Nintendo has revealed the details surrounding the first major update for Super Mario Maker. The game, which has seen amazing sales amid an ever growing number of fan created levels, lets players create their own 2D Mario levels using the Wii U Gamepad. This update will add a few new options to the creator suite, as well as helping with a huge fan complaint.
The new items are mid-level checkpoints and special power-ups. The checkpoints are the iconic flags that can be found in games like New Super Mario Bros. U. These let players restart the level from a pre-determined point, passing over sections that have already been completed. Of course, fans can use them in new and creative ways, so watch out for interesting creations once the update hits.
On top of this are the special power-ups, which “are dependent on Mario’s status. For example, by attaching a Super Mushroom to a Fire Flower and placing it inside a block, Mario will receive the Super Mushroom when he is small, and the Fire Flower when he is large.” Now players won’t get inundated with extra mushrooms when they are already big. This is a great new addition, though considering its importance in the regular games, it might have been better had this been ready at launch.
Nintendo will also be adding in an area where you can find official levels. These will have been designed by Nintendo, ensuring that the maps are well made and should fit within the usual Mario standards.
Finally, the update will make it so players can find the better levels within Super Mario Maker. With 3.3 million maps already made, finding good ones can be tough. Nintendo is adding in “Event Courses in the game’s Course World online hub. Event Courses will feature levels from partner creators outside Nintendo. One of the first Event Courses will be “Ship Love,” the winning level from the “hackathon” event that was held at Facebook’s headquarters in Menlo Park earlier this year. Facebook is the first outside partner in the United States to design a level for Super Mario Maker; employees had the opportunity to design and present their creations to a panel of judges before the winning level was selected.”
Super Mario Maker is available now for Wii U. The update should hit on November 4th.
