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Since he's the father of the Mario series, you'd think Shigeru Miyamoto wouldn't have a favorite child. But he does.
At an event in New York City this week, the Nintendo legend proclaimed Super Mario World as his favorite in the series. And that got us to thinking...which game is actually the best?
You could make an argument for just about any one of them. In fact, we're about to do just that.
We're not talking about spinoffs, either. Mario has appeared in so many different titles that it would be impossible to cover them all in one article. So we'll confine ourselves to main series entries: Super Mario Bros. 1 through 3, Super Mario World, and Yoshi's Island on Page 1. Then Page 2 will cover the post-SNES titles: Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario Galaxy, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and Super Mario Galaxy 2.
Let's take a look, shall we?
Why it's the best: Nothing beats the first Mario adventure for simplicity. Anyone can pick up the controller and immediately grasp the gameplay concepts, no explanation needed. And the first time you touched that glowing flower and gained the ability to throw fire? Unbeatable.
Why it's not: These days, SMB really doesn't have the same staying power. Its high difficulty level and repetitive play make it easy to get bored. The game's a classic, but its day has passed.
Why it's the best: SMB2 is the first main series entry to have multiple characters to choose from, each with different strengths and weaknesses. Add in the ability to throw items, secret potions that create portals to a layout-inverted "dark world," and a catchy soundtrack, and you've got a winner.
Why it's not: SMB2 doesn't have the sprawling size of other Mario adventures -- it's pretty easy to blow through it in a single sitting. Its aesthetic doesn't really match the rest of the series (mostly because it was originally a Japanese title called Doki Doki Panic that Nintendo converted to a Super Mario game for the U.S.). It also lacks the creative power-ups of other games in the series.
Why it's the best: Mario's third quest introduces an overworld map, allowing players to choose their path through the bite-sized levels. Each one sparkles with creativity (World 4, with its gigantic enemies, stands out). And you can fly! Also: Kuribo's Shoe. Checkmate.
Why it's not: For such a huge game, you'd think Nintendo would have included a save function. Nope. The coolest power-ups, like the Tanooki Suit and Kuribo's Shoe, are too rare. The difficulty spikes at times, discouraging players from finishing.
Why it's the best: The overworld map introduced in SMB3 expands exponentially in SMW, with nonlinear paths, hidden exits, and colored block switches. The new cape power-up beats SMB3's Raccoon Suit easily. Yoshi makes his first appearance, acting not only as a damage sponge but also an aid to finding secrets. And SMW has a ton of secrets to find, including the Star Road and special levels.
Why it's not: If you stay away from secrets and special challenges, SMW is a bit on the easy side. Some of the secrets are too well hidden. The game lacks a little of the bizarre, surreal creativity of SMB3.
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Why it's the best: You take the role of Yoshi, who can flutter jump, fire eggs, and eat enemies at will. But this entry's biggest asset is its art: The pastel colors, multi-layered designs, and Super FX Chip-powered graphics are all beautiful, even today.
Why it's not: Yoshi's Island is a lot more difficult than SMW, even if you're not going after the hidden coins in each level. The slower pace, which favors puzzle solving, doesn't really fit the rest of the series. And Baby Mario is incredibly annoying.
Read on for the post-SNES Mario games!
