Super Mario Run

By Nintendo

The best thing about Super Mario Run is the fact that it’s a Mario game on Android! At first glance it appears that this isn’t some half-assed, watered down Mario game for the mobile market – this is an actual Mario game! The levels –graphically and design - are almost identical to the New Super Mario Bros series on the DS/3DS. The basic objectives of the game are the same as any standard Super Mario game of the last 30 years – collect coins, jump on Gumbas etc. Even the theme tune and noises are there! Super Mario baby!

I, like so many children of the 80’s, am lifelong Super Mario fan but I still have to ask myself the question– do I want to pay £10 for the full Super Mario Run game? Um… No. I do genuinely love the fact I’m playing Mario on my phone and I love the classic Nintendo graphics– however its only my love of Mario that has kept me playing for so long.

The main game is meant to be a platformer meets endless runner but for me I don’t think it works that well. I don’t know if I have played too much regular Mario over the years but it’s so frustrating not being able to go back on yourself when you have missed a block or a coin etc.

The extra stuff they have included ain't all that either. The competitive mode is alright I guess but it still relies on the same endless runner mechanic of the main game. And of course the only reason you play in the competitive mode is to earn coins to help rebuild the kingdom that King Bowser has destroyed… ‘Use your coins to build a castle’. ‘Build Blue Yoshi a blue house’. ‘Share with friends on your Nintendo Mii account' … I really don’t care about this nonsense!  But I guess no one over the age of 10 is meant to!

If this was any other game would I put up with, a) not particularly enjoying the actual main game and, b) not giving a tiny rats ass about the extra stuff they’ve included to lure you into playing the game? Probably not. After a while I will admit I was getting a better hang of the controls however I don’t think I’ll ever be that good- especially considering the fact that presumably the levels will get harder the further you get into it.

It breaks my heart to say it but I’m really not that impressed by Super Mario Run. It’s just not enjoyable enough for me to want to continue playing – especially paying to continue play. Maybe its my own fault  - in my head I guess I wanted either a standard platformer or a proper endless runner and instead I got a bastardised mix of the two doesn’t quite work.

I’m so sorry Mario.

2/5