Super Mario Maker 2 Building on the Original

As a huge fan of the original Mario Maker title on Nintendo Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, I was incredibly excited when Nintendo announced that Mario Maker 2 would be heading to the Nintendo Switch this June. Despite my excitement, however, I also had a few questions I needed answering, most notably, “How much more can they really add to this experience?” Yesterday’s Nintendo Direct answered that 10 times over, and then some! Let’s dive in!

This ultimately will not a be a full breakdown of everything coming to Mario Maker 2; you can watch the entire 17 minute direct below for every little detail. I’ll be focusing on what I REALLY liked!

Story Mode

When I heard Mario Maker 2 and Story Mode in the same sentence, I was pretty skeptical. How could Mario Maker 2 have a story? Well, it does and it doesn’t. You will be working to rebuild Peach’s castle with coins you will earn completing challenges around the build site. In that sense, yes there is a story – you are attempting to rebuild the castle. But what I feel this mode will ultimately serve as is a way to play a ton of pre-made Nintendo levels, while getting a tutorial – while not appearing like a tutorial – for all the games various tools.

And Nintendo said this themselves during the direct. These courses will showcase the numerous tools and objects available when building your own world, so if you are unsure about how to use something, or want ideas on how to best use a certain object to create a puzzle, the story mode will have you covered with plenty of great examples!

Super Mario 3D World

While not my favourite Super Mario title, my kids and wife went nuts for Super Mario 3D World. Obviously they were not the only ones, because Nintendo has added this game as a theme option in Mario Maker 2. It’s important to note here that because of all the unique features in Super Mario 3D World – Cat Mario, clear pipes, etc. – You cannot build a level in another theme, and switch into Super Mario 3D World. Any time you go into this new theme, or leave this new theme, everything you have built will be reset. You have been warned!

It is great to see a whole new theme, however, and it’s going to be amazing to see what people create, and what I will be able to play in Course World.

Course World

Finding a course to play from another user has never been easier! With the ability to tag levels to highlight what might be included within – such as a versus coarse, a fun new get-to-the-finish first competitive levels – you can now easily find that level full of puzzles, if that is what you want to play.

Multiplayer is one way Nintendo is making Super Mario Maker 2 feel different and new. I cannot wait to cooperatively – or competitively – play levels with friends in the same room, or across multiple Nintendo Switch units. It’s going to be a brand new way to play Mario Maker, and extend the life of the game!

Between these new features, a host of new objects – claw swing, slopes, etc. – and new themes, there is tons of get excited about when Mario Maker 2 launches on Nintendo Switch June 28!