first mission is not to be presented, the second deserves some explanation. In each course, five pink pieces are placed in rather complex places to reach. So you have to get out a few well-liked caprioles, but also know the architecture of the level by heart to catch them all. And when you think you have reached the end of your sorrows, Mario has already to put on his cap to do the same with the purple tokens, then the black tokens that are more difficult to find. With this recipe old as the world, Nintendo will certainly succeed in taping the most demanding players. Also note the presence of Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Toad and Toadette each offering a different gameplay, which improves a little more replayability.

Catch them all !

We did not approach it, but Super Mario Run proposes its usual little scenario starting on the traditional abduction of Peach. The person responsible for this misdeed, Bowser, also took advantage of it to sack the Kingdom Mushroom, scattering the Toads that inhabit it. The latter therefore count on you. With a simple tap on the main menu of the game, we find ourselves facing a field colored and particularly empty. This is your new village that just needs to be rebuilt. To do this, you have a first solution consisting of harvesting a maximum of parts in the levels in order to buy different totally cosmetic decorations. Barriers, plants, cottages, you can then place your purchases on the multitude of empty boxes available.

Here too, Nintendo offers here a nice game mode that forces to restart the application regularly. Small disappointment on the other side of the animations, apart from a few Toads dancing or roupillant, the villages lack a little life. If you are looking for a bit of interactivity, you have to look for special buildings that unlock as your city grows. For that, it is enough to go to make a turn of the side of the third mode of game called "Challenges Toad".

Challenge Mode That Makes Crazy

In order to attract more mushrooms into your Kingdom, you must prove your bravery and talent in an artistic joust. Of the 24 levels that currently make up the game, you can challenge another player, or rather one of the past benefits of another player. The objective is to make the prettiest course to try to beat the "ghost" of your opponent scrolling in the background. In case of victory, a number of Toads proportional to your performance and the level of your competitor will join your village. Otherwise, the punishment will be salty: people will flee your village.

Understand that it is not a multiplayer mode all the same, all this is done offline, which means that players will be able to face your ghost even when you are not even connected. Do not worry, you do not risk anything in this case since only the person at the origin of the challenge is likely to lose Toads. Demanding and double-edged, this third mode of play is particularly interesting to progress or make a small part between two bus stops. Be careful though, it may cause you to sting a few crises, especially when you fail a few points from your opponent. So here is one of the components that helps strengthen the lifespan of Super Mario Run for those who peck video games over the phone. 

Real Mario, but a Light Content

 Virtually as beautiful as a 3DS game, Super Mario Run does not risk to disorient the fans of the license who will find with joy the Mushroom Kingdom, the cave of Bowser or the manor of Boo. We understand that Nintendo has brought as much attention to its second mobile title as any other title stamped with the white and gold logo. The promise of a real Mario on smartphone is clearly respected.

On the other hand, the developers have done a nice job of adaptation to the level of gameplay. Even if we note a few fingers related to the use of a single finger, we manage to sail our plumber where it is desired without much effort. Even better, the catalog of figures proves surprisingly rich, offering many solutions to the obstacles present in the courses. From a technical point of view, the title is clearly a success.

So what do we have to reproach him for? Two things. First of all, we did not mention it, but it is necessary to be permanently connected to the Internet to be able to play. Yes, that means that once you enter the subway or in some place not served by your mobile operator, you will not be able to play. Then we have this famous economic model that has made so much talk about him, despite a good idea to start. To unlock all the requested content, you will be asked to pay 9.99 €, a relatively high sum for a mobile application. But at this price, we escape the pitfalls of Pay-to-Win.

But on the content side, it remains a little light. Some of the 24 levels end in about 30 seconds and the two proposed bumps each come back three times, in barely different versions. We could easily have imagined other decors such as an underwater world or a rainbow realm, but for the moment we will have to content ourselves with the most classical environments. While waiting for a DLC potential, the lifetime of the title is mainly based on the system of colorful tokens or the Toad Challenges which will force you to travel many times the same stages.

Pros 

-Gameplay accessible but difficult to master
-As pretty as a 3DS game
-The management of the sympathetic kingdom
-No hidden fees
-Truly Challenging Challenge Mode
-Six characters with clean gameplay 

Cons

-Only 24 levels, some very short
-Continuous internet connection required
-Despite a small lack of life and interactivity 

No doubt, with Super Mario Run, Nintendo brings his mascot into the world of smartphones. With a gameplay cleverly adapted to the game with a single finger, the title proves accessible for casual players, but difficult to master for the most demanding. Small flat side content, since for 9,99 €, your adventure will be limited to 24 small levels. Hopefully the Japanese firm will offer free training courses to compensate. Meanwhile, Super Mario Run is still in the top of the best mobile applications of 2016. Strongly release on Android!

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