That Super Mario Maker 2 Direct was the perfect example of why Nintendo is still so big today. The Kyoto-based video game company just seems to be an endlessly deep well of innovation and new ideas.
Even though this new iteration in the Mario Maker series is already exceeding fan expectations, it would still be kind of nice to have more styles.
The Super Mario 3D World style is the only new one of the five included. That got us thinking, what other styles should come to this level builder? Here are the five styles we most want to see come to Super Mario Maker 2.
Super Mario 64
This one would have seemed like a pipe dream until the reveal of the 3D World style. If one 3D Mario game can make it in, then why not others?
Super Mario 64 is a bona fide classic and getting to play around with the assets from that game would be a dream come true. You could fly through the clouds with the Wing Cap or trudge around the depths as Metal Mario.
The huge number of bosses you would have at your fingertips is almost overwhelming.
Sure, the models haven’t aged well, but it would be a glorious nostalgia trip. At the end that’s the true essence of Super Mario Maker. It’s not something to be ashamed of. It should be wholly embraced and celebrated. If Nintendo is going to include other 3D styles, then they might as well go all out.
Besides the charming blocky look of everything from 64, the music was phenomenal. Dire Dire Docks, Bob-Omb Battlefield, and the castle music are just as familiar to Mario fans as the Super Mario Bros overworld style.
It would be incredible to have the option to build the Cool, Cool Mountain slide with your own little twists and turns and the classic music playing in the background.
Super Mario Land 2
This Gameboy classic needs some love in Super Mario Maker 2. Super Mario Land 2 would add a unique monochromatic color palette to the mix along with some new enemies and the bunny power-up.
It may be blasphemy to say that they would need to have some way to give this style color. I enjoy the original look of the game as is, but the moon mode could add some color to the world.
Even a toggle between classic and updated colors would be reasonable. The old aesthetic is endearing to some, but certainly not to all.
Going even further back, they could borrow the plane from the original Mario Land for this style. It would be an ideal stand-in since there wouldn’t be a flying, fire-breathing Koop Clown Copter in this style.
Some of the best levels in the last Super Mario Maker were shmups. The plane would be the perfect vehicle for that genre of level.
Mario Land 2 may have also been the first Mario game where the final boss could use the same power-ups as you. Nothing could be more terrifying than a stack of fireball Warios with a bunny Wario on top flying them all around.
Super Mario Bros 2 (USA)
Doki doki, be still my heart. Nintendo needs to find a way to fit Super Mario Bros. 2 (USA) into Super Mario Maker 2. There’s too much history behind this game to let it sit on the sidelines.
Super Mario Bros. 2 started out as a completely different game in Japan with no Nintendo characters. Numerous enemies that weren’t even a part of the Mario universe got their start in this game. Shy Guys, Bob-Ombs, Birdo are just a few of the classic enemies that this game introduced.
It also introduced Luigi’s flutter jump and Peach’s float in the US version. These are trademarks of major Nintendo characters we’re talking about.
If I have to play another Mario Maker game without the Super Mario Bros. 2 soundtrack present, I don’t know what I’m gonna do. The overworld song is the best song from any Mario game ever.
Don’t bother trying to change minds here, you’ll just be wrong. Even the character select screen music is ridiculously upbeat. The boss style is so simple, yet it’s able to convey immense intensity and fear.
It’s not too much to ask to be able to jump in jars and get chased by Phantos. Also, the verticality of Super Mario Bros 2 would be perfect for the new addition of vertical level sections. It seems that everything is coming together.
Paper Mario
The addition of standalone styles in Super Mario Maker 2 has opened the floodgates of speculation. Paper Mario could work as one of the standard styles, but it would be best to implement it as an extra style.
There are far too many characters to just let it blend in with the rest of the Super Mario games. The partner characters could act as power-ups throughout the levels.
Giving a player the option to create obstacles for specific partner combinations would be so smart. The extremely diverse attacks of the bosses from Paper Mario are sure to add to the platforming fun as well.
It would also be interesting to see how they could implement Mario’s hammer and other attack or healing items. A combination of platforming and RPG mechanics would be an interesting way to implement the style.
Turn-based battles could be initiated by jumping on an enemy. You could collect items through the level to be used in battles. Then you could finish off the level with a huge boss battle.
There’s an inherent difficulty in trying to translate an RPG to a 2D platformer, but it’s not impossible. If they could pull off the Paper Mario style while remaining faithful to the source material, it would be incredibly impressive.
Super Mario Galaxy
A Super Mario Galaxy style in Super Mario Maker 2 would be one of the most fun 3D Mario styles to build in.
Things start to get a little muddy when you get to throwing around star bits.
They could be added to levels as normal collectibles, but then what would you do to throw them. A fireball button is an option, but if you got a fire or ice flower, then that would have to override star bits.
It would make the most sense to map the action to one of the shoulder buttons.
The power-ups in this game are incredibly wacky and unlike any other Mario game.
You can spring, buzz, or haunt your way around a level with the different power-ups. Since Galaxy 2 is so similar, they could even toss in rock Mario and cloud Mario just for good measure.
Nintendo pretty much already has the platforming figured out. There were plenty of 2D platforming sections in the Galaxy games. All that’s left is to let people get their hands on some building tools and go wild.
We need black holes, planets, and launch stars in Super Mario Maker 2. Just seeing how Nintendo would deal with customizing gravity on each planet in a level would be tremendously fun.
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