© NintendoIf you’re reading this it’s a safe bet to assume you’ve been hanging out with Mario and his friends least once in a lifetime. Whether you were touring karts, going to the tennis courts for a few sets or attending them cruel parties where every coin and star you had was stolen (no, I’m not mad) Mario’s non-platforming multiplayer shenanigans need little introduction. The Mushroom Kingdom crew has been on more adventures than most across a variety of disciplines, and we’ve often been able to bring our friends for the ride. But despite Mario’s rich multiplayer history, the most important Super Mario games have historically been a mixed bag in this department.
Mario’s 2D adventures have gained consistency in co-op over the past decade, but it took until Super Mario 3D world that 3D submissions really brought multiplayer to life. With four-player local co-op on Wii U, it might just be Super Mario’s multiplayer platforming, and with online being added to the Bowser’s Fury Switch port, we may have the final package in our hands soon. We’re now less than a month away from launch, and with that in mind – spin-offs aside – we’ve decided to look back into Super Mario’s multiplayer history …
Humble beginning
Apart from the formative two-player action on one screen of the non-super Mario Bros., few will need to be reminded of how it all started Super Mario Bros.. Given the technology of the time, functionality for two players was understandably limited. With Luigi acting as a palette swap for Mario, players simply switched turns when they lost a life in the game’s eight worlds, and that’s it.
Despite having almost identical mechanics (apart from difficulty), this ‘multiplayer’ element has not been carried over in The lost levels, although Luigi was available separately, with a larger jump but less friction on the ground. The Western Replacement, Super Mario Bros. 2, lets you choose from as many as four characters, although it was also a solo affair.
Super Mario Bros. 3 saw the return of pad switching multiplayer, but this time you would take turns exploring the overworld map. As before, Luigi was a Mario palette swap, but the game had some extensive options such as a remake of the aforementioned Mario Bros. arcade game and stealing maps from each other, but in the end it didn’t add much in terms of multiplayer . Nintendo has maintained a similar approach with Super Mario World, although the world’s ‘sequel’ Yoshi’s Island (a significantly different game) completely discarded it.
Moving to 3D
NintendoIt was never implemented in the final release, but when Mario made the 3D transition in Super Mario 64, Shigeru Miyamoto experimented with multiplayer. In interviews, he said that two-player support was planned with Luigi, but was eventually dropped – due to the N64’s hardware limitations. She later clarified that they had also planned a Mario Bros.-style mini-game, which was also canned.
The lack of multiplayer functionality in the final product hasn’t stopped fans from creating their own over the years, even though the outcome of these projects was all too predictable. It’s only officially received that multiplayer support of any kind through the DS remake, which included new minigames and a competitive US. Mode.
Like 64, Super Mario Sunshine was a solo adventure. It was only universe that a 3D item finally included an option to involve a second player, by taking a co-op approach, which basically meant sharing your controls. Player One controlled Mario and Player Two could aim, collect and shoot Star Bits, allowing them to hit enemies and lend a helping hand (Mario could also jump higher if both players pressed ‘A’ at the same time). A nice, subtle addition, but perhaps too minimal – hardly the kind of ‘real’ multiplayer action available elsewhere. Galaxy 2 built on this, allowing players to control an orange Luma that can attack enemies, but it’s a soft variation on the theme.
The real deal
The for real The multiplayer breakthrough came when Super Mario returned to 2D. Launched between both Galaxy games in 2009, New Super Mario Bros. Wii built on the success of its DS predecessor and we finally saw Miyamoto’s dream of cooperative Super Mario come true. It allowed four players to get involved in the main story and create what the designer called a “meaningful group experience”. That’s not to say the DS game didn’t have multiplayer at all, but it was more focused on minigames and a competitive mode.
The potential of Mario co-op was clear and set a path for future 2D submissions to follow. New Super Mario Bros. 2 on 3DS continued to offer story mode co-op with a two-player option, but the Wii U successor built on that framework and allowed a fifth player to join through the Gamepad. Called ‘Boost mode’, the GamePad user was able to place blocks across the level and help (or hinder) the other players as they navigated the track. Due to changes in hardware, it was removed in the Deluxe edition of the Switch, but it was a lot of fun at the time. We haven’t seen a new entry since, although the Battle Royale quirk is its limited time Super Mario Bros. 35 arrived for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers last year, delivering a competitive brand of online multiplayer using the original game as a template.
In fact, it is a fair review to say Super Mario Maker has somewhat replaced the ‘New’ subset, giving us tools for creating custom levels and the ability to share courses online. Despite the community aspects, it was originally single player only, but back in 2019 Super Mario Maker 2 has added a significant number of tools to Mario’s multiplayer belt. We said at the time that this will probably be the last 2D Mario game you’ll ever need, and with good reason; with extensive stage options and four-person multiplayer – both locally and ultimately online – how Nintendo will develop this template further (beyond streamlining the experience) is hard to imagine.
Nintendo has always been able to provide surprises and get back to the 3D submissions, solo experience Super Mario 3D Land laid the foundation on which Super Mario 3D World built. With different gameplay elements from 3D Land, this was the game to finally introduce us to full-fledged co-op in three dimensions. Although limited by poor sales of the Wii U, it was a critical hit and also took advantage of Miiverse (RIP) community features and also featured a two player “Luigi Bros” game based on Mario Bros., present.
Things change
It was almost disappointing to see this expanded co-op functionality removed in Super Mario Odysseyalthough, frankly, it’s not exactly a fair comparison. They share the Super Mario name, of course, but each game plays very differently, and Odyssey’s sandbox approach meant this was better suited for single player. Like Galaxy, it opted for a lighter co-op option, allowing a second player to control Cappy independently of Mario. You also have a separate online minigame option with Luigi’s Balloon World. Players hide a balloon in a kingdom and others should find it within a certain time limit. Definitely a fun diversion; just not a particularly comprehensive one.
Super Mario isn’t a particularly consistent franchise when it comes to multiplayer, but over the decades, it has certainly provided a way to connect with other people. Since many of us are housebound right now, that capability is more important than ever, making 3D World’s upcoming online options even more valuable to Switch gamers. Miyamoto never lost sight of its original purpose, bringing us experiences that two people can play together, and it’s slowly but surely realized. Whichever route Nintendo takes, we look forward to seeing where our favorite Italian plumber goes.
© NintendoLet us know below what your favorite Super Mario multiplayer experiences have been over the years.