Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (Retro)
User Review
Product Information:
- Release Date (NA): October 21, 1992
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Genres: Platforming
Game Features:
Single player
Local Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Co-operative
Review Approach:
I always liked Mario games, even if i fail in side-scrolling platforming. Super Mario Bros. 3 was my favorite because of the overworld and so the choice of the levels we want to go. So SML2:6GC is my new favorite and you'll see why.
Following Super Mario Land, Wario put a spell on the inhabitant to make them believe that he is their master and Mario is their ennemy, while Mario was on Sarasaland. Wario hijacked Mario castle and put a seal on the door. The only way to open the door is to collect all the 6 golden coins kept by 6 boss in 6 different zones. And so begin the story of Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins.
Welcome to Mario Land!
You return from Daisy castle after crushing some aliens, but all your people hate you, even the ants,and attack you. You discover that a big bad not pretty hijack your castle and you need to beat your people (goomba and koopa are in fact Toads if you didn't know). What a day in view, but then it is the Mario everyday.
Run,jump,stomp!
The control is very similar to the NES Mario. B to run/shoot fire, A to jump/swim. The mushroom, the fire flower and Starman are there, it is a mario after all, but the 1-up mushroom is replaced by a heart, it is understandable considering that the Gameboy have different shades of grey and no color. The Carrot power-up transform you into Bunny Mario, making you jump higher and hover if you press A after your jump. If you mash quickly A after your jump, you will almost stay at the same altitude. Maybe a glitch, but it is there. The only thing that i hate about the transformation is that you will always transform after taking a transforming item. You want to stay a bunny, but you took a fire flower? Too bad. Or more iritating, you have the fire flower/bunny Mario, but you took the mushroom? Freaking too bad.
Overworld,déjà-vu?
Taking example of Super Mario Bros. 3, SML2: 6GC is separated into different zone and level in an overworld. But the good thing is that you can take the zone you want in any order or even make all the level except the boss one and then take all the boss one after the other. The liberty is there and it work. You also have a little "casino". The prize are transformation items for the first wheel and lives for the other wheel. I recommend to keep your coins until you have 999. You can win 99 lives (that i never won), but just the 20 lives is good enough. You can also get some lives in the stages, after stomping 100 enemies and defeating 5 of them in a row with the Starman. There is some secret level (like one at the first level on the "mini-zone" that goes directly to the boss level), but with only 32 levels compared to SMB3 that have 90 levels, its not much.
Save time!
You have to quit the game, but don't want to lose your progression? Well SML2: 6GC have a save system. You can save anytime in the overworld. Also, with the re-release on the 3DS eShop, you have RTS! For 3.99$, its a good deal.
You return from Daisy castle after crushing some aliens, but all your people hate you, even the ants,and attack you. You discover that a big bad not pretty hijack your castle and you need to beat your people (goomba and koopa are in fact Toads if you didn't know). What a day in view, but then it is the Mario everyday.
Run,jump,stomp!
The control is very similar to the NES Mario. B to run/shoot fire, A to jump/swim. The mushroom, the fire flower and Starman are there, it is a mario after all, but the 1-up mushroom is replaced by a heart, it is understandable considering that the Gameboy have different shades of grey and no color. The Carrot power-up transform you into Bunny Mario, making you jump higher and hover if you press A after your jump. If you mash quickly A after your jump, you will almost stay at the same altitude. Maybe a glitch, but it is there. The only thing that i hate about the transformation is that you will always transform after taking a transforming item. You want to stay a bunny, but you took a fire flower? Too bad. Or more iritating, you have the fire flower/bunny Mario, but you took the mushroom? Freaking too bad.
Overworld,déjà-vu?
Taking example of Super Mario Bros. 3, SML2: 6GC is separated into different zone and level in an overworld. But the good thing is that you can take the zone you want in any order or even make all the level except the boss one and then take all the boss one after the other. The liberty is there and it work. You also have a little "casino". The prize are transformation items for the first wheel and lives for the other wheel. I recommend to keep your coins until you have 999. You can win 99 lives (that i never won), but just the 20 lives is good enough. You can also get some lives in the stages, after stomping 100 enemies and defeating 5 of them in a row with the Starman. There is some secret level (like one at the first level on the "mini-zone" that goes directly to the boss level), but with only 32 levels compared to SMB3 that have 90 levels, its not much.
Save time!
You have to quit the game, but don't want to lose your progression? Well SML2: 6GC have a save system. You can save anytime in the overworld. Also, with the re-release on the 3DS eShop, you have RTS! For 3.99$, its a good deal.
Verdict
What I Liked ...
- + Overworld and levels-liberty
- + True to the NES/Famicom control
- + Not very expensive for 5-ish hours of gameplay
- + Re-released to the 3DS eShop
What I Didn't Like ...
- - Weird transformation system
- - Short life compared to NES game (32 levels)
8
Gameplay
The control is great, but the weird transformation system is contrary to Mario game. The special levels (like in the space or in a bubble) really change the pace of the game so it isn't really repetitive.
9
Presentation
Its not Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, but the graphics are still pretty and true to the Mario franchise. Lot of secret to discover and the save capability is a nice thought.
7
Lasting Appeal
It have a short life compared to NES game, but to compare eggs with eggs, it is still good for a GB games (Wario Land:Super mario land 3 have 40 levels). Nice replayability if you are a perfectionist and want to discover all the secrets.
8.9
out of 10