Super Mario Maker is arguably the most important Wii U title that Nintendo has released. It showcases the power of the Wii U GamePad’s second screen, a feat that hadn’t been illustrated by third-party or first-party titles.
Sure, early titles like LEGO City: Undercover and Zombi U had unique second-screen functionality, but they were niche games that lacked the broad appeal of the Mario franchise. With Super Mario Maker, Nintendo showcased that having a second screen in a game is a viable option and actually paved the way for the game to be a classic title.
That raises the question then, should Nintendo port Super Mario Maker to the NX as a launch title? In my review of Super Mario Maker, I lauded the ease of use for creating levels and the pick up and go nature of the game. It puts the power of Mario in your hands, so you can create or experience something outside of Nintendo’s influence. While this creative freedom can go both ways in terms of quality, I’ve had more enjoyable experiences with user-created levels than I have poor experiences.
Given what a great tool Super Mario Maker is for illustrating the power of creation, it makes sense for Nintendo to consider porting it to the NX once its ready to release. This wouldn’t be the first time something like this has happened, as Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was originally a GameCube title before it moved to the Wii.
So what are the compelling reasons for doing this? First of all, it would be a solid launch title for the Nintendo NX. The Wii U has only managed to sell less than 11 million consoles during its three years of life. While hardcore Nintendo fans have likely already played and considered Super Mario Maker finished, there are millions of people who haven’t because they don’t own a Wii U.
Using Super Mario Maker as a launch title would be a good enticement for the abilities of the console, with an entire year of user-created levels for new players to venture through, especially if Nintendo curates several low, medium, and high difficulty levels to illustrate what its fans and players have created in the year since release on the Wii U.
While we know absolutely nothing about the NX in terms of hardware, rumors suggest it will be a handheld/console hybrid. Imagine being able to create a Super Mario Maker level while you’re waiting at a bus-stop, or at the doctor’s office. Imagine being able to play your friend’s new level just by pulling the device out of your pocket. If the Nintendo NX is anything like rumors suggest, I believe Super Mario Maker could make an amazing launch title for it.
What are your thoughts?
