Update News
Super Mario Maker Releases
REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 10, in the year of our Lord
2015 – Flying Piranha Plants? Bill Blasters that shoot
helpful coins instead of dangerous Bullet Bills? A level full of
20-Goomba-high stacks, dozens of trampolines and Hammer Bros.
flying in Koopa Clown Cars? Mamma mia!
While all this sounds like some kind of amazing Nintendo fever
dream, it’s all possible in the Super Mario Maker game,
launching exclusively for the Wii U console on the 11th of
September. This new game lets players’ imaginations run wild!
Anyone with an Internet connection can play a near-limitless
number of Mario levels created by people all over the world.
Using the Wii U GamePad controller, players can quickly and
easily create their own original levels using items, enemies,
graphical styles and even power-ups from four classic Mario
styles: Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario
World and New Super Mario Bros. U. These levels can then be
uploaded online to share with players everywhere. Things that
were never possible before in a Super Mario Bros. game are now
possible in Super Mario Maker – and players are in control of it
all.
With the Wii U GamePad, players simply have to drag and drop
elements on the controller’s touch screen to create levels using
a set of intuitive tools. Breaking the rules of normal Super
Mario Bros. games is encouraged, as items, enemies and sound
effects can be combined and used in unexpected ways. Toying
around with the different combinations and numerous options is a
big part of the fun. Once players have created their Super Mario
Maker masterpieces, they can name and upload their levels for
others to play. To avoid frustration, levels can only be
uploaded if players can actually reach the goal themselves. This
ensures that all uploaded levels can still be challenging, but
not impossible.
A robust online ranking and search system makes creating,
playing and sharing in Super Mario Maker a seamless process.
Want to know which levels are easy or hard? A helpful
course-difficulty display is determined by the percentage of
players that complete the level. Players can also see new
arrivals and “master makers” (creators that upload the
highest-ranking levels). Players can even create a “Follow” list
to keep an eye on submissions from the level creators they like
the most.
In addition to the four game styles, players can set their
levels in six themes: above ground, underground, ghost house,
airship, castle and even underwater. Seeing iconic enemies like
Bowser underwater for the first time is certainly a sight to
behold. And it’s this kind of imaginative scenario that is at
the heart of Super Mario Maker. Whether it’s experiencing
outrageous game-play elements or manipulating the dozens and
dozens of items and enemies in the game in unexpected ways,
Super Mario Maker allows players of all ages to laugh, smile and
have fun.
Launching on the same day as Super Mario Maker are two special
30th Anniversary Mario amiibo figures – both inspired by the
8-bit look of Mario – with one retaining the classic colors from
Super Mario Bros. and the other sporting the modern-day color
scheme. If players choose to use these amiibo figures in the
game, the amiibo adds a Big Mushroom power-up to the level,
allowing players to play with a giant Mario. The 30th
Anniversary Mario amiibo figure with the classic colors will be
available at a suggested retail price of $12.99. Walmart will
also be the exclusive retailer for a special Super Mario Maker
Wii U bundle that includes the game, Wii U console and the 30th
Anniversary Mario Modern Color amiibo. The bundle goes on sale
the 11th of September at a suggested retail price of $299.96.
Additionally, many of the other currently available amiibo are
compatible with Super Mario Maker. In the game, players can
access a Mystery Mushroom to include in their levels. This
mushroom is used exclusively in the Super Mario Bros.
8-bit-styled levels and, when picked up, changes Mario into an
8-bit costume of a random character – picture an 8-bit Wii Fit
Trainer, Link from The Legend of Zelda series or even Chibi-Robo
hopping around the level with their own sound effects and
animations. With 99 different Mystery Mushroom costumes to
unlock in the game, using a compatible amiibo with a
corresponding character will automatically unlock it, allowing
players to tie that specific character to the Mystery Mushroom
as they design levels. Mystery Mushrooms can also be collected
when players complete the 100 Mario Challenge. In this mode,
players will be given 100 Mario characters representing 100
lives and challenged to complete a series of randomly selected
levels.
Super Mario Maker launches exclusively for Wii U in stores, in
the Nintendo eShop and at Nintendo.com on the 11th of September
at a suggested retail price of $59.99. All physical versions of
the game sold in stores will contain an idea book that
illustrates the boundless possibilities of the game. This
collectable book features ideas from the Nintendo development
team, special codes that can be entered in the online manual to
watch creation videos from the development team, concept art and
level designs from the original Super Mario Bros. game. For
digital games purchased through the Nintendo eShop on Wii U,
players will receive access to a PDF version of the book. The
PDF is also available to download from the game’s website for
anyone, even if they have not purchased the game.