TheDrifted
"Overall the game does a very good job at making its own identity while still be, unmistakably, a Super Mario game."
I said this in my review of Super Mario Land. Well I can't say that for this game! For some reason the focus is shifted from precise, quick-time platforming to a laid back form of gameplay, which emphasises interesting and diverse but easy mechanisms.
The world building is amazing for a GameBoy title. Every zone is unique and has its own personality. The artstyle is beautiful, but for some reason everything is angry in this game. From the hills in the background to the stars in the sky, almost everything has an angry or sad expression. Maybe that's an indication from the developement team behind Super Mario Land 2, which apparently didn't like working on the Super Mario series. The music is also great in its own weird way...
But all this glamour falls flat by the very easy gameplay that provides almost no challenge up until the last level, which is Wario's castle. Somehow, I finished this game sooner than I did Super Mario Land, albeit it having twenty more levels.
But Super Mario Land 2 is worth playing if only for its creative and strange world. Maybe it would've been more acceptable for me if it starred someone else as the main man.... maybe Wario?
I said this in my review of Super Mario Land. Well I can't say that for this game! For some reason the focus is shifted from precise, quick-time platforming to a laid back form of gameplay, which emphasises interesting and diverse but easy mechanisms.
The world building is amazing for a GameBoy title. Every zone is unique and has its own personality. The artstyle is beautiful, but for some reason everything is angry in this game. From the hills in the background to the stars in the sky, almost everything has an angry or sad expression. Maybe that's an indication from the developement team behind Super Mario Land 2, which apparently didn't like working on the Super Mario series. The music is also great in its own weird way...
But all this glamour falls flat by the very easy gameplay that provides almost no challenge up until the last level, which is Wario's castle. Somehow, I finished this game sooner than I did Super Mario Land, albeit it having twenty more levels.
But Super Mario Land 2 is worth playing if only for its creative and strange world. Maybe it would've been more acceptable for me if it starred someone else as the main man.... maybe Wario?
1989
Super Mario Land although obviously limited by its hardware has a magical feeling to it that always makes me come back for a run or two. It's so effortlessly good. You just pick it up and start blazing through the levels as fast as you can.
But it's not just the same Mario formula but downgraded to run on a GameBoy, there are some new innovations that stand out. First of all, there are now platforming challenges at the end of every level that if completed rewards the player with a chance to win extra lives or power-up. In my opinion, this is a much better way to end a level compared to jumping on a pole : ). But I do say that this game gives the player a lot of chances to win extra lives and that is one of the reasons this game is regarded as bieng easier than other SMB titles. The other being that the game is pretty short. There are four worlds, each consisting of three levels making up for a total of twelve levels. Two of these levels are sidescroller shooters. Which are a good diversion from the usual platforming.
Visually, Super Mario Land sets itself apart from other SMB titles by taking place in Sarasaland, a setting never explored in any mainline Mario game again. As opposed to Mushroom Kingdom, Sarasaland contains areas inspired by real world locations like ancient Egypt (Birabuto Kingdom) and China (Chai Kingdom), which changes the overall feel of the game considerably.
Overall the game does a very good job at making its own identity while still be, unmistakably, a Super Mario game.
And I don't even need to talk about what a masterpiece this game's soundtrack is.
But it's not just the same Mario formula but downgraded to run on a GameBoy, there are some new innovations that stand out. First of all, there are now platforming challenges at the end of every level that if completed rewards the player with a chance to win extra lives or power-up. In my opinion, this is a much better way to end a level compared to jumping on a pole : ). But I do say that this game gives the player a lot of chances to win extra lives and that is one of the reasons this game is regarded as bieng easier than other SMB titles. The other being that the game is pretty short. There are four worlds, each consisting of three levels making up for a total of twelve levels. Two of these levels are sidescroller shooters. Which are a good diversion from the usual platforming.
Visually, Super Mario Land sets itself apart from other SMB titles by taking place in Sarasaland, a setting never explored in any mainline Mario game again. As opposed to Mushroom Kingdom, Sarasaland contains areas inspired by real world locations like ancient Egypt (Birabuto Kingdom) and China (Chai Kingdom), which changes the overall feel of the game considerably.
Overall the game does a very good job at making its own identity while still be, unmistakably, a Super Mario game.
And I don't even need to talk about what a masterpiece this game's soundtrack is.