Super Mario Maker 2 Direct — Whole New Worlds

Super Mario Maker 2 for Nintendo Switch mostly vanished after it was revealed on the February Nintendo Direct, outside the announcement of the June 28th release date. But it was a question of when, not if, Nintendo would eventually kick the marketing campaign into high gear. This came in the form of the Super Mario Maker 2 Direct, where Nintendo spent over 17 minutes detailing the returning and new features. The game is still over a month off, not every question was answered.

All the fan-favorite features used to create levels will return in this installment, to no surprise. It will include tools and art styles from Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros., including obstacles and enemies from those games and others like high heels. Players can share those levels with friends and others online.

The new features are the bigger attraction here, many of which were heavily requested by fans who wanted more variety compared to the previous game, or thought they were missing because Nintendo figured they wouldn’t buy the other Mario platformers. SMM2 will include slopes for characters to slide and slip down, the Angry Sun, Snake Blocks (progressively moving blocks you can sometimes control), and On/Off switches.

Some levels will also allow for controlling water and lava levels, which could make for sadistic levels when combined with the other features. The option for custom scrolling levels will also be added, where a portion of a level or the entire level will scroll, with potential secret rooms scattered throughout. Moon Mode will also be available, where the Moon will shine on Mario throughout at least a portion of a level while the rest of it is shrouded in darkness.

The only other Mario platformer available for purchase on Switch is New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, a port of the Wii U game that includes the New Super Luigi U content. Nintendo likely isn’t too concerned about this title killing the sales of other games. That’s good, because these new features will allow for more creativity.

This sequel will also have more options for the types of levels that can be made. Desert, Snow, Forest, and Sky-themed levels can be created in all the Mario styles available. Even better, they’ll all have brand-new themes from original Mario composer Koji Kondo. The Moon versions of courses can be unlocked for players to venture through potentially-more-dangerous night versions, where different enemies will appear.

In addition to sharing levels and playing them together, two players can also locally create levels by passing over the Joy-Con to the other player for, uh, a wholesome time. This wasn’t feasible with the Wii U or 3DS prequel, since level creation in both was attached to systems with touchscreens. That won’t be necessary with Switch thanks to the Joy-Cons, though the option to build levels in handheld mode unsurprisingly still exists. This could get some mileage on streams with players building levels for a live audience.

One of the more surprising additions announced is the Story Mode, which will feature over 100 levels across various styles created for this mode for a quest to repair Princess Peach’s castle. Mario will need to gather coins to afford the costs, most of which can be obtained by completing missions accepted from a bulletin board. Some story sequences will have a 3D presentation, though the levels will, of course, all be 2D.

As teased in the initial preview, the game will include features from Super Mario 3D World, including Cat powers, Clear Pipes, and Warp Boxes. The levels will still be in 2D, and the running and jumping mechanics might feel similar to the NSMB style, though the graphics appear to be slightly better than the NSMB content. Nintendo also teased one more style though an empty panel on the selection screen, which will presumably be revealed sometime before its release.

Another new feature will be the Endless Challenge mode, which will involve completing several levels before getting a Game Over, and records will be posted on online leaderboards. This could be nightmarish given the types of levels that can be made this time around, so it will be fun to watch players attempt this on streams.

Super Mario Maker 2 will be a modern video game with the option for online Co-op and Versus play. The former will allow for up to four players to venture through levels, with the first player to reach the end completing the stage for everyone. The Versus mode, however, will be a race to the finish where only one player can win. To add to the fun, the game will have several new playable characters, including Toad and Toadette. Sorry, there’s still no Bowsette here despite this being a noncanonical game — nor will she ever be included thanks to Nintendo being aware of how much porn featuring her exists.

Okay, it’s almost modern. Local co-op options return, but everyone will need their own Switch console to participate. Also, the player who creates the co-op room must be connected to the internet to play. These features are not being taken well, though there’s only a 50-percent chance of Nintendo adjusting them before release or shortly afterward.

Super Mario Maker 2 will release on June 28th, and will arrive in several editions. In addition to the standard edition, there will be a limited edition that includes the game and a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online for a mere $10 more (or an equivalent in another territory), and a $99.99 version where preorders will also include the option to buy either Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Yoshi’s Crafted World, or Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for $39.99 instead of $59.99. It doesn’t appear that America will receive the stylus that Japan and Europe have the option of getting, but that’s not surprising given Nintendo of America’s inconsistent need to leave something out.

More features will be revealed between now and the release through new trailers, you’ll be seeing it often between now and the release.

If you want to watch the full Direct, feel free to do so here.