Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World delivers a timeless platforming experience that feels as crisp as the day these titles first launched. Each game in the compilation—Super Mario Bros., The Lost Levels, Super Mario Bros. 2 (USA), Super Mario Bros. 3, and Super Mario World—retains its signature mechanics while benefiting from the SNES’s responsive controller input. Whether you’re performing tight jumps in World 1-1 or navigating the branching paths of the Mushroom World, the controls remain fluid and intuitive.

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The variety across these five titles ensures that players never feel stuck in a formula. The original Super Mario Bros. offers classic, straightforward stages, while The Lost Levels ratchets up the challenge with precision traps and punishing enemy placements. Super Mario Bros. 2 introduces a more exploratory, vegetable-throwing adventure, and Super Mario Bros. 3 dazzles with its world map and inventive power-ups. Finally, Super Mario World adds Yoshi, secret exits, and sprawling, interconnected levels that reward keen-eyed explorers.

Notably, while the All-Stars entries boast fully redrawn graphics and enhanced audio, the only gameplay tweak to Super Mario World is Luigi’s updated sprite—he’s just a bit taller and leaner. This cosmetic change doesn’t affect hitboxes or movement physics, so veterans and newcomers alike will find the handling unchanged. The smooth frame rate and precise jump arcs make this compilation as enjoyable today as it was on the Super Nintendo.

Graphics

The visual overhaul in Super Mario All-Stars is immediately striking. Each 8-bit original has been transformed into a vibrant 16-bit masterpiece: sprites are crisper, backgrounds are more detailed, and colors pop with a newfound richness. Goombas sport sharper outlines, flagpoles gleam, and warp pipes exude a polished solidity that elevates the charm of these retro classics.

Super Mario World, by contrast, remains largely faithful to its original look, with the sole exception of Luigi’s redesigned appearance. Despite this, the game still benefits from the SNES’s graphical capabilities—layers of parallax scrolling, dynamic sprite scaling, and smoother animations make navigating Dinosaur Land a visual delight. The iconic opening scene in Yoshi’s Island never looked so lush.

Menus and title screens also receive the All-Stars treatment, with redesigned logos and artwork that celebrate Nintendo’s platforming pedigree. Transitioning between games via the compilation’s hub feels seamless, and the polished presentation serves as a loving tribute to one of gaming’s most celebrated heroes.

Story

Story has never been the main draw in Mario platformers, and here the narratives remain delightfully straightforward. In Super Mario Bros. and its 8-bit follow-up, Bowser’s minions relentlessly kidnap Princess Peach, prompting a world-spanning rescue mission. These tales of castle sieges and subterranean fortresses stick to the essentials, letting the gameplay take center stage.

Super Mario Bros. 2 diverges by transporting Mario and his friends into the dreamlike realm of Subcon, where they must overthrow the tyrannical Wart. This unexpected twist adds a whimsical layer to the conventional rescue plot. Meanwhile, Super Mario Bros. 3 introduces Bowser’s Koopalings and a map-based progression, giving a modest sense of journey across seven distinct worlds.

Finally, Super Mario World expands the lore with Dinosaur Land, where Mario and Luigi team up with Yoshi to thwart Bowser’s latest scheme. Hidden exits and alternative routes fill the land with mystery, inviting players to uncover every secret. Though simple, these storylines provide a familiar motivational thread that unites all five adventures.

Overall Experience

Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World is the ultimate platformer anthology for both longtime fans and newcomers. The bundle’s inclusion in the “Mario Set” SNES edition makes it a nostalgic time capsule, complete with some of the most influential titles in gaming history. For anyone looking to explore Mario’s evolution—from the pixelated jump of 1985 to the expansive levels of 1990—this package offers unbeatable value.

The sheer replayability is staggering. Speedrunners can chase world-record times in every game, while completionists will pore over every block, secret exit, and power-up. The compilation’s rewind-worthy moments—such as discovering hidden warp whistles in SMB3 or unlocking secret levels in Super Mario World—ensure hours of exploration long after the initial playthrough.

In sum, Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World remains a benchmark for platforming excellence and historical preservation. Its polished presentation, enduring gameplay, and generous selection make it a must-have for any serious gamer’s library. Whether you’re revisiting these classics or diving in for the first time, this collection delivers a flawless, joy-filled journey through Nintendo’s golden age.

Retro Replay Score

8.6/10