Home Gaming Super Mario Run Review Round-Up

Super Mario Run Review Round-Up

4 min read
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When I first heard of Super Mario Run – the plumber’s first ever game on mobile phones – I genuinely thought it would be one of those endless runners with limited depth. As it turns out though, Mario’s latest outing is a fully fledged adventure, filled with a variety of levels and different modes.

In short, it’s a proper Nintendo title, albeit, right on your phone. Is it any good however? Let’s see what the critics think:

Kotaku – No Score

If you were worried that Nintendo’s move into mobile gaming would change the quality of their games, Super Mario Run should be a relief. Auto-running and screen orientation aside, it’s a full-featured Mario game that just happens to run on your phone.

Super Mario Run K

IGN – 8/10

Super Mario Run is an elegantly designed platformer with strong hooks that kept me coming back. Once I wrapped up the main campaign, the addictive, replayable stages urged me to perfect my coin runs. Kingdom Builder and Toad Rally provided further motivation to keep dashing for the finish line, so I could invest the spoils in my own Mushroom Kingdom. While this isn’t the best-looking Super Mario game by a longshot, it successfully distills the core fun and charm of the Mario franchise into a smart, one-handed experience.

Super Mario Run 1

Polygon – 7/10

Super Mario Run is an enjoyable but imperfect adaptation of the Mario games for touchscreen devices. Nintendo’s unmatched craft in creating platformers is evident during the best moments of Super Mario Run, but the experience is sometimes hamstrung by the game’s limited control. The all-too-brief World Tour is its strongest pillar, but I wish there were more to the game beyond playing the same levels again and again. Mario may finally have a home on a much bigger platform than Nintendo’s own hardware, but his best adventures remain elsewhere.

Super Mario Run

GameSpot – 7/10

It’s easy to fault Run for various reasons, but it’s hard to totally lose appreciation for how well it’s brought the series’ core gameplay to smartphones. Simple controls be damned, Run offers great platforming and that distinct Mario charm that Nintendo’s perfected over the years. It’s a shame to find that it’s on the easy side and bereft of a long-lasting platforming adventure, but it’s the sort of game that you’ll be happy to have in your pocket. Even if you don’t play it to unlock every character and special course, finishing the game once will inspire you to dust off New Super Mario Bros. and revisit Run’s quality roots on other platforms–a testament to the series’ refined DNA than lives on in Run.

Super Mario Run GS

USgamer – 4/5

Super Mario Run’s lack of offline play is a bummer, but otherwise it’s an engaging experience that demonstrates Nintendo understands what makes for a good mobile game. Even if you’re not a fan of mobile titles, it’s worth a try: The initial download is free, and you can pay for the additional levels if you like what you see.

Super Mario Run USgamer

Game Informer – 7/10

Super Mario Run hits its stride when you’re making your way through new levels. The platforming is great, and the level design surprised me on multiple occasions. In these moments, I forgot I was playing a mobile translation of Mario. That fades fast, unfortunately, as Princess Peach was kissing me on the cheek thanking me for my service just as I felt I was getting started. Rewards exist for replaying those levels repeatedly, but they simply aren’t enough for me.

Super Mario run GI

The general consensus seems to be that Nintendo have made the jump to phones effortlessly – Super Mario Run feels like the real deal, and it’s a lot of fun to play, despite taking explicit control of the plumber away from the player. The actual content of the game though, is a little short-lived (ie: the main campaign doesn’t feel long enough to many).

I don’t know, I haven’t bought Super Mario Run just yet myself, but I’ve already spent a healthy amount of time collecting all the coins I can find in the first three levels alone. I think the rest of the game is going to keep me incredibly busy when I get around to buying it. Those black coins man, they’re nightmare fuel, but I must have them all!

What are your thoughts on the matter? Have you been playing Super Mario Run? Is it worth the $10?

Last Updated: December 19, 2016

49 Comments

  1. Ottokie

    December 19, 2016 at 09:03

    Judging from my twitter timeline this weekend, I am guessing I should give this game a try xD

    Reply

  2. Alien Emperor Trevor

    December 19, 2016 at 09:05

    So it’s a proper game & didn’t do a runner?

    Reply

  3. Tokozaan

    December 19, 2016 at 09:12

    just not sure it’s worth amoutno they want you to pay though

    Reply

  4. Pieter Kruger

    December 19, 2016 at 09:17

    Re skinned Flappy Birds?

    Reply

  5. Ottokie

    December 19, 2016 at 09:19

    I was hoping this would be the game to bring in speed running on mobile. But being a sidescroller I don’t think that will happen 🙁

    Reply

  6. Hammersteyn

    December 19, 2016 at 09:22

    $10 for a mobile game and it has microtransactions? I hope the people behind Mario Run gets the runs while they’re stuck in traffic

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      December 19, 2016 at 09:23

      Nintendont #amirite?!

      Reply

    • Fox1 - Retro

      December 19, 2016 at 09:43

      What I’ve heard if is the first world is free and then you pay to unlock the rest.

      Reply

    • Admiral Chief Argonian

      December 19, 2016 at 09:48

      Goed om te sien jy lewe nog!

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        December 19, 2016 at 10:17

        XD

        Reply

    • HvR

      December 19, 2016 at 09:54

      Does it have microtransactions? Thought Ninty went for the classic free demo, one price full game model.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        December 19, 2016 at 10:16

        I retract my comment, apparently it does not

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief Argonian

          December 19, 2016 at 10:31

          TREK UIT VOOR JY SPUIT

          Ummm…..I mean, heheh

          Reply

          • Ottokie

            December 19, 2016 at 10:32

            O.o

          • Admiral Chief Argonian

            December 19, 2016 at 10:34

            Wut?

          • Hammersteyn

            December 19, 2016 at 13:32

            XD

          • DrKiller

            December 19, 2016 at 17:14

            That escalated quickly…

  7. VampyreSquirrel

    December 19, 2016 at 09:23

    I’ll play this… when it finally comes out on android.

    Reply

    • Ottokie

      December 19, 2016 at 09:50

      I was just checking now why the hell it’s not on the droid…another reason why apple>droid 😛

      Reply

      • Original Heretic

        December 19, 2016 at 09:51

        Doooooooooownvoooooooooote!

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief Argonian

          December 19, 2016 at 09:52

          Agreed. Blerrie Otto is pining for the corner of silence again

          Reply

      • HvR

        December 19, 2016 at 09:52

        An Apple user and his money are soon parted

        Reply

        • Ottokie

          December 19, 2016 at 09:55

          I took an android on my last upgrade just so that I actually test both of them and then be able to say which is better instead of just jumping on the easy hate train. Sorry but Apple wins hands down. Apart from choosing your ringtone that sucks and having to use itunes, the phone is much better supported and user friendly.

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief Argonian

            December 19, 2016 at 09:56

            All I see are excuses. Besides, just because you got a crappy Samsung, doesn’t mean ALL Android phones are crap.

          • Ottokie

            December 19, 2016 at 09:57

            Have you had an iPhone for more than a year?

          • Admiral Chief Argonian

            December 19, 2016 at 10:00

            I’ve played and set up a few units, the latest one is very nice, but I cannot justify that price and that limited functionality.

            If someone gave me one, I’d use it, but I won’t pay for it out of my own pocket, sorry.

          • Ottokie

            December 19, 2016 at 10:05

            So not used for every day work reasons 😛

            Also, people buy Samsung or Apple. And last I checked Apple was the cheaper of the two.

          • Admiral Chief Argonian

            December 19, 2016 at 10:31

            Samsung lost the plot a few years ago.

            Huawei and LG I can still dig, but I want a Google Pixel!

          • VampyreSquirrel

            December 19, 2016 at 10:20

            I used an iPhone for 3 and a half years. Went Samsung, and now on Huawei… not sad I’ve changed brands at all.

          • Admiral Chief Argonian

            December 19, 2016 at 10:31

            Yeah, Huawei is a good phone

        • Original Heretic

          December 19, 2016 at 09:58

          I see Apple users as being money wasters.

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            December 19, 2016 at 10:16

            YES!

      • VampyreSquirrel

        December 19, 2016 at 09:56

        lol, you’re funny

        Reply

  8. HvR

    December 19, 2016 at 09:32

    What about spoiler warning?!?!?!

    NOW TO 1000 COMMENTS!!!!

    http://i.imgur.com/R1fdEt3.gif

    Reply

    • VampyreSquirrel

      December 19, 2016 at 09:37

      I think you over estimate how many of us are still here xD

      Reply

      • HvR

        December 19, 2016 at 09:42

        I’m counting all the lurkers that random.org always pick for the number 1 spot.

        YOU…. no not behind you. I’m talking to you lurker comment here and embrace Lazziness

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief Argonian

          December 19, 2016 at 09:45

          I’ve got a special few articles planned to keep you guys entertained for this week

          Reply

        • Ottokie

          December 19, 2016 at 09:48

          *lazzy ness

          Reply

          • HvR

            December 19, 2016 at 09:50

            *lazzy-ness?

          • Original Heretic

            December 19, 2016 at 09:50

            I think it’s the lesbian cousin of the loch ness monster.

            Or would that be lezzy ness?

  9. DragonSpirit009

    December 19, 2016 at 09:38

    I wouldn’t mind playing this… You know to pass time and stuff. But I would never in my play pay for a mobile game!

    Reply

  10. Brandon van Reenen

    December 19, 2016 at 12:14

    $9.99 is steep for a mobile game.
    Hopefully us Android users can get a modded APK after release.

    Reply

    • Lu

      December 19, 2016 at 14:01

      That pretty much amounts to piracy though doesn’t it?

      Reply

      • Ottokie

        December 19, 2016 at 14:18

        Not just “pretty much” xD

        Reply

        • Lu

          December 19, 2016 at 14:33

          I enjoy using euphemisms. It’s like being patronizing without the snobbyness.

          Reply

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