Super Mario World is Mario's best game! Super Mario Bros. 3 is Mario's best game! MAN, I CAN'T DECIDE!!
Story: 9/10
- The storyline is pretty nice, again. Mario and Luigi take Princess Toadstool for a vacation after all that they went through in Super Mario Bros. 3! Like the previous games in the series, she is suddenly kidnapped by Bowser and it becomes the goal of Mario, Luigi, and their new pal Yoshi to rescue her. However, unlike the previous Mario games, which take place in the Mushroom Kingdom and surrounding areas, Super Mario World takes place in a new place called "Dinosaur Land".
Gameplay: 10/10
- The gameplay has truly improved, even from Super Mario Bros. 3! The gameplay was most stiff in the first Super Mario Bros. game, but not anymore in Super Mario Bros. 3. Now, just when I thought that Super Mario Bros. 3 was most comfortable, here comes Super Mario World. Without a doubt, the gameplay is better than Super Mario Bros. 3. Like most games in the main Mario series, Super Mario World is a side-scrolling platformer where the player assumes control of Mario (or Luigi in 2 Player Mode by switching at the world map, though this does not affect the gameplay). There are 9 worlds, each containing several levels which are accessed through a world map. The player moves through each level to reach its exit (some levels have a second, secret exit) which unlocks a shortcut path to further levels. To complete the levels, Mario & Luigi must run, jump, spin jump (more powerful version of the regular jump which Mario spins and breaks blocks under you and destroys enemies with 1 hit) swim, use warp pipes, collect coins (collecting 100 earns him an extra life), defeat enemies, navigate platforms, open doors, and avoid pits, lava, and other hazards. Mario & Luigi are also assisted by using power-ups found in the series' trademark "?" boxes; he can become larger, throw small fireballs, become invincible for a short time, and fly. Each world contains a castle at its end where Mario fights one of the Koopalings, who are the children of Bowser and have each claimed a world as its boss. In addition to regular levels and the final level (Bowser's castle), some worlds contain special levels like ghost houses and fortresses. These levels are somewhat harder than the usual levels, having more traps, enemies, or being maze-like in nature. In order to fly in the game, you no longer have to "hold and keep pushing a button", but by just holding them. However, in order to stay in the air as long as possible, you would have to alternate "left & right" on the "D-Pad" while in flight. The game's most noticeable addition is that it introduces Yoshi, a dinosaur companion whom Mario or Luigi can ride and is able to eat most enemies. He appears in many of the levels, generally colored green but sometimes red, blue, or yellow. Yoshi displays a different ability after eating a non-green Koopa shell: red will allow Yoshi to breathe fire, blue will make Yoshi sprout wings and fly, and with a yellow shell Yoshi will stomp the ground as he lands. Each non-green Yoshi will also get the power of his own color, meaning that a yellow Yoshi eating a blue shell will both fly and stomp the ground when landing. Baby Yoshis can also be found in Star Road; instead of eating shells to gain their powers they become fully grown upon eating 5 items or immediately upon eating a power-up, such as a Super Mushroom or a Starman. By the way, my favorite Yoshi is the blue one; flying is what I love doing in the Mario games!
Graphics: 9/10
- The graphics are great! Once again, everything looks neatly colored and such in a typical Mario game.
Sound: 9/10
- The sound effects of the game are great and memorable, mostly from Yoshi. I still remember the funny sounds Yoshi make when: he spits out shells, when he flies with wings, when he swallows food/items, etc. The music is all nice. I like the boss themes, and I like how the music changes to drumbeat style when you get on Yoshi in any stage.
Overall, I give this game a 9 1/2 out of 10. This was yet another great addition to the series! Yet again, I have 2 copies of this game; meaning that I have 2 Super Mario World games in my collection. I do not know why I have extra copies of most of my Mario games. I have 2 copies of Dr. Mario, 3 copies of Super Mario Bros. / Duck Hunt, 2 copies of Super Mario Bros. 2, 2 copies of Super Mario All-Stars, 2 copies of Super Mario Kart, and 2 copies of Super Mario World. I mean, what is that all about!? I guess I really love Mario's games a lot. Anyway, Super Mario Bros. 3 is still the hardest of the series, as Super Mario World is like, the easiest and most comfortable. Both of the games have flight abilities, but Super Mario World had the better, Yoshi! Since I classified both games as "best in series", that can only mean that they are at "neck and neck" to me. I really cannot choose between these 2 classics!