Super Mario Run is a 2016 mobile platform game developed and published by Nintendo for iOS and Android devices. It holds a significant place in Nintendo's history as their first major mobile game featuring one of their long-running and iconic franchises, Super Mario.
Unlike traditional Super Mario games where players have full directional control, Super Mario Run is an "auto-runner." This means Mario automatically runs from left to right across the screen. Players control Mario's jumps by tapping the touch screen. A quick tap results in a small hop, while a longer tap makes him jump higher. This simplified control scheme was designed to allow for one-handed play, making it accessible on the go.
Key Features and Gameplay Modes:
- World Tour: This is the main single-player mode, where Mario progresses through a series of levels (24 in total across six worlds, with a special World Star unlocking after rescuing Princess Peach) to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. Levels are designed with various challenges, including collecting three different types of colored coins (pink, purple, and black) that encourage replayability.
- Toad Rally: This asynchronous multiplayer mode allows players to compete against the "ghosts" of other players to achieve the highest score. The goal is to collect more coins and perform stylish moves to impress a cheering crowd of Toads. Winning rallies earns Toads, which are essential for the third mode.
- Kingdom Builder: In this mode, players use coins and Toads collected from World Tour and Toad Rally to build and customize their own Mushroom Kingdom. There are over 100 different items, buildings, and decorations to unlock, allowing players to create their unique vision of Mario's world.
- Remix 10: Added in an update, this mode features ten very short, randomly ordered levels that players race through. It's designed for quick, bite-sized bursts of gameplay and offers a chance to unlock new items and even the character Daisy.
Development and Impact:
Super Mario Run was developed by Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development (EPD) with significant involvement from series creator Shigeru Miyamoto and designer Takashi Tezuka. It utilized the Unity engine and aimed to adapt the classic Super Mario gameplay for mobile devices, focusing on ease of control and accessibility for a broader audience.
While initially met with high anticipation due to being Nintendo's first major mobile title, Super Mario Run received mixed reactions. Many praised its polished gameplay, charming graphics, and the innovative auto-runner concept. However, a common point of criticism was its pricing model: while the game could be downloaded for free to play a few levels, the full experience required a one-time purchase of $9.99 (or equivalent in local currency). This differed from the free-to-play model with in-app purchases common in many successful mobile games, leading to some disappointment among players and, reportedly, impacting its long-term financial performance compared to other mobile hits.
Despite not reaching the same astronomical financial success as some other mobile titles, Super Mario Run remains a well-designed and enjoyable Super Mario game that successfully translated the franchise's core mechanics to a mobile format. It demonstrated Nintendo's willingness to experiment with its beloved IPs on new platforms and laid the groundwork for future mobile endeavors.
