Above: Super Mario 3D World for the Wii U.
Nailing the balance between 2D and 3D gameplay
Part of the challenge of creating a Mario game that borrows from both its 2D and 3D ancestors is making sure all types of players, from longtime fans to newcomers, can enjoy it. With this in mind, the developers kept the “simplicity” of the Mario side-scrollers (where you just keep going right until you see the flag pole) while also leaving secrets for advanced players to find within the levels.
“The goal for us is to appeal to people who’re familiar with, and fans of, both types of gameplay,” Koizumi said. “So 2D players can run straight for the goal pole, and this might be familiar and comfortable and fun for them. But we’ve also incorporated all sorts of different things to appeal to fans of the 3D series and even the chance to allow some crossover between those two. … When we were thinking about it, we were aiming for something that’s a little luxurious. It’s kind of like the best of both worlds.”
More Super Mario Galaxy-style games could happen
Above: Shigeru Miyamoto
The last time we saw a proper free-roaming 3D Mario game was Super Mario Galaxy 2, which came out on the Wii in 2010. One writer asked Miyamoto if Super Mario 3D World, with its hybrid of two distinct gameplay styles, will serve as a blueprint for future Mario games.
“We did not set out trying to define the future of Mario action games with this title,” Miyamoto said. “Rather, we’re just trying to find some fun new elements that we could incorporate. I certainly wouldn’t rule out the possibility of us creating more games in the vein of Super Mario Galaxy. What we’re trying to accomplish here is just to create a really good entry point for new players into the Super Mario 3D games.”
‘Meow!’ vs. ‘meow!’
Toward the end of our meeting, Miyamoto brought up a funny observation about the way different countries pronounce the word “meow.”
“Of course, everyone the world over likes cats. But one thing that was kind of interesting to me was that because we recorded voice for this game in the United States, it had a slightly different meow from what I was expecting,” he said. “In Japan, we say ‘meow!’ [in a high-pitched voice], but in the U.S., you guys say ‘meow!’ [in a lower intonation]. So that was kind of interesting to see.”