Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2
Back in the days when I had my first games console, the argument was always going on in my mind about which was better, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 or Super Mario World. However, as my Dad bought me the Sega Mega Drive (or Genesis if you are not living in the UK), I became heavily biased towards Sonic. As I got older, I finally got to understand and appreciate how good Super Mario was and in particular, Super Mario World for the Super Nintendo. Fast forward to 2006 and Super Mario World is now available on the Game Boy Advance as the console starts to bring more and more SNES classics to the consumer, allowing them to play on the move.
I won’t be doing a full review of the game itself because that will be covered by another writer. I will be looking at the port itself and if it still holds up. Spoiler alert it does. SMW fits very well on the Game Boy Advance screen and the inbuilt lighting brings all the fresh colours of the Mushroom Kingdom to light. Everything is able to fit on the screen well so you won’t be feeling the need to throw the console at your neighbour’s cat due to the Advance not being able to keep up with the gameplay.
There are a few additions to this port, with Luigi now being different to how he was to the original game. Back then, he was a straight colour swap of Mario but now he jumps higher and has bigger hang time than Mario. Personally, this did not suit my gameplay so I just stayed with Mario but it was nice to have some variation available to the player should you choose.
There are two bigger features for the main game which are a godsend and should have always been in the original game. The first is the ability to save at any point in the world map rather than just at certain points like ghost houses which was a right pain in the backside to do. The second is a menu that tells you how many secret exits you have still have left to unlock and considering this game has an insane amount this is very handy.
The controls are as tight as they should be and I had no problem adjusting to playing with Mario in between my hands. The soundtrack has also been upgraded slightly. It is not getting a full orchestra remake but it just adds a bit more oomph to the SNES version.
The multiplayer mode that was added in the first Super Mario Advance game is here again. It is good fun to play with friends but personally I was not here for that as I just wanted to play Super Mario World again.
This may seem like a short review because in reality it should be. The game looks well, plays well and will feel right in your hand. Super Mario World is one of the best Mario games and one of the best platforms games period but now instead of sitting in your home, you can take this beautiful adventure anywhere you like. If you said to me which should be the first game you should buy for the Gameboy advance I would for sure say…Pokemon Emerald. Come on a look my name for God’s sake. But being packed with me is Super Mario Advance 2 because I always want this game at arm’s reach at all times.
Wahoo! You are a Super Reader! But the adventure doesn’t stop here… There’s more of this project in another castle! This article is just one level in an entire Super Mario Multiverse, a galactic collaboration between writers around the world sharing a bit of our hearts and memories about our favorite Mario games. Visit the Center of the Multiverse to see more:
