Super Mario Maker for Nintendo Wii U - Create & Share Custom Mario Levels | Fun for All Ages | Perfect for Family Game Nights & Mario Fans

Before I get into an unbiased review of the game, the reason I gave this game 4 stars is because it met my expectations of what it was going to be. I've played all the home console versions of Super Mario games since the original Nintendo from the 80's. I've enjoyed each one tremendously for it's uniqueness in each new version so in that regard I am a bit bias towards the Italian plumber in blue overalls. Every Mario game is going to have some gaming nostalgia / excitement for me regardless if the general consensus on the game is good or bad.But if you are like me, you probably dreamed about creating your own levels and obstacle courses since the original Super Mario Bros. Well this game is exactly that. It is a creative tool with the sole purpose of creating your own vision of what a 2D side scrolling Super Mario Game could be. It also allows you to search, find, and play a variety of levels designed by people with the same desire to create their own challenges.With that in mind here is what you should consider if you are on the fence about purchasing this game and have no idea what type of game it is:WHAT THIS GAME IS NOT- Not a story based game. There is no Mushroom Kingdom to save from peril.- Not a completed game filled with various course worlds and an eventual ending.- It does not contain any full versions of the Super Mario games that are featured in the tools.- Not a 3D Super Mario Level Designer. So you cannot design a Super Mario Galaxy level or a Super Mario 3D World level.WHAT THIS GAME IS- A tool to design your own levels based off the various versions of the 2D Super Mario Games- Using your creativity and thought process to design a level. So if it's not your cup of tea, this game won't be any fun for you.- Designing levels- Going online and playing different Super Mario Levels designed by other gamers. If you ever played Little Big Planet on Playstation, it's the same idea except that all the community courses have to be course completed by the designer before they can upload them. So even if you can't complete the course and it seems impossible, it is possible to complete it because somebody had to do it just to upload it.- The course challenges included in the game unlock various items to use in the maker. The courses are varied and don't follow a story. It's pretty much left to your ability as a Super Mario gamer. Some are easy, some a bit more challenging. So these might prove to be difficult for some inexperienced Super Mario gamers.- Designing levels- Unlocking new items by spending time designing levels- Designing levelsFINAL NOTEThe graphics are traditional and true to the retro Super Mario games. So don't expect updated Super Mario All-stars/ 3D world graphics. It is up-scaled in resolution so the game looks great on the full screen of your T.V. Even the 8-bit graphics look crisp and clean at 1080p. Each level you create is intended to fit into one of the 4 Mario game designs. So some obstacles may work for one level design but not necessarily work for another.So yes pretty much the extent of the game is designing levels and playing gamer created levels. This was my full expectation of what the game was meant to be which is why I gave it 4 stars. It met what I was expecting. Only critique is that you are locked into a level aesthetic in your design. In my opinion if it was meant to be a true Mario Maker I would have wanted to have the ability to add different items from the various levels into my level design. Like for instance adding lava to the tunnel design or adding the dungeon bricks to the outdoor level to create an outdoor dungeon. I guess it could potentially Frankenstein the heck out of a level design but why not give us that freedom? Also mystery mushrooms/ Amibos only work in the Original Super Mario level designer. A small bummer and where I took one star off for my own personal review. I would've only done 1/2 a star if I could. The game is still fantastic as it is and I don't regret purchasing it. Yes the unlocking of items is a hassle but I like the idea of having a few items to design a level at a time. It forces you to really think about the design instead of having all the tools and banging out levels like a crazed Mario Maker maniac.FINAL THOUGHTSThe game is fun for what it is. My wife and son are not the best Super Mario gamers out there. But when I designed a level that was tuned to their abilities and they were able to complete the course, that made the game worth it to me and to them because we all can enjoy Mario at our own level(no pun intended).The goal of the game is not to create the most impossible level you can think of(which is fun but you feel bad when your online level has 5% completion rate). I think most people enjoy a level that gives them a bit of a challenge but is not inundated with enemies or obstacles. My most popular level had a few simple jumps over spikes, one flying turtle, and a bullet bill pyramid that had a star power option to get through it easily and reach the goal post.I really hope that Nintendo can give us some DLC that adds items from other franchises to add to our levels. It would be cool to make a Castlevania level, a Metroid Level, or even a Mega Man level. So if you love the idea of creating your own Super Mario levels, love the idea of playing levels created by other gamers whether they be good or bad, running through 100 course challenges to unlock items, and can spend hours detailing out by trial and error a level design, then this game will satisfy all those desires.