Super Mario Maker 2 Review – Build it, beat it, love it

Get your thinking helmets on, because Mario and co. are here for a second course of constructive adventure with Super Mario Maker 2! The original entry on the Wii U (and later 3DS) managed to be quite the highlight for the system, so to say that the sequel had it’s work cut out for it is an understatement. Thankfully, this follow-up to the fan-favourite has done everything it needed to and more in creating a worthy successor.

For those who missed out on the original (or didn’t own a Wii U, and who could blame you), Super Mario Maker 2 is a game that allows you to create your own 2D Mario stages in the style of earlier titles Super Mario Bros, Super Mario Bros 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros Wii, alongside the brand new Super Mario 3D World style. These levels can then be shared online for others to try, or you can download the creations of others to try yourself. This is of course complimented by a large number of built-in stages, ensuring there’s plenty to do in the game.

Right from the get-go, you can see the level of detail and polish that’s been put into the presentation for the game. Each of the offered styles look the best they’ve ever been, in particular the new 3D World style which is a truly gorgeous translation of it’s predecessor’s visual spectacle.

The backgrounds are filled to the brim with detail, and every single level, be it set during a sandstorm in the night or a frozen tundra in daylight is accompanied with some amazing new tracks from Koji Kondo. Each of these tracks (which we learned about back in May) evoke just the right feel for their associated areas, and stand equally among their forebearers. No punches were pulled with the game’s look and sound, and it shows from the minute you launch the game.

Of course, in addition to looking great, the gameplay is top-notch. Each of the returning styles has been perfectly recreated from their origins, and hit a perfect balance of uniqueness and familiarity throughout each one. Every style offers it’s own options and abilities for Mario and co, but they’ll quickly become second-nature to you, especially if you’re familiar with what inspired them.

The 3D World style for example allows Mario to utilise his long jump and crouch-walking, which means levels can be tackled in different ways, such as having a low ceiling to contend with, or having a jump that might not be possible elsewhere.

The creation UI has had somewhat of a make-over from the previous game, both to improve the smoothness of the building process and to better accommodate the Nintendo Switch and it’s capabilities. Levels can be worked on in both docked and un-docked mode, and the UI manages to work quite well regardless of which you’re playing in. Of course, the touch screen does help with placement, but having the layout on a larger screen is also helpful, so both have something to offer.

The creation options themselves must be seen to be believed. Almost everything from the original game has made a return here, with a number of them having new ways of being used in levels. They’re also joined by plenty of new elements that can be combined in various ways. Add to that the numerous game styles, course themes and the newly-introduced night mode, and you can create almost anything you can think of!

A perfect example of this is a built-in level in which you’re presented with a trampoline, a P switch, and a POW block, as well as a series of rooms with keys that can’t be reached normally. It’s up to the player to test these items in the rooms to see what effect they have on the area and claim the keys, which works great for puzzle-solving and is sure to birth some new course ideas too.

The levels you encounter on your quest to rebuild Peach’s castle all manage to introduce players to various in-game objects and level variations, with each one being a chance to learn something new about the game as a whole. For example, a level based around grappling hooks helps you to get used to how they’re used, and also shows the different manners in which they can be utilised.

They start of fairly simple, but as you continue you begin to encounter a wider variety of allies who will then introduce more challenging experiences to get used to, which in turn can affect the overworld in unexpected ways.

A great example is a certain character who can help fill the kingdom with flowers once you find and assist him, or another who goes on to create some cool-looking statues to show of nearby. It’s definitely worth exploring the mode just to be surprised by what you find (and trust me, there’s definitely more than a few of those as you go!)

The online hub for the game compliments the whole experience rather well, and is designed to encourage the sharing of feedback and getting involved. This is accomplished by rewarding interactions with other creators, which should hopefully foster a good community. Who can say no to a nice new shirt for your mii just for being friendly?

The hub functions without a hitch too, as I was able to play and upload courses with nary a hiccup in the connection. Trying out a new course takes mere seconds to load up, and sharing your own creations is designed in a way to be quick but fair to others.

The overall layout is simple enough but manages to feature more or less everything you’d want to have on hand, such as a list of favourite levels and the ability to see what’s gotten popular.

All in all, the game has managed to provide a huge repository of tools for players to unleash their creativity, and is a rock-solid continuation of the series. The graphics and music are bursting with charm, the creation menu has plenty of options to make use of, and the online hub runs like a charm. What’s not to love?