Nintendo recently aired a Direct solely focused on Super Mario Maker 2. The highly anticipated Nintendo Switch title was originally announced during Nintendo's February Direct. After that, information about the game was surprisingly scarce. Now, Nintendo has finally broken its silence on all of the new features within the game. So strap in, because there is a lot of new content in Super Mario Maker 2.
Story Mode
In this single-player mode, Mario is tasked with rebuilding Princess Peach's Castle. In order to accomplish this, players must acquire coins by completing various levels. These levels are not chosen from player creations, however. Many players will be happy to know that Story Mode is comprised of levels created by Nintendo. There are over 100 levels crafted by Nintendo for this mode. In a way, this is like getting a new, official 2D Mario title.
Besides the story mode, there is also an "Endless Journey" mode. This seems to be taking the place of the 100 Mario Challenge and is survival-based. There will be a global leaderboard for this mode.
Multiplayer
When Builder Luigi was shown next to Mario, everyone speculated about a multiplayer feature. Multiplayer has been implemented in a few ways. First, there's couch co-op when making a stage. A second person can grab the other Joy-Con and cooperate with player one to make a stage. While this should be a fun feature for creators (as well as families), the multiplayer aspect everyone is discussing is online.
Yes, players will be able to battle others online. First, we have Multiplayer Versus., which allows up to four players from around the world to race each other in a randomly chosen level. You'll either play as Mario, Luigi, Toad, or Toadette. There's also Multiplayer Co-op. It appears to be similar to versus, but instead of racing, players will work together to complete the course. If you are hanging out with people who have their own Switch and a copy of the game, you can set up or join a room for local play together.
Stage Themes
There are new course themes to play around with. There are desert, snow, forest, and sky themes. Interestingly, it appears the forest is the only theme in which players can utilize rising water. (It should also be noted that players can make lava rise as well, but presumably only in the castle-themed stages.) Each of these themes have their own music, which was made by longtime Mario composer Koji Kondo.
You can also switch between night and day. When you tap the Angry Sun in the creation menu, you can pick the moon. When you put the moon in a stage, it transforms the theme into night, which has a different effect on each of the themes. For the ground theme, goombas will float. If you use the night theme underground, the stage will turn upside down. In the Ghost House, the lights are dimmed, which makes traveling through the stage more perilous. For the sky, gravity is reduced, and, for the desert, a wind effect will be added. The snow theme during the night will make the terrain slippery. Finally, switching to night in the forest will transform the harmless water into poison.
Apparently, the night effect will also transform certain items. For example, the Super Mushroom will transform into the "Rotten Mushroom." Once the night effect is unlocked, you no longer have to use the moon. Interestingly, the night effect was not yet been shown for the castle theme.
Super Mario 3D World Game Style - Exclusive Features
Now, let's talk about the Super Mario 3D World game style. This style is apparently so different from the others, that you can't freely switch back and forth between styles when creating. If you create a stage under the Super Mario World style, but then decide to use 3D World, the game will ask if you want to restart using 3D World. Why does this happen? There are a number of features exclusive to this game style.
Of course, we already knew Cat Mario would be featured. However, it appears Clear Pipes, different types of blocks, and more will be exclusive to Super Mario 3D World. Of note is the Warp Box, which teleports Mario to another section of the level. Also, it appears that certain enemies, such as the Piranha Creeper, will be exclusive to 3D World as well. Interestingly, when picking 3D World, text will appear that reads "Extra Game Styles" and even shows empty space. This might hint that Nintendo plans to implement other game styles via DLC.
Items and Clear Conditions
Conveyor belts can now be utilized as slopes and there are a number of unique uses for the ON/OFF switch. There is a new item called the Dry Bones Shell, which lets Mario walk on lava and become briefly invulnerable. There's also a Koopa Troopa Car, which appears exclusive to 3D World. There are some other items as well, such as the seesaw and swinging claw.
Clear conditions add a new wrinkle when making courses. Instead of allowing a player to complete a stage by reaching the flagpole, the creator can put certain clear conditions, such as collecting a certain amount of coins or beating every enemy, which players must complete before clearing the stage. Creators can also now work with custom scrolling, which makes vertical scrolling sections a reality.
Super Mario Maker 2 will be released on June 28 for Nintendo Switch.