Review of Super Mario All-Stars: Limited Edition

Review of Super Mario All-Stars: Limited Edition
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Super Mario All-Stars: Limited Edition

Super Mario All Stars was a game loved by kids and adults alike when it first appeared on the Super Nintendo Entertainment system in 1993. It had newly recreated graphics of 4 games that were originally released for the first NES. It gained wide success because of its replay value and it helped gained many more fans for the franchise. This game was released for the Nintendo Wii the celebrate 25 years of Mario.

Story (2 out of 5)

All Stars title screen

Of course, no one really plays Mario games for the story of it, these four games bundled into the collection basically follow the same plotline. With the first Super Mario Bros., it is your duty to save Princess Toadstool from Bowser as you cross through every level’s castle. In Mario Bros. 2, you choose to play as Mario, Luigi, Toad, or Princess Toadstool to save the world from Wart. Mario Bros. 3 has the same formula as the first game, and the Mario Bros. lost levels just provide a fun new challenge for fans that want something difficult.

Game Play (5 out of 5)

All Stars game play

The game play shines as it is just like the original SNES version with no changes. The basic controls of the first Mario game are easy to handle, jump and attack repeatedly to get the gist of it. Mario Bros. 2 has the most differences when compared to the first game. Playing as Mario, you will be well balanced, playing as Luigi, you can jump much higher.

Toad cannot jump very high but he pluck vegetables the fastest. Princess Toadstool has a special skill to hover in the air for a few short seconds, although she plucks vegetables the slowest. In Super Mario Bros. 3, the game offers a wide range of abilities to use such as the tanuki which turns Mario to stone, and the frog suit, making him able in water. All in all, these little games have wide range of game play and replay.

Controls (5 out of 5)

The controls are simple, each game has the same button to jump and throw or attack. With simple controls like this, anyone can get accustomed to playing this on the Wiimote. Old and young fans alike will get the hang of the straightforward controls and wisp their way through each 2D level. There are no faults or glitches with this special edition, making it another great choice on any Mario fans list.

Graphics (4 out of 5)

All Stars graphics

The graphics have the same look to them as the original, yet the colors appear brighter and more lively with the help of the Wii’s engine. The graphics are now made to fit on a larger screen without showing too many pixels. The newly brilliant colors make the atmosphere more cheery, even when frustration builds up while playing the Lost Levels. Simple, clean and crisp graphics give this game an advantage over the one from the 90’s.

Sound (4 out of 5)

The delightful sounds from the classics are still present in this version. The catchy tunes are remastered to be played on a higher quality sound system without any low quality hinted in it. The music in all three Mario games has a simple happy tone to it, making the games that much more enjoyable to play. The Lost Levels feature remixes of the same songs, which are catching to the ears as well. The game also includes a soundtrack with almost all the songs from Mario games up to Mario Galaxy. It also includes the sound effects from the first games added in for nostalgia.

Overall (4 out of 5)

This addition is basically what every fan growing up with Mario would want, with four different full games to complete that include the frustrating Lost Levels for those hardcore players. The Super Mario All-Stars: Limited Edition is not something a dedicated Mario lover would want to pass out on, especially when it comes with a full soundtrack, 30 page book on the history of Mario, and the classic games pumped up with colorful graphics.