Super Mario Maker Review
Originality: Ok, so level editors have been around for a while, so the concept of this isn’t too original. Take into consideration that this has been done illegally and unofficially on browser game websites, and it doesn’t feel original at all. Then you start to take into consideration the unique use of the Wii U gamepad in terms of level creating, take into consideration the awesome way miiverse interacts with levels (“don’t go this way!!!” or “I died SO many times here” or “Hit the invisible block here!”), and then you start to appreciate how things slowly unlock so you can 1) get used to using things in the best way possible and 2) feel a sense of accomplishment as you unlock things. Truly, as unoriginal as this is in the most basic of ways, it is original in the most unique of ways.
13/20
Graphics: Alright, the maximum graphics on this game are what NSMBU were (nothing special). Tropical Freeze had a lot more detail in it (dat fur) and was overall a more beautiful game, as was Rayman Legends. I kind of wish they would have come out with a more enhanced visual experience (like they pushed the NSMBU engine as far as it could go). They clearly made enhancements to the engine when going from Super Mario 3d World to Captain Toad (have you SEE the comparison videos? Wow!), so why couldn’t they do it for this game too? Ah well.
6/10
Art Style: Where they failed in graphics, they made up for in art styles as they brought back so many options. I’ve come to really enjoy being able to go back to older art styles. It makes the games feel different and unique! Still, they did just reuse old art styles.
10/15
Story: If you read my reviews, then you know how I feel about story and how important that is to me. I’ve argued time and time again how EASY it would be for Nintendo to put a decent story into a 2-d side scrolling game, then people argue how unnecessary it is, then I point out games like Trine which manage to be both awesome 2-d games AND have a good story and then people typically don’t say anything back to that (I guess my point is made?). Needless to say, I have always had games lose points for not having much of a story and lose a LOT of points for having virtually no story (Tropical Freeze, NSMBU, etc), however THIS time I’m not going to do it. Because this game is based around players creating their own levels, I can’t take away points. Sure, I can take away points for Mario Kart for not having a story (they managed to have stories in Mario Party, so they could easily have one in Kart), but not for this game. It gets an exempt for the first time ever for me.
EX/30
Game Interface: Wonderful!
5/5
Controls easy and fluid or difficult and rigid? Very easy!
5/5
Is it fun? Extremely fun and wonderful game!
15/15
Total = 54/70
+5 Charm Factor
Adjusted Total - 84/100
Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition – 100 + 5 = 105
Shovel Knight – 95 + 10 = 105
Shadow of Mordor = 95 + 5 = 100
Zelda Skyward Sword-98
Hyrule Warriors – 93 + 5 = 98
Batman: Arkham Asylum - 93
Zelda Minish Cap – 92
Portal 2 – 87 + 5 = 92
Portal – 87 + 5 = 92
Assassin’s Creed 4 Wii U – 86 +5 = 91
Zelda Windwaker HD – 86 + 5 = 91
Bayonetta 2 = 91 NR
Bayonetta (Wii U) – 91 NR
Zelda Oracle of Ages – 91
Metroid Fusion – 91
Mario and Luigi: Bowsers Inside Story – 86 + 5 = 91
Zelda Twilight Princess – 90
Luigi’s Mansion Dark Moon - 90
Guildwars 2 – 89
Mario and Luigi: Dream Team – 89
Animal Crossing New Leaf – 84 + 5 = 89
Pokemon X – 88
Zelda: A Link to the Past – 78 + 10 = 88
Kid Icarus Uprising – 88
Darksiders 2 - 88
Fire Emblem Awakening – 88
Super Mario Maker = 84*
Dishonored - 84
Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark - 84
Paper Mario Sticker Star – 83
Rome 2: Total War - 83
Zelda: A Link Between Worlds-83
Super Mario 3d land – 72 + 10 = 82
Batman Arkham Knight - 81
Batman: Arkham Origins - 81
Trine – 80
Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze* - 68 + 10 = 78
Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D – 74
Black Ops 2 - 74
Rome: Total War-74
Paper Monster Uncut (Wii U) - 70
Red Alert 3 - 70
New Super Mario Bros. U - 66
New Super Mario Bros.Wii – 57 *
Assassins Creed 3 – 57 NR
Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition – 53*
Kirby Squeak Squad – 43
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3d – 42
Project X Zone - 18
* Means it was more fun than the score indicates. Scores judge the overall quality of the game (how fun it is only counts for 15% in my reviews)
NR means Not Recommended based on inappropriateness.
^Charm is rewarded to games that have an undefinable quality to them that makes them amazing and have high replayability value.
