Thursday, February 25, 2010

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 2-Fort Replay -- This is getting easier!

I use a Super Shroom to start and get 100-coin 1-up for the P-switch's silver coins. I get and lose an Ice Flower to a Dry Bones. I skip the 1st Star Coin. I reach the midgate, lose the Super Shroom to the spikes, and die from a purple flame. Take 2- I get the 2nd Coin in the secret area. I die on the spikes after getting the 3rd Star Coin. Take 3- I get the 2nd Coin and a Super Shroom, which I lose to the flame. I get an Ice Flower from getting 8 red coins. I reach the boss. I get in the 1st hit and dodged the flame and neutralized it with an ice ball. Roy came out of the pipe and stunned me while I was in the quicksand. I recovered and wall jumped back up and hit him. I hit him again after he got out of the shell cycle. I win and save the game.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 2-3 Replay -- Back Inside the Pyramid

I get a Super Shroom outside the pyramid, even though there is a secret area for Mini Mario because I don't want to be tiny in such a dark level. I get and lose a Fire Flower to a Piranha Plant. I don't get a Starman this time, but I get a Fire Flower. I die in the void. Take 2- I used a Super Shroom, get a Fire Flower, which I lose again to a Piranha Plant. I get another one that I lose to a Fire Snake. I get the first Star Coin and reach the midgate. I lose my Super Shroom from a fireball from a Fire Bro. I kill the Fire Bro by hitting the block under him. I get another Super Shroom and the 2nd Star Coin. I lose the Super Shroom from a fireball. I go above the Piranha Plants to get the 3rd Star Coin and applause. I reach the goal. As a side note, I really like the applause. When I play New Super Mario Bros. on the DS, which does not have applause, I feel let down whenever I do something worthy of applause on the Wii. It's disappointing when you get use to it and switch over and it's not there.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 2-2 -- Shrinking for Coins

This is part of my replay after my file got hijacked. This isn't technically a replay because I haven't played this level yet. This level has barrels at the beginning of the level. I roll one down the hill to kill some Goombas. There are several spike balls thrown by green creatures called Spikes. I touch one of the spike balls and lose my Fire Flower. I get another. I lose it and my Super Shroom to another spike ball. I could really use a Starman in this level. Most of the time, I can avoid the spike balls by standing on platforms, but staying safe means I won't progress. I get another Super Shroom to a spike ball that rolls up the hill, slows down, and rolls back down the hill. I die from a Spiny. Take 2- I get a Super Shroom and discover that I can stand on the leaves of palm trees. I get the silver coins from a P-switch. I get an Ice Flower and reach a raising platform with Koopas, like in 3-Fort. I reach the midgate and once again lose my Ice Flower and Super Shroom to spike balls. I get a 100-coin 1-up and die on a spike ball. Take 3- I use a Super Shroom and get an Ice Flower. All this time, I haven't seen a single Star Coin. I find a pipe after a level of spike balls. I get a Mini Shroom and lots of coins here. Once I leave the level, I find a Mini Mario sized pipe. There is a Star Coin here. I use the P-switch to get all the silver coins, which results in applause. The Star Coin is the last one. I exit the pipe and reach the goal. Mario says "Oh yeah, Mario time!" in a helium voice.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Game Update

As I previously posted, my game file was hijacked. I wasn't fully aware of the SD chip's needs for saving, so I only actually saved the game to the chip after finishing World 1. I uploaded it and played it, and got to World 3 from World 2, where I left off. It's amazing how easy it is to play the game through World 2 when you've already practiced and completed it and know what to expect. I felt like I was in a state of flow. Also, to save time, I went through 2-2 instead of 2-1, because I thought it would be a lot easier. There was some trial and error, as you'll see, but it took far fewer tries. Because I knew what to do and expect, I decided to do a bit more exploration, and found more Star Coins. Playing through World 2 went very quickly, almost as quickly as World 1. The next time I play, I will start at 3-1 and see how far I go. The new posts will be separate and titled Replay. This was a great comeback and I saved the game to the chip and know what to do to keep my game updated and safe.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 3-Fort -- Tower of Terror

Considering this is an ice world, there is surprisingly no ice in this level. I'm noticing that the forts are mainly vertical towers while the castles are horizontal levels. This fort has rotating levels that you must climb. Thankfully, this level doesn't scroll automatically, because this takes some practice to master. Something tells me, however, that there will be a level with similar platforms with automatic scrolling. After getting over the platforms, and obtaining an Ice Flower, I get on a rising platform with Amps. If I touch them, they will zap me. Fortunately, I can freeze them. I reach the midgate and get to another rising platform. I get a 100-coin 1-up. I take care of some of the Dry Bones that come onto the platform, but spike balls come up and they and the Dry Bones kill me. Take 2- I use a Super Shroom and get an Ice Flower. I use a frozen Dry Bones like a shell to take out other Dry Bones. I lose both my Ice Flower and Super Shroom and am killed stuck under an Ice Flower block. Take 3- I start with a Super Shroom and get an Ice Flower. Ice doesn't work on the spike balls, but they get rid of the Dry Bones. A POW block got rid of the spike balls when one hit them. The POW gives me a 1-up. I made it up to the boss door. Lemmy is standing on a circus ball. He uses his wand to produce circus balls. I touch one of them, but they don't hurt me! This could be easy. Unfortunately, it isn't easy, and a ball pushes me over the edge into the void, which I can't escape from with wall jumps.

Take 4- I get a Super Shroom and lose it to Dry Bones. I get a 100-coin 1-up. The POW block brings floating coins down to the ground. I died from a Dry Bones.



Take 5- I use a Super Shroom, get an Ice Flower, and lose them both stuck under a block. I die from a spike ball.



Take 6- I use a Super Shroom and the POW block to get rid of the spike balls. I got a 100-coin 1-up. I made it to Lemmy and got in one hit, but when into the void, with a ball blocking my wall jump.



Before Take 7, I attempted to get more Super Shrooms from the Ice Bros in the Toad Rescue levels. I go back to World 2 to use the 1-up Shroom House, getting one 1-up. I go back to World 1 Toad House to get 1 Super Shroom, Helishroom, Ice Flower and Fire Flower. I get more Super Shrooms from 3- Toad Rescue.




Take 7- I have to start the level over. I make it to the midgate and am good until I reach the spike balls.




Take 8- I try using the Helishroom, thinking it will make my life easier in dodging the spike balls. It didn't work as planned, but I got a 100-coin 1-up.




Take 9- I use a Super Shroom. Super Guide appears. I lose again.




Take 10- I use a Super Shroom and get a 100-coin 1-up. I made it to the boss. Lemmy was difficult, but I got in the 3 hits. I was also hit, and small.




Lemmy hopped away through an icy veil. I followed him to 3-4. This level is right before the castle. This was a short world.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 3- Toad Rescue -- Icy Victory

I run into one of the Ice Bros, but after powering up with a Super Shroom. There are 3 Ice Bros. I bumped a block underneath another to get rid of it. I dodged the other 2 while getting the Toad Bubbles. I freed Toad with 3 Super Shrooms as a reward.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 3-2 -- Dodging Bullets

I'm under enemy fire! I get a Super Shroom, but lose it to a Bullet Bill. Another Bullet Bill killed me.

Take 2- I jumped off a Bullet Bill and got the 1st Star Coin. There are also Ice Bros., who will freeze me, and anything that gets in the path of the ice balls that they throw. One freezes a Bullet Bill. I get an Ice Flower and freeze and kill one of the Ice Bros. I lose the Ice Flower to a Bullet Bill. I get a Starman and dash to the midgate. I lose the Super Shroom to a Bullet Bill, but I find a secret pipe. I can't get it because I'm small. I skip one of the Star Coins on a high ledge over an Ice Bro, because I don't want to die. I get a Super Shroom, but soon lose it to a Bullet Bill. I reach the goal.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 3-1 -- Penguin Skeleton

I lose my Super Shroom to a creature that looks like a penguin, so that's what I'll call them. Before I was hit, I hit a block to reveal the Penguin Suit! This suit allows the player to slide on their stomach over the ice and slopes. I got the first Star Coin, but while sliding, I ran into a Piranha Plant, but ended up surprisingly unharmed. Maybe it's due to the beak on the suit. However, I lost the suit to a Koopa. I reached the midgate and lose the Super Shroom to another Koopa. I got another Super Shroom after the pipe, and lose it to a penguin. I saved myself several times from the void with wall jumps, but accidently pounded the ground into the void.

Take 2- I got the Penguin Suit (This was done a week after Take 1). After I froze a Piranha Plant, coins appeared over the pipe. I got the 1st Star Coin and reached the midgate. After the pipe, there is an area great for sliding, but while sliding, I missed land and fell into the void.

Take 3- I saw, but did not get the 2nd Star Coin floating above a horizontal pipe. It probably contains a secret if you can freeze its Piranha Plant to enter the pipe. I found another pipe blocked by blocks that also may contain a secret. I got a Super Shroom and a 100-coin 1-up. I saved myself with a wall jump, lost my Super Shroom to a penguin. I needed to build up speed to clear a gap and save myself, did so, and reached the flag post.

If you're wondering about the title, Skeleton is a Winter Olympic sport similar Luge. Whereas Luge involves sliding on your back, feet-first, Skeleton involves sliding on your stomach, face-first. With the Penguin Suit, you slide on your stomach, face-first, like Skeleton, instead of sitting down without it.

World 3 -- Ice Land

World 3 is a snow land, which means wintery music, slippery ice, and plenty of ways to slip into the void, including enemies that will push or chase you in. Lemmy is dropped off at the fort. There are Ice Bros. blocking the path to the fort, as well as a Ghost House, which seems odd. We slide down the slope to 3-1.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Curses!

Some fink-rat played over my file! When I last played, I was set to begin 3-4, but when I checked my file for my weekly gaming session, I saw that it was at World 6. So I have to start over. Apparently some people like not having to go through beginner levels. Fortunately, my other files are safe. No one has dared touch my Super Mario Galaxy file, which has 115 stars with Luigi. (I got another Star.) Let's hope it stays that way. I doubt anyone will because these last stars are pretty difficult and involve time limits of some sort. My Super Paper Mario has my name on it. The problem is that I'm playing a new and popular game, with only 3 save files per Wii. I guess since I was the first person to play it and took the first file, and made progress, it was too easy for someone to hijack it. On the bright side, I made progress in my other games and I know what I'm doing in this one, so I should be able to get back where I was pretty quickly. (We'll see how that works out.) I will later post up to 3-Fort and then post about restarting and catching up. I'll decide later whether I will create new posts for the already covered levels or just add on to their current posts. Enjoy reading. Be nice to others and their files.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 2-Castle -- Boom Shakalakalaka

Automatic Side-scroller! I hate these levels! There are so many ways to die in these kinds of levels, more so than others. This level has lava, and in the background, steam comes up from the lava. I missed the first Star Coin; it's on a ledge that can only be reached by Propeller Suit or being very quick and jumping off the first block. That first block holds an Ice Flower, which I can use on the Podoboos, the lava bubbles, which just disappear when hit. The level then splits into 3 platforms. I didn't realize it at the time, but the level gives you clues as to which path to take. The level also provides you with a generous time limit, in case you end up trying each platform once. You have 600 seconds- 10 minutes- to complete the level. I took the top platform first. After it was too late to change platforms, I heard a little bell (Peach-signalling the right path) and the scrolling sped up to the next part of the level. I missed the 2nd Star Coin and the level split into 3 more platforms. I chose the middle path, and heard a buzzer (Bowser-signalling the incorrect path) and returned to the area I just left. I use the opportunity to get the 2nd Star Coin and choose the top path, which is incorrect. I try to freeze the Piranha Plants at the bottom to get to that path, but the ice blocks my path. I lose my Ice Flower so I can progress. I get the 3rd Star Coin using the P-switch, but lose my Super Shroom to a Dry Bones. I incorrectly take the top platform, noticing that the correct path might be the middle one. I then correctly take the middle path and get a Super Shroom before the boss door.

The clues for the platforms are that for the first one, there is a lift that takes you to the top platform, the Piranha Plants guard the bottom path for the second area, and the third one has the middle path blocked by blocks, that turn into coins when the P-switch is activated.

I see Roy at the end of the corridor. Kamek appears and uses magic to make pipes appear over head. Roy climbs into the pipes and comes out a different one, sometime poking his head out of multiple pipes before coming out completely. He then pounds the ground, stunning me, and using magic to defeat me.

Take 2- As this level does not have a midpoint, I have to start it over again. I get a Super Shroom and know the correct paths this time- top, bottom, middle. However, after the first platform, I fall in the lava.

Take 3- After getting a Super Shroom, I lose it to a Dry Bones. I get a 100-coin 1-up and fall into the lava after the 2nd platform.

Take 4- I get a Fire Flower after the first platform to kill the Piranhas, get the 2nd coin, and get back to Roy. I lose the Fire Flower because I was stunned and hit with the fire, and lose my Super Shroom the same way. I hit Roy, but died from his shell.

Take 5- I get through the level just fine. I get in one hit to Roy. He stuns me, but I recover before the fire can hit me because I am far away. Before I can get in my 2nd hit, I touch him and lose the Fire Flower. I die after touching Roy twice.

Take 6- I get a 100-coin 1-up from the main level, as well as the 2nd and 3rd coins. I lose my Fire Flower to the fire. I get in one hit, then a second, because I hit him immediately after he cam out of his shell. I got in the third hit the same way. I get the Bowser Key.

Bowser Jr. takes off on the Airship and heads to World 3.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 2- Toad Rescue -- Not as bad as I thought

The explosions on the map signalled a Toad Rescue. This time I had to avoid Spinies as I collect the Toad Bubbles. I lose the Helishroom to a moving Spiny shell. I collected all 8 bubbles and got 3 Super Shroom from the Toad locked in the chest. On to the castle!

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 2-6 -- A Change of Scenery

On the map, this level is a mushroom in a canyon of quicksand. Is this some sort of oasis? It's not an oasis, but is it a break from the desert. There is a rotating block on a line path, with coins swinging above it to the music. I unfortunately miss the 1st Star Coin that was right above me. This level requires you to keep moving, because the block is constantly turning, trying to throw you off. It's kind of like some of the secret areas in Super Mario Sunshine. Past some Piranha Plants is the midpoint. I get a 100-coin 1-up, and then find myself face-to-face with a Fire Chomp. Fire Chomps appeared in New Super Mario Bros, so I know what they're about. They have a tail of fire, and use up one flame to spit at Mario. When they use all of them up, they explode. This is how I lost my Helishroom. I got it back from an 8 red coin ring, which I then used for another 1-up at the goal.

On the map, stones appear in the sand to mark the path to the castle and Star Shroom House. Right in front of both are areas that periodically have explosions. I'm a little worried to go near them, but I won't progress if I don't.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 2-4 -- Summer Breeze

This is a windy level. The wind will blow Mario towards the right, along with some coins, unless he against a wall. Thankfully, the wind stops periodically. I lost my Super Shroom to a Koopa, but soon got another one from a block. There are rope ladders throughout the level, that get blown around, and you have to wait until the wind stops before you can use them. They are attached to platforms that cover large gaps to the void. After climbing up the ladder, I saw an area designed for a Koopa shell. I didn't use one here, but they are designed so that if you send a Koopa shell into them, they will either produce coins or items like 1-up Shrooms. After climbing up the next ladder, I get a Helishroom, which I use to save myself from the void. After the midpoint, there is a Star Coin under a ledge over the void. It is best to use a Helishroom here after the wind subsides. I decided not to get this one. I then use the Helishroom to get a 1-up at the gate.

I got my game back!

No, I don't mean that I was in a slump these past few levels and improved. I mean that the Super Mario Galaxy that I lost was recovered! Thanks to the Archive Staff and Technical Support! You rock!

I tried playing the game again, but it has been so long and the levels are really challenging, that I did not make any progress whatsoever. I hope to finish the game before Super Mario Galaxy 2 comes out. We'll see if that happens.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 2- Fortress -- Any Man caught Lollygagging will be Shot on Sight

This is another vertical tower. I climb a mesh metal screen up and go through a door. I hit a P-switch so I can get the silver coins, and then get an Ice Flower which I use to kill the Dry Bones. Periodically, I see purple fire, which comes towards me and I'm hit by it. This could be Roy's magic. I have to keep dodging it because it aims for me. I skip the 1st Star Coin and get to the midpoint. After I'm hit by another Dry Bones, I find a secret area and the 2nd Star Coin. I died on the spikes.

Take 2- I use the Helishroom to start. I might be going through items too quickly. I lose the Helishroom on the spikes, but I reach the boss door. I find myself on a small platform with quicksand on the edges. Roy has been creating the purple fire that I've been trying to dodge. Roy landed on Mario, so he lost the Super Shroom. When Roy lands, he pounds the ground, creating stunning shock waves. While Mario is stunned, he'll send out a purple flame, which killed Mario.

Take 3- I used and lost an Ice Flower on the spikes. I soon get another one, which I lose on the spikes. I reach Roy, but touch him and lose the Super Shroom, and then die from the fire.

Take 4- I used a Super Shroom and got an Ice Flower. I find a secret door on the stair-like platform. I get 2 1-ups here, one for being fully powered up when I got the 8 red coins, and another from 100 coins. I lose the Ice Flower to the purple fire, the Super Shroom to the spikes, and died after I jumped and accidently ground-pounded the spikes.

Take 5- I got the 2nd Star coin, and got a Super Shroom and Ice Flower. I got a 1-up from the secret door. I made it over the spikes from jumping up high. I lost my Ice Flower to the purple fire in the battle with Roy. I defeated Roy by staying off the ground when he pounded the ground.

I gained access to a 1-up Shroom house, level 2-4, and Toad needs my help in 2-1, which is not going to happen. I am not going through that level again without the ability to use my items. I will probably manipulate the game into sending him to a more manageable level, by either dying or letting him die. Game saved.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 2-3 -- Star Light, Star Bright

It's dark in here! This level is in a pyramid. There is a small halo of light around Mario and any balls of fire shot from Mario or an enemy. I have to proceed slowly as I cannot see what is ahead. I hit a block to get a Fire Flower, but lost my Super Shroom before I could claim the Fire Flower. After getting the Fire Flower, I took a pipe to a better, but not fully, lit room. At the center was a block that gives Mario a random item, which it cycles through until it is hit. I hit the block to release a Starman. Lucky! When I got the Starman, the room filled with light, except at the corners. I went through the pipe to get back to the main level, which was now better lit. I can see now! I decide to take this wonderful opportunity to quickly gain some ground while I can still see. Using knowledge from New Super Mario Bros, I decided to hit one of the ? Blocks, because if you have a Starman when you hit them, some produced more Starman. I was right and keep going, still able to see. I did not receive another one, and when the second one wore off, the light faded away. I continued on at a slow pace, but found a pipe that took me above ground. There are lots of Spinies, so I got rid of them using a P-switch. I then got a 100-coin 1-up. I lost my Fire Flower to a Fire Snake after getting the 1st Star Coin. I used the halo of light around Mario to find an area for Mini Mario, but I doubt I'll take advantage of it, because I do not want to got through this level as Mini Mario- for one thing, my halo of light might be smaller. After that, I reached the midgate, and lost my Super Shroom to a fire ball, then died from the fire ball of a Fire Bro.

Take 2- I started with an Ice Flower, but lost it to the same Fire Bro, which I then stomped. I got another Fire Flower and the 2nd Star Coin, but I was hit by a fire ball trying to defeat a giant Piranha Plant. I went through a pipe to reach the end of the level. Goal!

A Note on Super Guide

The Super Guide is a new feature in the game. It appears after a player fails to complete a level after 8 tries. It shows up as a Green ! Block at the beginning or midpoint of the level, with a "Ding" chime, that gets annoying after a while. If a player hits it, Luigi will appear and run through the level for the player. Luigi will not unveil any secrets, but will go to the goal. At any point, the player can stop Super Guide and take over where Luigi left off. I will not be using Super Guide as I want to get through the game on my own steam. I initially found its presence to be insulting, but then I realized that it means that a stuck player does not have to give up playing the game in frustration and can continue playing the game without having to ask a more experienced player or wait until they have the skill to beat it on their own . It's a smart idea to keep the gamer playing the game.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 2-1 -- If I had a Life, I'd hate it

This level contains rising fountains/ pillars of sand coming up out of the void. They show up periodically and disapper, signalling itself with a sand puff at the bottom of the screen, at which time it is safe to jump down, because the sand pillar will rise and catch you. This is how I got the first Star Coin, but I missed the next sand pillar and fell into the void.

Take 2- I got a Super Shroom, but I lost it to a Goomba coming out of a pipe. I then died from a Boomerang Bro.

Take 3- After I got a Super Shroom, I killed the Boomerang Bro and reached the midpoint. I died trying to get the 2nd Star Coin because I missed the sand pillar.

Take 4- Died immediately- missed sand pillar.

Take 5- Got 2nd Star Coin while cycling through the sand pillar, but I died landing on a Piranha Plant.

Take 6- Died on Piranha Plant. I have one life left.

Before Take 7, I went back to World 1 to get some lives. I redid 1-Taod Rescue, which had 3 giant Goombas. I got 3 Super Shrooms, went to 1-Star Shroom House and got a Starman, and then to 1-Shroom House, getting 1 Super Shroom, 2 Fire Flowers, and 1 Ice Flower, and 1 Helishroom. I did not get any more lives.

Take 7- I have to start the level over again and fell into the void missing the sand pillar.
Game Over.
I did not know that once you have 01 lives left and you die, it's Game Over. Other Mario games let you play until you have 00 lives and die. I lost all of my items, so I went back to World 1 for items at 1-Shroom House. I got 2 Ice Flowers, 1 Helishroom, 1 Super Shroom, and 1 Fire Flower.

Take 8- I used the Helishroom to start, which easily got me the first Star Coin. Unfortunately, I lost the Helishroom and died.

Take 9- I used the Ice Flower to start. At the beginning of the level, the Super Guide block appeared. I didn't use it. I got the 1st Star Coin, and was saved by the sand pillar. I died from falling in the void because I did not jump off the pillar, and was instead shooting ice balls (Button 1) rather than jumping (Button 2).

Take 10- Used the Fire Flower, got 1st Star Coin, reached midpoint, got 2nd Star Coin, missed pillar.

Take 11- Used Super Shroom to start, lost it to Piranha Plant. I skipped the Star Coins because I was low on lives, and made it to the goal.

I gained access to 2- Shroom House and got 1 Mini Shroom, 1 Helishroom, and 1 Ice Flower.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

World 2 -- Going Through the Desert

World 2 is a desert, which means we are likely to see some things. Ancient Egyptian themed music (absolutely), quicksand (definitely), Angry Sun (possibly), and strange block creatures (very likely). Things are going to get hard now, so I'm going to put off getting Star Coins until I beat the game. I can only save after beating a Fort or a Castle, so I need to conserve lives to get to those points. I will get a Star Coin if it can be easily obtained by a jump or two, or if I find it by accident in a secret area. Another reason I'm doing this is because when I try to get the Star Coins, it reminds me of a time I went to summer camp. We were doing trust-building/ learn-about-yourself activities. One of them involved swinging on a rope (at ground level) into one of three rings on the ground. Two of them could fit multiple people, but one could only fit one person. One person in my group kept going after that small ring. Eventually, the group decided to give up on that ring and we soon completed the challenge of getting everyone in the rings. Afterwards, the camp counselor told us that the small ring was just a distraction to see who would be distracted by a difficult goal that was not necessary to complete the task (everyone could fit into the two larger rings just fine). I realize that these Star Coins are my distraction, taking my attention away from completing the level, which is more important and that the Star Coins aren't necessary to do this. I am also going to find a direct path to the next Castle or Fort, instead of trying to beat all of the levels before it.

In terms of flow, I am not in a state of flow yet for this game. I still have not quite mastered the controls and am having difficulty with some of the levels. I am still motivated to play the game. I will be in a state of flow once I fully master the controls. 1-Castle seemed at the far outer edge of my regime of competence, but it only took 4 tries, which isn't so bad. This game keeps the gamer interested not because of a mysterious storyline as its Gap Theory. At the beginning, we see the Koopalings and Bowser Jr. capture the Princess. There is only one villain who could be behind such a dastardly deed- Bowser! Anyone who's been playing Mario games should not be surprised that Bowser is the main villain. So why do players remain interested in the game if they already know the beginning and the end? The mystery of the game lies in the levels themselves: what terrain will there be, which enemies will I face, what sort of surprises, secrets, and items will I find (or at least, will be there)? The level and world design, and their challenges are what really hook players to Mario games that aren't RPGs, which have plots and mysteries.

Alright, let's start World 2!