Super Mario also sees a welcome step back to the small to big to powerup Mario chain, something that’s more than just a visual touch -and more fitting of the game’s 2D Mario influence – some blocks/jumps in those games are only accessible with big Mario, for example, likewise Mario’s extended moveset on the 3D marios erase the need for big/small Mario. Current powerups are no doubt familiar – there’s nothing like Spring Mario or Boulder Mario here, at least yet, but Raccoon Mario’s floaty jump and tail whip are as welcome as they’ve always been.
It’s also worth noting that using the 2D Mario template rather than the 3D affairs of Mario 64/Sunshine/Galaxy’s is certainly the best way to utilise 3DS’s 3D effect (though arguably Galaxy-style levels with a 3D Mario moveset would be just as successful), as it offers more shadowless jumping gaps per level between platforms – exactly what it hard to distinguish without autostereoscopic 3D.
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