Game Review: Super Mario Run For Android

Super Mario Run is finally available for Android and you can find it now in the Google Play store. Apple users, who have been playing since Dec 15, also received a 2.0 upgrade today allowing for more of the game to be played for free. According to Tech Crunch, Nintendo has already made $53 million on iOS to go with 78 million downloads which has been above initial estimates.

On a pure nostalgia factor, I'm glad to hear Nintendo has a hit with its first mobile game for Mario. But was it worth the excruciating 3-month wait for Android users like myself? Before I give you my review, watch this official gameplay trailer and read the synopsis and features:

A new kind of Mario game that you can play with one hand. You control Mario by tapping as he constantly runs forward. You time your taps to pull off stylish jumps, midair spins, and wall jumps to gather coins and reach the goal! Super Mario Run can be downloaded for free and after you purchase the game, you will be able to play all the modes with no additional payment required. You can try out all three modes before purchase: World Tour, Toad Rally, and Kingdom Builder.

World Tour

Run and jump with style to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser’s clutches! Travel through plains, caverns, ghost houses, airships, castles, and more... To reach Bowser’s Castle, clear the 24 courses located across 6 worlds. There are many ways to enjoy the courses, such as collecting the 3 different types of colored coins or by competing for the highest score against your friends. You can try courses 1-1 to 1-4 for free.

Toad Rally
Show off Mario’s stylish moves, compete against your friends, and challenge people from all over the world. A challenge mode where the competition differs each time you play. Compete against the stylish moves of other players for the highest score as you gather coins and get cheered on by a crowd of Toads. Fill the gauge with stylish moves to enter Coin Rush Mode to get more coins. If you win the rally, the cheering Toads will come live in your kingdom, and your kingdom will grow.

Kingdom Builder
Gather coins and Toads to build your very own kingdom. Combine different buildings and decorations to create your own unique kingdom. There are over 100 kinds of items in the Kingdom Builder mode. If you get more Toads in Toad Rally, the number of buildings and decorations available will increase. With the help of the friendly Toads you can gradually build up your kingdom.

What You Can Do After Purchasing All Worlds

1. All courses in World Tour are playable - You can play all 24 courses over all 6 worlds. Why not try out the bigger challenges and thrills available in all courses.
2. More playable characters - If you complete course 6-4 to rescue Peach, and build homes for Luigi, Yoshi, and Toadette in Kingdom Builder, you can get them to join your adventures as playable characters. They play differently to Mario, so why not put their special characteristics to good use in World Tour and Toad Rally?
3. More courses in Toad Rally - The types of courses available in Toad Rally will increase to seven different types of courses, expanding the fun! In the new additions, Purple and Yellow Toads may also come to cheer for you.
4. More buildings and decorations in Kingdom Builder - The types of building available will increase, so you'll be able to make your kingdom even more lively. You can also place Rainbow Bridges to expand your kingdom.

(Internet connectivity required to play. Data charges may apply.)

RD80s Review: 

This might be my most anticipated mobile game in the 4 years I've owned an Android tablet. The first gameplay videos and descriptions that came through my RSS feed made it sound very NES-like in appearance and style. After my initial sit-down with the game a couple hours ago, I gotta say IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT. So far I just have the free version but I do anticipate buying the full $9.99 version. The main reason SMR has captivated me is its features that the popular endless runners like Temple Run and Minion Rush don't have (or at least don't since the last time I've played.) SMR's Toad Rally is fun because you are trying to "1-up" another player's run which is in the retro style of actually seeing the ghost run of your opponent as you complete your run. There is also some risk involved as you can lose some of the toads you've collected if you don't defeat your opponent. The Kingdom Builder is also something I didn't expect in that you can create your own little mushroom kingdom with the coins you've won. It's kind of silly, but at least gives you something else to buy besides boring power-ups like in other games.

Also, this game is challenging!! It's actually fairly easy to complete each world and make it to the flagpole, but the real challenge is to do so with 5 special coins. There is some fun in finding out where each coin is and sometimes, how to even reach it! Yeah, you can advance to the next stage similarly to achieving 2 of the 3 stars in Angry Birds, but you will need all coins to advance to the next world. 

Overall, it's packed with the nostalgia of Super Mario Brothers balanced with great touch-play you'd expect in today's mobile market. I definitely recommend everyone to try it out as it will definitely be my preferred game in the coming weeks. If you wanna friend me in the game, my user name is Grossman76. Now, let's get jump...err...running!!