A fine version of the best 2D mario with some slight level changes and the addition of playing with luigi with his physics. The music is worse and the screensize is smaller and the colors are washed out, but thats what you get for being on the GBA. If you can play the original then stick with that, but this is a good alternative for its time.
Hot take alert: You don't need me to tell you Super Mario World is a 5-star game, but maybe you do need me to say the GBA version might be the best version of the game. Reduced visibility is a thing, but it's not that bad. The ability to play as Luigi is a lot of fun and his floatier physics will challenge your muscle memory. And it tracks your dragon coin collection! Play it with a palette improvement hack on an Analogue Pocket.
Nothing to add here from my experience on the SNES Version. It's the same game , but with worse audio quality and some quality of life changes.
I like that now you have a list of levels where you can see collectibles , exits and teleport instantly to levels without slowly traversing the entire map.
Luigi is significantly worse to use compared to Mario and meìakes me feel like the game is in slow mode for some reason. I don't aunderstand this Super Mario Advance trend of putting Luigi as a playable character if it's so unfun to play.
So what's better , this or the SNES Version ? Personally i suggest to play the SNES Version since there aren't much changes or added content and Audio is just better.
I like that now you have a list of levels where you can see collectibles , exits and teleport instantly to levels without slowly traversing the entire map.
Luigi is significantly worse to use compared to Mario and meìakes me feel like the game is in slow mode for some reason. I don't aunderstand this Super Mario Advance trend of putting Luigi as a playable character if it's so unfun to play.
So what's better , this or the SNES Version ? Personally i suggest to play the SNES Version since there aren't much changes or added content and Audio is just better.
I initially played this on my Game Boy Player for a little while, but later sold the cartridge after beating Bowser on the original through Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online. Years later, I had second thoughts and decided to emulate it using mGBA on my modded Wii, this time aiming to find every exit and collect every Dragon Coin (this version keeps track of them). In the end, I earned 3 stars on the select screen, I will not be going for 5.
I think it took a second, more thorough playthrough for me to finally "get" Super Mario World. The branching paths on the overworld map encourage exploration and reward sharp-eyed players, and Yoshi more than makes up for the shortage of power-ups compared to Super Mario Bros. 3. On top of that, the level design is more varied than ever, with cleverly implemented stage elements that make individual courses even more memorable than that of its predecessors. My only disappointment was with the bosses, save for Bowser; they were clearly treated as an afterthought, but then again, doesn't nearly every other 2D Mario game do this? I now see why the original game is hailed as an SNES icon, and I'm more than willing to recommend it to those less acquainted with retro titles.
That said, this review is covering the GBA port, not the SNES version. Many have said it already, but I'll say it again: the screen crunch is an issue, and a hard one for me to ignore. When you port a platformer to a system with an aspect ratio it wasn't designed for, you're often left with a comparatively cramped game. The level design is tweaked to accommodate this new orientation, but I noticed the screen was constantly shifting left and right at the slightest movements, frantically trying to adjust to my inputs; ironically, this only made landing jumps harder. Super Mario World is tough but fair, while Super Mario Advance 2 makes me question whether or not I really could've anticipated that Para-Koopa coming. The quality-of-life adjustments and other new features are nice to have, but to no fault of their own, the developers could not overcome the screen crunch.
I'm sure it was nice in 2001 to play a wonderful game like Super Mario World on the go, but QoL enhancements aside, there is little reason to play this port nowadays.
I think it took a second, more thorough playthrough for me to finally "get" Super Mario World. The branching paths on the overworld map encourage exploration and reward sharp-eyed players, and Yoshi more than makes up for the shortage of power-ups compared to Super Mario Bros. 3. On top of that, the level design is more varied than ever, with cleverly implemented stage elements that make individual courses even more memorable than that of its predecessors. My only disappointment was with the bosses, save for Bowser; they were clearly treated as an afterthought, but then again, doesn't nearly every other 2D Mario game do this? I now see why the original game is hailed as an SNES icon, and I'm more than willing to recommend it to those less acquainted with retro titles.
That said, this review is covering the GBA port, not the SNES version. Many have said it already, but I'll say it again: the screen crunch is an issue, and a hard one for me to ignore. When you port a platformer to a system with an aspect ratio it wasn't designed for, you're often left with a comparatively cramped game. The level design is tweaked to accommodate this new orientation, but I noticed the screen was constantly shifting left and right at the slightest movements, frantically trying to adjust to my inputs; ironically, this only made landing jumps harder. Super Mario World is tough but fair, while Super Mario Advance 2 makes me question whether or not I really could've anticipated that Para-Koopa coming. The quality-of-life adjustments and other new features are nice to have, but to no fault of their own, the developers could not overcome the screen crunch.
I'm sure it was nice in 2001 to play a wonderful game like Super Mario World on the go, but QoL enhancements aside, there is little reason to play this port nowadays.
The main additions to this compared to the SNES original are playable Luigi with similar physics to SMB2 with his trademark slippery run and higher jump.
As well as track-able collectables, now you can see what Yoshi Coins you have collected throughout each level, while Secret Exits had a tell in the original they’re also denoted on this screen.
There are cute little animated sequences when you hit each goal.
I think it’s a fine way to experience Super Mario World and many probably prefer it, sound and visuals have some compromise. Thinner sound and with some scrolling vertically due to the GBA aspect ratio.
There’s a fan hack of the original that adds in these systems to the SNES original.
The detail I never picked up on is the costumed bullet bills look like Kirby’s owl shaped friend or something. Very cute.
As well as track-able collectables, now you can see what Yoshi Coins you have collected throughout each level, while Secret Exits had a tell in the original they’re also denoted on this screen.
There are cute little animated sequences when you hit each goal.
I think it’s a fine way to experience Super Mario World and many probably prefer it, sound and visuals have some compromise. Thinner sound and with some scrolling vertically due to the GBA aspect ratio.
There’s a fan hack of the original that adds in these systems to the SNES original.
The detail I never picked up on is the costumed bullet bills look like Kirby’s owl shaped friend or something. Very cute.