Wikipedia

Super Mario Maker 2

Super Mario Maker 2[a] is a 2019 platform game and game creation system developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is the sequel to Super Mario Maker and was released worldwide on June 28, 2019. The gameplay is largely retained from that of its predecessor, in which players create their own custom courses using assets from various games across the Super Mario franchise and share them online. Super Mario Maker 2 introduces new features and course assets, including a single player story mode and new level assets based on Super Mario 3D World.

Super Mario Maker 2
Icon artwork, depicting Mario and Luigi wearing construction worker outfits and several game assets for designing courses
Developer(s)Nintendo EPD
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)Yosuke Oshino
Producer(s)
Designer(s)
Programmer(s)Fumiya Nakano
Artist(s)Ryota Akutsu
Composer(s)
SeriesSuper Mario
Platform(s)Nintendo Switch
ReleaseJune 28, 2019
Genre(s)Level editor, platform
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Like its predecessor, the game was met with positive reviews from critics, who praised its user interface, course editing tools, and music, although issues with the online multiplayer mode were criticised. As of December 31, 2022, the game has shipped over 8.42 million copies, making it one of the best-selling games on the Nintendo Switch.

Gameplay

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See also: Super Mario § Common elements, and Super Mario Maker § Gameplay
 
A gameplay screenshot showing the level creation tools

Like its predecessor, Super Mario Maker 2 is a side-scrolling platform game in which players create their own courses using assets from across the Super Mario series and publish them onto the internet for others to play. Players can choose from a selection of prior Super Mario games to base their courses' visual style and gameplay on, including Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, New Super Mario Bros. U, and the newly introduced Super Mario 3D World theme, which has been retooled to 2.5D to fit with the game's platforming style. Gameplay mechanics and enemy behaviors can vary between the styles, with some elements being limited to specific styles.[1][2][3]

The sequel adds various assets and tools, including assets and a course theme based on Super Mario 3D World. This theme is especially different from the four others, with many features and gameplay mechanics unique to it. Due to the difference from this style to the others, the course has to be reset in order to switch to this style.[4] This sequel also brings along the new vertical course feature giving creators the ability to raise the vertical height limit. It also introduces local and online multiplayer modes including co-op course creation, where up to two players can locally create stages together at the same time; as well as allowing up to four online players to complete user-made courses, cooperatively or competitively.[b][7]

The game also features a World Maker mode, where players create their own overworld maps, creating the equivalent of their own Super Mario game, called a Super World. The world style is locked as Super Mario World, but the courses themselves can be any style. Up to six Super Worlds can be saved but only one can be uploaded. One world can have up to five levels, including a castle, and a single Super World can have up to eight separate worlds. A world can also feature Toad houses, where the player plays minigames for extra lives, and Warp Pipes to get around the world quickly.

Super Mario Maker 2 also features a new single player campaign known as Story Mode. The story follows Mario, Toadette, and several other Toads helping to rebuild Princess Peach's Castle, which had accidentally been reset by Undodog, a non-playable character. Players must traverse through over 100 Nintendo-created courses in order to collect enough coins to rebuild the castle. Non-player characters also offer players extra tasks and jobs throughout the mode.[8]

A Nintendo Switch Online subscription is required in order to access any online functionality in the game, including accessing player-created levels.[9][10]

Development and release

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Developed inhouse at Nintendo's Kyoto Development Center, planning for Super Mario Maker 2 began alongside development of the Nintendo Switch hardware itself. Most of the original development team reprised their roles for this sequel, including producer Hiroyuki Kimura, director Yosuke Oshino, and planner/game designer Shigefumi Hino. Nintendo's producer Takashi Tezuka stated that the theme for the sequel was to expand on what could be done compared to its predecessor and try new things, which took the form of new course elements and new side content in the form of a full-fledged single player campaign. Tezuka also stated that as players continue to upload levels, he and the development staff would use these creations as a reference for adding content after launch, viewing the dynamic as a give-and-take between developers and consumers. Longtime Super Mario series composer Koji Kondo served as the game's sound director and composed some music.[11] Additional music was composed by Atsuko Asahi, Toru Minegishi, and Sayako Doi.[12]

Super Mario Maker 2 was revealed during a Nintendo Direct presentation on February 13, 2019. It was released worldwide for the Nintendo Switch on June 28, 2019.[13][14][15] Another Nintendo Direct was broadcast on May 15, 2019, which provided more information about new and returning features, gameplay modes, and pre-orders.[16]

In Europe, a capacitive stylus was included as part of the limited edition bundle of the game for customers who pre-ordered.[17]

Three major content updates were released for the game:

  • The first update, released on October 2, 2019, added more multiplayer options, including playing with friends on local area networks or nearby networks.[18]
  • The second update, released on December 5, 2019, added an extra mode themed around speedrunning Nintendo-created levels (Ninji Speedruns). The player has to compete against Ninji ghosts that represent other players from around the world for the best timed performance of the level. Additional parts were added, such as a Master Sword power-up that Mario can pick up to become Link and gain a different set of moves (Super Mario Bros. exclusive), ice-encased coin blocks, platforms that greatly increase the player's speed (Dash Blocks) (Super Mario 3D World exclusive), and invisible "P" blocks that are triggered by a "P" switch (P-Blocks). Spikes and Pokeys were also added as new enemies.[19]
  • The third and final update, released on April 22, 2020, added the ability to compose worlds to hold multiple courses, akin to the presentation of Super Mario World with up to eight different worlds and up to forty levels. A new power-up gives Mario the ability to pick up and throw objects as in Super Mario Bros. 2. Additional power-ups added in this update include the Frog Suit for the Super Mario Bros. 3 style, the Power Balloon for Super Mario World, the Super Acorn in the New Super Mario Bros. U style, and the Boomerang Flower for the Super Mario 3D World game style. Five other new power-ups were added to the Super Mario 3D World style as well, including the Propeller Box, the Bullet Bill Mask, the Goomba Mask, the Red POW Box, and the Cannon Box. The Koopalings and Mechakoopas were added as new enemies, along with red-colored keys guarded by Phanto (an enemy from Super Mario Bros. 2) and new ON/OFF Switch-triggered blocks and mushroom trampolines in the Super Mario 3D World game style.[20]

Reception

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Super Mario Maker 2 received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[21] The online multiplayer feature, however, was criticised for its performance issues. GameSpot, who gave the game an 8/10, stated that online lag frequently ruined the experience.[27]

Sales

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It was the best-selling game in Japan during its first two weeks of release, selling 279,357 physical copies.[36] By the end of March 2021, the game had sold over 7.15 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling games on the Switch.[37] The 2023 CESA Games White Papers revealed that Super Mario Maker 2 had sold 8.42 million units, as of December 31, 2022.[38]

Awards

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Year Award Category Result Ref.
2019 2019 Golden Joystick Awards Nintendo Game of the Year Nominated [39]
The Game Awards 2019 Best Family Game Nominated [40]
2020 23rd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Family Game of the Year Won [41]
SXSW Gaming Awards Trending Game of the Year Nominated [42]

Footnotes

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Notes

  1. ^ Japanese: スーパーマリオメーカー 2, Hepburn: Sūpā Mario Mēkā 2
  2. ^ At launch, online play was only possible with random players.[5] A post-launch update was made available on October 1 and added the ability to play courses with friends.[6]

References

  1. ^ Marks, Tom (February 13, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 Announced for Nintendo Switch". IGN. Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  2. ^ Craddock, Ryan (February 13, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 Confirmed For Switch, Launches This June". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on February 24, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  3. ^ Hilliard, Kyle (February 13, 2019). "Mario Maker 2 Is Heading To Switch". Game Informer. Archived from the original on February 24, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  4. ^ Wong, Alistair (May 15, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2's Super Mario 3D World Theme Is Separate From The Others". Siliconera. Archived from the original on May 15, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  5. ^ Bankhurst, Adam (May 28, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 Won't Allow Friend To Play Together Online". IGN. Archived from the original on May 29, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  6. ^ McWhertor, Michael (June 11, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 will let you play online multiplayer with friends after all". Polygon. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  7. ^ Jenni (May 15, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 Multiplayer Includes Co-op And Versus Options". Siliconera. Archived from the original on May 15, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  8. ^ Wong, Alistair (May 15, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 Has Its Own Story Mode". Siliconera. Archived from the original on May 16, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  9. ^ Vries, Nino de (July 4, 2019). "Review: Super Mario Maker 2 is an infinite source of joy". The Next Web. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  10. ^ Green, Jake (July 2, 2019). "Mario Maker 2: Do You Need a Nintendo Online Subscription to Play?". USgamer. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  11. ^ Video on YouTube
  12. ^ Nintendo EPD (June 28, 2019). Super Mario Maker 2 (Nintendo Switch). Nintendo. Scene: Credits.
  13. ^ Frank, Allegra (February 13, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 comes to Nintendo Switch in June". Polygon. Archived from the original on February 17, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  14. ^ Alexander, Julia (February 13, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 is coming to the Nintendo Switch". The Verge. Archived from the original on February 17, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  15. ^ Khan, Imran (April 24, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 Launches On June 28". Game Informer. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  16. ^ Bankhurst, Adam (May 15, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 Features Story Mode, Online Multiplayer, Co-Op Creation Mode". IGN. Archived from the original on May 16, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  17. ^ "(MNS) How to redeem a code for a special Super Mario Maker 2-themed Nintendo Switch stylus". Nintendo of Europe GmbH. Archived from the original on August 16, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  18. ^ McWhertor, Michael (October 2, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 update adds online multiplayer with friends". Polygon. Archived from the original on August 16, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  19. ^ Knezevic, Kevin (December 6, 2019). "Big Mario Maker 2 Update Out Now, Lets You Play As Link From Zelda". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  20. ^ Byford, Sam (April 20, 2020). "Super Mario Maker 2 adds World Maker mode for building entire games". The Verge. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  21. ^ a b "Super Mario Maker 2 for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  22. ^ Andriessen, CJ (July 14, 2019). "Review: Super Mario Maker 2". Destructoid. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  23. ^ Goroff, Michael (June 26, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 review". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Archived from the original on July 5, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  24. ^ Tamburro, Paul (July 4, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 Review | A dream come true for Nintendo fans". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  25. ^ Hilliard, Kyle (June 26, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2". Game Informer. Archived from the original on June 26, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  26. ^ Loveridge, Same (June 26, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 review: "The complete package of play, create and discover"". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  27. ^ a b Brown, Peter (July 3, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 Review - Make My Day". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  28. ^ Macy, Seth (June 26, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  29. ^ "Test : Super Mario Maker 2 : Des possibilités quasi infinies !". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). June 26, 2019. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  30. ^ Olney, Alex (June 26, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 Review". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on March 19, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  31. ^ Koopman, Daan (June 26, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  32. ^ Greenwald, Will (June 26, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 (for Nintendo Switch) Review". PCMag. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  33. ^ Khan, Asif (June 26, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 review: Infinite Mario". Shacknews. Archived from the original on February 27, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  34. ^ Williams, Mike (June 26, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 Review". USgamer. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  35. ^ Grubb, Jeff (June 26, 2019). "Super Mario Maker 2 review – The war rages on". VentureBeat. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  36. ^ Romano, Sal (July 10, 2019). "Media Create Sales: 7/1/19 – 7/7/19". Gematsu. Archived from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  37. ^ "Fiscal Year Ended March 2021 Financial Results Explanatory Material" (PDF). Nintendo, Co. Ltd. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  38. ^ 2023CESAゲーム白書 (2023 CESA Games White Papers). Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association. 2023. ISBN 978-4-902346-47-3.
  39. ^ "Golden Joystick Awards 2019". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on September 28, 2019. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  40. ^ Winslow, Jeremy (November 19, 2019). "The Game Awards 2019 Nominees Full List". GameSpot. Archived from the original on November 23, 2019. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  41. ^ Van Allen, Eric (February 14, 2020). "Untitled Goose Game Wins Top Bill at the 2020 D.I.C.E. Awards". USgamer. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  42. ^ Grayshadow (February 17, 2020). "2020 SXSW Gaming Awards Nominees Revealed". NoobFeed. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
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