Super Mario All-Stars
Platforms: SNES, Wii
Players: 1-2
Original Release Date(s):Aug 1993(US), Dec 16 1992(Europe), Jul 14 1993(Jap)
After the massive success of the NES and the Mario games Nintendo had decided to bring them all together of one cartridge not only that but they also brought the Japanese version of Super Mario Bros.2 and re-dubbed it The Lost Levels making it the definitive NES collection and if that wasn't enough they gave all the games a 16-bit graphical overhaul bringing them in line with Super Mario World, and if that wasn't enough there was a save feature for all for games letting you replay your favourite worlds in each game whenever you wanted.
Presentation
Simple and to the point from the game selection screen nothing fancy at all and all of the games are presented the exact same way they were before just with that extra bit of polish over all the the extra power allows, you really cant go wrong if you don't change much at all.
Graphics
One of the biggest selling point if you already do own the original NES games not only does it tale the originals and brings them to the 16-bit world but it adds new things to the mix not possible before like scrolling backdrops to add even more colour to the screens, and each game still retains it's unique look, and Super Mario Bros. 3 really shines with the added power matching and if not surpassing Super Mario World in places thanks to the extra shine to everything in the worlds.
The only bad thing that may be said is they are still 8-bit in design so even all the extra colour and shine can't change that, not that that is a bad thing as they remove any graphical glitches there were present before and have a much more solid looking game, if you like shiny games these are certainly some of the shiniest as they are polished to the max, still as good as they were the first time if not better now.
Sound
Every tune from the originals is there and enhanced now with the superior sound chip as they are now in stereo just like before the tunes from the games never really get old and if anything give you fond memories of when you played them the first time around, they will never really grate on you and perfectly suit all the games, with some of the most iconic tunes in gaming history.
Gameplay
Pretty much spot on as they always were and no different to the originals, for those who never experienced The Lost Levels both Mario and Luigi actually play slightly different where Mario is faster and Luigi and jump higher adding an element of strategy to choosing who you chose to go through the game with.
If anything due to the SNES controller the games feel more comfortable to play than ever and the only real person to blame if something goes wrong is yourself in those tricky moments.
Lasting Appeal
This is where this package really excels, four games each with a great deal of depth and challenge, and now with a save feature so you can go back and play your favourite worlds, although it is slightly different with The Lost Levels as it saves for each level due to the higher difficulty of the game as it is a real test of anyone's platform skills and even at times your ability to be patient and find your way through a level.
Super Mario Bros. 3 also benefits from this save feature as all the items you have collected will stay saved in your inventory the next time you play regardless of what world you play which is a nice bonus although some would say this makes it easier in a way, either way you have four challenging games to get through and even after beating you can simply go back and replay your favourite bits over again.
Overall
If you are a Mario fan then this is one for you as it is arguably the greatest collection of platform games you are likely to find on any one cartridge, and is worth it alone for the gem that is The Lost Levels alone as many people outside of Japan never would have got to play it the first time around, and worth it even more for the convenience of them all being in the same place at the same time as well as the revamped graphics.
Maybe the only reason not to get this is if you played the games to death on the 8-bit days and are looking for something new, but few Mario fans would see that as a bad thing as I am sure like me you would want to play them to death just that little bit more, certainly a Mario fans dream come true.
Scores
Players: 1-2
Original Release Date(s):Aug 1993(US), Dec 16 1992(Europe), Jul 14 1993(Jap)
After the massive success of the NES and the Mario games Nintendo had decided to bring them all together of one cartridge not only that but they also brought the Japanese version of Super Mario Bros.2 and re-dubbed it The Lost Levels making it the definitive NES collection and if that wasn't enough they gave all the games a 16-bit graphical overhaul bringing them in line with Super Mario World, and if that wasn't enough there was a save feature for all for games letting you replay your favourite worlds in each game whenever you wanted.
Presentation
Simple and to the point from the game selection screen nothing fancy at all and all of the games are presented the exact same way they were before just with that extra bit of polish over all the the extra power allows, you really cant go wrong if you don't change much at all.
Graphics
One of the biggest selling point if you already do own the original NES games not only does it tale the originals and brings them to the 16-bit world but it adds new things to the mix not possible before like scrolling backdrops to add even more colour to the screens, and each game still retains it's unique look, and Super Mario Bros. 3 really shines with the added power matching and if not surpassing Super Mario World in places thanks to the extra shine to everything in the worlds.
The only bad thing that may be said is they are still 8-bit in design so even all the extra colour and shine can't change that, not that that is a bad thing as they remove any graphical glitches there were present before and have a much more solid looking game, if you like shiny games these are certainly some of the shiniest as they are polished to the max, still as good as they were the first time if not better now.
Sound
Every tune from the originals is there and enhanced now with the superior sound chip as they are now in stereo just like before the tunes from the games never really get old and if anything give you fond memories of when you played them the first time around, they will never really grate on you and perfectly suit all the games, with some of the most iconic tunes in gaming history.
Gameplay
Pretty much spot on as they always were and no different to the originals, for those who never experienced The Lost Levels both Mario and Luigi actually play slightly different where Mario is faster and Luigi and jump higher adding an element of strategy to choosing who you chose to go through the game with.
If anything due to the SNES controller the games feel more comfortable to play than ever and the only real person to blame if something goes wrong is yourself in those tricky moments.
Lasting Appeal
This is where this package really excels, four games each with a great deal of depth and challenge, and now with a save feature so you can go back and play your favourite worlds, although it is slightly different with The Lost Levels as it saves for each level due to the higher difficulty of the game as it is a real test of anyone's platform skills and even at times your ability to be patient and find your way through a level.
Super Mario Bros. 3 also benefits from this save feature as all the items you have collected will stay saved in your inventory the next time you play regardless of what world you play which is a nice bonus although some would say this makes it easier in a way, either way you have four challenging games to get through and even after beating you can simply go back and replay your favourite bits over again.
Overall
If you are a Mario fan then this is one for you as it is arguably the greatest collection of platform games you are likely to find on any one cartridge, and is worth it alone for the gem that is The Lost Levels alone as many people outside of Japan never would have got to play it the first time around, and worth it even more for the convenience of them all being in the same place at the same time as well as the revamped graphics.
Maybe the only reason not to get this is if you played the games to death on the 8-bit days and are looking for something new, but few Mario fans would see that as a bad thing as I am sure like me you would want to play them to death just that little bit more, certainly a Mario fans dream come true.
Scores
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