-Yoshi is basically a mushroom that never runs out
-The cape allows you to fly infinitely and you are invincible during flight
-Also, very few things can pierce the cape's spin attack so you can just spam it and be virtually invulnerable
-You can re-enter levels and easily re-acquire whatever powerups you want, and then leave immediately with the powerups.
-You've got a reserve powerup available at all times even if you somehow get hit
-It's absurdly easy to get extra lives, between all the minigames, the many 1up mushrooms throughout the levels, the extra life you get from each Yoshi egg, and the aforementioned ability to re-enter levels and farm lives
-The switch palaces nerf every potentially hard platforming segment, and place extra powerups everywhere.
-Virtually no enemies or obstacles are a threat because you can bounce off any spiked hazard with spin jumps
Relaying this game is really putting into perspective how much easier it is than its predecessors (which weren't even that hard anyway.) I finished the game with like 80 extra lives and I died about twice, and even then only because I was screwing around.
What was the reason for Mario World being so piss easy?
maybe so you feel comfortable then Special World savages your shit
Because it's fun.
I didn't find it ridiculously easy as a kid when it came out.
Go outside for a walk, bud.
Because the exploration was the main draw. They advertised the 96 exits for a reason.
Special World gets pretty difficult, though.
Special World gets pretty difficult, though.
Because you played to infinity.
Most of what you said are very advanced tricks for a new player, even staying in the air with the cape takes a good while to get used
Most of what you said are very advanced tricks for a new player, even staying in the air with the cape takes a good while to get used
So kids don't quit out of frustration grandpa.
IIRC they thought SMB3 ended up being too overwhelming an experience for a casual player, so for SMW they decided to relegate the most challenging parts to the secret levels.
And I prefer the SMB3 design approach.
And I prefer the SMB3 design approach.
Was perfectly balanced when I played it as a kid.
The usual answer to this question is "to sell more copies". But in this case, considering Super Mario Bros. 3 is one of the best-selling games of all time, I'm not sure that was the reason. Maybe the team just felt like the Mario games shouldn't be as hard as they were in the NES games.
That mentality is a mistake though. I agree with you. World just is devoid of challenge. I still love it, but I would probably love it more if it were more challenging.
edit: yeah, the Special levels were harder, but I feel like most of the game should have been like that. At the very least, World should have been as challenging as its predecessor, Bros. 3.
That mentality is a mistake though. I agree with you. World just is devoid of challenge. I still love it, but I would probably love it more if it were more challenging.
edit: yeah, the Special levels were harder, but I feel like most of the game should have been like that. At the very least, World should have been as challenging as its predecessor, Bros. 3.
The big reason I hold Mario 3 above Mario World is because Mario World is stupidly easy in comparison. World hands out 1-ups like they're on clearance and if you unlock the secret area in Donut Plains its basically means you can always visit a level fully powered up. Mario 3 hit the right level of fun and challenge for me.
I'm not sure if "to sell more copies" even applies to Mario World since it was a bundled in gameOriginally Posted by AuthenticM
The usual answer to this question is "to sell more copies". But in this case, considering Super Mario Bros. 3 is one of the best-selling games of all time, I'm not sure that was the reason. Maybe the team just felt like the Mario games shouldn't be as hard as they were in the NES games.
That mentality is a mistake though. I agree with you. World just is devoid of challenge. I still love it, but I would probably love it more if it were more challenging.
Because it's for kids.
Mario World is honestly my least favorite Mario game.
Maybe it's because it was so braindead? IDK. Just felt boring.
Maybe it's because it was so braindead? IDK. Just felt boring.
To make up for the fact that Mario 3, while not massively hard like games such as Battletoad and Ninja Turtles, is still pretty damn hard, especially considering there is no way to save, and you have to therefore beat some difficult levels (especially the last world) in one sitting. Only easy way to beat it is with warp whistle.
I was 5 years old when I got the game. It took me a long time to even figure out how to get through world 1.
Probably found some market research that said most people like accessible games.
Because the target audience wasn't video game masochists.
I remember it being extremely fun, specially thanks to Yoshi and the cape.
Whaaaaaat ? After replaying the game recently, I found it way harder than recent Mario platformers. I suppose the game may be easy if you are a skilled player but the "ridiculously" seems a bit over the top.
Shit, you're right.Originally Posted by Sephzilla
I'm not sure if "to sell more copies" even applies to Mario World since it was a bundled in game
This is a warped perspective that I loathe from developers. Every one here used to be a kid. And most of us used to play hard games. And we loved it.Originally Posted by shawnbuddy
Because it's for kids.
-the Mega Man games
-the TMNT games
-Contra
-Double Dragon
-hell, even the original SMB
The list goes on. Don't underestimate kids. Kids can handle challenging games.
It's like Mario 3D World in that regard. Some easy initial levels for younger players and the less experienced, and hardcore players have Special World and Champion's Road. Something for everything is what makes Mario great.Originally Posted by SoundPulse
Because the exploration was the main draw. They advertised the 96 exits for a reason.
Special World gets pretty difficult, though.
Because I couldn't finish SMB1 or 3.
I actually think SMW is harder than 3. I always find myself in the minority on that, however, so this thread is no surprise to me. =P
I thought it was perfect as a kid. SMB1-3, while I adored, were very challenging games.
SMW was just right for me.
SMW was just right for me.
Try doing some self imposed challenges.
No cape, no Yoshi, no switches.
No cape, no Yoshi, no switches.
The latter levels are grueling. Don't know wtf you're talking about. Yea 1-1 is going to be a cakewalk, but the game does a magnificent job at getting progressively tougher.
I loved Super Mario World exactly for its easier difficulty, Super Mario Bros 3 was too hard. Super Mario Bros 2 USA was pretty much perfect.
I've always thought that taking a powerup from one level to the next was the single worst design decision ever made in Mario history.
In SMW in particular being able to take the cape into levels totally trivialises large parts of the game.
Still though, SMW's easiness allowed people of all stripes to enjoy it, so I see why they made it that way. Don't get me wrong I loved the hell out of it too.
In SMW in particular being able to take the cape into levels totally trivialises large parts of the game.
Still though, SMW's easiness allowed people of all stripes to enjoy it, so I see why they made it that way. Don't get me wrong I loved the hell out of it too.
Git...bad?
It is on the easy side, but I wouldn't say it is very easy. Not for a kid at the time anyway. Then there's the Special World which is anything but easy.
Well you're just a weirdo.Originally Posted by Theslammer
I actually think SMW is harder than 3. I always find myself in the minority on that, however, so this thread is no surprise to me. =P
Some of the stages, especially the bonus ones, are really tough.
They had all of the secret levels for a reason. They wanted the main game to be accessible for 5 year olds.
It was the first Mario with saves IIRC so there was no need to bloat it artificially with unwarranted difficulty.
People looking for a challenge and completionists still got their fix by doing all the levels, exits and secret levels.
People looking for a challenge and completionists still got their fix by doing all the levels, exits and secret levels.
What about Blue Yoshi, aka best Yoshi?
There's literally no chance this guy died only twice 100%ing the game. And It's weird to have a stealth brag thread about an easy game.
Agreed. As a kid, something was missing from SMW that SMB 3 had. It was less captivating because it required less out of you.Originally Posted by AuthenticM
Shit, you're right.
This is a warped perspective that I loathe from developers. Every one here used to be a kid. And most of us used to play hard games. And we loved it.
-the Mega Man games
-the TMNT games
-Contra
-Double Dragon
-hell, even the original SMB
The list goes on. Don't underestimate kids. Kids can handle challenging games.
Because back in the day games were fun.
The focus was on the exploration and presenting Super Mario World as an actual World with secret areas, caves, forests etc, instead of a streamlined set of areas with levels. Instead of mere icons in a map, you had castles that crumbled, star warps that appeared, switches that get (and stayed) pressed down, and a big ass Bowser-shaped entrance to the final valley.
The immersion was amazing in that game.
The immersion was amazing in that game.
I think the save system is one of the reasons. It's convenient, yet if I play Mario 3 front to back, I can finish with almost 70 lives. In World's case, it loads up five lives.Originally Posted by AuthenticM
I'd love to hear you explain why you feel that.
But overall, the platforming was always harder for me. I found the cape was harder for me to control than the raccoon tail, and the Power Wing power-up was invaluable for things like the fast airship in World 8 in Mario 3.
I also found the platforming harder in World overall.
xD~~Originally Posted by Jaded Alyx
Well you're just a weirdo.
Indeed.I've always thought that taking a powerup from one level to the next was the single worst design decision ever made in Mario history.
In SMW in particular being able to take the cape into levels totally trivialises large parts of the game.
Still though, SMW's easiness allowed people of all stripes to enjoy it, so I see why they made it that way. Don't get me wrong I loved the hell out of it too.
Were there ever mod hacks that attempted to make the game challenging yet fair? I know about the fuck-hard user-made levels; I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about a reasonable rebalance of the game. The Obscuro's Oblivion Overhaul equivalent for SMW, if you would.
Oh? Including SMB2 (JP)/Lost Levels?Relaying this game is really putting into perspective how much easier it is than its predecessors (which weren't even that hard anyway.) I finished the game with like 80 extra lives and I died about twice, and even then only because I was screwing around.
What was the reason for Mario World being so piss easy?
I agree with this. Modern games are definitely much easier, too. There were games I could beat as a kid but I revisit them now and I'm terrible.Originally Posted by AuthenticM
Shit, you're right.
This is a warped perspective that I loathe from developers. Every one here used to be a kid. And most of us used to play hard games. And we loved it.
-the Mega Man games
-the TMNT games
-Contra
-Double Dragon
-hell, even the original SMB
The list goes on. Don't underestimate kids. Kids can handle challenging games.
Personally, I think SMW is the greatest game ever made. Excellent music, controls perfectly, exploration and plenty of secrets, and fun levels.
You're just too good, OP. Use those skills where they're better served - such as playing the flute or shooting hoops.
Maybe you're a savant.