Super Mario Run: Review or reject?

Super Mario Run is the first mobile phone game ever released by Nintendo. At the moment, it is exclusively for the iPhone but there are future plans for it to be released on Android. It is available on all iOS devices that are capable of running iOS 8.0 or higher.

The game appears very similarly to the classic Mario games but optimized for the touchscreen. The genre is a little different as it is an automatic runner game, much like the game Canabalt. Mario will continuously run to the right and players must trigger jumps whenever necessary. This game play style makes it faster paced than previous Mario games.

A tap of the screen will allow Mario to jump and holding down your finger will make him jump for a longer distance. Users must trigger these jumps to avoid monsters, jump onto ledges, climb walls and jump over pits. It is possible for this game to be played in portrait mode with just a single thumb.

Unlike other Mario games, levels tend to be a vertical climb from left to right. The level layouts appear to be like a zig zag up a tower. The camera is centered on Mario so there is very little open space compared to the other games. This smaller area may be more suitable for game play on the small screens of mobile phones.

The game mode for this Mario game is called World Tour. There will be six worlds with 24 levels evenly distributed. Many of the levels play as a complicated maze. The familiar haunted house levels will be a complex search for the exit with familiar elements from Super Mario World. There is also a multi-player mode to race through the game against friends.

For a skilled Mario player, the entire game could be beaten within a few hours. Fortunately, the levels have elements of re-playability. There are multiple paths to beat levels and there are many side challenges along the way.

The game features a kingdom building mode to unlock shops, houses and other aesthetic upgrades using coins and Toads. The unlock-able objects will also allow access to special levels and new characters.

There are six playable characters in total that can be unlocked. Luigi may be unlocked after collecting enough points in the Toad Rally game mode. Princess Peach is unlocked after beating all the levels in World Tour. Yoshi is achieved by after unlocking Yoshi's house in Toad Rally. If you create and like a MyNintendo account, you will unlock Toad as a playable character. Toadette, the female version of Toad, will be unlocked after purchasing Toadette's House in Toad Rally. Each characters have their own special abilities that will give you an advantage in the game.

It is not the most feature-packed Mario game on the market, but it is a great value for the price of $9.99. It is a must have for Nintendo fans since it is the first and possibly only mobile phone exclusive by Nintendo. It is a high quality game developed by Nintendo and it is cheaper than purchasing a game for the DS or Wii. It is a highly addictive game and a much better time killer than Angry Bird or Flappy Bird. Android fans will soon be able to join in on the fun in the near future.