Super Mario Maker is a 2D platformer game for the Wii U which allows players to make their own Super Mario levels. It allows players to insert blocks, enemies, items, and more from the original Super Mario Bros. There are some new modified power-ups, like a Weird Mushroom that changes Mario into Super Mario, but looks like a stretched Small Mario. The game also allows switching between the Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and the New Super Mario Bros. U graphical styles. The game was announced at E3 2014 and was released on September 11, 2015. A port for the Nintendo 3DS was released on December 2, 2016. On March 2021, Nintendo will shut down the game, but they can still save and upload levels.
Differences from base-games
Although the recreation is mainly faithful, there are some minor differences in all styles:
(Note: this does not include items that are in the base game but not in Super Mario Maker, or vice versa)
General
- The HUD of all the games is laid out like in New Super Mario Bros. U
- An in-game timer second actually equals one second.
- Fire Mario, Raccoon Mario, and Cape Mario revert to Super Mario when damaged, despite the original Super Mario Bros, (Japanese) Super Mario Bros. 3, and Super Mario World having all forms revert to Small Mario.
- Invincible Mario does a rainbow cycle in all styles, despite only doing it in the base game of New Super Mario Bros. U (in the other base games the cycle just cycles through different palettes)
- All castles end with an axe, despite that particular style only appearing in the original Super Mario Bros.
- Mario can stand on Thwomps, but will take damage unless he is invincible, wearing a goomba shoe, or riding Yoshi. He can continually bounce on a Thwomp without taking damage by spinning.
- Lakitu's cloud is the size it is in Super Mario World in all styles, while in the base games it is smaller in Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3, and larger in New Super Mario Bros. U
- Mario swims better underwater while carrying an item in all styles (except Super Mario Bros, as he cannot carry items in that style), while in the base games it is only in Super Mario World.
- Monty Moles pop directly out of the ground instead of out of semisolid platforms in the base games.
Sharing System
Super Mario Maker has a dedicated way to share course creations with the rest of the Super Mario Maker user base and Nintendo is implementing a system to share courses online, similar to what was done with Pushmo World and the later games in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. After March 31st 2020, users will no longer be able to upload Super Mario Maker levels.
Customization options
Mushrooms and most enemies can ride on top of other objects and bounce off springboards. Enemies can have wings added to them, which in the case of Goombas and Koopas, makes them look and act like their familiar "Para" variations. Red Koopas Troopas can be spawned by shaking a standard Green Koopa Troopas until it turns red. Enemies can also be made huge with a mushroom. Players can add coins to multiple enemies and objects for them to produce coins.