I was talking to Adam the other day about Super Mario World - personally I find it a slight challenge, whereas everyone else I've seen play it (Josh, Phil, Adam) just soar their way along the levels. The only time I soared is when I did a sort of charge on Yoshi, fell off him, spin jumped across some floating piranhas, then landed back on Yoshi with a Super Cape and floated into the goal - it was total luck, but looked very impressive.
"I always found that rather easy," said Adam, so I mentioned the unlockable "more difficult mode."
"Hard mode...?" he said, "Do you mean when all the enemies change and it becomes autumn? Is it harder? I hadn't noticed, heh."
"I always found that rather easy," said Adam, so I mentioned the unlockable "more difficult mode."
"Hard mode...?" he said, "Do you mean when all the enemies change and it becomes autumn? Is it harder? I hadn't noticed, heh."
It was some weeks previous that I had first played this game. It is a ROM Hack, which is an edit of an original game, changing sprites, music, dialogue, etc. The hack blends H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos into Super Mario World, and is made by Yashum who has subsequently removed it due to "personal issues," but he says it can be found if you have good Googling skills.
The website dedicated to Super Mario World ROM Hacks is "Super Mario World Central" or SMWC, which is a community where designers can get together and upload all sorts of hacks.
The website dedicated to Super Mario World ROM Hacks is "Super Mario World Central" or SMWC, which is a community where designers can get together and upload all sorts of hacks.
The game is very good. It offers a higher level of challenge to Super Mario World, but not something too difficult - out of interest, I tried Yashum's only other game "Super Luigi World: Luigi's Quest!" and found it much too difficult for me. This Cthulhu game includes all sorts of puzzles and clever levels to make for a very interesting play.
I will rate the game just how they are rated on SMWC.
I will rate the game just how they are rated on SMWC.
Plot [6/10] Although only mildly Lovecraftian in its execution, the dialogue and events are excitingly reminiscent of the style. There's a trapped Princess, though, which is perfect for Mario and ties in nicely. Overworld [3/10] There is sadly no Overworld at all until the end of the game when the paths unlock. This means, if you die, you return right to the very beginning which (although not a problem since using Save States) it is mildly disheartening. Design [9/10] Every level is different and takes us deeper in R'lyeh. We begin on shore of slime, then we are taken into the level of "Non-Euclidean Geometry", and onwards into a pure black-and-white level until finally entering the cosmic catacombs where Cthulhu sleeps. Effort [8/10] Very well constructed. I think a few sprites could have been changed to look a little less like Koopas and more like Shoggoths, but I think a large amount of effort and thought has gone into this. Originality [9/10] I've not played enough Hacks to compare, but simply from gaming, this is something good. The particular outstanding moment for me was the "Non-Euclidean Geometry" where the background is made to look like platforms, but they move as you run - hard to describe, but brilliantly good at messing with your head. | Graphics [8/10] There were some very good sprites on display; all sorts of Cthulhu statues and cosmic backgrounds. There were even flashes of floating red eyes appearing in the sky, and black discs of lightless realms far off in space. Creativity [9/10] Many aspects are exciting here: tentacles that grab Mario and disable him from moving, and clever screen wrapping, so a fall off the bottom continues above. There is even a bit where Mario "dies" and you have to climb out of the Game Over screen. Length [8/10] It is actually rather short. Took me two weeks and Adam 2 hours (or so.) I do not think this is a bad thing, though. I think the ideas were strengthened in their placement of individual levels. It may have felt stretched or repetitive if made longer. Difficulty [7/10] I found it a little frustrating in places, but then, I'm not a skilled Mario Jumper, really. It was more difficult that I am used to, but it was fun to have a challenge - I did have to use a lot of Save States. Entertainment [7/10] The music was well suited, the puzzles were well constructed and the game was certainly entertaining. I was excited to see how it unfolded, and was entertained differently by each individual level. Overall [74%] But I would give a solid 80%. |
There is a rather good selection of music throughout, and Adam and I were wondering what some of it was, while also being pleasantly surprised at recognising others, so I will make a list of some of the tracks. A few are from other games, and the rest are custom music from SMWC. I like that it is a community based thing, and that skilled game designers can use skilled midi composers to add to their games.
Final Fantasy IV - Golbez, Clad in Dark A Link to the Past - Agahnim & Ganon's Theme Twilight Princess - Twilight Realm Castlevania III - Destiny Castlevania III - Nightmare Terranigma - The Underworld Tetris Attack - Encounter With Bowser Breath of Fire II - Lethal Dose Tales of Phantasia - Fighting of the Spirit | Custom SMWC Music Now It Begins - ThinkOneMoreTime Passat of the Hero - ThinkOneMoreTime The World Ends Epic Mix - Jascha |
This is a very intelligent, well thought-out game. It is a shame Yashum doesn't want it hosted any more, but I can only praise him for the strength of his efforts.