Super Mario World

Where else to start my journey but the very beginning. Well, ok, not the very beginning but the introduction to computer consoles for me. I had experienced computer games on the ZX Spectrum and my step-sister's Atari ST but when my step-brother brought up his brand new Super Nintendo in the summer of 1992, little did I know that it would change my life forever.

The game that he brought with this new console was the classic Super Mario World. Now, looking back on my introduction to computer consoles, I can't think of another game I would rather begin my journey with. It just took my breath away, and still does. The colours, the sounds, the level design, there is nothing about the game that I can complain about. It's close to being a perfect game for me.

But this was my step-brother's version, I wanted my own. I had to wait until Christmas 1992 before my mum decided to invest in a Super Nintendo which came with its own copy of Super Mario World. Unfortunately, I also received Super Mario Kart at the time so Super Mario World took a bit of a back seat at the time. Plus I got stuck on the Star World and couldn't get past some of those levels. 

It wasn't until some time later that I actually went back and completed the game in its entirety. And with that came a great deal of satisfaction. It's a game that deserves completing. I look back at the levels which Nintendo included and the different worlds you got to explore. There was so much variety for the time and so many different types of enemies that you really had to keep your wits about you whilst you were playing.

Such was the impact of this game that I would still include it in my top five games of all time, possibly even my top three. It's one of the games from that era that I can still play today with the same kind of enjoyment that I did twenty years ago. Whether it was on the Wii Virtual Console, the Gameboy Advance, or a simple PC emulator, there is something special about this game. 

It is the peak of 2D platform gaming; nothing has ever come close to it in my opinion. If I were to make a 2D platforming game, this would be my blueprint. 

It brought Mario to the mainstream, and I'm so grateful for it. And it's safe to say that this won't be the only time we see the little plumber on this journey...