TL;DR
Unleash your inner game designer with Super Mario Maker 2! While it has a story mode, the real magic lies in creating and sharing your own custom Mario levels. Even if you're new to design, the game's excellent tutorials make it easy to build impressive stages using assets from across the Mario franchise. It plays great on the Switch, especially in handheld mode for touch-screen creation. If you love Mario and have a creative itch, this game offers near-endless fun. Dive into the full review to see why it's a must-have for aspiring game creators!
Do you have an interest in designing your own Super Mario levels? Are you a creator looking to share your work with the online community? If so, this title may be for you.
During my time in high school science, I discovered the potential of my advanced graphing calculator for programming rudimentary text-based games. Consequently, it saw more use for game creation than plotting trigonometric functions. The creation of games and interactive media has remained an interest. Upon acquiring Super Mario Maker 2, my initial assumption that it was solely for a younger audience was quickly dispelled.
While Super Mario Maker 2 is accessible to children, it is not exclusively designed for them. A story mode provides pre-built courses featuring Mario and Luigi, but this is arguably the least compelling aspect of the game. The core experience revolves around designing custom levels. Even those with limited experience can rapidly create sophisticated stages. The game incorporates comprehensive and well-structured tutorials, detailing every step of the creation process. These tutorials are a key strength of Super Mario Maker 2, covering everything from basic concepts to advanced techniques.
Furthermore, the game allows creators to build levels using assets from various Super Mario titles, ranging from the original, 8-bit Super Mario Bros. to New Super Mario Bros U. All assets are updated automatically, providing access to the full range of available building blocks.
As a first-party title developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch, Super Mario Maker 2 functions seamlessly in both handheld and docked modes. I found the handheld mode particularly appealing, as it facilitates the use of the touch screen for level creation.
Are there any drawbacks? In truth, Super Mario Maker 2 is a remarkably polished title. Its primary limitation lies in its niche appeal. The story mode, while present, does not justify the purchase price on its own. Nevertheless, Super Mario Maker 2 is highly recommended for its near-limitless creative potential. The ability to upload custom courses for community play (or share via unique codes) adds significant value and enjoyment.
Review Highlights: Q&A
Is Super Mario Maker 2 easy for beginners to learn?
Super Mario Maker 2 includes comprehensive and well-structured tutorials that cover basic concepts to advanced techniques, allowing even creators with limited experience to rapidly build sophisticated stages.
Which game styles and assets are available for designing courses?
Level creators can build stages using assets from diverse releases, ranging from the original 8-bit Super Mario Bros. to New Super Mario Bros U, with all building blocks updated automatically.
How does the game perform on the Nintendo Switch in different play modes?
The game functions seamlessly in both docked and handheld modes. Handheld mode is especially useful because it enables touch screen controls for level creation.
Is the story mode worth buying the game for on its own?
The story mode contains pre-built courses with Mario and Luigi, but it is the least compelling part of the game and does not justify the purchase price on its own.
Can custom levels be shared with other players?
Creators can upload custom courses to the online community for other players to enjoy, or distribute them directly using unique sharing codes.
