Mike Wuerthele
Nintendo's highly-anticipated "Super Mario Run" will be available to all users on Dec. 15, but until then, people anxious to play the game can head to an Apple Store for a few minutes of hands-on time with the title.
"Super Mario Run" was featured alongside the forthcoming Nintendo Switch console on The Jimmy Fallon Show on Wednesday, with an appearance from Nintento U.S. chief Reggie Fils-Aime.
"I feel like Mario was what introduced millions of people to video games and interactive entertainment, and I think that Mario will continue to serve that role," designer and Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto told The Verge. "And I think with Super Mario Run that's exactly what's going to happen."
"Super Mario Run" is an endless runner title with the same graphical style used for Mario for decades, playing similarly to long-term iOS titles "Canabalt" or "Jungle Run." Users tap on the screen to make Mario jump to avoid obstacles, strike objects, and clear gaps.
The longer a user taps, the higher Mario jumps. On-screen items or tiles can reverse Mario's direction, or stop forward progress to allow for precise timing of a jump.
The title also includes a new battle mode called "Toad Rally," where victory is determined by the number of coins you collect, with the "ghost" of your competition visible as you run, and by the number of Toad characters you impress. Progress across all modes is tracked by the number of coins the player has collected, as well as with persistent scorekeeping.
The initial download will be free, and will feature three game modes with limited progress available. The entire title will unlock for $9.99.
"Super Mario Run" debuted at Apple's September iPhone 7 release event. A set of stickers for the iOS 10 version of iMessage was made available shortly after the reveal.
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27 Comments
Really?!? It's a download next week! A forgotten game in a month or two. Get a life!
Seems pretty expensive. I might try the free play but not much chance I would pay for more.
there is nothing now...just a Notify when available button...no limited free gameplay
When Reggie said "available on" I payed close attention. I'm getting the feeling android is getting the game a lot later or not at all.
"Available on iPhone and iPad", said Reggie.
As it should be. I'm tired of people thinking iKnockoffs are just as good.
We need to go back to the iPod days when if a device had a click wheel it was shunned as a cheap ripoff.
Tim Cook's visit to Nintendo headquarters seemed to have been for exclusivity discussions. Not just to play the new Mario. The more exclusivity, the closer we get to people understanding that if it's not an iPhone it's not an iphone.
Ideally Apple would buy Nintendo since they both need each other.
Looking toward this! My sweet spot would have been $4.99 as opposed to $9.99 but Nintendo makes great products and i'll still buy on release. It will be interesting to see how the mobile game landscape changes with Nintendo & Sony dedicated to continued releases. Hopefully it reinvigorates things. I've actually found myself playing less and less games on my iOS devices when compared to 2 years ago.