Super Mario Run first impressions: A perfect gift from Nintendo for the fans

Mario may be the most familiar face in the world of gaming, but Nintendo’s Super Mario Run isn’t a port of any console game. It’s a traditional two-dimensional game. Of course, the character, Mario, is the soul of Super Mario Run. The game itself is original in its present form, but comes with a heavy dose of nostalgia and loads of memories.

The whole Super Mario Run game is played in a portrait mode. And yes, two-hands are not allowed, or needed. This is a one-handed game, designed for modern day devices like the iPhone. It’s been perfectly blended and adapted to a mobile platform, which is evident from the single input control scheme. The idea is simple: to play the game with one hand. All throughout the game, you are tapping on the screen to move Mario forward – the longer you hold, the higher he jumps. Yes, timing is very important. You need to jump at the right times to collect coins, step on enemies and jump off walls.

Super Mario Run may tend to appear like a side-scrolling game. In reality, it’s an automatic runner, similar to a Temple Run. Just remember, you are not pushing Mario forward – he will run automatically.

The game’s main mode “World Tour” has many levels, which will remind you of old classic Mario games. It has six different worlds and 24 levels in total. Well, I managed to clear a few levels in less than an hour, so don’t expect a lengthy campaign similar to Super Mario titles available on the Wii U or 3DS.

As I said in the beginning, you have to collect coins and defeat your enemies to proceed to get powers. Each section has five special coins, in pink color. Of course, they are hard to get but the reward is big: to get more points. Once you collect the pink coins, that will unlock the purple coins, followed by the black coins. That means you have to play the same level again and again.

Also read: Super Mario Run comes to iOS: How to play, game modes and price

What I really liked about Super Mario Run is that it’s not boring. Most games in the same genre tend to lose interest within the first few minutes. I also liked the soundtrack and the levels are smartly designed. However, I do feel that the game is too simple. The excitement to play the game is still there, though.

Now let’s talk about the harsh side. The first three levels are free, and you have to pay Rs 620 to unlock the full game. That’s a bummer. From Nintendo’s point of view, Super Mario Run is not costly. But do keep in mind that this game falls under runner genre and most of these titles are free on the App store.

Nintendo says the game can’t be played offline. That means you need a constant internet connection to play the game. I commute to office on the metro, so if my data connection gets lost the game will pause automatically and not let me continue. That’s not fair, Nintendo.

Still, I feel Super Mario Run really does capture the hype surrounding Nintendo’s entry into mobile gaming market. It’s a perfect gift by Nintendo to all Mario fans. At least, I’m super excited. Period.