This is an excellent reminder that most levels created by Mario Maker players are stupid garbage. Looking at the marketing materials for the 3DS version, it's clear that the company is trying to position it first as a gateway to a vast library of Mario courses that you can play whenever you like, and only secondarily as a game-making utility.īesides the 100 levels created by Nintendo, a selection of Wii U levels created by users is also accessible on this version of the game if you connect it to the Internet. And from the looks of things, I don't even think Nintendo imagines this is the case either. That's not very many people at all, though, and personally I can't imagine spending very much time on levels that practically no one will ever be able to play. You can't use the 'Mystery Mushroom' from the Wii U version that allowed you to alter Mario's appearance to that of other Nintendo characters, but otherwise all of the different course elements are here for you to make levels that range from simple to ridiculously complicated, with hidden keys, locked doors, mid-level checkpoints, boss fights, etc. While the touch screen on even the XL model of 3DS is a bit cramped compared to Wii U's, it's still quite easy to draw and drag elements around. And since you can rapidly, effortlessly switch between playing and editing, you can test the levels as you're making them. It brings back memories of drawing out terrible 'videogame levels' on lined notebook paper in middle school, with the added benefit of being able to play them.

The stylus-based touch interface makes it dead simple to start dropping blocks, enemies, and traps down onto the screen, your fingers working as fast as your imagination. The original console version is probably the best game-making game I've ever played. To be released on Friday, December 2, Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS is mostly identical to the version that Nintendo shipped on Wii U last year, just for the company's portable system. If that leaves you wondering who exactly this game is for, you're not alone. It does not, however, allow you to share those levels on the Internet.

Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS allows you to make elaborate, intricate Super Mario Bros.

Super mario maker 3ds review