In many of the side-scrolling Super Mario video games, individual levels have tended to be split up by locations on a world map – giving you a visual indication of your progress towards your goal. Until now in both Super Mario Maker and Super Mario Maker 2, you have only been able to create individual levels, losing that sense of progression as you work through levels by the same creator.
In the freshly released final update for Super Mario Maker 2 on the Nintendo Switch, players can now take advantage of the ‘World Maker Mode’, allowing anyone to string together their different levels in a linear or varied route towards the end castle. This doesn’t just allow you to create single maps, but potentially your own Super Mario Bros. game. Up to eight worlds with a total of 40 levels can be strung together – delivering an experience potentially on-scale with some of the small/mid-sized games of the past.
The Koopalings are also making their debut in this update and can be added to user-created courses. This is in addition to the key-chasing Phanto and the wind-up Mechakoopas, perfect for added threats on your fortieth castle level.
Additional power-ups and course parts are also coming to Super Mario Maker 2 as part of the free update. This includes the SMB2 Mushroom, which transforms Mario and friends into their look from Super Mario Bros. 2 and allows them to pick up and throw items and enemies. With the Frog Suit from Super Mario Bros. 3, Mario can swim through the water with ease, and even run across its surface! Other power-ups added to the game are the Power Balloon first introduced in Super Mario World, the Super Acorn from New Super Mario Bros. U and the Boomerang Flower from Super Mario 3D World. From the same game, there are also five variations for wearables like the Cannon Box and Propeller Box.
Super Mario Maker 2 is available exclusively on the Nintendo Switch, available both via a physical boxed collection and digital download via the Nintendo eShop.
